TJMS Weekly Family Newsletter
October 13, 2024
ADMINISTRATION
Jaguar Families,
Tomorrow, Monday, October 14th is a REVERSE MINIMUM DAY and the first day of the 2nd Quarter. Teachers will be on campus preparing for you. The gates will NOT open for students until 11:00 AM. Students should not arrive to school before 11:00 as they will be outside the gates and unsupervised. Students can get lunch from 11:00 to 11:30. When the bell rings at 11:30 to go to class, students will go to their ADVOCACY classroom to pick up a paper copy of their 2nd quarter schedule of classes. Then they will go straight to their new 1st period class. Staff will be outside on campus to assist them.
Wednesday, October 16th is another Reverse Minimum Day. However, 8th grade students should arrive by 7:50 AM to take the PSAT in their Advocacy classroom starting at 8:00 AM sharp. 7th Grade Students should not arrive before 11:00 AM when the gates to campus will open for 7th grade students to enter. Lunch will be served for all students from 11:00 - 11:30 AM. All students will go through periods 1-5 starting at 11:30 AM.
We are all looking forward to the cooler weather as we begin a fresh start going into a new term.
GO JAGS!!! 💜
Jenny Keyport
TJMS Principal
IMPORTANT LINKS
IMPORTANT DATES
LOOKING AHEAD:
- 10/14, Day 1 Term 2 - REVERSE Minimum Day - Staff PD
- 10/16, 8th Grade PSAT beginning 8:00 am (8th grade students attend full day)
- 10/16, 7th Grade Reverse Minimum Day
- 10/16, UNITY Day (Wear Orange)
- 10/19, Saturday Detention 8:00 am - 10:00 am
- 10/21 - 10/25, Fall Book Fair in the Library
- 10/21, 22, 24, 8th grade Basketball Tryouts (Boys & Girls)
- 10/23, Back to School Night #2
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.
ORDERING PE CLOTHES FOR TERM 2
KIDS CAN
TJMS students will be partnering up with other students across the district this fall to help fill our local food banks and ensure that all local families are fed by participating in the KidsCan Food Drive! Starting on Monday 10/14 until Friday 11/3 KIDS CAN help by bringing canned and non-perishable food items to school. Items can be turned in before school or at lunch to the window outside of MC6. Each item donated will earn you a gray point in 5-Star. The 10 seventh grade students and 10 eight grade students with the most gray points will win a ticket to a special pizza party for themselves and a friend.
This year we are competing against Pinkerton to see which school can bring in the most cans. We believe TOBY KIDS CAN!
Leadership has set a goal of bringing in 7000 cans this year. If each student brings just 5 cans we will surpass our goal of 7000 cans and hopefully beat Pinkerton!
WEAR IT WEDNESDAY
Show your school spirit by wearing any Toby shirt or by wearing purple every Wednesday.
Staff and students with 3 or more pieces of Toby or Purple Flair (shirt, lanyard, another accessory) can spin the wheel to win prizes outside MC6 at lunch on Wednesdays.
UNITY DAY 10/16
Wear ORANGE to send a visible message of building a commUNITY through kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to prevent bullying on our campus.
PBIS FOCUS:
Our theme for October is Respect. Advocacy will have short lessons on how to show respect to adults and peers on campus and how to show respect for our school by taking care of our campus.
JAG SWAG PULL
This week we will have a Jag Swag Pull for the treat truck. Students who are pulled will receive 1 ticket for themselves and 4 to share with friends. The treat truck's menu is always changing but we always have a variety of ice cream, drinks, snacks, and non-food treats too!
ATHLETICS
Week of October 14, 2024
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.
Wrestling Club
October 1 - 17, Tuesday and Thursday 7:00 - 8:30 PM @ MP Room
Official wrestling season begins Tuesday, October 29, 6:15 - 8:15 PM
Parent Meeting, Monday, October 28 @ 6:00 PM, TJMS Dance Room
FULL Athletics Clearance is required to participate starting October 29
Head Coach Todd Wong, p_a_phi@yahoo.com
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Open Gym:
Monday and Wednesday, 6:00-8:00 PM
Tryouts:
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, October 21, 22, 24, 4:00-6:00 PM
Full Athletic Clearance is MANDATORY
Head Coach Jeff Gonzalvo, jgonzalvo@hotmail.com
BOYS BASKETBALL
Open Gym:
Tuesday, October 15 only, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Thursday 6:30 - 8:30 PM @ TJMS Gym
Tryouts:
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, October 21, 22, 24, 6:30-8:30 PM
Full Athletic Clearance is MANDATORY
Head Coach CT Tactacan, coachct3@gmail.com
CROSS COUNTRY
Practice:
Monday and Tuesday
3:00 - 4:00 PM @ TJMS Dance Room
EGUSD Championships @ Elk Grove Park, Wednesday, October 16, 4:00 PM
Awards Night:
Tuesday, October 22 @ 6:30 PM, MP Room
Coach Sarah Smoldon, ssmoldon@egusd.net
Coach Aimee Bradley, abradley@egusd.net
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Playoffs:
8th grade #3 Johnson vs #2 Albiani @ Johnson, Monday, October 14th at 4:15pm
Awards Night:
Thursday, October 24 @ 6 PM, MP Room
Coach Krystle Cerda, kacerda@egusd.net
Coach Alberta Snowden, asnowden@egusd.net
Coach Jacque Garland, jgarland@egusd.net
LOOKING AHEAD
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.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness in the month of October, the theme for the Girls Volleyball game Thursday, October 10 was “Think Pink”. This team is the #3 seed headed into playoffs on Monday. They secured that seeding with a hard-fought match Thursday.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
A trip is officially planned to Japan (June 3 – 12) AND Ireland, Scotland and England (Dublin and the United Kingdom, June 19 – 28)! These trips are not sponsored by the school district or our school, but they are available to all current students, former students, and their families and friends.
