Happy New Year!

Dear Ira B. Jones Elementary Families:

I hope you are doing well. Today, we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I hope you have a wonderful day off with your children, celebrating the legacy of this inspirational leader who played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a time for reflection and celebration and an opportunity to engage in a day of service. I encourage you to explore ways your family can contribute to your community and make a positive impact, embodying the spirit of Dr. King's vision.

We have noticed a safety concern during afternoon pick-up times. Some families are parking in a way that requires children to cross in front of cars to reach their parents. Ensuring the safety of our students is our top priority, and we request that all parents avoid parking in a manner that puts children at risk. Please follow the car rider drop-off and pick up process and honor the designated pick-up and drop-off procedures to maintain a safe environment for our students.

Please contact our school office with any concerns or questions about the procedures. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we appreciate your cooperation in keeping our school community safe.

I invite you to visit our school's website and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/irabjones/ and follow us on Twitter @Principal_IBJ and Instagram @IraB.JonesElementary. These will serve as a resource tool for all upcoming events, the student/family handbook, and important reminders, and you can catch up with all the wonderful things our students and teachers are doing. I also send out a weekly family newsletter. Please ensure we have updated contact information so you can stay informed of all our school happenings.

As a school leader and a parent, I understand the necessity of healthy communication between families and the school. I welcome your questions, celebrations, or concerns at any time. You can call the school at 828.350.6700 or email me at ruafika.cobb@acsgmail.net.

Wishing you a joyful Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

In Service,

Ruafika Cobb

Principal

Ira B. Jones Elementary School

#noplacelikejones

Just Announced! IBJ is Offering an Afterschool Program on Campus at Jones, Mondays & Wednesdays!

This Clubs-based afterschool program starts January 22nd and is being offered on Mondays or

Wednesdays (or both!) There are many amazing clubs for students K-5 to choose from, including: Spanish, Manners Club, Learn to Knit, Sun Soo Tae Kwon Do, Art, Puppet-making, STEM & Robotics, LEGO club, Chess, and MORE!

Rates for clubs range from us as little as $24 per club, for the entire 6 weeks. Your child can register for one or both days, and will receive a snack and a break after regular dismissal, with afterschool clubs running until 5pm! Please check out the selection and register today. Scholarships are also available for those with financial need. Email the FTO with questions: jonesafterschool@gmail.com

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Dear Parents & Caregivers,

We’re reaching out to share exciting news about an upcoming program with Mountain Child Advocacy Center’s child abuse prevention education that your child’s school is scheduled to participate in. Trained prevention educators will be conducting age-appropriate lessons, focusing on healthy relationships and personal safety for K-5 students.

The program will be conducted in your child’s classroom with the presence of school staff. Our trauma-informed and engaging approach aims to equip students with essential skills for cultivating healthy relationships.

Through gentle, child friendly and age-appropriate discussions, stories, and scenarios, kids will explore topics like setting boundaries, recognizing trusted adults, and understanding boundaries around private body parts, which is explained as the parts of the body that can be covered with a bathing suit.

Please keep an eye out for another Parent Square post about our upcoming Family Safety Forum on January 3rd from 6 to 7:30 pm where you can find out more about our lessons and ask questions of our prevention educators.

Messages conveyed during these sessions include:

• The importance of trusted adults as individuals to confide in about problems.

• The concept of boundaries, emphasizing everyone's right to be heard and respected.

• The understanding that feelings can be complex, and it's healthy to discuss concerns with trusted adults.

• Empowering children with options for responding when faced with discomfort, emphasizing the importance of saying no and seeking help.

If your child discusses anything unsettling with you, remember to stay calm, reassure them it's not their fault, and express your commitment to their safety. For extra support, reach out to your school counselor or us at the Mountain Child Advocacy Center – all our services are free.

If you have any questions about the program you can scan/click the QR code or visit https://tinyurl.com/MCACeducatorQA to schedule a time to chat with one of the Prevention Educators. If you prefer your child not participate, please contact your school administrator or counselor.

