JMS Weekly Update
May 9, 2021
Hello JMS,
This week's JMS Update contains information about PSSA schedules for all families. Testing begins on Tuesday, please read the information in the PSSA Information Section so that you know where your child should be on testing days.
This weekly update also contains information about:
- Tuesday Talk - Friday 5.14
- Spiritwear Sale
- Chipotle Night - May 19th
- 8th Grade Recognition - Permission Slip/T-Shirt Order Form
- Athletics - Cheerleading & Youth Football Camp
Please continue to let our nurse, Mrs. Suess, know if anyone in your family is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. This information is critical to the safety of the students and staff at JMS.
Stay Safe,
Dr. Sarah Shaw, Principal
Ms. Katelyn Deet, Assistant Principal
Weekly Schedule
Monday - Day 2
Tuesday - Day 3 - PSSA ELA - PSSA Testing Bell Schedule
Wednesday - Day 4 - PSSA ELA - PSSA Testing Bell Schedule
Thursday - Day 5 - PSSA ELA - PSSA Testing Bell Schedule
Friday - Day 1 - Tuesday Talk - Tuesday Talk Schedule
Monday (5/17) - Day 2
Tuesday (5/18) - No School - Election Day
Wednesday (5/19) - Day 3 - PSSA MATH - PSSA Testing Bell Schedule
Thursday (5/20) - Day 4 - PSSA MATH - PSSA Testing Bell Schedule
Friday (5/21) - Day 5
PSSA Information
We will begin our PSSA testing on Tuesday, May 11th. Our testing days are as follows:
May 11-13 - PSSA ELA
May 19-20 - PSSA Math
May 26-27 - PSSA Science (Grade 8 Only)
You can find more information about PSSAs in our JMS PSSA Information Newsletter.
Please read the information below so that you know what to expect on testing days. The schedule is rather complex and we want to make sure that everyone knows where they should be on testing days. Click on the description that best represents your family, for specific information about testing days.
Information For Families Who Have Opted Out of the PSSAs
- Cyber Cohort Families who have Opted Out of the PSSAs
- In-Person Students (Cohorts A/B/D) who have Opted Out of the PSSAs
Information For Families Who Are Participating in the PSSAs
- Cohort A/B (2 Day) Families who are Participating in the PSSAs
- Cyber Cohort Families who are Participating in the PSSAs
- Cohort D (5 Day) Families who are Participating in the PSSAs
Summary
If your family has opted out of the assessments, your child will stay home during the testing sessions. They are welcome to join us in-person on their scheduled, non-testing days and after the testing sessions (10:30 a.m or 11:00 a.m.). They are also welcome to stay at home and log in PV on testing days.
If your family is participating in the assessments, your child will be physically present at JMS during the testing sessions. Children who are not scheduled to be physically present at JMS on testing days will return home after the testing sessions are complete.
New Information
Need a spiritwear refresh? The JMS Spring Sale is happening now through May 16th. Click here to check out the new seasonal offerings and store favorites. Orders will be ready to ship or pick up the week of May 31st.
Chipotle Fundraiser - 5/19 - 4:00PM-8PM
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 19. Visit the Chipotle on Cochran Rd between 4 pm and 8pm. Show the attached flyer, tell your cashier you’re eating to support Jefferson Middle School or skip the wait in line and use online code 6ZBC8PE on the Chipotle app or website to order ahead. Share with families and friends!
8th Grade Recognition - 6/3
As this year comes to a close, it is time to celebrate the accomplishments of our eighth graders. The staff and PTA of Jefferson Middle School have planned 8th grade events for Thursday, June 3. Students will spend their mornings at Jefferson Middle School and will eat lunch before departing for afternoon activities. The eighth grade students and staff will board school busses for a pool party, field games and fun activities at the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center. These events are weather permitting and may change based on circumstances out of our control.
Additionally, a virtual option will be available for those students who do not wish to attend the
pool party and field activities. Planning for the virtual option is underway.
As per current health and safety guidelines, students will be podded by team and will be required to wear a mask for the entirety of the event, unless they are swimming.
The cost of the party is $15 (cash or venmo @kari-resler) which includes a JMS Class of 2025 T-Shirt. If you choose to venmo you still must turn in the permission slip with the size selection. Remember, lunch will be eaten at school prior to boarding the buses. The pool party will consist of games, music and individually packaged treats!
If you have questions: contact Kari Resler at kjresler@gmail.com or Melinda Berdyck at berdycks0825@Msn.com.
Resources For Families
Family Resources for Conversations about Current Events
These resources include content on race and racism, the police-involved killing of Black people, activism, equity and social justice. They also include an updated Table Talk family discussion guide that include questions for starting these conversations with your children at home.
Talking To Your Child About Discrimination and Bias
In an effort to continue to educate our students, families and the community about discrimination and bias we wanted to share the following resources with you.
- Anti-Defamation League (ADL): Talking to Young Children about Bias and Prejudice
- Talking to Children About Hate Crimes
- Partners Against Hate: Parents and Families Against Hate
- Healthy Children. org : Talking to Children About Racial Bias
- American Psychological Association: Talking to kids about discrimination
This essential conversation and continued education is imperative if we are committed to creating a school and community that is welcoming and inclusive. These conversations are bigger than JMS and must also take place at home and throughout the community. Please help us, as a school and as a community, continue to grow in our in our understanding about discrimination and bias.
The Mt. Lebanon School District will continue serving free Grab-and-Go Meals to any student in the community under the age of 18, with no eligibility requirements, until further notice. The meals will be distributed at the elementary schools.
Meals will be available from 10:45 until 1:15 every day to accommodate all students during their lunch periods.
