JAGWire August 8th, 2024

Jones Middle School Families,

I wanted to take a moment to express how wonderful the first week of school has been. It's been a joy to see our students back in the classroom, eager to learn and grow. With the enthusiasm and energy we've witnessed this week, I am confident we are going to have a fantastic year!

Personally, I've enjoyed meeting our new students and helping them get acclimated to our school. All week long I've listened to our staff talk about how amazing our students are and we have YOU to thank for that. You raising amazing children and it shines through in everything they do!

I'd also like to share that our JagWire Newsletters will be published twice a month on Thursdays and will include announcements, instructional practices, staff/student highlights, and upcoming events. Our school's website, digital marquee, and parent square are other sources of pertinent information.

We look forward to partnering with you and supporting your child(ren) this year.

See you at Curriculum Night on Tuesday, August 27th!

Lin Thornton

Principal

Students can choose to sign up for Band, Chorus, Orchestra and Guitar. All other Connections classes are randomly assigned each semester. In the Spring, 7th and 8th grade students had the chance to select their preferences for these classes. While we make every effort to honor these requests, it's important to note that placement in specific classes is not guaranteed. Once students are assigned a Connections class, we encourage them to embrace the experience and make the most of their learning journey. As we look ahead to January, new Connections classes will be introduced for students who were randomly assigned a class this semester.

Welcome JMS 6th-8th Grade Parents!

We’re excited to start another school year with you and your children. Our school counselors are here to support you, your students, and our staff throughout the year. In our Counseling Corner of the community newsletter, we’ll provide valuable resources to help you navigate the middle school experience smoothly.

To kick off the year, here are some recommended reads:

• For Students: Surviving Middle School: Navigating the Halls, Riding the Social Roller Coaster, and Unmasking the Real You by Luke Reynolds.

• For Parents: Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond—and How Parents Can Help by Phyllis L. Fagell.

We hope these resources help you and your child get off to a great start. Here’s to a successful school year!

Exciting Opportunity for JMS Middle School Students!

We are thrilled to offer mentoring groups for our 6th-8th grade students: Strong Girlz and Boys Building Champions. These groups are designed to support and inspire our students throughout the school year.

Applications are open now and are due by August 23rd. Space is limited, so be sure to have your student see their grade level counselor, Ms. Aviles or Ms. Jacobs for an application.

Don’t miss this chance to be a part of these empowering programs!

Best regards,

Shena Manning, 6th Grade Counselor

Nathan Shope, 7th Grade Counselor

Ashley White, 8th Grade Counselor

This Back to School Parent Session is specifically for parents who speak languages other than English. If you are a parent who speak Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese or Chinese Mandarin please join us for this informational engagement session.

6th graders will receive their Chromebooks the first week of school.

Mark your calendars, Jaguars! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Jones from Friday, October 18th through Friday, October 25th. Students will visit the Book Fair with their Language Arts teachers. More information will be available closer to the start of the Book Fair. See you there! https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/jonesmiddle

AI is rapidly changing industries and how we interact. To be prepared for the college and career opportunities of today and the future, students must be AI-Ready. AI-Readiness ensures that students can thrive, and learn to be ethical and responsible users, developers, and decision-makers of AI.

We know that AI is rapidly impacting the workforce, society, and even education. GCPS students and staff must be future-ready by understanding this technology, and using it responsibly and ethically. The GCPS Guidance for Human Centered AI Use is meant to communicate the principles we honor when making decisions around AI use and provide practical guidance and expectations as a system. As AI evolves, the guidance around its use will as well. This guidance was crafted collaboratively with a variety of partners and stakeholders, including students, teachers, school and district leaders, and trusted partners like Digital Promise and EdSAFE AI Alliance.

Please visit the GCPS Guidance for Human Centered AI Use to learn more about the use of AI tools in GCPS.

The Superintendent's Student Advisory Council is a crucial avenue for middle and high school students to directly influence districtwide decisions, processes, and culture. It's an opportunity to share feedback, school experiences, and innovative ideas to address challenges with Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts on a variety of issues affecting students, schools, and communities.

The application for the 2024-25 SSAC will be available in the Student Portal from August 7–28, 2024. Two students from each middle and high school will be selected based on their completed applications. Alternate members from each school will also be identified. We will notify students selected to serve on the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council via student email on or before September 11. Learn more about SSAC on our website!

Car Rider drop off & pick up will follow the BLUE pattern. Car Rider drop off begins at 8:50 AM

Traffic is a challenge given our physical design, traffic on Ridge Rd, and the number of cars dropping off students in the mornings and pick up in the afternoons so allow yourself enough time to navigate our procedures. Thank you in advance for familiarizing yourself with the plan to ensure an efficient and safe drop off for all students.

