
Eagle Eye -JMS Parent Newsletter #4
August 8-12, 2022
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” ~ Henry David Thoreau
We were thrilled to see so many of you at Open House on Tuesday! We appreciate your ongoing support of Jefferson Middle School as we endeavor to help your children achieve goals and soar to maximum levels of learning! Be sure to carefully read all parts of this newsletter! There are opportunities for families and students, including PTO, STEM Committee, Pen Pals with Japan, and much more below!
- 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 two major lightning issues and a major wind/rain events during our releases over the last two weeks, 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.
- 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.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out at any time!
Have a wonderful evening!
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
2021-2023 JMS Student Handbook
Week at a Glance - August 8- August 12, 2022
Monday, August 8, 2022
PTO Meeting Zoom 7:45
Cheer Practice 3:00-4:30
Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30
Football Practice 3:00-5:00
Volleyball Game vs. Lafollette @ JMS 4:30
Tuesday, August 9, 2022
Football Practice 3:00-5:00
Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30
Volleyball Game vs. LCMS @ Robertsville 6:30
TCAP reports are sent home during 7th period.
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
Cheer Practice 12:45-2:15
Volleyball Practice 1:00-3:00
Football Practice 1:00-3:00
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Volleyball Practice 3:00-5:00
Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30
Football Game vs. Norris @ Blankenship Field 6:00
Friday, August 12, 2022
Volleyball Practice 3:00-5:00
Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30
Football Practice 3:00-4:30
Saturday, August 13, 2022
JV Football Game vs. Jacksboro @ Blankenship Field 10:00 AM
PTO! Join the Next Meeting!
JMS EXPECTATIONS
Want to See What Your Child is Doing in Each Class? Canvas is the Place!
TCAP Reports are being sent home on TUESDAY, AUGUST 9!
Phenomenal Opportunity: Pen Pals with Students in Japan!!
Counseling Corner
It was great meeting so many of our families at the Open House this week!
- Parent Needs Assessment
We have had a great second week with students. If you have not already done so please, take a minute to complete the JMS Parent Needs Assessment so we may know how to best serve our students this year.
- How to see a Counselor:
If a student needs to see us: We want to make sure we are available to support students who may need to see a school counselor. If a student wishes to speak to his/her counselor and is it is NOT an emergency, please have the student fill out an online request form. This form can be found on the JMS School Counseling page on the school website AND on the School Counseling Canvas page.
If you need to refer a student to see us: If you have a student you feel needs to see a counselor, please send their grade level counselor an email (non-emergency/non-urgent situations only). If a student is experiencing an immediate crisis or emergency, please call for an admin and one of us (admin or counselor) will come to you. Please do not send the student alone to the counseling office.
FORM LINK: I Need A School Counselor 2022-2023 (office.com)
- JMS Family Resource Survey
We are happy to partner with some great community resources in order to help our families and students. Please complete the digital form below if you would like to receive any community services at this time.
School Programs:
1. Second Harvest Food Bags: Bag of nutritional snacks placed discretely in student's lockers every Friday before dismissal.
2. Angel Tree Gifts: Supports through the Holiday Season with buying your children a gift(s)
3. Holiday Food Baskets: Helps to put a meal on your table during the special holiday season!
4. ADFAC Backpack program: Helps provide students with a new backpack and school supplies each year
Form Link: JMS Family Resource Request 2022-2023 (office.com)
- Ms. Cormack - 5th & 7th Grade Counselor - khcormack@ortn.edu
- Ms. Price - 6th & 8th Grade Counselor - clprice@ortn.edu
- Ms. Myers - Registrar - amyers@ortn.edu
NEW COACHES for JMS!! Go Eagles!
Rodney Ellison: Head Football Coach
We are honored to have Coach Rodney Ellison as our JMS Head Football coach. Mr. Ellison is 43 married to Jocelyn Ellison, with 3 beautiful children: Courtney (23), Rodney III (20), and Gavin (pictured), 11! This year is his 2nd year teaching at JMS, 15th year teaching overall. As for football, he is in his 21st year of coaching, 6 years at the middle school level 15 years at the high school level including 5 years as a head coach!
Erin Brewster, Cheer Coach
Jacob Nicely: Head Boys Basketball Coach
JMS Athletic Updates from Coach Bolling
The Jefferson Eagles have a busy week of athletics ahead!
- On Monday night, the Lady Eagles volleyball team will open the 2022 season against Lafollette at home. JV will play at 4:30pm, followed by varsity at 5:30pm.
- On Tuesday night, the Lady Eagles will travel to Robertsville to take on Lake City in a varsity match at 6:30pm.
- On Thursday night, the Eagles football team and cheerleaders will take on Norris at 6pm at Blankenship Field. Please make plans to come out and support the JMS athletic teams this week! Go Eagles!
Please see the new 2022 Cross Country Schedule below along with our Football and Volleyball schedules!
Go Eagles!
The Reading Eagle - Messages from Ms. Haverkamp!
Join the ORS STEM Committee! Stem Committee Form is attached below.
First Student Transportation - Bus Information
SIGN UP FOR MYSTOP - BUS TRACKING APP!
Once you are registered for transportation, you will be able to track your child's bus using the app information detailed below. Please see information on how to register for MyStop below.
MyStop - Parent/Student Login
- Username: (use student’s name - case sensitive) firstname.lastname
- Password: (use student birth date) in this format 03122007 for March 12, 2007
MyStop Phone App Available In Your App Store
Go to: Versatrans My Stop™ provides mobile access to bus information. This app displays the location of the user’s assigned school bus, as well as the estimated time of arrival to their stop. Students can plan for late or on-time arrival, and prevent missed pick-ups or being left outside in inclement weather.
Can’t Access the MyStop App?
If you are having difficulty accessing the MyStop App please take the following steps:
- Please confirm the following:
- You have downloaded the App from Tyler Technologies.
- You are using the legal student name as listed in Skyward.
- You have selected all lower case letters.
- You have placed a period between the first and last name.
- The birthdate is correct and only consist of 8 numbers.
If this information doesn’t allow you to successfully download your child’s MyStop App account, please contact Amy Myers at 865.425.9302 or email amyers@ortn.edu. You can also view more information on the ORS District website at https://www.ortn.edu/district/bus-routes/.