Week 25
Greetings JMS families,
I hope you all have enjoyed the mid-winter break and you were able to spend some time together as a family while students were home from school. Our recent weather has certainly proved the old adage, “March ROARs in like a Lion!” Hopefully, we are in store for more “lamb” like days at the end of the month!
PTO Update
I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our families for supporting our MES PTO Read-a-thon fundraiser. Collectively our students have read for 75,720 minutes! This equates to 1,262 hours or 53 days of reading!
A special congratulations to Penelope Cantella, our top reader, and Chase Mullin, our top earner. They will be treated to a special ride to school courtesy of the Milford Fire and Police Depts!
Our monthly MES PTO virtual meeting will be held tonight Wednesday, March 8th, 2023. We hope you can join us by clicking the link below:
Topic: March PTO Meeting
Time: Mar 8, 2023 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 860 6053 4559
Passcode: 352039
Kindergarten Registration - Kickoff!
We are excited to announce our 2023-24 Kindergarten Registration Kickoff! This event is scheduled for tomorrow evening Thursday, March 9th, 2023, from 5:30-7:00 pm in the JMS Multi-purpose Room. JMS staff will be on hand to assist with the registration process, give tours of our kindergarten classroom, and answer any questions.
The following documents are required to complete the registration process:
- Proof of Residency (ie. home purchase agreement, rental/lease agreement, utility bill, with parent/guardian name and Milford address.)
- Original Birth Certificate with a raised seal
- Updated immunization/physical and proof of a scheduled physical within one year of enrollment.
Kids Vote Too! School District Voting/Elections
The annual town and school district voting/elections will be held on Tuesday, March 14th from 6:00 am - 8:00 pm. Please make every attempt to attend this very important event held at Milford High School. We know that attending can be a challenge for our busy parents and families, but it is important to have your voice heard regarding our public schools.
As part of our civics engagement lessons here at Jacques Memorial, students are taking part in a national civics initiative Kids Vote Too, and selecting a name for our mascot the Jacques Jaguar. Students are invited to cast their vote at Milford High School during the school district voting/elections. Student representatives will speak about their mascot choice during the Mr. O morning show at school.
Our final four choices are: Paws, Foxy, Jellybean, or Jordan.
We are also looking for volunteers to help make our Kids VOTE Too! event a success. If you are interested in helping please click the link below. We need volunteers to supervise the polls from 8:30 - 2:30 pm.
KIDS VOTE TOO Volunteer sign-up
JMS Family Fun NIGHT!
Mark your Calendars! Join us on Wednesday, March 30, 2023, 6:00-7:30 PM for our Annual Family Fun Night!
All JMS students and their families are invited to attend this night of literacy and math fun. Students will also showcase what they have learned with our new STEM initiative LEGO Discovery! Come and meet Tuckerman the Jacques therapy dog, and enjoy math, literacy activities, and dinner with your family and friends. Pizza will be served!!
If you are interested in attending this year’s event please RSVP here
If you have any questions, please connect with Leslie Brigagliano, Assistant Principal: leslie.brigagliano@milfordk12.
Raptor Security Systems
I want to remind parents that safety and security are always our primary responsibility. We strive to provide a secure, safe, orderly, warm and inviting learning environment at Jacques Memorial School. We will begin using the Raptor Visitor Management System in our schools to strengthen our safe school environment. The Raptor system will better allow us to screen visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools. We will begin using this system on Monday, March 20th, 2023.
The Raptor system will be set up to check government- issued IDs the national registered sex offender database, court-issued custodial orders, and any restraining orders that we are made aware of. The registered sex offender database is the only official database checked by the Raptor system. No other data from the ID is gathered or recorded and the information is not shared with any outside agency. It is important to provide the school with the most recent legal documents such as court issued custody orders or restraining orders.
The following procedure will be used with the new Raptor system for all visitors/volunteers:
- Upon entering the school into the vestibule all visitors will be asked to present a photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport.
- Your ID will either be scanned or manually entered into the system in the vestibule.
- Once cleared, you will be provided a printed badge with your name and photo on it. You will then be directed to the appropriate location.
This badge must be worn at all times when in the building. When leaving the building, return to the main office, turn in your badge and sign out.
The Raptor system will also assist with our student early dismissal process.
- Upon entering a district building, visitors will be asked to present a photo ID such as a Driver’s License or passport. Your ID will either be scanned or manually entered into the system.
- Once cleared, your child will either be called down to the main office from their current location or you will be issued a badge to pick up your child at the nurses office.
- When leaving the building, return to the main office, turn in your badge and sign out.
- We will not be scanning IDs for events held at the buildings after school hours.
The new raptor system will provide an extra measure of security to ensure their safety. Please remember to bring with you your government issued ID with you if you are visiting, chaperoning or volunteering at the school. Thank you in advance for your support to enhance school safety protocols in our district. If you have any questions please feel free to call me at the school.
No School - Teacher Workshop Day
There will be no school for students on Tuesday, March 14th.
Early Release
Students will be dismissed at 12:45 on Wednesday, March 15th. Students will be dismissed after lunch is served. Please make any changes to your child's dismissal plan using the Parent Pick-up Patrol system.
Please find attached to the email several district approved fliers, including the March Lunch Menu and information regarding the Wildlife Encounters program sponsored by the MES PTO.
Sincerely,
Tim O’Connell
Principal