
JMS Parent Newsletter
August 3rd - 7th
Welcome to Week 2!
Just a reminder about our staggered schedule that will resume tomorrow:
- Last names A-K will attend school in-person on Monday and Thursday. These same students will be remote learners on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.
- Last names L-Z will attend school in-person on Tuesday and Friday. These same students will be remote learners on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
- Wednesday will be a remote learning day for all students, A-Z. During this time, the building will undergo a deep cleaning.
If your child has not yet received their device, there are forms that must be signed. Please reach out to Ms. Laurendine directly at 865-425-9257 and we can assist you in doing so!
Please never hesitate to reach out to our admin team if you have a questions or concerns. The safety of our students and staff is always our main priority and we are looking forward to another great week!
Phil Cox, Principal - pcox@ortn.edu
Jenifer Laurendine, Vice Principal - jllaurendine@ortn.edu
Nick Corrigan, Dean of Students - njcorrigan@ortn.edu
Ben Fowler, Instructional Technology Coach - bjfowler@ortn.edu
A Look at the Week Ahead
Monday - 3
A Day
A- K on campus
L - Z remote learning
Volleyball practice - (Varsity only) 3-5pm (Gym)
Board of Education Meeting (SAB) 6:00
Tuesday- 4
A Day
L - Z on campus
A - K remote learning
Instructional Coaches Meeting - 2:45 - 3:15pm (Eagles Nest)
Volleyball practice - (Varsity only) 3-5pm (Gym)
Wednesday- 5
All Students - Remote Learning
Building Level PD - SLT 1pm & Staff Meeting - 2pm (Both via Zoom)
Faculty Food Truck - Lanai (please wear masks and social distance)
Volleyball Practice (Varsity Only) 3-5pm (Gym)
Volleyball Parent Meeting - 5pm picnic tables in front of school
Thursday- 6
B Day
A – K on campus
L – Z Remote learning
Grade Level Meetings
Anderson County Election – (Gym)
PE classes in JPAC
Friday- 7
B Day
L – Z on campus
A – K Remote learning
Volleyball Practice (Varsity Only) 3-5pm (Gym)
Meet our New Dean of Students - Mr. Nick Corrigan
He has spent 15 years serving in the Navy Reserve as a Hospital Corpsman and the Army National Guard as a Transportation Corps Officer. His wife, Kylie, and almost 3-year old son, RJ reside in Oak Ridge. Mr. Corrigan states "He (RJ) is by far the most special blessing in our lives and keeps us laughing (or pulling our hair out) every day! He loves dinosaurs, trains, cars, and climbing anything he possibly can. Counters, chairs, furniture, ... the walls... whatever he possibly can to ensure he scares his mother and I."
When Mr. Corrigan is not at school, he enjoys spending time with his family, running, fishing, or hiking. "I am so happy to be a part of the JMS Family and look forward to serving our school in this new role!" Please welcome, Mr. Corrigan to the JMS Administrative team as our new Dean of Students!
Welcome, New Staff!
Ms. Rachel Pemberton - 6th Grade Social Studies & PLC Coach
Ms. Falon Sullivan - 6th & 8th Grade School Counselor
Ms. Lauren Van Fleet - 7th/8th Grade Special Education Teaching Assistant
My name is Lauren Van Fleet. I was born and raised in southern Kentucky. I spent many summers visiting my grandparents here in the Knoxville area as well as exploring Tennessee’s many caves with my dad. My adventurous childhood led me to travel out of state for college, and I landed at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. There, I chose to major in Environmental Geosciences and was able to travel all across the country on geology field trips. I also had the opportunity to study abroad my junior year in New Zealand. My travels continued post-graduation, and I found myself living and working at Lava Beds National Monument in Northern California and then at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in Oregon.
After a few years out West, I decided to move back to my home away from home, Knoxville, to be closer to family. I continued working in outdoor environmental education in the Great Smoky Mountains as well as at Ijams Nature Center. As I tried to narrow down what I wanted to do for a career, I decided to try my hand at working in the school system. Most recently, I served as a substitute teacher and teaching assistant in Blount County and in Knox County. Working with students and sharing my love for science and my passion for the outdoors with them has always been my dream. I’m so excited to continue my environmental and educational journey at Jefferson Middle School! Looking forward to a great school year!
Arrival & Dismissal Reminders!
Morning Drop Off Reminders:
- Reminder that all students must have masks on and have temperature taken upon arriving to school.
- When arriving to drop off near the gym, please pull all the way up to the front of the school so traffic does not back up on Fairbanks. You may also use the bus loop to drop off AFTER 7:15am.
- Please do not drop off your student in the Bus Loop (loop closest to the softball field) between 7:00am - 7:15am as the buses come during that time.
- 5th and 6th grade students will go to the gym at drop off between 7:00am - 7:25am.
- 7th grade students will enter in the JPAC entrance.
- 8th grade students will go to the main lobby entrance.
- The drop off and pick up for Jefferson Middle School can be seen in the video above.
- In order to keep students socially distanced, bus riders are dismissed at 2:40pm each day buses leave around 7 or 8 minutes after dismissal.
Afternoon Pick Up Reminders:
- 5th grade students will be dismissed daily from the cafeteria/softball side.
- Please obey speed limits posted and watch for students. About 10-15 minutes after dismissal, the traffic congestion reduces greatly.
- Students need to know their transportation home each day.
- Supervision is provided for only 30 minutes after dismissal (until 3:15pm). At that point, students still left on campus will go to the main office to make contact with their rides.
First Student Transportation - Bus Information
Bolling Selected as JMS Athletic Director
We would like to take this time to congratulate Katie Bolling, as she was recently selected as the Athletic Director at Jefferson Middle School!
Coach Bolling graduated from Maryville College in 2008, where she played basketball at Maryville College and received all conference honors during her junior and senior season. Coach Bolling brings a plethora of coaching and athletics experience to the Athletic Director position.
Coach Bolling began teaching Physical Education and coaching at Jefferson in 2008. She began her coaching career at Jefferson as an assistant girls basketball coach in 2008, before becoming head coach in 2010. Coach Bolling has been head girls basketball coach at Jefferson from 2010-2013 and 2016-present. She was an assistant softball coach at Oak Ridge High School during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. She was an assistant girls basketball coach at Oak Ridge High School from 2013-2015. She coached cheerleading at Jefferson from 2017-2020. Coach Bolling has been the JMS volleyball coach from 2013-present and has been an assistant track & field coach at Jefferson since 2019.
Coach Bolling is looking forward to her new role and is excited about the future of Jefferson Athletics. Go Eagles!
JMS Athletics Update
2020-2021 Jefferson athletic teams are excited to get back into action following all COVID-19 guidelines. Below are updates for each JMS sport.
Volleyball: The JMS Volleyball Team began practice on July 13th and have their first match next Monday, August 10th at Lafollette. The JMS Volleyball Team is working hard to prepare for the upcoming season!
Football: The JMS Football Team begins workouts tomorrow, August 3rd after school. Any JMS students in 6th, 7th or 8th grade can try-out for JMS Football. All students who try-out for JMS Football must have a complete 2020-2021 physical on file. If you have any questions about trying out for JMS Football, please contact Coach Wilson at bwilson@ortn.edu.
Cross Country: Any students in grades 6, 7 or 8 that are interested in running with the Cross Country Team this Fall, there will be a meeting on Tuesday, August 4th at 5:30pm at the picnic tables nearest the Front Entrance of school. Please plan to bring the minimum people (one parent/one student) from each family. We request that you wear a mask for the meeting and plan to social distance. We will be checking everyone’s temperature on arrival to the meeting. We will discuss the following topics: physicals, practice times and protocols, dropoff/pick up, and plans for meets. We look forward to seeing our previous runners, and anyone in 6th grade or new to Jefferson who would like to join us this year. If you have any questions, please contact Coach John Smith at jrsmith@ortn.edu or Coach Katie Wilson at skwilson@ortn.edu.
Cheerleading: Dates for JMS Cheer Try-Outs will be announced soon. Continue to check the daily announcements at school, the weekly newsletters, and the JMS Athletics website for updates. Please contact Coach Falon Sullivan with questions at fcsullivan@ortn.edu.
Girls & Boys Basketball: JMS Basketball Teams will have try-outs immediately following Fall Break. Continue to check the daily announcements at school, the weekly newsletters, and the JMS Athletics website for updates. Please contact boys coach Mike Murphy at mmurphy@ortn.edu or girls coach Katie Bolling at ksbolling@ortn.edu with questions.
Track & Field: JMS Track & Field will begin in February 2021. Please contact head coach Bill Byas with questions at wbyas@ortn.edu.
2020-2021 Sports Physical:
All students participating in athletics at JMS must have a complete sports physical on file prior to participation. Please make sure you complete all three steps below in order to be eligible to participate.
