TJMS Weekly Family Newsletter

Jaguar Families,

The first day of school is almost here and all staff will be on campus this week Monday through Wednesday getting ready. Students report to campus for the first day of school this Thursday, August 15. Gates to campus open at 7:45 AM and the bell rings to go to their first class ("Advocacy" for the first two days of school) at 8:15 AM. More details are below.

• ALL Immunizations need to be complete and turned in to the student services building. Reminders have gone out to all students with missing immunizations. Students that have not turned in required immunizations will NOT be able to attend class until this is done.
• The first day of school is Thursday, August 15th.
• Picture days are the first two days of school. 7th Grade is Thursday and 8th grade is Friday. Details below.
• Student schedules are not set yet. Students are viewing their schedules online because other apps (Illuminate, Talk Points, etc.) sync with Synergy. But the schedules are not finalized. We can see on social media that students are sharing their schedules with one another and asking questions. Official paper schedules will be given to students on the first day of school as soon as they come through the gate in the morning.

Tips for success:

• Arrange a pick up or meeting spot after school if students are not walking home or riding the public bus.
• All students use Chromebooks they have from the previous year. Chromebook checkout in Student Services is for students that DO NOT have one assigned already.
• School starts on the first day at 8:20 but students will need to pick up their class schedules in the gym or MP room (following signage) before going to class.
• Check out the TJMS Student Handbook for any questions not answered here (Dress code, Personal Responsibility, Behavior Expectations, Counseling, Attendance, etc.)

The Toby Community is a very special one. Together as students, staff, families and our surrounding neighbors, we can work together to look out for one another, continue learning, have fun, and make new memories!

GO JAGS!!! 💜

Jenny Keyport

TJMS Principal

Safety will always be the MOST important priority at school. The biggest concern at the start of the school year is TRAFFIC SAFETY.

• If students can walk or ride to school, we strongly encourage it.
• If they ride a scooter, skateboard or bike, they need to WALK NEXT TO IT at ALL times anywhere on campus, NOT ride it. This includes parking lots, the library grounds, and sidewalks. They will lock it in our bike rack area in front of the school.
• Drivers: PLEASE drive slowly, be patient, expect delays, follow ALL traffic rules and know that the FRONT visitor lot is NOT for drop off or pick up before and after school. All drop off or pick up needs to be done in the back loop, on the curb on the main street, or at a designated spot further from campus.

Thank you in advance for all your support in keeping students safe.

Free RydeFreeRT Cards
The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) reminds everyone that students/youth in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade can ride the entire SacRT transit network, including SacRT buses, light rail, and SmaRT Ride on-demand microtransit service for FREE! New RydeFreeRT cards are now available with a valid date of June 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. This is not an Elk Grove Unified School District sponsored program and Elk Grove Unified School district accepts no liability or responsibility for this program/activity.

• Learn More

School gates open at 7:45 AM, not before. Students can enter between the offices next to the front visitor's parking lot OR through the "Robert's Pass" gate near the gym by the back staff parking lot and "drop off and pick up" loop.

• The front visitor parking lot IS NOT for drop off and pick up. Please follow the signs and barricading cones and DO NOT drive into the front visitor parking lot at drop off and pick up. It is too small, too compacted, too crowded and unsafe as students cut through it. All cars should drop off and pick up in the back "loop" by the gym, safely at the curb (where students need to cross ONLY at crosswalks), or further from campus at a designated spot with less congestion.
  

Free breakfast is available in the MP room from 7:45-8:15 every day (Wednesdays 8:45 - 9:15).

Signs point students to the MP Room or Gym to pick up paper class schedules for their 1st Quarter classes.

• The "First Bell" rings at 8:15 AM. For the first two days of school, students will report to their "ADVOCACY" class. Class begins when the "Second Bell" or "Tardy Bell" rings at 8:20 AM.
• The first two days of school are a special bell schedule. These two days are our schoolwide "PBIS Kickoff", with activities to help students explore campus, learn expectations, get to know each other and their teachers, and feel more comfortable. Students report directly to Advocacy on the first two days. For the rest of the year, they will report to 1st period to start the day.