Mountain Child Advocacy Center will be at the below schools on the following dates:

• Isaac Dickson 1/8-12 and 1/16-19

• Jones 2/5-9 and 2/12-16

• Lucy Herring 4/29-5/3

• Claxton and Hall Fletcher are both on our waiting list if we have weeks that become available.

Thanks for partnering with us to create a safe and supportive environment for all our kids.

With Gratitude,

Claudia Burke (she/her)

Prevention Educator

Mountain Child Advocacy Center

cburke@mtncac.org

704-231-1130

Maria Suarez (she/her)

Prevention Educator

Mountain Child Advocacy Center

msuarez@mtncac.org

931-250-3653

With winter upon us, we may have weather conditions that require school buildings to close for the day. If we are closed due to inclement weather, Asheville City Schools can use remote learning strategies these days. Doing so means students can complete remote learning assignments on an inclement weather day without interrupting the school calendar.

Students in Kindergarten through 5th grade received their “ACS Remote Learning Choice Board” for their grade level from their teacher right before the winter break. You can find additional details and directions on our school’s website and the Asheville City School’s webpage. Copies of the menu board and enrichment activities can also be found on the Asheville City School’s webpage. Students in Kindergarten through 5th Grade will turn in their choice board assignments on paper when they return to school to receive credit for their attendance. Please put the choice boards in a safe location in case students need them later this winter. Students only need to complete the choice boards if we are out due to inclement weather.

SNOW CLOSING AND DELAYED OPENINGS

On days of a 2-hour delayed opening, students should arrive at 9:30 am. There is no supervision for children before that time. Information about snow closings or delayed openings will be made available on the radio & television stations listed below and via the Asheville City Schools hotline and website. Families with contact info entered in our ParentSquare Communication System will receive phone messages and email alerts regarding school closing. Please ensure your contact information is updated in Power School, especially if you have not received robocalls or messages from the school lately. When school is on a 2-hour delayed schedule, buses pick up children 2 hours later than the regular pick-up time. If you don’t have the bus tracking app, “Chipmunk,” you can download it from your app store.

Radio Stations: WWNC, WKSF, WISE, WCQS, WPEK, WOXL, WRES, WQNX, WQNQ, WMXF

Television Stations: WLOS (13), WSPA (7), WYFF (4), WMYA (40), and WHNS (21)

Asheville City Schools Hotline: 828-350-6188

Web Sites: www.ashevillecityschools.net www.citizen-times.com www.wlos.com

When schools are dismissed early due to inclement weather, announcements are made on the same stations and through our recorded phone system. Students who ride the bus will be sent home on the bus unless we hear from a parent. Car riders will be allowed to make phone calls.

Don't hesitate to contact the school at 828.350.6700 or your child’s teacher if you have general questions about inclement weather days, remote learning, or the choice board activities.

Due to the Potential Middle School Reconfiguration Stakeholder Input Session being held at the ACS Central Office on Thursday 18 at 6 PM, the United Way Community Night at Asheville Middle School featuring bingo that had been planned for the same night has been postponed. Bingo Night will now be Thursday, February 1 from 5:30-7:00 PM.

Enrollment "season" is approaching! Do you have a rising kindergarten you need to enroll in our school next year? Here's what you need to know:

• All enrollment information can be found on this Asheville City Schools website.

• Applications will be given equal consideration, regardless of the date received during the open enrollment period. Placements are not based on a first-come, first-serve basis. If space allows, all applications will be placed at their 1st choice. If there is insufficient space to place all applicants at their 1st choice, that particular school will go to a lottery.

• Open enrollment dates are February 5 - March 11.

• We will be hosting open-house tours (along with other elementary schools in ACS) starting January 24th. More details will be provided soon.

Please share this information as you see fit. Thanks for your help!

• Monday, January 15: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday (Holiday), No School for Students
  
• Tuesday, January 23: ACS Elementary School Magnet School Information Night @ 5:30pm
• Friday, January 26: End of Q2 and 1st Semester/Early Release for Students
• Monday, January 29: Required Workday, No School for Students
• Wednesday, January 31: FTO Equity Workshop
• Friday, February 2: Report Cards go Home
• Friday, February 9: Spring Family/Teacher Conference Day, No School for Students