JMS Weekly Update
February 18, 2024
Dear JMS Families,
This week's Update contains information about the following:
- PBIS Tuesday Tech!
- PJAS Winners!
- JMS International Night
- Rapid Assessment for Adolescent Prevention Services (RAAPS) - 7th & 8th Grade
- Schoology Tip for Students
Take Care,
Dr. Sarah Shaw, Principal
Mrs. Amanda Jackson, Assistant Principal
Weekly Schedule
Monday - No School
Tuesday - Day 2
Wednesday - Day 3
Thursday - Day 4
Friday - Day 5
Monday (2/26) - Day 1
New News
PBIS - Tuesday Tech
Families, our students have been challenged to work together as a team to showcase TAKE CARE behaviors and earn at least 100 Take Care Tickets between 2/6 and 2/20. Any team that earned 100 or more tickets will have their Tuesday Talk turned into Tuesday Tech on 2/20. At this time, students will be permitted to play games on their phones, tablets, laptops, chromebooks, handheld gaming devices, VR headsets, etc. Students are welcome to bring these tech devices from home at your discretion and at their own risk. Students are expected to have any phone/gaming device brought from home placed in their locked locker with the exception of the time they are in Tuesday Talk. Tuesday Talk will last about 20 minutes.
The following teams have earned Tuesday Tech:
- Twisters (6)
- Wildfire (6)
- Stars (7)
- Thunderbolts (7)
PJAS Winners
Congratulations to 8th graders Claire Raff and Annelise Mayer and 7th grader Alaina Raff for earning first place recognitions at the recent Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science regional competition at Baldwin High School!
- Claire Raff (8th grade ) took home a first place award in physics for her project The Effect of Covering up the Bell of a Horn.
- Alaina Raff (7th grade) received a first place for her project Pesticides on Plants in the botany category.
- Annelise Mayer (8th grade) earned a first place award in chemistry for her project titled Rates of Absorption for Common Materials.
These students will move on to the PJAS state competition at Penn State University this May.
The Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science is a statewide organization of junior and senior high school students designed to stimulate and promote interest in science among its members through the development of research projects and investigations. Over 450 students competed from both Allegheny and Westmoreland counties this year.
JMS International Night
Thursday, February 29, 2024
6:00pm- 8:00pm
Jefferson Middle School Gym and Auditorium
Join us for a wonderful celebration of our school’s diversity. Families can signup to host a table and share their country’s traditions, culture, food, and costumes. There will be basket raffles, additional food for sale, and a variety of live performances in the auditorium. We are looking forward to a fabulous night! Presale for admission will begin in the coming week, a limited amount of wristbands will be sold at the door. You won’t want to miss this!
Click here to HOST A TABLE
Click here to DONATE to our snack table
Click here to DONATE to our raffle baskets
Informational flyers will be sent home this week
If you have any questions please contact Marisa Hupe
7th & 8th Grade Families - Rapid Assessment for Adolescent Prevention Screening (RAAPS)
As parents you are well aware that the physical and mental health of young people plays a key role in their ability to succeed in school, have rewarding relationships with family members and friends, and lead productive and happy lives. Jefferson Middle School is committed to work with you, not only to educate your children, but also to ensure that they reach their full potential outside of the classroom. To that end, we are offering families of 7 and 8th grade students the opportunity to have their teens participate in a wellness check-up utilizing the Rapid Assessment for Adolescent Prevention Services (RAAPS).
Below you will find all the necessary information regarding this program. We hope you will take advantage of this confidential check up.
Reminders
Attendance is a crucial component to school success for students. We have noticed an increase in students being tardy to school in the morning. Students are expected to be in homerooms by 8:00. If students are tardy without an excuse 3 times within a semester, they are given a warning letter. For each additional 3 unexcused tardies they accumulate after the warning letter, they will be assigned an after-school detention. Thank you for your assistance in ensuring that students start their day off on the right track.
Please review the attendance flyer for additional information about school attendance.
Technology
Students in grades 6-8 are required to bring a non-cell phone device with them to school every day. If you would like to borrow a device for your student in grades 6-8, you can submit a request to borrow one from the District on this page.
This page is also where you can report a problem/damage to your student's District-owned device using our form. This page also explains and provides a link to enroll in the District's annual Equipment Protection Plan (EPP) to limit any charges that might come from accidental damage to your student's District-owned device. This plan is optional and is not required.
Athletics
You can learn everything you need to know about Middle School Athletics, including starting dates, by visiting the MS Athletics Webpage.
JMS PTA Information
PTA Membership and DIrectory Access
JMS PTA Membership Toolkit is now open for the coming 2023-2024 school year.
A portion of your membership and donations help support these various activities and events...the school musical, Canteen Day, Staff Welcome Back Breakfast, Field Trips and class enrichment, teacher appreciation, writing celebration, supplies for the nurses office, 8th grade end of the year celebration, 8th grade career day, high notes festival, art all day, Veterans Day, international night, assemblies, and much more!
In addition, last school year the PTA was able to purchase a new water bottle filler and picnic table for the courtyard!
Directory access is available to JMS PTA members only.
Resources for Families
Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” BEFORE it is too late. With Safe2Say Something, it’s easy and confidential to report safety concerns to help prevent violence and tragedies.
Here’s how it works:
- Submit a report through the Safe2SaySomething system
- Crisis center reviews, assesses and processes all submissions
- Crisis center sends all submissions to school administration and/or law enforcement for intervention
- If needed, crisis center may contact tipster anonymously through the app
Children need healthy meals to learn, so the Mt. Lebanon School District is committed to offer healthy meals every school day for our students. For the 2023-2024 school year, breakfast is free for all students; lunch costs $2.65 for elementary students and $2.80 for middle school and high school students. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals. Reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch. Click the link below for free or reduced price meal benefits, and a set of detailed instructions to help you apply.
You can also apply for free and reduced meals online via the state's COMPASS portal.
The MTLSD School Counselors in partnership with The Allegheny Children's Initiative Inc., have compiled a list of social services resources that may be helpful to you and your family. Please take a look and reach out to these organizations. They are here to help with any of the following:
- Food
- Rent/Mortgage
- Utilities
- Pets
- Abuse
- Mental Health
- General Assistance
Jefferson Middle School
The Jefferson Middle School learning community has an exceptional reputation for its dedicated teachers, staff and parents working together to provide learning experiences for our children that include high expectations, a challenging curriculum and a shared commitment to provide the best education possible for each and every student.
Website: https://jms.mtlsd.org/
Location: 21 Moffett Street, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Phone: (412) 344-2167
Facebook: facebook.com/jmslebo
Twitter: @JMSMTLSD