No Place Like Jones

Dear IBJ Families,

As November unfolds, we are grateful for the sense of community and partnership that makes our school such a wonderful place to learn and grow.

A quick reminder that fall pictures are scheduled for Tuesday, November 26. Be sure to mark your calendars and have your student dressed and ready to capture their best smiles!

Also, please remember that there will be no school for students and staff from Wednesday, November 27 through Friday, November 29 for our Fall Break. This includes the Thanksgiving holiday, a time to pause, reflect, and spend quality moments with loved ones.

We are thankful for each of you and the joy your children bring to our school. Wishing your family a season filled with warmth and gratitude!

I believe in maintaining open and transparent communication with our families to ensure our students receive the best support possible. We share the responsibility for our student's success and will do our very best to fulfill our commitments. Please visit our school's website, Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/irabjones/, and follow us on Instagram @IraB.JonesElementary for upcoming events, important reminders and to keep up with all the wonderful things our students and teachers are doing. Also, I send out a weekly family newsletter, so please ensure we have your updated contact information.

As a school leader and a parent myself, I understand the importance of healthy communication between families and the school. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, celebrations, or concerns. You can call the school at 828.350.6700 or email me at ruafika.cobb@acsgmail.net.

Warm regards,

Ruafika Cobb

Principal

Ira B. Jones Elementary School

#noplacelikejones

November 26: Fall Pictures

November 27-29 : Fall Break

📢 The Fall 2024 Hot Cocoa Social was rescheduled!
New Date: Monday, 11/25
Time: 4:30–6 PM
Location: Ira B. Jones Playground

Enjoy hot cocoa, cider, cookies, and fun with Jones families & staff! Spiritwear will be for sale. See you there!

Dear Ira B. Jones Community:

On behalf of the Jones FTO, we’re so grateful to have our school family back together in this difficult post-Helene time. We know that recovery will be a long process, and we’re here to support our community through it. Public education, and organizations like ours that support our Asheville-area NC public schools, are more vital now than ever.

Jones FTO’s mission is to make our school as strong as possible, helping ensure high-quality equitable education at Jones, while providing an enriching, nurturing elementary experience during these special K-5 years. We’re especially committed to supporting our teachers, who are real heroes, to ensure their needs are met, their spirits are lifted, and they know how much the parents & families at Jones value and respect their hard work.

Each year, our FTO supports these efforts by holding our Jones Heroes fundraiser. We rely on it to bring in over 50% of our annual operating budget. While the storm disrupted this school year, our work continues and so does our need to fund it. So today, we’re announcing the launch of the 2024-25 HEROES CAMPAIGN, running through December.

Please know we are sensitive to the financial strain many are experiencing already as they recover from Helene. This year there is no expectation for any Jones family to give, minimum donation per student or competition between Jones classes. Our school will celebrate together when we meet our goal; there are no other student prizes. We know that some in our community have faced many challenges & financial setbacks, and we are here to support them, not to add strain.

One way to meet our goal that shares the burden for funds beyond our area, is to seek donations outside Asheville. Help us spread the word about supporting Jones by sharing our fundraiser out of town. Many across the US have said they want to help Asheville after the storm; donating to a nonprofit FTO at a Title 1 public school is a meaningful way to do that!

Any support—whether it’s time, resources, or outreach—makes a big difference. Here are some ways to help:

• Make a Donation to Heroes (if you can): All gifts go to fund programs like drama and afterschool club scholarships, classroom supplies, teacher grants & gift cards, support staff, campus improvements, and community events. We have no paid staff and low admin costs, so every dollar is put to work!

• Share the Heroes Fundraiser Link to Non-Locals: Help us meet our goal with support beyond Asheville. By sharing this link to donate, people across the country can help a nonprofit FTO, doing the important work of helping a public NC school post-Helene. Here’s a sample letter to customize to ask for donations.

• Donate Goods or Supplies: Rather than making a financial gift, donors can provide tangible items we need through our online Wish List; this helps provide us with needed recurring supplies and thus reduces our budget.

While the storm has disrupted our school year, we are determined to keep up our important work. The FTO funds afterschool activities, high-quality theater arts (The Little Mermaid, Jr. - coming in March!), reading and math tutoring services, teacher grants, field trips, family aid, and much more. We are deeply grateful for assistance in helping us meet our goal. Thank you for your continued support of our students, teachers, and school community.

Sincerely: