October 2017 Panther Press
Dear Jacoby Creek Families,
Happy October! It has been a terrific start to the school year, and October promises to bring a lot of learning, fun, and Panther Pride to our community!
I am very happy to announce that Jacoby Creek has been selected as one of only 342 schools in the nation as a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School Award winner. It is a great honor that the hard work of our students, staff, and community is being recognized. Thank you to everyone for making our school outstanding.
As a reminder, school is dismissed at 1:15 on Monday, October 2 for Early Success Conferences.
There are many great events planned for the coming month. Our Panther Pentathlon, Harvest Carnival, JCS 60th Anniversary Celebration and sporting events all offer great ways for us to come together. I look forward to seeing everyone at these events.
Thank you so much to everyone for supporting our Panther Pentathlon. This fundraising effort provides so many programs for our students that would not otherwise be possible. Your support makes a BIG difference.
I also wanted to remind families that our jcsk8.org website is a great source of information about all thing school related. You will find school calendars, lunch menus, and important announcements. Be sure to check it out! Also, our (707) 822-4896 school phone number does not have a functional voicemail. If you want to leave a message for the school, or if you are calling outside of the school office hours, please use the (707) 633-9090 voicemail number.
This month’s Panther Press includes a lot of great information about what is happening at our school. I hope that this newsletter can help you to know about all of the celebrations, challenges, and fun events that happen at JCS.
Sincerely,
Melanie Nannizzi
Regular Monthly Meetings of JCS Committees—Ways to be involved!
JCS School Board Meetings: Regular meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at 7:15 PM in the Library. The agenda for the meeting is posted on our website, in the front of the school, and at the Bayside Post Office three days prior to the meeting.
Jacoby Creek Children’s Education Foundation (JCCEF): Regular meetings are on the first Tuesday of each month at 5:30 PM at Baywood Country Club. The Foundation is the fundraising organization for our school. Please attend a meeting if you are interested in helping with the Panther Pentathlon or the annual Auction!
Jacoby Creek School Parent Teacher Organization: PTO meets on the second Thursday of each month at 5:30 in Mrs. Hatchett’s classroom. The next meeting 10/12. The PTO is the group that organizes events for families to enjoy outside of the school day. Check out a PTO meeting if you are interested in helping with the Harvest Carnival, PTO Skate Day, or other events for families.
School Site Council: Meetings are held in Room 1 at 3:30 PM on the second Tuesday of each month. The School Site Council serves as our Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) advisory committee and works to gather information from stakeholders about how to maintain and improve the educational experience for JCS students.
Attendance
Regular school attendance is an extremely important part of your child’s education and our school’s operation! While it is important to keep students home when they are ill, please be sure to make regular attendance a priority in other situations. When students are absent from school, they miss important educational opportunities that are difficult to replicate. In addition, our school loses funding each day that your child misses school. Absences have great impact on student academic success and our school’s budget.
Please keep in mind that independent study contracts are available for planned absences of five or more days. Independent study contracts provide continuity with your child’s education and allows the school to continue to receive funding.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING REGULAR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE A PRIORITY!
Keeping Students Safe Using Social Media
An important topic at all schools right now is helping to teach students how to use technology in a safe, respectful, and responsible manner. This month, our focus will be on educating students about the dangers of cyberbullying. I would like to reach out to parents to ask for your assistance in helping to ensure that our students are safe from being teased or targeted in any way online.
If your child comes to you to report that they are seeing posts on social media that may put a JCS student in an unsafe position, or in a position of feeling bullied, please share this information with the school. We need to work as a team to make sure that students learn how to use this technology appropriately.
The Parking Lot
Thank you so much for all of the assistance with helping our parking lot to be safe and orderly. There are a few problems that are still need to be addressed. Thank you for supporting me in creating a safe pick up and drop off situation for our students.
- Please use crosswalks when crossing Old Arcata Road and our parking lot. Crossing the parking lot outside of the crosswalks is slowing down traffic movement and is unsafe.
- Please DO NOT use the back parking lot for pick-up and drop off. It is very dangerous with the bus pulling in and out and the bus drivers are getting very upset about the students and cars in that lot. Also, we do not have enough staff to supervise this lot.
- Please do not park in the spots labeled RESERVED.
