The Journey Journal
October 21-25
Next Week in the Jungle (DECAB / Advisory on Tuesday)
INSTRUCTIONAL HIGHLIGHT
Mr. Matthew Klima, Math
Mr. Klima's 7th grade math students are calculating percent proportions and equations. To help students better understand the objectives for the day and how they would meet them, their graphic organizer with practice problems also included their Learning Target and helpful math vocabulary terms that would be used within the lesson. Mr. Klima modeled the assignment, breaking down complex concepts into manageable steps. This clear instruction allowed students to take thorough notes in their graphic organizers, ensuring they had a solid foundation to build upon.
After modeling, students practiced independently, applying what they had learned. What really stood out was the use of color-coded formative assessment table tents. This innovative strategy empowered students to communicate their levels of understanding effectively. By flipping their tents to green, yellow, or red, they could signal their confidence in the material, creating a transparent and supportive classroom environment.
Mr. Klima and collaborative teacher, Mr. West, were able to quickly assess who needed extra help, facilitating targeted support for those who were struggling while allowing confident students to advance. This approach not only enhanced individual learning but also fostered a sense of community and collaboration among classmates.
Kudos to the teacher for implementing such thoughtful instructional strategies! It was a fantastic demonstration of how to make math accessible and engaging for all students.
Journey Student Expectations Meetings
We met with students to discuss our school and district's expectations outlined in our Madison City Code of Conduct and JMS Student Handbook. Below is our presentation.
MCS Student Dress Code
Dress Code Rules -
1. Students must practice good personal hygiene.
2. Shoes or sandals must be worn and properly laced or fastened. Foot apparel
Determined to be dangerous or a safety hazard may not be worn.
3. Hair must be clean and sanitary and worn so that it does not impair vision and
is not considered unsafe or hazardous.
4. Clothing must not include pictures, writings, symbols, etc., promoting,
Acknowledging or suggesting drugs, tobacco products, alcohol, sexual activities
or anything of a sexual nature, gangs, groups, individuals, or activities that would
be considered potentially dangerous, disruptive, or hazardous to the student to
other students, or to the school environment. Tattoos with pictures, writings,
symbols etc., prohibited by this paragraph must be kept covered by the student's ‘
clothing, and not otherwise displayed in the overall school environment during
any activity.
5. Students in a classroom or participating in other indoor activities may be asked
to remove outer garments normally intended for outdoor wear. Garments to be
removed include overcoats, trench coats, bulky and/or oversized jackets, or
oversized pullovers. Garments that equate to a lightweight windbreaker or
sweater are permissible. Parents and students should assure that student attire
provides for adequate comfort indoors without the wearing of outdoor garments.
6. Clothing that is revealing due to excessive tightness, tearing, or sheer (see-through)
exposing the midriff is prohibited. Shorts, skirts, dresses, etc. should
be a minimum of fingertip length (while standing with your arms by your sides).
Clothing that is not able to provide coverage to undergarments and private body
areas at all times is not permitted. This includes clothing with rips, tears, or holes
that expose underwear or private areas of the body. Rips, tears, and holes in
clothing that expose the skin should be below fingertip length. Rips, tears, and
holes above fingertip length that do not expose the skin are acceptable.
Shirts with a strap of less than 1.5” or that reveal midriff, cleavage, or lower back
are not permitted. Leggings, jeggings, yoga pants, etc., can be worn with a shirt
that reaches the top of the thigh, covering the bottom and private body areas.
7. Students may not wear hats, caps, hoods, or head coverings in school
buildings or on school premises. Exceptions include headgear worn with a school
uniform as directed by the staff sponsor to be worn during the school day,
religious headwear, and head coverings to be worn
outside during extreme weather. Sunglasses cannot be worn on the face covering
the eyes during indoor school activities.
8. With the approval of the Principal, student participants of scheduled
School-sponsored activities, e.g., dance team, cheerleaders, drama class, etc.,
may dress in a manner that does not conform to the dress code as long as the
dress is consistent with the traditional uniform or costume of the activity.
