Welcome Back JCMS Knights!

Good Day JCMS Students and Families,

We are making final preparations for the school year to start.

• All students should have gotten a phone call from JCMS, Saturday, August 8, to let them know what Cohort they belong to. if you have questions, call JCMS or email me.
• Student schedules are being mailed home on Monday, August 10th
• Cohort A students start in person school on Monday, August 17th.
• Cohort B students start remote learning on Tuesday, August 18th, and start in person school on August 20th. Cohort B students are advised to pickup your laptop on Thursday or Friday of this week at the times below.
• Links for JCMS' Virtual Orientation will be posted on our school website on Friday, August 14, by 11 am.

8/10 6th Band/Orchestra Instrument Selection Night, at JCMS, 6-8 pm

8/13 Cohort B Computer Distribution 3-6 pm in JCMS Cafeteria

8/14 Cohort B Computer Distribution 9-12 pm in JCMS Cafeteria

8/17 First Day of School for Cohort A Students Face to Face

8/20 First Day of School for Cohort B Students Face to Face

School Calendar Link: https://nc02213593.schoolwires.net/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=1624&dataid=73447&FileName=20-21%20E_and_M%20Plan%20B%20Calendar%20-%20APPROVED.pdf

Band and Orchestra instrument sign-up and selection night is Monday, August 10, from 6-8 pm at JCMS. 6th grade band and orchestra students can look at the instruments to select the instrument they would like to play.

All 6th grade students interested in band or orchestra are invited. 6th grade students that did not join band or orchestra can still call the school and request band or orchestra classes. 6th grade is the time when you can learn to play an instrument, read music, and become a musician.

Car Rider Arrival:

Car riders drop off outside the front office. Students can begin to arrive on campus after 7:15. Students will get temperature checked and asked the 3 Covid questions as they exit their car. Students that arrive before 7:30, will sit in a socially distanced spot on the gym floor until 7:30. School opens for all students at 7:30 am. If students are eating breakfast, they are to go directly to the cafeteria to get their breakfast and then eat in their homerooms. Students not eating breakfast will go directly to their homeroom class. The tardy bell rings at 7:50. Students are considered tardy if they arrive after that time. All students will be required to wear a mask at school.

Bus Arrival:

Buses use the front driveway of the school. Buses will be unloaded one at a time where students will be temperature checked and asked the Covid questions. Each grade level will enter a different exterior door close to their hallway and enter there. They will go directly to homeroom class. Students eating breakfast will get breakfast and eat in the cafeteria.

Dismissal: Classes of students will be walked to their dismissal area or buses, by classroom teacher at 2:57, 3:00, 3:04, and 3:08. Walkers will exit out the front of the school. Car riders are picked up on the traffic circle between JCMS and Northside HS. Car-riders are to exit the side of the building closest to Northside HS. Students will walk with their class until they get to their bus, or area of pickup.

Refer to the map below for better understanding about areas of pickup and dropoff.

Student to student sharing of supplies during 2020-2021 school year is discouraged, so it is important that each student has their own supplies for class.

Student Supplies: Students will need the following EACH DAY when on campus.

· Bookbag with area for laptop and all materials/supplies

· one 3” 3-ring Binder (no trapper keepers or zip up binders)

· Loose-leaf notebook paper

· 1 pack of 25-page protectors

· Pens (black/blue), pencils, and highlighters (2 of each at all times)

· 12 count color pencils

· 10 count markers

· Small, pencil sharpener

· Glue Sticks/small glue scissors

· Ear buds

· Pencil pouch that fits in binder for handheld supplies listed above

· Clear, personal water bottle (water fountains will not be used)

· 2 Composition notebooks (8th Grade only/no spiral bound

-Individual hand sanitizer

-Face Mask

Laptops: Students in all grade levels will be issued laptops to use at school and home for the duration of the school year. The laptops are BRAND NEW this year for our students. This is part of the 1:1 system-wide program. ($25 technology usage assessment fee).

Cohort A will receive computers on August 17th, and Cohort B will be allowed to pick up devices August 13 (3-6 pm) or August 14 (9-12 pm) in the Cafeteria. Parents and students will need to enter cafeteria doors from the outside using front bus driveway. Make sure to wear a mask and practice social distancing. Students will receive new logins for the school year, and can tune live to classroom lectures beginning August 18th.

Storage: Lockers will not be used for the 2020-2021 school year. Please keep this in mind when purchasing a backpack for laptop storage for the 2020-2021 school year. Computer bags will not be issued from the county this school year.

Optional Items

• Ruler
• Dictionary and calculator for home use•
• Portable hole Punch (that fits in rings of binder)

*It is highly encouraged to purchase a backpack with a padded laptop compartment or sleeve to ensure the protection of student issued laptops. Approximately 14" inch screen.

JCMS bus routes are available on the Onslow County School website under transportation or by clicking the link:

http://timssql670a.onslow.k12.nc.us/liveweb/webquery/WebQueryRequestController?address=&grade=ALL_GRADES&program=&RESET=Reset&action=1.

Just type in your address, and the location of the bus stop, time, and bus number will appear.

JCMS School Cash Online is an easy to use a safe way to pay for your children’s school fees. With just a few clicks you can pay for your child’s class trips, school fees, and so much more from your own home. All you have to do is register and set up your account, attach your children and in no time you will be able to make payments online. We accept many different payment forms so log in and check it out. https://onslow.schoolcashonline.com/

The Onslow County School System has adopted the following fee schedule for all middle school students.

* Instructional fee--$5.00

* Chrous--$5.00

* Band or Orchestra--$10.00

* Art fee--$7.00

* Laptop/Tech Usage Fee--$25.00

Parents who wish to have school fees waived need to fill out a fee waiver form by the twentieth day of enrollment. The school may request additional documentation from the parents necessary to support the parent's request for a fee waiver.

