News and events - December 15, 2023
Trimester 2 Conference Information
Make your visit even smoother:
- Reserve your spot early! Scheduling opens December 18, and some teacher slots fill up quickly. Don't wait until conference night!
- Choose your style: Select "in-person" or "virtual" conferences through My Conference Time.
- Plan your route: Staff will be holding conferences from their classrooms. Consider scheduling appointments by grade level or building location to cut down on travel time.
- Need help? No worries! If you haven't booked your slots before conference night, stop by the Main Office, and we'll be happy to assist you.
Remember: Early scheduling equals more options! Secure your conference time with your student's teachers through My Conference Time starting December 18. For any questions or help signing up, call 763-506-5331.
2024-2025 Registration Information
Middle School Registration
Current 6th and 7th grade students will be receiving registration information and paperwork during advisory class on Thursday, January 4. They will see a video in advisory class on Friday, January 5, explaining the elective choices that they have for next year. Please take some time to talk with your student about the classes they are choosing for next year. 6th and 7th graders should complete their registration sheet and return it to their advisory teacher by Wednesday, January 10. If you have any questions about the registration process, please reach out to one of the JMS school counselors.
More information about middle school registration can be found on the Jackson Middle School registration website.
High School Registration
Current 8th grade students will be receiving a high school registration worksheet and course guide booklet in advisory class on Thursday, December 21. Champlin Park HS will also be presenting registration information to all 8th grade advisories on December 21. Please take some time over winter break to talk with your student about the classes they are choosing for next year. On January 5, the Champlin Park HS counselors will be hosting a virtual Q&A session during advisory for students to receive more information and clarity about the classes they are choosing. On January 10, CPHS counselors will be in JMS math classrooms helping students complete their registration on StudentVue. If you have any questions about high school registration, you can attend the IB Program information meeting on Thursday, January 4, or the CPHS open house night on Tuesday, January 9.
More information about high school registration can be found at the Champlin Park HS registration website.
Extended and Excessive Absences
This is an informational tool to understand extended and excessive absences. Families have an important role in ensuring that their students are able to access learning opportunities and understand why attendance is necessary for success in school.
For a variety of reasons, families may need or be considering excessive school absences for their child/ren. Reasons can include, but are not limited to travel, international travel, family support obligation–care for illness or bereavement, seasonal or agricultural employment.
Important Information
Extended Absences: Students who are absent for 15 consecutive days are withdrawn from enrollment.
Excessive Absences: Students who are absent 10% or more of the school year (about 1-2 days a month).
Parents have the right to withdraw their students from school and enroll them in another academic setting. Under compulsory education laws, children are required to attend school. Students are reported to the county if:
they are withdrawn from school without any notification from the family and not enrolled at another school.
they have excessive absences.
Upon returning to Anoka-Hennepin Schools, you will be asked to provide student records from the previous school or academic setting.
Extended and excessive absences impact student development. Students may:
fall behind academically due to missing instructional time.
experience challenges with learning and academic growth.
miss opportunities to build relationships with other students and school staff.
be at a higher risk of not graduating or not graduating on time.
express misbehavior and emotional distress (anxiety, frustration, nervousness, sadness to adjust to school).
Family Considerations for Extended and Excessive Absences
Know your child’s academic skills and performance.
Grade-level proficiency in core subjects
MCA and MAP test score indicators
Child/ren’s ability to maintain or regain academic skills after missing instruction.
Elementary students (grade K-5) may need to repeat a grade depending on their academic achievement and grade-level proficiency.
Elementary and middle school students (grade 6-8) do not have the opportunity to recover missed learning.
High school students (grade 9-12) have opportunities to earn credits. Credit is what students receive upon completing a class with a passing grade. Students will receive full or partial credit for a class depending on their date of enrollment during a trimester. To recover missed credits, students can:
participate in credit recovery through summer school/targeted services.
request to be assessed on district course standards through the Credit by Assessment (CbA) process. To be eligible, students must describe evidence of learning from activities outside of school, previous learning, or community/work experiences. If a student passes the CbA assessment, they will earn credit for the corresponding course(s).
Support
Families can make an informed decision that is best for their child by meeting with the school team to gather information and discuss options. Members may include the teacher(s), principal, school counselor, school social worker, multilingual learner teacher, and/or Special Education case manager.
Calendar Reminders
December 25 -26 No School - District holiday, building closed
December 27-29 - No School - Building hours 7 am - 3 pm
January 1 - No School - District holiday, building closed
January 2 - No school - Building hours 7 am - 3 pm
January 15 - No school - District holiday, building closed
JMS Yearbook - on sale now!
