Jackson Jaguars ROAR!

Wow! What a start to 2024! From Miss America, Madison Marsh, visiting us to Family Game Night to Annie Kids rehearsals to Vex Robotics Club and Spanish Club...we are off to a great start!

The second semester at Jackson will be filled with lots of activities, field trips, performances, state testing, ESL night, Field Day, and Read Across America Day and so much more! Continue to read Class Dojo for upcoming events and announcements.

Thank you for being a part of what makes it so special! As always, please feel free to reach out via ClassDojo, by phone, email, or stop by if you have any questions, needs, comments, etc.! Together, we will make a difference!

Thank you,

Sara Miller, Principal

• Family Game Night

February 14

• Valentine's Day celebrations (look for information from your students' teachers)

February 19

• NO SCHOOL-President's Day

February 21 @ 5:00pm

• PTO on WebEx

Here is the link for February's PTO meeting:

https://cssd11.webex.com/cssd11/j.php?MTID=m7b02975560c886bcf2a6d1a172364b34

Butterbraids will be on sale starting February 28th and ending on March 13th. Butterbraids will be delivered to the school on March 18th for you to pick up our have your child take home.

The class who sells the most Butterbraids will earn a pizza party.

As a school, we will determine what our goal is and what crazy thing Mrs. Miller (our Principal) will do! :) Stay tuned!

Jackson students are SO talented! This semester in drama:

• Kindergarten will be learning a short play
• 1st graders will create new superheroes and tableaus
• 2nd graders are being introduced to food from other cultures and making their own food props
• 3rd graders are being assigned a theater job and role for an in-class play
• 4th graders are being taught stage combat
• 5th graders are being introduced to Shakespeare

Also, we have begun rehearsals for "Annie Kids" and students are hard at work practicing music, learning choreography, and creating characters.

Important Dates:

Thursday, May 2: 6:00 PM "Annie Kids" Performance

Friday, May 3: 1:30 PM "Annie Kids" Performance for the School

Thanks,

Monica

Annie: Anna S.

Miss Hannigan: Marlow S.

Oliver Warbucks: Avery B.

Grace Farrell: Makenna S.

Rooster Hannigan: Kaiden V.

Lily St. Regis: Amelia N.

Sandy: Max M.

Molly: Brystal R.

Kate: Kinzley F.

Tessie: Grace M.

Pepper: Selena V.

July: Myra-Lynn T.

Duffy: Amara A.

Lt. Ward: Jedidah C.

Bert Healy: Shane H.

Bundles: Isaiah H.

Apple Seller: Josiah A.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt: Connor P.

Drake: Bryson A.

Usherette: Azlyn T.

Louis Howe: Connor O.

Stars-To-Be: Ruby B., Arianna O., Penny G.

Ensemble: Nayali L., Ryder M., Graylan P., Maddie S., Lamar Z.

Dominica B.

Ivette D.

Nora G.

Emma M.

Deverae R.

Ian S.

Sometimes, I get a student that asks, “Mr. Miller, why do we have to take music class? It’s not like we’re going to be professional musicians when we grow up.” While that may be true, there are many skills and information learned in music class that can help students with their learning. I have a poster up in my room that shows students the importance of music. I would like to share that with you:

Why Learn Music?

Music is a Science

It is exact, specific; and it demands exact acoustics. A conductor's full score is a chart, a graph which indicates frequencies, intensities, volume changes, melody and harmony all at once and with the most exact control of time.

Music is Mathematical

It is rhythmically based on the subdivisions of time into fractions which must be done instantaneously, not worked out on paper.

Music is a Foreign Language

Most of the terms are in Italian, German, or French; and the notation is certainly not English--but a highly developed kind of shorthand that uses symbols to represent ideas. The semantics of music is the most complete and universal language.

Music is History

Music usually reflects the environments and times of its creation, often even the country and/or racial feeling.

Music is Physical Education

It requires fantastic coordination of fingers, hands, arms, lips, cheek, and facial muscles, in addition to extraordinary control of the diaphragmatic, back, stomach and chest muscles, which respond instantly to the sound the ear hears and the mind interprets.

Music is all these things, but most of all, music is Art

It allows a human being to take all these dry technically boring (but difficult) techniques and use them to create emotion. That is one thing that science cannot duplicate: emotion, humanism, feeling, expression, and creativity.

That is Why We Teach Music!

Not because we expect you to play or sing all your life. Not so you can relax. Not so you can have fun. Not because we expect you to major in music.