- Step 1: Complete the online compliance form, which includes information about concussions, sudden cardiac arrest, and emergency contact information. The online compliance form is available at this link: https://oakridgeathletics.com/athletic-training/
- Step 2: Obtain a physical from your healthcare provider. Both the online form and the physical must be dated after April 15, 2020 to be eligible for the 2020-2021 season.
- Step 3: Read and sign the Oak Ridge Schools COVID-19 Forms (3 forms)—all three forms can be found at: https://www.ortn.edu/jefferson/school-info/athletics/.
- Step 4: Bring your physical to the front office or your coach in order to participate.
All requirements, links to forms, and announcements by sport are also posted on our school website at: https://www.ortn.edu/jefferson/school-info/athletics/ and a direct link to the sports physical packet is linked here: http://www.ortn.edu/Jefferson/FY21_JM_Physical_Packet.pdf.
Students can also pick up hard copies of these forms in the main office. If you have any questions regarding our Athletic Program, please contact Athletic Director Katie Bolling at ksbolling@ortn.edu.
Go Eagles!
Mr. Fowler's Instruction Technology Coaching Tips
What is Skyward and What is it Used For?
UNDERSTANDING CANVAS FOR PARENTS
What is the Difference Between Skyward & Canvas?
Skyward
Parents will be able to check out student grades in Skyward. Teachers will work to keep the grade book up to date weekly. This will help to have a better idea of student's progress weekly. Around 4.5 weeks into the nine weeks, students will get a midterm report sent home and at the end of the nine weeks.
Canvas
Canvas will serve as the place to get information about your child's class. For example, "what did you do in school today?" or "what did you learn about today?" etc. Canvas allows teachers to post announcements, links to resources, videos, PowerPoint notes, links to OneNote and other information that will help students in the class.
We ask our teachers to work to keep the announcements section updated each week in Canvas. This will allow parents to see a glance at the week ahead. Please keep in mind that some assignments, quizzes, tests, projects etc. may be subject to change and that the look at the week ahead is a tool to help students and parents have an idea of what will be discussed each week.
The Canvas 10 Challenge
The idea is to take 10 minutes per week to have your student log on to Canvas and spend 10 minutes reviewing their classes to get a better idea of the work they have each week.
If you have any issues accessing wither Skyward or Canvas, please reach out to our Instructional Technology Coach, Ben Fowler for assistance: 865-425-9290 or bjfowler@ortn.edu.
Aramark Will Provide Meals for ConnectOR and Remote Learning Students!
Any student who is participating in ConnectOR or participating in the staggered schedule can receive lunches from Aramark on the days they are not in the building. Please see below for details.
If you need to order meals:
- Parents ordering meals should send an email request to jmlunch@ortn.edu.
- The cut-off time for ordering meals is 8:30pm the night before meals are to be picked up.
- Please include the following in the email request: Breakfast and/or lunch, each student’s name, school name, each student’s ID number, and whether each student wants a hot or a cold breakfast and/or lunch.
- Payment is expected for paid and reduced-status students (preferably through E-Funds) at JMS.
When you order a meal at JMS, you will pick the meals up between 9:45-10:15am on the left side entrance of the building (cafeteria/softball field side) by the sidewalk. Aramark will be distributing the meals between these times each day.
If you have any questions, please contact Jenifer Laurendine at 865-425-9257 or jllaurendine@ortn.edu.
Need Internet Access: Comcast & Sprint Providing Support
In an effort to ensure all students have High Speed Internet access for our students to participate in remote learning, please see the resources below.
Comcast
Comcast recently announced several updates to help keep our communities connected.
- Comcast will continue to provide 60 days of free Internet service to new, eligible Internet Essentials customers. Originally set to expire on June 30, the free offer will now be available through the end of this year. In addition, Comcast will continue to waive, through the end of the year, the requirement that customers not have a past due balance with Comcast to qualify for the free offer.
- Comcast will extend free access to its 1.5 million public Xfinity WiFi hotspots to anyone who needs them, including non-customers, through the end of 2020.
Sprint MiFi
- Please reach out to Jenifer Laurendine at 865-425-9257 or at jllaurendine@ortn.edu if you are in need of a Sprint MiFi hotspot.
RTI 2020-2021
RTI- (Response To Intervention) is a multi-tier approach to identify and support students with learning needs. This a fluid process that allows students to move into and out of RTI every 4.5 weeks when data supports the move.
