No Place Like Jones

Dear Ira B. Jones Elementary families,

As we continue to settle into the school year, thank you all for your ongoing support and involvement. It's been wonderful seeing the students embrace their learning routines, and your partnership plays a key role in their success. This week, we have a few important updates and reminders:

• Cellphones and Smartwatches: A quick reminder that students are expected to turn in their phones and smartwatches to the office or keep them in their backpacks turned off during the school day. Smartwatches should be in school mode. If these devices become a distraction, they will be confiscated, and parents will be notified.
• "Good News" Feature: We are excited to announce that our school will be highlighted in the "Good News" segment of the Board Meeting tomorrow at 5 PM. They will celebrate our Pizza and Pops Family event and reveal our school's new logo. Please join us in celebrating the positive things happening at our school. Here is the link to watch the live stream of the board meeting.
• Reading Assessments: Our beginning-of-year reading assessments are underway. These help us tailor our instruction to meet each child's needs. Please continue to encourage reading at home—it makes a world of difference!
• Safety Reminders: Student safety is always our top priority. We are committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for your children while they are at school. Please remind your children to accept redirection from the adults at school, follow school expectations, refrain from touching and hitting others, and ensure that any transportation changes are communicated with their teacher in advance.

I believe in maintaining open and transparent communication with our families to ensure our students receive the best support possible. We share the responsibility for our student's success and will do our very best to fulfill our commitments. Please visit our school's website, Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/irabjones/, and follow us on Twitter @Principal_IBJ and Instagram @IraB.JonesElementary for upcoming events, important reminders and to keep up with all the wonderful things our students and teachers are doing. Also, I send out a weekly family newsletter, so please ensure we have your updated contact information.

As a school leader and a parent myself, I understand the importance of healthy communication between families and the school. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, celebrations, or concerns. You can call the school at 828.350.6700 or email me at ruafika.cobb@acsgmail.net.

We're excited to continue this journey together and look forward to seeing more growth and learning in the weeks ahead. Thank you for your ongoing support!

Onward,

Ruafika Cobb

Principal

Ira B. Jones Elementary School

#noplacelikejones

Our New Logo and Magnet Theme Pillars

Our school's new logo symbolizes the vibrant connection between our students, the world, and the future they are helping to shape. It embodies the core of our educational philosophy, reflecting diversity, global citizenship, and the empowerment of learners. The design intertwines vibrant colors and interconnected shapes to represent the global community and the fusion of knowledge, skills, and values our students gain through their educational journey.

Magnet Theme Statement

Students will learn the value of their connection to the world and how they can work to improve it through project-based learning, service learning, 21st-century skills, Paideia, and the celebration of the world's people and culture.

This statement encapsulates our vision of education as a pathway to global citizenship. Through innovative teaching methods like project-based learning and Paideia seminars, our students engage deeply with real-world challenges. They develop essential 21st-century skills—collaboration, critical thinking, and communication—while also learning the importance of service and cultural appreciation.

Magnet Theme Pillars

1. Project-Based Learning (PBL): Through PBL, students tackle complex questions and problems, gain hands-on experience, and learn to apply knowledge in practical, meaningful ways.
2. Service Learning: This pillar emphasizes the importance of community service. Students are encouraged to engage with their community and learn the impact of their actions on a local and global scale.
3. 21st-Century Skills: These skills—communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking—are integrated throughout our curriculum. We aim to prepare students to succeed in an increasingly interconnected and fast-changing world.
4. Paideia: A method that focuses on active learning through discussion, fostering independent thought, and nurturing each student's intellectual and emotional growth.
5. Celebration of World Cultures: We celebrate the rich diversity of the world's cultures through immersive experiences that broaden students' understanding of different people, traditions, and perspectives.

This description aligns our school's new logo, mission, and vision with our magnet pillars, showcasing how they come together to form a cohesive and meaningful learning experience for our Global Scholars.

We will share more information regarding our magnet theme and how the pillars and the new logo reflect our school's daily operations, values, and long-term goals.

September 6 - 26: mClass Testing Window

September 18 - October 5: USNS Testing Window

October 2 - 19: Panorama Survey Window

September 20: Early Dismissal at Noon

October 7: Required Teacher Workday (No School for Students)

October 8: Fall Parent/Teacher Day (No School for Students)

The Growing Minds Afterschool Program registration will be live by Friday, September 6. An email will notify you when registration is open. You can also monitor jonespto.org/afterschool for updates. Below are the club options and dates for session 1 and 2 this Fall. The FTO is available for questions by emailing jonesafterschool@gmail.com. We look forward to having your children join us!

The Jones FTO is proud to announce that we will present a production of The Little Mermaid, Jr on February 20th and 21st in collaboration with Heather Gallagher (owner/director of the Asheville Performing Arts Academy).

Auditions will be held on 9/19, 9/24, and 9/26 for students in grade 3-5.

If a student in grade 3-5 desires to be in the ensemble only, they are expected to audition for one of these dates. Large group rehearsals will take place on Thursdays starting October 3rd and small groups will take place on Tuesdays starting October 8. Kindergarten through second grade students do not need to audition and they will start rehearsals after the Winter Break in January. Stage Crew has limited spots for grade 4 and 5, start date TBD. Mandatory work week for main roles starts on a teacher work day Friday, February 14th and all cast members are expected daily for after school rehearsals starting February 17th.

Full scholarships are available upon request. Fees are as follows: Grade 3-5 $125, Grade K-2 $60, Stage Crew $60, Family Max $175. Please see the registration form for deadlines and payment information.

Parent volunteer information will be distributed soon. We need you! This is a beloved Jones annual event. We will all have fun Under The Sea!

Click Here to Register: online registration form

September 5th- National Cheese Pizza Day- Pizza day will be on Thursday instead of Friday to celebrate this poplar menu item

September 11- Wacky Wednesday- students will get a 100% juice frozen treat with lunch

September 16th- National Guacamole Day- We will have sides of guac available for students to try with our cheese quesadillas

September 19th- National Talk Like a Pirate Day- Our cafeteria lines will be decorated in a pirate theme with our staff participating in the occasion. This will also be pizza day because of the half day on the 20th, so it should be a fun day for students

9/25 & 9/27 are celebrating milk, a staple of school meals. We're going to post the cheesy jokes that are on the milk cartons all over the lines and just have fun with it. Students will get small prizes with lunch on these days.