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Updates from TJMS #5

August 27,2024

Updates from TJMS #5 August 27,2024

What a tremendous opening week and an incredible start to our school year!


It has been heartwarming to witness the excitement and enthusiasm of our students as they explore their new classrooms and connect with their teachers. The energy and positivity in the building are palpable. I am particularly impressed with the dedication and professionalism of our staff. Their commitment to providing a supportive and engaging learning environment is evident in their interactions with students and their passion for teaching.


Thank you parents for your continued support and involvement in your child's education. Your partnership is essential in ensuring the success of our students.


We concluded the week with a whole-school activity. Students and staff were mixed into small multi-grade level groups called "Dens" to participate in various team-building and fun outdoor activities. The sounds of happiness, cheering, and laughter filled the school grounds.

Throughout the year, we will continue to gather as a whole school and as Dens to engage in projects and learning activities.


I am confident that this year will be filled with growth, learning,

and unforgettable experiences for our students.

Warmly,

Tamara

After School Activities Begin Monday

Boys Soccer Tryouts- Monday

Girls Basketball Tryouts- Monday

Cross Country Informational Meeting - Tuesday


*Please see the district website for more information

Activity Bus Routes

Activity buses are available to middle school students after school and on a limited basis before school. Students who are involved in after-school clubs, sports, and activities may ride the after-school activity bus. There is no charge for the activity bus.


Please review the bus route maps with your student to determine which route serves your neighborhood. Ensure that your student knows their address and can identify the corresponding route number. Our staff will be available on-site to assist students with any questions.

TJMS Activity Bus Maps

Parent Orientation Night

We hope you and your child have had a wonderful start to the 2024-2025 school year!

To continue fostering our Connected Learning Community, we invite you to attend our Parent Orientation on Thursday, September 12, 2023, at 6:00 PM. This event offers an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and learn about the various programs and offerings available at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.

You will have the chance to follow your child's daily learning schedule and hear directly from their teachers about team guidelines and plans for the year. Please plan to arrive at school and proceed to your child's first-period teacher's classroom.


We look forward to welcoming you!

School Safety and Drill Practice

We will begin practicing a safety mindset this week and continue throughout the school year. We typically conduct three fire drills, one shelter-in-place/tornado drill, one lockdown drill, and one bus evacuation drill during the school year. The majority of these safety drills will take place in the first few weeks of September.


Regular safety drills are essential to ensure that all staff and students are familiar with the proper procedures. Many of these drills are observed by the Hoffman Estates Fire and Police Departments. Please reassure your child that these drills are designed to protect all students by providing clear instructions and expectations.

Annual Notice of Drills

Dear Parents and Guardians:

District 15 is strongly committed to school safety. Each year, school are required by by Illinois School Code to conduct the following drills:

  • Three evacuation drills. One of the three evacuation drills must be supervised by the fire department.
  • One bus evacuation drill.
  • One severe weather/shelter-in-place drill.
  • Two law enforcement (lockdown) drills. One of these two law enforcement drills must be a staff initiated lock-down. The schools also conduct an annual drill review meeting with principals and representatives from police and fire departments to continuously improve each school’s readiness to respond to an emergency and/or crisis situation.

House Bill 2400 (The School Safety Drill Act) states:

  • All lockdown drills will be announced to all school personnel and students prior to the commencement of the drill.
  • Schools will provide sufficient information and notification to parents and guardians in advance of any lockdown drill that involves the participation of students.
  • Schools will provide parents and guardians an opportunity to exempt their child for any reason from participating in the walk-through lockdown drill.
  • Schools will provide alternative safety education and instruction related to an active threat or active shooter event to students who do not participate in a walk-through lockdown drill to provide them with essential information, training, and instruction through less sensorial safety training methods.

Building administrators will notify families of upcoming drills at least one week in advance of the drill. During the month of September we will conduct our first lock down drill.


If you prefer your child does NOT participate in the yearly required lockdown drills, please complete this form. Please submit one form for each of your children you are opting out.

MAP Testing

Annual Notice of MAP Test and Testing Windows

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Each year, District 15 students in grades 2 through 8 participate in an academic assessment called the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP). The MAP test measures your child’s achievement in reading and math. Most students complete the MAP in less than 40 minutes. This assessment provides our staff with valuable information that helps in planning instruction and tracking student growth. Students take the MAP twice annually—once in September and again in May. For more detailed information, please visit the District Assessment Calendar on our District 15 website. Ensuring your child is well-rested and prepared for the MAP test can positively impact their performance. To help your child practice for the MAP test, you can visit the MAP practice site at: http://bit.ly/PracticeMAPTest.

The MAP test results help school staff identify each student's reading and math skills, allowing them to tailor instruction to focus on specific areas for improvement. Additionally, the test results are used to monitor your child's academic growth over time. MAP test results from the fall and spring testing periods will be available to parents via the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. These results are typically posted in October and June.

For more information about the MAP test, please contact your child’s teacher or download the MAP Parent Toolkit at https://www.nwea.org/parent-toolkit/.

Sincerely,

Lori Lopez, Ph.D.
Assistant Superintendent, Teaching, Learning, and Assessment

Cell Phone Rules in District 15

As we prepare to welcome students to the new school year, I want to emphasize the importance of creating a focused learning environment for all students. To ensure that our classrooms are conducive to learning, the expectation is that cell phones must be kept powered-off or silenced and out-of-sight during the regular school day. Please review the student-parent handbook for additional details. By following these guidelines, we can create a positive and productive classroom community where students can fully engage in their education.

Attendance Matters: Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

Did you know? Students with perfect attendance are more likely to excel in their studies.
Tip: Reply to the district’s monthly attendance text. Reply with a “Y” to receive detailed information about your student’s attendance. Help us meet our goal of 9 or fewer absences for success!

Upcoming Events

SEPTEMBER

Wednesday, September 11 @ 8:00 PM

PTSA Meeting


Thursday, September 12 @ 6:00

Parent Orientation @ TJMS


Tuesday, September 17 - all day

School Picture Day


Thursday, September 26

1/2 Day, Early Dismissal at 10:30

Principal: Tamara Byrne

byrnet@ccsd15.net

Assistant Principal: Charles Fabrikant

fabrikac@ccsd15.net

Student Services Coordinator: Allison Moe

moea@ccsd15.net

Secretary: Amy Cunningham

cunnina@ccsd15.net

Office Clerical : Cynthia Nicketta

nickettc@ccsd15.net

Nurse: Menka San Pietro

sanpietm@ccsd15.net

Head Custodian: Joe Venegas

venegasj@ccsd15.net

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Tamara Byrne
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