Family Update - May 23, 2021

BELL SCHEDULE FOR MAY 24 - MAY 27

A/B & PERIOD ROTATION FOR ALL IN LEARNING - Click HERE to access our updated calendar.  Thanks for your patience waiting for this!

ONLINE ACADEMY SECTION

Nothing new to report

ALL EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS

MAY IMPORTANT DATES

May 27 - Last Day for Students

May 27 - Early Dismissal, 1:30pm (See Schedule below)

May 27 - 8th Grade Parade on Coventry Road, 3:15pm

THURSDAY, 27TH IS AN EARLY DISMISSAL FOR ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS - Students will be dismissed from the building at 1:30pm on the last day of school.  Please be sure to make arrangements with your children regarding pick up. The schedule for this day is below.

Thursday, May 27th Early Release Schedule (Last Day of School)

SUMMER READING - Please go to this link - Summer Reading 2021 for information for the JMS summer reading requirements for the 2021-22 school year. Thank you!

IPAD SWAP OUT MAKEUP DATE - Any 8th grader who did not swap out their ipad should do so on Monday, May 24th from 2-3:30pm in the Jones LC. 

SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM -  Please be sure to check the email that was sent on Friday the 21st regarding this year's Summer BRIDGE Program. There are a lot of great opportunities for students to work on achievement and well-being this June, and registration will open Tuesday at noon.. Any questions can be directed to: [email protected]

OPPORTUNITY FOR RISING FRESHMEN AT UAHS - 8th graders who are passionate about fostering an inclusive and welcoming school community and would like to learn to be change-makers are encouraged to sign up to participate in Ambassadors of Change next year at UAHS.  This student leadership group meets during the school day once a week. Ambassadors of Change offers great opportunities to meet students outside of class and to have a positive impact on the school culture. Students should indicate their interest by May 27 by filling out this form.  Contact Ambassadors of Change co-facilitator Ms. Fellinger with questions: [email protected].

SUMMER MATH ACADEMY - Summer Math Camp is being offered by UA Schools Summer Academy. Please press here for more information.

HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT PASS/FAIL OPTION - After much consideration, Upper Arlington High School administrators and District leaders have decided to extend the pass/fail option offered for first semester to second semester as well. Students will have the ability to choose up to any two courses to take pass/fail for semester 2.

The pass/fail option is really designed for students who have been putting forth their best effort, but due to circumstances out of their control, have not been able to achieve at the same level to which they are accustomed. The process for selecting the pass/fail option begins with communication with your Jones grade level counselor.

Guidelines:

• Students and parents interested in taking a class pass/fail are strongly encouraged to discuss with the counselor.
• Students may choose up to any two courses to take pass/fail for the current semester only.
• Courses taken for pass/fail will not count toward the calculation of GPA.
• Courses taken for pass/fail will show up on official transcripts with either a P or an F.
• Pass = 60% and above 
• Fail = Below 60% and no credit 

Important Date:

• May 27, 2021 - Decision must be made by emailing your grade level counselor.
• STUDENTS ASSIGNED DISTRICT LAPTOPS FOR SPECIFIC COURSES - HS AND MS - All students who are currently in possession of a district laptop must return those laptops to the building media center or HS Help Desk on or before the last day of school.  Laptops not returned will be remotely disabled and families will be charged a full replacement fee.  The technology department can see and monitor individuals using these devices. If you have questions please email [email protected].

ATTENTION ALL 6TH GRADE PARENTS - Beat the August rush to the pediatrician’s office and schedule your child’s well check -up today!

• Students entering 7th grade this August are required to have the booster shot called Tdap.  Don’t confuse this with the series your child got when they were under 5 years old!  This booster vaccine is for preteens and teens.  See the links below for more information.
• Students entering 7th grade this August are also required to get a meningococcal shot.  See the link below for more information.
• Send your child’s  immunization record to the School Nurse at [email protected]
• This week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 to include adolescents 12 through 15 years of age. Check with your child’s pediatrician to see if this vaccine is right for your child.   Having your child immunized for COVID-19 may prevent future quarantining from school and other activities for next year.
• For more information about Health Services at Jones Middle School please visit my website at this link https://www.uaschools.org/JonesHealthOffice.aspx .  Or you can go to uaschools.org, then Our Schools, choose Jones Middle School, then click on the Health Office tab on the left. There you will find health forms and information for next year!
• Finally, please make arrangements to have your child’s medication picked up from the Health Office before the end of the year.  Medication for 8th graders will not be transferred to the high school due to the ongoing construction.

SYNTERO PARENT NEWSLETTER - Many of us have heard the phrase, “children don’t come with a handbook telling us how to raise them” yet we also know how tough parenting can be, especially in times like these! That’s why the Syntero School-Based Prevention Team is excited to announce that we have recently created a Syntero Parent Newsletter campaign. Each month a newsletter will be distributed which highlights a relevant mental health and/or substance use topic along with tips and tricks to help parents feel empowered, educated and ready to tackle tough conversations and situations with their children. It will also offer parenting resources as well as information about Syntero School-Based prevention offerings, such as upcoming parent workshops, for all of the districts that we serve.

Please feel free to share this Syntero Parent Newsletter Sign-Up link with any and all parents, families and guardians that you feel could benefit from it. 

Please send questions or comments to: [email protected].

TALENT SHOW 2020-2021 - Click here to view the talent show.

