Welcome Back to School

It's almost time, Jaguars! As we eagerly approach the start of the 2024-2025 school year, we extend a warm welcome to all our students at Jones Middle School! Building on the success of last year, we are excited for the incredible journey ahead!

Stay updated by reading our monthly JagWIRE newsletter, checking our website, and accessing the parent portal for important communications.

To ensure a seamless transition into the new school year, please complete the tasks listed below. Schedules will be available Wednesday, July 31st via the portal. Open House is Thursday, August 1st. Returning students and new students do not need to take any further registration steps at this time. For incoming 6th graders, your schedule has been arranged in collaboration with your elementary school.

Enjoy the remaining days of summer, and we can't wait to welcome you all back very soon!

Join us on Thursday, August 1st, to meet your teachers, explore the campus, and embark on a year of learning and growth together.

Don't forget to bring your classroom donations and any questions you may have. You'll also have the chance to visit the clinic and get information about bus services. Please attend during your designated time slot to ensure smooth parking arrangements.

Our JMS staff is looking forward to a fantastic year ahead!

Sign off on the Orientation Agreements required before Open House. Orientation Agreements are GCPS and local school standard documents that parents can view and sign electronically via ParentSquare. This will be available Tuesday, July 23rd and should be completed by Wednesday, July 31st.

Students can choose to sign up for Band, Chorus, Orchestra and Guitar. All other Connections classes are randomly assigned each semester. In the Spring, 7th and 8th grade students had the chance to select their preferences for these classes. While we make every effort to honor these requests, it's important to note that placement in specific classes is not guaranteed. Once students are assigned a Connections class, we encourage them to embrace the experience and make the most of their learning journey. As we look ahead to January, new Connections classes will be introduced for students who were randomly assigned a class this semester.

If your student is interested in taking the Dual Language Immersion Culture & History class (taught in Spanish) for semester 1of the 2024-2025 school year, please complete the form below. The class focuses on studying the culture and history of Spanish-speaking countries through practice and reflection.

If the number of responses exceeds the number of spaces available, students will be randomly selected. You will be notified if your student is placed in the course or if they are on a waiting list. Once enrolled in the class, your student commits to staying in the course for semester 1. To be considered, your student should have intermediate Spanish language ability (speaking, listening, reading and writing).

If you have questions about the class, contact Mr. Serrano at gerardo.serrano@gcpsk12.org.

If you have questions about scheduling for the class, contact Ms. Moore at lindsay.moore@gcpsk12.org

Students can drop of school donations (tissue, hand sanitizer, etc) during their designated time during Open House on Thursday, August 1st. Bring the rest of your school supplies with you the first day of school.

6th graders will receive their Chromebooks the first week of school.

If you are interested or know a parent that would be a great parent member, please complete the nomination form. Our school council meets 4 times a year for an hour from 8:15 - 9:15am.

The electing body for the parent members shall consist of all parents and guardians eligible to serve as a parent member of the school council. These parents or guardians of students enrolled in the school, excluding parents or guardians who are also employees of the school.

Car Rider drop off & pick up will follow the BLUE pattern. Car Rider drop off begins at 8:50 AM

Traffic is a challenge given our physical design, traffic on Ridge Rd, and the number of cars dropping off students in the mornings and pick up in the afternoons so allow yourself enough time to navigate our procedures. Thank you in advance for familiarizing yourself with the plan to ensure an efficient and safe drop off for all students.

In the mornings:

• If your child is attending study hall, tutoring, intramurals, or any other club/activity, they may be dropped off between 7:50am-8:15am. Drop off is on the side of the building at the cafeteria doors. There is no student entry through the front doors until 8:50am.
• Any student that arrives between 8:15 - 8:50am must remain in their vehicle until the 8:50am bell.
• Pull up to the drop off sign before letting your child out of the car in the mornings.
• Be sure your child is prepared to quickly exit the car when you come to a complete stop.
  
• Only turn right out of the parking lot to keep traffic moving.
  
• Only let your child out of the car in our designated locations for drop off (not the parking lot).
  
• After 9:20am, please park and check your child in tardy.

In the afternoons:

• Students will be dismissed at 4pm and will exit through the front doors and will be supervised by adults.
• Communicate with your child at 4pm where you are in the car rider line.

• Pull all the way forward before stopping to let your child in your vehicle.
• Only turn right out of the driveway.
• Students may be picked up at Zion Hill Baptist Church or Ivy Creek Elementary School. We have adults who escort/supervise students until they are off campus safely.

Thank you for your support and cooperation to maintain order and make drop off and pick up as smooth as possible for everyone.