I want to remind you that spots are limited and highlight what is included in the cost of our programs:
- Round-trip Airfare & Lodging
- Breakfast and Dinner daily
- Full-time services of a professional Tour Director and licensed local guides
- All activities & entrances as per itinerary
- 24-hour Emergency Service
Both companies are currently offering discounts until Friday, October 25:
- EF (Japan) is offering $400 off: https://www.eftours.com/tour-website/2796569HC
- Explorica (Dublin & UK) is offering $200 off with code Travel7D AND a chance to win an additional $500 off, once 10 travelers sign up: www.explorica.com/Fiddyment-1864
Please sign up on the above websites with a small $95 (EF) and/or $50/$99 (Explorica) deposit to lock in the price(s)!
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Amanda Fiddyment
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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:
- CSD Giant Pumpkin Festival
- CSD Fall Formal Dance
- Sacramento Performing Art Conservatory
- CSD Healthy Kids Extravaganza
Now until May 2025: Parent Education at Elk Grove Adult and Community Education
Join our eight-week free course designed for all parents, offering practical strategies and insights to enhance parenting skills. Court-approved, it covers communication, discipline, child development, and family dynamics. Experience a supportive environment to exchange experiences and gain essential tools.
Parent Education Registration Information
Measure N Community Information Nights
You are invited to learn more about Measure N, a $542M bond that will provide critical funding for facility improvements at elementary, middle and high schools. The bond will appear on the November 2024 ballot. The community information nights will be held on Tuesday, October 22 at Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle School (EPMS) and Wednesday, October 23 at Edward Harris Jr. Middle School (EHMS). Both info nights will take place from 6 - 7 p.m. and be held in the schools’ multipurpose rooms.
Community Information Nights Flyer | Register for October 22 at EPMS | Register for October 23 at EHMS
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 about Soluna
Mandarins Music Academy
Attention 4th, 5th & 6th grade parents! The Mandarins Music Academy is a FREE beginning band program that is fun and educational at the same time. Your child will learn to read and perform music, while learning other valuable life skills at the same time! Band classes will be held twice a week before or after school and will take place on-site at your elementary school. Apply at mandarins.org/mma24.
- This program is brought to you by EGUSD and the Sacramento Mandarins. For more info, please visit mandarins.org or email DirectorMMA@mandarins.org.
Varsity Tutors for Schools
Elk Grove Unified is pleased to announce an exciting partnership with Varsity Tutors for Schools, a leading platform for live online tutoring at no cost to EGUSD students and families. When students need help with homework or are struggling to solve a problem, they can immediately chat with a tutor, 24/7, to get the help they need. Students can take practice tests and follow personal lesson plans for guided self-study. They can also sign up for expert-led live classes, and learn subjects like geometry, middle school math, elementary school reading and more, alongside their peers. The Varsity Tutors for School platform is now visible in the EGUSD student portal.
Spanish Family Wellness Series 2024
El Santuario de Mariposas (Spanish-Speaking Affinity Group) is thrilled to reintroduce the Spanish Family Wellness Series, featuring new topics tailored for our Spanish-speaking families and community in EGUSD. Our upcoming workshops, which will cover a variety of subjects including mental health, ParentVue, parenting, paint night, and more. Register by selecting the links in the Spanish Family Wellness Series flyer. If you have any questions, please call Alma Avalos at (916) 831-5552. Thank you for supporting our community’s growth and well-being!
Student Score Reports for 2024 State Assessments
Student score reports are now available from the Spring 2024 administration of these state assessments:
- California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)
- English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC)
If your child(ren) participated in one or both of these state assessments, you may download their official score report via ParentVUE under “State Tests.” Please visit Accessing State Score Reports on ParentVUE for instructions and information. If you do not yet have a ParentVUE account, we encourage you to contact your child’s school office in order to activate your account.
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
Toby Johnson Middle School
10099 Franklin High Road
Elk Grove, CA 95757
For general information:
Front Office
For safety/emergency needs, please call:
Safety and Security Department
(916) 686-7786