JWMS Student Support Information

Our students recognize the Bighorn PRIDE Expectations:

Be Prepared

Be Responsible

Have Integrity

Be Disciplined

Strive for Excellence

All around campus, our students honor our Bighorn PRIDE. Throughout the year, they are taught and reminded of what PRIDE looks like all around school.

Students are recognized for honoring these expectations in various ways, including earning prizes in the PBIS Rewards Store, Student of the Month Recognition, Do the Right Thing awards, and team bonding activities.

JWMS is the proud home of three counselors. Mr. Griffith is our 6th grade counselor, Mr. Salinas is our 7th grade counselor, and Mrs. Guzman is our 8th grade counselor. Counselors follow their students from one grade to the next: your student will have the same counselor for all three years.

Our counseling office offers various supports for all of our students' needs. Below are just a few of the services available:

• Counseling Groups
• Conflict Resolution
• Personal Counseling
• Academic Counseling
• Positive Peer Relationships
• Classroom/Social Emotional Lessons

Parents, students, and teachers may request an appointment by clicking here. We encourage you to visit our counselors' website by clicking here to learn all about their services.

This year, we are excited to welcome legendary basketball coach John Wooden's Pyramid of Success program to James Workman. Each month, our students participate in activities that support them as they explore and grow in areas including poise, confidence, self-control, and loyalty. Students get to hear and interact with celebrity athletes through virtual assemblies.

James Workman Middle School provides mental health services for our students. Having a mental health provider at school offers several benefits for students, including:

• Early intervention: Mental health concerns can be identified and addressed sooner, preventing potential academic and social difficulties.
• Increased access: Students can receive help without leaving school, reducing barriers to care.
• Reduced stigma: The presence of a mental health provider can help normalize mental health discussions.
• Improved academic performance: Addressing mental health issues can lead to better focus, attendance, and overall academic success.
• Enhanced social skills: Mental health providers can help students develop healthy coping mechanisms and improve relationships with peers.

Parents may request this support for our students by emailing aloera@psusd.us. Support referrals may be completed by clicking here.

JWMS is home to staff members who are trained in Restorative Practices. Restorative Practices are a set of techniques used in schools to address conflict, build community, and promote positive behavior. Here's a brief overview:

• Circle Meetings: These are small group discussions where everyone has an equal voice. They are used to build community, resolve conflicts, and make decisions.
• Restorative Justice Conferences: These are meetings between a harmed person, a person who has caused harm, and their supporters. The goal is to repair the harm caused and rebuild relationships.
• Peer Mediation: Students are trained to help resolve conflicts between their peers.
• Positive School Climate: Restorative practices help create a positive and supportive school environment where students feel safe, connected, and valued.

By focusing on repairing harm and rebuilding relationships, restorative practices can help reduce disciplinary issues, improve academic performance, and create a more inclusive and supportive school community. Through Restorative Practices, we have been able to reduce, even eliminate conflict amongst students.

Students who have received disciplinary measures for their actions, particularly for fighting or substance issues, are enrolled in an on-site program to address their particular behavior. They must complete a series of sessions on proper response to conflict or for substance use. Parents are informed of the classes upon being informed of their student's actions.

Reporting Bullying: Students, parents, and educational partners can report bullying and other concerns through our online reporting system, Sprigeo. Reporters may do so anonymously at any time. Click here to submit a report. You may also find the link on the JWMS Website.

Report Social Media Concerns:

How Parents Can Report Cyberbullying

1. Gather Evidence:

• Screenshots: Take screenshots of any harmful messages, images, or videos.

  
  

• Dates and Times: Note the specific dates and times when the cyberbullying occurred.
• Platform: Identify the social media platform, app, or website where the bullying is taking place.

  
  

2. Contact the Platform:

• Report Feature: Most platforms have a built-in reporting feature. Follow the platform's guidelines to report the incident.
• Terms of Service: Refer to the platform's terms of service to understand their policies on bullying and harassment.

  
  

3. Inform School Officials:

• School Administrators/Counselors: If the cyberbullying is related to school activities or affecting your child's academic performance, inform the school counselor.

4. Contact Law Enforcement:

• Serious Threats: If the cyberbullying involves threats of violence or illegal activity, contact your local law enforcement agency.

5. Educate Your Child:

• Online Safety: Teach your child about online safety practices, including the importance of not sharing personal information and being cautious about who they interact with online.

Remember: It's essential to take cyberbullying seriously and to document the incidents to strengthen your case if further action is necessary.

By following these steps, parents can help protect their children from online harassment and ensure their safety and well-being.

Technology and social media use is on the rise. With that come more opportunities for students to engage in inappropriate use of their devices. Below are some ways to help your student be a responsible digital citizen:

1. Open Communication:

• Talk to Your Child: Have open and honest conversations with your child about their online activities, the importance of online safety, and the potential risks associated with excessive smartphone use.
• Set Expectations: Establish clear expectations for smartphone use, including screen time limits and appropriate content.

2. Educate Your Child:

• Digital Citizenship: Teach your child about digital citizenship, responsible online behavior, and the dangers of sharing personal information.
• Cyberbullying: Educate your child about the dangers of cyberbullying and encourage them to report any incidents.

3. Use Parental Controls:

• Device Settings: Explore the parental control features available on your child's device to set limits on screen time, app usage, and content restrictions.
• Family Link or Apple Family Sharing: Consider using tools like Google Family Link or Apple Family Sharing to monitor your child's online activity and set restrictions.

4. Be Involved:

• Show Interest: Show genuine interest in your child's online activities and the apps they use.
• Learn Together: Learn about popular social media platforms and apps so you can better understand your child's online experiences.

5. Seek Professional Help:

• Mental Health Concerns: If you have concerns about your child's mental health or well-being, seek professional help from a therapist or counselor.

Remember, the goal is to foster a safe and supportive environment for your child, not to invade their privacy. By building trust and having open communication, you can help your child develop healthy online habits and stay safe online.

Here are a few ways. to connect with us:

• JWMS Website: Visit our website for important information and events.
• Parent Square: Parent Square is a valuable platform to keep up to date with your student's classes and school goings-on. We also use Parent Square to send emails and text messages. It is important that your keep the lines of communication open by ensuring that your email and text messaging is open to receive our messages.
• Email: Click the link to the left to access email addresses for our staff. Please keep in mind that while we make every effort to return emails and phone calls in a timely manner, staff members may be out of the office for a variety of reasons. If you need assistance in getting timely information to a staff member, you may email jwmsinfo@psusd.us.
• Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.