JMS Weekly Update

Dear JMS Families,

This week's Update contains information about the following:

• Elementary Circle Drive Pick Up
• Halloween Costume Contest
• Schoology Tip for Students
• Ordering School Pictures

Take Care,

Dr. Sarah Shaw, Principal

sshaw@mtlsd.net

Mrs. Amanda Jackson, Assistant Principal

amandajackson@mtlsd.net

Monday - Day 4

Tuesday - Day 5

Wednesday - Day 1

Thursday - Day 2

Friday - Day 3

Monday (11/6) - Day 4

Elementary Circle Drive Pick-Up

This is a message for our families who are picking their children up in the circle on the elementary side of the building.

Beginning on Monday, you are not permitted to park and wait in the circle. You may still use the circle for pick up, but you will need to continue to drive if your child is not outside and ready for pick up.

Arriving early and parking in the circle has prevented elementary parents from being able to access the building to pick up their children who are sick/have an early dismissal. Additionally, this area needs to remain clear in case of an emergency.

Halloween Costume Contest

On Halloween, the JMS Student Council will be hosting a costume contest. Students who want to come dressed in their costume that day are asked to donate two non-perishable food items or $2.00. All items and monies collected will be donated to SHIM, the South Hills Interfaith Ministries food bank.

Halloween costumes must comply with the student dress code, found in the Student Handbook:

• Costumes should be respectful. Dressing up as someone else's culture is not an appropriate costume. Costumes which portray stereotypes, involve religious or sacred symbols, or denigrate others on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability are not permitted.
• No brief and/or revealing clothing
• No clothing with messages that: 1) Are suggestive, obscene, vulgar, offensive or libelous, that denigrate others on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability. 2) Advertise or promote drugs, alcohol, tobacco or violence.

• Students are permitted to wear a hat as part of a costume.
• Students are not permitted to wear costume masks or completely paint their face.
• Students must be identifiable when in costume.
• Small amounts of makeup are permitted, such as makeup to create a scar or to add cat whiskers to the face.
• Students are not permitted to have look-alike weapons as part of their costume per school district policy GBGB/JICI.
• Students are still required to participate in PE and should dress appropriately.
• Administration reserves the right to make the final decision on the appropriateness of Halloween costumes. Students will be required to change if a costume is determined to be inappropriate.

How to Order School Pictures

School pictures have been uploaded to our photographer's website for ordering. Please visit Wayne's World of Photography to order your photos. Detailed instructions for how to do this are below.

The company offers retakes if eyes are closed, glasses have glare, or hair is blown in the face. If you have any additional questions about orders or retakes, please contact Wayne Bratten at 412-257-1506. To view and order your photos:

1. Visit Wayne's World of Photography.
2. Click on "JMS."
3. Enter your student's MTLSD 7 digit ID number. (This number can be found on dashboard in the Student Information section.).
4. Click on "Order Prints/Products.
5. Complete your purchase online.

JMS Yearbooks Are on Sale Now!

How to Order a Yearbook

*When accessing the Walsworth site, please make sure you are in Chrome. Safari does not work to open the site.*

JMS Yearbooks are on sale now through Friday, December 1, 2023. You can purchase a yearbook by visiting yearbookforever.com or by clicking on the link above.

Prices:

• Sunday, October 1 at 12:00 AM- Tuesday, October 31 at 11:59 PM: $50
• Wednesday, November 1 at 12:00 AM- Monday, November 20 at 11:59 PM: $55
• Tuesday, November 21 at 12:00 AM- Friday, December 1 at 11:59 PM: $60

Limited extras will be sold on the last day of school for $60

8th Grade Advertisements are also for sale from now until December 1 for $35.

Please email Ashlee Beckett at abeckett@mtlsd.net with any questions.

One-to-One Technology

Students in grades 6-8 are required to bring a non-cell phone device with them to school every day. If you would like to borrow a device for your student in grades 6-8, you can submit a request to borrow one from the District on this page.

This page is also where you can report a problem/damage to your student's District-owned device using our form. This page also explains and provides a link to enroll in the District's annual Equipment Protection Plan (EPP) to limit any charges that might come from accidental damage to your student's District-owned device. This plan is optional and is not required.

Middle School Athletics

You can learn everything you need to know about Middle School Athletics, including starting dates, by visiting the MS Athletics Webpage.

Reflections Contest

Are you an artist? A composer? A writer? A dancer? A photographer? A movie maker?

Then the 2023-2024 Reflections Competition is for YOU!

We are inviting our JMS student body to participate in this exciting opportunity of the Reflections program for 2023-2024 and to showcase your talents for the arts. In 2022-2023, five talented JMS students received this special recognition from our JMS PTA.

Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. This year's theme is "I am hopeful because. . . "

We enthusiastically invite our students to apply and to present an original artwork, in the form of music, dance, a literary writing or other form or original work in the arts and celebrating this very unique theme. The theme was submitted by Alice Meko, from Hampton Cove Elementary School in Alabama.

So remember, the theme is "I am hopeful because . . . " And we are very excited to see all of the talents of our students, using this very creative theme.

The deadline for submission is OCTOBER 30, 2023

If you have any additional questions regarding Reflections, please check out the JMS PTA newsletter that has been e-mailed to your home.

PTA Membership and DIrectory Access

JMS PTA Membership Toolkit is now open for the coming 2023-2024 school year.

Join the PTA!!!

A portion of your membership and donations help support these various activities and events...the school musical, Canteen Day, Staff Welcome Back Breakfast, Field Trips and class enrichment, teacher appreciation, writing celebration, supplies for the nurses office, 8th grade end of the year celebration, 8th grade career day, high notes festival, art all day, Veterans Day, international night, assemblies, and much more!

In addition, last school year the PTA was able to purchase a new water bottle filler and picnic table for the courtyard!

Directory access is available to JMS PTA members only.

Join today!

Safe 2 Say Something

Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” BEFORE it is too late. With Safe2Say Something, it’s easy and confidential to report safety concerns to help prevent violence and tragedies.

Here’s how it works:

• Submit a report through the Safe2SaySomething system
• Crisis center reviews, assesses and processes all submissions
• Crisis center sends all submissions to school administration and/or law enforcement for intervention
• If needed, crisis center may contact tipster anonymously through the app

Free/Reduced Lunch Program

Children need healthy meals to learn, so the Mt. Lebanon School District is committed to offer healthy meals every school day for our students. For the 2023-2024 school year, breakfast is free for all students; lunch costs $2.65 for elementary students and $2.80 for middle school and high school students. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals. Reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch. Click the link below for free or reduced price meal benefits, and a set of detailed instructions to help you apply.

Free/Reduced Meal Application

You can also apply for free and reduced meals online via the state's COMPASS portal.

Local Resources for Families

The MTLSD School Counselors in partnership with The Allegheny Children's Initiative Inc., have compiled a list of social services resources that may be helpful to you and your family. Please take a look and reach out to these organizations. They are here to help with any of the following:

• Food
• Rent/Mortgage
• Utilities
• Pets
• Abuse
• Mental Health
• General Assistance

The Jefferson Middle School learning community has an exceptional reputation for its dedicated teachers, staff and parents working together to provide learning experiences for our children that include high expectations, a challenging curriculum and a shared commitment to provide the best education possible for each and every student.