Eagle Eye JMS Parent Newsletter #33

Hello, Jefferson Middle School families and parents!

We hope you have had a great weekend! We are nearing the testing season, which is our way of showing off the learning your students have done over the past year. In our data snapshot meetings with teachers after our Term 3 Benchmark test, the admin team's biggest questions were two fold: What are you doing to remediate any short comings noticed in the data and help students demonstrate their mastery better on the state exam AND what are we doing after the test?

Just because the state test is soon, our students don't leave until June 1st, and we have so much learning still yet to do! Many teachers are taking the month of May to expand their lessons to project based learnings or to get students prepared for the next grade level. Still others are using this time to expand their teaching with some cross curricular work with other teachers. The JMS teachers will not be slowing down after testing! This is both a testament to our teachers, but also the skills of your students. JMS students keep pushing and expanding their knowledge, and we are hear to serve them.

As always, we thank our parents and our staff for what they do to help our students be the best they can be.

Phil Cox, Principal, pcox@ortn.edu

Ben Fowler, Vice Principal, bjfowler@ortn.edu

Brian Tinker, Dean of Students, bjtinker@ortn.edu

Elizabeth Leavitt, Instructional Technology Coach, ealeavitt@ortn.edu

Monday, April 10, A Day

• PTO Meeting Zoom 7:45
• Chess Club Library 2:45-3:45
• Track Practice 3:00-4:30
  

Tuesday, April 11, B Day

• Track & Field Meet @ Karns HS 5:00
  

Wednesday, April 12, A Day

• Track Practice 1:00-2:30
  

Thursday, April 13, B Day

• Track Practice 3:00-4:30
  

Friday, April 14, A Day :

• Youth for Christ Band Room 7:15
• Kala Class to ARK
• Track Practice 3:00-4:30
  

Former Jefferson student and current 11th grader at Oak Ridge High School, Ben Bivens, recently redid the track & field long jump pit at Jefferson for his Eagle Scout project. Thank you to Ben and Boy Scout Troop 328 for all of their hard work completing this project!

See the attached flyer for STEM camp!

We will be testing every morning listed below, and should be done before lunch each day. If you must schedule an appointment, we ask that you schedule in the afternoon when possible. We will make every effort for make up testing, but that will take students out of their normal classes on other days.

Also, for the first time 6th through 8th grades will be testing on computer in all 4 core areas. 5th grade wills till be testing on paper in Math, Science, and English. Future newsletters will talk specifics.

We are so excited to announce that sales for the yearbook are open now through April 28th. Order your Eagle yearbook as soon as possible for only $20!

Go to yearbookordercenter.com and enter our school code: 1575 to order your copy.

Please Click on the Food Image to Sign up and Help!

Please be sure students are coming to school in dress code and dressed for success! JMS Administration has noticed an increase in the areas listed below and would like to remind students and families of ORS Code of Conduct.

Students are prohibited from wearing:

• Clothing that resembles sleepwear such as lounging pants, or other lounging items. This also includes house shoes.
• Students are not permitted to wear pants or shorts with holes above the knee. This includes wearing any type of shorts or leggings underneath ripped attire.

Athletic Interest Meetings for the 2023-2024 JMS Athletic Teams are taking place over the next couple of weeks for many of our JMS athletic teams!

If you are a rising 6th, 7th or 8th grader and are interested in trying out for one of the JMS athletic teams for next school year, please make plans to attend these meetings. Interest meeting dates and times are as follows:

Girls Basketball: Monday, April 17th @ 7:10am in Ms. Taylor’s classroom—room 218.

Girls Volleyball: Tuesday, April 18th @ 7:10am in Ms. Taylor’s classroom—room 218.

Football: Thursday, April 20th @ 7:10am in Coach Ellison’s classroom—room 311.

Boys Basketball: Friday, April 21st @ 7:10am in Coach Nicely’s classroom—304.

Cross Country: Tuesday, May 9th @ 7:10am in Coach Smith’s classroom—313.

2023-2024 Sports Physical Forms are now posted on the JMS Athletics website and you can also pick up hard copies in the main office. All sports physicals for the 2023-2024 school year must be dated on or after April 16th, 2023. We will have free sports physicals at Oak Ridge High School on a Sunday in May, but the specific date has not yet been announced.