UPCOMING NEWS
JMS Events Coming Soon:
10/21 & 10/22 - 7th Grade SCAN Presentations
10/21 - JMS vs. LMS makeup football game (@5; A team only)
10/22 - First Priority
10/22 - Girls Who Code
10/22 - Drama Club
10/22 - Art Club
10/24 - Silent Book Club
10/25 - Fellowship of Christian Athletes
10/25 - Faculty vs. Student Volleyball game (during school)
Next week in Advisory:
Next week, our P2 focus will be on "Fairness". The character strength of Fairness means that
you believe that all people have value. People exhibiting this strength approach situations with an unbiased mindset and treat everyone with respect.
Four Year Plans (8th Grade)
Counselors have begun entering 8th grade classrooms to help support 8th grade students as they create four year plans. Please see the JMS Informational Four-Year Plan Letter to Parents and Guardians to help you better understand this process. If you have questions, please reach out to your student's counselor.
JMS Yearbook
Preorder your '24-'25 JMS Yearbook today! Two purchase options:
2) Cash/Check to Mrs. Bess in room 236
Yearbook Snap!
Do you have photos that you want to be considered for the 24-25 yearbook? Submit them through Yearbook Snap! There are two ways to submit, the site or the app, and the code is Journey25. Help us to make this year's yearbook the best one ever!
Join Our JMS PTA
Click the link below to sign up to be a 2024-2025 Journey PTA member! It is a part-time commitment, and you will be put on our volunteer list to help when you can.
Click "Givebacks" below. Be sure to select 2024-2025 from the drop-down menu. Membership is only $10.00!
If you have any questions, email journeymiddleschoolpta@gmail.com.
No-Hassle Fundraiser Results
Upcoming Events
UPDATE: Archery Tryouts
Archery tryouts have been rescheduled for Saturday October 19 in the JMS gym. All students must reserve a time on the new sign up using the link provided on the archery page of Journey's website or the QR code posted on the flyers. If you have any questions or conflicts with the times, please contact Coach Fiscus in room 333.
BJHS / JMS Wrestling Team
Are you interested in joining a wrestling team? Are you zoned for BJHS? Then you're in luck! Check out the details below for more information, and contact jrhill@madisoncity.k12.al.us with any questions.
JMS GreenPower Racing
Welcome to our inaugural JMS Greenpower Newsletter. We’d like to pay special thanks to all of our Sponsors for investing in our team and we appreciate you all very much! There are two upcoming races in October with details below and would love for any of our sponsors who are interested to make it out to watch “their” Greenpower Team. Details for those races are below the newsletter.
Choccolocco Part Green Prix
Monday, October 28
954 Leon Smith Parkway, Oxford, AL 36203
Schedule:
10:00 a.m. Heat 1
11:45 a.m. Heat 2
2:15 p.m Heat 3
4:00 p.m. Heat 4
6:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony
JMS Glow Dance
The countdown has begun for the Journey Glow in the Dark Party, and we couldn't be more thrilled! This will be an incredible night where we light up the dance floor and create unforgettable memories together! Tickets may purchased on S2Pass now (scan the QR code below) or the week of the dance, October 28-November 1, in the cafeteria. Our concession stand will be open as well!
Basketball Spirit Week Dress-up Days
Get ready to celebrate the start of basketball season with the dress-up days listed below!
Scholastic Book Fair Coming Soon!
JMS Fair Website: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/journeymiddleschool
When: November 8th - November 15th; during school hours
Where: JMS Media Center
MCS Mental Health Fair
Results of PB Drive!
A huge thank you to everyone to participated in the Cheesecake Factory Peanut Butter Drive! Read the note below for details about earnings and the winning class.
Journey Choir Donation Opportunity
Watch the short video below to find out more or click on this link to donate!
Silent Book Club
Calling all bookworms! Whether you're already an avid reader or looking to devote more time to reading this year, we've got a club for you; it's called the Silent Book Club. All readers are welcome—whether you enjoy ebooks or audiobooks, poetry or prose, fiction or non-fiction... it's BYOBook. Starting in September, the Silent Book Club will meet in the Media Center each week on Thursday afternoons from 3:30 - 4:30 pm. If you're interested, check out the flyers around the school or talk to Mrs. Young in the Media Center!
