We will distribute this newsletter on the Wednesday following the monthly Board of Education meeting. This newsletter will have information from District Departments and other helpful tips. If you have suggestions for content in this newsletter, please send them to Collin Brooks at BrooksB@jcschools.org.

February 2024

• Black History Month
• Career & Technical Education Month
• Dental Health Month
• National School Counseling Week - February 5 -9
• National Pizza Day - February 9
• Science Hill Orchestra and Chorus Valentines Event Feb. 13
  
• Valentine's Day - February 14
• National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day - February 15
• Random Acts of Kindness Day - February 17
• School Bus Driver Appreciation Day - February 22

March 2024

• Women's History Month
• Youth Art Month
• National Nutrition Month
• Music in Our Schools Month
• Read Across America Week - March 2 - 6 (RAA Day is March 2nd)
• Maintenance Workers Appreciation Day - March 1
• International Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Day - March 8
• National School Social Worker Week - March 3 -9
• JCS Spring Break (March 11-15)
  
• Pi Day - March 14 (Falls during Spring Break)

Calendars

• Click here to view Printable Calendars 2023-2024 & 2024-2025
• Click here to view the Staff Holiday Schedule for the 2023-2024 School Year.
  

Nearly 18 years ago, Johnson City Schools added 30 minutes per day to improve instructional outcomes for students. We also include inclement weather days in the annual school calendar so days missed due to inclement weather may be made up to ensure students are in school as many of the 180 days each school year as possible. This allows for a “day for day” instructional recovery approach for the first three days missed. After we have exhausted the built-in days, we use stock-piled days from the thirteen gained by the extra 30 minutes per day. The added 30 minutes to the student day was originally implemented to provide additional time for teaching and learning and not to stockpile days for inclement weather. District leaders believed this additional time represented one of the best strategies to improve student achievement. The additional time has been invaluable for tutoring programs (RTI) imbedded in the school day as well. We also explored several other ideas to extend learning opportunities for students such as before/after school tutoring, Saturday school, and summer programming. These strategies are critical elements for student academic improvement and support the culture of excellence expected in Johnson City Schools.

Johnson City Schools is hiring Educare assistants, custodians, and instructional assistants. Current job postings can be viewed at www.jcschools.org/jobs.

Johnson City Transit is in need of bus drivers. Please visit this page for more information about open Bus Driver positions.

The Washington County Retired Teachers Association is sponsoring Retirement Seminars in March. Tim Crawford, the local representative for TN Retire Ready (TCRS and Empower Retirement) will be presenting. The Seminars will present helpful information and handouts in order to begin planning for retirement. Anyone is welcome to attend.

March 19, 2024 4:00 p.m.

Johnson City Schools Central Office

Board Room

100 E. Maple Street

Johnson City, TN 37601

March 20, 2024 4:00 p.m.

Washington County Schools Central Office

Conference Room Downstairs

405 W. College Street

Jonesborough, TN 37659

If you have questions about your specific retirement plan or are looking to retire, you can

contact Leia Valley at valleyl@jcschools.org.

Congratulations to Helen Keaton from Towne Acres Elementary. She was the winner of the K-2 Grade Band in the November Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education STEM Competition.

Congratulations to Vincent Joseph from Towne Acres Elementary. She was the winner of the 3-5 Grade Band in the November Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education STEM Competition.

Congratulations to the following Science Hill Band students for being recently were named All East performers:

Logan Barry
Maddie Berry
Will Bond
Emmet Chandler
Jodi Creekmore
Anthony Damian
Arely Diaz
Allen Feng
Will Hagermeier
Jonathan Hansard
Kaylyn Hodge
Mary Catherine Holley
Ethan Rich
Cory Roberts
Lily Rochelle
Huxley Stout
Karsten Suits
Brady Vermillion

Congratulations to the following Science Hill Band students who were named All-State. These students will be attending All-State Band and Orchestra Clinic in Nashville in April at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. These students are:

Logan Barry
Emmet Chandler
Allen Feng
Jonathan Hansard
Kaylyn Hodge

The next Johnson City Board of Education meeting will be held on Monday, March 4 starting at 6 p.m. inside the Board Room at Central Office (100 E. Maple Street). Board meetings can be viewed on the Johnson City Schools' YouTube channel.

Science Hill High School’s class registration is RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER… For more information, please visit sciencehill.jcschools.org/class-registration. Rising freshman at Indian Trail and Liberty Bell will receive their letters on Monday with more details.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

February 12

Rising 9th grade 4-year plan appointment calendar opens

February 15

Rising 10th-12th Parent Meeting, 6pm, SH Auditorium

Rising 10th-12th grade class registration portal opens

February 27

Rising 9th Parent Meeting, 6pm & 7pm, SH Auditorium

March 1

Rising 10th-12th grade class registration portal closes, 3pm

March 4-28

Rising 10th-12th grade students attend scheduled counselor appointments to verify class selections

March 18, 21, 26, 28

Rising 9th grade 4-year plan meetings, 3-7pm, CTE building

Congratulations to Science Hill students Alex Asselin, Skyler Sines, Julia Bartkus and Dustin Harmon for earning their Carpenter Helper Certificate from TCAT in Elizabethton. To qualify for the Carpenter Helper certification, students had to master all modules in NCCER Construction Core with a 70% or higher and have basic experiences in framing, measuring, sawing, fastening, and complete at least one building project.

Opportunities are plentiful at Science Hill High School, and now even more options are available for Science Hill students thanks to a partnership with Bell, an aerospace manufacturer. On Thursday, three Science Hill students signed to intern for the spring semester at the Bell facility inside the Tri-Cities Airport.

Each student will spend at least two class periods at their facility in Bluff City. Science Hill junior Brayden O’Neil will work within the logistics department, while junior Samantha Wilder will work in manufacturing kitting. Science Hill senior Xander Duman will spend three class periods working with landing gears, before returning to Science Hill’s campus for his 4th-period welding class.

Read more here

Congratulations to Liberty Bell 8th grader Mehal Dubay for winning the Johnson City Schools Spelling Bee last week after 42 rounds! Indian Trail 8th grader Cara Haynes finished runner-up. Towne Acres Elementary 4th grader Vincent Joseph held his own for 28 rounds against the older competition. There were some proud principals in the audience as every contestant represented their school well!

Johnson City Schools loves celebrating the accomplishments of our students, staff, and community. If you know of any events, awards, programs, or other compelling stories involving the Johnson City Schools' community, please fill out this form or reach out to Collin Brooks at BrooksB@jcschools.org