Dust Devil Weekly

(Most) SBAC testing is complete! We still have a couple of scholars finishing up but, for the most part, testing season is behind us! Now we are on to finalizing class work in a final push towards the end of trimester 3, and the end of the school year. Please do not fall into the trap of believing that because the SBAC is over that classes will not be working. Final grades have yet to be calculated and students still have a lot of work to do!

This week we will bid a temporary adieu to our intrepid 6th graders, who are headed off to Camp Cuyamaca, for a week of education in the wilderness. It is going to be a fabulous week for the kids.

We are looking forward to the coming week. Please enjoy this edition of the Dust Devil Weekly.

As we continue to focus on attendance at JMMS and districtwide, here are our percentages from the past week:

Monday 5/13: 93.32%

Tuesday 5/14: 98.09%

Wednesday 5/15: 99.05%

Thursday 5/16: 94.03%

Friday 5/17: 90.69%

All 6th Graders heading to Camp Cuyamaca should arrive to JMMS at 8:30am and head to the Gym! Once your child arrives at the Gym, they will be directed to load their luggage onto the truck ready to head to Camp! Please make sure that you label your child's luggage with their first and last name. We are not putting tags on for students. Parents will say goodbye at the Gym and students will head inside to wait with their teachers for their bus ride to Camp Cuyamaca!!

Special thanks to Claudia Sanchez for providing the most incredible grazing table for the JMMS Staff! Claudia wanted to give everyone at JMMS a taste of what PTA can do for the school next year when our PTA gets started. Brittney Bjork from Olive and Fig Co did a beautiful job displaying all these goodies. The JMMS Staff felt appreciated and can't wait to be a part of the PTA next year! Thank you again Claudia and the soon to be fully functioning JMMS PTA!

Join AEF for a Fun-Filled, Enriching Summer Experience!

Ready Break Summer camps offer a fantastic opportunity for your children to enjoy a summer full of learning and fun. With 58 different camps to choose from, there's something for everyone. See the flyer below for more details.

Attention 8th Grade Families! The end of the year is rapidly approaching and there are many events that will be happening to celebrate the end of middle school! Please see the attached letter that will have details about the upcoming events. Please also note that a more detailed letter about Promotion will be coming home soon!

8th Grade End of the Year Events Letter

It is time to prepare for the Promoting Class of 2024! We will celebrate with our Promotion Ceremony on Tuesday, June 11th at 8:30am in the JMMS Gym. Please read the letter to families linked below for all of the details about the Promotion Ceremony!

2024 Promotion Ceremony Letter

Please see the Packing List below if your child is planning on attending 6th grade Camp from May 20-24. This list is meant to help guide you as you pack and prep for the exciting week of Camp!!

For most students at JMMS the SBAC and the CAST assessments are a thing of the past. Sure, there will be a few students who still need to complete components of these untimed tests, but by and large the spring testing window closed last Friday. But school doesn’t end until June 11, and that is 3 ½ weeks away. So what now?

There is a lot left to be done. Admittedly, as we get closer to summer break things will calm down a little as end of the year celebrations, including 8th grade promotion, grade level trips, such as 6th grade camp, Medieval Times, and Harbor Cruise, ramp up. However inside the classroom teaching and learning will continue.

Students should take this time to look back on their grades and past assignments to ensure that all their work has been completed, and completed to the best of their abilities. Trimester 3 grades have not yet been finalized, and the next 3.5 weeks can go a long way to determine how students perform academically.

To steal a phrase from the world of baseball, Dust Devils need to keep their eyes on the ball. While it might be tempting to feel that the school year is ending with the spring assessments, it just isn’t true. Fun times are ahead, but never forget that there is work still be done.

JMMS is excited to offer Spirit wear for our Dust Devils! You can find offers and options here:

https://macqueenmiddlespiritwear.com/

Did you know that Alpine Union School District has a valuable online resource available to all students — the Sora digital library? Sora provides access to a diverse collection of books, including audiobooks, and can be accessed at any time. Here's how your child can make the most of this resource:

1. Accessing Sora:

• Log into their Google account

• Navigate to Clever (lower left side of Chromebook)

• Click on the Sora app

• Once in Sora, log in using your Google credentials. This is a one-time requirement, and subsequent logins will be automatic.

Note: If you're unsure about your student’s Google login information, please reach out to your child’s teacher.

2. Exploring the San Diego County Public Library:

In addition to our library, students can also access books from the San Diego County Public Library through Sora:

• After logging into Sora, click on the down arrow next to Alpine Union School District (under EXPLORE) on the top left-hand side

• Search for San Diego County Library and click on San Diego County Library Digital Media

• Choose your desired book

• Click "borrow"

• Select Alpine Union School District

• Click on the blue bar

• Click on your student's email address again

• Click on borrow again

• Access the book by clicking on “shelf” at the bottom of the screen

We highly encourage students to make the most of this resource.

If you want to wish your Dust Devil a Happy Birthday either on the marquee or in our morning announcements (or both!) you can fill out this form and turn it in to Miss Lindsay in the front office. Please give us 48 hours notice before the day you would like the message to appear. You can get the form from the front office as well, or print one out from this newsletter.

The Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) is a vital educational tool designed to engage parents and guardians in shaping the priorities, goals, and resource allocation within Alpine Union School District. Developed annually, the LCAP reflects the District's commitment to student success and equity. By fostering collaboration between educators, administrators, and families, the LCAP aims to enhance educational outcomes, promote transparency, and ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education that prepares them for future success. AUSD has developed three LCAP goals as described below:

Goal #1: Effective Instruction and Curriculum - Provide equitable access to high-quality classroom curriculum and instruction in an inclusive environment that promotes student success.

Goal #2: Safe and Respectful Environments - Ensure all school sites are safe and have healthy and welcoming climates for staff, students, and their families so that all students feel connected and are motivated to attend and ready to learn.

Goal #3: Equitable and Culturally Responsible Systems - Ensure systems and processes eliminate barriers to student success and are equitable and culturally responsive to the needs of our students and their families

Monday 5/20-Friday 5/24- 6th Grade Camp

Wednesday 5/22 - Wear School Colors

Monday 5/27 - Memorial Day Observed (No School)

Wednesday 5/29 - Late Start Morning

Friday 5/31 - Lunch on the Lawn

Friday 5/31 & Saturday 6/1 - Alice in Wonderland Jr. in JMMS Gym at 7pm