JAGWire September 5th, 2024

Join us for an evening of music and fun! The Jones Middle School 7th & 8th grade Bands will be performing their Fall concert on October 3rd at 5:30pm in the school cafeteria. Come support our talented young musicians as they showcase their hard work and dedication. Don't miss this wonderful event!

Dear Parents:

On October 3, 2024, scoliosis screening will take place at your child’s middle school to identify children with suspected abnormal curvature of the spine. The screening is done yearly in the middle school grades as required by State Law, Department of Community Health and State Department of Education guidelines. You may opt out of screening for your student by signing a form that will be sent home 2 weeks prior to the screening.

Ms. Santoro

School Clinic Worker

Help us congratulate former Jones Middle School student Suhee Jung. She entered the Thermo-Fisher Junior Innovator Challenge back in the spring after placing at the Gwinnett County science fair. She was recently named in the top 300 Junior Innovators in the COUNTRY!!! Only other 9 students from the state of Georgia also received this honor.

If you want to read more about this challenge here is the link Top-300-Junior-Innovators.pdf (sspcdn.blob.core.windows.net)

Study hall is available for students who need a quiet place to read, study, or work independently starting at 7:50am each day. If students are attending a club, tutoring, or another activity, they are dismissed with a pass or picked up by their teacher at 8:15am. Students who are not dismissed at 8:15am, may remain in study hall until 8:50am when the transition to homeroom begins.

Below are the expectations for study hall:

• Study hall is a time for quiet reading, studying, or independent work.
• Study hall is not a time for socializing.
• Students should show respect for the space and allow others to focus.
• Students must be seated and not roaming around the cafeteria.
• Students should follow directions from staff members at all times.
• Students should be engaged in productive activities (e.g., studying or reading).
• Students not following these guidelines may be redirected.

Parents, please note that students are not allowed to have any medications on them while at school, even over the counter medications. If you would like for your student to be able to carry their epi-pen or inhaler on them while at school, you must fill out a health management plan and it must be signed off by a physician and turned back into the clinic. If you would like to keep any medication in the clinic for your student, please make sure it is brought in by a parent and all proper forms are filled out. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Ms. Santoro in the clinic at Jen.Santoro@gcpsk12.org.

Dear JMS 6th-8th Grade Parents,

In light of the recent events in Barrow County, we recognize the importance of addressing the impact of such traumatic incidents with our students. To aid you in providing effective support, we have gathered valuable resources from the National Association of School Psychologists and the Dougy Center: National Center for Grieving Children & Families.

The attached flyers offer practical guidelines and strategies for educators and parents on how to communicate with students, provide reassurance, and create a supportive environment. They include tips on establishing safe spaces, addressing concerns, and seeking professional support when needed. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns. We are here to support your child and your families.

Ashley White, 8th grade counselor

Nathan Shope, 7th grade counselor

Shena Manning, 6th grade counselor

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.

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.

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.

• 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.