Jackson Middle School 23-24 yearbooks are on sale now! We sold out last year, so make sure you order a copy in advance.
Prices increase on January 1 so order your copy soon!
For more information, please visit the Jackson Middle School Webpage.
News from the JMS Library
eBooks
Physical books are always available from the JMS Library. Students also have access to ebooks from Destiny Discover and MackinVIA (found on the Destiny Catalog or in their Lock and Key). We just added 50 of our most popular titless to MackinVia.
Sometimes, students want books that are very specific. They may be interested in a very specific battle in WWII. They may be interested in detailed books about Chemistry. Or, they may be reading all of the Classics. The Hennepin County Library ebooks offers access to over 100,000 more ebooks and audiobooks.
Read about expanding reading options for our students.
Learn how to apply for an ecard from home here.
Students can find ebooks from their Chromebooks with these steps.
Students can also read on personal devices at home. Directions are here.
Hennepin County Library’s books also can open up a whole new world for our students who read in multiple languages.
Directions on how to search for books in other languages are here.
Many books can be translated into other languages on the student Chromebooks. To translate, follow these directions.
If your student needs a new book over a long weekend or during the upcoming winter break, Destiny Discover, MackinVIA, and the Hennepin County Library Collections can deliver a new book to them immediately!
Volunteers needed
We are in need of volunteers to help make upcoming JMS events a success. Whether you can spare an hour or commit to several shifts, your time and effort will make a difference in the lives of our students. Plus, volunteering is a great way to meet other parents and community members while making a positive impact on our school.
We are currently seeking volunteers to tutor reading and math subjects to JMS students during the school day. As a volunteer, you would come in once per week (or more, depending on your schedule) and provide extra help to students who need it. The schedule is flexible as long as it is consistent. Start on or after January 8.
To sign up to volunteer for tutoring, please view the link Reading & Math Tutors or view all of our Current Volunteer Opportunities on the JMS website here:
As a reminder, individuals who wish to volunteer must complete the volunteer application and criminal record history release form at each site every school year.
We appreciate your support and look forward to making this winter season a memorable one for our staff and students.
Jackson Middle School Observatory
Join us at the JMS Observatory to look at stars, the moon, constellations, and anything else we can find in space. Public viewings will be held , along with special event nights, as long as the sky is clear, when something of interest is happening in the sky above us. Weather is always an issue so if it is cloudy, raining, or snowing, the public viewing will be cancelled. Dress for the weather as the temperature of the dome is the same as that of the outdoors.
Please check the Observatory page on the JMS website at 6:00 p.m. on viewing dates to make sure viewing has not been cancelled.
Upcoming dates:
Monday, December 18 - 6 - 8 PM
Tuesday, December 19 - 6 - 8 PM
Thursday, December 21 - 6 - 8 PM
Directions to the Observatory
Family resource: How to overcome social media negativity
Social media can be a space to share positive and exciting news, but too often social media negativity overshadows the good.
A blog post from icanhelp.net titled, “You Can Overcome Social Media Negativity: Here’s How!,” addresses social media’s intentions, how to navigate and avoid social media negativity, and the importance of disconnecting from the internet to practice self-care.
The blog is broken up into these sections:
The Conceptualization of Social Media Negativity.
The Dangers of Social Media Negativity.
The Faces on the Other Side.
Coping Tips for Mitigating Social Media Negativity.
Your Personal Initiative.
Deadlines approaching for high school specialty and magnet offerings
Anoka-Hennepin offers four specialty and magnet schools at the high school level that are designed to provide families with additional choices at no cost and as an opportunity to explore interest areas in depth. Deadlines are approaching to enroll at the specialty or magnet schools.
Magnet schools
Offered to students districtwide in partnership with the Northwest Suburban Integration School District (NWSISD).
Transportation is provided.
The application window is open for the 2024-25 school year and closes Dec. 31, 2023.
Specialty schools
Students may enroll at the specialty schools using an in-district transfer process.
Families are responsible for providing transportation.
Applications are accepted between Dec. 1, 2023 and Jan. 15, 2024 for priority consideration.
The specialty and magnet schools are hosting information nights/open houses for families to learn more about the programs offered. The schools are also offering in-person tours upon request. View the full list of school offerings and open house or tour information.
Upcoming open house/information nights: Jan. 4 - 6-7 p.m. - Champlin Park High School - South Lecture Hall
This e-newsletter is published by Jackson Middle School, supported by the Anoka-Hennepin communication and public relations department. Questions, comment or concerns about the school e-newsletter? Contact us.