Tier 1: The Whole Class (all students are served at this level)
In the general education classroom, the teacher measures everyone’s skills. This is known as a universal screening that is given 3 times a year to the whole school (Fall, Winter and Spring) to determine the students that fall at the 25th percentile or below for extra Tier 1 support. If your child falls at or below the 25th percentile your child will be placed in a Tier 2 or Tier 3 class in the areas of Math or English to provide more support because they are performing below their grade level. The screening helps the teacher work with students in small groups based on their skill levels. The school will let you know if your child is struggling and will update you on his/her RTI progress. If your child scores at the Tier 2 or Tier 3 level they will be taken out of one or both of their electives. This class is a revolving door class, which means your child can make their way of the class with showing progress and gains above the 25th percentile. A goal is made for your child in their Tier 2/3 class an academic goal is developed in the progress monitoring software. It takes on the average 6 weeks for the progress monitoring tool to show if your child is making progress on their goal.
During the intervention, the RTI team monitors students’ progress to see who might need additional support. Many students respond successfully to Tier 1 support and achieve grade-level expectations.
Tier 2: Small Group Interventions (25th percentile-11th percentile)
If your child is not making adequate progress in Tier 1, he/she will start to receive more targeted help. This is in addition to the regular classroom instruction (Tier 1), not a replacement for it. Tier 2 interventions take place every day during a designated period and will not miss any core instruction in the classroom.
During these extra help sessions, he/she will be taught in small groups using a different method than in Tier 1 because the first method was not successful. The teacher may also ask you to work with your child at home on certain skills. The school will monitor your child’s progress so it is clear whether the Tier 2 intervention is helping through 4 ½-week progress reports sent by the school.
Tier 3: Intensive Interventions (at or below 10th percentile)
Typically, only a small percentage of the class will require Tier 3 support. In many schools, though, that number is much higher. If your child needs Tier 3 support, it will be tailored to his/her needs. Every day he/she will receive one-on-one instruction or work in very small groups.
Your child will continue to spend most of the day in the general education classroom. If he/she does not make adequate progress in Tier 3, it is likely that the school will recommend an evaluation for special education services.
The school will monitor your child’s progress so it is clear whether the Tier 2 intervention is helping through 4 ½-week progress reports sent by the school.
Core Focus-(English or Math) This class is for those students that score close to above the 25th percentile or the teacher has identified will benefit from extra support with current core classes. Students will be able to work on homework intermittently during the week and may need re-teaching of Tier 1 instruction.
Success through continuous effort = GRIT
Our staff also challenges students to continuously work towards their goals by always giving their best effort. The term, "Grit", is becoming a more and more popular term that has been researched to help understand what factors can help predict success. The video below is a great resource to learn more about Grit and the studies by Dr. Angela Duckworth.
JMS School Counselor's Corner
It was so wonderful to see everyone's bright, shining faces back in the Jefferson Middle School building this past week. Everyone had a wonderful attitude, was thoughtful towards students and staff, as well as hosted a growth mindset, in which they were truly open to the new experiences that this school year has brought our way.
With this being said, we also know that for some, starting a new school year can be overwhelming and present its own set of unique challenges. Understanding this, we want to encourage each of our families to practice some excellent self-care and check in with one another through these challenging times. Check out the below ideas for some tips and tricks on ways to take a break and recenter oneself when things start to get overwhelming.
In addition to this, always know that the Jefferson Middle School Counseling Team is here to support each of our families in any way that we can. Please do not forget to utilize the "Need to See a Counselor Form". Information is listed below.
“Need To See The Counselor” Form
The “I Need To See The School Counselor” form is located on the Jefferson Middle School website for students and parents. To find the form, go to https://www.ortn.edu/jefferson/, and look for the tab labeled “Academics”. Once you put your mouse on ”Academics” a drop down menu will appear with “School Counseling” as an option. Once you click on “School Counseling”, you will be directed to the page with a link that says, “I need to see a school counselor online form”. Click on that, complete that form, and hit submit once you are finished. A school counselor will reach out as soon they can to follow-up. This is a tool that students need to use in order to see a school counselor, and is useful to parents as well. Please contact the Counseling Office if you have any questions regarding the online form.
If you need to contact a member of the the School Counseling Department directly, please reach out via emails below:
Maria Castle - 5th & 7th Grade Counselor - mccastle@ortn.edu
Falon Sullivan - 6th & 8th Grade Counselor - fcsullivan@ortn.edu
Amy Myers - Registrar - amyers@ortn.edu