Jonathan Alder Junior High

The second semester has started and the students are adjusting nicely. I want to encourage you to ask your students for their winter MAP reports that will be sent home early next week. Look for an email with a letter explaining the reports and as always, please don't hesitate to contact the junior high if you have any questions regarding your student's progress. We have a lot of exciting activities and learning that is taking place at the junior high and you can read about some of those things below in the newsletter. Stay safe and warm!

1/25 5pm Student Report Cards will be available online on Progress Book

1/30 Meeting at JA High School for 8th gr. parents (High School information for Class of 2023)

2/15 No School/Professional Development Day

2/18 No School/Presidents' Day

2/21 Columbus Symphony Orchestra Field Trip

2/26 7pm 7th/8th Grade Choir Concert

2/28 7pm 7th/8th Grade Spring Band Concert

3/01 7pm Junior High Dance

7th Grade:

4/11/19 Language Arts Part 1

4/17/19 Language Arts Part 2

5/01/19 Math Parts 1 and 2

8th Grade:

4/10/19 Language Arts Part 1

4/16/19 Language Arts Part 2

4/30/19 Algebra and Math 8, Parts 1 and 2

5/02/19 Science Parts 1 and 2

Email: ungerdo@japioneers.org
Website: http://www.alder.k12.oh.us/
Location: Jonathan Alder Junior High School, Killbury-Huber Road, Plain City, OH, USA
Phone: 614-873-4635
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathanalderjrhigh/?ref=bookmarks

* The 7th grade Math students have been embarking on our algebra unit, "Moving Straight Ahead." We are working hard to build our algebra foundation for our future math careers!

* Mrs. Seeds' and Miss LaFramboise's Language Arts classes have just started their Dystopian Unit. Students are currently reading the book, Unwind by Neal Shusterman, along with various other short stories.

* Mrs. Gavrilescu's Math students have been working on MAP goals. Please use the Khan Academy website to practice skills to prepare for the next MAP test in the Spring. You can refer to the following link for FAQs for the Connected Mathematics program: https://connectedmath.msu.edu/families/faqs/

* Note from Miss Dollinger: "There are still openings for current 8th graders on our trip to the Galapagos Islands 2020!" Please go to this link for more information about this trip : https://www.eftours.com/tour-website/2181580FY

or you can send an email to Miss Dollinger at dollinli@japioneers.org

It's hard to believe, but it's time to start thinking about your son or daughter's high school career!

We will work together to help plan their 9th grade schedule. Here are a few dates to remember:

January 17th & 18th: High School Guidance staff came to the Junior High in 8th grade Social Studies classes to discuss scheduling information and graduation requirements.

January 30th: There will be a meeting at the high school from 6:30-8:00pm, for parents of incoming freshman. We will discuss Class Scheduling, Graduation Requirements, State Testing, and High School life in general. There will also be a question/answer session.

January 31st: 8th graders turn scheduling forms with parent signature into Junior High office by this date.

January 31st & February 1st: We will be in 8th grade classrooms to finalize 9th grade schedules and input to Chromebooks. We will be using the schedule forms signed by parent.

*Parents: To assist you and your student with the 9th grade schedule, you can click here for the 2018/2019 Jonathan Alder High School Course Description Handbook.

The artwork of our 7th and 8th graders at the Junior High is featured throughout the hallways of our school! Highlighted in this newsletter are students' drawings using charcoal on brown paper.

Band

Field Trip: Jonathan Alder Band and Choir will be visiting the Columbus Symphony Orchestra on February 21st during the school day. The CSO is providing a private concert just for students to help connect current music with classical music! If your child is participating, they will need money for lunch or have packed a lunch for this day. We will have lunch at the Tuttle Mall Food Court. Thanks to the Jonathan Alder Music Boosters for providing this wonderful opportunity for our students!

Concert: The Junior High Spring Band Concert will take place on Thursday, February 28th at 7:00pm in the High School Auditeria. We are excited to share some new music with you as we progress towards the end of the year!

Choir

Concert: The Junior High Choir Concert will take place on Tuesday, February 26th at 7:00pm in the High School Auditeria.

Parents: If your 7th or 8th grader is interested in participating in track this spring, please have your child give the parent email address to the coaches.

Or, the parent can send an email directly to the coaches:

Coach Irwin at: alexjirwin12@gmail.com or

to Coach Piatak at piatakma@japioneers.org

We will be sending uniform order forms via email to parents for their completion. We will order uniforms in early February and therefore need size information before February 1st.

We are looking forward to another championship season!

Our next dance will be March 1st from 7:00-9:00pm. More details to follow in the next few weeks.

Giraffe Club will be partnering with Student Council to collect canned goods to send to Heart to Heart Food Pantry. More details will be forthcoming.

The Giraffe Club's next field trip will be on Friday, February 1st! We will be going to the D.N.A. Community Center. Students will stay after school and return to the junior high by 4:45 that day.

Giraffe Club is a student powered volunteer group focused on improving our community and school. Students are able to partake in various community service projects throughout the year, such as:

Monthly visits to the D.N.A. community center;

Spending time with seniors in nearby nursing homes;
Participating in countywide collections;
Providing encouragement and support to students at JAJHS.

7th and 8th grade students can see Mrs. Lawson or Mrs. Seeds if interested in Giraffe Club!

The Power of the Pen District Tournament in Springfield has been rescheduled for Saturday, February 2nd. Buses will leave the Junior High at 7:15am. Best wishes to all participants!

The Madison County Spelling Bee was held on Tuesday, January 15 at Tolles Technical Center. Jacob Cameron (7th grade) is our school spelling bee champion, having placed 3rd in the Madison County Spelling Bee! Six of our ten spelling team members scored high enough in the written test to compete on stage January 15th.

For 7th grade, Anna Gribbell, Matt Hirshberg, and Jacob Cameron were our high scorers. For 8th grade, Olivia Cramer, Alex Desmarais, and Kayla Devore were our high scorers. Jacob Cameron will go on to the Scripps Regional Spelling Bee in Athens, Ohio!

Parents: If your 8th grader is planning to go on the Washington D.C. trip in June, please register ASAP! You can click here to register with Prodigy Student Travel, Inc.

Please click here for information in regards to our Transportation Department and New Bus routes that will begin on February 1st, 2019.

Jonathan Alder Families,

You are invited to the Screening of the new documentary, "Angst, Raising Awareness around Anxiety" Please click here for information about this February 20th event at Jonathan Alder High School.

Bus Passes

Many times students want to ride a different bus home with a friend. To do so, the students must have a Bus Pass from the office to give to the bus driver.Both students must bring in a note from parent/guardian to give to the office. Mrs. Unger will write a bus pass for the students to pick up after lunch.

Medications at School

Sometimes parents ask that school personnel administer medication to their child during the school day. When this is necessary, we require written permission and instructions from the parent and in some instances from the doctor. The required form “Distribution/Student Use of Medicines/Medications” must be completed. You can pick up this form in the Junior High Office.