Dear Jacoby Creek 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, 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 that 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 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, February 20-24.

I also wanted to remind families to use our voice message line (707) 633-9090 for all attendance related calls.  These messages are checked frequently and it really saves the office staff a lot of time to receive the voice messages.  Thank you!

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 18 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!

Sincerly,

Melanie Nannizzi

Important Events this Month

• Wednesday, February 1—6:30 Track Parent Meeting in Library
• Tuesday, February 7—5:30 p.m. Foundation at Baywood
• Thursday, February 9-6:30  Primary Winter Concert in Gym
• Friday –Friday, February 10-17 Science Fair in Gym
  • Evening Science/History Fair Thursday, Feb.16, 7:00-8:00 pm

• Monday, February 13—7:15 School Board Meeting
• Monday-Friday, February 20-24—Presidents’Week Break
  • Activity Center Closed
• Monday, February 27-8:00 am Coffee with the Principal in Library
• Monday, February 27-5:00 PTO Meeting in Room 6

Focus Groups

I want to express my sincere appreciation to the parents who attended the Focus Group meetings. I greatly enjoyed having the opportunity to hear parent perspectives!  I learned so much about the school.  The respectful and positive conversations were very fruitful.  The information gathered at these meetings will be shared with the School Site Council and the staff.  We will develop action plans to implement some new ideas. Thank you!

The Parking Lot

One way to reduce the amount of traffic on Old Arcata Road and save time waiting in the parking lot is to take advantage of our Arcata Community Center bus stop.  The bus picks up at the Arcata Community Center at 8:10 each morning!  Your child can also take the bus to the Arcata Community Center after school.  The 2:15 bus arrives at the Community Center at 2:34.  The 3:00 bus takes a bit longer—It arrives at 3:38.

ATHLETICS
Sportsmanship

“PURSUING VICTORY WITH HONOR” Whether we are playing at home or away, it is our goal to have Jacoby Creek School recognized for our sense of fair play, sportsmanship, outstanding effort and character. We expect our Jacoby Creek School community to conduct themselves in a respectful manner at all times.

Track & Field

Parent Meeting on February 1, 2017 at 6:30pm in the library.  All paperwork is due in the office by March 6, 2017. Practices will begin on March 20, 2017.

Boys’ Basketball

The regular boys’ basketball season ends on February 16^th.  Our last home game will be on Tuesday, January 31^st.  Please come out and support our teams!!

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 Jolie Gibbs, Rubee Wester, Jackson Dehority, and Asher Wilkinson. The finalists from 5th grade were Asa Heidebrecht, Owen Burns, Ashley McLaughlin, and Angelo Lampro. The finalists from 6th grade were Maggie Freeman, John Gerving, Kaelyn Williams, and Arman Abbassi.  Ashley McLaughlin and John Gerving won the spelling bee and will compete in the regional spelling bee at Blue Lake School on Friday, February 5th. Angelo Lampro won third place and will be the alternate. Good luck Ashley and John!

The seventh and eighth grade bee was also held in January.  Seventh graders Simone White, Sydney Trieu, Anneli MacDonald, and Milo Crockenberg represented their classes.  Eighth graders Ruby Devoe, Vivian Gerstein, Lola Renteria, Miles Eldridge, and Lance Aitken represented their classes.  Ruby Devoe and Lance Aitken won Spelling Bee with Vivian Gerstein as the alternate.  Good luck at the regional bee Ruby and Lance!

Geography Bee

JCS Students Excel at 2017 Geography Bee

The top geography students from each 4^th through 8^th grade class competed in the annual JCS Geography Bee on Friday, January 20, with eighth grader Mina Abbassi taking home top honors.  Mina edged out sixth grader Saneya Khattab for the championship. Fifth grader Ashley McLaughlin captured a hard earned third place.  Also competing in this year’s finals were Ruby Devoe (8^th grade), Sydney Trieu (7^th), Vivian Cronin (7^th), Ai Lan McGoldrick (6^th), Ben Gerving (4^th), Camden Narwold (4^th), and Fiona Laird (5^th). Mina won the top prize by answering this question correctly:

Colombia, with low coastal plains along both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, borders which Central American country? (* 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. Geography Professor Rosemary Sheriff of HSU and Mr. Trewartha, and Kira Goddard served as guest judges.

Mina earned the opportunity to take a written 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 Mina!
(* Panama)

After School Enrichment Classes (ASE)

ASE class list information is on the board outside the library. The classes are very full and we have waiting lists. Also, we are always looking for parents who are interested in helping with classes, or teaching a class.

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.

Jacoby Creek Children’s Education Foundation

This year’s JCCEF auction will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at Arcata Community Center. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.  Please join us for our Hawaiian Luau Themed Dinner, Auction, and Dance with live music by Eyes Anonymous. Childcare will be available from 5:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. at HealthSport for $30 per child over the age of 5 that can swim. Childcare must be purchased with auction tickets to reserve a slot. Auction 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, PAT days, 6th grade trips, JCS live, 7th/8th grade big events, Exploration Day, and All Bee’s. 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/

Foundation Meeting: Tuesday, February 7 @ 5:30 p.m. at Baywood

PTO

The PTO will be hosting a Family Skate Day on Sunday, April 2 from 11:30-1:30.  More information about the Skate Day will be coming in the Tuesday folder as we get closer to the event.  If you are interested in being involved with the PTO, please contact Mrs. Nannizzi.  mnannizzi@jcsk8.org.

PTO Meeting:  Tuesday, February 27 @ 5:00 in Room 6