JMS Parent Newsletter
Week 4: November 2nd - 6th - No School on Tuesday
There is no friendship, no love, like that of the parent for the child. Henry Ward Beecher
Week 4: November 2nd - 6th
We are so excited to welcome back ALL students A-Z to Jefferson Middle School tomorrow!
JMS is working hard to mitigate Covid-19 and other illness transmission for our students and staff. Please see below for information about how you can do your part to ensure your child protects themselves and others around them. In addition, it is very important that if your child has any symptoms, (headaches, runny nose, cough, temperature, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, etc.) that you PLEASE KEEP THEM HOME! Please see below for a detailed list of symptoms.
In regards to morning drop off, please utilize the Bus Loop (near the cafeteria/softball field) after 7:10am (when no busses are present) to drop off your child. This will ease the amount of traffic on the Gymnasium/Track side.
Please see below the items included in this weeks Parent Newsletter!
- The Eagle Eye - A Look at the Week Ahead
- After School Help & Super Wednesday Information
- Return to School Plan - Effective Tomorrow 11.2.20
- Week 4 - Almost Midterm!
- Tips from Mr. Fowler - Impact Aid in Skyward
- PTO Update
- Portrait of a Graduate
- The Reading Eagle
- JMS Counselors Corner
- JMS Athletic Update- Basketball Covid Protocol
As always, the health and safety of our students and staff will remain our number one priority. Please feel free to reach out to our admin team if you have any questions about our Return to School Plan or about the contents of this newsletter.
Have a fantastic week!
Phil Cox, Principal, pcox@ortn.edu
Jenifer Laurendine, Vice Principal, jllaurendine@ortn.edu
Nick Corrigan, Dean of Students, njcorrigan@ortn.edu
Ben Fowler, Instructional Technology Coach, bjfowler@ortn.edu
The Eagle Eye - A Look at the Week Ahead
Monday, November 2
A Day
First Lego League Meeting Room 102 2:45-4:30pm
Basketball Game vs. Coalfield at JMS - Girls Varsity 5pm, Boys Varsity 6pm
Tuesday, November 3
Election Day - NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, November 4
B Day
Admin Team Meeting Eagle Innovation Center 6:00AM
Food Truck-The Soulful Cup 6:45-8:15am
Collaborative Teams
Special Education Meeting via Zoom 1-1:30pm
Girls Basketball Practice Gym 1-3pm
Boys Basketball Practice Gym 3-5pm
Thursday, November 5
A Day
Special Area Meeting 7:45ama via Zoom
Basketball Game vs. Pigeon Forge at JMS - Girls Varsity 5pm, Boys Varsity 6pm
- Cross Country Team will be recognized at halftime of the boys’ game
Friday, November 6
B Day
Girls Basketball Practice Gym 3-5pm
Boys Basketball Practice Gym 5-7pm
After School Help & Super Wednesday Information!
JMS Students and Families,
We are so happy to have you as part of our after-school homework help group. For the time being, we will continue after school homework help groups on the staggered schedule by last name. This will help us to continue providing adequate levels of support to our students in smaller groups.
We will continue meeting in the Eagle Innovation Center as this space has been a wonderful atmosphere for students to work and allow teachers to drop in throughout their time. The white boards, interactive television, and charging spaces have been critical to work with students.
After School Homework Help
Monday & Thursday – Last Names A-K can stay after school
Tuesday & Friday – Last Names L-Z can stay after school
Please remember students will need to be picked up by 3:45 PM.
Super Wednesday Homework Help
Students that have previously signed up for homework help on Wednesday afternoons may continue to attend. Students should report to the Eagle Innovation Center (main lobby) after being dismissed from school on Wednesday. Please remember that students will need to be picked up by 3:45 PM.
Please contact Nick Corrigan at njcorrigan@ortn.edu or Corey Huddleston at cdhuddleston@ortn.edu if there are any questions or concerns.
JMS Return to School Plan - Effective Monday, November 2nd!
Important Parent Information
- Keep your student home if they are displaying any of the following symptoms
- Fever or Chills Temperature > 100.4 F
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- New loss of taste or smell
- Muscle or Body Aches
- Headache
- Sore Throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- If your child has been tested for Covid-19, students shall remain at home, per the guidelines.
