Dust Devil Weekly

What a great first week back from break!

It was such fun seeing the students and staff back on campus. As promised we kicked off our ATTACK THE SBAC push this past Wednesday at our Leadership Assembly. In just a few short weeks JMMS students will be given the chance to demonstrate all that they have learned. It’s an exciting time of year. Behind the scenes, preparations are being made for end of year activities, grade trips, and 8th grade Promotion. And we aren’t slowing down. Stay tuned for all the excitement.

Please enjoy this edition of the Dust Devil Weekly.

As we continue to focus on attendance at JMMS and districtwide, here are our percentages from the past week:

Monday 4/8: 86.54%

Tuesday 4/9: 93.43%

Wednesday 4/10: 94.13%

Thursday 4/11: 93.87%

Friday 4/12: 91.27%

Attendance winner for most IMPROVED attendance for past 2 weeks went to....7th grade!

Perfect attendance winners: Kaylynne Jencks-Tuberg, Aspen Lavers, Alexis Maldonado-Odgers, Shyanne Seifert, Jalayen Thomas. CONGRATS!

On Saturday the JMMS Engineering Program participated in the first Annual San Diego Air and Space Museum "Fling It to Wing It" Flying Contest! Our students designed and built their own flying machines! They had great fun and were a huge success! Thanks to the parents that showed up to support our kids and as always thanks to Mrs. Tompkins and Coach Loarie for all of their hard work and commitment to our amazing program!

Attention 8th Grade Families! On Thursday, April 18th Hager Photography will be here at JMMS to take our 8th graders final portraits of middle school! A couple of things to remember: no money is needed at the time the photos are taken and there will be NO make-up photos taken. Please send your child to school on April 18th ready to smile for the camera!

April is often associated with the beginning of Spring, and Earth Day, but did you know that April is also National Volunteer Month? Throughout the year, multiple parents have inquired about opportunities to volunteer here at Joan MacQueen. There are many benefits to volunteering at your child’s school, and here are just a few:

1. It can make a difference for your child. A university of New Hampshire study has found that students perform better when a parent volunteers at their school.

2. You get to know the school, staff, and other parents.

3. When parents volunteer, it can free teachers to focus on their priority–teaching kids.

4. You can show off your own skill set.

5. It can be good for your health. Multiple studies have demonstrated that there are multiple health benefits to giving back.

Would you like to volunteer at JMMS? Contact Mr. Bailey for information on how you can become a volunteer here at JMMS.

Did you know that Alpine Union School District has a valuable online resource available to all students — the Sora digital library? Sora provides access to a diverse collection of books, including audiobooks, and can be accessed at any time. Here's how your child can make the most of this resource:

1. Accessing Sora:

• Log into their Google account

• Navigate to Clever (lower left side of Chromebook)

• Click on the Sora app

• Once in Sora, log in using your Google credentials. This is a one-time requirement, and subsequent logins will be automatic.

Note: If you're unsure about your student’s Google login information, please reach out to your child’s teacher.

2. Exploring the San Diego County Public Library:

In addition to our library, students can also access books from the San Diego County Public Library through Sora:

• After logging into Sora, click on the down arrow next to Alpine Union School District (under EXPLORE) on the top left-hand side

• Search for San Diego County Library and click on San Diego County Library Digital Media

• Choose your desired book

• Click "borrow"

• Select Alpine Union School District

• Click on the blue bar

• Click on your student's email address again

• Click on borrow again

• Access the book by clicking on “shelf” at the bottom of the screen

We highly encourage students to make the most of this resource.

JMMS is excited to offer Spirit wear for our Dust Devils! You can find offers and options here:

https://macqueenmiddlespiritwear.com/

If you want to wish your Dust Devil a Happy Birthday either on the marquee or in our morning announcements (or both!) you can fill out this form and turn it in to Miss Lindsay in the front office. Please give us 48 hours notice before the day you would like the message to appear. You can get the form from the front office as well, or print one out from this newsletter.

The JMMS Yearbook is available for purchase online for a pre-order price online. Soft cover books will be $35 and hard cover books will be $45. You can purchase books online at http://www.yearbookordercenter.com. You will use the code 8280 to access the JMMS page to place your order. This price is only good while yearbooks are sold online so be sure to order to guarantee that your child has a yearbook in June!

The Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) is a vital educational tool designed to engage parents and guardians in shaping the priorities, goals, and resource allocation within Alpine Union School District. Developed annually, the LCAP reflects the District's commitment to student success and equity. By fostering collaboration between educators, administrators, and families, the LCAP aims to enhance educational outcomes, promote transparency, and ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education that prepares them for future success. AUSD has developed three LCAP goals as described below:

Goal #1: Effective Instruction and Curriculum - Provide equitable access to high-quality classroom curriculum and instruction in an inclusive environment that promotes student success.

Goal #2: Safe and Respectful Environments - Ensure all school sites are safe and have healthy and welcoming climates for staff, students, and their families so that all students feel connected and are motivated to attend and ready to learn.

Goal #3: Equitable and Culturally Responsible Systems - Ensure systems and processes eliminate barriers to student success and are equitable and culturally responsive to the needs of our students and their families

Wednesday 4/17 - Late Start Morning

Friday 4/19 - Coffee with the Principal

Friday 4/19 - Nike Day

Friday 4/26 - Lunch on the Lawn