2025 JMS Eagle Eye #6

MIDTERMS are POSTED! Remember that they are "snapshot" grades, useful for monitoring progress, but they are not the FINAL grade for the term.

It is hard to believe that we are starting week 6! This school year has flown by. As a general reminder, we hold our students to a high academic and behavior expectation. And sometimes, our students will miss the mark of that expectations. At Jefferson, we pride ourselves on building character and determination. When students fail to meet our expectations, we teach them how to get back up, brush themselves off, and keep going.

If midterm grades are NOT where you want them to be, speak to your student and reach out by email to your student's teacher. If your student is not quite behaving as you and JMS would like, review the student code of conduct and our JMS expectation presentation below.

Our job is to help our students grow into powerful young adults that can do anything they set their mind and bodies to. We appreciate your support, and if there is anything we can do to assist you in helping your child be successful, just reach out.

Mr. Phil Cox, Principal pcox@ortn.edu

Dr. Benjamin Fowler, Vice Principal bjfowler@ortn.edu

Dr. Jacob Quilliams, Dean of Students jrquilliams@ortn.edu

Monday 26 A day

• Atomic Eagles FLL Science Wing 2:45-4:30
• Master Builders FLL Rm 102 2:45-4:30
• RadioActive Brix FLL Rm 223 2:45-4:30
• Secret Innovation FLL Rm 313 2:45-4:15
• Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30
• Board of Education Meeting SAB 5:00
• JV Football vs. Coalfield @ Blankenship Field 6:00
• Volleyball (Varsity ONLY) vs. Oliver Springs @ Oliver Springs 6:30

Tuesday 27 B day

• Atomic Eagles FLL Science Wing 2:45-4:30
  
• Master Builders FLL Rm 102 2:45-4:30
• RadioActive Brix FLL Rm 223 2:45-4:30
• Secret Innovation FLL Rm 313 2:45-4:15
• Football Practice 3:00
• Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30
• Boys Basketball Open Gym 6:00-7:00
• Volleyball (Varsity ONLY) vs. Lafollette @ RMS 5:30

Wednesday 28 A day

• Football Practice 1:00-2:00
  
• Cheer Practice 1:00-3:00
• Cross Country Meet-Steve Reddick Invitational @ JMS
• Girls 6:00; Boys 6:30
• Volleyball vs. Robertsville @ JMS JV 4:00; Varsity 5:00

Thursday 29 B day

• Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30
• Football Practice 3:00-5:00
• Boys Basketball Open Gym 6:00-7:00
• Volleyball (Varsity ONLY) vs. Seymour @ Seymour 6:30
• Football vs. Jacksboro @ Jacksboro 7:00

Friday 30 A day

• Ms. Kala’s class to Buds Farmhouse Coffee
• Chess Club Library 2:45-3:45
• Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30

7th grade had an assembly on Friday that celebrated the 34 anniversary of the Naka Student exchange. Disrupted by the pandemic, we sent our first group back this summer. Our current 7th graders were super interested in the trip. We will continue with our penpal club and our exchange. 7th grade students who are interested should keep their ears sharp for announcements later this fall.

While our Japanese students are in town, they spent Thursday in Oak Ridge visiting Oak Ridge landmarks and ringing the Friendship Bell. On Friday, they toured classes with their host students and gave a presentation to the current 7th grade. On Monday and Tuesday they tour ORNL, the Museum of Appalachia, and Knoxville and so much more!

Picture Day is September 6th.

Order forms will go home in two weeks!

Students may order their pictures ONLINE or they can bring in the EXACT payment with cash or check made out to Lifetouch.

Students,

You will soon receive an invitation to complete the EES™ – Student Universal Wellness Screener. This survey will provide your school and district leadership with valuable data about your academic, social, and emotional needs.

On Monday, August 19th you will receive an email with the subject line “EES-Student Universal

Wellness Screener: Oak Ridge School District.” This email will contain instructions and a unique survey link for you, please do not forward it. The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, August 30th.

The following students have been nominated. Congratulations to these fantastic students!

Eagle Excellence

Kynlee Bass, 5th grade

McKenzie Rodarmel, 6th grade

The University of Tennessee Arboretum is a remarkable living laboratory that offers invaluable educational experiences for students like those in Ms. Kala's class. With its extensive collection of over 2,500 native and exotic woody plant specimens, encompassing 800 species, varieties, and cultivars, the Arboretum provided a unique hands-on learning environment. It allowed our students to directly engage with biodiversity and conservation practices.

We have another busy week of JMS athletics ahead! On Monday, the Jefferson Eagles JV football team will host Coalfield in a JV game at Blankenship field at 6pm. The Lady Eagles volleyball team will travel to Oliver Springs for a varsity match at 6:30pm. On Tuesday, the Lady Eagles volleyball team will take on Lafollette, at Robertsville, in a varsity match at 6:30pm. On Wednesday, we have a home double header with the City Championship volleyball match at 4pm (JV) and 5pm (varsity) followed by our first home cross country meet at 6pm (girls) and 6:30pm (boys). The following teams will be competing in our cross country meet: Jefferson, Robertsville, Clinton, Wartburg, Cherokee, Norwood, Norris. On Thursday, the Lady Eagles volleyball team will travel to Seymour for a varsity match at 6:30pm. Go Eagles!