Rather- So you will be human. So you will recognize beauty. So you will be sensitive. So you will be closer to an infinite beyond this world. So you will have something to cling to. So you will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness, and more good--in short, more life.

Of what value will it be to make a prosperous living unless we know how to live?

That is Why We Learn Music!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Friday, April 19th – 3rd Grade Concert Program This program will feature the third grade recorder classes (Morton and Gardner) at 2:00pm and 6:00pm

• Thursday, May 9th – Instrumental Concert Program This program will feature the 4th and 5th Grade Band and 4th and 5th Grade Violin Orchestra, and will be part of our school-wide open house (Times TBD)

We hope you can attend these wonderful music events. Thank you all for the encouragement you give to your students in appreciating music.

Musically yours,

Mr. Miller

Thank you to all of the families who came to our 2nd annual Family Game Night! We hope you enjoyed some good family fun! We also want to give a HUGE thank you to the "Marvelous Manager Group" (Acute and Critical Care Nurse Managers and Associate Nurse Managers) from UC Health Memorial Central. They donated over $500 in games to Jackson AND we were able to give away more than 50 games to families.

Hi Jackson Jaguar Family,

Here are some things to anticipate this month in our school community as a part of the School Counseling Program here at Jackson:

National School Counseling Week is 2/5/24-2/9/24.

As a school counselor, I seek to help your students succeed in school and plan their careers while encouraging them to set healthy goals, mindsets, and behaviors. My hope is to impact our entire school community – students, teachers, and families – by equipping our students with necessary life skills that will prepare them for middle school and beyond.

It is a privilege to come alongside all of you and support you and your children during their elementary school years. Thank you for letting me be a part of your stories!

The following week, we will celebrate Kindness Week 2/12/24-2/16/24.

Throughout this week, students and staff will consider various ways to extend kindness in our school community and beyond. Each week, your students learn about various character qualities through our Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) lessons with their classroom teachers. The RAK tagline is "Make Kindness the Norm."

Making kindness the norm is something we strive to do every day in our Jackson Community. Every act of kindness matters and inspires kindness in others.

Lastly, I would like some feedback from all of our families on how I can better serve you and your child(ren) here at Jackson. Be on the lookout for a short survey in Class Dojo in the next week to let me know what topics you would like to discuss or know more about when you are supporting your child(ren) with their growth and development.

Warm regards,

Mrs. Jan Kisler

School Counselor

jan.kisler@d11.org

719-328-5806

Black History Month is a time to celebrate African Americans' achievements and contributions throughout history. This year's theme focuses on Black resistance and how Black communities have fought for their freedoms, against all forms of racism and oppression. Through slavery, segregation, poverty, and the fight for equal rights, the Black community has stood strong and persevered.

To this day, inequalities in our community persist. Black Americans are more likely to live below the poverty line than their white counterparts. They are less likely to have health insurance coverage leading to many not receiving necessary physical and mental health care.

Every day, the Black community continues to work diligently toward a brighter future for the next generations. This month, Colorado Springs will be hosting events, learning together, and sharing resources in honor of Black History Month.

Check out what's happening at the library (https://ppld.org/blackhistorymonth), Fine Arts Center (https://fac.coloradocollege.edu/about/antiracism-in-the-arts-pledge/ ), and Hillside Community Center https://www.peakradar.com/event/black-wings-family-day/

At Colorado Springs School District 11, we believe every person has the right to equitable access to care. We partnered with Care Solace to support the well-being of our students, staff, and family members, regardless of circumstances.

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health or substance use challenges, Care Solace will help you navigate the process and find the best options. If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a provider:

• Call 888-515-0595. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365.
• Visit caresolace.com/d11 and either search on your own OR click "Book Appointment" for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.

Care Solace is a complimentary and confidential service provided by Colorado Springs School District 11.

Through discussion and action, let's shine a light on the multiple facets of Black resistance and perseverance against all odds. There is so much to uncover, amplify, question, and correct, and while we continue to take action every day, we share with you the following words of wisdom:

"Turn your wounds into wisdom" - Oprah Winfrey

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress" - Frederick Douglass

"If you prioritize yourself, you are going to save yourself." - Gabrielle Union

Leslie Clinite Ruiz, LCSW, MA

School Social Worker

Jackson Elementary School

Se Habla Español

(719) 328-5836 Desk

(719) 328-5800 Jackson Main office

(719) 328-5813 Attendance

Email: sara.miller@d11.org
Website: https://www.d11.org/Domain/37
Location: 4340 Edwinstowe Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Phone: 719-328-5800