Minidoka Jr. High Parent Newsletter

This month's spotlight is on Karter Kraus! He has officially finished all of his Power Focus Areas for the year! Way to go!

This has been a fantastic year at MJH! We have welcomed 31 new students over the course of the year, and we currently have an enrollment of 49 wonderful youth that we are blessed to know and serve. The staff at MJH has worked hard to provide rich educational experiences for each student. They collaborate daily (sometimes many times) to make adjustments to better support our students. You child has had opportunities to learn problem solving skills and accomplish tasks independently. We have students who have been exceptional preschool aides, earned high school credit, prepared and presented public speeches. We have enjoyed parent gatherings as we have had "Drinks and Donuts" together, experienced a cooking class, parent meetings, a free photo shoot with Ryan Thomas, made gingerbread houses and held individual meetings with parents and families. We appreciate getting to know all of you and feel your support in the program and efforts of our team.

As we reminisce over the year, we feel so fortunate to have traveled the journey with YOU! If your child is moving on to high school, we congratulate them and you for the efforts necessary to promote grades. Thank you for sharing your children with us.

Dyann Blood (Principal MJH)

We are so excited to be able to participate in this "Boot Check" opportunity! To give you a little background, ALL students at MJH are going to Twin Falls on May 2nd to participate in a mental health and suicide prevention conversation and then each student will receive a new pair of cowboy boots valued at $200+ for free (to them)! They will wear the boots and can participate in "Boot Check" moments to remind them that they are valuable and loved. This experience costs $200 per student, and we have donations ranging from $6,500 to $20 from individuals, and businesses in the Magic Valley. Our students have been participating in fund raising efforts for this upcoming occasion. This is a BIG deal for any school to have this opportunity, and we are ever so grateful to everyone who has helped make this possible for us! Richard Jarvis has taken the lead on the fund-raising effort, and with some students has even presented at the Rotary Club and to the school board. We will leave the school on Thursday, May 2nd at 8:00 and return to the school around 12:00.

Student Dress and Grooming (Policy No. 344.00)

. The Board and administration expect that all students will dress in a way that is appropriate for the school day or for any school-sponsored event. Attire or grooming depicting or advocating violence, criminal activity, use of alcohol or drugs, pornography, are obscene, lewd, indecent or offensive are prohibited.

Uniforms are a requirement at Minidoka Jr. High as follows:

1. Students must be wearing the required uniform in order to attend school.

2. All students wear black, blue, or gray pants without patterns, words, or any other markings. No layering of pants. No cargo, capris, leggings, spandex pants or shorts allowed. Pants will not be frayed, have holes, or have any words or graphics and must be worn at the waist level (without undergarments showing) at all times.

3. Uniforms are to be clean.

4. Students may not wear shoes that are predominantly red or blue. No slippers, slides or flip flops.

5. All uniform clothing and accessory layer clothing must be in good repair. Any part of the school uniform that is torn, faded, or altered, must be replaced.

6. Belts must be the appropriate length without excessive length hanging outside the loops. Belt buckle designs, emblems, insignias, monograms must be school appropriate. No blue or red belts, threads, or markings.

7. Accessory layering of clothing under the uniform shirt will include: a crew neck or t-shirt style in solid black, gray, or white. No words or graphics. Hoodies are not allowed for layering purposes.

8. No hats, bandanas, headbands, or other head coverings will be worn in the building or as an accessory.

9. Students who do not comply with the Minidoka Jr. High Uniform Policy may be sent home. Repeated infractions may result in further disciplinary actions.

Polo shirts and layering shirts are available for purchase on Minidoka Jr. High district webpage. Polo shirts are $18.00, and layering shirts (white, black, or gray) are $8.00 each.

We are planning several extracurricular events for the spring. All students are always invited and encouraged to attend. However, incorrigibility, insubordination, substance abuse and any unsafe behavior will disqualify a student from attendance. Parents will be notified if the school is attending an event or activity that your child is unable to attend due to safety concerns.

In Mr. Bruns' math class, we just finished up learning about Angles, Triangles, and Prisms in 7th grade, and Exponents and Scientific Notation in 8th grade.

Now we are beginning our final unit in each class, which is Probability in 7th grade and Pythagorean Theorem in 8th grade.

70% of 8th graders are on track on their Power Focus Areas in math! We are hoping to finish strong with this school year!

Seventh Graders Wrapping Things Up in English Class:

Ronan, Brayden, and Jayda are TOTALLY FINISHED with Power Focus Areas! Brayden is also ON TRACK with all projects for the semester. We are currently working on our LAST project for the year, From Story to Screen (reading the book The Hunger Games).

Eighth Graders Wrapping Things Up in English Class:

Shooter, Karter, and Anaie are TOTALLY FINISHED with Power Focus Areas! Jordan has just one more left! McKenna, Iohanni, Anaie, Karter, and Jordan are also ON TRACK with all projects for the semester. We are currently working on our LAST project for the year, Dream On: Imaginative Narratives (reading the book The House of the Scorpion).

ISAT Report:

All students completed their ISAT testing for the school year. We will be sending reports home with students soon! Be on the lookout for YOUR student's report.

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https://youtu.be/7dt9HPUHj9Q

"In 7th grade, we wrapped up our unit on Mesoamerica and Environmental Research. Students had loads of fun designing their own presentations and posters on an environmental challenge of their choice! They researched everything from volcanoes and tsunamis to ocean acidity and manatees. Now we are moving on to a research project where students can pick any conflict from the Middle Ages to study and learn about.

