Family Update - August 11, 2024

Dear Families,

It was great to see those of you who came in with students on Wednesday for the schedule walk-through. We are excited to start the year and to have the students back in the building daily. They bring so much energy and generate smiles and laughter -- looking forward to it!

There will still be minor scheduling adjustments early next week. Please urge your student to review their classes again prior to coming in on their first day.

We have a full day of meetings on Monday, and Tuesday is a teacher work day to prepare for students. The building is closed both days unless there is a pre-scheduled meeting or appointment. Thank you for your cooperation!

Parent reports for Ohio State Testing will be passed out during Open House on August 29. If you are unable to attend, we will send it home with your student on Friday, August 30.

Enjoy the last weekend of summer with your family! We are ready for a new year!

Warm regards,

Aimee White, Principal

Keona Walker, Assistant Principal

The Fall 2024 Spirit Wear Sale is now OPEN! A portion of each sale will go directly to the PTO. The store closes on August 23rd, and all orders will ship by mid-September. Shop directly at the link below. A flyer is also attached with additional information. Thanks for your support of the Jones PTO!

https://jonesfall2024spiritwearsale.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Please do not apply stickers or write on the iPad keyboard cases, as devices may be reassigned to other students throughout the year. Reassignment occurs when students graduate, transfer, or when devices need repair. The new keyboard cases are district property and durable assets intended to last for several years, not consumable items.

META Columbus will be performing scheduled maintenance on Saturday August 17 from 6AM to 6PM in order to replace the data center's uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

During this time, Powerschool and other services will be unavailable.

We have received some questions about what stylus, or specifically Apple Pencil, would work with the new iPads that students are receiving for this school year. The answer is that, like the headphones, any USB-C stylus, including the Apple Pencil USB-C, will connect with the new 10th generation iPads. Students can also continue to use any non-USB-C stylus, such as the Apple Pencil 1st generation, but will need to purchase a USB-C adapter to connect the stylus to their new iPad. It is important to note that specifically the Apple Pencil Pro along with the Apple Pencil (2nd Generation) will NOT work with the student iPads.

Get ready for school by downloading the new Upper Arlington Schools app! The launch of our new district app coincides with our new website, launched in June. The app gives families access to important information like school year calendars, school day schedules, and information to report a student absence — all in the palm of their hands. You can download the app in the App Store or Google Play.

All 6th graders will report for a full day to JMS from 8:10am-3:20pm on August 14th. Buses will run all AM/PM routes on August 14th for our incoming 6th graders. 7th and 8th graders that are NEW TO UPPER ARLINGTON will also be invited to attend on August 14th from 8:00am-10:00am (note the time change). We will NOT have transportation running at 10:45am, so new to UA 7th and 8th grade students will need to arrange transportation at 10:45am. All 6th-8th grade students will report to school on Wednesday, August 15th for a regular scheduled day (8:10am-3:20pm).

Reminders for August 14th:

• 6th graders:

• Leave iPads at home.

• Try to remember your ADV room number or ADV teacher’s name.

• A printed copy of your schedule will be provided in ADV.

• No school supplies are needed.

• Bring a packed lunch or have money in your lunch account.

• Wear your new class t shirt.

• Be ready to have some fun :)

• This is not a typical school day. It is a community building day for the purpose of learning to navigate the building, meeting the 6th grade teachers, and making new friends!

• New to Upper Arlington 7th and 8th graders: (returning 7th and 8th graders do not attend)

• New to UA students are invited to attend on Wednesday morning from 8:10 am to 10:45 pm. (Meet your Ambassador in the LC at the start of the day.)

• Parents/guardians provide transportation at 10:45 or permit their students to walk home.

• All 7th and 8th grade students - access your schedule with your iPad.

• Check your schedule for slight adjustments prior to arriving.

Just a reminder: If you placed an order, yearbooks will be mailed to your home and should start arriving at the BEGINNING OF AUGUST. Please contact our new yearbook advisor, Alice Speegle with questions. Her email address is aspeegle@uaschools.org.

School supply lists for each grade level are linked below. Students and families will have the opportunity to walk through Jones with their schedules on Wednesday, August 7 from 2:30 to 4:15pm. The PTO will have membership information and spirit wear available during this time in the gym. School pictures are scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, August 28. There will be a makeup/retake day in October.

6th grade supply list

7th grade supply list

8th grade supply list

The Main Office and Attendance Office will be open from 8am to 3pm. Our incoming 6th graders and any student new to Jones this year as a 7th or 8th grader will attend on August 14. A tour of the building will be part of the schedule on this day as well as time allotted for each student to familiarize themselves with their own schedules. The building will be open on Wednesday, August 7, for students to walk their schedules as well from 2:30pm to 4:15pm.The building will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, August 12 and 13, to parents and students unless you have a scheduled appointment.

