Dust Devil Weekly

When I was a child the saying used to be “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” Didn’t anyone tell the universe that it’s only February? How can it already be February?

Despite the week’s rains, it was a busy week, as usual, around JMMS. Students built volcanoes, took a trip to Snapdragon stadium at SDSU, auditioned for the Spring Theater performance, completed their i-Ready diagnostics, and participated in another fun and exciting dodgeball exhibition!

Unfortunately we did have to postpone the dance due to weather but you have our word that the dance will be held in the near future, once the weather cooperates!

Enjoy this latest edition of the Dust Devil Weekly. We will see you all tomorrow!

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

Monday 1/29: 92.15%

Tuesday 1/30: 95.15%

Wednesday 1/31: 92.00%

Thursday 2/1: 88.5%

Friday 2/2: 86.62%

OUR FIRST GRADE LEVEL ATTENDANCE INCENTIVE WINNER IS: 7TH GRADE WITH 93.07%

Totals for 1/22-2/2 were:

6th Grade: 91.57%

7th Grade: 93.07%

8th Grade: 89.57%

SCHOOL WIDE: 91.4%

Did you know that attending school regularly not only improves academic performance but also significantly boosts a child's social skills and emotional well-being? Consistent attendance fosters stronger connections with peers and teachers, laying a foundation for lifelong success and resilience.

- Girls basketball getting ready for tip-off during our After School Sports!

- Maestra Rincon's period 2 class hard at work on their Volcano Projects!

- Mr. Herrera's students engaged in a Science Lab!

- A beautiful rainbow Thursday morning before the rains came!

- Mrs. Galvez's classes working on beautiful sarcophagus projects in her Social Studies classes!

- Ms. Zarick's Science classes creating awesome models of the human eye!

This year JMMS students have an awesome opportunity to be Student Vendors at the AEF sponsored STEAM FAIR on March 9. Students can present their idea for a vendor booth (a la Shark Tank) to be chosen as a recipient of a JMMS micro-loan. Their booth can be a product or a service that the student can offer. Packets with all of the details are available in the office and more information will be coming home to all Dust Devil Families in an email so that you can encourage any budding entrepreneurs that you might have at home to participate!

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 $#40 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!

Freshman Showcase - February 7th, 5:00pm to 7:30pm at Granite Hills HS

Freshman showcase is an opportunity for families to come visit our campus and see what our school has to offer. Families will be able to get information on curriculum, athletics, clubs, information about our PTSA and much more. Please refer to the attached flyer for the event.

Register Your Student(s) at Granite Hills

Enrollment to Granite Hills High School is now open. Follow the instructions below to begin that process. (Registration is not required to attend our showcase).

1. Go to bit.ly/GUHSDRegister to begin the registration process through our district. Complete all sections and click the red “Submit” button when finished. District staff will process your registration within 5-10 business days.
2. After your registration is processed, you will receive an email to create an Infinite Campus Parent Portal Account. This account allows you to check your student’s schedule, attendance, grades, etc. throughout the school year.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing many of you here at Granite Hills High School!

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

An inescapable part of public school has long been the “high-stakes” “state tests.” Our students are required to take the SBAC exams in Reading and Math each year of Middle School. Eighth graders are required to take the California Science Test. This does not include the English Language Proficiency Assessment some of our Dust Devils are required to take.

As we prepare to enter the final trimester of the school year, and these Spring tests approach, JMMS will begin to tighten its focus on preparing for these important exams.

Here at Joan MacQueen, test prep does NOT mean that we will begin teaching to the test. Teachers will continue to teach the standards and students will continue to study them. Here at JMMS when we engage in test prep, we are exposing students to the form and content of the upcoming assessments. Students will be provided time to practice and familiarize themselves with how the test is designed, and how best to use the design to increase their performance. Students perform better when they understand what the true demands of an assessment are, and when they are familiar with the appearance and functionality of the test. Of course, by preparing this way, students also receive rigorous content practice as well.

So yes, in the coming weeks, JMMS will be ramping up its “test prep,” but rest assured our amazing teachers won’t be “teaching to the test.”

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

Wednesday 2/7 - Late Start Morning

Monday 2/12 - No School (Lincoln's Bday Observed)

Friday 2/16 - Coffee with the Principal

Monday 2/19 - No School (Presidents' Day Observed)

Wednesday 2/21- Late Start Morning

Friday 2/23 - Lunch on the Lawn