🐾The Panther Paw 🐾

Spring is in the Air – Stay Focused and Finish Strong!

As the days get longer and the weather starts to warm up, it’s clear that spring is just around the corner! This time of year brings excitement with thoughts of spring break, outdoor activities, and all the fun events happening at school. However, with all the anticipation, it’s important to remember that we still have work to do. Staying focused and on task will help ensure that we finish the school year strong and make the most of the exciting opportunities ahead!

Exciting Events Ahead

There’s so much to look forward to in the coming months! Spring brings a variety of fun school events, including field trips, class projects, spirit days, and end-of-year celebrations. Whether it’s a special performance, a big game, or a reward day, these activities make this time of year even more exciting. But remember—these privileges are earned by demonstrating responsibility, respect, and hard work in and out of the classroom.

Stay Focused, Stay Successful

With all the excitement, it can be easy to get distracted. However, now is the time to buckle down and give your best effort. Here are a few ways to stay on track:
✔ Stay Organized – Keep track of assignments, due dates, and upcoming tests so you don’t fall behind.
✔ Use Your Time Wisely – Stay focused in class and complete your work efficiently to avoid unnecessary stress.
✔ Stay Positive – A good attitude goes a long way! Encourage your classmates and work together to make these last few months great.
✔ Ask for Help – If you’re struggling with a subject, don’t hesitate to reach out to a teacher or a friend.

End the Year on a High Note!

The finish line is in sight, and the effort you put in now will pay off in the long run. Whether you’re working towards strong grades, earning a spot in a fun event, or simply wanting to feel proud of your hard work, staying focused will help you reach your goals. Let’s make these last few months the best yet! Keep working hard, stay engaged, and get ready to enjoy all the amazing experiences this spring has in store. Together, we can finish the year strong and make great memories along the way!

The end of the third grading period is this Friday, March 7, 2025. Be sure to finish this week strong and get in any work that you might be missing.

We are scheduled to hold our End of Quarter Celebration on Friday, March 21, 2025. Similar to last quarter the expectations for attending the celebration are:

• Students should be passing all of their classes - meaning students should not have any Fs for their quarter grade
• Students should not have more than 3 unexcused absences this quarter
• Students should not have 3 or more office discipline referrals this quarter

Do you enjoy the comfort of a nice cup of hot chocolate? Maybe you're tired of winter and are ready to bring on spring. Either way, Builders Club has you covered as they sponsor Refreshments with Reason. Next week, students and staff will have the opportunity to purchase a refreshment ticket for $1. The ticket can be redeemed on Thursday or Friday for your choice of hot chocolate or shamrock punch. All proceeds from refreshment sales will benefit the Jennings County Food Security Coalition.

This week, we will be finishing up ILEARN Checkpoint testing! Our schedule is below:

• Monday, March 3, 2025 - 8th Grade Language Arts
• Tuesday, March 4, 2025 - 8th Grade Language Arts - finish; 7th Grade Language Arts
• Wednesday, March 5, 2025 - 7th Grade Language Arts - finish
  
  

Students will complete checkpoint tests in their Language Arts and Math classes. Here is our testing schedule:

Here are a few testing tips for this week:

• Get Plenty of Rest!
• Make sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night leading up to the test. A well-rested brain performs much better!
• Eat a Healthy Breakfast
• Fuel your brain with a balanced breakfast on test days. Include protein (eggs, yogurt), whole grains (toast, cereal), and fruits for long-lasting energy.
• Stay Calm and Positive
• Confidence is key! Take deep breaths, relax, and remind yourself that you’ve been preparing all year. A positive mindset can help you perform better.
• Bring Necessary Supplies
• Ensure you have all the materials you’ll need for the test— Chromebook, charger, and pencil/pen.

Our 8th-grade students will be going on a college tour! On March 5th and 6th, JCMS 8th graders will visit the IU Columbus campus to learn about academic programs, extracurricular activities, athletics, and everything IUC has to offer—right here in Columbus.

Students attending the field trip should remember to demonstrate The Panther Way: Do Right, Say Right, and Act Right. When attending field trips, we are guests, and it’s important to leave a positive and lasting impression. Be sure to show appreciation by thanking the bus drivers, tour guides, presenters, and school staff members for making this trip possible.

This is an exciting opportunity to explore future possibilities—make the most of it by being respectful, engaged, and ready to learn!

Congratulations to the Jennings County Middle School Archery Team!

They have qualified for state and will be traveling to Indianapolis on March 8, 2025, to compete in the 2025 NASP/I.B.O. Bullseye and 3D State Tournament. They will be aiming to bring home the trophy and claim the title of Indiana's best middle school archery team!

Jennings County Bullseye took first place, and 3D placed second at the Madison Consolidated High School Bullseye/3D State Qualifier on January 18, 2025. The top shooters for Bullseye were Mason Moore with a 279, Brentley Norris with a 272, and Brayden McGill with a 270. The top 3D shooters were Madi May with a 264, Brentley Norris with a 263, and Connor Owens with a 251.

A mere 59 points separated Team 1 from the top qualifying Bullseye team. Team 2 was only 227 points behind the top-scoring Bullseye team. 3D was only 91 points from the top qualifying team. These are very attainable goals for us. We have improved at all but one tournament from that qualifying score! This state tournament will also determine if they will be competing in the 2025 Eastern Nationals NASP/I.B.O. Bullseye and 3D Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky!

Best of luck to you, archers!

Article by: Brentley Norris, 8th Grade

Reminder: to participate in athletics, student athletes MUST have a sports physical on file at JCMS and must be registered on Final Forms.

Schneck Urgent Care at 1124 Medical Pl. Seymour, IN 47274 is open from 8 am to 8 pm Monday-Friday and 8 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday. This location offers sports physicals for $25 cash/debit/credit (meaning they do not run insurance)

If your athlete attended tonight’s after school workout and did not have a physical on file, they received a form that can be filled out and taken to their physical. Having this filled out ahead of time will make your trip much quicker. If they do not have a form, they can get one from the JCMS athletic office!

For any questions about this process, please contact the JCMS Athletic office during school hours. We look forward to all of our athletes being able to participate!

Many students often want to know ahead of time what is served for lunch each day. Here is the upcoming menu for the month of February. We appreciate all of the time and effort our lunch crew puts into making our lunches each day. Thank you to all of them!

Monday March 3, 2025:

• 8th Grade ELA Checkpoint Testing
• Swimming vs Seymour @ Seymour Middle School - 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Tuesday, March 4, 2025:

• 8th Grade ELA Checkpoint Testing - Finish
• 7th Grade ELA Checkpoint Testing
• Wrestling vs. Silver Creek - 8th grade Night - 6:00 - 8:00 PM
• Swimming vs Greensburg @ Greensburg Community Jr High School - 6:00 - 8:00 PM

• 7th Grade ELA Checkpoint Testing - Finish
• 8th Grade Trip to IU Columbus

• 8th Grade Trip to IU Columbus
• Swimming vs Madison @ Madison Consolidated Junior High School - 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Saturday, March 8, 2025:

• Wrestling Tri-County @ Seymour Middle School - 9:00 - 11:00 AM