Students at each grade level should expect to engage in classroom activities based on their summer reading choices during the first week of the 2024-25 school year. These activities, including written and spoken responses, will require students to be knowledgeable about their summer reading text. We strongly encourage students to purchase their own copy of their text so that they may highlight, flag and annotate key passages that may be of help to them in their language arts classrooms.

• 6th Grade - Students are asked to read an autobiography. There is a list attached to this email for recommendations.

• 7th Grade - The Schwa Was Here, Neal Shusterman

• 8th Grade - Students may read either a fiction or non-fiction book of their own choosing, based on their interests. Their selection should be age and grade-level appropriate, and should fall within the Lexile range that is suited to their individual ability. Your student’s most recent STAR assessment provides their estimated Lexile range.

Instructional fees will be applied to specific courses, similar to the high school. You will see this on your child’s EZ Pay account when fees are assigned. As a reminder, all fees must be paid through EZ Pay. This system allows for accurate record keeping and the ability to use debit or credit cards to pay without a convenience fee. Instructional fees will be added to your student's EZ Pay account in early September.

Families of new and returning students (K-12) will receive information in early August in order to complete back-to-school forms and pay technology fees for their students prior to the first day of the school year. As a reminder, those wishing to purchase the Technology Protection Plan must complete the technology forms in PowerSchool AND pay the $25 fee in SPS EZpay before the first day of school for the 2024-2025 school year. If the $25 fee is not paid by the first day of school, the plan is void. This year, as stated above, instructional fees will be applied to specific courses.

Class donations are voluntary. However, they are used to provide social and community building opportunities for each grade. They can be paid through EZ pay as well as the instructional fee and the optional technology protection plan fee.

6th Grade - $25

7th Grade - $25

8th Grade - $25

For the 2024-2025 school year, free or reduced-price meals will be available to the families that qualify based upon financial need. All other students will be charged for meals and a la carte items / snacks purchased through the school cafeteria, and families may add money to their students’ meal accounts through SPS EZpay beginning in early August. Families that qualify may apply for the free or reduced-price meal benefit by accessing the application in the Linq Connect Portal (click on “Apply for Meals Today”).

The department will be working on bus routes throughout the summer. Specific bus stop information will be available in early August. Should parents have questions or need to contact UA Schools Transportation, please email BusStopHelp@uaschools.org.

This year your son/daughter will have the opportunity to go on the class trip to Washington, DC!! It's an educational and fun trip! Please put the following dates on your calendar now so that there are no conflicts.

Tuesday, October 1, 2024: Mandatory parent/student registration meeting

Wednesday, April 30, 2025: Mandatory parent/student pre-trip meeting

Tuesday, May 13 to Friday, May 16, 2025: Trip to Washington, DC

Please see the Student Handbook, which is attached, for details concerning attendance procedures. These procedures are Central Office/ Board of Education directives and approved. A few highlights:

Parents must notify the school of their student’s absence by calling the school attendance line (614) 487-5077, ext. 3500, or emailing the attendance secretary, Denise Pontious, at jonesattendance@uaschools.org by 9am.

• Students who are absent more than half a day (11:45am) or who go home ill may not participate in co- or extra-curricular activities that day. This includes athletic practices and competitions.

• Students who need to leave school early for an appointment or other reason should turn in a note from a parent/guardian to the attendance office between 7:30am-8:10am, the morning of the appointment, to receive an early dismissal pass.

• Students who arrive at school at or after 8:10am, must check in at the attendance office prior to going to class.

• Students who are being picked up for lunch/appointments MUST be picked up by their own parents. Students are not permitted to leave school grounds with parents of other students.

AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2024

August 12 - Convocation Day for Staff - Building Closed to Students & Parents

August 13 - Teacher Work Day - Building Closed to Students & Parents

August 14 - 1st Day ONLY for 6th Grade, 6th Grade Orientation, New to UA 7th/8th Grade Students

August 14 - 6th Grade Parent Coffee, 8:15am, JMS Cafeteria with PTO and Jones Admin.

August 15 - 1st Day for 7th and 8th Grade (6th Grade students report as well)

August 20 - Fall Pro Auditions, 4:00 - 7:00pm

August 21 - Fall Pro Auditions, 4:00 - 7:00pm

August 22 - New to UA Student Lunch

August 22 - Fall Pro Callback Auditions, 4:00 - 7:00pm

August 26 - PTO Meeting, 8:30am

August 26 - Fall Pro Registration Meeting, 6:30 - 7:30pm

August 27 - Fall Pro Rehearsals Begin

August 28 - School Picture Day, 8:20am

August 28 - 6th Grade Camp Parent Meeting, 7pm

August 29 - Open House Night, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

September 2 - No School - Labor Day

September 9 - PTO Meeting, 8:30am

September 13 - Service Learning Day Speaker, Advisory

September 13 - Service Learning Fair, Lunch Periods

September 13 - 8th Grade Band @ UAHS, 7pm

September 23 - 26 - 6th Grade Camp