VOLLEYBALL OPEN GYMS & TRYOUT DATES - Attention current 6th and 7th graders girls interested in playing volleyball in the Fall. Open gyms will be held;

Dates:

Jones Volleyball Open Gyms 

July 6 - At JONES 4:00pm-5:30pm

July 14 - At JONES 9:00am-10:30am

July 20 - At JONES 4:00pm-5:30pm

July 27 - At JONES 9:00am-10:30am

July 29 – AT JONES 9:00am-10:30am

Tryouts will be held  August 2nd, 3rd, 4th from 8:00 am to 9:30 am in the Jones Middle School Gymnasium. A 3-day tryout is required.

FIELD HOCKEY YOUTH CAMP - June 21 - June 25, 5:45 to 8pm at Marv Moorehead Stadium, 4th through 8th graders. Press here for registration.

FUTURE UAHS GIRLS SOCCER PLAYERS - Annual Middle School Camp (girls entering grades 6-8) will be at Tremont Turf Field from 4:30-6:15pm June 14-17. Please fill out the registration form at the UAGS website for more information HERE. Deadline to register is May 14, 2021.

SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY DEVICES MUST REMAIN IN THE COUNTRY - This is a reminder that district-owned devices - laptops and iPads - are not permitted outside the country.  If you are planning on traveling outside of the country the device should be left at home or school in a secure location.  Since our devices are proxied and we do not allow access to our network from devices that reside outside of the United States, your device would most likely not be able to connect to content anyway.

WITHDRAWING STUDENTS & SENIORS - Families with confirmed plans on moving or withdrawing from UACS must turn in their iPads and/or laptops on the last day of school to their advisory teacher or the media specialist. Families who move or withdraw over the summer months must return their district owned iPad to the Graf Center and can make arrangements by emailing [email protected]. Failure to return the iPad will result in a $310 fee and a transcript hold until the device is returned or the fee is paid. Additionally, the iPad will be remotely locked and unusable. 

BUS GUESTS RIDERSHIP IS SUSPENDED - Due to COVID guidelines and contact tracing, our Transportation Department is suspending guest ridership on buses for the remainder of the year. Though this is something we totally support, student safety is our priority. Some buses are at capacity and seats are assigned. Please reach out to Don Williams ([email protected]) with questions. 

JMS YEARBOOK - Place your orders online for a 2020-21 Jones Yearbook. Please go to www.jostensyearbooks.com. Deadline for purchasing yearbooks is May 28.

SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES - The Educational Service Center of Central Ohio has put together a resource directory of summer camp and summer school opportunities for students with disabilities for this upcoming summer.  

FLYER CONNECTION -  Be sure to visit the Flyer Connection to keep up with programs and opportunities available to Upper Arlington students and families! 

CLINIC NEWS - If you are looking for information on our middle school Health Services, please visit the Jones Health Services webpage by clicking and bookmarking the site here!

You will find valuable information about immunization requirements and medication forms.  For the most up to date information, click on the current newsletter!

Stay healthy! Jane Mead, School Nurse

COVID-19 TRAVEL ADVISORIES  - Please be aware of the following guidance if you are planning to travel outside of the state of Ohio or the country.

• If you are leaving the state of Ohio and traveling within the United States, please check to see if your destination is on Ohio's COVID-19 Travel Advisory list. It is advised that anyone entering Ohio from a state with a high incidence of COVID-19 quarantine for 14 days from the time they left that state. The list of states is updated every Wednesday. Please note that if the state you have traveled to is added to the list while you are there, it is advised that your student quarantine for 14 days before returning to school. 
• If you are planning to travel outside the country, please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for recommendations by country. 

SPEAK UP - SAFETY REPORTING LINK - Click HERE

FOLLOW JONES MIDDLE SCHOOL ON SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY!!!

Instagram – @jones_middle

Twitter - @jmsbears

                 @jonesfine

JMS PTO

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - The PTO is looking for volunteers for the 2021-2022 school year! Please review the form attached below if you are interested in getting involved! There are so many opportunities for ways to get involved with varying levels of involvement including many with very minimal or flexible time commitments! Please reach out to Ali Petty at [email protected] or 513 227 7650 if you have any questions at all. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxypbYL2oLiI_ptwDbC36N9VfqTFulH0BVOP4x9VL7-bLHoQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

STUDENT DIRECTORY - Last year, Jones, Barrington and Tremont moved to Membership Toolkit for the online student directory. Many of you already have an account, but may need to make updates (address changes, etc.) If you are new to the district and do have an account, it is easy to set up!

Go to https://jonesmspto.membershiptoolkit.com

• Click on the Register/Login button.
• If you are creating a new account for the first time, select “Create Account” and fill in the name, email and password information.
• Click “Verify My Email” and then check your email for a link to complete the process. The link expires in two hours. If you have not received the email, check your spam or junk folders.
• Once you have verified your email address, log back in and finish the registration process. Once you are logged in, you can review your family’s account page:
• Complete the Parent/Family and Student Information.
• Complete the Directory/Publish Preferences.

Family Connect Program:  We are here to help connect new families who could use help navigating all the things related to school and community (such as academics, sports, clubs, PTO, extracurriculars, community traditions and celebrations, etc.) to those families who have more experience. Our end goal with this program is to promote hospitality and friendship. If you are new to the school and interested in being connected to a Host Family, please click here:

https://forms.gle/Hn6UovsaV3C5W7q37

If you are interested in learning more about being a Host Family, please click here:

https://forms.gle/dNnqMiQ16snrWefH7

If you have any questions at all please contact Elaine Alicea ([email protected]) or Lisa Wang ([email protected])