Dear PJMS Families,

We are hosting a school-wide holiday dinner on December 13th. This dinner might be the only holiday meal that some of our students receive. It is a special way for us to all come together and be thankful for our awesome school community! We are so grateful for the donations of turkey and ham that we have received, we have reached our goal for meats! If you would like to bring in pie, cookies, bars, or even whipped topping, we would greatly appreciate those contributions as well. Thank you for helping us celebrate PJMS!

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child's education. Have a wonderful and safe Winter Break! School resumes on January 6, 2025!

Mr. Geagel

December 4: Wacky Wednesday: Camo Day!

December 4: 6th Boys BB game @ HMS

December 5: 6th Girls BB game @ PJMS

December 5: Speech competition @ CMS

December 11: Wacky Wednesday Cartoon Character Day

December 11: 6th Girls BB game @ WMS

December 12: 6th Boys BB game @ CMS

December 12: Winter Concert @ 7PM in Cafeteria

December 13: School-wide Holiday Meal @ 10:30

December 17: 6th Girls BB game @ TMS

December 18: Wacky Wednesday Inside/out backwards Day!

December 18: 6th Boys BB game @ PJMS

December 19: LAST DAY OF SEMESTER 1 for students

December 20: Teacher workday NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS!

January 6: BACK TO SCHOOL FOR SEMESTER 2!

PJMS supports Mat-Su Special Santa! We will have our tree in the lobby decorated with SS tags, come in and pick one or more tags off our tree and help make a local family's Christmas more special! You can leave the unwrapped gift, with the tag attached, during PJMS office hours 7AM-3PM. Thank you!

The Mat-Su Special Santa program was founded in 1997 and has helped over 50,000 Mat-Su children from newborns to age 18 with Christmas gifts. We are a program of Alaska Family Services, a 501c3 Non-Profit, and a partner with the Toys 4 Tots program.

Our goal is to help spread joy and the magic of Christmas by providing families in need with Christmas presents for their children as well as bringing the community together with volunteer opportunities in the workshop and fundraising events.

We wish you a very happy Holiday Season!
-The Elves

The results from the Spring 2024 AK STAR and Alaska Science administration are now available for you to view in ParentVUE if your child tested in Mat-Su in spring 2024. Directions on how to view these reports are attached as well as the Family Guide to Assessment Reports. If your child tested in another district in Alaska in spring 2024, you will need to contact the previous district for results.

• How to view AK STAR & Alaska Science Individual Student Reports in ParentVUE
• Family Guide: AK STAR Assessment Reports, Spring 2024
• Family Guide: Alaska Science Assessment Reports, Spring 2024

Students have their Chromebooks assigned, and these Chromebooks are issued to your student for multiple years. It is important for your student to take care of their device. If there are issues with your student's Chromebook, please have them see Mrs. Roberts in the library for assistance.

On the front of each Chromebook is a QR Code that can be scanned for resources relating to the device.

Students may decorate their Chromebook CASE ONLY! The cases should remain on the Chromebook AT ALL TIMES.

More information will be forthcoming regarding lost or damaged Chromebook charges.

Did you know you can monitor and block websites your student is accessing on their Chromebook? Check out our GoGuardian app and see if it is a good fit for you. Our teachers and staff use GoGuardian during our school day to monitor and restrict access to websites needed for learning.

This is a chance for you to be able to track your student's use of their device after school hours and on weekends.

Please reach out to Mrs. Roberts at PJMS if you have any further questions.

Each student is provided with a Chromebook to enhance their learning in the MSBSD. Students in middle school are responsible to keep their Chromebooks in good working order and bring them to school each and every day. Please review the following link that has all of the information regarding student devices including responsible use, taking care of the device, daily expectations, lost/stolen/damaged devices, and Chromebook use/tips.

https://www.matsuk12.us/programs/msbsd-tech-information/student-devices

Attached below is the One to One Parent/Student Handbook that can also answer questions, including applicable charges relating to Chromebook damage. Please email Mrs. Roberts (stacy.roberts@matsuk12.us) with questions regarding Chromebooks.

