This is a reminder that Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, is a staff development day for Jefferson County Schools. Students will not be in school to provide our staff with training opportunities to help them continue serving kids. Thank you.
Today kicks off National School Bus Safety Week, an opportunity to focus on safe practices around school buses. We want to start by acknowledging the JCS bus operators, aides, mechanics, and transportation administrators responsible for safely transporting our students to and from school each day. These individuals are a direct link between the home and the classroom, and they play a pivotal role in the education and care of our students. Thank you to our Transportation team for keeping our kids safe on the road!
10/13/23: Jefferson County Schools prioritizes safety in all that we do. Thursday afternoon (10/12), we received a notification about a widely shared message calling for violence. We consulted with federal and local law enforcement agencies and found no immediate danger connected to the non-specific threat. The threat level did not change as a result of the message. In an abundance of caution, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department is conducting extra patrols around our schools. We are grateful for their partnership and dedication to protecting our children. If you see something, say something. You can report suspicious activity by calling 866-WVWATCH (866-989-2824).
Proper nutrition plays an important role in learning. That's why JCS staff work to develop daily menus that offer delicious, nutritious options for our students! Plan ahead with regularly updated breakfast and lunch menus, available on your school's website and the JCSWV app (on Google Play and the App Store).
Join us TODAY, October 12, at the JCS Operations Facility, located at 635 McGarry Blvd. Kearneysville, for our next hiring event exclusively for school service personnel! JCS staff will be on hand to conduct onsite applications, screenings, and interviews for all service positions. Plus, a representative from WV Adult Education will be available to answer your questions about their new self-paced preparatory course for the state's Service Personnel Competency Test! Visit www.jcswv.org/careers for a complete list of job openings. JCS offers service positions with the flexibility to meet your needs as a busy family, so join us today and learn how you can make your mark in our caring community of educators!
In recognition of National School Lunch Week, we want to express our sincere gratitude to the men and women serving as cooks in our school cafeterias who keep our students fed, focused, and ready to learn. Thank you for the important role you play in supporting their success!
A reminder that Jefferson County Schools will dismiss two hours early today, October 6, for faculty senate meetings.
It's National Principals Month, and we're celebrating Mr. Gill! We're so grateful for his dedication, determination, and commitment to our students and staff. Thank you for being the guiding light in our school!
As National Attendance Awareness Month comes to a close, we want to thank our JCS students and families for making it a priority to practice good school attendance! Don't forget submissions for our district-wide attendance poster contest are due this Friday, September 29 - visit www.jcswv.org/attendance for contest details. And keep up the good work! Remember… students who miss fewer than nine days of school see better grades, stay on track to graduate high school, and even have better work habits. That's why Attendance Matters: All Day, Every Day!
JCS Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bishop speaks at the Charles Town and Shepherdstown Rotary Clubs during a lunch on Wednesday. Dr. Bishop will connect with students and the community again during a series of events in the coming months. Visit www.jcswv.org/events for details!
We're proud to recognize and celebrate West Virginia School Service Personnel Day! Our service personnel play an essential role in every aspect of our JCS community, including: ✅ The bus drivers and mechanics who ensure the safe transport of our students ✅ The aides who offer vital assistance in the classroom ✅ The cooks who provide nutritious meals for students and staff ✅ The custodians who keep our schools clean and orderly ✅ The maintenance staff who keep our schools and facilities running safely ✅ And the secretaries who provide crucial administrative support. We offer our most sincere gratitude to these individuals for all they do. THANK YOU!
Did you know that practicing good attendance not only helps high school students stay on track to graduate but also increases their chances of earning a college degree and being successful in their jobs? We all prosper when our students gain the skills and abilities necessary to help them contribute to their communities. As we continue to recognize National Attendance Awareness Month, visit www.jcswv.org/attendance to learn more about why Attendance Matters: All Day, Every Day!
ATTENTION: Significant outages at Frontier have made receiving incoming phone calls at Blue Ridge Elementary School inconsistent today (9/20/23). We have activated our backup number to ensure you can contact the school by phone. Please call (304) 676-7038 to reach the elementary building and (304) 676-3776 to reach the primary building today. Thank you.
JCS joined other schools across West Virginia this week in a celebration of freedom! Celebrate Freedom Week was established to educate WV students about the founding of the United States, the values on which it was established, and the sacrifices made in the name of freedom. JCS students and staff decorated their schools and classrooms, participated in special activities, and proudly wore their Red, White, and Blue!
Many people think missing a few days of school each month is not a big deal. But absences add up quickly, and too many - excused or unexcused - can have a negative impact on academic achievement. Students who miss fewer than nine days of school see better grades, stay on track to graduate high school, and even have better work habits! Learn more about National Attendance Awareness Month here 👉 www.jcswv.org/attendance
National Arts in Education Week celebrates the value of the arts in our schools and classrooms. #BecauseOfArtsEd, our students often have the opportunity to participate in arts-inspired events and showcases at the regional, state, and national levels. Thank you to our JCS educators who work tirelessly to inspire this type of dedication, creativity, and love of the arts in our students!
Today, we remember and reflect.
Did you know Jefferson County Schools has a Parent and Education Resource Center? That's right, and our PERC is already working hard to organize activities to help connect our students across the district. If you are interested in learning more about PERC, are looking for resources to support a student, or simply want to come out and make new friends, be sure to visit www.jcswv.org/perc.
Dear JCS Families: Jefferson County Schools puts the safety of students and staff first. With temperatures expected this week to reach the mid to upper 90’s, we are taking proactive steps to prevent heat-related illnesses. That means limiting outdoor activities at elementary, middle, and high schools when a heat advisory or warning is in place for Jefferson County. Limitations apply to any physical education classes, outdoor classrooms, field trips, and recess activities. For athletics, we will follow WVSSAC guidelines and consult with certified athletic trainers and medical doctors before making a final decision about practice or games. Current guidelines include safety measures such as practicing without pads, eliminating conditioning activities, moving indoors, or limiting practice time. We recognize the importance of providing appropriate practice time and games and will do what we can to ensure our student-athletes can prepare and compete safely. Schedule changes will be communicated as quickly as possible to limit potential disruption to students and families. We appreciate your support of our students.
Dear JCS Families: Jefferson County Schools puts the safety of students and staff first. With temperatures expected this week to reach the mid to upper 90’s, we are taking proactive steps to prevent heat-related illnesses. That means limiting outdoor activities at elementary, middle, and high schools when a heat advisory or warning is in place for Jefferson County. Limitations apply to any physical education classes, outdoor classrooms, field trips, and recess activities. For athletics, we will follow WVSSAC guidelines and consult with certified athletic trainers and medical doctors before making a final decision about practice or games. Current guidelines include safety measures such as practicing without pads, eliminating conditioning activities, moving indoors, or limiting practice time. We recognize the importance of providing appropriate practice time and games and will do what we can to ensure our student-athletes can prepare and compete safely. Schedule changes will be communicated as quickly as possible to limit potential disruption to students and families. We appreciate your support of our students.
