Students who were receiving free or reduced-price meal benefits last school year must fill out a NEW meal application for the 2016-17 school year. If benefits are denied or reduced when the new application is approved, families will have ten days before the change in eligibility takes effect. Students who have NOT submitted a NEW application will be required to pay full price for school meals starting Tuesday, October 11, 2016.
Apply online www.pps.net/
TAG night at Jackson Middle School is Wednesday, October 19, 2016, from 5:30pm to 6:15pm in the library. This is an informational meeting open to current TAG parents, as well as parents interested in learning more about TAG.
Parents who are interested in having their child tested for TAG may nominate them. Forms are available on the TAG bulletin board across from the main office, on the PPS Parent TAG website, or by contacting Virginia Hayter (vhayter@pps.net). ALL NOMINATIONS ARE DUE BY NOVEMBER 17, 2016.
TAG surveys for parents and students were sent out last week from the PPS TAG Office via email. Please complete the survey and return it to your student’s Language Arts teacher. If you need a hard copy, please contact the TAG office at 503-916-3358 or email Virginia Hayter (vhayter@pps.net).
We received a late delivery of bark dust for Jackson planter beds this fall and need a little help getting it spread. A few people and an hour will get the job down. Bring a wheelbarrow and shovels. The two bark piles can be found in the front of the building and need to be spread in the planter near where it lays so that everyone’s hard work this summer won’t go to waste.
Thank you in advance if you are able to take this one.
Remember that Picture Day is next Friday! Order forms were sent home in the first day packet, and more are available in the main office. If you would prefer to order online, you may do so. Click here for a copy of the order form, which includes instructions to order online.
Be on the lookout for cookie dough fundraiser materials on Friday afternoon. This is a great, and delicious, way for the students to raise money to support activities at Jackson. We appreciate your support!
What a FANTASTIC first week! Great to see all the halls filled and classrooms alive with students and teachers.
As the year gets off to a great start I wanted to help our students and families keep that momentum by reminding us all that communication is key to the success of your child. One of the best ways to stay connected is to us ParentVUE weekly. Check on your child’s progress as the year progresses and engage them about specific marks and projects. Link here for more about ParentVue access.
Many Jackson teachers maintain classroom websites with project calendars and homework help. Look here for your child’s teachers.
Staff contact information can be found on the school website at jacksonpps.net. Please reach out to teachers, counselors, and office staff with any question or concern. We are here to help.
This year, we have a new Wednesday schedule! Every Wednesday that is not a late opening, students will have an additional 24 minutes with their first period teacher. We are calling this Success Wednesday. During this time, students will explore various social topics as well as monthly goal setting. Last Wednesday students were introduced to the Jackson Matrix, a way to talk about and share the expectations we have at JMS for all, students and teachers. Parents can find a copy of the Jackson Matrix here or from the school website click on “Our School : Student Handbook and Climate”. This coming week students will begin to develop their “insight card”. This card will be shared with teachers and parents helping students document progress and goals.
Dear Parents and Guardians:
Welcome to a great new year at Jackson Middle School! Whether this is your first experience at Jackson, or you are a seasoned veteran, your PTA looks forward to working with you to ensure all of our children’s academic success! The Jackson team consists of many players–administrators, teachers, support staff, PTA–and YOU! By working together we can provide a wonderful year of learning and academic growth for our children.
Our PTA serves as a forum where parents, teachers, administrators, and other interested community members work together to promote quality education, strive to expand the arts, encourage community involvement, and work for a healthy environment and safe neighborhoods.
Through our PTA meetings, newsletters, this website, and the Parents of Jackson Facebook group, the Jackson PTA strives to keep you informed and provide you with opportunities to be involved and have a say in funding decisions and PTA programs. Jackson PTA membership fees, fundraising campaigns and community donations support the Bernstein Artful Learning Program and our amazing Culture Day, provide staff grants for classroom materials, and fund special requests. Some special requests include the current Full Chrome Jackson project to bring 1-to- 1 Chromebooks to our kids for their Language Arts classes.
Volunteer opportunities in middle school differ somewhat from those you have experienced at the elementary level, in that they are event-centered, rather than classroom-centered. At Jackson, we have volunteer opportunities for many events, such as:
We encourage you to take the first step and become a member of the PTA. Your support communicates to the school and community that you are invested in the success of the programs and events that make Jackson excel.
Join us on for our first PTA meeting of the year on Wednesday, August 31 st at Round Table on Barbur Blvd. Get to know your PTA board, visit with Mr. C and some of the JMS teachers and enjoy pizza dinner, beer and soda.
Thank you for your support and please consider adding your voice to the PTA Board for next year. Contact any of the officers here if you want to learn more about the PTA and opportunities to get involved.
We now have an online form where you can quickly and easily join the Jackson PTA! Just go to Jackson PTA Membership Enrollment Form and submit your family’s information. All transactions are handled through paypal.com (you do not need to have an account with PayPal to use their services).
Or, if you’d rather pay by check, please leave your completed 2016-17 membership form in the PTA box in the school office along with a check or money order made out to Jackson PTA. If you are having problems downloading or printing the form, it will also be available in the school office once school has started.
Membership dues for the 2016-17 school year are the same as last year:
Need more information? Please contact our membership coordinator.
A quick shout out to the hot, sweaty families who came out last Thursday for our Jackson community care day!!! We had a dedicated few who painted, mowed, pulled weeds, pruned trees, cleaned out cracks, whacked weeds and hauled A BUNCH of debris away.
There’s still A LOT of work to be done.
If you have a gas powered trimmer or weed eater, please consider coming by for an hour or two with a yard debris bag or two and whack away!
We will be receiving bark dust in the next several days so watch for a volunteer request for spreading bark dust. This is a GREAT job for middle schoolers to get a few of their volunteer hours in for the year!” – Debora Cox, PTA President
Thank you all so very much. The front of the building looks great! What a team. Thank you as well to those who helped paint the new Spanish classroom. Looks so much better. We are looking like a new school year is about to begin! Thank you JMS community for doing so much for our school and our kids. – Kevin Crotchett, Principal
The halls are buzzing with energy as we begin to wrap up an amazing year at Jackson Middle School. This past year has seen so many fantastic successes: from band to ensemble, Battle of the Books to PentaGames, drama productions, Learnstein and PTA/community events, Bernstein Artful Learning projects, awesome fun nights, mock trials, outdoor school, growth and learning. I wish I had counted through the year the number of times a teacher, student, parent, or guest at Jackson commented on our students and school. There is an intense pride for and at Jackson and even the shortest stroll through the halls provides reason.
As the year draws to an end, I thank our students who amaze me every day with their thinking, kindness, and energy for life. Thank you teachers for your intense focus, dedication and love for our kids and teaching. Parents, thank you for every moment you give to your children and to Jackson. Together, each year we make something incredible happen and I am so proud to be a part of it.
Kevin Crotchett
