JMS Weekly Update

Dear JMS Families,

This week's Update contains information about the following:

• Spiritwear Sale
• Annie Jr. Tickets On Sale Now!
• Student vs. Faculty Basketball Game
• Athletic Updates
• Schoology Tip for Students

Take Care,

Dr. Sarah Shaw, Principal

sshaw@mtlsd.net

Mrs. Amanda Jackson, Assistant Principal

amandajackson@mtlsd.net

Monday - Day 1

Tuesday - Day 2

Wednesday - Day 3

Thursday - Day 4

Friday - Day 5 - 12:00 Dismissal

Monday (3/25)- Friday (3/29) - Spring Recess

Monday (4/1) - Day 1

JMS Spiritwear Sale

Order your spiritwear just in time for spring. The store is open now through March 21st and orders will be ready by April 8th.

JMS Musical - Annie Jr - Tickets On Sale Now!

Tickets to Annie Jr. are on sale now while tickets last!

Show dates:

• Thursday, April 4
• Friday, April 5
• Saturday, April 6

All shows are at 7:00 PM- Run time is approximately one hour and fifteen minutes- no intermission.

Location: JMS Auditorium 21 Moffett Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15243

Cost: Tickets are $10 each, cash only.

Please email or visit Ms. Beckett for tickets in room 123: students are welcome to purchase tickets at any time during the school day; especially before the start of homeroom.

Community members with children not attending JMS may order tickets by emailing Ashlee Beckett at abeckett@mtlsd.net for payment and pick up at the JMS office during the school day between 8:00 AM- 3:00 PM.

Student vs. Faculty Basketball Game

The student and faculty basketball game is back! We need your help to make it a huge success. Please read the brief description below to see how you can help…

The 7th graders are currently working on a persuasive essay piece with their English teacher on a charity that they are interested or involved in. The essays will then be voted on by the JMS teachers. The essay that receives the most votes will receive all of the money raised from our game for their charity and they will be recognized during half time of the game. In the past we have raised up to $2,100 plus.

The game itself is played between 8th graders (randomly selected from the middle school teams) and JMS faculty. Leading up to the game we really try to hype up the excitement with videos and promos.
Tickets are $5, there will be a bake sale and a raffle for various prizes. We are asking for donations of various prizes and/or fun things the kids could win. Past examples include gifts cards, 5 lb Hershey Bar, candy bags, gear and tickets from Pitt/Duquesne basketball, merch basket from The Riverhounds, game day tickets from Washington Wild Things and the Pirates, etc. If you would like to donate to this wonderful cause, please contact: Marisa Hupe

Attendance Reminders

Attendance is a crucial component to school success for students. We have noticed an increase in students being tardy to school in the morning. Students are expected to be in homerooms by 8:00. If students are tardy without an excuse 3 times within a semester, they are given a warning letter. For each additional 3 unexcused tardies they accumulate after the warning letter, they will be assigned an after-school detention. Thank you for your assistance in ensuring that students start their day off on the right track.

Please review the attendance flyer for additional information about school attendance.

Attendance Flyer

One-to-One Technology

Students in grades 6-8 are required to bring a non-cell phone device with them to school every day. If you would like to borrow a device for your student in grades 6-8, you can submit a request to borrow one from the District on this page.

This page is also where you can report a problem/damage to your student's District-owned device using our form. This page also explains and provides a link to enroll in the District's annual Equipment Protection Plan (EPP) to limit any charges that might come from accidental damage to your student's District-owned device. This plan is optional and is not required.

Middle School Athletics

You can learn everything you need to know about Middle School Athletics, including starting dates, by visiting the MS Athletics Webpage.

Cheerleading

CHEER TRYOUTS COMING SOON!

Anyone interested in trying out for the 2024-2025 cheer season should fill out the following link to receive the most up to date tryout information! https://forms.gle/CF6L2PQLEGSxt6UYA

Track and Field Apparel Sale

Interested in purchasing some Track and Field gear? Check out the sale: Middle School Track & Field Apparel

PTA Membership and DIrectory Access

JMS PTA Membership Toolkit is now open for the coming 2023-2024 school year.

Join the PTA!!!

A portion of your membership and donations help support these various activities and events...the school musical, Canteen Day, Staff Welcome Back Breakfast, Field Trips and class enrichment, teacher appreciation, writing celebration, supplies for the nurses office, 8th grade end of the year celebration, 8th grade career day, high notes festival, art all day, Veterans Day, international night, assemblies, and much more!

In addition, last school year the PTA was able to purchase a new water bottle filler and picnic table for the courtyard!

Directory access is available to JMS PTA members only.

Join today!

Safe 2 Say Something

Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” BEFORE it is too late. With Safe2Say Something, it’s easy and confidential to report safety concerns to help prevent violence and tragedies.

Here’s how it works:

• Submit a report through the Safe2SaySomething system
• Crisis center reviews, assesses and processes all submissions
• Crisis center sends all submissions to school administration and/or law enforcement for intervention
• If needed, crisis center may contact tipster anonymously through the app

Free/Reduced Lunch Program

Children need healthy meals to learn, so the Mt. Lebanon School District is committed to offer healthy meals every school day for our students. For the 2023-2024 school year, breakfast is free for all students; lunch costs $2.65 for elementary students and $2.80 for middle school and high school students. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals. Reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch. Click the link below for free or reduced price meal benefits, and a set of detailed instructions to help you apply.

Free/Reduced Meal Application

You can also apply for free and reduced meals online via the state's COMPASS portal.

Local Resources for Families

The MTLSD School Counselors in partnership with The Allegheny Children's Initiative Inc., have compiled a list of social services resources that may be helpful to you and your family. Please take a look and reach out to these organizations. They are here to help with any of the following:

• Food
• Rent/Mortgage
• Utilities
• Pets
• Abuse
• Mental Health
• General Assistance

The Jefferson Middle School learning community has an exceptional reputation for its dedicated teachers, staff and parents working together to provide learning experiences for our children that include high expectations, a challenging curriculum and a shared commitment to provide the best education possible for each and every student.