Dear Jacoby Creek School Families,

I hope that this month’s Panther Press finds you doing well. January was a busy month at Jacoby Creek with school plays, academic bees, preparations for Science Fair and History Day, Kindness Week, and basketball games.  I am so impressed by our students and the ways in which they demonstrate their many skills and their Panther Pride.  Thank you to all of the parents who attend and support these wonderful events that enrich our students’ lives and prepare them to be excellent citizens.

This month brings many exciting events as well.  Please be sure to look over the calendar carefully so that you can be involved.  Our school website, www.jcsk8.org, is a wonderful resource.  Please let me know if you find that there is information that you would like to see included on the website that is not currently there.  Mr. Mack and I are working hard to make this a user-friendly resource for families.

Please note that we will have Presidents’ Week,February 19-23, off from school. I hope that everyone enjoys time to rest and have family time during this break.  The Activity Center will be closed during Presidents’ Week.

The Jacoby Creek Children’s Education Foundation Auction is just around the corner, so mark your calendars! This year’s auction is on Saturday, March 17th, at the Arcata Community Center.  Thank you so much to all of the families who have already sent in items for the classroom baskets and made donations for this event.  Set up and clean up for this event will need many hands, so please reach out if you would like to be involved in making this FUN event a hit.

Have a wonderful February!

Sincerely,

Melanie Nannizzi

Important Events this Month

Monday, February 5 @ 6:00 Mr. Trewartha’s class play

Tuesday, February 6 @ 6:00 Mrs. Nugent’s class play

Tuesday, February 6 @ 5:30 Foundation Meeting at Baywood

Wednesday, February 7 @ 6:00 Track and Field Parent Meeting in Library

Thursday, February 8 @ 6:00 Primary Winter Concert in Gym

Friday –Friday, February 9-14 Science Fair in Gym

Evening Science/History Fair Tuesday, Feb.13, 7:00-8:00 pm

Monday, February 12 @ 7:15 School Board Meeting

Thursday, February 15 @ 5:00 PTO Meeting in Room 6

Monday-Friday, February 19-23—Presidents’ Week Break

Activity Center Closed

Monday, February 26 @ 8:00 Coffee with the Principal

Tuesday, February 27 @ 6:00-7:30  SSC Focus Group Meeting

Wednesday, February 28 Lost and Found Donation Day

Focus Groups–School Site Council

I want to express my sincere appreciation to the parents who responded to the two surveys sent out in the last couple of months. A third will be sent out soon. The School Site Council will be hosting a Focus Group Meeting on Tuesday, February 27, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. to discuss the results of the surveys.  Child care and delicious snacks will be provided. Last year’s Focus Group meetings were very informative and productive. I look forward to the opportunity to hear more from parents.  

Please RSVP to Melanie Nannizzi if you plan to attend. mnannizzi@jcsk8.org or (707) 822-4896

 

Athletics

Boys’ Basketball

The regular boys’ basketball season ends on February 15th.  The dates and times of away games can be found in our Athletics Information box in the front of the school and on our online sports calendar.  

Track & Field (Coed 5th-8th)

Our Track & Field Parent Meeting is Wednesday, February 7 @ 6:00pm in the Library. All paperwork is due in the office by March 12, 2018. Practices will begin on March 12th. Based on maturity and ability, 4th/3rd graders who participated in cross country will be allowed to participate on the track team.

Support JCS Athletics:  Our Athletics Program is solely funded by monetary donations and profits from hosting tournaments.  Please consider sponsoring an Athletics Banner and/or volunteering at one of our tournaments—both are great ways to support JCS Athletics. Please contact our Athletic Director, Davita McGoldrick, if you are interested in sponsoring a banner in the gym or signing up to volunteer at a tournament.  dmcgoldrick@jcsk8.org

Spelling Bees

The Middle Grade Spelling Bee was held in January. All the finalists did a great job! The finalists from 4th grade were Tabitha Harper, Jacob Mola, Gemma Caruso, and Milo Sullens. The finalists from 5th grade were Sionna Khattab, Rubee Wester, Jackson Dehority, and Ben Gerving. The finalists from 6th grade were Jack Biondo, Ashley McLaughlin, Angelo Lampro, and Melanie Luh.  Jack Biondo and Jackson Dehority won the spelling bee and will compete in the regional spelling bee at McKinleyville Middle School on Thursday, February 8th. Good luck Jack and Jackson!

