JMS Weekly Update

Dear JMS Families,

This week's Update contains information about the following:

• 8th Grade to HS Parent Transition Meeting - 1/5 @ 9:15AM - JMS Auditorium
• Promising Young Writers
• Parkway West CTC Field Trip - 8th Grade
• Athletics - Girls Basketball (grades 7-8)
• PTA - Parent Volunteer Opportunities
• Schoology Tip for Students

Take Care,

Dr. Sarah Shaw, Principal

sshaw@mtlsd.net

Mrs. Amanda Jackson, Assistant Principal

amandajackson@mtlsd.net

Monday - No School

Tuesday - Day 1

Wednesday - Day 2

Thursday - Day 3

Friday - Day 4

Monday (1/8) - Day 5

8th Grade Parent High School Transition Meeting - 1/5 @ 9:15 - JMS Auditorium

It is hard to believe, but it is time to start the process of sending our 8th graders off to the high school to do amazing things!

On Friday, January 5th at 9:15AM, we will be hosting a meeting to discuss the 8th grade transition to the High School. Two of the HS guidance counselors will host a parent meeting about the transition from middle school to high school, including the upcoming course selection process.

Additionally, all 8th grade families will be receiving a communication from the high school in the near future, inviting you to attend the High School Curriculum Night, date still TBD. Please know that your questions can be answered at the High School Curriculum Night if you are unable to attend our meeting on 1/5.

Our 8th grade students will also receive a presentation about the transition from high school guidance counselors during their math class in the coming weeks. JMS students that are currently taking a math course at the high school will receive this information in their high school math class.

Please contact the guidance office if you have questions regarding the transition to high school.

Promising Young Writers

On November 9, 43 eighth graders began writing for the NCTE Promising Young Writers Program in response to the theme they were given. Of those, 30 students put forth the necessary effort and time, completed the writing sample, and turned in a copy for evaluation. We are especially proud of them for their motivation and effort in seeing this opportunity to completion.

This year’s prompt was both challenging and open-ended. Of our 30 participants, 6 deserve recognition for their excellent work. The following students deserve an honorable mention for their performance:

• Zarina Azzam
• Rachel Boomhower
• Jack Brokaw
• Maria Burns
• Harper Davies
• Caleb Estel.

Of the 30 participants, two finalists from JMS have been chosen. These students will spend from now until early February revising their papers which will then be sent in for evaluation in the state competition. This year’s finalists should be very proud of themselves. With a challenging prompt, they composed insightful, original pieces that showed authentic voice. This year’s JMS Promising Young Writers Finalists are:

• Sophia Fabyonic
• Lucy Moon

Congratulations, Sophia and Lucy!

Parkway West Career and Technology Center - 8th Grade Students

Is your child interested in hands on learning? Are they interested in learning a trade. If so, learn more about Parkway West Career and Technology Center! Parkway has some really awesome programs.

It’s time again for our annual visit to Parkway West CTC! 8th grade students will have the opportunity to attend a field trip to Parkway on Friday, January 12th. While there, students will shadow and explore 2 programs of interest to them.

Below is a link to the permission slip and Parkway interest survey. Students must complete both forms to attend the field trip. Forms must be submitted to Mrs. Schneider by January 2, 2024.

• Mt. Lebanon School District Career Exploration Program Choices Survey
• Permission Form

PTA - Parent Volunteer Opportunities

Thank you for helping our JMS community continue to provide wonderful enrichment opportunities for our students. It’s only with your help that we are able to do so. I am excited for what’s to come! Our PTA executive board has been working incredibly hard with administration to bring some old and new events to JMS! Please consider volunteering your time to help us make this a possibility. We are hopeful that these opportunities can begin this year and will be set in place for years to come. We need your help to make this a reality!

• JMS gardens
• Talent Show
• International Night
• Art Show
• Student Service Projects
• Family Welcome or End of the Year Celebration
• Family Fundraising Event

If you’d like to volunteer or are interested in learning more about how you can help our JMS community, please contact: Marisa Hupe

One-to-One Technology

Students in grades 6-8 are required to bring a non-cell phone device with them to school every day. If you would like to borrow a device for your student in grades 6-8, you can submit a request to borrow one from the District on this page.

This page is also where you can report a problem/damage to your student's District-owned device using our form. This page also explains and provides a link to enroll in the District's annual Equipment Protection Plan (EPP) to limit any charges that might come from accidental damage to your student's District-owned device. This plan is optional and is not required.

Middle School Athletics

You can learn everything you need to know about Middle School Athletics, including starting dates, by visiting the MS Athletics Webpage.

Girls Basketball - Grades 7-8

Tryout dates : Thursday, Jan. 4th and Friday, Jan. 5th in the JMS gym. 8th grade will tryout from 3:30-4:45 and 7th grade will tryout from 4:45 until 6:00. Any student that is interested in trying out must be registered through FamilyID. Access to Family ID is on the Athletic Department's website.

Please reachout to Coach Wingen with any questions

PTA Membership and DIrectory Access

JMS PTA Membership Toolkit is now open for the coming 2023-2024 school year.

Join the PTA!!!

A portion of your membership and donations help support these various activities and events...the school musical, Canteen Day, Staff Welcome Back Breakfast, Field Trips and class enrichment, teacher appreciation, writing celebration, supplies for the nurses office, 8th grade end of the year celebration, 8th grade career day, high notes festival, art all day, Veterans Day, international night, assemblies, and much more!

In addition, last school year the PTA was able to purchase a new water bottle filler and picnic table for the courtyard!

Directory access is available to JMS PTA members only.

Join today!

Safe 2 Say Something

Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” BEFORE it is too late. With Safe2Say Something, it’s easy and confidential to report safety concerns to help prevent violence and tragedies.

Here’s how it works:

• Submit a report through the Safe2SaySomething system
• Crisis center reviews, assesses and processes all submissions
• Crisis center sends all submissions to school administration and/or law enforcement for intervention
• If needed, crisis center may contact tipster anonymously through the app

Free/Reduced Lunch Program

Children need healthy meals to learn, so the Mt. Lebanon School District is committed to offer healthy meals every school day for our students. For the 2023-2024 school year, breakfast is free for all students; lunch costs $2.65 for elementary students and $2.80 for middle school and high school students. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals. Reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch. Click the link below for free or reduced price meal benefits, and a set of detailed instructions to help you apply.

Free/Reduced Meal Application

You can also apply for free and reduced meals online via the state's COMPASS portal.

Local Resources for Families

The MTLSD School Counselors in partnership with The Allegheny Children's Initiative Inc., have compiled a list of social services resources that may be helpful to you and your family. Please take a look and reach out to these organizations. They are here to help with any of the following:

• Food
• Rent/Mortgage
• Utilities
• Pets
• Abuse
• Mental Health
• General Assistance

The Jefferson Middle School learning community has an exceptional reputation for its dedicated teachers, staff and parents working together to provide learning experiences for our children that include high expectations, a challenging curriculum and a shared commitment to provide the best education possible for each and every student.