- Check your student’s temperature each day prior to coming to school or getting on bus. If the temperature is 100.4 or greater, keep your student at home.
- Face coverings are required by all students and staff. Please be sure face masks follow ORS/JMS dress code policy.
- Drop off students between 7:20am and 7:30am each morning to discourage the opportunity to stand around in groups.
- Your child’s temperature will be taken by a JMS staff member upon entering the school. If their temperature is 100.4 or greater, you will be contacted to come pick up your child.
- Remind your student to wash their hands regularly throughout the day and avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Encourage your student to use hand sanitizer stations available throughout the building.
- Encourage your student to only use their own supplies and materials.
- Prompt your student to notify his or her teacher immediately if they begin to feel sick while at school and to visit the school nurse.
- Encourage your child to socially distance and abide by hall signage, floor markings, etc., that are placed throughout the building.
Visitors to Building
- All building visitors will be limited. Masks and temperature checks will be mandatory prior to entering.
- Teachers will schedule Zoom meetings for conferences.
- In person meetings will be scheduled on an as needed basis following all Covid protocol. (Parent/teacher conferences, IEP, 504, etc.).
- Parents/guardians will not be permitted to eat lunch with their child or provide food for sharing.
- Parents will be encouraged to schedule any meetings through the front office, so our administrative team is able to effectively supervise students due to necessary health checks each morning.
- Students who are tardy to school will check in from the Secured Main Entrance Point located in the main lobby.
Masks
- All students and staff must wear masks when they arrive on campus and while in the building.
- Staff will check students for mask upon arrival to campus and will provide a mask if they do not have one.
- If your child needs masks, their homeroom teacher can provide a pack of 3 washable masks. There will also be a supply of disposable masks in case of emergency.
- Student and staff will be given mask breaks when able to social distance and during breakfast and lunch after they are in position of social distance.
- Refusing to wear a mask will result in a discipline referral via Skyward. If there are extenuating circumstances regarding your child wearing a mask, please reach out to administration.
1st Offense
Warning - student is reminded to wear mask and/or given replacement mask. Student is counseled on procedures and policies pertaining to student safety. Parent is contacted.
2nd Offense
Detention – student is reminded to wear mask and/or given replacement mask. Student is issued detention and counseled on procedures and policies pertaining to student safety. Parent is contacted.
3rd Offense
School Suspension (1 day) - student is reminded to wear mask and/or given replacement mask. Student is issued 1 day of school suspension and counseled on procedures and policies pertaining to student safety. Parent is contacted.
4th Offense
In School Suspension (2 days) - student is reminded to wear mask and/or given replacement mask. Student is issued 2 days of school suspension and counseled on procedures and policies pertaining to student safety. Parent is contacted.
5th Offense
Out of School Suspension - student is reminded to wear mask and/or given replacement mask. Student is suspended out of school and counseled on procedures and policies pertaining to student safety. Parent is contacted.
Hand Hygiene
- Students and staff are required to exercise hand hygiene (handwashing or sanitizing) upon arrival to school, before eating, before putting on and taking off masks, and before dismissal.
- Handwashing: When handwashing, individuals should use soap and water to wash all surfaces of their hands for at least 20 seconds, wait for visible lather, rinse thoroughly, and dry.
- Hand sanitizing: If handwashing is not feasible, hand sanitizer can be used.
- Hand sanitizing stations (38) have been strategically installed throughout the building.
Arrival to School
Bus Arrival
- In an effort to stagger student entrance, students will be held on bus and dismissed to their grade level building entry points.
- Temperatures will be taken on bus and then will depart when complete
Car Riders
- Parents will be encouraged to drop off their students as close to 7:30am as possible in order to promote social distancing.
- Parents are encouraged to utilize the Bus Loop after 7:10am to expedite drop off.
- Students should exit vehicles and wait on sidewalk until their temperature is taken by a staff member.
- Flexibility and patience will be shown to student tardiness due to increased number of car riders, encouraged later drop off and temperature checks, etc.
Dismissal from School
- In an effort to stagger student dismissal, students will be held in classrooms and announcements for busses will be made beginning at 2:35pm.
