Dear JCMES Families,
First, thank you to the many families that joined us for our fall family picnic last week! It is so fun for us to see students outside of the regular school day to just enjoy time together. Throughout October there are lots of school and community events coming up and we hope you’ll join us!
This week the office staff reviewed absences and tardies for the year. It’s not unusual, especially for young children, to pick up some kind of illness toward the beginning of the year as all the germs start circulating. Typically the amount of illness drops off a bit then picks back up in the winter with unfortunately, another round. In the meantime, please continue to keep children home for 24 hours after contagious symptoms such as fever or vomiting. Overall, tardies are down this year. Thank you! Students arriving after 8:15am are marked tardy. While we are mentioning school day times, our car pick up line ends at 3:05pm.
Please read on for some events to mark on your calendar:
Friday, September 29th - Homecoming Parade - Come out and join in our small town fun with the homecoming parade taking place from BHS all along Main Street. Many of our students participate in various floats and be sure to wave to our teachers that are walking to represent JCM! We promise to pass out LOTS of candy!
Wednesday, October 4th - Chick-fil-A Spirit Night 5-7pm - The PTO will receive a portion of the proceeds from this night. Dine in or go through the drive thru and mention JCMES!
Friday, October 6th - Walk to School with First Responders - First Responders Day is held each October and we are kicking off the month with our Walk to School event on Friday, October 6th by featuring first responders. At school our primary grades learn about community helpers which includes many first responders. If you are a first responder or know someone who may be willing to come help us greet families as they walk to school, please email Mrs. Branner or Mrs. Imbrescia. We have a small token of our appreciation for any first responders that walk with children on this day or would like to stand with us and greet them as they arrive. It is important to us that our students develop an awareness and respect for the helpers in our community.
Monday, October 9th- No School for Students
Tuesday, October 10th - Dentist Visits at JCMES - Smile Virginia, a traveling dental clinic, will be coming to JCMES on Tuesday, October 10th. This is a wonderful opportunity for any student who currently doesn't have a dental provider that sees them on a regular basis. Some of the services they will be providing include: dental cleanings, x-rays, fluoride treatments, sealants, fillings, and extractions. Dental forms were sent home with students last week. If you are interested in your son/daughter receiving dental services, please complete the form and return it to school or register online at: https://www.myschooldentist.com/JCRCVA_schsrm
Saturday, October 14th - Sunset Drive UMC is hosting a community breakfast from 7:30-9:00am. Money collected from the breakfast will be donated to JCMES.
The October edition of the PTO newsletter is attached to this email. Please be sure to take a look at volunteer opportunities available as well as a ’save the date’ for our fall family fun day on Saturday, November 4 from 1-4pm. October PTO Newsletter (English) October PTO Newsletter (Spanish)
Last, we'd like to share just a little bit from the heart. Nothing about being a parent is easy except for the love you have for your child. Nothing about teaching is easy except the same. That being said, the people who make up your village make all the difference in the world. The support our school receives from families helps our school in more ways than can be written in an email. It encourages us to keep bringing fun, creativity, joy and hard work into every day so that your children have the best school experience possible. We are so thankful for the strong, kind village that surrounds JCMES. Thank you!
Take care,
Erin Branner, Principal
erbranner@rockingham.k12.va.us
Chelsea Imbrescia, Assistant Principal
cimbrescia@rockingham.k12.va.us