Be sure to check out additional information about our school counselors on our webpage and in their monthly newsletters!

School Counseling - Jefferson Middle (ortn.edu)

Our counselors for the 2023-2024 School Year are:

5th/7th Grade - Ms. Candie Price (clprice@ortn.edu)

6th/8th Grade - Ms. Cassidy Coffman (cacoffman@ortn.edu)

Nurse Kelly says we have seen an uptick in "upset stomachs" in the morning. Often we find that they haven't had a breakfast and their stomachs settle pretty quick after that. Our growing students need breakfast to operate! The cafeteria opens up at 7 am if you want them to grab breakfast here at JMS. Otherwise, be sure to remind them to eat at home before they arrive!

Just a reminder: STUDENTS are NOT allowed to carry or bring medication to school. Parents must bring the medication in and fill out a form with the school nurse.

If a student has medications for asthma, allergies, or seizures (or any other potential emergencies) that needs to be with them at school, please reach out to me via phone (865-425-9338) or email (kcjones@ortn.edu) or come see me in the clinic.

The position of Instructional Technology Coach has now morphed into the Innovation Coach. It holds many of the same responsibilities of helping our students, parents, and staff to access our digital tool sets, as well as added responsibilities of building relationships with our community to bring our great successes out to the community and then find partnerships to bring great opportunities to our building.

Ms. Smith is our innovation coach. He has been a 6th grade math teacher at JMS for the last 19 years and he brings his love of tech, data, and kids to the position. Any questions about our technology access pieces, reach out to him at jrsmith@ortn.edu

The JMS PTO would like to thank all the parents that came out for Open House. If you couldn't make it, we invite you to learn more about PTO activities and how you can get involved. Email us at jmseaglespto@gmail.com if you are interested!

We are moving our meetings to the evening times this year due to parent requests. We will start at 530 in the Jefferson Library. Look to this space for updates from JMS PTO President, Kayla Colwell.

You get a ton of forms at the start of the year, so here is a quick guide as to what is what and where.

Forms on Paper:

ORS district handbook have been sent home. There is a paper form in the front for you to sign. Please have you AND your student sign it and return it this week to your student's first period teacher.

Forms in ParentSquare:

• McKinney Vento
• Parent Occupational Survey

• Media Release

• Survey Opt-In form
• Biometric Form (Cafeteria Identification Form)

Forms in Skyward

These forms will need to be filled out in Skyward Family Access in web browser, not the app

• First Student- Bus

• Free and Reduced Lunch

If you have any issues with the forms, please reach out to John Smith, our Innovation coach at jrsmith@ortn.edu or Dr. Fowler at bjfowler@ortn.edu

Safety is our number one priority at Jefferson Middle School. The video below helps show the process for both drop off and pick up each day. We want our parents and students to be aware of the process in order to create the safest environment for all during these busy times. The following times below give you the best idea for drop off times:

There are two loops on campus. One loop on the gym/football field side of campus, which is a car drop off loop all morning long. The second loop on the softball field side is the bus loop at the beginning of the morning and becomes a car loop after buses leave. Buses will enter the loop from 7am - 7:10am each day. Please do not enter the loop if buses are present. In addition, please do not pass buses at any time while in the loop.

Please utilize the loop on the gym side to drop off your child each morning. When 5th grade students arrive on campus, they report to the gym until 7:30 am.

• Free and Reduced Lunch forms are now available in Skyward. Be sure to log in to your Skyward Account to complete the form. The sooner we get that processed, the sooner we can make sure we are serving your students as best we can.
• Students must be enrolled in a school to receive school meals. Students attending virtual academies are not eligible to participate in either of the federal school meal programs.
• Meals shall only be provided and served on days when school is in session.

For additional information, please visit:

https://www.ortn.edu/district/food-services/food-services/

The Board of Education believes that appropriate dress and grooming contribute to a productive learning environment. The Board expects students to give proper attention to personal cleanliness and to wear suitable clothing. Students are asked to wear simple, comfortable clothing that is clean and neat. Shoes should be always worn. Students are not to wear clothing which compromises safety or modesty; nor clothing which is disruptive to the educational process.

Students are prohibited from wearing:

1. Clothing or accessories which by reasonable judgment is considered unsafe, dangerous or a health hazard (examples include, but are not limited to wallet chains, spiked collars, necklaces or rings with spikes or sharp edges, oversized belt buckles, picks and combs.

2. Clothing or accessories which contain or suggest offensive or obscene symbols, signs, slogans or words degrading any gender, cultural, religious or ethnic values.

3. Clothing or accessories which contain or suggest language or symbols oriented toward violence, vandalism, sex, drugs, alcohol or tobacco.

