Dust Devil Weekly

At this time of the year many folks have begun their end of year countdown. Not me! There are too many amazing things coming up at JMMS before a countdown is appropriate. Grade level trips, the last dance of the year, yearbook signing parties, field days, and SBAC testing are all on the horizon for JMMS. These last months of school will be jam-packed with activities. Spring is always an exciting time at middle school.

I hope you enjoy this edition of the Dust Devil Weekly which will pull back the curtain on how students and staff are preparing for this whirlwind time of year!

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

Monday 4/15: 88.68%

Tuesday 4/16: 93.16%

Wednesday 4/17: 92.20%

Thursday 4/18: 95.97%

Friday 4/19: 87.20%

As we approach CAASPP testing, every day at school counts!! Please prioritize attendance and remember when your child misses a day of school they are missing valuable instruction and learning!

- Ms. Zarick's chicks...Round 2!

- Students in Ms. Zarick's classes designing and testing seed structures to see how far "wind" will carry seeds for reproduction! How cool is that?

- Mr. Herrera's SDC visiting Parkway Plaza to practice real life skills in action!

Dive into Empathy Join Noel, Crosby, and Allie on an episode of ‘Around Alpine Union’ as we spotlight the virtue of empathy, a cornerstone of our 'Portrait of a Learner' framework. Step into someone else's shoes, understand their feelings, and create a community where everyone feels heard, understood, and connected. Let's practice empathy together: pay attention, think before you act, and treat everyone with respect. Together, we foster a compassionate community! #AlpineUnion #InspiringChange #NewPerspectives

We are excited to announce a new opportunity for our students! Over the next 5 weeks we will be launching a pilot of the JMMS AM/PM Tutoring Program. Tutoring will take place during the weeks of April 22, April 29, May 6, May 20 (7th and 8th only) and May 27. While we know that this is short notice for the kick off, we also know that once this program is up and running it will be a huge benefit to our students. To begin our program, some students have been invited to come to tutoring with our JMMS teachers. However, we are hoping to have some additional spots available for students to attend, Currently we have tutors working the following times:

Monday-Friday from 7-8am

Monday-Friday from 2:30-3:30pm

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30-4:30pm

We will obviously not have the same availability at every session. If you are interested in having your student attend a tutoring session, please send a request to mmcintyre@alpineschools.net. Please include the following information in your email:

Student name and grade

Days and times your child would be available for tutoring (please include more than one choice so that we can place accordingly)

As spaces become available, you will be notified. Please be aware that you will ONLY be notified once an opening is available. We hope that we will have spots for as many kids as possible but we won't know until we get the program underway. We are excited to explore this new program at JMMS!

In just a few short weeks, JMMS students will be taking the Smarter Balanced assessments in ELA and Math (SBAC). These very important assessments will allow students to demonstrate all they have learned and all they have learned how to do this year. One way to ensure that students perform at their very best is to make sure students have enough exposure to the form and design of the test so that there are no surprises on testing day.

Did you know that students are able to take practice SBAC tests anywhere they have a device? Visit the website www.CAASPP.org and look for the green button that says “Practice and Training Tests.” Follow the prompts and students will be provided with multiple chances to get in a little extra practice, or to work on areas they know they need extra time on.

Every little bit helps. And as we say, no student can truly be measured by one assessment, but it sure doesn’t hurt to have good scores!

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 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 4/24 - Adam Sandler Day

Friday 4/26 - Lunch on the Lawn

Wednesday 5/1 - Late Start Morning

Monday 5/13 - Friday 5/17 - State Testing Week