• Certified Birth Certificate

• Immunization Record

• Proof of Residence

  • This MUST be a current (within the last month) electric, water or gas bill.

  • The proof of residence must be in the name of the parent or legal guardian or relative with whom you are residing.

  • If you are residing with someone, a notarized statement signed by a friend/relative with whom you and your children are residing is required. The friend/relative must also provide a proof of residence.

• Photo identification of parent/legal guardian

• School Transfer Sheet or Last Report Card

  • A last report card is required for summer enrollments.

• Custody papers, if applicable

The legal guardian/custodian is the person or agency that has been awarded legal custody of the student (s) by a judge in a court of law. A notarized Power of Attorney will not be accepted to transfer custody. Legal guardians/custodians will need to provide court ordered custody papers at the time of enrollment. If you do not have custody papers, you will be referred to the Student Services department at the County Office.

Students are to be enrolled in their school assignment areas (Policy 4150). Parents/legal guardians may apply for out of district placement should extenuating circumstances exist. This process must be completed at the County Office via Student Services. Reassignments must be approved by the Superintendent or the Superintendent's designee.

The state of North Carolina requires all 7th grade students to have proof of an updated vaccination record on file. Two vaccinations are required at this time - a tetanus booster (often referred to as TDaP) and the meningitis vaccine (MCV4). All students are required to have these vaccinations completed prior to 9/14/2020 or they will not be able to attend school until written proof of vaccinations are received in our office. Additionally, a North Carolina Health Assessment is required for all students K-12 entering NC schools for the first time.

Both the assessment and the immunizations can be completed at the Onslow County Health Department located at 612 College St. in Jacksonville. Please call (910) 347-2154 to schedule an appointment if the health assessment is needed. If your child only requires the updated vaccinations, the Onslow County Health Department has a walk-in immunization clinic with posted clinic hours Monday-Wednesday and Friday from 8 AM - 3:30 PM and Thursdays from 9 AM - 6:30PM. Please take your child’s most current immunization record to the clinic as this may be required before vaccinations are given.

To add money to your child's lunch account parents can use the link below. Lunch payments go to: www.k12paymentcenter.com/

Parents, we have cut and pasted the dress code portion of our handbook to the newsletter so you are aware of dress expectations before school starts. It is below, but please do note, we do not allow ripped jeans above finger tip length. We do want students to dress like ladies and gentlemen, and when holes and rips expose undergarments this is not permitted. Thank you for helping us enforce a positive student image at JCMS.

1. No pajamas, bedroom shoes, slippers, or shower shoes are to be worn.

2. Hats, bandannas, headgear, hoodies, or sunglasses are not to be worn inside the school building.

3. Gang writing, lettering, symbols, offensive, obscene, or vulgar words are not to be shown or written on clothing, jewelry, book bags, etc.

4. The shoulder width of shirts, blouses, or dresses must completely cover undergarments. See though garments/shirts are not permissible. Students are not permitted to wear spaghetti strap tops/dresses, tube tops, altered shirts, halter tops/dresses, or open back tops/dresses less than 3 finger width on the shoulder.

5. Shirts must either be tucked in or fall below the belt (waistline) far enough so that when bending or reaching above the head the midriff is not exposed. Net shirts, bare midriffs, see-through shirts or revealing attire is not acceptable.

6. T-shirts and other garments suggestive and/or advertising/displaying alcoholic beverages, tobacco, or any illegal substances or activities (such as violence or gun-related imagery) are not allowed.

7. Pants or shorts must be worn at the waistline. Sagging is not permissible! The length of shorts, skirts, and dresses shall be no higher than finger tip length.

8. Shoes must be worn at all times when on campus.

9. Jackets, sweaters, or other cover-ups must be worn over any inappropriate attire for the entire day, including lunch and change of classes.

10. Spiked collars, spiked wristbands, any chains (including wallet chains), or other clothing, jewelry, or accessories which could pose a threat to student physical well-being and safety are not permitted. School authorities will confiscate these items.

11. No holes in pants (ripped or torn) are allowed above the knee that exposes skin or undergarments. Writing on body parts and clothing is not permitted.

12. If yoga pants, legging or spandex shorts or pants are worn, the shirt should be no shorter than thigh length.

13. Any attire that violates OSHA regulations cannot be worn.

The dress code is to be followed at all school events (i.e. dances, games, concerts, etc.) and field trips. Administration will make the final decision on the appropriateness of the outfit.

CELL PHONES & ELECTRONICS [OCS BOE Policy 3226/4205 and 3225/7320 and NC G.S. 14-458.1]

JCMS recognizes the prevalence of cell phones in today’s society. Students are permitted to bring their cell phone to school, but phones will be turned off and secured in their book bag from 7:30 am-3:05 pm.

Students will not be assigned a locker for the 20/21 school year.

1st offense- Phones confiscated in the classroom will be secured in the front office for the remainder of the day for parent pick up after 3 pm.

2nd offense- Phones confiscated a second time will be secured in the front office for a minimum of three days. Parents may pick up phone after 3 pm on the third day.

3rd offense-Phones confiscated a third time will be secured in the front office for a minimum of five days. Parents may pick up the phone after 3 pm on the fifth day.

4th offense-Phones confiscated a fourth time will be secured in the front office for the remainder of the semester.

If you have an emergency and need to contact your child or need to pick them up, please contact the front office and your child will be paged and notified.

Thank you for your assistance in maintaining a distraction free learning environment for all JCMS students.

Email: curtis.ehmann@onslow.k12.nc.us
Website: https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/jacksonvillecommonsms
Phone: 910-346-6888
Twitter: @jcmsknights