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We have scheduled our fall MAP testing dates. Please encourage your child to try his/her/their best on the MAP test, as our teachers use this assessment information for planning student instruction. We are running a special testing schedule on testing days. Below is our fall MAP testing schedule:

• August 29: MAP Math Test
• September 5: MAP Reading Test

This Wednesday, August 30, is the District's first Early Dismissal day for the 2023-2024 school year. Middle school students begin the day at the regular 8:30 a.m. start time and are dismissed at 12:00 p.m. Breakfast and lunch is still available for all students on these days. Click the links below to access the Early Dismissal schedules:

• Early Dismissal Schedule #1 (odd months)
• Early Dismissal Schedule #2 (even months)

Special thank you to our families who worked together and adhered to our student drop-off and pick-up procedures. When procedures are followed correctly, we have a smooth flow of traffic in and out of the plaza drive. Below are two important reminders that need special attention in order to maintain traffic flow and student/staff safety:

• Pull as far forward in the plaza drive when dropping off or picking up your child. “As far forward” means to the end of the drive, when possible. This may mean that you are dropping off or picking up your child at a location on the drive that is not closest to your child's grade level entrance. That's okay! We assure you that your child will navigate the short walk on the plaza with no issues.
  
• Students are never allowed to unload/load vehicles on Jackson Street west of Michigan. This includes on Jackson Street west of the plaza drive. Unloading/loading of vehicles west of the drive is not allowed as it backs up traffic and creates unnecessary traffic delays. Once families enter the plaza drive traffic lane on Jackson, they are expected to enter the drive to pick up their children.

Chromebooks are a regular part of your child’s daily school life. Below are reminders and additional information regarding student Chromebooks:

• Please remind your child to charge his/her/their Chromebook at home EVERY night. Coming to school with a fully-charged Chromebook ensures your child is prepared for the day. Thank you in advance for helping with this reminder.

• Remind your child that Chromebooks are monitored through the District 45 GoGuardian content filter 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Students should only use Chromebooks for school-related purposes.

Looking for tips for managing your child’s Chromebook at home? Check out the “Tips for Managing Chromebooks at Home” document by clicking here.

We have a “Ways to Get Involved” clubs & activities link posted on the Jackson website. This link will bring you to a document that lists all the activities, clubs, and sports offered at Jackson. For each offering listed, the following information is included:

• Activity, club, or sport name

• Grade levels eligible for the activity, club, or sport

• Meeting times

• General description of the activity, club, or sport

• Supervisor/coach contact information

Information about tryouts for interscholastic sports, specifics regarding intramurals, or other important information regarding extracurriculars will be communicated via the Jackson Happenings document which is also available on the Jackson website.

Please mark your calendar to join us for Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 7, at 6:00 p.m. Curriculum Night is an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and hear about some of the wonderful experiences your child will have this school year. We will share the Curriculum Night schedule closer to the date.

Membership

Click here to sign up and join the Jackson Middle School PTA. Stay involved and receive information about upcoming PTA events!

Spirit Wear

We are excited to share that the first spirit wear store for the 2023-2024 school year opens Monday, August 21. Click here to access the online store. The order deadline is September 1. Order will be delivered to school and distributed for students to bring home.

Back-to-School Parent Social

Please join the PTA in celebrating the start of the 2023-2024 school year! The PTA social is a trivia night that will take place on Saturday, September 16, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Lombard Community Building at 433 E. St. Charles Road. Tickets will be $45 and include food and drinks. You can access the informational flyer here. Tickets can be purchased using this link. We encourage everyone to come and enjoy trivia, raffle prizes, and meeting other Jackson families!

First Restaurant Night Fundraiser

Our first restaurant fundraiser will be held Wednesday, September 20, at Dairy Queen on St. Charles Road in Villa Park. Families can order at the window and the PTA will receive 20% of proceeds. Please show this flyer when ordering!

Next PTA Meeting

The next PTA meeting will take place on Thursday, September 21, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will take place in the Jackson LRC. We hope to see you there!

Attention 6th grade parents/guardians: As a friendly reminder ALL 6th grade students are required to turn in a current physical with updated immunizations (TDAP and Meningococcal required) by October 15 to avoid exclusion from school. Please turn in paperwork to the Health office at your earliest convenience. If you have any questions please call the Health office at (630) 516-7588.

Any students with medical conditions requiring medication in school are required to turn in a completed medication authorization form found on the District website or by clicking here

Any students interested in participating in interscholastic sports at Jackson are required to have a current (within past 13 months) complete IHSA physical on file with the Health office. Please see the school nurses with any questions.

Wondering how students stay “in the know” with information and opportunities at Jackson? Check out the Jackson Happenings link on the Jackson website homepage. This link takes you to the daily happenings shared with students each school day. Please favorite this link to stay up-to-date with activities and events available for your child.

PowerSchool is a proactive communication tool parents/guardians can use to stay informed about their child’s academic and work habits progress in school. Please click on this PowerSchool Parent/Guardian Quick Guide link for more information about how to navigate the PowerSchool portal. There is a mobile app version of the PowerSchool Portal for families. The interface of the mobile app is slightly different from the web version. If you experience any difficulties accessing PowerSchool, please email Mrs. Aparicio, the Jackson secretary who oversees PowerSchool. Her email address is vaparicio@d45.org.

A friendly reminder that it is the responsibility of a parent/guardian to contact Jackson in the event his/her child will be absent from school. Please plan to report your child’s absence, prior to 9:00 a.m., by calling our attendance line at (630) 516-7368. Parents/guardians will leave a voicemail reporting their child’s absence. In the voicemail, please include the following information:

• Child’s name and grade level

• Date of absence

• Reason for absence

Student absenteeism should be kept to the minimum; however, the School Board recognizes that some absences are unavoidable. The following are valid causes for a student's absence and will be considered “excused,” as specified in Section 26-2a of the Illinois School Code:

• Illness

• Observation of a religious holiday

• Death in the immediate family

• Family emergency

• Other situations approved by the school principal