News and events - Nov. 8, 2024

Nov. 22 - Last day of Tri 1

Nov. 25 - No School - Staff Development Day

Nov. 26 - No School - Staff Planning Day

Nov. 27 - 29 - No School

2024-2025 Middle School Calendar

Your student has received a fundraising packet in their Advisory class. We are fundraising to lower transportation (bus) costs and participation fees for students and for student experience/engagement opportunities. The fundraiser runs Nov. 4 - 18.

Our program is in full swing and there’s still time to get involved. We need EVERY student to register online, add at least 10 contacts and then use the click-to-share icons on their dashboard tonight.

BONUS: When you register and share, you qualify for the Register. Share. Win. Giveaway featuring $100,000 in Prizes and a Disney World Family Trip!

1. Get Registered NOW at: https://www.fundgive.com/reg/code/LJKAR
2. Add 10+ Family & Friend Contacts
3. Click-to-Share Text, Email, Facebook and X dashboard icons

If you prefer to make a direct donation (cash or check only) to Jackson Middle School rather than participating in the fundraiser, you can drop it off at the main office during school hours. Please include your student’s full name and grade with the donation. If you would like your student to receive participation credit for prize opportunities, simply register using the link above without adding any contacts.

Thank you for supporting Jackson Middle School!

The Arts and Academic Expo Postcard Contest is underway! Students will receive the postcard contest template in their advisory class. The design should represent Jackson Middle School and include the words "Arts and Academic Expo". Two winners will be selected from each grade. Winners will receive a prize as well production of their postcard sent to all families at and coming into Jackson MIddle school! Additional questions can be directed to rebecca.saffrin@ahschools.us

Postcards are due to Advisory teachers no later than December 19.

Join us at the JMS Observatory to look at stars, the moon, constellations, and anything else we can find in space. Public viewings will be held , along with special event nights, as long as the sky is clear, when something of interest is happening in the sky above us. Weather is always an issue so if it is cloudy, raining, or snowing, the public viewing will be cancelled. Dress for the weather

as the temperature of the dome is the same as that of the outdoors.

Please check the Observatory page on the JMS website at 6:00 p.m. on viewing dates to make sure viewing has not been cancelled.

November 13, Wednesday, 7:00 – 9:00pm

Directions to the Observatory

The 2024 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) Individual Score Reports for students who took a test during the 2023-24 school year are available for families to access online. Families can access the document by logging into A-HConnect or viewing it on the ParentVUE mobile app.

Who takes the MCA test?

Students in grades 3-8 and in grades 10 and 11 take MCA tests each year. MCA reports will only be available for students who took an MCA test during the 2023-24 school year.

In addition to detailed test results, the report also includes a QR code directing families to an individualized video report of the student’s score. Parents, guardians and any person with educational rights to a student will be able to access the student’s MCA report online.

Get step-by-step instructions for logging in to view your student’s test score, and details if you need assistance.

The district is collecting feedback from parents/guardians through a survey on two topics. The first part of the survey relates to your perceptions on social emotional learning and the second part is in regards to parent-teacher communication. The anonymous survey should take 5-10 minutes to complete. You can access the survey using the link below through Friday, November 15. Your insight is very valuable and will be used to inform decisions across the district. Thank you in advance for your time.

SEL/Parent-Teacher Communication: Parent/Guardian Survey

The Anoka-Hennepin Schools Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) is hosting a resource information night for families of students with special needs to learn about resources available in the community. Vendors for sports, camps, and community services will be in attendance.

• When: Thursday, Nov. 14 from 6-7:30 p.m.

• Where: Educational Service Center, 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka. Enter through Door 7 and meet in Erling Johnson rooms C and D.

Families will be able to speak with various vendors at stations that will be set up in the rooms.

The SEAC intends to provide tools and resources to help guardians of children receiving special education services and collaborate with the district to promote continuous growth of special education services to best meet the needs of students. Members serve as representatives of district learners with disabilities from birth through age 22. SEAC strives to promote, educate and share resources between families, schools, and communities.

The council is a partnership between parents/guardians and the school district and meets four times (three in person and one virtual) during the school year.

Minnesota weather is shifting gears, and the Anoka-Hennepin School District has plans in place for when extreme winter weather arrives.

The safety of all students is the first priority when determining if schools should stay open in adverse weather. If a determination is made to close school due to extreme winter weather, the district will alert families in a variety of ways, including:

• Text and email message from #AHSchools. (For parents/guardians only.)

• District and school websites.

• District and school social media pages (e.g. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter).

• Media outlets including WCCO, KSTP, FOX 9, KARE 11, CCX Media, WCCO radio and Star Tribune newspaper.

Those responsible for activities scheduled in schools over the weekend will determine if adverse weather conditions necessitate a cancellation.

Read more about the district’s policies on extreme winter weather at ahschools.us/weather.

The Anoka-Hennepin School District allows qualifying flyers from nonprofit groups to be distributed at school and sent home with students. These flyers have gone through the district approval process. A virtual gallery of flyers is also available. These events, classes and activities are not sponsored or endorsed by Anoka-Hennepin Schools.

Yearbooks for the 2024-2025 school year are now on sale. Prices will increase on December 1 so take advantage of the reduced prices and buy soon.

Books were in high demand last year and sold out quickly, so make sure you reserve yours now!

You can order your yearbook online here.