Jasper Elementary School
January 10, 2024
Translation/Traducción
Si necesita traducir este párrafo, haga clic en el botón traducir en la parte superior de la página y elija el idioma de su elección.
A Day in the Life of a Kindergarten
Kindergarten Registration!! Be a part of the JES family!
Pre-Kindergarten Registration Information
The Pre-Kindergarten Registration is different from our Kindergarten Registration. This is a one day event from 5:30 - 6:30 on Wednesday, January 10. Spots are limited and will be filled in the order that calls are received. Please continue to call until you get through. There is no in-person registration. We will only be taking phone calls. Translators will be available.
A follow-up in person registration for families who have secured spots we scheduled for January 29, 2024.
HUGE Honor for GJCS Preschool
Preschool programs at Ireland and Jasper Elementary School have been named NAEYC Accredited Preschool Programs.
NAEYC Accreditation helps parents find the best possible early childhood experience for children. After an extensive application process, skilled and reliable NAEYC program assessors visit each program to determine that it is meeting NAEYC standards. Using NAEYC tools and materials, preschool programs are continuously improving their programs to provide the best possible education opportunities for children.
Ireland and Jasper Elementary School are the ONLY school based preschool program in the state of Indiana to receive this distinguished honor.
The classrooms of Mrs. Mindy Sendelweck and Mrs. Jordan Beach were chosen to be observed. The notes from the observation included that there was "high quality adult/child interactions seen throughout the observation period. Communication among staff members was strong and effective."
Mrs. Angie Sander, preschool teacher at Jasper Elementary School, commented "Thank you to everybody's role in ensuring the preschool children within GJCS have the highest quality preschool around!"
To learn more about NAEYC Accreditation, and read about the standards, visit https://www.naeyc.org
A note from the Jasper High School Athletic Director
While Jasper Athletics is truly appreciative of the support that it gets at all home athletic events, we do strive to make the games a great environment for all fans to enjoy the game. With that being said, we have begun to have more of a problem with kids running around the upper concourse, running in the hallways, running in the cafeteria, or being in the aux gym and not in their seats. Elementary school and middle school students are required to sit in sections FF through JJ if they are not sitting with their parents. We absolutely want kids to be at the game, to be loud, and support our Wildcats, but we are asking them to do this from the confines of their assigned seats.
Thanks you, and GO WILDCATS!
Popcorn Friday on January 12
Popcorn Friday: Grades K-5
This Friday, January 12th, students in grades K-5 may enjoy a bag of popcorn for $0.50 during first recess. Please send in $0.50 (exact change or $1.00 to buy a bag for a friend) with your child BY THURSDAY if he/she wants to enjoy some freshly popped popcorn on Friday. All proceeds will go toward JES family nights.
A Note From Dr. Lorey Concerning Delays and Cancellations
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The winter season is upon us. Our district staff understands that our decision to delay or close schools in bad weather has a big effect on families. We also understand that our students are better served-both academically and socially by being in school. However, our top priority is the safety of our students.
HOW DO WE MAKE OUR DECISION?
Please understand that we make the decision to delay or close school in bad weather based on a careful analysis of relevant factors such as:
- Information on road conditions from transportation staff and from police. We must give careful consideration to the most dangerous roads in the district. Even if your street looks clear, travel elsewhere in the district may be dangerous. Also, we must consider that some high school students drive to school.
- Amount of snow and ice accumulated.
- Whether precipitation is continuing.
- Building conditions (such as whether we have electricity and heat).
- Parking lot conditions. Administrators talk to maintenance and custodial staff members who are responsible for clearing and treating school parking lots and sidewalks.
- Temperature and wind chill. Please remember that some of our students walk to school and some must wait outside for the bus.
- Weather predictions. We prefer not making our decision based on weather predictions, which are not always accurate, but sometimes this is unavoidable.
- What other school districts are doing. We also share information with other local districts and check whether they are delaying or closing.
WHO MAKES THE DECISION?
As superintendent of schools, I am responsible for the final decision, based on the above factors and recommendations from other sources.
GJCS Digital Magazine
JES Wants You!
Are you tired of working a job that doesn't make an impact in people's lives? Do you want to know that you can help a child be his/her best? Do you wish someone would appreciate your skills and dedication? Well look no further! Jasper Elementary School has positions available for employment as instructional assistants or cooks at this time. To make things easier for you to apply, you just snap a picture of the QR code below.
