Eagle Eye -JMS Parent Newsletter #6

Hello Jefferson Middle School families and parents!

We are especially excited for you to read this newsletter as we are implementing a new weekly Wednesday program for all JMS students beginning next week! Be sure to check out Mr. Fowler's section on our new Social Emotional Learning curriculum, Character Strong!

Also, be sure to check out our Portrait of a Graduate Capstone Project AND Family Focus this month!

We continue to dive in to learning at the highest levels as we near the end of August. Students are immersed in critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity in each of their classrooms.

We appreciate and encourage all of our families to reach out with any needs, questions, or concerns.

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

Oak Ridge Schools has adopted the social emotional learning (SEL) curriculum called Character Strong. Teachers were introduced to the curriculum back in July, and your JMS staff has been exploring the content and figuring out the best way to implement the program here. We have a created a ZERO period only on Wednesdays where our students will meet with teacher mentors to explore our SEL curriculum.

On Tuesday, during 7th period, students will be given an updated schedule. Their regular schedule of classes will NOT change. 1st period is still 1st period, 2nd still 2nd, etc. We are ADDING a 30 minute period at the start of the Wednesday schedule.

On Wednesday, August 24, students will report to their new ZERO period Mentor teacher. We will also have signs up around school to remind them where to go.

School will start at the same time on Wednesday, at 7:40 am, and end at the same time, at 12:45 pm. See below for the updated class times. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday are NOT changing.

Through our Portrait of a Graduate, Oak Ridge Schools is helping our students achieve the heights of academic and personal growth as they go out in the world as strong, capable adults. Part of our mission is to build capacity in our students to engage the diverse world socially and emotionally in addition to academically. To that end, we are implementing Character Strong.

Because we are a 5th through 8th grade school, our 5th graders will be doing the Grade 6 lessons, our 6th graders will be doing Grade 7, and our 7th and 8th graders will be splitting the Grade 8 curriculum, as we have some more plans for the 8th grade students. See below to find out what those are!

Every Wednesday for the rest of the year, students will start their day with small groups to talk about social and emotional skills with caring teachers using engaging curriculum. 5th, 6th, and 7th grades will be focusing primarily on the SEL curriculum, but 8th grade will be engaging in the SEL curriculum AND our Portrait of a Graduate Capstone project. See below for an explanation!

We at Jefferson are very excited to bring these two new initiatives to your students. We have spent lots of time examining how best to implement these two new projects. As the school year started, we realized we needed a bit more time to refine our expectations and structures before we launched. As with all new programs, there will be some changes after implementation as we see what obstacles appear. We appreciate your support.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Mr. Fowler bjfowler@ortn.edu

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 last three 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.

Monday, August 22, 2022

• RadioActive Brix Meeting (2:45-4:30 in Room 223)
  
• Cheer Practice 3:00-4:30
• Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30
• Football Practice 3:00-5:00
• Board of Education Meeting SAB5:00
• Volleyball Game vs. Norris @ Norris 6:30
• JV Football Game vs. Coalfield @ Coalfield 6:00

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

• RadioActive Brix Meeting (2:45-4:30 in Room 223)
  
• Football Practice 3:00-5:00
• Girl Scout Meeting Rm 208 3:00
• Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30
• Volleyball Game vs. Jacksboro @ Jacksboro 4:30

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

• Cheer Practice 12:45-2:15
• NAKA Japanese Pen Pals Club 1:30-3:00
• Volleyball Practice 1:00-3:00 Football Practice 1:00-3:00
• Cross Country Meet @ JMS Girls 6:00, Boys 6:30

Thursday, August 25, 2022

• Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30
• Volleyball Game vs. Robertsville @ JMS 4:00
• Football Game vs. Lenoir City @ Lenoir City 6:30
  

Friday, August 26, 2022

• Youth for Christ-Band Room 7:10
• Counseling Classroom Visits JPAC during PE classes
• Volleyball Practice 3:00-5:00
• Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30 Football Practice 3:00-4:30
• Mid Term Grades will be sent home!

We are already five weeks in and that means MIDTERMS! Midterms grades will be finalized on Wednesday, August 24 and passed out to your student on Friday, August 26 during 7th period.

Please remember, Midterms are a point in time check. All they represent is what your student's grades are as of WEDNESDAY, August 24. Final grades for term 1 will not be locked in until October. Please be sure to ask your student about the midterm report. If you need help logging into Skyward, our student management system, OR Canvas, our learning management system, please contact Ms. Leavitt.

FOCUS: Critical Thinking

For grades 5-8, we want students to be able to grow and master critical thinking appropriate to each grade level, as indicated by:

"I can demonstrate critical thinking while creating a question, answering a question, proposing a solution, and/or solving a problem."

CHALLENGE: One aspect of critical thinking is being able to apply new knowledge to two or more real world situations. Ask your child what he or she learned in one class this past week. Follow up by asking them to apply that learning to the real world (everyday life, a career, a situation).

Click on each picture to enlarge!

Wednesday Homework Help will start this upcoming week on August 24, 2022. 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 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.

