11/17/2024

JJES Pirate Family,

PTO Popcornopolis Update

Popcorn distribution will be the first week of December.  Anyone that sold more than 10 bags of popcorn will need to pick up their full order at school.   The Charlestown Parks Department has informed us that the train is currently undergoing more updates and will not be available until Spring for us to use for our Popcorn reward. 

Child Abuse/Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Lessons 

District Parent Informational Letter

All public schools in Indiana are required to provide age appropriate instruction on child abuse and child sexual abuse to students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. It’s important that children hear the foundations of safety in these areas both at school and at home. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the delivery of these lessons, please contact your child’s school. 

• 3rd Grade will teach these lessons throughout the week of Nov. 18-22
• 4th Grade will teach these lessons throughout the week of Nov. 18-22
• 5th Grade will teach these lessons on December 3rd and 4th

Dance Tryouts- Nov. 20th, 21st, and 22nd

Do you love to perform?  Do you have rhythm and sweet dance moves??  If so, we would love to have you join the JJ Dance Team!! We will learn a fun pom routine that will be performed at the Boys HOME basketball games.  Tryouts are  open to all 3rd – 5th graders.  Tryouts are required and participants will stay after school until 5:00 pm.  The team will be posted on Nov. 26th.  Please click on the link for more information. 

Scholastic Book Fair- Dec. 9-13

The Scholastic Book Fair will be at JJES the week of December 9-13.  All students will visit the book fair on their scheduled class visit.  Only students with money to purchase items will be able to visit the Book Fair on Friday.  Classroom Visit Book Fair Schedule

We are also in need of parent volunteers to help work our Book Fair.  Please sign up on the Sign Up Genius form, if interested.  You MUST have a limited background check on file to volunteer. 

Scholastic EWallet

Students are able to bring cash to purchase items at the Book Fair, but families can also set up an EWallet account to deposit money for students to spend at the Book Fair.  If you are interested in using EWallet, please click the EWallet Link.  

IREAD Parent Information

Many of our third grade families will discuss IREAD testing at their parent teacher conference this week.  It is important that parents are aware of the updated guidance from the state in regards to students that do not pass the IREAD assessment their third grade school year.   

• If your child does not receive a passing score on the IREAD assessment, your child will be required to attend a summer session in June 2025 to retest. If your child still does not achieve a passing score after the summer retest opportunity, state law now requires students to be retained in third grade, unless they qualify for a Good Cause Exemption (GCE). 

Please refer to the Parent IREAD Letter for more specific information in regards to this assessment and updated qualifications for a Good Cause Exemption (GCE).  Spanish Parent IREAD Letter

Build a Bed 2025 Application

I am reaching out to provide information about the United Way Build a Bed program. Attached, you will find this year’s application. Please note that applications are due by December 20. The build event is scheduled for Saturday, February 8, 2025. Following the build event, we will arrange for the delivery of the beds to GCCS campuses on February 10. A representative from GCCS will be in touch with you after February 10 to coordinate a pick-up time. Families who qualify will receive a twin bed frame (which comes in four parts with hardware for assembly), a twin mattress, and bedding materials.

After School Activity Pick Up

We are so proud to offer a wide range of extracurricular activities at JJ.  With multiple activities letting out at the same time, we ask that all parents or guardians use our car rider process to pick up after these activities.  Please make sure to enter our parking lot from Halcyon Rd, wait in line to pick up your child, and exit the parking lot near the Charlestown Library.  Do not park and walk over to get your child.  This makes dismissal from these activities unsafe.

Final Forms

Any student wishing to participate in an athletic extracurricular activity, will be required to complete Final Forms and pay the $5 fee.  A physical is not needed for elementary sports.  It is often more convenient for families to go ahead and complete this at the beginning of the school year. https://greaterclark-in.finalforms.com/ 

Student Handbook Highlights

• If a student is going to be absent, please contact the office prior to 10:00 am.
• If you are going to make a change in dismissal, we ask that you call the office and do it prior to 2:00 pm.  
• The main office is not permitted to do early sign outs after 3:10 pm.
• Students must attend ½ of a day in order to participate in extracurricular activities.
• Birthday invitations are not permitted to be passed out at school.
• Due to student health needs such as diabetes and food allergies, as well as being in compliance with the GCCS Wellness Policy, cookies, cupcakes and other sweets are NOT ALLOWED to be brought in for birthday celebration purposes.
•  Due to the Greater Clark County Schools Wellness Policy, food from any restaurant (fast food or sit down) and soft drinks are prohibited in the school cafeteria.
• Students may bring their cell phones to school for emergency preparedness. Cell phones should be turned off and kept in backpacks. If a student has his/her cell phone out while in school, it will be confiscated by an adult staff member. The cell phone will not be released back to the student. A parent/guardian will be called to pick the cell phone up in the school office. 

Aimee Doherty

Principal

Jonathan Jennings Elementary

JJES 2024-2025 Student Handbook

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Upcoming Dates

November

18-2/7 ILEARN Checkpoint 2 Window Open

19 Semi-finals at JHS

20-22 Dance Team Tryouts

21 Championship game at JHS

26 JJES Family Thanksgiving Meal

27-29 Thanksgiving Break

December

4-17 Boys Basketball Intramurals

11 5th Grade Field Trip to JHS- Winter Fantasy Concert

20 Q2 Ends and Grades Due by 4pm

21- 1/5 Winter Break

January

6 Q3 Begins

8-9 Boys Basketball Tryouts

16 Family Night at JJES 5:00-6:30

20 No School

27 JJ Blue Home vs. Franklin Square

28 JJ White Away vs. Riverside

30 JJ Blue Away vs. JJ White

31 JJ Beats Audition

February

3 JJ Blue Home vs. Parkwood

4 JJ White Away vs. Franklin Square

5 JJ White Home vs. New Washington

6 JJ Blue Home vs. Thomas Jefferson

10-4/11 ILEARN Checkpoint 3 Window Open

10 JJ Blue Away vs. New Washington 5:00

11 JJ White Home vs. Wilson

13 Round 1 of Tourney

15 Round 2 of Tourney at CHS

17 No School

18 Semi-finals at JHS

20 Championship at JHS

24-3/14 Wrestling Intramurals

March

3-14 IREAD Window

15 Q3 Ends and Grades due by 4pm

16-23 Spring Break

April

4 Kona Ice

14-5/9 ILEARN Window

22, 23, or 24 Regional Track Meet at CHS

28-5/18 Volleyball

29 District Track Meet at CHS

May

2 No School

6 No School

9 Kona Ice

12-6/27 Summer IREAD Window

12 and 16 Biztown Field Trip

21 Last Student Day