ATTENTION- STARTING JANUARY OF 2024, THE GREATER JASPER CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS WILL RAISE THEIR STARTING RATE TO $13 AN HOUR.
Enroll in our Raise Right gift card program
How to Get Started
Start by going to www.RaiseRight.com, and click the “Sign Up” button in the top right hand corner.
From there, select the option to start a new program.
Use the new enrollment code: 21D72BFL8978
The next PTO meeting will be held on Jan 17th at 6:00 PM in the library.
Substitutes Needed
Short on Time, But Long on Caring
Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools are building their substitute teacher lists. Even if you have one or two days per week available, you can help students by being included on our substitute list. You can choose which days you work and which days you don’t work. Knowing that you can balance your active lifestyle and still contribute to the development of our youth. If you would like to get the process started, contact April Hopf at the GJCS central office by calling 812-482-1801. Help us keep the “Great” in Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools.
I Don't Have Any Homework!
Never ask your child if he/she has homework again. Instead just ask, "What do you have for homework other than reading and Rocket Math?"
We are asking each child to complete a session of Rocket Math daily as homework. This can be accessed on home computers, tablets, and cell phones. We encourage you to take an active interest in the progress of your child on the program by asking questions such as:
- What level are you on?
- How far did you get tonight?
- How close are you to winning a certificate?
- How close are you to getting a brag tag?
Also, every night your child will be assigned fifteen minutes of reading engagement. We realize that many children have varying abilities and focus challenges so we encourage you to try some of the following strategies to engage your child in reading:
- Child reads aloud to a sibling, stuffed animal, or pet.
- Child reads aloud to a parent.
- Child reads chorally with the parent to build pace and fluency.
- Child and parent take turns reading.
- Parent reads to a child and discuss what is read.
We hope that this answers the age old question, "Do you have any homework?", once and for all. We also hope that this helps to build a common expectation between home and school for children will embrace as doubly important.
Volunteer/Background Checks
If you would be interested in volunteering or being a chaperone on a field trip, we must have a background check on file. By clicking on the link below, you will be able to fill out a background check. These will last for 5 years or while your child is at JES. It does take some time to process these, so start early so you are able to volunteer or chaperone.
When it comes to volunteers, each classroom is different on the number of volunteers needed. Each classroom teacher will be communicating if they are needing volunteers to help in the classrooms. When it comes to chaperones on field trips, it will be up to each grade level and classroom teacher as to how many chaperones are allowed to follow the bus. Some of the places we take trips to limit the number of chaperones we are allowed to take.
https://greater-jasper-consolidated-schools-vol.school-background-checks.com/
Menus on the Sodexo App
To see breakfast menus, lunch menus, and more, download the So Happy app by Sodexo, available on the App Store and Google Play!
Breakfast and Lunch Information
We have had some students who have been eating more than one breakfast. This is not an issue. We wanted everyone to be aware that the first breakfast is free. However, if a student comes in and gets a second breakfast, they will be charged for it.
January Lunch and Breakfast Menu
Lunch is $2.25 for students each day. If your child runs low on funds, you can a check or cash with your child. You may also utilize My School Bucks to add money to their account.
January
Important Information!
School hours are 8:00AM -3:00PM. Students can arrive starting at 7:15AM. Students may not be dropped off prior to 7:15 AM. If you bring your child to school after 8:00 AM, you must escort them to the front doors.
Please see nurse Hannah Peltier for prescription medicine intake. All medicine must be accompanied by a parent and include a physician’s prescription. Students are not allowed to transport medicine to school.
VERY IMPORTANT- If your child's transportation changes, please notify the office with a note ASAP.
Upgrade Healthy Snack Ideas for Recess and Classroom Celebrations
Jasper Elementary allows healthy food choices for recess and classroom celebrations. A list of smart snacks can be found below. There are many other healthy food choices in addition to this list. Please be mindful when providing snacks.
Do you have children in multiple schools? Choose one of these! Just search GREATER JASPER to see all the options!
Community Events
YMCA Afterschool Program
Screen Time
Looking for healthy guidelines for your kids' screen time? Below is the link that explains, supports, and empathizes with the real life challenges parents face when it comes to managing devices in this digital era.