4. Pajamas or clothing resembling sleepwear. This also includes house shoes.

5. Apparel

• a. Shirts, shorts, jeans or pants with holes, skirts and dresses that compromise modesty or are disruptive to the learning environment.
• b. The following attire is not permitted: bare midriffs; halter or tube tops; short shorts; tight, see through, or revealing clothing; or clothing which allows underwear to be exposed, such as sagging pants, spaghetti strap tops, muscle shirts.
• c. A belt is mandatory if pants or shorts will not stay at the waist without one.
• d. Hats, head coverings, bandanas, and sunglasses are not to be worn inside the school building.

6. Any articles which can be related to gang activity such as: items with gang names; gang initials; or individual gang member monikers; gang related jewelry; gang related tattoos; or self-inflicted scars. (TCA 49-6- 4215)

7. Any manner of grooming, which by its color, arrangement, trademark, or any other attribute that is gang related. This may include such items as shoelaces, belt buckles, hats or tattoos.

8. All students must wear shoes. It is strongly suggested that students wear shoes which either enclose the foot or are secured with heel straps. Flip flops are not allowed in grades PreK-4.

9. Heavy coats must be removed upon arrival at school, be placed in lockers and left there until the student leaves the building. (At campuses that have multiple buildings that require outside travel between classes, the principal may exercise discretion.)

The school building administrator may make exceptions to dress requirements to accommodate the special needs of classes (examples include but are not limited to science labs, welding, cooking labs) and/or certain sports/activities.

All students are expected to comply with the general dress code policy of the Oak Ridge School Board. Students who fail to comply with the Dress Code Policy shall be advised of the policy and offered the opportunity to take corrective action. The school shall attempt to contact the student's parents. Students who repeatedly fail to dress in accordance with the Dress Code Policy may be subject to disciplinary actions as set forth in the Oak Ridge Schools Discipline Code. The Administration reserves the right to judge what is appropriate or not.

Consequences for violations of the dress code guidelines will follow the ORS District Disciplinary Code.

https://www.ortn.edu/jefferson/supply-lists/

Please be sure to visit the link below to review this year's Student Handbook.

Students are required to turn off phones and place in lockers when they arrive to school. Students are not permitted to have phones throughout the building. In the event of an emergency, parents can contact the main phone line (425-9301) and students may use the main phone line to contact home.

Additionally, NO wired or wireless headphones or earbuds or personal electronic devices are permitted for use during the school day unless at the direction of a teacher for a classroom activity.

Due to concerns about social media and improper use of cell phones during the school day, please see detailed cell phone policy below:

1. Students must turn off cell phone upon arriving to campus and place in their locker.

2. Students are not to use cell phones during the school day unless instructed by a teacher. Teachers will make administration aware when they will be using phones in advance.

3. Any student found to be sharing or distributing inappropriate messages or pictures online will be immediately reported to our SRO and the Oak Ridge Police Department.

4. Per the ORS Code of Conduct, "students are prohibited from using personally owned devices to record (video, audio, photograph) others". This could also be considered Cyberbullying - the use of cell phones, social networking sites or other types of digital technology to harass, threaten, discriminate, or intimidate others.

Any violation of the cell phone policy will lead to action from administration including but not limited to consequences below:

1st violation: student cell phone, headphones, earbuds, or personal electronic devices will be confiscated and sent to the office. Student will be issued a warning in Skyward and phone will be kept in the office until parent/guardian comes to the school to pick up the phone.

2nd violation: student cell phone, headphones, earbuds, or personal electronic devices will be confiscated and sent to the office. Student will be assigned an after-school detention in Skyward and phone will be kept in the office until parent/guardian comes to the school to pick up the phone.

3rd violation: student cell phone, headphones, earbuds, or personal electronic devices will be confiscated and sent to the office. Student will be issued ISS in Skyward and phone will be kept in the office until parent/guardian comes to the school to pick up the phone.

4th violation: student cell phone, headphones, earbuds, or personal electronic devices will be confiscated and sent to the office. Student will be issued an OSS in Skyward and phone will be kept in the office until parent/guardian comes to the school to pick up the phone. In addition, student may lose privilege of bringing phone to school for a time to be determined.

SECURE ENTRANCE TELEPHONE USAGE

School phones are for business and emergency use only. Students who are required to remain after school to make up work or for other reasons can call to arrange a ride home.

Canvas is our learning management system. We utilize Canvas in order to communicate with students and parents including announcements, information that is important to the class, links to resources to help support in class learning and also digital assignments.

Our teachers are AMAZING in the amount of detail they provide on their Canvas page. We encourage parents to spend 10 minutes each week with their child logged on to Canvas and read the details for each teacher's page, announcements, and assignments.

In Canvas our teachers work to provide:

• Announcements - A weekly look at what will be taught throughout the week
• Assignments - Some assignments will be digital and completed through Canvas and some will be analog and completed on paper. The goal for teachers here is to update with information to help explain the assignment and the due date.
• Calendar - A student calendar that shows all of the student's class and helps to color code each. The calendar allows for parents to see due dates for assignments, quiz and test dates

To learn more about Canvas and how we use it each day, please access the video below.