Dear Parents and Guardians-

I would like to start off this edition by expressing my thanks to all of you.  I appreciate how welcome you have all made my return to JMS.  I truly enjoyed my first tenure here and look forward to many years of working with all of you!

We are going to continue our focus on conferences this week.  Many parents are not quite sure what to expect at conferences so below are some tips for prior, during and after conferences.

Scheduling the conference (if you have not done so already)

• Remember that Monday November 21st conferences are at Jackson or online

• Tuesday, November 22nd are online conferences only.

• Go to myconferencetime.com/jaguar. You'll need their teachers' last names - look in Paretvue for their schedule

• Go to the teachers name on the website and fill in the information, once you have a confirmation you’re booked

• Remember that conferences are not on a walk in basis

• The website will close on Sunday evening 11/20 at 8pm if you need to cancel a conference or see what other openings are available, please call the school or come to the main office on Monday.

• Before the conference

• Ask your child how they feel about school.

• Ask your child if there is anything that they want you to talk about with their teacher.

• Tell your child that you and the teacher are meeting to help them.

• Make a list of topics that you want to talk about with the teacher.

• Prepare a list of questions such as:

• 1. What are my child's strongest and weakest subjects?
  2. Does my child hand homework in on time?
  3. Does my child participate in class?
  4. Does my child seem happy at school?
  5. What can I do at home to help?

During the conference

• Have your child attend the conference

• Be on time (or early) for the meeting.

• End the meeting on time. Other parents will probably have a conference after yours.

• Relax and be yourself.

• Stay calm during the conference.

• Ask the most important questions first.

• If your child receives special services such as English classes or special education, ask about your child's progress in those classes.

• Ask for explanations of anything you don't understand

• Ask your child's teacher for ways that you can help your child at home.

• Thank the teacher.

After the conference

• Talk about the conference with your child.

• Talk about the positive points, and be direct about problems.

• Tell your child about any plans you and the teacher created.

• Keep in touch with the teacher during the school year.

That is it for this week!

From the PTA:
Teacher Appreciation

Volunteer opportunities for "Staff appreciation lunch and dinner" are now available for Teacher Conferences on Monday, November 21st.

Please click on the following web links (or copy into your web browser if clicking doesn't work) to go to the signup sheet:

JMS Staff Salad Bar Lunch: volunteersignup.org/KQ3XP 

JMS Staff Taco Dinner: volunteersignup.org/PYTBQ

To sign up, just follow the instructions on the page. It only takes a few seconds to do.

Thank you for volunteering!

 

SUN School Newsletter

Food pickup

SUN’s monthly food pickup will be Tuesday November 22nd from 2-3.  Pick up is outside of the cafeteria to the right of the school near the track.  We are hoping that this pickup will include Thanksgiving items, fingers crossed!  As always we thank Neighborhood house for their tremendously generous contributions.  

Amazon Wishlist

I have split our Amazon Wishlist into two separate wishlists, one that is for items needed for SUN after school programming and clubs, and one that is for items requested by families. If you choose to buy any of these items, they will be sent to the school for me to distribute properly.  The links to the lists are below, to add things to the lists please email me at loneill@impactnw.org!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/A2NGJ5M5Y4F7/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2MV5A6G9X9G9G/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2

As always, please reach out to us if you have any questions!

Liam O’Neill P: 503-679-1545 E:loneill@impactnw.org 

Noora Khalaf P:503-997-1154 E: nkhalaf@impactnw.org

    Back to School Night is September 29th

Below is the schedule for Back to School Night on September 29.

5:15 Ensemble Fundraising Dinner (Details Below)

6:00-6:25 ELL Information Meeting in Library Classroom

6:30-6:50 Introductions and PTA presentation in auditorium

7:00-7:10    Period 1

7:15-7:25    Period 2

7:30-7:40    Period 3/4

7:45-7:55   Period 5

8:00-8:10   Period 6

8:15-8:25   Period 7

Preview attachment Back To School Night Invite.pdf

 

 

Back To School Night Invite.pdf

104 KB

 

Dear Jackson Community,

My name is John Ferraro and I am honored to have been selected as the interim principal at Jackson Middle School.  For some of you my name may seem familiar, and if so, you have a great memory!  I was also privileged to be the principal at Jackson Middle School for the  2008-2013 school years.

I am very excited to be returning to Jackson on many levels.  I am looking forward to getting reacquainted with staff and parents who were here during my first run as well as getting to meet and greet all of the new faces who have arrived since I have been gone.

I would like to take a moment and address the word interim.  I want to assure each and every one of you that I intend to bring my full focus, every day, to ensure that each and every child has the opportunity to demonstrate academic success.  Our job as educators is to provide students with academic and organizational skills so they can be successful not only in middle school, but high school, college and beyond.

