Monthly News and Notes - January 2024

• NHS
  • Olympic Day Shirts
  • Penny Wars
  • Golf Umbrella Sale
• Grade 9
  • Coffee Fundraiser

• Paul Jacobs - substitute adult cleaner
• Carson Whipple - baseball volunteer

• Additional interactive boards for the next round of staff are being reviewed for purchase.  
• Internet switches in the elementary with use of eRate 
• Upgraded cameras in the K-12 building with use of recently secured technology safety grant.  
• Upgrading wifi access points in JH gymnasium building with use of eRate

• The baseball fence has been installed.   
• A design is being developed for an auditeria concession stand.  This will allow a more permanent solution for a concession stand for basketball and volleyball games.  Permanent improvement funds will be utilized for these improvements. 

• Vanguard-Sentinel - Jeff Hohman
• Athletics -  Darin Nye
• Financial Audit Committee Member -  Rodney Biggert
• Legislative -  Darrell Tiell 
• Student Achievement -  Jaclyn Schalk

• Our district safety drill and building evacuation were held in December. Staff and students did a great job following directions and meeting at our reunification point.
• Curriculum Guide and Course offerings for 2024-2025 are underway. All staff have given input and we are finalizing new options for next year. 
• Professional Development Day focused on Author Assessments and continuing to use data from OST to help students continue to meet state standards.
• Transition planning team meetings were held between the 5th and 6th grade teachers, administration and student services team to plan ways to assist students transitioning to middle school next year.
• Junior Leadership planning is underway to have the 8th grade take an active role in planning several activities designed to introduce them to Jacket Leadership.  

• K-5 students will take the Winter NWEA in January for both Math and English Language Arts.  Students will reflect upon their growth from Fall to Winter and make future goals and action steps for continued improvement.
• Kindergarten students will be given the dyslexia screener in January.  At risk students will receive high doses of quality intervention and with progress monitoring and reports every 6 weeks.
• During the January PD, teachers in grades 3-12 continued their work on OST authoring assessments and resources.  Elementary teachers received information on best practices and resources to support at-risk students in the areas of sensory processing and executive functioning from our OT and Speech therapists.  Elementary teachers reviewed math data, instructional curriculum and planned next steps within grade level bands.  
• Teachers in grades K-3 continued their self-paced professional development in phonics and our word study curriculum, “Really Great Reading”.

• The FFA held a successful Fruit Sale and began planning FFA week activities, a hockey game and snow tubing for the second semester.  
• Clash of the Classes winter edition was held with another great turnout.
• The Sophomore class volunteered at the Seneca County Fairgrounds for winter lights and passed out hot cocoa and candy canes to cars as they came through.   Adam Horner provided hay rides and we set an attendance record for the number of cars through the display this year.
• The Freshman class volunteered over two days for the Geary Family YMCA’s Christmas for every Child and Toys for Tots distribution event by setting up all the tables and sorting toys.  
• The Freshman class hosted a support staff thank you breakfast for our educational aides, office staff, maintenance department, bus drivers and cafeteria staff. They came in early to prepare breakfast and made centerpieces and decorated placemats.
• The 7th graders planned Winterfest on the last day of school at the conclusion of final exams. Students could decorate cookies, have hot cocoa, compete in   video games, watch holiday  movies and play just dance or sports activities.   Students had staff members sign up to help run stations.
• The 6th grade classes planned and hosted a glow in the dark dodgeball tournament for the middle school and high school. The championship bracket featured the Seniors vs. the Freshman with the seniors being the overall winners.

• K-5 students and staff continued our theme, Wonderful World, Wonderful Life SAIL theme during this month’s SAIL meeting.  This month students learned about The Great Wall of China.  The message this month is the importance of being persistent.  Staff and students will look for opportunities to improve our classrooms, and school environment and culture.  Teachers will promote this habit in classrooms and recognition with SAIL tickets.
• Peer sharing during January’s SAIL meeting included presentations from high school students regarding calming strategies they are learning in their health class.   Students enjoyed practicing breathing and visualization techniques and can use these in the future.

• Students in grades 5 & 6 performed Sunday, December 3rd for family and friends during their Winter Music Program.  The concerts were well attended and the students performed amazingly.
• K-5 students graciously donated over 150 food items to the charitable organizations, FISH in Tiffin.  These donations were used to help families in need in Seneca county.
• Jacket Leadership sponsored a toy and hygiene drive which benefited the Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Ohio