Quarter 2 Grading Reminders
The last day of quarter 2 is January 10. Any late work that is included in your child's final grade must be completed and submitted by Friday, December 20. Help your child succeed by having him/her/their 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.
Cold Weather Reminders
As we enter our cold weather months, it is a good time to revisit our AM arrival procedures:
The AM arrival time window runs from 8:10 to 8:30 a.m.
Students are not allowed on school grounds prior to the arrival time window, unless they are scheduled to meet with a Jackson staff member or participating in a before school activity.
Students are to enter our doors through designated grade level entrances and report directly to their lockers and RAM classroom, unless they are reporting to the cafeteria to eat breakfast (cafeteria entrance door #5).
Pull as far forward in the plaza drive when dropping off your child. “As far forward” means to the end of the drive, when possible.
Have your child ready to exit the vehicle quickly during drop-off.
Encourage your child to dress for the weather! Although we do not anticipate children standing outside during arrival, dressing appropriately during cold weather months is always a good practice.
Messages from the Jackson PTA
Fall Book Fair
Jackson Book Fair is THIS WEEK! Mark your calendars for December 2-6 and get ready to explore an amazing selection of books your kids will love! Students can shop and pay using cash, card, or set up an eWallet for a quick and easy checkout experience.
Find all the details and set up your eWallet on the Jackson Book Fair website here:
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/jacksonmiddleschool4
We can’t wait to see everyone there!
We also need parent volunteers during the school day! You can find the sign up on the Jackson Book Fair homepage too! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0C4EA9A82AAAF94-53558685-jackson?useFullSite=true#/
Book Fair Open House: Thursday, December 5, 4-7 pm in The Jackson LRC
Parents and students will be able to shop at the Book Fair- stop by before or after the wrestling meet and get some Christmas shopping done!
December Dine & Donate
December 19: Made in Italy (476 Forest Avenue, Glen Ellyn, 3pm-9pm)
20% given back to Jackson on all dine-in restaurant orders and pre ordered Take-and-Bake Italian cuisine trays. More details & online ordering form coming soon!
Next PTA Meeting
Our next PTA meeting is Thursday, December 19, at 6:00 pm in the Jackson LRC.
So much to do on 12/19. We will be handing out Spirit Wear orders and Dine & Donate-Made in Italy cuisine trays!
6th Grade Social
Attention 6th grade parents! Save the Date- Wednesday, January 29 (Early Dismissal), 6th Grade Glow Jump at Sky Zone Elmhurst, 1:30-3:30 pm. More details to come and sign up will be required!
Student Meal Program Update
District 45's student meal program vendor, Arbor Management Inc., is now part of the Whitsons Culinary Group. Beginning November 18, Whitsons will provide District 45 students with a comprehensive school meal program that offers high-quality, innovative, and culturally appropriate meals and meets National School Lunch and Breakfast Program requirements while fostering a positive attitude toward healthy eating among students. Learn more about Whitsons Culinary Group.
Jackson Class of 2025 Information from Willowbrook High School
Attention 8th grade families! Please click here (Spanish) to access key dates information regarding your child's transition to Willowbrook. In addition, check out the Class of 2029 website. Go, Willowbrook Class of 2029!
Extracurricular Opportunities
We have a “Ways to Get Involved” clubs & activities link posted on the Jackson website. This link will bring you to a document that lists all the activities, clubs, and sports offered at Jackson. For each offering listed, the following information is included:
Activity, club, or sport name
Grade levels eligible for the activity, club, or sport
Meeting times
General description of the activity, club, or sport
Supervisor/coach contact information
Information about tryouts for interscholastic sports, specifics regarding intramurals, or other important information regarding extracurriculars will be communicated via the Jackson Happenings document which is also available on the Jackson website.
Jackson Daily Happenings
PowerSchool Parent Portal
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.
Attendance
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