MCS Career Coaches Want to Speak with You!
Careers are rarely linear and we are looking for volunteers to share their career experience and pathway with our secondary students. Would you be willing to share your WHY for your career? Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit? Do you make an impact helping people? Can you truly relate to the concept of career reinvention because you've been there? Have you learned lessons from failing forward and/or taking risks? Have you started at an entry-level job and advanced throughout the years? Have you built a career in the corporate and higher-education arenas, working your way up to leadership roles?
If you can answer Yes to any of these questions, we need your help. If you are willing to be a speaker, mentor, or volunteer, please consider filling out this community volunteers & resources form.
Thank You!
MCS Career Coach Team (Michelle Hyams, Sara Baragona, Jodi Jones)
JMS Student Handbook and MCS Code of Conduct
MCS Code of Conduct
Below is the link to our MCS Code of Conduct.
JMS Student Handbook
Below is the link to our JMS Student Handbook.
2024-2025 Calendars, Rotations, & Schedules
2024-2025 District Calendar
Please review our Madison City Schools district calendar.
Middle School Rotations
Daily & Advisory Schedules
The Advisory Schedule will begin on Tuesday, August 20. Unless otherwise announced, we will be on the advisory schedule every Tuesday.
iReady Diagnostic Results
Our first i-Ready Math and Reading Diagnostic window has closed. Families may access a Parent Report by following the directions included in the i-Ready Parents' Results Directions Document. In each student's i-Ready account, there are additional i-Ready Personalized Instructional Materials for both Math and Reading that students may choose to work on at home to help them build critical skills. These i-Ready skills are also linked directly to the individual skills tested each spring on the ACAP Math and Reading state tests. We encourage all students to spend time weekly working within their i-Ready Personalized Instructional Materials. Families with questions about i-Ready data or personalized instructional materials should reach out to students' math and ELA teachers.
Fall and Spring Final Exam Schedules
All students are required to take final exams, and attendance is very important. Please review our JMS Fall Exam and Spring Exam schedules. Please make travel arrangements after these dates, as early exams are not given. If the parent/guardian contacts the principal to make arrangements, any missed exams will have to be taken at a later time. These tests will impact the student’s grades. EXAMS WILL NOT BE GIVEN EARLY.
Grading Calendar
i-Ready Testing Windows
State Testing Dates
Below is our 2024-2025 State Testing Dates.
General and PE Uniform Fee
You can now pay the $25.00 General Fee and $25.00 2024-2025 PE uniform fee. This year's PE uniform is a purple t-shirt and short with gold writing. All PE uniforms will given to students in PE class.
These payments can be made at the eschool payment link below. Our eschool payment link be located on our Journey homepage on the task bar labeled Online Fee Payments, click Proceed to Payment Pages, and click Journey Middle School , and complete the form to make payments.
Course & Extracurricular Fees
Course Fees
Course Fee sheets will be given to students next week.
These payments can be made at the eschool payment link below and there is a quick JMS Fee Reference Sheet for parents. Our eschool payment link be located on our Journey homepage on the task bar labeled Online Fee Payments, click Proceed to Payment Pages, and click Journey Middle School , and complete the form to make payments.
Extracurricular Fees
All extracurricular fees may be paid on our Journey homepage on the task bar labeled Online Fee Payments (link below); click Proceed to Payment Pages, click Journey Middle School , and complete the form to make payments.
Attendance
Alabama state law requires that students be present during school hours. Parents will be notified of student absences by an automated email and by written notification according to the following guidelines:
- An automated email will be sent after each absence, and a letter will be sent home after a student has accumulated five unexcused absences.
- After the seventh unexcused absence, the system's attendance office will petition the District Attorney's office.
