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Eagle Eye JMS Parent Newsletter #15
Term 2: Week 4: November 6-10, 2023
Hello, Jefferson Middle School families and parents!
We are finding ourselves pushing toward our mid-term of Term 2, and our classrooms are alive with learning and engagement. Please continue to check Skyward and Canvas for grades and class assignments as we push toward our Thanksgiving break.
Our Character focus for November is empathy. Don't miss the pictures below of our new drone course equipment and of our lemonade and coffee carts sponsored by Ms. Kala's class.
Also, be sure to carefully review the weekly happenings in our Week at a Glance.
The JMS administrative team is here to support students, teachers, and families. If you need anything, please reach out to us. As always, we thank our parents and our staff for what they do to help our students be the best they can be.
Phil Cox, Principal, pcox@ortn.edu
Ben Fowler, Vice Principal, bjfowler@ortn.edu
Jacob Quilliams, Dean of Students jrquilliams@ortn.edu
Elizabeth Leavitt, Instructional Technology Coach, ealeavitt@ortn.edu
*IMPORTANT: Makeup Pictures Tuesday, November 7
Click the bar to access our monthly calendar!🙂
Week at a Glance!
November 6-10, 2023
Monday, November 6 B Day
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Chess Club Library 3:00-4:00
Atomic Eagles Meeting Science Wing 2:45-4:30
RadioActive Brix Meeting Rm 223 2:45-4:30
Master Builders Meeting Rm 102 2:45-4:30
Secret Innovation Meeting Rm 219 2:45-4:15
Basketball Games @ Jefferson Girls JV-5:00; Girls V-6:00; Boys V-7:00
Tuesday, November 7 A Day
- Makeup Pictures 7:40-9:00 (JPAC)
- PTO Meeting Zoom 7:45
- 7th Grade to Knoxville Zoo Cheer Practice 3:00-5:00
- Atomic Eagles Meeting Science Wing 2:45-4:30
- Master Builders Meeting Rm 102 2:45-4:30
- RadioActive Brix Meeting Rm 223 2:45-4:30
- Secret Innovation Meeting Rm 219 2:45-4:15
- Basketball Practice Gym Girls 3:00-5:00; Boys 5:00-7:0
Wednesday, November 8 B Day
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Basketball Practice Gym Girls 1:00-3:00; Boys 3:00-5:00
Volleyball End of Season Banquet Cafeteria 5:30-6:30
Thursday, November 9 A Day
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Basketball Games @ Jacksboro Girls JV-5:00; Girls V-6:00; Boys V-7:00
Friday, November 10 B Day
- Ms. Kala’s Class to Erins Meadow
- Basketball Practice Gym Girls 3:00-5:00
DRESS CODE REMINDER
Families and students, please be reminded that, in spite of any change to chilly weather, house slippers, pajamas and blankets are not appropriate for school. Instead, we encourage your child to "layer" proper clothing as needed. We can assure you our building keeps up with the weather and is heated well. We appreciate your support with this!
You can find more information in the ORS Code of Conduct and the JMS Handbook.
TURKEY TROT TIME AGAIN!
It’s Turkey Trot time again! This year’s event will be on Tuesday Nov 14th at A.K. Bissel Park from 4-6 pm. It is for Prek-5th grade students. Attached you will find the flyer and registration link/QR code
EAGLES and LEARNING throughout JMS!
Ms. Kala's Class
Community Trip: Cedar Lane Hill Clean Up!! 🧹
Jefferson Jumping Beans Coffee☕🤎
Lemonade Stand🍋
Mr. Mitchell's Class: Rocket Drones University
PTO FOOD DRIVE: November 1-10
Holiday Food Drive
For well over 30 years, Jefferson has carried out a food drive to aid our Oak Ridge families in need. This year, the food drive runs from November 1-10. We encourage all students to consider donating non-perishable food to the cause. All of the contributions go to three Oak Ridge food pantries. In the past, we have collected more than 50 boxes of food! Here is how to help:
- ·Food pantries can only accept non-perishable foods
- Canned goods: fruit, vegetables, soups; boxed food mixes, cereal, condiments, spices.
- ·Please check to make sure food is not expired
- ·Bring donation to your homeroom
- Homeroom reps will keep track of number of items donated
- Homeroom with the most donations receives a Chick-Fil-A breakfast!