What should students bring the first two days of school?

• Students won't need to bring much the first two days. Just a pencil and a backpack.
  
• They should bring a backpack as they will be receiving things from us to take home.
  
• Teachers will send home course descriptions, expectations, etc. They may require parent signatures on some documents. Students will come home with a packet of documents from administration. None of the documents need to be signed and returned. However, there are several "permissions" that need to be given digitally when logging in to ParentVue.
  
• They will be outside frequently so may want a hat or a water bottle.
  
• We are a "Gate to Gate" school so students will need to put phones away in their backpacks from the time they enter to the time the last bell rings. So if they bring a phone, they need a backpack to keep it in.
  
• They can bring lunch or get school lunch in the MP Room. They need to know their ID number to get lunch.
  

Picture Day is the first two days of school.

• Thursday, August 15 is 7th Grade
  
• Friday, August 16 is 8th Grade
  

• TJMS Website
• TJMS 24-25 Bell Schedules
  
• Reporting Student Absences
• My School Bucks
• TJMS Calendar
• TJMS Student Handbook
• TJMS Activities
• EGUSD Synergy, ParentVue and StudentVue help
  
• EGUSD Calendars
  
• 2024-2025 EGUSD Parent and Student Handbook
  

LOOKING AHEAD:

• 8/15 - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. Students will report to the MP room or Gym (following signs) to pick up their paper schedule of classes for the 1st quarter. The gates to school open at 7:45 AM.
  
• 8/15 - 7th Grade Picture Day
  
• 8/16 - 8th Grade Picture Day
  
• 8/21 - Parent Volunteer Meeting
  
• 8/28 - Back to School Night for Quarter 1
• 9/2 - NO SCHOOL for Labor Day

To see all events and activities, go to the TJMS Website and click on “VIEW ALL DATES” to see our up to date activities and events calendar.

All enrolled students are welcome to receive breakfast and lunch at no cost. If your family qualifies for government services, it's important to complete the 2024-2025 Meal Application Form available on EGUSD's Food & Nutrition Services webpage. Families that qualify for government services and do not complete the 2024-2025 Meal Application Form, may be removed from the government’s eligibility list. However, all enrolled students receive breakfast and lunch at no cost whether or not they complete the meal application form.

PICTURE DAY

This year students will take pictures during the first week of school. This will ensure all students start the year with all the tools they need to be successful. At Toby, students need their ID card to purchase items at the student store, check out books from the library, earn spirit points, attend events, and more.

• 7th Grade Students will take pictures and receive ID cards on Thursday 8/15, the first day of school.
• 8th Grade Students will take pictures and receive ID cards on Friday 8/16, the second day of school.

Pre-order today on mylifetouch.com using your Student ID or Picture Day ID: X8SD3CTVE.

TJMS FIRST DAY DINE OUT FUNDRAISER:

Share a scoop of ice cream with your family while talking about the first day of school and also supporting Toby.

VOLUNTEER MEETING

If you are interested in being a Toby Johnson Volunteer please join Activities Director, Jody Hill for a quick information meeting about volunteer opportunities and the requirements for volunteering on our campus. This meeting will be Wednesday, August 21st at 6:00 PM in room MC6.

PBIS FOCUS

We are kicking off the year by teaching students our core values at Toby which are to be respectful, responsible, safe, and kind. Students will be participating in Advocacy lessons that are focused on building relationships, teamwork, and organization. Families can continue the conversation at home by asking their child(ren)what our core values are at school and how they relate to your values as a family.

JAG SWAG PULL

This week we will have a Jag Swag Pull at the end of the day on Thursday and Friday! Students who earn Jag Swag for demonstrating our core values this week will be entered in a drawing to win prizes at the end of each day.