In 8th grade, students finished their projects analyzing modern conflicts from multiple perspectives. We had posters ranging from Black Lives Matter to violent video games, and students studied the topics from every angle. Now, we move on to studying the different aspects of child labor during the Industrial Revolution. Hopefully students will be able to count their blessings a little easier!"

Students are eligible to participate in the current Responsibility Rewards Activity if they have met the following criteria:

1. Attend at least 90% of classes since the last reward activity (must be on time to count as attending unless previously excused)

• ANY student who has perfect weekly attendance will earn one entry each week into a drawing for random prizes that the winner can choose

2. No more than two incomplete checkpoints or projects in any core class

3. No unresolved student responsibility sheets behavior concerns

4. No more than two responsibility sheets since the last reward activity

***Students are expected to pass at least one PFA each week in order to be eligible to participate in each Responsibility Reward activity.

Attendance is a crucial piece for success in school! It is always vital for students to attend all classes. This year, it is even MORE vital-our state funding is determined by attendance. Please make sure that students missing school for appointments bring excuse notes from the doctor/court/counseling agency. The district has a 90% attendance policy.

• Students can miss a maximum of 7 days in a semester (August 21-December 20).
• Doctor's/court/counseling notes need to be delivered to the school within 5 school days after returning to school.
• When a licensed physician or psychiatrist shall state in writing to the board of trustees that physical, mental or emotional condition of a child does not permit attendance at school, and a petition is filed with the board by the parent or guardian of the child requesting such child be exempt, the board of trustees may at its discretion grant the requested exemption during the existence of such condition.
• Click link to view policy. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16gXdG2iHucMfD0G9H1inlIVDPMxfn7FX

• All students attending MJH need the signed "Statement of Cooperation" form turned in to the secretary.
• No backpacks/binders
• No open drink containers
• Cell phones will be turned in to staff at the beginning of the day and returned as students leave the building. Students who do not turn cell phones in will receive graduated consequences: warning, parent only (no siblings) pick up the phone from the office, not allowed to bring a phone for the remainder of the year.
• No dropping off students before 7:30-students need to be dropped off in the back of the building by the gym doors. We do not have supervision earlier than that.
• Students will go home on their assigned bus unless you contact the school (preferably by noon if possible). Please do not send notes, and we do not allow students to call home to change transportation plans.
• Click Link for Statement of Cooperation. https://drive.google.com/file/d/16LDAXmNpc04mSIwifE5RTokNt96NQ5Fm/view?usp=sharing

How do I log into the Summit Learning Platform?

To log into the Summit Learning Platform as a parent/guardian:

1. Go to https://www.summitlearning.org
2. Click Parents Login in the upper right
3. Sign in with your username or email address, as well as your password

If you’ve forgotten your password:

1. Click Forgot Password? on the login screen, under Password
2. Enter your username or email address, then click Reset Password. You’ll receive an email with further instructions to reset your password
   

If you don’t receive the email, or if you’ve forgotten your username or email address, your child’s teacher should be able to provide you with that information.

If you don't have a parent account, please reach out to your student's teacher or principal and provide them with your name and email address for them to create an account for you. They will provide you with a username and password, which you can later update.

If you have additional questions or need more help, just contact our help desk.

Where can I see my child’s work?

As a parent/guardian, you may want to see what your child is working on at school. From the menu on the left, you can explore this through 3 different avenues:

• Week
• Year
• How do I see my child's specific assignments?
• Progress

Week

In the Week section, your child can plan and set goals for focus areas and checkpoints they are working on. Clicking on a goal will take you to the corresponding focus area or Project it is associated with.

Year

The Year section shows your child’s progress across all subjects. Scroll down to see each of your child’s courses, as well as the Projects and focus areas for each course.

The vertical blue line is the pacing line, and it indicates where your child should be today in order to be on track, or on-pace, to complete a given course by the end of the school year. Projects and focus areas to the left of the line are either completed or behind schedule, while all Projects and focus areas to the right of the line are upcoming in the school year. Students are free to work on focus areas ahead of time or return to previous focus areas for review at any time. You can toggle to past or future school years by clicking on the left or right arrows at the top right of the page.

Note: Projects that have been assigned are sized proportionally, depending on the start and end dates of the Projects. For example, a longer Project will take up more space than a shorter Project. Projects that are unassigned, as well as all focus areas, are spaced equally and are presented at the same width.

How do I see my child's specific assignments?

You can view your child's specific assignments by clicking into a project. Once you are viewing a project, you can click into the individual assignments to see your student's progress as well as the teachers' written feedback.

1. Go to your child's Year Page
2. Click into a project
3. Click into a checkpoint or final product

4. See your child's progress and the teacher's comments

Progress

In the Progress section, you can view everything your child recently worked on, a summary of his/her goals for each week, and a space to view notes from teachers and mentors.

You can also view your child’s grades in each of their classes based on their current pace. Keep in mind that these grades are not final until the school year ends and may change whenever students complete Projects or pass Content Assessments. By clicking into each course, you will receive a detailed grade summary.

• Federal Programs Information - English

• Federal Programs Information - Spanish

• Parental Rights Annual Notices - English

• Parental Rights Annual Notices - Spanish

• Parents/Guardians have the right to request professional qualifications of teachers and paraprofessionals.
• Parents/Guardians are invited to monthly meetings-They will be held the third Wednesday each month from 3:45-4:45 (latest)
• Parent/Patron Advisory Committee meets monthly at 12:30 here at our building. Lunch is provided, and parents/guardians have the opportunity to be part of the decision making process for our schools. We would love to have you participate as you can.