- To expedite student dismissal, students will be permitted to carry their backpacks to 7th period only.
- Walkers will be dismissed after busses, then car riders will follow.
Staff Temperature Checks
- Ms. Story/Ms. Davis will be taking staff temperature checks in the main office each morning beginning at 7:00am. If staff arrive earlier, admin will take temperatures.
- If staff has a fever of/greater than 100.4, arrangements will be made, and staff will go home.
Morning Bus Duty
5th & 6th grade - Gym
- Mr. Corrigan will oversee gym temp checks & social distancing in the gym area.
- Two staff members will be in gym supervising students (regular bus duty schedule.)
- Students will enter through the assigned gym doors after having their temperature taken daily by Mr. Corrigan, Coach Bolling, and Ms. Pemberton.
- Students will be spaced using as much social distance as possible within their homeroom lines.
7th grade - JPAC
- Supervision will be provided in JPAC for (regular bus duty schedule).
- Students will be housed in the JPAC and enter through the outside JPAC door after having temperature taken daily by JMS Staff.
- Students will be seated with 2 empty seats in between.
- We will skip rows initially to maintain space for as long as possible, and then fill in as needed.
- If more seating is needed, we will have chairs on the stage.
- After 7th grade is dismissal, JPAC will be sprayed to sanitize.
8th grade - EIC/Main Lobby
- Two staff members will be in the Lobby area supervising students (regular bus duty schedule).
- Students will visit temperatures check stations near main entrance and enter through two marked outside doors after having temperature taken by administration.
- Students will be spaced using as much social distance as possible within the lobby area.
- The library will be used to increase social distancing as needed.
- After 8th grade is dismissed, the Lobby tables/chairs will be sprayed to sanitize.
Breakfast
- All tables will be used, and all lights will be turned on.
- Chairs will be marked at each table (4 of 10 chairs) to accommodate for eating.
- Students will remain in the cafeteria until dismissed to class. If social distancing becomes an issue, we will dismiss students to accommodate other student .
- Students will use hand sanitizer when they enter/exit the cafeteria.
- Students will stay in the cafeteria instead of leaving when finished eating.
- All tables will be sanitized after breakfast.
Lunch
- Grade levels will be split up by homeroom for lunch and will be assigned to eat in the cafeteria and JPAC.
- The students will not rotate locations and will have assigned seats to assist with contact tracing.
- Chairs will be marked at each table (4 of 10 chairs) to accommodate for eating.
- Students will take masks off to eat only, then put masks on upon finishing their meals.
- Aramark workers will be using PPE and serving lunches in clamshell boxes.
- JPAC and Cafeteria will be disinfected immediately following each group of students’ exit to prepare for next lunch period.
- Students who bring their lunch will go directly to their location to begin eating. Students who need to purchase their lunch will go to the cafeteria.
Lockers
- Students will utilize space when waiting to access their locker throughout the day.
- Teacher will go over locker expectations, protocol, etiquette, etc., upon return.
- All lockers will be disinfected on the outside daily.
- Due to the increased amount of spacing in the 7th & 8th grade locker areas, we will focus on procedures, distancing, and locker etiquette.
- 5th & 6th grade teams created cohort visits to lockers to maintain social distancing.
- All students will gather items from locker during 6th period and take them to 7th period to aid the dismissal process at the end of the day.
Hallways/Communal Spaces
- These are marked with directional walking lanes and arrows, social distance spacing dots and additional wall signage.
- The stairs nearest the library are designated as the “down” stairs and the stairs nearest the JPAC are the “up” stairs.
Restrooms
- Expectations are clearly posted.
- Social distance markings will be placed inside and outside the restroom.
- A limited number of students will be permitted in the restroom at a time. This number is dependent upon the logistics of each individual restroom.
- Teachers/administration will supervise these areas throughout the day.
- Restrooms will be disinfected throughout the day.
Water Fountains
- All water fountains will be turned off.
- Water filling stations will be used for student water bottles and cups during lunch and PE. No glass containers will be permitted.
- Water bottles are encouraged, especially for PE classes.
- Water filling stations will be disinfected throughout the day.
Classrooms
- Classrooms will be arranged with as much distance between students as possible.
- Teachers reduce use of communal items and require students to use their own supplies.