In the mornings:

• If your child is attending study hall, tutoring, intramurals, or any other club/activity, they may be dropped off between 7:50am-8:15am. Drop off is on the side of the building at the cafeteria doors. There is no student entry through the front doors until 8:50am.
• Any student that arrives between 8:15 - 8:50am must remain in their vehicle until the 8:50am bell.
• Pull up to the drop off sign before letting your child out of the car in the mornings.
• Be sure your child is prepared to quickly exit the car when you come to a complete stop.
  
• Only turn right out of the parking lot to keep traffic moving.
  
• Only let your child out of the car in our designated locations for drop off (not the parking lot).
  
• After 9:20am, please park and check your child in tardy.

In the afternoons:

• Students will be dismissed at 4pm and will exit through the front doors and will be supervised by adults.
• Communicate with your child at 4pm where you are in the car rider line.

• Pull all the way forward before stopping to let your child in your vehicle.
• Only turn right out of the driveway.
• Students may be picked up at Zion Hill Baptist Church or Ivy Creek Elementary School. We have adults who escort/supervise students until they are off campus safely.

Thank you for your support and cooperation to maintain order and make drop off and pick up as smooth as possible for everyone.

If you arrive after 3:30pm, we'd be happy to get your student a message to meet you in the car rider line when dismissed at 4pm.

Beginning the first day of school, we are introducing a new, more efficient system. When you come to pick up your child, simply have your driver's license ready for a quick check under our document camera. Use our user-friendly iPad to enter your child's name for checkout. Then, relax and enjoy our newly revamped parent waiting area in the vestibule while your child completed the process in the front before meeting you in the vestibule.

These changes are all about making things smoother and safer for everyone involved. As always, thank you for your support and cooperation!

Be sure to complete the Free and Reduced Lunch application. Families need to apply every year. The online application for the 24-25 school year will be available Tuesday, July 16th.

One application per household - Be sure to list everyone that lives under the same roof. Eligibility is determined by the household size to income ratio. Once approved, eligibility is good for the entire school year. There is no reason to submit more than one application unless there is a change in household size or income.

The application doesn't just cover free or reduced lunch for your student but also may also qualify them to receive free SAT, ACT, and AP testing. As well as potential discounts on college application fees and certain utility bills.

I am pleased to share that our "Away for the Day" policy regarding cell phones has been successfully implemented at Jones Middle School. Since its inception, we have observed a positive impact on student behavior and focus in the learning environment. By adhering to the guidelines of storing cell phones in their bookbags throughout the school day, students have been able to engage more actively with their educational tasks and peers. This practice has not only minimized distractions but also fostered a safer and more conducive atmosphere for academic growth and personal development.

As we continue to prioritize the well-being and academic success of our students, we are grateful for your ongoing support in embracing the "Away for the Day" approach. Together, we are creating a community where students can thrive and excel in their learning journey.

Therefore, Jones will continue instituting a practice of “Away for the Day” as it relates to cell phones and all other electronic devices. Upon arrival, students are expected to turn their phones off (or on silent) and store it in their bookbag. Cell phones will remain in their bookbag for the duration of the day. They can no longer be used as a calculator, to listen to music during individual work time, for use to access their student ID, etc. Students are expected to have WIRED earbuds daily to accompany their district-issued Chromebook for any necessary instructional purpose. Bluetooth or wireless headphones/earbuds are no longer allowed. In summary, there is no need for students to have any personal electronic devices while at school.

However, if they do have a device, it should remain away for the day. If a personal device of any kind is lost or stolen, the school is not responsible for restitution, nor are we obligated to investigate. If a student needs to contact home for any reason, they may do so from any office within the school.

If a student fails to adhere to the “Away for the Day” policy, he/she will receive a consequence.

We ask for your support as we move forward with this “Away for the Day” approach. We are hopeful that this, along with other supports, will help provide a safer environment for students and will allow us to continue to pursue excellence in academic knowledge, skills, and behavior for each student.

• Only Seckinger HS students and opposing HS students will be permitted in games without a parent. High School IDs will be checked.
• Students must leave school on game day and can return thirty minutes before the start.
• All games are available for purchase online. Visit the GoFan website here: https://gofan.co/
• All elementary and middle school students must be accompanied by an adult at all sporting events.
• Please click here to access the head coach's directory and email the coach for more information.

This school year, our district is transitioning to ParentSquare to communicate with families. We encourage all families to download the app and create an account. With its user-friendly interface, ParentSquare offers seamless two-way communication through text, newsletters, posts, emergency alerts, and direct messaging. One of our favorite features is the integrated translation feature, enabling automatic translations for multilingual families. Stay effortlessly connected with your child's teachers, schools, and the district. To get started, and learn about all the cool features, check out our website!

If you received our notification about ParentSquare and you have questions about confirming your account access, please send an email to PSQHelp@gcpsk12.org.

We offer multiple ways to connect with our staff and administrators to address your questions regarding your child's needs and interests.