PBIS NEEDS

PBIS provides prizes and special activities on campus to promote positive behavior. Families can help support our PBIS team by discussing the PBIS Focus at home, attending Dine-Out Events, purchasing items off our Amazon wish list, or donating for upcoming events. Check out our Positively Toby--PBIS Parent page on our website here.

Athletic Clearance applications are now accepted for the 2024-2025 Academic Year. Parents/Students must use the Home Campus website to complete the application. A new online Athletic Clearance is needed every academic year.

CROSS COUNTRY

Practice:

• Begins Monday, August 19
• Monday - Thursday, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm @ TJMS Dance

Parent Meeting:

• Choose ONE way to attend, Monday, August 19 at 3:45 PM in-person in the Dance Room OR at 7:30 PM via Zoom (link to follow)

Want to stay in constant communication? Download the REMIND app

Class code is @2425tob or text 81010 with the message @2425tob

Coach Sarah Smoldon, ssmoldon@egusd.net

Coach Aimee Bradley, abradley@egusd.net

**Full Athletic Clearance needed to attend practice

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Tryouts:

• August 26, 27, 29
• 3:15 - 5:15 pm @ TJMS Gym (No Wednesday tryouts due to Back to School Night)

Coach Krystle Cerda, kacerda@egusd.net

Coach Alberta Snowden, asnowden@egusd.net

CoachJacque Garland, jgarland@egusd.net

**Full Athletic Clearance needed to attend tryouts

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Open Gym:

• Begins Tuesday, August 20
• Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:00-8:00pm @ TJMS Gym

Head Coach Jeff Gonzalvo, jgonzalvo@hotmail.com

**No Athletic Clearance needed until tryouts in October (8th grade) and January (7th grade)

LOOKING AHEAD

• Wrestling Club - TBA (approx start mid-Sept)
• Wrestling Team - October 29
• 8th Grade Basketball Tryouts - October 28-30
• 7th Grade Basketball Tryouts - January 7-9
• Boys Volleyball Tryouts - March 24-26
• Co-Ed Track - March 24

* For more information related to athletics, contact, TJMS Athletic Director, Ms. Jones at thjones@egusd.net.

Every TJMS Student will receive a FREE custom made Planner! It's beautiful! It was created by TJMS teachers, Jody Hill and Shelby Ganzert. Staff also get one of the planners. It is prefilled with ALL important dates and events. I use it as my personal planner for the year. When my kids went to school here, I would have LOVED to have one for myself. With that thought, we will sell the planners to any family member for $5. Each planner costs about $3.00 for us to make. It's about $5000 for us to make them for all students. Selling them to parents for $5 will also help us to raise the funds to continue making the planners for every student every year.

To help us know how many planners to print, please fill out this Planner Pre-Purchase request. At the first Back to School Night, we plan to have Planners for sale. Those who Pre-register using this form will be guaranteed a planner. We will have more planners available until supplies run out. If interest continues, we can print more at a later date. Sample graphics from the planner are below.

One way appropriate funding for schools was determined in the past was by looking at percentage of free and reduced lunch applications at schools. Now that meals are free for all, new ways to determine appropriate funding for schools were necessary.

ALL families are strongly encourage to complete the Educational Benefits form. By filling it out this quick and easy form, EGUSD schools will receive funding. The video below provides more information. The form is available digitally in ParentVue and hard copies are in the Student Services Office.

Educational Benefits Form Information

To receive PAPER Report Cards, follow the steps in the directions below. The default setting is "Paperless" report cards for all students. "Paperless" report cards can be viewed both in StudentVue and ParentVue. Click on this link for all Synergy, ParentVue and StudentVue assistance.

After logging into your ParentVue account, go to "Account Information" and uncheck the "Go Paperless" box to receive paper report cards in the mail.

Starting August 6th, 7th grade students will be prompted to change their password when they log on to their EGUSD Chromebook using their current password. This new password will be used for all EGUSD logins.

