Wow! What a wonderful week filled with transitions, learning curves, meaningful connections, and YES, academic rigor right at the start! Our students and staff have accomplished so very much this first week, with the support of our greatest resource--families! We believe that families are one of the most powerful learning accelerators, and we strive to build and strengthen those relationships every day. We would love to see all of your faces at our Open House this Tuesday! Please see the schedule below in our New Updates!

We are overwhelmed by the initiative taken already by so many of you this week, to be observers in Canvas, access forms on Skyward, and pose questions to assist us in creating plans for your children. We have added some links in this newsletter that will aid in setting up those accounts or resetting accounts. Look for Parent technology tips regarding Canvas, Skyward, and other tech platforms in the upcoming newsletters. Also, feel free to reach out to our ITC (Instructional Technology Coach) with any questions, suggestions, or concerns. ealeavitt@ortn.edu

We are very excited to announce that we will begin our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Zero period this week, on Wednesday! Students will receive the Character Strong sessions again, and this consistently catapults their academic and personal success and well-being. Students can see their Zero Period teacher and classroom by looking at their schedule in Skyward. The zero period is the first listed.

We hope that you carefully take a look at our updates and information below; we do our very best to provide clear information, present opportunities, and update you on processes. Finally, we encourage all of our students and families to take a few moments to look through our JMS Handbook. We held assemblies Friday of this past week with each grade level, led by Mr. Fowler and Dr. Quilliams. We intentionally call them "Success Assemblies" because they are designed and delivered to help your child maximize success in every area of his or her life. We want you to know we love your children and have the highest expectations for academics and behavior!

The JMS administrative team is here to support students, teachers, and families. If you need anything, please reach out to us. As always, we thank our parents and our staff for what they do to help our students be the best they can be.

Phil Cox, Principal, pcox@ortn.edu

Ben Fowler, Vice Principal, bjfowler@ortn.edu

Jacob Quilliams, Dean of Students jrquilliams@ortn.edu

Elizabeth Leavitt, Instructional Technology Coach, ealeavitt@ortn.edu

Monday, July 31: B Day

• TCAP Results go home today!
• Football Practice 3:00-5:15
• Volleyball Practice 3:00-5:00
  
• Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30
  

Tuesday, August 1: A Day

• Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30
  
• Football Practice 3:00-5:15
• Volleyball Practice 3:00 5:00
• Open House 6:00-8:00
  

Wednesday, August 2: B Day

• Systemwide-PLC
• Cheer Practice 1:00-2:00
• Volleyball Practice 1:00-3:00
• Football Practice 1:00-3:00
  

Thursday, August 3: A Day

• Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30
  
• Volleyball vs. Lafollette @ Lafollette 4:30
• Football Game vs. Spring City @ Spring City 6:30
  

Friday, August 4: B Day

• Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30
  
• Volleyball Practice 3:00-5:15
• Football Practice 3:00-4:30
  

Saturday, August 5

• JV Football Game vs Jacksboro @ Blankenship Field 10:00 A
  

Your student reports for the SY 22-23 TCAP/End of Course exams are going home on Monday. You can use those reports to access the TN.gov family portal linked below.

The links below contain resources for setting up and accessing Skyward and Canvas, an updated calendar, along with a welcome message from our ITC coach and a link to district and school websites.

• Elizabeth Leavitt, ITC: Welcome Message

• Parent Canvas and Skyward setup.pdf

• School Calendar

• Canvas Parent Account Setup.docx
  
• Skyward Family Access Account SETUP .docx
  

• ORS District Website

• Jefferson Middle School Website

Please reach out to Elizabeth Leavitt at ealeavit@ortn.edu

Please contact our HR Department TODAY!

$94.00 - $141.00 / Per Day

https://ortn.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx

• JMS's weather policy is to load busses and release car riders during most weather events EXCEPT lightning or severe rain/wind. When lightning is present we will push our students back to the building and delay releasing students. We have had three major lightning issues and a major wind/rain events during our releases over the first term of last year, and we wanted to reiterate what our hold policy is. We thank our parents for their patience as we do our best to keep our students safe.
• DO NOT enter the bus loop when buses are present!
• Please pull your vehicle all the way up so we can keep as many cars as possible off of Fairbanks Road.
• When dropping off AFTER 7:30am, students will be directed towards the main entrance. Go ahead and pull all the way up.
• Make sure your child is ready to exit the vehicle and doesn't have to access the trunk for items, as this holds up the line.
• DO NOT park or leave your vehicles in the neighborhoods across the street from Jefferson. Traffic is heavy during pickup and drop off and parking on those streets only increases the danger to our students and parents attempting to navigate the traffic.

You have received many communications this summer from the district about registering for the Bus through Skyward. If you have, but are not sure what bus your student is riding, here is how you check it.

FIRST! Log into Tyler's Versatrans E-Link https://transportation.ortn.edu/elinkrp/Login.aspx

Username: (use student’s name) firstname.lastname This is case sensitive–example: john.smith
Password: (use student birth date) in this format 03122007 for March 12, 2007

Click on Students, then View My Students. If you see a bus route there, you should be good. If you DO NOT see a bus route, you will need to update bus service! You will not have bus service on the first day of school.

