Dust Devil Weekly

And here we go! Trimester 3, the final trimester of the year, begins tomorrow! We have officially entered the stretch run of the school year, and it is going to go quickly.

Trimester 2 grades have been entered. Teachers burned the midnight oil making sure all student work is graded and entered. Students frantically did the work required to turn in late or missing assignments and retook assessments to ensure their grades are the ones they truly deserve.

Now we have one more chance at a new beginning. There will be a lot of fun activities coming up as we head into the Spring, but the priority is always going to be learning inside and outside the classroom. After all, that is the business we are in. Let’s make this final trimester the best one of the year. Let’s get on with it.

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 2/26: 90.99%

Tuesday 2/27: 89.61%

Wednesday 2/28: 93.07%

Thursday 2/29: 93.98%

Friday 3/1: 88.19%

This week at our Leadership Assembly we announced our grade level winner for Attendance:

7th GRADE was our winner for the last two weeks with 93.3%! Way to go, 7th Grade!

We also acknowledged students who had Perfect Attendance for the past 2 week period. Our winners were: Amaya Cabezudo, Luke Donston, Aubrey Hubenthal, Emma Little and Abigail Velarde

- Students dressed up for Board Game Day!

- Teachers participated in a Spirit Activity at our Leadership Assembly...a game of Twister!

- The Culinary Arts Class had an awesome final week of amazing eats! They made California burritos, grilled cheese, mac n' cheese, burgers, milkshakes and more! Way to go students and Mrs. Ferro!

Step into the future with us on this episode of ‘Around Alpine Union.’ Join Dr. Rich Newman and the ASB co-presidents as we explore what the world might look like in 20 years through the eyes of our students. #FutureVision #DreamsOfTomorrow #AroundAlpineUnion"

It is that time of year again when we start to plan for the next school year. It is very important that the school district has accurate numbers of how many of our current students will be returning to JMMS next year. Please fill out the Google Form linked below for EACH of your current JMMS 6th and 7th graders with your plans for next year. We thank you in advance!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf282L8BWxu5BFUd-6E-LnqWw6geu8e6oNe4NRI6lhJIWtxfg/viewform?usp=sf_link

It is that time of year when we get ready to welcome our incoming 6th graders for the coming school year! On Thursday, March 7 we will hold a short Parent Orientation Night in the JMMS Gym at 6pm. We will discuss some of the exciting programs offered at JMMS and cover what a day at JMMS looks like for a 6th grader! Students are welcome to attend as well. All 5th graders will also be visiting JMMS on a field trip later in March.

Attention all 6th Grade Families!! We are excited to announce that it is time to get ready for 6th Grade Camp 2024! The paperwork for camp will be coming home with your child soon. The required paperwork will be DUE no later than Monday, March 18th. The payment of $340 will be DUE no later than May 1.This year 6th Grade Camp will be the week of May 20 through May 24. It is an amazing time that our 6th graders look forward to every year! So, keep an eye out for the "pink" packet that will be coming home in the next couple of weeks!

The Alpine Education Foundation FREE STEAM Fair will be open to the public March 9th from 10am-1pm. Come check out the science experiments on display, vendor booths, silent auction items, food, games and more! Interested participants can still register to participate in the event at AEF4KIDS.ORG

As we continue to move forward with our Expect Respect program here at JMMS, we want to refocus our attention on our two core values here at school.

1. All students have the right to learn.

2. All teachers have the right to teach.

When these two core values are met, there is nothing that we cannot achieve. However, we know at times, especially in middle school, students might hinder teaching and learning. They might disrupt a classroom to the point where students cannot learn and the teacher has to take time away from teaching.

As part of our Expect Respect program, we will support our teachers and students by creating classrooms free from disruptions. If a student disrupts a classroom to the point that students cannot learn and the teacher cannot teach, they will be removed from the room for that period. We will reinforce with the student what behaviors we would like to see from them in the classroom and give them the opportunity to demonstrate those behaviors in the next class period. We feel that immediate feedback to the student is important and it is equally important to show the students in the classroom that disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated. We want all students to know that their learning in a safe, supportive environment is our priority. Teachers that feel supported are then allowed to do what they love most…teach.

We appreciate your support as we continue to focus on respect here at JMMS. The home- school connection is a vital part of our school community and your child’s success.

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

Monday 3/4 - Trimester 3 Begins

Wednesday 3/6 - Late Start Morning

Thursday 3/7 - Incoming 6th Grade Parent/Student Orientation

Saturday 3/9 - AEF STEAM Fair at JMMS