JKES Specials Newsletter

Mrs. Michael (Library) - Mrs. Campbell (Art) - Mrs. Harrison (Music) - Mrs. Mathias (STEAM)

Ms. Davis (Pre-K - 1st Guidance Counselor) - Mrs. Hawkins (2nd-4th Guidance Counselor)

Mrs. Smith (P.E.) - Ms. Clemons (Makerspace)

The Specials Team is so excited to have our Cardinals back in the nest for the school year! We can't wait to see them learn and excel at all of the new things that will come their way!

Safe - Outstanding Effort - Accountable - Respect

S.O.A.R. is the new John Kerr positive behavior intervention and support (PBIS) system that will be implemented in the 2024-2025 school year.

The Specials team (Music, Art, Makerspace, Steam, Library and P.E.) will be using S.O.A.R. as a quarterly class incentive to promote positive behavior in our classes and to earn reward days! Each class can earn a possible 3 class points during their Specials class by demonstrating safety, outstanding effort, accountability, and being respectful.

Point Goal:

• Earn 100 class points (80% of the total possible points) to attend the reward day at the end of the quarter!

Earning Points:

• If the majority of the class is not demonstrating S.O.A.R. then the teacher can take points away from the class.

• The class can also earn points back by demonstrating the principles of S.O.A.R.

Individual Points:

• Students will also earn their individual PBIS points for class based on how they were demonstrating S.O.A.R. in class that day.

• If a student is not demonstrating S.O.A.R. during class, the teacher will begin to take points away from them individually.

Reward Day:

• Classes that have totaled 100 or more points for the quarter will earn a ticket to the reward day!

• If a class does not earn 100 or more points…

• Students in the class can use their individual Specials points to buy a reward day ticket.

• If the student does not have enough individual points, they will attend their normally scheduled special class.

Bonus Points:

• Students will attend lessons with their School Counselor where they can earn bonus points toward their class and individual totals!

Wednesday, September 18th - Tuesday, October 1st - During school hours

Wednesday, September 25th - 3:00pm - 6:00pm on JKES Stage

• Class vs Class Soccer Games
• Soccer Kick Target
• Inflatable Skee-Ball
• Temporary Tattoos
• Silent Disco

Thursday, October 31st

Reminders:

1. Tennis shoes (rubber sole bottom) on P.E. days - NO Crocs, slides, sandals, dress shoes, etc. '
2. Wear clothes to be active in - If wearing a skirt or dress, please wear shorts/pants underneath
3. Water Bottles!
4. Bring sportsmanship and a positive, try anything attitude!

1st Quarter: locomotor movements - chasing/fleeing games - recess games - fitness testing

I am so excited to have you back in the Art room ready to make wonderful artwork!!

1. Please make sure to dress your students in old clothes that you don’t mind them getting dirty on the days they have art.

2. All grades are currently working on the Mangrove forest display in the art hallway!!

3. Each grade level will be creating a different marine animal for the art project.

STEAM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math

Pre-K and Kinder - Using senses to investigate the world.

1st Grade - The effects of temperature

2nd Grade - Tools of the lab - how to use them

3rd Grade - Ancient Egypt, The Mummification Process

4th Grade - Ecosystems - The study of worms, dissection of owl pellets

ALL GRADES - Using the Engineering Design Process

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your child’s learning please feel free to contact me: mathias@wps.k12.va.us

or call 540-662-3945 x65066

Pre K: Students will be learning about using and sharing supplies, building with materials (i.e. play doh, legos), shapes and colors, and sorting.

K-4th: Students will be learning about computational thinking (algorithms, patterns, decomposition), collaboration, and computer science (programming and computing systems).

This year’s Reading Theme is READ Together! Each student will keep a Reading Log in Library. Just a friendly reminder to have your child bring back their book on their Library Special Day. Please make sure your child takes good care of their book. All grades will begin with checking out one book this quarter.

Please visit JKES Website to learn more about Library Special!

What Are We Learning in Library?

Reading Tips for Parents

Welcome to Music Class with Mrs. Harrison! We have already sung songs together, played drums, danced, and done creative movement. It was a great start to the school year!

Next week at a glance:

PreK & K-Singing songs with Sol and Mi; Exploring instruments; Keeping a steady beat through movement

1st & 2nd Grade: Exploring Xylophones; Continuing Songs with Sol and Mi; Musical Rhythm Games; Maintaining a steady beat

3rd & 4th Grade: Exploring Xylophones and Non Pitched Percussion using songs and games; Rhythm Identification