To get bus service, log into Skyward and click on Forms. There is a bus request form. Transportation is working to move quickly to add new students to the bus, but it will take a few days before your student can be added to bus service.

First Student Transportation is working hard to get routes assigned to all students who requested bus service.

Once you are registered for transportation, you will be able to track your child's bus using the app information detailed below. Please see information on how to register for MyStop below.

MyStop - Parent/Student Login (You may click on the MyStop Picture to the left!)

• Username: (use student’s name - case sensitive) firstname.lastname
• Password: (use student birth date) in this format 03122007 for March 12, 2007

MyStop Phone App Available In Your App Store

Go to: Versatrans My Stop™ provides mobile access to bus information. This app displays the location of the user’s assigned school bus, as well as the estimated time of arrival to their stop. Students can plan for late or on-time arrival, and prevent missed pick-ups or being left outside in inclement weather.

Can’t Access the MyStop App?

If you are having difficulty accessing the MyStop App please take the following steps:

1. Please confirm the following:
2. You have downloaded the App from Tyler Technologies.
3. You are using the legal student name as listed in Skyward.
4. You have selected all lower case letters.First Student Transportation is working hard to get routes assigned to all students who requested bus service.

   
   

No worries! Though the video is an old one, it still checks out for all of our current procedures. If you are unsure of where or how to drop off or pick up, watch the video below!

PARENTS on the Softball Field / 5th Grade:

You may be asked to move by Dr. Quilliams, Mr. Cox, or Mr. Fowler if you are parked right at the bus loop entrance OR next to the small median between the loop. Parking in these locations makes it more difficult for bus drivers to maneuver into position.

Additionally, STUDENTS SHOULD NEVER CROSS THE BUS LOOP. They may take the sidewalk around, or cross into the parking lot under direction from the administrator there and walk down the grass field to the sidewalk. This is a safety issue for students and drivers.

Please reach out to Susanne Wren if you are interested:

jeffersonmspto@gmail.com

Please be sure students are coming to school in dress code and dressed for success! JMS Administration would like to remind students and families of ORS Code of Conduct.

Students are prohibited from wearing:

• Clothing that resembles sleepwear such as lounging pants, or other lounging items. This also includes house shoes.
• Students are not permitted to wear pants or shorts with holes above the knee. This includes wearing any type of shorts or leggings underneath ripped attire.

We are excited to officially begin the 2023-2024 athletic seasons this week! On Thursday, the Lady Eagles Volleyball Team will travel to Lafollette for a JV match at 4:30pm followed by a varsity match at 5:30pm. On Thursday, the JMS Football Team will travel to Spring City for their first Conference game at 6:30pm. On Saturday, the JMS JV Football Team will host Jacksboro JV at 10am at Blankenship. Go Eagles!!!

As always, GO EAGLES!

Thank you,

Coach Bolling

The Jefferson Middle School FLL Teams are seeking new members. These members will have an opportunity to compete in the FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) competition http://firstlegoleague.org. All students interested in being part of a JMS FLL team are expected to complete the application in full. Students are expected to turn in the application and all the parts by the due date to the counseling office at JMS by 3pm on August 4, 2023 (no late applications will be considered). If you have any questions please contact, Janie Shanafield, jshanafield@ortn.edu.

Application is below!

Parents,

We are sad to report that student vaping has increased significantly at the secondary level this school year. School Administration and staff are committed to addressing this concern, but effectively controlling this trend will be challenging. Student access, the ability to hide vapes and the odorless nature of vapes increases the difficulty of monitoring and reducing this dangerous trend.

This trend is resulting in lost instructional time for many students. Students using or possessing vapes that contain nicotine products are being assigned multiple days of out of school suspension. Students identified as using vapes or being in possession of vapes containing THC, are being expelled for a full calendar year. Approximately 50% of the students currently assigned to the Secret City Academy are there due to using a vape that contained THC.

Due to the increase in vapes containing THC, we are informing parents that the Secret City Academy is currently at capacity. The Oak Ridge Schools Code of Conduct clearly communicates our expectations regarding the unauthorized use or possession of drugs. Students confirmed of using or being in possession of drugs at school, or at a school activity, will be expelled in accordance with the Oak Ridge Schools Code of Conduct.

If your child is expelled, it is likely that they will only have the option to participate in on-line learning. Expelled students will be placed on a waiting list and granted access to the Secret City Academy when a student complete their time at the SCA. Choosing to use a vape containing THC or participating in other zero tolerance events while at school or at a school event will remove your child's ability to participate in face-to-face instruction.

Oak Ridge Schools clearly recognizes the value of attending school in person, but we also understand the importance and are committed to providing students a drug free learning environment.

Please continue speaking with your child or children regarding the harm of vaping and drugs. We are in the process of scheduling a Vaping Education Week which will focus on providing students an educational assembly to communicate the harms of vaping. We are also looking to provide a similar evening opportunity for parents to attend.

Respectfully,

Oak Ridge Schools

Youth Vaping Prevention - Additional Resources & Information

2022-2023 ORS Student Code of Conduct Handbook (see pgs 22-24)

National Institute of Health (NIH) - Smoke Free Teen

Alcohol & Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County - Parent & Teen Resources

CATCH My Breath - Vaping Epidemic - Parent Toolkit