All parent and doctor absence notes should be uploaded through your parent portal account. You will get an email notification that your note has been received from JMS personnel. If, for some reason, you are unable to upload your excuses to PowerSchool, please email your student's excuse to jmsattendance@madisoncity.k12.al.us. Please check PowerSchool to ensure your excuse note has been coded correctly. We will not accept excuses by any other means, and notes will not be accepted outside the MCS Board Policy three-day window.
As a reminder, students in secondary schools are allowed to be excused on a parent's note five days per semester. If the school needs clarification on a message, you may be asked to bring an original copy of the doctor's note to the school.
If a child is absent for more than 18 days, whether the absences are excused or unexcused, the Alabama State Department of Education considers them chronically absent. Points are taken away from the school on the A-F Accountability Report Card for EACH child who has 18 absences or more each school year, no matter the reason for the excuse.
The school administration monitors tardies. It is essential that your child is present at the beginning of the school day, and instruction begins at 8:15 a.m.
Below are the instructions to upload your excuse notes in PowerSchool. Additionally, you mail email all excusenotes to jmsattendance@madisoncity.k12.al.us.
Parent & Student Resources
Parent & Student Resources
All parent and student resources can be located on our website on our Parents/Students under Resources.
HEALS Mobile Clinic
Madison City Schools is excited to partner with Health Establishments at Local School, Inc. (HEALS Inc.) to offer a mobile clinic for students who do not have private medical and/or dental insurance. Click the link to see the calendar below for when the Mobile Clinic will be at our schools.
Where Can I Find JMS Announcements?
Daily/Weekly JMS Announcements
Parents and students can view weekly announcements on their PowerSchool homepage and The Journey Journal will be sent home weekly. Additonally, all events can be located on or JMS school calendar on our website. The link is below.
Lost & Found
Student Lost & Found
Lost and found items will be placed in the main office. We will donate any items not retrieved to charity at the end of each nine weeks. Students may visit the Lost and Found before or after school.
Chromebooks & Help Desk
Student Chromebooks
We will issue Chromebooks to our new students during the first few weeks of school. If there are any needs regarding a student device. Click the Incident IQ link below to create a support ticket.
Need a Replacement Chromebook Charger?
Parents/Guardians, should you wish to purchase an additional charger on your own accord, here is what is compatible with the student Chromebooks: 45W USB C Charger Fit for Acer Chromebook 511/Spin 511 C736 C736T C741L C741LT R752T R752TN R756T R756TN CP511-1H CP511-1HN CP511-2HT Series Laptop Computer Power Adapter Cord N16Q10 N16Q11 N16Q12
Bus Transportation, Car Line, Walkers, & Bikers
Bus Stops
Edulog (Bus GPA Location)
JMS Car Rider Line Route
Once cars enter the car loop, the first car will pull around to the end of the sidewalk,with the cars following, lining up directly beside each other, and students will exit or enter their vehicles. All students should be prepared to enter and exit their vehcicles quickly and safely.
It is important for everyone to follow our official car line route for safety precautions. Garner Rd. is not apart of the JMS Carline. Student should not be dropped off and picked up on Garner Rd.
Please remember there is no adult supervision before 7:40 a.m., and the car line closes at 8:10 a.m. Students arriving after 8:10 a.m. will need to enter through the front doors. Our afternoon carline is from 3:20-3:45 p.m. We will open carline at 2:30 p.m. After 3:45 p.m., all students waiting on a ride will be escorted to the main entrance to contact their parents and wait to be picked up at the main entrance.
Parents, if you need to come inside the school, please access the school from Celtic Dr.
JMS Walkers and Bikers
JMS Athletics
2024 Football Schedule
2024 Volleyball Schedule
Below is our 2024 Volleyball Schedule.
Interested in Being a JMS Athletic Team Manager? Apply Below!
All students interested in being an athletic team manager should complete the Google form by Friday, August 16.
Journey Middle School
Website: https://www.madisoncity.k12.al.us/Journey
Location: 217 Celtic Drive, Madison, AL, USA
Phone: 256-774-4695
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/journeyjags/
X (Formely Twitter): @journeyjaguars