JMS Athletics Try-Out Dates:

Cheerleading: Try-out clinics are on April 24th and April 25th from 3:30pm-5:30pm both days. Try-outs are on April 27th from 3:30pm-5:30pm. Clinics and try-outs will be held in the JMS gym.

Girls Basketball: Try-outs are on May 15th and 16th from 3-4:30pm both days in the JMS gym.

Boys Basketball: Try-outs are on May 15th and 16th from 4:30-6pm both days in the JMS gym.

Football: Spring Practice & Try-Outs begins on May 4th from 3-5pm.

Girls Volleyball: Try-outs are on June 1st from 1:30-3pm and on June 2nd from 9am-10:30am.

If you have any questions about spring athletic try-outs, please reach out to the coach of the team or to Athletic Director, Katie Bolling.

The JMS Track & Field team will travel to Karns on Tuesday for a very competitive meet! Go Eagles!

As always, GO EAGLES!

Thank you,

Coach Bolling

Exercise is one of the keys to keeping your family healthy. Regular physical activity can help kids improve fitness, build strong bones and muscles, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and reduce the risk of health conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Whether indoors or outdoors, these 5 energy-filled activities will be sure to motivate your kids and help both of you channel that extra cooped up energy.

1. Bike to School: It’s an opportunity for parents and students to connect outside of school hours and allow students to improve their bicycle skills. What parent wouldn’t want that? https://www.actionforhealthykids.org/activity/bike-to-school/

1. Do yoga as a Family: Yoga is really easy to teach even to a small child. Teach your kids about what stretches and improves muscles, and how to look after their bodies at this age. This helps them eat healthier and feel better in the short term. It also sets up healthy habits for their long term.https://www.actionforhealthykids.org/activity/exploring-imagination-play-based-yoga/

3. Join a local sports league: Time spent on sports builds skills like teamwork, collaboration, and problem solving – qualities that last a lifetime. With exercise, you’ll find that your kids are more likely to build self-confidence and agency. https://www.bgca.org/programs/sports-recreation

4. Family Fitness Classes: Give your kids at least 30 minutes of active play per day, that they are not currently getting through school sports or other activities. Improving the amount of physical activity they do reduces the risk of preventable health conditions. https://www.actionforhealthykids.org/activity/family-fitness-night/

5. Start a walking program: Walking is one of the easiest exercises for kids as it uses no specialized gear or facilities. If you exercise with your children, they will benefit greatly from the bonding time, and you can be a great role model and teach them the importance of moving their bodies and staying healthy. https://www.actionforhealthykids.org/activity/walking-programs/

6. STEAM Activities: STEAM refers to activities that integrate science, technology, engineering, arts, and/or mathematics. Incorporating STEAM activities into everyday learning and play provides children with unique opportunities to create and experiment. https://www.actionforhealthykids.org/activity/summer-steam-easy-low-prep-steam-activities/

Keep these tips in mind:

1. Do it together: get involved in activities that you can do together.
2. Think outside the box: If a child shows interest, follow up. Ask friends and neighbors what they do with their kids. Try a variety of activities and allow your kids to pick something they are interested in.
3. Pick an activity that everyone can take part in, and you will be amazed how much fun you will have together.

This past week, we spent time Wednesday morning with the following topics in each classroom.

• 8th Grade: Working on our Capstone Final Project
• 7th Grade: Emotions and Values
• 6th Grade: Learning to Compromise
• 5th Grade: Motivation and Emotions

We so much appreciate all of our parents. Feel free to continue sending in any donations for our clinic.

One indicator of success for ORS Middle School students being College and Career Ready is:

• Math and English proficiency at or above grade level by the end of sixth grade.

Congratulations We are so proud of our Character Trait winners each week!

5th Grade:

Jayvion Little

6th Grade:

Sage Sharp

Neven Kerekes

7th Grade:

Gabrielle Barton

Hudson Edwards

Andy Ochoa

Destiny Estremera

8th Grade:

Grace Bolton

We also want to note that our Character Trait program is tied directly to our ORS district POG, as represented in "LIFE READY" above: Students exhibit traits of citizens ready for life with age-appropriate measures of self-awareness, self-discipline, and empathy.

