Moose Minutes
January 2023
Principal Post
PJMS Families,
Welcome back to the 2nd semester of the 2022-23 school year. We hope that everyone had a great winter break and had time to relax with family and friends.
The 2nd semester has begun, and we are playing catch-up with some students still completing testing due to the remote schooling that happening back in December. We also will have some schedule changes as we change elective classes at the semester as well as trying to level class sizes and change of placements due to updated testing results that may warrant schedule changes so please bear with us as we make these movements.
3rd quarter feels like a long in-session timeframe as there are very few breaks until spring break comes the 2nd week of March. Please encourage your student to stay up with their work, be sure to turn in/submit assignments so that they don’t fall behind and feel like they are hopelessly buried in a mountain of missing or late work.
A reminder that there are lots of after school activities for students too – lots of clubs or sports that go on throughout the year. It’s a great way for students to participate in extra activities that help to make for a more positive and well-rounded school experience. A copy of the Clubs and Sports offerings is below – please know that all offerings are subject to change.
With spring comes the time that we start to prepare 8th graders for their transition to High School. Palmer High will be visiting and talking with students about course and elective options there as will other schools such as Valley Pathways and Career Tech. Encourage your student to be sure to attend these days and hear about these programs as they all offer great and varied learning opportunities.
We are excited for a great 2nd semester here at PJMS! As always if you have any questions, please contact the office at (907)761-4300.
Go Moose!
Brad Allen
Principal – PJMS
2023 Housekeeping
- No bus passes are written after 1:00. Please ensure we have your information before that time.
- If students are leaving early, they need to be picked up prior to 2:00 pm.
- Pull up as far as possible in the pass through in front of the school. Stopping further back creates more traffic on the road.
- Lost and Found is emptied WEEKLY, so please make a plan to check it often for your student's items.
- Chromebooks and chargers need to be sent to school DAILY. We are not issuing spare computers or chargers this year.
- Front doors are locked at 8:00 am, so please ensure your student is dropped off before 8. Dropping students off later disrupts class time.
- Cold weather is here, so please make sure your student has the proper outer attire for the weather.
- Check ParentVue weekly to help your student stay caught up in Quarter 3.
Important Dates
1/16 - No School - MLK Jr. Day
1/25 - Cap and Gown Pictures
1/26 - Choir/Band Concert
Clubs
Speech and Debate Club - Mondays
Battle of the Books - Mondays
Sketch Club - Tuesdays
Girls Who Code - Tuesdays
E-Sports - Tuesdays
Battle of the Books - Wednesdays
D & D Club - Wednesdays
Anime Club - Wednesdays
Games Club - Wednesdays
Weightlifting Club - Wednesdays
Star Wars Club - Fridays
All clubs cost $20 each. Permission forms are available in the office and are needed for each club.
Sports
7th and 8th Grade
1/20 - vs. TMS @ PJMS
1/25 - @ HMS
1/26 - @ GCS
1/27 - vs. RJS @ PJMS
1/30 - vs. ACS @ PJMS
C Team
1/18 @ CMS
1/24 @ WMS
1/30 @ PJMS
Wrestling
Season Begins January 9th
1/20-1/21 @ TMS
1/27-1/28 @RJS
NYO - 6th Grade - Starts January 9th
Access To STAR reports
2022 AK STAR Reports
Title 1 Ornament Night Highlights
A Night of STEAM
This is a FREE event for ALL FAMILIES!
Doorbell at PJMS
To increase security at PJMS, a new door bell entry system has been added to help secure the building during school hours. This system will keep the front doors locked during school instructional time so that we can help to keep the campus secure to provide added safety for students and staff.
The doors will be open as normal before school starts and after school is out for the day but once the instructional day begins (at 9 am on Monday and at 8 am on Tuesday - Friday) this new system will be activated and the front doors will be locked. The door will remain locked until school is over for the day ay 2:30 pm. To gain entry to the building you only need to ring the door bell and an office staff member will answer the doorbell, and you will just need to let them know the purpose of your visit to PJMS is for. The doorbell is equipped with a video camera so that office staff can see the person(s) requesting entry and unlock the door for those granted access.
Pull Through
- Please do not leave your vehicle unattended in the parent drop off.
- Please pull forward as far as you can for the safety of our students and staff and to allow our busses to get through for sports.
If you need to come into the building, please park in the parking lot and then come in.
Want to be a less-stressed parent?
PJMS will be offering a 6-session Love & Logic workshop starting in January 2023. The classes will be held on Monday evenings over ZOOM from 6:30-8:00pm on the following dates: January 23rd, February 6th, 20th, March 6th, 20th, and April 3rd.
The school will cover the cost of the workshop and workbooks. We will be discussing the following topics:
- Putting an end to arguing, backtalk, and begging
- Teaching responsibility without losing our children's love
- Setting limits without waging war
- Avoiding power struggles
- Guiding kids to own and solve their problems
- Completing chores without reminders and without pay
If being a less-stressed parent for the new year sounds intriguing, email Garth Grover. garth.grover@matsuk12.us
iReady Personalized Path
Did you know that students should be completing 2 iReady lessons from their personalized path each week? This is for ALL students except Algebra and Geometry students. Math teachers are checking in with students about these lessons, but these lessons are personalized to help fill gaps and advance students forward in skills that they need individually. Please help prioritize these lessons for your student! If you have any questions about the iReady lessons, please email your student’s math teacher.
Student Chromebooks
On the front of each Chromebook is a QR Code that can be scanned for resources relating to the device.
Students may decorate their Chromebook CASE ONLY! The cases should remain on the Chromebook AT ALL TIMES.
More information will be forthcoming regarding lost or damaged Chromebook charges.
Courses for HS Credit
Lost and Found
Student Pick-up During the School Day
PJMS is locked down during the hours of
To increase security at PJMS, a new doorbell entry system has been added to help secure the building during school hours. This system will keep the front doors locked during school instructional time so that we can help to keep the campus secure to provide added safety for students and staff.
The doors will be open as normal before school starts and after school is out for the day but once the instructional day begins (at 9 am on Monday and at 8 am on Tuesday - Friday) this new system will be activated and the front doors will be locked. The door will remain locked until school is over for the day at 2:30 pm. To gain entry to the building you only need to ring the doorbell and an office staff member will answer the doorbell you will just need to let them know the purpose of your visit to PJMS is for. The doorbell is equipped with a video camera so that office staff can see the person(s) requesting entry and unlock the door for those granted access.
Mondays
A Lunch: 10:39 – 11:14 am
B Lunch: 11:28 – 12:03 pm
Tuesdays-Fridays
A Lunch: 10:40 – 11:15 am
B Lunch: 11:33 – 12:08 pm
Advice for Parents 👩🏻🏫
Live Homework Help Access
Have you ever felt like you needed to help your student with homework but didn't know how? Here is a FREE resource to all Alaska students and families that gives access to live tutors to help in ALL subjects!
Contact Mrs. Roberts if you need more help with accessing this FREE resource!
Box Tops for Education - PJMS
Signing up is easy!
1. Download the Box Tops for Education App.
2. Choose a log in method.
3. Choose PJMS as the school to support.
4. Fill out some basic info about yourself to create your account.
5. Enter referral code: WZ2K45EL
6. Shop!
7. Scan your receipt!
8. Start earning cash for PJMS!
FRED MEYER COMMUNITY REWARDS
Palmer Junior Middle School is part of the Fred Meyer Community Rewards Program.
To Use the Fred Meyer Community Rewards Program:
Simply visit https://www.fredmeyer.com. Once logged into your Fred Meyer account you can search for Palmer Junior Middle School either by name or BJ629 and then click Enroll. New users will need to create an account which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a rewards card.
*Customers must have a registered Fred Meyer rewards card account to link to your organization.
*If a member does not yet have a Fred Meyer rewards card, please know they are available at the customer service desk at any Fred Meyers.
Contact Information
Email: pjm@matsuk12.us
Website: https://www.matsuk12.us/pjm
Location: 1159 South Chugach Street, Palmer, AK, USA
Phone: 907-761-4300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PJMSMOOSE