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No Place Like Jones
Parent Updates for the Week of September 6, 2021
Principal Corner
Dear Ira B. Jones Families:
I hope everyone enjoyed their 3-day weekend! I appreciate everyone following the dismissal and carline procedures. This is helping ensure our line is safe and is moving quickly. I do have an afternoon reminder: please follow the designated traffic flow. This includes only turning right out of our parking lot. And, although there is no sign posted, out of courtesy of the parents who have been waiting in line, please do not attempt to make a left-hand turn off Kimberly Ave, especially during afternoon dismissal. Use Beaverdam Ave to enter the carline. A few parents have brought to our attention parents are not following this procedure. I'm sure you can understand how frustrating it is to sit in the line, wait your turn, but others jump the line. Thank you for your immediate attention to this reminder.
This past Friday, Ms. Landreth and I met with the 1st - 5th grade students to review school-wide expectations, including wearing a mask. Please encourage your students to follow classroom and schoolwide procedures; they must do so to keep everyone in our school safe and healthy.
Lastly, starting on Tuesday, September 7, students will go through the cafeteria line to get lunch or get milk (any student who wants a milk can get a milk). Although we will no longer deliver lunches to classrooms, students will still eat outside when the weather permits. Remember, this year, both breakfast and lunch will be served to students for free. Breakfast is “grab-and-go” in the front lobby until 8:05 am. Students eat breakfast in the classroom upon their arrival. You can find the menus below.
I encourage you to use our school’s website, our Facebook page, the district’s Back to School Updates Website and follow us on Twitter @Principal_IBJ as sources of information.
As a school leader and a parent, I understand the necessity of healthy communication between families and the school. I welcome your questions, celebrations, or concerns at any time. You can reach me by calling the school (828-350-6700) or via email (ruafika.cobb@acsgmail.net).
In partnership,
Ruafika Cobb
Principal
Ira B. Jones Elementary School
Upcoming Important Dates
August 30 - September 20: mClass Testing Window (K - 3rd students)
September 1 - October 8: NC ENSI Math Testing Window (K - 5th students)
September 7 - 15: Beginning of Year STAR Benchmark Testing (4th - 5th students)
September 8: PTO Meeting - see details below
September 9: 3rd Grade Beginning of Grade Test
September 13: ACS Board Work Session (5:00 pm - 7:00 pm)
September 24: Early Release Day (12:00 pm)
October 13: Student Picture Day!
Jones PTO- First Meeting Wednesday Sept 8 at 4:30 pm
WELCOME BACK! I don't know about y'all, but I'm thrilled for our students to be back to the new normal. Please join us for our first meeting of the year- all are welcome!
AGENDA:
1-Principal's remarks and introduction of current officers
2-Quick budget review
3-Update on 3/5 playground and Outdoor Classroom
4-Set next steps for Committees so we can hit the ground running!
Please email me if you would like me to add an item here!
If you're wondering where you can fit into the PTO this year, don't fret- there are plenty of opportunities to help bring our school community together now, and more will arise as the year presses on.
Current needs:
Help plan a welcome back picnic
Plan and recruit volunteers for a Beautification Day (pulling weeds and tidying our gardens)
LEAD or JOIN a new committee:
- Beautification (plan a few days during the year to tidy with your volunteers and help keep our grounds in order)
- Teacher Appreciation (The chair of this committee will reach out to teachers and ask that they each find a room parent. The room parents will help coordinate teacher appreciation events throughout the school year)
- Secretary (take notes during meetings and keep the calendar)
- FUNDRAISING (very important! We need someone to lead our boosterthon event, and we must decide how best to raise funds this year. Our team from last year can provide some initial direction.)
If you would like to volunteer for any of these open positions or have any questions at all, please email me! kristinbritton@gmail.com
I'm looking forward to a great year in partnership with our teachers:
There's No Place Like Jones
Kristin
kristinbritton@gmail.com
BOY PTO Meeting
When: Wed Sep 8, 2021, 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm Eastern Time - New York
Joining info: Join with Google Meet
meet.google.com/hoo-wbmm-kao
Join by phone: (US) +1 716-427-8279 (PIN: 940698614)
Healthy Snacks
Several students at our school have severe and life-threatening food allergies, and many others have dietary restrictions. Classroom alerts are posted outside each class door, and families are asked to respect these allergies by bringing appropriate foods. Teachers will send home a copy of suggested snacks, and if a class has an allergy alert order, therefore requiring a customized list of snacks. Please understand we cannot allow exposure to high-risk items if a student has a documented life-threatening allergy alert. Regular classroom snacks recommended include: Apples, Oranges, Bananas, Pineapple, Kiwi, Watermelon, Grapes, Clementines, etc. Raisins Fruit cups with 100% juice String Cheese Fruit juice popsicles Carrots, broccoli, cucumbers (w/o dressing) 100% Fruit snacks Yogurt, gelatin, or pudding cups Animal Crackers Graham Crackers Cheerios or Life cereal Pretzels Rice cakes Low-fat tortilla chips Fig bars Pre-popped low-salt/light popcorn Cheez-It® Baked Snack Crackers Peanut butter unless the class is identified as nut-free Check with your child’s teacher to make sure it’s okay to send in snacks or other foods that contain nuts. In addition, please inform your child’s teacher of any special dietary needs your child may have.
Ira B. Jones Elementary School
Website: https://www.ashevillecityschools.net/Domain/478
Phone: 828.350.6700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/irabjones/
Ruafika A. Cobb, Principal
Email: ruafika.cobb@acsgmail.net
Phone: 828.350.6700
Twitter: @Principal_IBJ