The state department has released an updated Family Portal where you can view scores and understand how to interpret results. Below, you can: click on the picture to be taken to this site, or download the TCAP Parent Brochure included below the picture.

The Sister City Support Organization and Oak Ridge Schools will be hosting a “Video Pen Pal Club” with our sister city Naka Shi, Japan. Thank you to all our students who showed up this past Wednesday! Mr. Smith and the students enjoyed jumping right in. Students even have a bit of fun homework to bring back this Wednesday!

Remember, go to Mr. Smith's room if you aren't going home after school. Our club time will be 1:30-3:00 again this Wednesday.

Ms. Katie Cormack (Left- 6th and 8th Grade)- My name is Katie Cormack and am the school counselor for grades 6 and 8, following their cohort until they go to the high school! I am entering my 5th year as a school counselor and was previously a special education teaching assistant. This is my second year at Jefferson Middle School, and it absolutely feels like home. JMS is a very special place. I consider working with your children a true blessing. Please know I am always here to help in any way- just reach out! My office number is 865-425-9252. Here’s to a great year!

Ms. Candie Price (Right- 5th and 7th Grade)- Hello JMS Family! I will be the School Counselor for grades 5 and 7 this year. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our three children. I love being a school counselor and am thankful to have the opportunity to work with you and your children. Please contact me with any questions or concerns! Go Eagles!

Please contact our school counseling department with any other questions at 865-425-9302. Ms. Amy Myers, school registrar, is happy to assist with enrollment, withdrawal paperwork, transportation, Skyward, school updates, etc.

Parent Needs Assessment

We have had a great third 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. FORM LINK: I Need A School Counselor 2022-2023 (office.com)

MS 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:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=vdNYGNb6YE61OeUm8KqiP0MGg8-niG9IqCE5CQOesjRUMjcyVTlSM0swRFVPR1hOSzVLMlBIWUlITS4u

Oak Ridge Schools Family Resource Center

The Oak Ridge Family Resource Center offers many types of services to our families!

Information and Referral to Community Resources

• Network to provide families with needed services
• Aid with applications to community resources

Program Development and Implementation

• Eliminate gaps in services

Case Management

• Home visits
• Emergency Transportation
• Family Advocate

Educational Goals

• Readers and Leaders Tutorial Programs
• Attend parents teachers conferences at the request of the parent
• Attendance Support

Student Programs

• Food for Kids
• School Supplies
• Children’s Clothing Closet

Adult Programs

• Parenting Classes and Seminars
• Job Skill/Resume Assistance
• Budgeting Classes and Seminars

Emergency Assistance

• Provide emergency assistance for rent/utilities
• Provide emergency assistance for medicines and gasoline
• Provide emergency assistance for food and clothing

The family resource center has two offices located on the west and east side of Oak Ridge. Their offices are located at Willow Brook Elementary and Glenwood Elementary.

For assistance, please contact Jo Bruce, FRC Director at 865-425-3205/jbruce@ortn.edu or Sharon Gleason, FRC Assistant at 865-425-9369/slgleason@ortn.edu

• Ms. Cormack - 6th and 8th Grade Counselor - khcormack@ortn.edu
• Ms. Price - 5th and 7th Grade Counselor - clprice@ortn.edu
• Ms. Myers - Registrar - amyers@ortn.edu

The Jefferson Eagles have another busy week of athletics ahead!!

• On Monday night, the Lady Eagles volleyball team will travel to district rival, Norris, for a varsity match at 6:30pm. The JMS JV football team will travel to Coalfield for a JV game at 6pm

• On Tuesday night, the Lady Eagles volleyball team will travel to Jacksboro for a JV match at 4:30pm, followed by a varsity match at 5:30pm.
• On Wednesday night, Jefferson will host their first cross country meet of the season. Jefferson will host Robertsville, Cherokee, Norris, Wartburg, and Clinton. Girls will run at 6pm, followed by boys at 6:30pm.

• On Thursday night,the Lady Eagles volleyball team will host Robertsville in the first match of the City Championship. JV will play at 4pm, followed by varsity at 5pm. The football team and cheerleaders will travel to Lenoir City for a varsity game at 6:30pm.

Please make plans to come out and support the JMS athletic teams this week! Go Eagles!

Volleyball, Football, and Cross Country Schedules are below!

Go Eagles!

Cheer is hosting a fundraiser on Wednesday, August 24th from 5-9 pm at El' Jinete Mexican Restaurant located behind Jefferson Middle School at 770 Briarcliff Rd. Oak Ridge, Tn

El' Jinete has graciously offered 10% of food prices from 5-9 pm to JMS cheer. Cheerleaders will hand out small flyers to turn in at the restaurant.

The purpose of the STEM Committee is two-fold: parents and community members learn about what STEM opportunities are occurring in our schools and how they can support that work, as well as how Oak Ridge Schools can support our community and businesses through STEM Education. Consider becoming a member today!

Bus Routes: https://www.ortn.edu/district/bus-routes/.

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:

1. Please confirm the following:
2. You have downloaded the App from Tyler Technologies.
3. You are using the legal student name as listed in Skyward.
4. You have selected all lower case letters.
5. You have placed a period between the first and last name.
6. 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/.