All staff at Jasper High School are preparing for the return of our seniors, underclassmen and welcoming the Class of 2028 for the 2024-2025 school year. We invite our Freshmen to attend an open house on July 29th or 31st to locate your classes, practice using your lockers and pick up your schedule between the hours of 7 and 2:30. If these days do not work the school is open from 7-3 each day. There will be a Guidance Department parent meeting on the 21st to discuss guidance issues with parents. Mrs. Bea Cobo will hold a welcome Parent Night in Spanish for our Latino parents in the first few weeks of school. School will begin on August 7th at 8 am with students reporting to their homeroom and then to the gym for a pep session. The purpose of this newsletter is to ensure this school year begins as seamlessly as possible. Our weekly newsletter is our primary method to communicate important information with parents. This newsletter may be referenced through out the year and a link to the handbook is listed below. As you may have heard there are a few major changes to school policy and procedures to improve the safety, health and instruction of your student.

The first change for the 2024-2025 school year pertains to the personal communication device usage policy while at school. Students will no longer be allowed to be in possession of cell phones, smart watches, tablets or other personal communication devices. These devices must remain powered off and locked in a vehicle or locker. Students violating this policy will have their phone turned into the office for the day and will be assigned a Monday Night School detention for the first violation. I would also like to remind students and parents it is prohibited to take video recordings of anyone without permission during school events. Taking a video or posting a video online may result in a 3-day suspension and would constitute a code of conduct violation for athletes. Cell phones are known to have a multitude of negative mental and physical effects on humans and especially adolescents. It is for these reasons we will not be permitting personal communication devices at Jasper High School.

The second policy change is regarding the use of backpacks during the day to transport books and school materials. The backpacks are a safety risk due to possible contents and obstruction of isles in classrooms and the cafeteria. Many of these backpacks exceeded thirty pounds when packed with a full seven periods worth of books. Students may use a backpack to transport books and materials to and from school. Every student is issued a locker and will be expected to secure their backpacks in their lockers in the morning. Students will have five minute passing periods providing plenty of time to visit their locker between each class. Students will be allowed to carry a small pencil bag for school supplies. Students enrolled in a PE class may have a small bag for PE class only, which should be stored in their school or PE locker . The study hall will continue to serve as a location for storage of the large bags required for extracurricular activities.

The third change pertains to our procedure for parking at JHS. All student drivers will be required to obtain a parking permit. The permits will be numbered and students will park in the numbered parking space corresponding to their permit. We believe this system will eliminate some of the danger and frustration associated with driving and parking at JHS. Beginning today and Friday Seniors may begin selecting their spaces and picking up permits in the main office. Juniors will be able to select their spaces beginning on Monday the 29th. Sophomores will select their space in the Northeast lot during homeroom once school begins.

Finally, the State of Indiana and the Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools recognize the importance of regular attendance in school for academic success and has legislated for schools to improve attendance. We will be sending out separate communication with specific details, however students will not be allowed to miss more than 10 days of school without medical documentation. Students that must miss school for reasons other than illness or appointments should fill out a prearranged absence form. The form should be submitted three days before the absence. If your student is ill or has an appointment please contact the school attendance officer at 812-482-1040 before 10 am. Students with appointments during the day may bring in a note or a guardian may call that morning to arrange an early dismissal. When the student returns to school they should submit a slip from the appointment to the attendance secretary.

These four items are the major changes to policy for this year. We believe the elimination of cell phones and backpacks, organized parking and regular attendance will create a better learning environment for your students. We will continue to make Jasper High School a welcoming, engaging and supportive school with a wide variety of courses and activities for all interests. A new school year is an exciting time. Fresh beginnings, new classes, seeing old friends, meeting new ones, and the challenge of new classes all these add to those butterflies we all feel on the first day. It is that excitement and energy that drives our school community. Whether it is the first day of your senior year or your first day in high school the feeling is the same. I challenge our students to enjoy every second. Seniors you will only have 180 days left. Make the most of of each day. Go Cats!

