Week 18

Good Afternoon JMS Families,

Here at JMS, we are ready to make 2023 a year filled with success. We are looking forward to providing students with opportunities so that they can continue to grow and learn.

I want to ask our families to be mindful of re-establishing the necessary routines to ensure that your students are in attendance and on time each morning to get each school day off to a great start. In addition to morning routines, I also ask our families to continue to be mindful of early dismissal habits as well. Although there are times when an occasional early dismissal is necessary for an appointment or urgent family need, early dismissals should be minimal as this loss of instructional time can certainly affect a student’s performance. As always, I appreciate your support as our teachers and students strive to maximize their instructional time shared each day.

Student Social Strengths Screener

Jacques Memorial School is committed to every student's academic growth as well as their social emotional and behavioral growth. It is our shared goal that our students develop the skills required to regulate their emotions, develop positive relationships and make responsible decisions. As part of this process, we are asking all parents to complete a Student Social Strengths Screener. This brief survey asks several questions regarding your student’s social skills such as responsibility, learning habits, and peer/adult relationships.

Classroom teachers will also complete the screener This will help identify any students that may need additional support or interventions for social/ emotional/behavioral development. Please click on the link below and take some time to complete this short questionnaire. We are hoping to get 100% parent participation. Thank you in advance.

Jacques Parent Social Strengths Screener

LEGO Discover

Last Friday, JMS launched our LEGO Discover packs! This semester-long STEM project is brought to you by a grant from LEGO. Both kg and 1st-grade students will be learning about energy and using their science and math skills to problem solve and build the foundation for lifelong confidence in STEM learning.

Your student brought home or will be bringing home "Discover More” LEGO Duplo brick sets. This is yours to keep! Have the whole family join in on the fun by learning together. Caregivers can spark conversation by asking open-ended questions: "What makes a tower stable?, Tell me more about...? I wonder if we could...?

“Eat the Rainbow” Challenge

Throughout the month of January students and staff are encouraged to eat the rainbow of healthy fruits and vegetables. This is “Red” week and students are offered and encouraged to try strawberries and cherry tomatoes provided by our food service department. Here is the schedule for the remainder of January:

1/16: Yellow/Orange

1/23: Green

1/30: Blue

Toys at School

Please do not allow your child to bring favorite toys, playing/trading cards, electronic games/equipment or expensive jewelry to school. Toys and playing cards are frequently a distraction and are difficult to monitor. We cannot be responsible for keeping these items safe and at times these items get lost, stolen, or broken. “Show and Tell” items with the approval of the classroom teacher are an exception.

No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

There will be No School on Monday, January 16th, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. January Birthday Celebration

We will celebrate all students with January birthdays on Friday, January 27th.

Please find attached to this email several district approved fliers form our community partners at CAST and Grand Monadnock Youth Choir.

We are off to a great start to 2023 at JMS! Thank you all for everything you do to support our students, staff.

Sincerely,

Tim O’Connell

Principal