John Adams Monthly Newsletter

Dear JAMS Community,

Happy February! As we step into the second half of the school year, I want to congratulate our students, teachers, and families on a successful first semester. Your dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence have made the first half truly JAMazing!

With one semester to go, let’s stay focused and finish strong. Attendance remains key—being in school every day (except when sick) helps students stay engaged, keep up with learning, and make the most of every opportunity.

Looking ahead, an exciting time is upon us! Students will soon be selecting their elective preferences for next year, shaping their learning experiences in new and exciting ways. This process marks another step in their academic journey, and we encourage thoughtful decision-making.

It’s a busy time, but together, we will steer the course and finish the year on a high note. Keep up the great work, and let’s make this semester the best one yet!

With JAMazing pride,

Dr. Valentine

The Edison Township Public Schools District is proud to introduce Parent University 2025: Learn Well, Live Well, Lead Well, a two-part series of workshops for the district's PK-12 parents and guardians.

Parent University 2025 will focus on assisting PK-12 parents in supporting their children in their education and forging a stronger home/school connection.

The first of this series is the Learn Well/Lead Well session which will be held on Wednesday, February 12th at Edison High School starting at 6:15 PM. Doors will open at 6:00 PM.

Learn more: https://www.edison.k12.nj.us/page/parent-university

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

Snack and Study Snack and Study takes place every Thursday during grade level lunch periods. Snack and Study is an opportunity for students to work on assignments or study for upcoming tests in a quieter atmosphere, it is not a time to socialize. Students will be asked to return to the cafeteria if they are not working on an assignment. Please come to the Genius Bar at the start of your lunch period and sign in - seats fill up fast!

6th Grade Counseling- michelle.witte@edison.k12.nj.us If students would like to meet with their counselor they may email or stop in the counseling office during the school day. Students may also request a pass to the counseling office from their teacher. Please encourage your child to frequently check the counseling google classroom as it contains important information. The classroom code is tq3o2ny.. If parents have questions or concerns please reach out to the counseling office to speak with your child’s counselor. Marking period 2 ends on February 5th. Please encourage your child to check Genesis for their semester 2 classes. As we move into the third marking period, Mrs Witte will be meeting regularly with students who are struggling academically to provide support and develop improvement plans.

7th Grade Counseling- erin.bennett@edison.k12.nj.us The 7th grade JAMS Class of 2026 Google Classroom code is 4dwfsss. If your child joined last year there is no need to do anything. If your child has any questions or needs to speak with Mrs. Bennett, they can email to request an appointment or ask their classroom teacher for a pass. Marking period 2 ends on February 5th. Please encourage your child to check Genesis for their semester 2 classes. As we move into the third marking period, Mrs Bennett will be meeting regularly with students who are struggling academically to provide support and develop improvement plans.

8th Grade Counseling- pear.sintumuang@edison.k12.nj.us The Counseling Google Classroom is the same as last school year, but if a student archived or deleted the Classroom, they may rejoin by using the code ni5mlmh.

Counselors from JP Stevens High School will be coming into 8th grade Social Studies classes on February 11th to do a presentation about 9th grade electives. The counselors will be able to answer questions about the elective selection process and any required prerequisite courses.

8th Grade Parent Night for parent/guardians (only) takes place at JPS High School on February 20th. An Optional tour starts at 6pm followed by a presentation at 6:45pm. No students may attend.

East Brunswick, Perth Amboy or Piscataway Magnet School Applications are due on MARCH 1, 2025.

*Edison Health Department Immunization Clinic is available for Edison residents with NO INSURANCE on February 19th, 2025, 3:30 pm to 6 pm. Please call for an appointment at (732) 248-7285.

*Sports Physical forms are due February 3rd, 2025 for the spring sports season. Please go to our JAMS school website, click on Student Life, and then Athletics for forms. The State of New Jersey has updated the required forms.

This February, the JAMS Equity Champion Team is proud to spotlight self-care through Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) activities that are designed to promote positive well-being for students, teachers, and families. Drawing from a new program called When Life Gives You Lemons...Practice Self-Care!, we will share key activities encouraging reflection, positivity, and emotional growth. These resources aim to cultivate a supportive and inclusive environment while fostering meaningful connections across our school community. Additionally, we are developing a Teacher Emotional Intelligence Handbook, which will integrate SEL strategies with DEI principles to empower educators in creating emotionally safe and equitable classrooms and learning environments. Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to engage in these fun and educational activities!

Dear Parents,

We hope you're all staying warm this winter season! The Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) has been bustling with activities to support our students and school community. Here's a quick look at what we've been up to:

1. SpiritWear: A huge thank you to everyone who supported the initiative by ordering a spiritwear. The spiritwear was distributed just before the Christmas holidays.
2. Holiday Boutique: Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to all the parents and volunteers that supported the event. The kids were thrilled by the shopping extravaganza
3. Bookfair: Annual Bookfair was conducted in partnership with our vendor Scholastic. Kids got an opportunity to purchase books and accessories of their choice. Thank you to all the parents who volunteered.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to the JAMS community. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!

Warm regards,

JAMS PTO