- Use of technology tools will be encouraged to promote student to student collaboration digitally.
- Teachers will receive cleaning supplies to use when needed in between classes.
Special Areas Classes
- We will continue to monitor student enrollment in all classes.
- Band, Chorus, and Orchestra will work to social distance as much as possible.
- PE students will not dress out for class and locker rooms will not be in use. Students will be encouraged to dress appropriately the day they have gym. We will continue to go outside for class. Please be sure your student has jacket and dresses appropriately to keep warm during colder temperatures.
- Please be sure your child has a water bottle for PE class.
Disinfecting School Building
- Building will be cleaned and sanitized daily under the guidance of the ORS Maintenance Department per the ORS School Reopening Plan.
- Teachers will be provided safe cleaning supplies to disinfect areas of classroom in between classes, as needed.
Clinic Procedures
- Nurse Cousins will be available each day at 7:15am.
- We will continue to use separate clinics to keep students separated.
Isolation Room
- Room will be used for any student showing signs/symptoms of sickness.
- We will utilize the School Counseling Conference Room as the isolation room to house students that are ill and/or who are identified with a temperature during daily checks (100.4).
- Room will be disinfected and sanitized when unoccupied and the end of each day.
Well Room
- Room will be used for student who take daily medications, receive first aid, and other routine clinic needs.
- This room will only be occupied by physically well students.
Main Office/School Counseling Office
- Hand sanitizing stations have been placed in both offices.
- Tempered glass barriers have been placed around the main office and counseling desks.
- There will be signage and spots to ensure social distancing while waiting for services.
Library
General Library Guidelines
- Students will wear masks at all times.
- Students will sanitize their hands before entering.
- The number of students in the library at one time will be limited in order to allow for proper social distancing.
- Furniture that seats multiple students (couches) or otherwise poses disinfectant problems (soft, porous surfaces like pillows) will be removed or blocked from student use.
- Shared items will be removed or taken out of use (computer stations, Makerspace items, puzzles, magazines, office supplies, chess boards, etc.).
- Tape will be used to denote proper social distancing in high use areas such as where students wait to use printers and check out books.
Circulation Guidelines
- Librarians will offer a hold/delivery service for students and staff.
- Personal use items (headphones, etc.) will not circulate.
- Items that are returned will be quarantined for a minimum of three days before being returned to the library collection.
- Quarantined items will be handled as little as possible and only by library staff wearing a mask and gloves.
- Quarantined items will be stored where they will not be around staff or patrons.
- Books that are used in the library will be considered “returned” when the patron leaves and will be quarantined.
- Books that are only briefly touched by sanitized hands (as when a patron browses for something to check out) will not be considered “returned” and will not be quarantined.
- DVDs and CDs that are returned will be sanitized and quarantined.
Attendance
- Attendance will be taken in accordance with the ORS Board Policy 6.200.
- Please bring in parent/doctor note within 3 days of returning from an absence.
- Attendance team will utilize flexibility regarding truancy procedures.
- To see policies for ConnectOR online learning attendance, please see ConnectOR Handbook.
Assemblies and Field Trips
- There will be no student assemblies or field trips until further notice.
- Athletic activities will follow TSSAA, TMSAA, and ORS guidelines and recommendations.
Week 4 - Almost Midterm!
As we welcome back all students to the building tomorrow, we wanted to share some tips to ensure your child can be successful moving forward!
Check Skyward
- Check your child's grades in Skyward. You will be able to tell what their current grade is and what assignments are missing. Please see the video below on how to access your child's grads on Skyward.
Contact Teacher
- If your child has missing assignments, reach out to their teacher to see what steps can be taken to possibly make them up. Many teachers provide opportunities to resubmit or make up assignments.
After School/Super Wednesday Assistance
- If your child has multiple missing assignments, please reach out to his/her school counselor to schedule time after school or during Wednesdays to make them up. Ms. Castle (5th & 7th grade) can be reached at mccastle@ortn.edu and Ms. Sullivan (6th & 8th grade) can be reached at fcsullivan@ortn.edu. You can also reach After School Coordinator Corey Huddleston at cdhuddleston@ortn.edu.
- Super Wednesdays are from 1pm - 3:45pm. Parent will need to provide transportation to and from the help session.
