We want to reinforce that we are taking mask wearing very seriously. Students who are not complying with our masking expectations will be sent home, as this creates a health and safety risk for students and staff.
Students are expected to wear their mask properly. Please remind your child that their mask must be covering their mouth and their nose at all times, unless they are actively eating/drinking.
This should be familiar to all of the children as we have shared a video with all of the students about proper mask wearing (this video is attached above). Ms. Deet and I, along with your child's teachers, have instructed and reinforced our masking expectations. We have provided children with additional masks on occasions when their masks break, become soiled, or are not fitting properly. We will continue to provide the children with additional masks should they need them.
TikTok Challenges
We were recently made aware of two TikTok challenges that you should know about.
Devious Licks
This challenge has been burdening schools across the nation, including JMS. The "Devious Lick" Challenge encourages students to steal items in school bathrooms such as soap, soap dispensers, toilet paper, toilet paper dispensers, signs, sinks, doors, mirrors, etc. The "Devious Lick" Challenge also encourages students to destroy the bathroom by shoving objects into toilets, squirting soap on the floor, clogging urinals with paper towels and throwing paper towels all over the floor.
Unfortunately, we have been seeing these same behaviors at JMS in the recent weeks. We have had soap dispensers ripped off walls and stolen, soap dispensers ripped off walls and shoved in sinks, signs ripped down, soap bags removed from the dispensers, clogged urinals and paper towels thrown all over the bathroom.
This behavior is unacceptable. Students who choose to participate in this behavior are committing criminal mischief, vandalism/theft, and are subject to repercussions per school code and the law. Students who are caught will face consequences that will include detention, suspension, restitution and/or referral to the Local Law Enforcement Agency.
Social Media can be a powerful tool, however this challenge is encouraging children to make poor decisions. We want our students to be respectful to each other and to our school property. We want them to be leaders. We want to teach them how to make good choices. We are asking that families have a discussion with your child about how this trend is a display of inappropriate conduct and is damaging school property.
We ask that you please review our, rather simple, bathroom expectations with your child:
- Go, Flush, Wash, Leave
We also ask that you please review your child's TikTok account.
One Chip/Hot Chip Challenge
The One Chip/Hot Chip Challenge is another challenge that is trending. This challenge encourages people to eat a Pauqi brand chip that is made with Carolina Reaper and Scorpion Peppers.
Upon eating this chip, participants are experiencing vomiting and the inability to breathe. We have alerted the staff and our nursing staff about this challenge. Should we see a child in distress we will follow our health and safety protocol.
Please do not send this chip to school with your child. If we see it, we will take it. Please talk with your child about the dangers associated with this trending challenge.
Children can purchase this chip at gas stations, local stores and on Amazon. Although, it is currently sold out on Amazon.
It's Time to Order Your School Pictures!
**Orders must be submitted no later than September 19th if you would like free delivery to the school. Any order received after September 19th will incur sales tax and shipping charges.**
School pictures have been uploaded to our photographer's website for ordering. Please visit Wayne's World of Photography to order your photos. Detailed instructions for how to do this are below. The company offers retakes if eyes are closed, glasses have glare, or hair is blown in the face. If you have any additional questions about orders or retakes, please contact Wayne Bratten at 412-257-1506. To view and order your photos:
- Visit Wayne's World of Photography.
- Click on "JMS."
- Enter your student's MTLSD 7 digit ID number. (This number can be found on dashboard in the Student Information section.).
- Click on "Order Prints/Products.
- Complete your purchase online.
Picture Make-Up/Retake Day - October 6th
Families In Need of Technology
As we prepare to start the 2021-2022 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
Middle School Athletics
You can learn everything you need to know about Middle School Athletics, including starting dates, by visiting the MS Athletics Webpage.
SHOPPER & SCHOOL REWARD PROGRAMS
Amazon
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
Scanning Box Tops is an easy way to earn money for our school. 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.
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.
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
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