APRIL CHARACTER STRONG TRAIT – Creativity

Get ready for some fun as we focus on Creativity this month! One way to think about Creativity is “using your imagination to create something new or solve a problem.” Opportunities to be Creative are all around us! How can you find ways to be Creative as a family this month?

What is Creativity?

https://youtu.be/hytlJxSv5uA

Family Fun Activity/Conversation Starters: Creativity Activities

· Is being Creative and using your imagination something you enjoy doing?

Why or why not?

· How are you able to use Creativity to help you manage your stress?

Clothing Closet Accepting Donations

JMS is pleased to offer support for students in need through our “Clothing Closet”. We are now accepting clean, gently used clothing items for the Spring & Summer months. Please make sure all donated items meet the JMS dress code policy. Donated items can be dropped off in the Counseling office. Thank you for your support!

Mental Health Resources

For mental health support, please feel free to reach out to the Jefferson Middle School Counseling Department at (865) 425-9301.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please refer to the information below:

Mobile Crisis/Youth Villages: 866-779-9225

Ridgeview Behavioral Health in Oak Ridge: 482-1076

Statewide Crisis Hotline: 1-855-Crisis-1 or 1-855-274-7471

Statewide Crisis Text line: Text TN to 741741

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-273-8255

School Counseling Support Team

Ms. Price – Counselor (5th & 7th Grade) - clprice@ortn.edu

Mr. Sudderth – Counselor (6th & 8th Grade) - pwsudderth@orth.edu

Ms. Myers - Registrar - amyers@ortn.edu or 865-425-9302

Preparing your child for State Testing

As we prepare for state testing, it is important to recognize that this can indeed be a source of added stress for students. Tests can naturally be stressful, but the added focus and attention that comes with state testing can create an even greater sense of pressure. As a school, we want to do our best to help support our students who might be experiencing some test anxiety.

Here are a few helpful tips for supporting your child:

1. In any stressful situation, whether it be in competition or with tests, deep breathing is a great way to help calm one’s nerves. Remind your child to visualize something that is calming to them, and then practice taking slow deep breaths. A great strategy to help with this is the 5 Finger Breathing Exercise. Students start at the base of their thumb and trace a finger up while inhaling, then slowly trace down their thumb while exhaling. See the image above.
2. Another strategy is the 1+3+10 Strategy. When students feel they are getting tense, they should 1 - stop and tell themselves: “Be calm,” then take 3 deep slow breaths, then count slowly to 10.
3. Do not underestimate a good night's rest. The simple reminder to get to bed a little earlier the night before can do a lot of good to help reduce one’s stress level.
4. Remind your child that feeling anxious is normal! Anytime in life when we have something important on the horizon it is normal for us to feel nervous about it. Sometimes students can compound their anxiety if they think that feeling nervous is abnormal.
5. Lastly, remind your child once the test starts, just “try their best!” It can be helpful to remind them that the primary function of state tests is to give feedback to their teachers and school. State tests help us determine what areas we can continue to improve in our instruction, as well as help us identify the learning needs of individual students.

Groups at JMS!

Shout out to Mr. Sudderth and the 8th Grade Boys L.E.A.D. group. L.E.A.D. (Learn, Excel, Achieve and Discover) was created for boys that have exhibited leadership qualities and influence among their peers, as well as those who need a boost of confidence to help them realize their leadership potential. There was a good mix of personalities and abilities and each one brought something special and contributed to the group in their own way.

Each L.E.A.D. session consisted of an icebreaker, followed by an activity/discussion, and concluded with a motivational video. Some topics discussed were qualities of a great leader, the correlation between self-care and leadership, and the dichotomy of good vs. evil in leadership. The group took on a small service project that was completed before spring break.

The group created handwritten letters that will be included in care packages sent to our troops deployed overseas. The project is through Military Missions, Inc.’s Operation Mail Call. The boys had fun completing the project and learned some lessons on the importance of giving back. The final session was a donut party, where each group member received a certificate and t-shirt.

Special thanks to Administration, Staff and Parents at JMS for allowing the students to participate in the group. Mr. Sudderth hopes the principles learned will remain with them for a lifetime! Go Eagles!

