Hello Longhorns,

The first week of the new school year at Dr. John Long Middle School has been exceptional! As we launched into our "Believe 2.0" theme, the energy and enthusiasm were palpable throughout the campus. Our students embraced this first week of school with smiles and enthusiasm.

We hope you’ve had an enjoyable and restful weekend. Here are a few important reminders for the coming week:

*As you know, we are experiencing extreme heat in our area. Students should dress comfortably for warmer temperatures and should bring a water bottle to school to stay hydrated.

*Parents/guardians who use the car loop for pick up and drop off may want to leave a little earlier to avoid the elementary school traffic. In the morning, cars can line up earlier in the interior lane of the loop, and then release students at 8:50 am to go to 1st period. It may help get our traffic out more quickly before the cars are in line for the elementary school. In the afternoon, it may be more beneficial to turn right out of our parking lot to avoid the elementary school all together.

*While driving in the car loop, we ask that parents stay off their phones to ensure safety for the many students who are car riders for arrival and dismissal. Please watch your speed, and pay attention to the directions being given by the staff members working in the car loop for morning and afternoon duty.

*As a reminder, the exterior lane is for through traffic only. The exterior lane is not to be used for students to get in or out of the car this is a huge safety concern.

*Please pull all the way up to the car in front of you. We try to get as many cars through the car loop as safely and and quickly as possible.

*The school road between the JLMS and WRES may NOT be used to drop off or pick up students. This is a safety issue. You may only use the car loop for student drop off and pick up.

*Last week, each grade level Assistant Principal met with the grade level teams to go over our rules and PBIS expectations. (The Pioneers and Broncos will meet with Ms. Briscoe during 1st period on 8/19.) Two things that are different this year: phone usage and dress code. Students may only use their phones before school, after school, or during class when the teacher gives permission for an academic purpose in class. Students should put all devices away as soon as they arrive on campus. Phones should be off or on silent mode and in the students’ backpacks or designated classroom space during class and completely out of view during passing periods. Students’ shirts must have straps and extend to the waist (no halter tops, crop tops, sports bras as tops). Undergarments, including undergarment straps, should not be visible. Bottoms should be long enough to extend clearly pass the buttocks.

We are excited for week two of the school year and to see all of our Longhorns tomorrow. We are also grateful for your continued support, we are very impressed with all of our Longhorns this first week and BELIEVE 2.0 this will be the best year!

With Appreciation,

JLMS Administration

P.S. Keep an eye out for weekly editions of our newsletter via myStudent communication and our social media.

There are two ways to drop off/pick up your student in the AM & PM: pulling up in the interior lane of car loop or parking in a space where students cross in the crosswalk.

*The school road between JLMS & WRES and the street corners at the Ridge may NOT be used to drop off or pick up students. This is a major safety issue.*

IMPORTANT: Parents/Guardians should stay in the interior lane of the car loop closest to the sidewalk and pull all the way forward to the front of the car loop which is located right across from the band room. Students may only exit from the passenger side of the vehicle. Parents may not allow students to exit vehicles in the exterior lane closest to the lot spaces. This is a major safety issue. Parents may also park in the parking lot and walk their child to the crosswalk. A staff member will safely cross your child to the sidewalk. Student drop off begins at 8:50 am.

As we prepare to start the new school year, I want to remind everyone of the importance of

pedestrian safety at the start of the school day and at dismissal. This is especially important this school year, as we expect to have more students walking and riding bikes to school with the elimination of courtesy busing.

If you drive your student to school, please be extra careful in the school zone near our campus.

Students are often in a rush to get to school and they are often distracted, so drivers should

exercise a heightened sense of awareness.

Please join us in reminding your student of some basic rules of pedestrian safety.

•We will not have a crossing guard assigned to our school this year, so our students

should always use the marked crosswalks in front of our school.

• Do not cut between cars that are stopped in front of school.

• Phones should not be used in the car line. Eliminate distractions while crossing the street. Earbuds or earphones should be taken

off. Avoid reading or sending texts while crossing.

• Make eye contact with drivers to ensure that they see you before you cross the street.

With patience and with a commitment to following some simple safety rules drivers, cyclists,

and walkers can get where they need to go safely and on time.

Students should not submit more than one schedule change request or send emails to counselors as it slows down the completion process. We are working diligently to complete schedule change requests as soon as possible. We aim to get schedules corrected or requests addressed as soon as possible and notify you whether or not the change is possible. Thank you so much for your patience.

Rycor via MyStudent Parent Portal Set-Up Steps

Interested in paying for things such as students fees, yearbooks, and field trips online in the comfort of your own home with a credit card?

Then follow the steps below to get started. Your MyStudent Parent Portal is also necessary to view your child’s attendance, progress reports, and report cards.

Rycor is a secure, streamlined system (replacing Acorn) and enables parents to add school purchases to their shopping cart for multiple children at different schools, and complete transactions through the use of a credit card. This does NOT include lunch payments.

Step 1: Set up a MyStudent Parent Portal Account
*In order to use Rycor (see Step 2) you need to give the system 24 hours to link your Parent Portal account to the Rycor system*

Step 2: Student Fees/Rycor (24 hours after initial set up in MyStudent Parent Portal)

• Go to https://www.studentquickpay.com/pasco/
• In the blue Parent Account Activation box, select “Continue”
• Enter the email address associated with your Parent Portal account and select “send email”
• This will generate an email that prompts you to activate your account
• Open your email and click the link
• Continue by creating your password and activating your account
• Once this is completed, you can view fees and items that can be purchased

Please note, this will NOT change the process for putting funds on your student’s meal account. In order to do so you will still go through MySchool Bucks.

Step 3: Ready to Use

• Sign into your MyStudent Parent Portal

Example of what you will see when you sign in:

You will then sign into Rycor, using the e-mail address associated with your MyStudent
Parent Portal account

• Select your child’s name from the tab next to the summary tab
• Scroll down to additional items and select the item you are wanting to pay for
• Follow check out directions (very similar to online shopping)

Save the date for some scrumptious spirit events!

8/27 Culver’s

9/15 Texas Roadhouse

10/23 Twistee Treat

11/19 Five Guys

12/17 Bubba’s 33

All enrolled students of Pasco County Schools are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge to their household for the 2023-2024 school year. No further action is required. Each student(s) will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit a meal application.

Food & Nutrition Services will continue to process Directly Certified (SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, Homeless, Migrant) students. These families will get a letter stating their Directly Certified status of free or reduced. This letter will not have any bearing on their meal cost for the 2023-2024 school year. However, this letter can be provided by the parent if they would like to see if they are eligible for other benefits (i.e. testing fee waivers).

A la Carte items including vending machines will still be available for purchase including additional meals and/or components of the meals.

Families can reach out to Food & Nutrition Services directly through Lets Talk, call FNS at 813.794.2480, or email FNS_Finance@pasco.k12.fl.us if they have any questions regarding this new program.

Website: https://jlms.pasco.k12.fl.us/
Location: 2025 Mansfield Boulevard, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543, USA
Phone: (813) 346-6200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJohnLongMiddleSchool
Twitter: @JLMSlonghorns