• The new password must:
• Be at least 7 characters long.
• Include at least three of the following:
• A lower-case letter.
• An upper-case letter.
• A number.
• A special character.
• It cannot include your first or last name
• It cannot be the same as either of your last 2 passwords

Tips for Creating a Strong Password:

• Combine random words or a memorable phrase.
• Capitalize the first letter of each word.
• Replace some letters with a special character or number.

If students are unable to sign in with your EGUSD account and need assistance in changing your password, they may contact the Student Support line at (916) 686-0245. Please note that the Student Support line can only help with resetting student passwords.

Since using technology responsibly and appropriately is an important topic to discuss at the beginning of each school year, we wanted to direct you to the resources that we have available on the District website for parents and teachers. On the EGUSD Forms page, under the Student Technology Acceptable Use Agreement section, you can find the following documents. Please remember that we are no longer collecting paper copies of technology use agreements. Parents can acknowledge the Student Acceptable Use Agreement on ParentVUE. Directions on how to do that in ParentVUE are included in this list of resources.

• EGUSD Student Technology Acceptable Use Agreement – English
• EGUSD Student Technology Acceptable Use Agreement – Spanish
• EGUSD Student Technology Acceptable Use Agreement – Vietnamese
• EGUSD Student Technology Acceptable Use Agreement – Hmong
• Instructions on how to Acknowledge the EGUSD Student Acceptable Use Agreement
• TK-2 Student Acceptable Use Information Presentation
• 3rd-6th Student Acceptable Use Information Presentation
• 7th-12th Student Acceptable Use Information Presentation
• EGUSD Technology Opt-out form:This form is NOT posted on the District website and MUST be completed at the school site. Parents who sign this form need to understand that they are opting their children out of the use of ALL technology in EGUSD. Translated versions of this form are available in Spanish, Hmong, and Vietnamese upon request
• EGUSD Chromebook Agreement

2024-25 EGUSD School Year Calendar
The EGUSD 2024-2025 School Year Calendar – English | Spanish .

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Elk Grove Upcoming Events and Key Dates

Approved Fliers:

• Sacramento Performing Art Conservatory
  
• CSD Healthy Kids Extravaganza

• Golden Harvest Parade
  

Now Until December 19, 2024: Free Food Distribution
EGUSD will continue to host bi-monthly food distribution events through the summer and fall of 2024. Please note in July and August there will be one event. These events are held at Calvine High School (8333 Vintage Park Dr.) from 3:45 to 5:15 pm.
Free Food Distribution Flyer (translated flyers included)

July to October Student Immunization Clinics
Clinics will be held at both the Newcomer Welcome Center (8661 Power Inn Rd, Elk Grove) and Trigg Education Center (9510 Elk Grove Florin Rd, Elk Grove). All immunizations required for school entry will be provided for students in Preschool through 12th grade wanting to enter into Elk Grove Unified School District. Clinic is by appointment only.
Student Immunization Clinic Location/Schedule (translated flyers included)

Sacramento County Immunization Assistance Program
Free for those who do not have commercial insurance. Serving children ages 0-18. Clinic is by appointment only. Call (916) 875-7468 to schedule an appointment.
Immunization Assistance Program Flyer (translated flyers included)

The Dangers of Smoking & Vaping Resources
As we start a new school year, talking to your children about the dangers of smoking and vaping can be daunting. EGUSD’s Youth Development’s Tobacco Use Prevention Education program has some tips and resources for having those talks.
View The Dangers of Smoking & Vaping Resources

FREE Mental Health App
Explore your mental health journey with us. Soluna offers confidential support for California residents aged 13 to 25, completely free of charge. Engage in one-on-one chats with a professional coach, utilize interactive tools to manage stress, or dive into a variety of quizzes, videos, forums, and more. The choice is yours! No cost. No pressure.
Learn More About Soluna