Wednesday Homework Help is in FULL SWING. If students have questions about an assignment, need guidance about their homework, or are looking for a quiet place to work, Mrs. Huddleston and Mrs. Ozcan will be available in the Innovation Center on Wednesdays after dismissal. Students will need to be picked up by 3:00 pm. All grade levels are welcome to attend. Please e-mail Mrs. Huddleston (cdhuddleston@ortn.edu) or Mrs. Ozcan (mozcan@ortn.edu) with any questions.

Remember when dropping off/picking up your student:

• JMS's weather policy is to load busses and release car riders during most weather events EXCEPT lightning or severe rain/wind. When lightning is present we will push our students back to the building and delay releasing students. We have had three major lightning issues and a major wind/rain events during our releases over the first term, and we wanted to reiterate what our hold policy is. We thank our parents for their patience as we do our best to keep our students safe.
• DO NOT enter the bus loop when buses are present!
• Please pull your vehicle all the way up so we can keep as many cars as possible off of Fairbanks Road.
• When dropping off AFTER 7:30am, students will be directed towards the main entrance. Go ahead and pull all the way up.
• Make sure your child is ready to exit the vehicle and doesn't have to access the trunk for items, as this holds up the line.
• DO NOT park or leave your vehicles in the neighborhoods across the street from Jefferson. Traffic is heavy during pickup and drop off and parking on those streets only increases the danger to our students and parents attempting to navigate the traffic.

A request for parade participants!

The 2023 Scarboro Reunion Unity Parade. The parade is scheduled for Saturday, July 29th, lineup at 8:15 a.m. This year's route will start on Tuskegee Avenue, turn left onto Benedict passing Spurgeon Chapel Church, crossing Wilberfoce to Benedict Avenue, passing side streets Bennett and Bettis Lane, turning left onto Carver Avenue, passing Mt Zion Baptist Church and ending at Grey Strange Baseball Field.

We need bands, dancers, performers, businesses, organization, the community and youth to participate. To date Cameo, Nashville Band, and singers from Nashville are participating. We need everyone.

Details are forthcoming.

Rose Weaver, Parade Coordinator

2023 Scarboro Reunion

Oak Ridge Schools will be providing resources for families as we collectively tackle this growing vaping problem in our schools and families. For the complete schedule, please follow this link:

Vaping Prevention Week - Jefferson Middle (ortn.edu)

Parents,

We are sad to report that student vaping has increased significantly at the secondary level this school year. School Administration and staff are committed to addressing this concern, but effectively controlling this trend will be challenging. Student access, the ability to hide vapes and the odorless nature of vapes increases the difficulty of monitoring and reducing this dangerous trend.

This trend is resulting in lost instructional time for many students. Students using or possessing vapes that contain nicotine products are being assigned multiple days of out of school suspension. Students identified as using vapes or being in possession of vapes containing THC, are being expelled for a full calendar year. Approximately 50% of the students currently assigned to the Secret City Academy are there due to using a vape that contained THC.

Due to the increase in vapes containing THC, we are informing parents that the Secret City Academy is currently at capacity. The Oak Ridge Schools Code of Conduct clearly communicates our expectations regarding the unauthorized use or possession of drugs. Students confirmed of using or being in possession of drugs at school, or at a school activity, will be expelled in accordance with the Oak Ridge Schools Code of Conduct.

If your child is expelled, it is likely that they will only have the option to participate in on-line learning. Expelled students will be placed on a waiting list and granted access to the Secret City Academy when a student complete their time at the SCA. Choosing to use a vape containing THC or participating in other zero tolerance events while at school or at a school event will remove your child's ability to participate in face-to-face instruction.

Oak Ridge Schools clearly recognizes the value of attending school in person, but we also understand the importance and are committed to providing students a drug free learning environment.

Please continue speaking with your child or children regarding the harm of vaping and drugs. We are in the process of scheduling a Vaping Education Week which will focus on providing students an educational assembly to communicate the harms of vaping. We are also looking to provide a similar evening opportunity for parents to attend.

Respectfully,

Oak Ridge Schools

Youth Vaping Prevention - Additional Resources & Information

2022-2023 ORS Student Code of Conduct Handbook (see pgs 22-24)

National Institute of Health (NIH) - Smoke Free Teen

Alcohol & Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County - Parent & Teen Resources

CATCH My Breath - Vaping Epidemic - Parent Toolkit