Dust Devil Weekly

We are facing down the month of May and the final 6 weeks of the school year. Even as I write it it is difficult to believe where we are in the school year. I remember back when I was a student, this time of the year was filled with so much joy and anticipation. It was also filled with some nerves. I had nerves about the big tests that were coming soon. I was nervous about how I would spend summer vacation. I was nervous about missing my friends over the upcoming summer break. But a wise man (my dad) reminded me to stay in the moment, since the year was not over and there was work to be done. That’s my message this week. Stay in the moment. The year is not over. There is work to be done.

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 4/22: 90.07%

Tuesday 4/23: 90.26%

Wednesday 4/24: 93.11%

Thursday 4/25: 90.74%

Friday 4/26: 94.77%

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!

- Students and staff looking oh so comfy for Adam Sandler Day!

- Families enjoying a cloudy and cold Lunch on the Lawn! We have one more Lunch on the Lawn scheduled for Friday, May 31st!

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!

We have entered the final 6 weeks of the school year. It is perfectly normal, considering students must take state tests, complete all school work, prepare for transitioning to the next grade (or high school!), that students may feel heightened levels of stress. Here are some tips to help stressed out scholars manage their last few (and hopefully fun) weeks of school.

• Sleep: getting the proper amount of sleep is paramount for the body to rejuvenate and repair

• Healthy nutrition: eating properly also assist the body in coping with additional stressors

• Setting a schedule: having a predictable schedule helps students manage a variety of tasks and avoid surprises

• Asking for help: advocating for oneself, especially is help is required, is a sign of strength

• Taking breaks from work: play often to give yourself mind breaks, before diving back in

• Breath properly: breathing properly can help calm the nervous system which can lower blood pressure and heart rate

For additional tips and ideas to help students manage stress visit the website: https://www.verywellmind.com/top-school-stress-relievers-for-students-3145179

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 5/1 - Late Start Morning

Monday 5/6-Friday 5/10 - Staff Appreciation Week

Tuesday 5/7 - "Concert on the Green"

Tuesday 5/7-Thursday 5/9 - 8th Grade CAST (State Science Testing)

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

Wednesday 5/15 - Late Start Morning