Mr. Mauck

JHS Student Handbook

July 22nd Registration opens

July 29th Freshman Open House 7-2:30

July 31st Freshman Open House 7-2:30

August 7th First Day of School 8 am

August 8th Vocational Students Report to Placements

August 14th Meet the Teacher Night 6-8pm

August 21st Parent Information Night 6 & 7 pm

September 2nd No School (Labor Day)

September 4th Graduation Items Presentation

September 21st Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner

October 9th School SAT Day (voluntary)

October 9th Tour of Opportunity (Freshmen)

October 11th End of First Quarter (Athletic Verification)

October 14-18th No School (Fall Break)

I would encourage all parents to join our PTO. The PTO provides JHS students with post-prom and other activities. Dues are $25 per family and can be mailed, or brought to the school with your student.

Online registration for GJCS schools opened on July 22nd. Please complete all 18 sections and make sure your address, phone number, and email are accurate. If you have changed addresses you will need to provide proof of residency. Students that have not completed registration will not be allowed to attend school. Parents should have received an email with registration instructions. If you have any questions please contact the school at 812-482-6050.

Pd 1 8:00 - 8:50

Pd 2 8:55 - 9:40

HR 9:45 - 10:10

Pd 3 10:15 - 11:00

Pd 4 11:05 - 11:50

Pd 5 A lunch 11:50 - 12:30; Class 12:35 - 1:20

B lunch 12:40 - 1:20; Class 11:55 - 12:40

Pd 6 1:25 - 2:10

Pd 7 2:10 - 3:00

The school is open from 7:15 until 3:45. Students are not to arrive before 7:15 and need to be picked up before 3:45. Students should remain in the cafeteria until the 7:50 bell sounds. Students are not permitted in the academic hallways or in the athletic locker rooms until 7:50. We encourage all students to participate in extra-curricular activities which would extend their school day. Students should always be supervised during these activities

• The main entrance (Door 1) is for bus drop-off only.
• Parent am drop-off is on the north end of the building (Door 17). Parents will enter campus via the south St. Charles entrance or the 15th Street entrance, drive around the east side of the building, and circle to the north drive.
• Parent pm pick-up will be at door #8 on the east side of the school. Please enter campus via the south St. Charles St. entrance and move around the south side of the gym toward door 8. Parents must park in a parking spot in the East parking lot and wait for their student to walk to the car. We will not be lining up along the sidewalk anywhere along the building.
• Students driving to school may park in the Athletic (South) Lot or the Soccer (Northeast) Lot. These students can enter through Door 6 or Door 9.
• Students driving to school will need to purchase a parking permit for the school year. Parking permits are $25 for the year or $15 for just a semester.

Traffic flow before and after school will follow a one way direction from the South of the school around the back of the school and exit via the North drive onto St. Charles Street. In the mornings vehicles may enter campus from the South St. Charles St. entrance or the 15th Street entrance. The 15th street exit heading south is closed and everyone should exit the North drive. All vehicles should continue around the South side of school then to the East (back) side of school. Student drivers may enter the parking lots and parents dropping off students will continue to the North drive and drop off at door 17 on the Northwest corner of school. The North drive is a one way exit both before and after school with the left lane turning left and the right lane turning right. Parents should not drop off students at the main entrance, athletic entrance or the door 9 entrance. After school the one way traffic pattern is the same as the morning. The one exception is the 15th Street entrance is an exit only with the left lane turning left and the right lane turning right. Parents picking up students may do so by parking in one of the open spaces in the West lot by the tennis courts. Students will exit the building and meet you in the parking space. Parents should not pick up students at the main entrance, athletic entrance, south parking lot, or along the curb at any point. The South parking lot will exit via the 15th Street exit. Parent pickup, the West lot, and the Northeast lot will all exit school via the North drive which will be one way with the left lane turning left and the right lane turning right. Following this traffic pattern all traffic will have departed the school in under thirteen minutes. Thank you for helping keep our students safe.

JHS will be able to offer free breakfast to all students again this year. The cost of lunch will remain $2.75 but breakfast is free. Money may be deposited into lunch accounts during breakfast or by bringing cash or check to the main office in an envelope with the student's name on the outside. If you prefer to use a card, funds may be deposited using the My School Bucks app with a slight fee. JHS has several options for lunch and opportunities for students to purchase extra drinks and food. Please discuss with your student how to be fiscally responsible with their lunch money. Just a reminder if you feel you need assistance with the costs of lunch an application must be filled out each year. There is a link in the registration materials.

