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News and events - February 23, 2024
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JMS Observatory Featured on Kare 11 Sunrise
JMS Observatory Public Viewing Nights
Join us at the JMS Observatory to look at stars, the moon, constellations, and anything else we can find in space. Public viewings will be held , along with special event nights, as long as the sky is clear, when something of interest is happening in the sky above us. Weather is always an issue so if it is cloudy, raining, or snowing, the public viewing will be cancelled. Dress for the weather as the temperature of the dome is the same as that of the outdoors.
Please check the Observatory page on the JMS website at 6 pm on viewing dates to make sure viewing has not been cancelled.
Upcoming dates:
Tuesday, March 19: 8 – 10 pm
Thursday, March 21: 8 – 10 pm
Thursday, April 11: 8 – 10 pm
Tuesday, April 16: 8:30 – 10:30 pm
Thursday, April 18: 8:30 – 10:30pm
Directions to the Observatory
Summer Enrichment Opportunity
The Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth offers a great summer enrichment opportunity for students who are looking for a program that provides a unique opportunity to investigate new topics and dive deeper into students' passions at a level that is challenging and motivating. Summer applications are now being accepted. Click on this link to learn more about the program offerings and the application process.
MCA Testing Coming Up
All JMS students will take the MCA Reading and Math tests to see how much they have learned this year. Our 8th graders will also take the MCA Science test to show their progress in that subject. During testing, students will stay in their first hour classes throughout the morning to finish the test. Please avoid scheduling appointments on these mornings so students can successfully complete the test. Thank you for your help!
MCA Test Dates
April 25 - MCA Reading
April 30 - MCA Math
May 7 - MCA Science (8th grade only)
Lost and Found
Is your child missing a jacket, sweatshirt, pair of shoes, or anything else? Talk to them about checking the lost and found bins located in both of the cafeterias. The bins are overflowing and items will be donated soon.
A Message from the Attendance Office
If your student will be absent or picked up early, please call 763-506-5206 and leave a message. The messages are checked all throughout the day. Please do not text this information to your student. The student will not be able to leave class without a pass from the Attendance Office.
Please call at least two hours in advance (when possible) if you know your student has an appointment or will be leaving early. You can also send a note with your student in the morning and they can get their pass immediately.
Parents must come into the Attendance Office to sign out their students.
Food - Cafeteria Policy
Student food deliveries to school from restaurants, DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc. are not permitted and will be turned away.
Parents/guardians please do not to drop off food from local restaurants. Our cafeterias run pretty efficiently and calmly; however, as you can imagine with excited middle schoolers, restaurant/fast food can lead to unnecessary disruption. Students often times find themselves having their food grabbed at or asked repeatedly for portions of their meal.
Due to space limitations in our cafeterias, parents/guardians wishing to eat lunch with their student, will be provided an alternate location to eat lunch together.
Calendar Reminders
March 5 - No school, Staff Development day
March 11-15 - No school - Spring Break
March 18 - No school - Staff planning/grading day
March 29 - No school, Staff Development day
Volunteers Needed
We have exciting events coming up, and we're looking for amazing volunteers who can help us with some fun tasks like popcorn popping, MCA Test monitoring, the 8th-grade Choir Festival, and PAW Print prize donations. Volunteering is a fantastic way to connect with your community and make a real difference! If you're interested in joining us, please click the links below to sign up - we would be thrilled to have you on board. Let's make these events even more special together, shall we?
Popcorn Fridays
We are seeking volunteers on 3/8, 3/28 (Thursday), and 4/12 for roughly 30-45 minutes in the morning to pop popcorn. There will be on-site training to show you how to run the popcorn machine. The staff really look forward to this small treat at the end of the week.
We're excited to announce that we're looking for three amazing volunteers to join us for the 8th Grade Choir Festival field trip on Thursday, March 28. You'll meet us at JMS at 8:30 AM, ride the bus to Anoka Middle School with one of our groups, and assist JMS students during the festival.
MCA Hallway Heroes
During MCA testing, we're searching for volunteers to be bathroom and hallway heroes. Volunteers will help us out by ensuring that only one student is in the bathroom at a time and students are not talking in the hallways during testing. We'll provide you with a chair to sit on, and a small table too. You can bring your favorite book, tablet, or laptop to pass the time during your shift.
Paw Print Prizes
We are seeking small prizes for our Paw Print winners! Students can earn "Jaguar Paw Prints" as an acknowledgment for displaying kindness/respect in school. There is a weekly drawing, and the winner can pick out a small trinket. Possible suggestions are cute socks, mittens/gloves, hats, pencils, cheap earbuds, small packs of markers or colored pencils, small notebooks, keychains, chapstick, small packs of gum, stickers, small fidgets, locker accessories, etc. If you are able to donate, please click on the link to sign up.
*All volunteers need to have filled out a volunteer application and background release for the 2023-2024 school year before they can begin volunteering. CLICK HERE to view the forms.
P.S. Looking for ways to fundraise for your parent group, booster club, or local nonprofit? You're invited to a FREE event! Join us on February 28 from 4–7 PM for a Fundraising Vendor and Mini-Workshop Fair where you can connect with local fundraising vendors, network with other nonprofit leaders, and gain valuable insights from experts in the field. This is an excellent opportunity to learn new tips and tricks for successful fundraising, so don't miss out! Save the date and spread the word to your colleagues and friends. Don't forget to sign up using the QR Code on the flyer. Hope to see you there!
Family resource: How parents can tackle cyberbullying
“In 2022, nearly half of US teens between the ages of 13 and 17 experienced cyberbullying.”
It’s important for parents to understand what cyberbullying is so they can recognize when their child may be a victim of electronic harassment and have the tools to address it.
A blog post from icanhelp.net titled, “How Parents Can Tackle Cyberbullying,” helps parents identify the signs of cyberbullying, the impact on a child’s well-being and ways to protect their children.
The blog is broken up into these sections:
Understanding Cyberbullying.
Impact of Cyberbullying on Children.
Identifying Signs of Cyberbullying.
Steps to Address Cyberbullying.
Take Preventive Action to Protect Your Child.
This e-newsletter is published by Jackson Middle School, supported by the Anoka-Hennepin communication and public relations department. Questions, comment or concerns about the school e-newsletter? Contact us.