Dear PJMS Families,

Can you believe it's already APRIL? The school year is flying by! Please stay informed by checking our website, Facebook page, and newsletters for updates on all PJMS activities.

8th grade Celebration Information

We are excited to announce that the 8th Grade Celebration will take place on Tuesday, May 20th at 12:30 PM. This special event is a wonderful opportunity for parents and families to join us in celebrating the achievements of our students. Doors open for families @ 12PM.

Important Reminder: Only students who have passed all their classes for the second semester will be allowed to participate in the celebration. We encourage all parents and guardians to regularly check their student's grades and engage in conversations about their academic progress.

We look forward to seeing you there and celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of our 8th graders! 🎉

Boundary Exemption Reminder

For families with a Boundary Exemption for PJMS, please open Online Registration (OLR) on your ParentVue app. Scroll down to locate the Boundary Exempt Request for 2025 and complete your registration there. This helps us plan for next year's enrollment and ensures your spot when district registration opens in July. Use the button below for the MSBSD Boundary page link.

Contacting PJMS

For non-urgent requests like updating attendance or absences, please email PJM@MATSUK12.us. This account is monitored by multiple secretaries throughout the day, ensuring your requests are handled promptly.

Need a bus pass for your student? You can easily submit the request via the Bus Pass Google Form on our website located in the I Want To section. Important: Bus pass requests must be received by 1:30 PM to ensure they are written and delivered before the end of the school day.

Clarification on Thrilling Thursdays and Freedom Fridays

These special days are dedicated to celebrating student achievements and encouraging them to stay on track with grades and iReady lessons. If your student cannot attend, rest assured that they’re in a structured class setting, receiving extra support and catching up on assignments. We kindly ask that you keep your student at school until the end of the day to maximize this valuable time with their teachers.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child's education. Together, we can ensure a successful and enriching school experience for all students!

Principal

Ryan Geagel

April 1: April Fool's Day

April 2: Wack Wednesday: PJ Day!

April 2: Boys Volleyball Game @ CMS

April 3: Girls Volleyball Game @TMS

April 8: 6th Grade Girls Volleyball game @ PJMS

April 9: Wacky Wednesday: Stuffed Animal Day

April 9: Boys Volleyball Game @PJMS

April 10: Boys Volleyball End of Season Celebration!

April 11: AK STAR for 8th Grade ONLY

April 11:6th Grade Girls Volleyball game @ PJMS

April 14: AK STAR Reading/LA

April 18: AK STAR Math

April 16: Wacky Wednesday; Patriotic Day!

April 23: Wacky Wednesday: Twin Day

April 25: Donuts with Admin @ 8:30

April 25: Mini Moose Student Orientation @ 9:30AM

April 25: Mini Moose Parent Orientation @ 6PM

April 30: Wacky Wednesday: Mis-Matched Day!

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

Here are some practical tips to support your child’s educational journey at home while maintaining a healthy balance for the entire family. Having home support for learning is essential in student success.

1. Establish a Family-Friendly Schedule: Create a routine that reflects your family’s needs, including time for learning, meals, physical activity, creative play, and maintaining normal bedtime routines. A consistent schedule benefits everyone.

2. Set Up a Learning Space: Establish a dedicated space for learning, tailored to your home. This could be a desk, kitchen table, bedroom corner, or even a cozy spot on the floor. Find what works best for your child and your family dynamic.

3. Stay Connected with Educators: Regular communication with teachers is essential. Parents with questions should email their child’s teacher directly; their contact information is available on each school’s website. Communication will be age-appropriate, with younger children involving parents, and older students communicating directly with their teachers.

4. Check-In and Support: Regularly check in with your child about their learning. Help them understand instructions, organize priorities, and engage in conversations to clarify tasks and encourage their progress.

5. Responsible Use of Technology: As a school district, we emphasize responsible digital citizenship. Parents are encouraged to review technology policies with their children and discuss appropriate use of digital platforms and social media.

6. Encourage Physical Activity and Media Balance: Physical activity is critical for focus and overall well-being. Monitor and limit your child’s media exposure and provide reassurance about their worries—this challenging time is temporary.

7. Social Media and Online Safety: Set clear guidelines for social media use. Familiarize yourself with the platforms your child uses and teach them to avoid sharing or engaging with inappropriate content.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in fostering a nurturing and effective learning environment for our students. Together, we can make a meaningful impact.

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.

Students are responsible for keeping their assigned Chromebook in good working order. If a Chromebook is damaged, please have your student see Mrs. Roberts in the library. She will submit an IT ticket for the device to get it repaired. These tickets can result in charges for repairs. Please go to the link below to see the exact costs.

If a device is lost, please notify Mrs. Roberts as soon as possible. We will look up the history of the device and lock it if needed. We will try to help the student find the device, and then we will assign a loaner device on a case-by-case basis to help ensure that students are still able to be successful in school.

You can also call or email Mrs. Roberts for more information or help with damaged and lost devices.

Phone: 907-761-4315

email: stacy.roberts@matsuk12.us

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.

6th Grade Girls Volleyball and Boys Volleyball wrap up this Month.

Track and Flag Football practice begin April 14th.

If you have questions, contact Mrs. Shelton, Sabrina.shelton@matsuk12.us 761-4303

Welcome to Semester 2 Clubs!

Please make payment online through school pay for clubs. Students should bring a blue permission slip home for you to complete. This form is then turned in to the office for Mrs. Shelton.

Monday: D&D

Tuesday: Chess club, Study Hall, Ham Radio/Lock Club

Wednesday: Magic the Gathering, Cooking Club, Drama, Weightlifting, Study Hall

Thursday: Marksmanship, Cooking club, Study Hall

Friday:Drama

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.

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

Overdue notices were sent home with students in February.

• Books are checked out for 3 weeks at a time and may be renewed by talking to Mrs. Roberts.
• After 3 months of being overdue, books are assumed lost and bills will be generated. Bills can be paid with Mrs. Roberts in the library, or books can be returned to take care of the bill.
• Bills are now being populated into ParentVue. If you have questions about your student's bill, please reach out to Mrs. Roberts for options.
• Books that are returned will automatically cause the bill to disappear.
• Bills can be paid monetarily or with "in kind" replacement books.
• If money is an issue, please email Mrs. Roberts for options.

Mrs. Roberts

stacy.roberts@matsuk12.us

907-761-4315

We had a very successful 3rd Annual STEAM Night at PJMS. Thank you to everyone that attended and those that helped make it an awesome night!

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

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

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.