I will take the time to look at current school systems and work with the community to determine what is working well and what adjustments need to be made for student success.  That is my commitment to you as a community.

One thing that I learned after working at many schools throughout my career is that there are two things that ensure the success of a school:  strong relationships and collaborative partnerships.  I am looking forward to developing both of those areas with you and enhancing the already strong program that Jackson Middle School provides our students.

I look forward to beginning my second tenure with the community of Jackson Middle School!

Sincerely,

John Ferraro

Important Dates:

8/29 Schedule and Chromebook Pick up (see below for details)

8/30 First day for 6th graders only 9:15-3:45 (new 7th and 8th graders are also welcome, but must have a ride home at 12:45pm)

8/31 First day for all students

9/5 Labor Day, No School

9/21 Picture Day

9/23 No School for Students

9/29 Back to School Night

Schedule and Chromebook Pick-up AUGUST 29th, 10am-1pm

If you have time, please come to Jackson Middle School on Monday to pick up your child’s schedule and Chromebook.  Schedules that aren’t printed will be available to 6th grade students on Tuesday morning and 7th/8th grade students on Wednesday morning. 

***6th graders will get their Chromebooks later, but should still come for a schedule.  

Student Schedules

Here are some essential things to know regarding class schedules: 

Elective Choices: Forecasting happened in the spring.  We do our best to make sure students get their choices, but it is not always possible.  

Schedule Requests: We cannot take requests for having a particular teacher, for getting a class for a specific period, or with specific friends.  With over 800 students and the many unique class offerings, our schedule is very complex and we do not have the capacity to meet requests like these.  We believe strongly in the opportunity to make new friends.  Thank you for honoring this.  

ONLY for elective choice changes, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/vVULQjWFcN2yPU2BA

Meals No Longer Free this School Year 

To apply for free and reduced price meals, go here: https://www.pps.net/Page/2464

To pay for school meals go here: https://www.pps.net/Page/18300

Bus Information

Check your child's bus/bus stop in advance.  Buses are not run through our school, so you will need to call transportation with questions.  

Here is the site: https://www.pps.net/bus

Drop off and Pick Up

PLEASE DO NOT use the parking lot in front of the school for drop off or pick up.  It is reserved for our buses from 8:30-9:15am and 3:20-4:15pm.  Families use the upper parking lot, on the north side of the school (closest to 35th).

Supply Lists

Find our supply list here: 2022-23  

Students should bring all communal supplies to the office.  

Locating Information

We have a lot of digital resources for families, where you can find information on our schedule, programs, contact information, and much more.  

School Website: https://www.pps.net/jackson

• school events calendar, schedules and district information

• teachers and staff contact info.

• school rules and policies

• anonymously report bullying and social concerns

• learn about electives, clubs, and after school activities

Canvas: https://lms.pps.net/login/ldap

• You will find grades on both ParentVue and Canvas.  We strongly encourage you to make a routine at home to check your child’s binder and planner, and online grades.  

ParentVue Login: 

 https://parent-portland.cascadetech.org/portland/PXP2_Login.aspx

You should receive an activation letter this week. (call our main office if you haven’t received it by Friday).  

For further directions on how to log in go here:  https://www.pps.net/Page/2341

It's summer, so what are you going to do? Get some school supplies!

2022-23

In Gratitude

November 17, 2022

Dear PPS families and students,

Every week, I am filled with joy and gratitude when I visit our school communities. We have a community that continues to demonstrate a commitment to the success of our children and youth. We have adults who care deeply for our students, and who work hard to ensure each child thrives.

Dear PPS Community,

I want to recognize, on this Veterans Day, all those individuals who have served our country, especially those members of our families and local community who have previously worn a uniform. I want to take this moment to also thank the many veterans who continue their public service by choosing to work in the Portland Public Schools.

Dear PPS Families,

There has been a surge in pediatric respiratory illnesses other than COVID-19 such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus/enterovirus, and influenza around the country this fall. Health departments in other states have seen children presenting with multiple respiratory illnesses. According to the Oregon Health Authority, rates of respiratory disease are currently relatively low in our state, but that could change based on the arrival of winter weather, and any increase in rates has the potential to overwhelm our hospital system.

PPS takes these steps to ensure healthy school environments so that in-person learning can continue. In accordance with CDC guidance, we are also urging families to take steps to protect themselves and minimize the spread of communicable diseases in our schools. 

Dear PPS Families,

Every special education student deserves a high-quality and equitable learning experience. This belief is born from my lived experiences as an educator, and from my relationships with students receiving special education services and their families. Students that receive special education services are our community’s children, and the reason why many of us became educators.