Big Teams sports registration is required to participate in sports at PJMS. This includes a current physical, physicals are considered valid for 18 months.

Athletic fees are assigned towards the end of the first week of practice. Access your students sports fee through ParentVue.

Volleyball for 7/8 grade girls begins on January; 6th grade volleyball happens in March.

Wrestling for ALL grades and genders begins in January as well.

Look for more information about JNYO (Junior Native Youth Olympics) and Track and Field in February.

If you have questions, contact Mrs. Shelton, Sabrina.shelton@matsuk12.us

Monday: D&D

Tuesday: Marksmanship, BOB, Walking club, Chess club, Study Hall

Wednesday: Ham Radio, Walking club, Weightlifting, Study Hall

Thursday: Marksmanship, Walking club, Study Hall

Friday: None

District Parent and Family Engagement Handbook

What is Title 1?

Spring 2024 AK STAR and Alaska Science Reports

The results from the Spring 2024 AK STAR and Alaska Science administration are now available for you to view in ParentVUE if your child tested in Mat-Su in spring 2024. Directions on how to view these reports are attached as well as the Family Guide to Assessment Reports. If your child tested in another district in Alaska in spring 2024, you will need to contact the previous district for results.

• How to view AK STAR & Alaska Science Individual Student Reports in ParentVUE
• Family Guide: AK STAR Assessment Reports, Spring 2024
• Family Guide: Alaska Science Assessment Reports, Spring 2024

Students who received Free/Reduced lunch need to re-apply, their benefits have expired on September 29th. This includes all students from previous schools who were getting lunches for all their students. (i.e. Sherrod). Please reaaply so your student will continue to receive breakfast and lunchs free or reduced otherwise, students will be charged for breakfasts and lunches.

Families who qualify for Migrant Education benefits and receive free lunch and breakfast should still fill out the Free or Reduced Lunch application. Having everyone fill out the application helps PJMS receive funding that supports our after school programming, regular family events, and various other programs that enhance opportunities for students.

If you are interested in finding out more information about Migrant Education benefits, click here.

MILITARY AND FAMILY LIFE COUNSELING PROGRAM

The Military and Family Life Counselor (MFLC) Program is designed to support service members, their families, and school communities in managing the unique challenges of military life. Here are some key points about the program:

Services Offered

• Non-Medical Support: MFLCs provide short-term, non-medical counseling to help with issues like adjusting to new schools, deployments, parent-child communication, and bullying1.
• Confidentiality: Services are private and confidential, with no records maintained. However, MFLCs are mandated reporters for situations involving harm, domestic violence, child abuse, neglect, or illegal activities2.
• Specialized Support: MFLCs are licensed clinicians who specialize in issues related to the highly mobile and stressful nature of military life2.

Areas of Assistance

MFLCs can help with:

• Communication and conflict resolution
• Self-esteem and self-confidence
• Anger management
• School adjustment
• Deployment and separation
• Reunion adjustment
• Behavioral concerns
• Fear, grief, and loss2

Availability

In the Anchorage and Matanuska-Susitna Borough school districts, MFLCs serve schools based on the number of military-connected students. For example, Tish Arnold is the MFLC for PJMS and several other schools, and she can be called upon by any military family within the district2

To be eligible children need to be of active duty or service member needs to be separated or retired within 180 days and not receiving counseling services elsewhere for the same issue.

Consent forms must be signed.

If you have any specific questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!

Tish Arnold

Military & Family Life Counselor

907-390-9369

Tish.Arnold@leidos.com

Please see attached information regarding our Updated Dress Code Policy.

Please pay attention to the yellow curb markings on S. Chugach Street and do NOT park there! Also, DO NOT park in front of the flagpole where there are red markings! That is for emergency vehicles only. When dropping off/picking up your student in the drop off lane, please pull all the way forward, toward the second set of doors to keep traffic flowing and running smoothly. Thank you for your help keeping our students safe and helping traffic move more efficiently.