The seventh and eighth grade bee was also held in January.  Seventh graders Kaelyn Williams, Maya Hansen, John Gerving, and Jonah Hohl represented their classes.  Eighth graders Sydney Trieu, Owen Miranda-Hupp, Vivian Cronin, and Sophia Rosales represented their classes.  John Gerving and Vivian Cronin won the Spelling Bee with Sophia Rosales as the alternate.  Good luck at the regional bee John and Vivian!

Geography Bee

JCS Students Excel at 2018 Geography Bee!

The top geography students from each 4th through 8th grade class competed in the annual JCS Geography Bee on Friday, January 19, with eighth grader Sydney Trieu from Mr. Goddard’s class taking home top honors.  Sydney edged out fifth grader Ben Gerving for the championship. Sixth grader Jack Mietz captured a hard earned third place.  Also competing in this year’s finals were Alex Spanos (8th grade), Raven Alvarez (7th), Camden Narwold (5th), Ashley McLaughlin (6th), Tabitha Harper (4th), Ocean Walker (4th), and Conrad Stemler (7th). Sydney won the top prize by answering this question correctly:

The Seikan Tunnel connects the island of Hokkaido with what other Japanese Island?                (* Answer at bottom of article)

The students answered a variety of questions dealing with U.S. and world cultural, political, and physical geography. They earned their place in the finals by winning the bees in their respective classrooms.  Professor Rosemary Sheriff of HSU’s Geography Department and Mr. Trewartha of JCS served as judges.

Sydney earned the right to take a test to try to qualify for the state Geography Bee in Sacramento.  Only a hundred students in the whole state of California will qualify for the state bee with participation in the national bee and significant college scholarships and other prizes on the line.  

Good luck Sydney!

(* Honshu)

JCS Science Fair 2018

Science Fair is coming up with projects due in the gym by 8:25 on Friday, February 9th. Judging will happen over the weekend and projects will be on display Monday-Wednesday the following week. Science Fair Night will take place from 7-8pm on Tuesday the 13th.

We are looking for people to help out with judging.  If you have never judged before, we will train you.  If you have a child who is participating in the science fair this year we will have you judge a different grade level. We aim to have every science fair project judged three times and will need to expand our pool of people to meet that goal. Judging for the 2018 JCS Science Fair will take place over the weekend of Feb. 11th – 12th.  If you are interested and available to judge, please give your name and phone number to:

Nancy Rickard 822-1352 (nrickard@gmail.com)

Any other questions can be sent to Mr. Dedini at ndedini@jcsk8.org

After School Enrichment Classes (ASE)

ASE class list information is on the board outside the library. The classes are very full and we had waiting lists, so we were not able to accomodate all the students who signed up for classes. Also, we are always looking for parents who are interested in helping with classes, or teaching a class. We have one TK class being planned for Session Three and might need an additional instructor. Classes for Session Two will continue to meet until March 23, and the next session will start on April 2, for Study Hall and Homework Clubs, and April 23, for Activity Classes.

Please remember that if a student is not going to be in class and is not absent from school, messages need to be left with the classroom teacher or office. This includes for Study Hall and Homework Club in addition to ASE activity classes.

Please email questions regarding After School Enrichment, Study Hall, and Homework Club to Mrs. Proulx at aproulx@jcsk8.org. All ASE payments will be processed now that the session has begun.

Jacoby Creek Children’s Education Foundation

This year’s JCCEF auction will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2018, at the Arcata Community Center. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.  Please join us for our St. Patrick’s Day Dinner, Auction, and Dance with live music by Eyes Anonymous.  SammAuction tickets will be on sale in the office starting the week of February 6th.

All proceeds from the auction will fund block grants which include first grade’s Marine Lab Trip, second grade swim lessons, third grade Marsh/Dunes Trips, 4th-6th grade PAT days, 6th grade trips, 7th grade JCS live, 7th/8th grade big events, Exploration Day, and all academic bees. The auction also helps fund technology, drama, and library. Come out for a night of fun and support the children of Jacoby Creek School. Check out the website for more information: http://www.jccef.org/jccef-auction/

Tuesday, February 6 @ 5:30 Foundation Meeting at Baywood

PTO

Thanks to all of the families that attended the PTO Movie Day in January!  It was a great family event.

The PTO is working on planning the upcoming Family Skate Day and Staff Appreciation Luncheon events.  

Thursday, February 15 @ 5:00 PTO Meeting in Room 6