For anyone that is counting, there are 31 school days left in the semester. If you remove finals week from academic time as that is time to assess your knowledge for the semester, then there are only 26 school days left. This means that we are roughly 2/3 of the way through the semester. I know there are several versions of how students and parents will take that information. There are some that will see that information as, "OMG the end is nigh, panic mode engage," while others see it as, "I have plenty of time." I am here to let you in on a little secret that most teacher share in my sentiment. If the argument of when to put up the Christmas tree were an analogy for when you should start worrying about your grades, then our opinion would be that they crazies that leave their decorations on the house all year are correct. It is never too early to focus on your grades and getting them up. However, we live in a real world where we have what I call a 20/60/20 population. that is that 20% will do the right thing no matter what. It terms of the Christmas tree analogy, they have it up year round and are taking good care of it. The opposite 20% will not do the right thing no matter what I say. They are shopping on amazon on Christmas eve and mad that it won't be delivered on time. the middle 60% are my swing crowd, they can swing up and down depending on how it is encouraged. While they won't have the tree up all year, they could be encouraged to get to bunkering down and getting in the spirit a bit earlier if the mood it right. As far as grades and caring about them goes, I will tell you that now is the time to care about grades. Students that wait for December are waiting too long. They will be turning in work two months late wondering why the teacher, who is already overwhelmed with everyone else's assignments that have been turned in, isn't graded immediately. I am here to tell you that I openly encourage all staff to focus on grading current assignments first. Because you waited two weeks to turn it in, does not make it their priority to grade it first. You need to be going to your teachers right now and asking what you can be doing to get support to get your grades up. NOW! not in December. In addition to asking your teachers, we also have the after school Extended Learning Opportunity available five nights a week. This is available to all students who just want extra help. It is from 3:30-5:00 Monday-Friday in Mrs. McKenzie's room.

While I do not recommend anyone EVER putting up a Christmas tree in November (No offense to the maniacs that do this), for the sake of this analogy, I strongly encourage you to focus on your grades now. It is in your best interest.

"Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind" The Doctor

From the first day to the last day, It's a great day to be a COBRA!

Derek E. Smith

While we are still working through the details, we will be hosting a Veterans Celebration on Friday November 8th from 9:45-10:45. This will be open to the community and we are asking all veterans to come on down. we are going to do a small group Q&A session with the students before hand with veterans from 9:00-9:40 for any veteran wiling to participate. Please if you know a veteran that would be willing, let me know and get me their contact information and I will reach out to them.

This past Saturday, Sofia Ivy went to Wamego on a miserable rainy day to run her race as the lone representative of Jackson Heights at the state race. While the rain was brutal, Sofia ran her race. She may not have returned with a medal, but she ran her race and represented JH in the best way possible. We are very proud of you Sofia. I can't wait for next fall to see what you and the whole team do.

I was beginning to wonder if the golden girls were going to make an appearance and BAM there they were this Friday night. The cheer squad tossed that routine together this week and it was a great halftime show. Way to go ladies!

Monday:

• MS Girls Basketball @ Oskaloosa 4:30
  

Tuesday:

• JV Scholars Bowl @ Jefferson West High School 4:00

• NA

• Scholars Bowl V & JV @ Horton 4:00

• MS Girls Basketball Vs P Ridge @ Home 4:30

Friday:

• Veterans Meet and Greet 9:00 (any veteran is invited)

• Veterans Salute 9:45 (Community Invited)

• HS Varsity Football Vs Troy @ Home 7:00

Saturday

• NA

With the close of October, the winning house for the month of October is......Drum roll....Pause for effect.

Triple G

They will be getting their ice cream social this upcoming week.

Some spotlight students in each house this week were:

House Corn Fed Cobra: Abby Wellman For stopping to help someone with a flat tire one morning this week. While, in her own words, she may not have been much help she was there for moral support.

House Gold Rush: Paden Askren For being an above and beyond student.

House Snake Kingz: Anthony Gullota For stopping to help someone change a flat tire. This is the same situation as Abby above, however, Anthony was also physical as well as moral support.

House Triple G: LillyAnn Wichman For fixing a door decoration that wasn't part of her own seminar just because she saw it was falling.

Nothing to see here, just Alf about to have an afternoon snack.

It's a great day to be a Cobra!!

Email: derek.smith@jhcobras.net

Website: jhcobras.net
Location: 12692 266th Rd Holton, KS 66436
Phone: (785)248-4386
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jackson.Heights.USD335

https://www.citylinktv.com/channel/cobra

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a0QJd_3uUnHcCppNy4KIttr-i_TO_Q1QcxSKC8PZaHo/edit