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News and events - Sept. 15, 2023
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Fall Conference Information
Fall conferences are Tuesday, October 10, from 3:45 – 7:35 pm; Thursday, October 12, and Tuesday, October 17, from 3:45 – 7:30 pm.
We use the MyConferenceTime application to schedule all conferences. The window to start scheduling Trimester 1 conferences opens on Monday, September 18.
Families will have the opportunity to select “in person” or virtual conferences. Please indicate your preference using the MyConferenceTime program. Staff will be conducting Parent/Teacher conferences from their classrooms. With this in mind, please try and schedule your conferences by grade level and/or building locations. Scheduling conference appointments every other time slot will also create some travel time for your conference evenings.
We recommend that you schedule your conference times before coming to conferences. If not you can stop at the main office on conference night and we will help you schedule them. Please note that some teachers’ schedules fill up and may not be available if you wait to schedule your conference times the night of conferences. If you have any problems with the sign up, please call 763-506-5331 for help.
Lunch, Food, and Beverage Procedures
For the health and cleanliness of the building, only water is allowed in the hallways at Jackson Middle School. All food must be stored in a closed container or bag and stored in lockers at all times before and after lunch. All food and beverages must be consumed in the cafeteria.
Student food deliveries to the school from restaurants, DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc. are not permitted and will be turned away and not delivered.
Parents/guardians are not to drop off food from local restaurants, or snacks/birthday treats for their students to share with their friends on birthdays or other special occasions. Celebrations are fun, but they create significant distractions and supervision issues in the cafeteria/classroom and are therefore not allowed. Please keep those important celebrations at home.
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.
Celebrate Multicultural Night at Jackson Middle School
We are excited to announce the return of our Multicultural Night at Jackson Middle School for the second year!
Date: October 6, 2023
Time: 5 - 8 PM
Cost: Free
This event is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together and celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures that make up our school. It's a time to embrace our identities, learn from one another, and create lasting memories.
Who's Invited?
All students, parents, and their families are warmly invited to attend JMS's Multicultural Night.
What to Expect?
Enjoy diverse culinary delights from our food trucks (optional purchase).
Engage in a wide range of activities.
Be entertained by captivating performances.
Explore cultural representations and resources that celebrate our diverse backgrounds.
Student Fashion Show Participation
If your child is interested in participating in our fashion show, please have them reach out to their advisory teacher, Mr. Perkins, or Mrs. Farid for more details.
Important Reminders:
Parents must stay with their students throughout the event to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Students are not allowed to attend the event without parental attendance.
We look forward to seeing you there as we come together to celebrate our vibrant and diverse school community. Let's make this year's Multicultural Night a night to remember!
Washington, D.C. Trip
Join us for the Washington, D.C., Parent Information Night on Tuesday, October 3, if you or your child are interested in touring our nation's capital.
The meeting is at 7 pm in the JMS Library with your host, Mr. Morgan. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit our nation's capital and see all the sites in a safe, organized, fun way. The fee covers airfare, bus, tour guide, entry fees, food, hotel, security, and wonderful chaperones. Besides seeing the sites of Washington D.C., students will also take a day trip to Gettysburg, PA, and Mount Vernon. This year's trip is scheduled for May 2-5, 2024. Feel free to email Mr. Morgan with questions, or go ahead and register for this once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity to visit our Nations capital with awesome tour guides and chaperones.
The Trip number to register is: Trip ID # 211073
Update from the Library
This summer, students had a chance to complete the JMS Summer Reading BINGO Board. It is available here https://bit.ly/printsummerbingo or in print form in the Library.
Students can still complete and turn in the form until September 29. Completed BINGOs are entered into a raffle win a prize. There is a basket in the Library for completed forms. 9th graders can email the completed board to Ms. Legatt to win a prize.
Bus Safety Evacuation Drill
On September 21, 2023, Jackson Middle School will conduct the State and Federal Required Transportation School Bus Evacuation Drills. The drills are conducted twice a year, generally in the Fall and Spring. If there is inclement weather, the drill will be conducted the following week.
The drill will be supervised by the driver, bus paraeducators, and building personnel.
Our goal is to prepare all our students for any bus emergency. Thank you for your cooperation
and support.
School Based Mental Health
What is SBMH?
School Based Mental Health, or SBMH for short, started with an initiative to provide better access for youth to mental health services. Minnesota created legislation for School Linked Mental Health, as it is often referred, for schools to embed mental health practitioners and professionals inside
their buildings. The idea is to reduce barriers to getting the appropriate mental health care for youth to improve their ability to be healthy and ready to learn and is now the way many access mental health services. Various clinics and providers provide SBMH services across Minnesota. People Incorporated is one that serves the Robbinsdale/Intermediate District 287/Osseo/Anoka-Hennepin Districts.
Check out our newsletter here.
Student Drop-off/Pick-up
Parents must use our east JMS lot for student drop-off and pick-up before school, after school and after activities in order to keep the bus lanes open. The parking lot is very crowded so, for the safety of our students and staff that are walking, it is important that all cars follow the marked lanes around the large loop to the drop off area. The entire drop off area can be used for students to exit cars. We encourage parents to use district provided transportation whenever possible.
Door 1 opens at 7:45 a.m. for students who have made previous arrangements to work with a teacher. Students will NEED A PASS from their teacher in order to enter the school prior to 8:00 AM. Our cafeteria begins serving breakfast at 8:00 am. Students should enter door #4 for breakfast. All other doors are open at 8:10 am when all students are allowed in the school.
Modified middle school cell phone guidelines promote learning
Anoka-Hennepin Schools is committed to providing students and staff with a safe, secure, and positive learning and working environment. In an effort to improve student focus on learning and reduce distractions during the school year, a modification of the current cell phone guidelines has been made.
The new middle school guidelines, which will be in place for 2023-24, state: At all six middle schools in the district, electronic devices must be concealed and shall not be powered on or used in any way during regular operations of the school day, during other school-sponsored and supervised group activities during the school day (e.g., during student assemblies, field trips, events, or other ceremonies, ect.), or when their use is otherwise prohibited by school personnel.
Parents/guardians are advised to call the school office if they need to contact their child during the school day. School administration and staff greatly appreciate your support.
The impact of cell phones on student’s developing brains and their educational success is well researched. Consider reviewing resources available as your family prepares for the upcoming school year:
Device Protection Plan
Tech Protect: Device Protection Plan available for families with students assigned district Chromebooks
Enrollment for the 2023-24 school year is now open.
Technology plays an important role in preparing students for life, and Chromebooks are utilized as a daily learning tool in Anoka-Hennepin middle and high school classrooms. Anoka-Hennepin students in grades 6-12 are assigned a Chromebook from the school district to ensure access to technology systems that support classroom learning.
The Technology Protection Plan is optional; it is not required, however, by electing not to participate in the Protection Plan, families may be required to reimburse the school district for the replacement or repair of damaged Chromebooks assigned to their student/s. Damaged or broken screens may cost between $100 to $190 depending on parts needed; or the replacement cost for the entire device could be up to $410.
Families can opt-in to the Device Protection Plan by logging into A-HConnect, and selecting "My Student Information," and "Fees." Parents must select or decline coverage under the Device Protection Plan.
The plan cost is $20 per student or $60 per family per school year.
If the student qualifies for free or reduced-price school meals in the 2023-24 school year, the cost of the Protection Plan will be reduced to $0.
Repairs with the Protection Plan are subject to a $15 deductible.
View the Device Protection Plan flyer to learn more.
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.