Please make sure that bus passes are completed by 1 PM! If you have any questions please feel free to call PJMS at 761-4300.

When your student is going to miss school, there are several options available to report their absences. You can enter it on ParentVUE yourself, where it is automatically accepted up until 8am. This method only works, if it's before 8am. After that time, please email PJM@matsuk12.us with your students information.

PJMS is locked down during the hours of 8:00-2:30pm. To increase security at PJMS, has a doorbell entry system has been added to help secure the building during school hours. This system will keep the front doors locked during school instructional time so that we can help to keep the campus secure to provide added safety for students and staff.

The doors will be open as normal before school starts and after school is out for the day but once the instructional day begins (at 9 am on Monday and at 8 am on Tuesday - Friday) this new system will be activated, and the front doors will be locked. The door will remain locked until school is over for the day at 2:30 pm. To gain entry to the building, you only need to ring the doorbell and an office staff member will answer the doorbell and let you in. The doorbell is equipped with a video camera so that office staff can see the person(s) requesting entry and unlock the door for those granted access.

Mondays

A Lunch: 10:44 – 11:14 am

B Lunch: 11:33 – 12:03 pm

Tuesdays-Fridays

A Lunch: 10:35 – 11:05 am

B Lunch: 11:28 – 11:58 pm

If you would like to volunteer in our school,

Please contact Sabrina Shelton for classroom and activities

907-761-4303

The school Nurses if you have availability:

Kathy Voran RN: kathy.voran@matsuk12.us

Robin Waldvogle-Kemp RN: robin.waldvogle-kemp@matsuk12.us

907-761-4309

There are some changes here at PJMS this year, and we wanted to remind you of some basic housekeeping items that help the year run smoother:

• Students are not allowed any drinks (Aside from Water) in the hallways. Drinks are only allowed in the Cafeteria.
• If students are leaving early, they need to be picked up prior to 2:00 pm.
• Lost and Found (located in the lobby near the cafeteria) is emptied WEEKLY, so please make a plan to check it often for your student's items.
• Chromebooks and chargers need to be sent to school DAILY. We are not issuing spare computers or chargers this year.
• Front doors are locked at 8:00 am, so please ensure your student is dropped off before 8. Dropping students off later disrupts class time.
• Check ParentVue weekly to help your student stay caught up this year.
• Please do not park in the Pull Through. If you need to park, please park in the main lot and enter the building to pick up your student.

Have you ever felt like you needed to help your student with homework but didn't know how? Here is a FREE resource to all Alaska students and families that gives access to live tutors to help in ALL subjects!

To access the Live Homework Help, students need to log into their Student Quick Links Clever account. Then students should open SLED. From there, click on Live Homework Help and get connected to a live tutor!

Contact Mrs. Roberts if you need more help with accessing this FREE resource!

stacy.roberts@matsuk12.us

Help us earn money that will be used to support all of our students.

Signing up is easy!

1. Download the Box Tops for Education App.

2. Choose a log in method.

3. Choose PJMS as the school to support.

4. Fill out some basic info about yourself to create your account.

5. Enter referral code: WZ2K45EL

6. Shop!

7. Scan your receipt!

8. Start earning cash for PJMS!

Palmer Junior Middle School is part of the Fred Meyer Community Rewards Program.

To Use the Fred Meyer Community Rewards Program:
Simply visit https://www.fredmeyer.com. Once logged into your Fred Meyer account you can search for Palmer Junior Middle School either by name or BJ629 and then click Enroll. New users will need to create an account which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a rewards card.

*Customers must have a registered Fred Meyer rewards card account to link to your organization.
*If a member does not yet have a Fred Meyer rewards card, please know they are available at the customer service desk at any Fred Meyers.

Email: pjm@matsuk12.us
Website: https://www.matsuk12.us/pjm
Location: 1159 South Chugach Street, Palmer, AK, USA
Phone: 907-761-4300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PJMSMOOSE