Panther Pentathlon – October 6th
The school event portion of this fundraiser will take place on October 6th. This is always a fun morning for the students, with fun and activities, and some changes in place for this year. Kids should come dressed for an active day and wear sunscreen if weather dictates! Panther Pentathlon pledges are due on October 5th. Don’t forget to wear class colors on the day of the event!!
After School Enrichment Classes
After School Enrichment classes start on Tuesday, October 3. Two classes have an early start. The classes that start on Monday, October 2 are: Cooking with Rabia – International Foods (in the Lounge) and Sports Fun (in the Gym). Both of these classes start at 1:15 due to the early release.
Study Hall for 4th-8th grade students and Homework Club for 2nd and 3rd grade students has already started, but you can still sign you child up if they need this academic support.
JCS Spirit Gear Order
Humboldt Outfitters is busy getting our JCS sweatshirts, t-shirts, and hats printed. The planned delivery date is the week of October 9.
Harvest Carnival – Friday October 21st
There are just a few short weeks left before the PTO’s Annual Harvest Carnival. As usual, there will be cotton candy, games and music; plus a legendary cake walk. This event is fun for kids and adults! A link to a Sign-Up Genius will be sent out from the PTO this week. Parent volunteers are needed to make this event happen, so please plan to spend some time helping with a booth the evening of the carnival!! The link to the sign up is:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0c4fa5ae2fa4fd0-20171
8th Grade Spaghetti Feed – during Harvest Carnival
Consider having dinner in the JCS gym, served by the 8th grade class, fundraising for their year-end celebration. The menu varies a bit from year to year, but more details will come home as the event gets closer.
Halloween Parade—October 31st
On Halloween day, which is a Tuesday this year, all students are invited to wear their costumes to school. There will be a parade in the gym at approximately 8:45 for the kids to display their costumes. Parents are welcome to watch!
Please Note: Costumes must comply with the school dress code and no weapons will be allowed. Also, please take into consideration that we four and five year old children will be attending the costume parade. Please refrain from sending students to school in costumes that will scare young children.
Sports Schedules & Athletic Passes
Families can purchase a ‘Season Pass’ at games or at the JCS school office. This pass is just $30, will get you into all JCS sporting events, excluding tournaments, and proceeds benefit our athletics program.
The full schedules of current sports teams can always be seen at the Sports Board mounted at the front of the school and on the JCS website. Come on out to one of these events and support our JCS athletes!
Notes from our Athletic Director
Girls’ Basketball
Girls’ basketball practices for our Bay League teams will begin on Monday, October 23, 2017. The deadline for turning in completed required paperwork to the office is Monday, October 16, 2017. Grades will also be checked on this date. Students must meet JCS academic requirements and turn in completed paperwork by the deadline in order to participate in the 2017 season. If you questions please contact Davita McGoldrick at dmcgoldrick@jcsk8.org
Boys’ Basketball
There is a mandatory meeting on November 1st, at 6:30 pm in the GYM for parents of students who are interested in participating in boys’ basketball, 5th-8th grade. If you are unable to attend, please send a representative for your child. This is the night for parents to find out about the sport and to sign up to help in some way.
**5th grade basketball is not a part of the Bay League. Volunteer parent coach(es) are required. Practice location and games TBD.
Student athletes are required to have the following forms on file:
- PRE-PARTICIPATION PHYSICAL EVALUATION (PHYSICALS ARE VALID FOR ONE YEAR FROM THE DOCUMENTED DATE OF EXAM)
- ATHLETIC CONTRACT
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF POTENTIAL RISK
ALL FORMS MUST BE TURNED IN ANNUALLY and can be found on our website at: http://jacobycreekschool.org/activities/athletics/
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
IMPORTANT OCTOBER DATES
Monday, October 2 –All students released at 1:15 for Early Success Conferences
Monday, October 2– Coffee with the Principal at 8:00 a.m. in the library
Friday, October 6–Panther Pentathlon
Monday, October 9–School Board Meeting at 7:15 a.m. in the Library
Tuesday, October 10–School Site Council Meeting at 3:30 p.m. in Room 1
Tuesday, October 10– Ms. Couling’s 6th grade play performance 6:30 pm
Friday, October 20– JCS 60th Anniversary School Celebration, Harvest Carnival,and Spaghetti Feed
Saturday, October 21–JCS 60th Anniversary Open House in Library
Friday, October 27– 7th and 8th Grade Dance 7:00-10:00 p.m. in the gym
Tuesday, October 31– Halloween Costume Parade at 8:45 a.m. in the gym