- After School Help is from 2:45pm - 3:45pm. Parent will need to arrange for student pick up.
Attendance
- Please be sure to bring in a doctor or parent note within 3 days of returning to school when your child is absent. Students are only permitted 7 parent notes for a sickness that does not require a doctor note.
Please feel free to reach out to Vice Principal Jen Laurendine at jllaurendine@ortn.edu (865-425-9257) or Dean of Students Nick Corrigan at njcorrigan@ortn.edu (865-425-9271) if we can assist in any way
Tips from Mr. Fowler - Impact Aid on Skyward
Have you been receiving phone calls and emails about the Federal Impact Aid Form?
Federal installations and properties do not pay traditional property taxes, which is a major source of funding for Oak Ridge Schools. Instead, we receive federal funds for each of our students who has a parent or guardian who works on one of these sites, but we have to collect that information and submit it for those funds. Even If you do not work for any of the federal sites, it is still important that you fill out this form, as it is quick and easy if you do not work on one of those locations.
A number of people have contacted my office and said that there were some difficulties in accessing the form. So, here is how we go about that. First, you cannot use the mobile app. You must be in your web browser. Second, you cannot use the mobile website version of the form. So, follow these steps below to access the form.
As always, if you need anything, please contact me at bjfowler@ortn.edu.
JMS PTO News
Help JMS PTO by Using the Kroger Rewards Program
If you shop at Kroger, your regular purchases can help the PTO’s mission to support teacher and student’s needs at JMS. By enrolling your Kroger Plus card in the Community Rewards program and having it scanned at checkout, Kroger will donate a small percentage of your purchases to JMS. It’s easy – just follow the instructions below to enroll your card at the beginning of each school year:
1. Go to https://www.kroger.com/account/enrollCommunityRewardsNow/
2. Click “I’m a Customer. Want to enroll in Community Rewards? View Details”
3. Sign into your Kroger account or create a Kroger account
4. Click on “Find Organization” and search for Jefferson. Select Jefferson Middle School PTO as your organization. That’s it!
Fundraiser Spotlight:
Are you curious about how your fundraiser dollars are being used? Each week, the PTO section of this newsletter will feature a different department or classroom from JMS that was helped with money from our annual Direct Drive fundraiser! This week the spotlight is on the new Eagle Innovation Lab. This new learning area replaced the first floor lobby lockers. Thanks to Direct Drive donations, PTO was able to purchase some of the tables and chairs now being used in this spectacular new space.
Thank you, JMS families!
Portrait of an Oak Ridge Schools Graduate
Each week, you will continue learning about how you can model these competencies at home to further institutionalize these behaviors that will ensure all students are college, career and life ready!
Please see Dr. Borchers message below!
The Reading Eagle
JMS Counselors Corner
Ms. Kerr's Day of the Dead
JMS Thanksgiving Donations
Spooky Math
Good Evening from the Jefferson Middle School Counseling Department.
This month our focus is on building interpersonal relationships. As we return to the building on a full-time basis, there will be a number of new friendship opportunities and chances to positively influence others both inside and outside the Jefferson Middle School campus.
Understanding this, we want to do our part to share some helpful hints in building and maintaining healthy relationships. Below are some tips and tricks that might be helpful:
- Empathy is the starting place for all healthy relationships. Be willing to put yourself in another’s shoes.
- Practice listening and be there during the hard times for friends and family.
- Continue to find things that you enjoy together.
- Practice loyalty! Invest in those around you and grow together.
- Lead out with kindness. Practicing kindness in friendships is contagious and spreads to those around you. This is where our Eagles truly soar!
Also this week, Mrs. Kerr’s Spanish classes designed and constructed an ofrenda to celebrate the Latino holiday, Day of the Dead, which takes place on November 1st and 2nd. During this celebration, families reflect and honor the family members that have passed on before them. Mrs. Kerr, in conjunction with her Spanish classes, worked tremendously hard to prepare this for the JMS students and families. Thank you for spreading awareness, educating us on different cultures, and allowing us to celebrate diversity with you all.