Students will start Patoka Valley Vocational programs in Dubois and Pike Counties on August 8th. Students who are attending VUJ for programs (excluding HOSA students) need to meet in the CTIM Auditorium on August 8th. Students will report to their regular Patoka Valley Cooperative classroom at Pike Central and Southridge. Aviation will meet at the Huntingburg Airport hanger. Students need to bring their electronic devices on the first day of Patoka Valley classes.

Jasper High School strives to provide an excellent education for our students. To augment that education we encourage students to engage in activities outside of the normal school day. We have a list of clubs and activities that will meet almost any interest. We have varsity sports, a state-level band, theater, student council, and a myriad of clubs. Please encourage your student to get involved with a group and develop their talents. Being involved in activities accentuates their high school experience.

These are the clubs offered at JHS:

Academic Teams, BPA, Dance Marathon, Earth Club, FFA, German Club, GSA, Interact, JAG, Key Club, National Honors Society, Octagon Club, Performing Arts, Ping Pong, Robotics, SADD, SOFA, Spanish Club, Spell Bowl, MotorSports, Ultimate Frisbee Club, Archery, Speech and Debate, Young Latinos Unidos, FCA, ED Rising, FCCLA, Take 3, Yogioh Club, Pickleball Club

Proper dress and attire are essential skills for employment and should be practiced at school. Students should not have exposed skin from the waistline to approaching the knee, including holes in jeans. Shorts are not permitted at Jasper High School. Shirts should cover the midriff at all times. Students are not permitted to wear hats or hoods at any time for safety concerns. Costumes are not permitted except for certain dress-up days. JHS will host several spirit days where students are encouraged to dress for a particular theme. A good rule of thumb would be if you would not wear it to work you should not wear it to school. We encourage students to express themselves but there are a few rules to allow the school to function smoothly. The school is climate controlled and kept at a cool temperature so prepare to dress warmly.

Vaping/e-cigarette usage and THC devices have become extremely popular with young people. These devices are horrific for one's health and lead to problems including addiction, anxiety, digestive problems, and seizures. They are illegal for anyone under the age of 21 and should not be on school property. Violation of this policy will result in a suspension and possible expulsion.

Any student wanting to make a class change will need to submit a class change request form to the guidance office when school resumes. The class change forms can be found on the JHS Guidance website under "Forms and Presentations". You will follow your current schedule until the change is made.

Seniors

Guidance counselors will be meeting with all seniors on the second week of school to discuss the college application process, sending official transcripts, sending test scores, and submitting dual credit course information.

Parent Information Meeting

There will be a parent information night on August 21st. Grades 9/10 will start at 6pm, and grades 11/12 will start at 7pm. These meetings will take place in the JHS auditorium. Specific grade-level information will be covered in these meetings.

Guidance Office Evening Office Hours

The guidance office will begin evening office hours on September 9th. Counselors will be available from 5-7pm on Monday evenings to meet with students/parents individually to discuss questions they may have about any topics at any grade level. You can email your counselor to set up an appointment.

Sean Jochum: sjochum@gjcs.k12.in.us

Brian Uebelhor: buebelhor@gjcs.k12.in.us

Vocational Students

Any students traveling off campus for Vocational classes will report to Jasper High School on the first day of school, Wednesday, August 7th. You will report to your vocational class location on Thursday, August 8th. You will be receiving an email from Jarred Howard, the Patoka Valley Vocational Co-op coordinator with more detailed information in the next weeks.

School Day SAT

Jasper High School will be offering a school-day SAT test on October 9th. This test is optional for Juniors and Seniors. This is for your planning purposes only. This test is not required. Students will be given more information about registration for this test when school resumes.

Email: gmauck@gjcs.K12.in.us
Website: https://jhs.gjcs.k12.in.us/
Location: 1600 Saint Charles Street, Jasper, IN, USA
Phone: (812)482-6050
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JasperHighSchool.Wildcats
Twitter: @JasperWildcats