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This Wednesday, September 20, is an Early Dismissal day. 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 are still available for all students on these days. Please click here to access the schedule for the day.

The last day of quarter 1 is October 20. All assignments, projects, makeups, and any items that are included in your child's final grade must be completed and submitted by Friday, October 13. Help your child succeed by having him/her regularly check PowerSchool to see all grading information (assignments, assessments, projects, etc.). Any assignments marked with an orange exclamation point (and score of 50%) are considered missing and should be completed and submitted to your child's teacher(s). Please make sure your child notifies any teachers of missing work that has been submitted for credit. As always, contact your child's teachers directly with any specific questions.

District 45 uses Common Sense Media for its digital citizenship curriculum. The Common Sense Digital Citizenship curriculum is taught in grades K through 8 and is designed to empower students to think critically, behave safely, and participate responsibly in our digital world. Jackson students will complete this curriculum, beginning this week. You can find the Common Sense Digital Citizenship curriculum and other useful information/resources for parents/guardians by visiting the Common Sense Media website at www.commonsense.org.

Membership

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

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.

Here are some important tips and reminders about walking across railroad tracks and trespassing:

• Cross tracks ONLY at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings. Observe and obey all warning signs and signals.

• Never walk down a train track; it's illegal and dangerous. By the time a locomotive engineer sees a trespasser or vehicle on the tracks, it's too late to stop, even if emergency brakes are activated.

• The only safe place to cross is at a designated public crossing equipped with crossbucks, flashing red lights or gates. Crossing anywhere else is trespassing, and you can be ticketed and fined.

• Do not cross tracks immediately after a train passes. A second train may be approaching when blocked by the first. Trains can come from either direction. Wait until you can see clearly in both directions.

• Flashing red lights signal that a train is approaching from either direction. You can be fined for ignoring these signals. Never walk around lowered or be inside lowered gates at a crossing. Stay alive! DO NOT cross the tracks until the red lights stop flashing and it is safe to do so.

• Remember: Rails and Recreation do not mix!

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. All month, mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 9-8-8 or chat online at 988lifeline.org.

District 45 families are invited to attend the Frida Community Organization’s Frida Fest on Saturday, September 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Tri-Town YMCA at 136 S. Cornell Ave, Villa Park. Families will enjoy a free taco lunch, raffles, art and sports activities, and access to community resources, including free on-site vaccinations. The celebration will feature an entertainment lineup of traditional and contemporary dance groups and live musical performances. View the flyer.

Frida Community Organization (FCO) is joining the District 45 community through a five-year grant that will help facilitate community-wide activities, events, and services available to all District 45 families. Through the grant, FCO will also offer after-school enrichment activities for Schafer Elementary and Jefferson Middle School students. Learn more about the organization.

The District 45 Soccer Crosstown Classic takes place on Thursday, September 28, at 6:00 p.m. at Willowbrook High School, 1250 Ardmore Ave, Villa Park. Jackson and Jefferson Middle School soccer teams will match up on the field under the stadium lights. The Crosstown Classic is an annual tradition that includes students, staff, and families cheering on our middle schools. Admission is free. Come out in support of our student-athletes.

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