If you arrive after 3:30pm, we'd be happy to get your student a message to meet you in the car rider line when dismissed at 4pm.

Beginning the first day of school, we are introducing a new, more efficient system. When you come to pick up your child, simply have your driver's license ready for a quick check under our document camera. Use our user-friendly iPad to enter your child's name for checkout. Then, relax and enjoy our newly revamped parent waiting area in the vestibule while your child completed the process in the front before meeting you in the vestibule.

These changes are all about making things smoother and safer for everyone involved. As always, thank you for your support and cooperation!

Be sure to complete the Free and Reduced Lunch application. Families need to apply every year. The online application for the 24-25 school year will be available Tuesday, July 16th.

One application per household - Be sure to list everyone that lives under the same roof. Eligibility is determined by the household size to income ratio. Once approved, eligibility is good for the entire school year. There is no reason to submit more than one application unless there is a change in household size or income.

The application doesn't just cover free or reduced lunch for your student but also may also qualify them to receive free SAT, ACT, and AP testing. As well as potential discounts on college application fees and certain utility bills.

GCPS adopts 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school calendars

Gwinnett County Public Schools recently adopted school calendars for 2024-25 and 2025-26 after seeking input from families and staff. The decision came after offering all students, staff, and parents the chance to vote on four calendar options, two of which accommodated various religious holidays. Despite the majority choosing a calendar similar to the current version, the district remains committed to cultural sensitivity, engagement with the community, and acknowledging and respecting diverse holidays. Although the new calendar doesn't add days off for religious observances, GCPS maintains policies for excused absences during such holidays, ensuring respect and support for students observing them.

I am pleased to share that our "Away for the Day" policy regarding cell phones has been successfully implemented at Jones Middle School. Since its inception, we have observed a positive impact on student behavior and focus in the learning environment. By adhering to the guidelines of storing cell phones in their bookbags throughout the school day, students have been able to engage more actively with their educational tasks and peers. This practice has not only minimized distractions but also fostered a safer and more conducive atmosphere for academic growth and personal development.

As we continue to prioritize the well-being and academic success of our students, we are grateful for your ongoing support in embracing the "Away for the Day" approach. Together, we are creating a community where students can thrive and excel in their learning journey.

Therefore, Jones will continue instituting a practice of “Away for the Day” as it relates to cell phones and all other electronic devices. Upon arrival, students are expected to turn their phones off (or on silent) and store it in their bookbag. Cell phones will remain in their bookbag for the duration of the day. They can no longer be used as a calculator, to listen to music during individual work time, for use to access their student ID, etc. Students are expected to have WIRED earbuds daily to accompany their district-issued Chromebook for any necessary instructional purpose. Bluetooth or wireless headphones/earbuds are no longer allowed. In summary, there is no need for students to have any personal electronic devices while at school.

However, if they do have a device, it should remain away for the day. If a personal device of any kind is lost or stolen, the school is not responsible for restitution, nor are we obligated to investigate. If a student needs to contact home for any reason, they may do so from any office within the school.

If a student fails to adhere to the “Away for the Day” policy, he/she will receive a consequence.

We ask for your support as we move forward with this “Away for the Day” approach. We are hopeful that this, along with other supports, will help provide a safer environment for students and will allow us to continue to pursue excellence in academic knowledge, skills, and behavior for each student.

All student passwords will be reset the evening of Sunday, July 14th.

Grades 6-12 – Student Passwords will be reset to the student’s birthday using the numerical format of MMDDYYYY. Middle School and High School students must reset their passwords and activate their accounts using the activate process.

• Only Seckinger HS students and opposing HS students will be permitted in games without a parent. High School IDs will be checked.
• Students must leave school on game day and can return thirty minutes before the start.
• All games are available for purchase online. Visit the GoFan website here: https://gofan.co/
• All elementary and middle school students must be accompanied by an adult at all sporting events.
• Please click here to access the head coach's directory and email the coach for more information.

This school year, our district is transitioning to ParentSquare to communicate with families. We encourage all families to download the app and create an account. With its user-friendly interface, ParentSquare offers seamless two-way communication through text, newsletters, posts, emergency alerts, and direct messaging. One of our favorite features is the integrated translation feature, enabling automatic translations for multilingual families. Stay effortlessly connected with your child's teachers, schools, and the district. To get started, and learn about all the cool features, check out our website!

If you received our notification about ParentSquare and you have questions about confirming your account access, please send an email to PSQHelp@gcpsk12.org.

We offer multiple ways to connect with our staff and administrators to address your questions regarding your child's needs and interests.