The counseling department continued to host both its Lunch Bunch and After School Homework Help programs this week, serving over 45 students during lunches, 58 students after school, and 42 during the Wednesday help sessions. These programs were created in order to better meet our students’ academic needs. Since implementing this program, we have been able to aid in bringing up a number of students’ grades to passing and graduate them from our program, having grown their individual academic and organizational skillsets. At each session, each student receives a nutritious snack that helps them re-center their brains and stomachs for further concentration. We are asking all who are able and interested in supporting this program to donate nutritious, prepackaged snacks for our students. All donations can be dropped off to the Jefferson Middle School Counseling Office. We thank you so much for your willingness to support this wonderful program here at JMS.
We Need Your Help to Get Approved for A Grant to Resurface Our JMS Track! We are blessed as a school and community to have the track at JMS that has been used regularly for many years. In order for this track to remain safe for the students and community, it needs to be resurfaced. Here is where you come in! Please complete the quick survey below on how your family uses the track at JMS. If you know of other families that no longer have students at Jefferson that use this track, please feel free to share this survey with them. Evidence of community support is a key factor is getting this track resurfaced. Please see pictures below. Also, please access the survey by using the link below:
For a few decades now, JMS has conducted a tremendously successful Food Drive for our local food pantries to help our families in need during the holidays. This year, we have to take a pause on this worthy tradition, but we have created an alternate way to help Oak Ridge: We will collect cash donations or checks made out to JMS, which will then be equally divided and shared with our two Oak Ridge food pantries.
- Any amount is greatly appreciated.
- Monetary donations will be accepted from November 2-16.
- There will be a secure barrel in the lobby where you can drop in your spare change.
- MANY THANKS to Home Depot for donating the barrel and fall decorations to support our cause!
- We will present the monetary donations to our local food banks, so they may purchase what they need to provide for our community during the holidays.
- JMS has a strong history of stepping up—let’s keep this tradition going!
Congratulations to the following students on being nominated for Student of the Week:
Audrey Leach
Charlotte Baldwin
Connor Curtis
Destiny Estremera
Isaiah Phillips
Natalie Moore
Jaedyn Ferguson
Andrew Restrepo
Brylie Curtis
Blayze Davis
Anyssa Taylor
Lindsay Faulkner
Lily Faulkner
Charlotte Kimmel
Clay Kendall
Olivia Ashburn
Jeferson Discua
Mia Miller
Hunter Hansen
Devin Slattery
Kendra Lynn
Daniel Herrera-Meza
Jared Bafford
Hayven Laurendine (Juliana)
Kayla Tratta
Upcoming Dates:
Return to 5 days a Week – November 2nd
8th Graders ONLY - ACT Aspire Testing - November 11th &13th
Election Day- No School - November 3rd
Thanksgiving Break - November 25th-27th
Winter Break Early Dismissal - December 18th
Winter Break - December 21st- January 4th
Help Us Resurface our Track!
JMS Athletic Update - Basketball Covid Protocol
The Jefferson boys and girls basketball teams and cheerleaders are excited to host their first basketball games of the season this week.
Jefferson will host Coalfield on Monday and Pigeon Forge on Thursday. The girls varsity game will begin at 5pm and the boys varsity game will follow at 6pm.]]
Below are COVID guidelines that we will be following at all home basketball games this season:
- All spectators will be required to wear a mask at all times while inside Jefferson Middle School. Spectators will be asked to leave if they do not keep their mask on.
- Out of an abundance of caution and safety, seating capacity for all home basketball games at Jefferson Middle School during the 2020-2021 season will be limited to 200 fans and spectators to allow for appropriate social distancing. Upon conclusion of the girls game, we request that fans not staying for the boys game exit the gym out the front gym doors to allow space in the bleachers for the spectators arriving for the boys game. Spectators attending the boy’s game are requested to arrive as close to tip-off as possible to allow fans attending the girls game time to exit the gym. All fans and spectators will enter Jefferson through the main front doors. At conclusion of games, all fans should exit the gym through the front gym doors.
- Spectators will have their temperatures taken upon arrival and are expected to maintain social distance in the bleachers from anyone other than those living in the same household.
- Admission will be $4/adults and $3/students—correct change is appreciated.
- We will have limited, pre-packaged concessions available for purchase.
Please come out and support the Eagles this week!