Please consider participating in this worthy cause. If everyone brings in just one item, we will have donated over 700 items!
NAKA Japanese Pen Pal Club: Orientation is November 8th and 15th
JMS EXPECTATIONS: Click on each picture to enlarge!
GET YOUR YEARBOOK!
Coach Bolling's Athletic Update
We have a busy week of JMS athletics ahead with our first regular season basketball games of the season! On Monday, the Eagles will host Lafollette in their first contest on the new and improved Barry Haile Court! The JV girls game will begin at 5pm, followed by girls varsity at 6pm and boys varsity at 7pm. On Thursday, the Eagles will travel to Jacksboro for a boys JV game at 5pm, followed by girls varsity at 6pm and boys varsity at 7pm. Admission on Monday is $5 and kindergarten and under are free. Go Eagles!
Please make plans to come out and support the Eagles this winter! Please see the attached schedule below!
Ms. Haverkamp's Reading Eagle!
Did you know...?📙📘📗📕
Character for November: EMPATHY: Students of the Week
We are so proud each week, of our Eagle Character Winners for Students of the Week! Congratulations!
5th grade
Liam Bunch
7th grade
Delaney Sherfy
Eleanor Linthicum
Mercedes (Madison) Jackson
Nora Wolff
Satis Cooper-Barber
8th grade
Brayden Williamson
Parent Accounts CANVAS and SKYWARD: Technology Resources
The links below contain resources for setting up and accessing Skyward and Canvas, an updated calendar, along with a welcome message from our ITC coach and a link to district and school websites.
Please reach out to Elizabeth Leavitt at ealeavit@ortn.edu
OAK VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH- CHRISTMAS STORE
Oak Valley Baptist Church- Christmas Store:
Oak Valley Baptist Church is holding their fifth annual Christmas Store on December 16, 2023. This is not the same as the ORS Angel Tree. This is for families who can pay a small amount for brand new gifts for their children. If you are interested in this program please complete the attached referral form. Oak Valley looks forward to helping out!
TRANSPORTATION
What bus do I ride?
You have received many communications this summer from the district about registering for the Bus through Skyward. If you have, but are not sure what bus your student is riding, here is how you check it.
FIRST! Log into Tyler's Versatrans E-Link https://transportation.ortn.edu/elinkrp/Login.aspx
Username: (use student’s name) firstname.lastname This is case sensitive–example: john.smith
Password: (use student birth date) in this format 03122007 for March 12, 2007
Click on Students, then View My Students. If you see a bus route there, you should be good. If you DO NOT see a bus route, you will need to update bus service! You will not have bus service on the first day of school.
To get bus service, log into Skyward and click on Forms. There is a bus request form. Transportation is working to move quickly to add new students to the bus, but it will take a few days before your student can be added to bus service.
First Student Transportation is working hard to get routes assigned to all students who requested bus service.
Once you are registered for transportation, you will be able to track your child's bus using the app information detailed below. Please see information on how to register for MyStop below.
MyStop - Parent/Student Login (You may click on the MyStop Picture to the left!)
- Username: (use student’s name - case sensitive) firstname.lastname
- Password: (use student birth date) in this format 03122007 for March 12, 2007
MyStop Phone App Available In Your App Store
Go to: Versatrans My Stop™ provides mobile access to bus information. This app displays the location of the user’s assigned school bus, as well as the estimated time of arrival to their stop. Students can plan for late or on-time arrival, and prevent missed pick-ups or being left outside in inclement weather.
Can’t Access the MyStop App?
If you are having difficulty accessing the MyStop App please take the following steps:
- Please confirm the following:
- You have downloaded the App from Tyler Technologies.
- You are using the legal student name as listed in Skyward.
- You have selected all lower case letters.First Student Transportation is working hard to get routes assigned to all students who requested bus service.
ORS Code of Conduct
JMS Student Handbook
TN Department of Health COVID Guidance
The local news has reported a small rise in COVID cases over the last couple of weeks. Below is a screenshot of the Isolation Guidance from the TN Department of Health (last updated 11 October 2022). The full document is linked below: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/Isolation-QuarantineRelease.pdf