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Jackson
Hole Middle School
Parent
Newsletter - October 2009
En Español
Communication Home:
We trust your
child’s first weeks of school have been engaging and full of learning. Mid-terms were mailed home last week,
and most of you should have heard from your child’s homebase teacher by
now. Teachers either have blogs
set up (access from our web-site) and/or send emails home on a regular basis to
help keep you informed on classroom happenings. I will be posting newsletters once a month on our website. If you do not have internet access,
please call the MS and I will send one home with your child.
Our first Parents Involved in
Education meeting will be Wed. Oct. 7 at 12:00. This meeting is an informal opportunity to meet with
the principal, Jean Coldsmith, to hear about initiatives at the MS, as well as
answer your questions.
Sixth grade parents:
For those of you
who are new to JHMS, we know it can be quite an adjustment for students…and
parents! To help you understand what Middle School and your pre-teen are all
about, we will have an evening meeting on Oct. 21 from 5:00 – 6:00 at the MS.
We will go over the basics of MS, the basics of the amazing growth that occurs
during the Middle School years, and to answer any of your questions! Sixth grade counselor Elise Stiegler
will be leading this event, and Jean Coldsmith will be there as well. We hope you can make it!
Bike/walk to School Day: Please encourage your child to ride their
bike to school every day – but especially this Thursday, Oct 8, our annual bike
(or walk or take the bus) to school day.
We want to encourage the exercise as well as the positive impact on the
environment by not using a car. Fruit and small snacks will be available at the Trails/Pathways
tent once at school, and there will be lunch time raffle prizes for student
participants. The following spots
will have adult escorts in the morning, but kids will be on their own at the
end of the school day. Be
sure to have them dress warmly!
Stilson
Ranch Pathway Trail Head- 7AM departure to school.
Sage
Meadows Trailhead (near Melody Ranch)- 7AM departure to school.
Rafter J HOA cabin- 7:10am departure to school
Phil Baux Park at the Base of Snow King- 7AM
departure to school.
Pathways Trail head at the NEW Post Office on Maple
Way- 7:10am departure to school
Eighth graders EXPLORE:
This informative test is designed to help 8th
grade students and their parents gain an understanding of the student’s
readiness for college, make the most of their opportunities in high school and
guide them as they start thinking about future educational and career
planning. Explore is part the ACT
College Readiness System and contains four academic tests – English, Mathematics,
Reading and Science, as well as an interest inventory. Results provide students with
information that can help them begin making plans for high school and beyond.
These testes are based on College Readiness Standards. These standards can be
found at www.act.org/standard. This is the first year we are
offering this to students.
Vision Statement:
You may have
noticed banners around our school with our new vision statement and belief
statements. We went through a year
long process last year in developing these statements, involving staff,
students and parents. We will use
these statements to drive our decisions, and are involving students in their
commitment to make it a reality. The
statement reads:
JHMS is a school where each
student is provided with an innovative and exceptional education that instills
integrity and promotes personal achievement in an ever changing world.
Our Beliefs
JHMS is committed to a set of
beliefs based on what we know about the middle school child, teaching and
learning, and what we need to ensure successful realization of our Vision. We believe…
…in respecting and valuing the
uniqueness of each child
…student mastery of reading,
writing and math is the foundation for life-long learning
…critical thinking, problem
solving and collaboration are vital skills for the 21 century student
…a safe and positive school
environment enhances learning
…staff, students and family
share the responsibility for learning
…high standards for learning
challenges students and increases achievement
Coming Events:
•
Wed. Oct 7 PIE
(Parents Involved in Education) Meeting 12:00
•
Thur. Oct 8 Bike/walk
to School Day
•
Thur. Oct 15 8th
grade EXPLORE testing
•
Tue/Wed Oct 20-21 Accreditation
Visit
•
Fri. Oct. 30 End
of Quarter
•
Fri. Oct. 30 Quarterly
Recognition
•
Tue/Wed. Nov. 3-4 Parent/teacher
conferences
Website:
Please check out our Website for more
Middle School information. New
sites include information about the different assessments (tests) kids take
through-out the year, as well as information on afterschool activities.
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