Families In Need of Technology
As we prepare to start the 2020-2021 school year, we are asking families who need to borrow student technology to please complete the form linked below:
Be sure to list every student for whom you need to borrow a device on this form. Once you have submitted your form, you will receive status emails including device pickup details from an @mtlsd.net email address. Please also be sure to whitelist @mtlsd.net email addresses with your email provider to ensure that you receive these communications from us.
Please direct any and all questions regarding loaned equipment to our support address: RemoteSupport@mtlsd.net
The following resources provide information to help Mt. Lebanon School District families and staff navigate the complexities of COVID-19 and the impact the pandemic it is having on our daily lives. These resources will be updated as more information becomes available.
The MTLSD School Counselors in partnership with The Allegheny Children's Initiative Inc., have compiled a list of social services resources that may be helpful to you and your family. Please take a look and reach out to these organizations. They are here to help with any of the following:
- Food
- Rent/Mortgage
- Utilities
- Pets
- Abuse
- Mental Health
- General Assistance
Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” BEFORE it is too late. With Safe2Say Something, it’s easy and confidential to report safety concerns to help prevent violence and tragedies.
Here’s how it works:
- Submit a report through the Safe2SaySomething system
- Crisis center reviews, assesses and processes all submissions
- Crisis center sends all submissions to school administration and/or law enforcement for intervention
- If needed, crisis center may contact tipster anonymously through the app
Athletics
Mt. Lebanon Youth/Middle School Football Camp - REGISTER TODAY!
https://bluedevilclub.givingfuel.com/2021-lebo-football-camp
Don't miss out on The Mt. Lebanon Youth/Middle School Football Camp!
May 24-26, 2021 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm | Grades 2-8
LEBO varsity Head Coach Bob Palko and staff welcome you to our upcoming Youth/Middle School Football Camp. Students will be trained on proper running/speed mechanics, drills to enhance change of direction, and proper form for on-field strength training. Players will also learn fundamental football skills including proper & safe tackling form, pace and intensity of practice-type reps, and simulated live football scenarios.
Cheerleading
Do you have Lebo Spirit? Interested in becoming a Mt. Lebanon Cheerleader for the 2021-2022 season? Tryouts are here!
Mt. Lebanon Cheerleading Tryout Clinic:
Dates: May 17-20
Time: 3:30-6:00
Location: MTLHS North Gym, Mt. Lebanon Cheerleading Tryouts: May 21, Beginning at 3:30, MTLHS North Gym
Reach out to Coach Shannon with any questions: sharpst@mtlsd.net
Football Sign Ups
If your child is interested in playing Middle School or Ninth Grade Football, please fill out the Google Forms below. This information will be used to keep you up to date on upcoming parent meetings, camps, training opportunities and more. If you have any questions, contact Head Football Coach Bob Palko at bpalko@mtlsd.net.
- 9th Grade Football Sign Up (For 8th Grade Families)
- Middle School Football Sign Up (For 6th and 7th Grade Families)
We are excited to announce that we are now offering the convenience of online registration for our athletic programs through partner company, FamilyID (www.familyid.com). FamilyID is a secure registration platform that provides you with an easy, user-friendly way to register for our programs, and helps us to be more administratively efficient and environmentally responsible. When you register through FamilyID, you enter your information once for multiple uses, multiple kids and multiple programs.
JMS PTA Information
Help JMS Earn Money While You Shop!
AmazonSmile
If you haven’t used AmazonSmile Before:
- Go to smile.amazon.com and sign in with your regular Amazon username and password.
- You will be prompted to choose a charity. You should enter "Jefferson Middle School PTA Inc” into the search box that appears. It will say "Pittsburgh, PA" as the location for the charity.
- Make sure whenever you check out, you always go to smile.amazon.com on your browser.
If you already use AmazonSmile:
- Go to smile.amazon.com and sign in with your username and password
- Make sure the charity you’ve selected is "Jefferson Middle School PTA Inc." This information is located under the search bar where it says “supporting”.
- If it isn’t, you can change it by clicking on the charity and selecting “change”
- This will bring you to a page where you can search for “Jefferson Middle School PTA Inc” and allow you to switch charities.
- Make sure whenever you check out, you always go to smile.amazon.com to checkout.
- If you shop on the Amazon app. Please activate Amazon Smile on your mobile app by opening the app and finding ’Settings’ in the main menu (☰). Tap on ‘AmazonSmile’ and follow the on-screen instructions to turn on AmazonSmile on your phone.
Box Tops
Clipping Box Tops is an easy way to earn money for our school. Each Box Top is worth 10 cents, so don't forget to physically and electronically clip the for us! The clipped Box Tops can be turned into the office.
See Box Tops for more information on how to scan Box Tops and to download the app. Receipts must be scanned within 14 days for the Box Tops to be scanned electronically.
Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle Support our students! Enroll your Giant Eagle Advantage Card and earn points for FREE educational rewards with every shopping trip.
Click here to register your card. Our school code is 3369. The Giant Eagle card program is also easy to use - just register your card and shop away as usual!
Office Depot/Office Max
Office Depot/Office Max has a school rewards program. When shopping, remember to ask the cashier to tag Jefferson Middle School. For online orders, enter our school ID (Thomas Jefferson Middle School ID:70088453 Pittsburgh, PA) on the Thank You Confirmation page.
Jefferson Middle School
The Jefferson Middle School learning community has an exceptional reputation for its dedicated teachers, staff and parents working together to provide learning experiences for our children that include high expectations, a challenging curriculum and a shared commitment to provide the best education possible for each and every student.
Email: sshaw@mtlsd.net
Website: https://jms.mtlsd.org/
Location: 21 Moffett Street, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Phone: (412) 344-2120
Facebook: facebook.com/jmslebo
Twitter: @JMSMTLSD