All posts by Candida Bell

Volunteer at or donate to the PTA Clothing Center

Monday, January 9, is Jackson’s next day to work at the PTA Clothing Center. Please click here to volunteer on January 9.

The PTA Clothing Center has assisted nearly 900 students since school began this year. They would not be able to meet the needs of the kids without wonderful volunteers. If you have never volunteered at the clothing center, you will get a short training by the volunteer supervisors when you arrive. 

The clothing center is located at Marshall High School, 3905 SE 91st (cross streets are SE 92nd and Powell). Once at Marshall, remember to sign in and out in the main office. Volunteer hours are from 9:30am – 1:30pm.

Donations

The clothing center is extremely low on middle school and high school-sized warm winter coats, as well as new hats, scarves and gloves. Please consider donating as well as volunteering. Donations can be made in the main office at Jackson.

Winter Weather Reminders

With weather reports forecasting the possibility of winter conditions this week, we would like to share some reminders about how you can access information about inclement weather:

  • PPS will email and call families to share information about any delays or closures
  • PPS will post information on the PPS home page, as well as all school websites
  • You can receive text alerts about school delays and closures by texting “YES” to 68453
  • Check local news stations in the morning before school to see if there are any updates

It is also important to note that schools in some parts of the city may face more weather-related disruption than others, so pay attention to school-specific delays or closures. School bus drivers gave snow route information to each student on Friday, in anticipation of the possibility that they will need to be used. Keep warm!

Sign up for Party Boards Here

Spaces are still available for the following boards. To purchase your spot, select the event from the dropdown menu. Payment goes directly to the PTA through paypal.com. An email will be sent to confirm your purchase and spot on the party board.

Questions? Email Jessica.


Parties Open




Make Your Own Glass Pendant With Ms. Doslu & Ms. Nelson – $30
In Early 2017

Students will have the opportunity to make their own glass pendant! This one is a two step party, first day spent creating the pendant. It will be fired, then assembled by students at a later date. Open only to Jackson students.

Magic the Gathering Card Tournament With Mr. Walker & Mr. Brislin – $30
January 26th, 2017 after school

Snacks, prizes & Magic the Gathering. Bring your cards to JMS 8th Grade Pod on January 26th to get in on the action. Open only to Jackson students.

Columbia Gorge Hike With Mr. Coats & Mr. Cameron – $30
March 2017

Spring Hike exploring the Columbia River Gorge with some of Jackson’s favorites! Open only to Jackson students.

Explore Portlandia With Mr. Parrott, Mr. Matteri & Mr. Carchedi – $30
April 2017

Spring Hike through wonderful Portland with visits to parks and discussions of our city’s history! Open to Jackson students, parents and siblings.

Bowling at Big Al’s With Mr. Niebergall, Ms. Smith & Ms. Norgaard – $35
Tentatively March 10, 2017

Spend a Friday night on the lanes and see how you stack up! Open only to Jackson students.

Guys’ Drama Night – FREE!
Early 2017, 6-8pm at JMS

Ever thought acting might be cool but you didn’t know how to start? Come to Guys’ Drama Night to join in a fun theater experience to see if drama is for you! This night is for boys at Jackson only and will involve improvisational games, videos, short scenes, and food. Open only to the first 25 Jackson boys that sign up!

Don’t Miss Awesome Fun Night!

On Friday every student was given a permission slip for Awesome Fun Night, which will be on Friday, December 9, from 6pm to 8:30pm. Extra copies are available in the office, or you can reprint it here. Students will need the permission slip to attend.

Tickets are $5 if paid in advance, or $7 at the door. Tickets for food will be available the night of the event (pizza slices will be $1, and snacks/drinks will be 50 cents each). Don’t miss it – it will be Awesome and Fun!!

Letter from the Principal

Dear JMS Parents and Students,

Over the last few weeks I have walked the halls of Jackson Middle School talking with our students. I have had the opportunity to speak with many parents during conferences, PTA meetings, at LEARNstein, and simply when passing by in the halls or office. I have spent time with our teachers during PD, in the classrooms, at the copier, and around the water cooler. There is no question that for all of us, students and adults alike, current events that surround us weigh heavily on our minds. This is not about politics, but it is about many of us finding ourselves in a moment in time when it is important to reaffirm our commitment to each other, to our community, and to our value of acceptance and anti-hate.
To that end, students have had a number of small, timely, teachable moments in the classrooms that remind us of basic values that we hold important. These discussions, some impromptu while others planned and facilitated, will certainly continue as your children are often the ones leading the way in these meaningful conversations.
Over the next two Wednesdays, all classrooms will be engaging in discussions, role playing activities, and lessons around empathy. Adolescence is a time when we begin to define ourselves more by our relationships with others. Understanding empathy is the first step in understanding what it means to be an up-stander rather than a by-stander. Empathy builds our relationships with others and aides in creating a school and community environment that embraces every one of us as an individual with talents, goals, dreams, and emotions.

The “Be A Hero” wall in the cafeteria will remain through the month for all to post and read. It is a graffiti wall for students to express concern and care for their community near and far.

In the coming week, we look forward to introducing our new counselor to Jackson, who will work closely with Ms. De Leon while Ms. Knochel is on leave. Together, they will continue the work of caring for all our students, helping them to solve problems and express concerns.

These efforts, activities, and opportunities are all aimed at reassuring our students and reminding our community that Jackson Middle School stands united for and because of our diversity. Together we must care for one another to protect that diversity. For our young teens, this is a constant reminder that words have power and we must choose to use them to build each other up.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you for being amazing parents working as a community to raise our outstanding JMS students.


Kevin Crotchett

Scholastic Book Fair Won’t Be Open Without YOUR Help!

We desperately need volunteers to man the scholastic book fair or we will have to close during key hours! Consider calling a friend and signing up together. We still need help setting up AND taking down the fair, as well as volunteers Wednesday morning and various times throughout Thursday. Jackson kids look forward to the book fair each year and parents enjoy buying books as a way to reward their kids for good news. If you have some time that week, please consider volunteering some of it.

https://www.volunteersignup.org/3TYLD?utm_source=Jackson+MS&utm_campaign=450741dfb5-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2016_11_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_afc003a8c8-450741dfb5-158495369