Thank you to all of the stakeholders who attended the November's Principal's Coffee on the curricular programs offered at Jackson.  

As many of you know there have been several shifts in the curriculum at the state level with the adoption of the Ga Standards of Excellence in the 2014-2015 academic year. 
Jackson is supporting its Math and Literacy programs by being proactive. We are supporting our students in meeting the set standards.  

Attached you will find a few resources to help you understand the curriculum offerings at Jackson. 
1. Video of the Principal's Coffee
2. Copy of the PPT presentation with links to resources
3. Additional Math resources supporting Eureka Math

If you have any questions regarding the curriculum at Jackson, please do not hesitate to contact your resident experts in the curriculum, your child's teacher.  If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact a member of the administrative team.  

As our strategic plan continues to develop and the GO TEAM begins to align our resources to meet the needs of our learners,  more informational talks will take place. 

Thank you for your continued support of Jackson Elementary!!
​-B

We would like to send a special SHOUT OUT to Ms. Fiftal, Ms. Morris, Ms. Scott and Ms. Slawson for their hard work in coordinating our trip!  The students had a great time and learned so much.  Thank you to all of our chaperones, we could not have done it without you.  

LAST BUT NOT LEAST....THANK YOU to all of our 5th Grade Teachers.  
Ms. Schirmer, Ms. Van Wormer, Ms. Preiss, Mr. Stokes and Mr. Lamotte, if it were not for your dedication to your students, on a daily basis none of this would have been possible.  

​Enjoy our short recap of the trip!!

Hi Jackson Jaguars,
 
This morning as I was running, I reflected on the events of the past week. The more I reflected, I kept getting hung up on one question that I couldn’t quite answer.  How could I communicate the leveling process to parents in a way that would make everyone happy?  The answer was simple; it was so simple in fact that I felt a little dumb that I hadn’t come up with it earlier.  The answer was that I couldn’t.  No matter what I do or how I communicate it, the unfortunate reality is that two results come out of the leveling process.  One, a teacher will lose their job at Jackson and will be moved to another school.  Second, students will be affected. 
 
What I can do however is work to communicate the process of leveling and answer as many questions as I can.  I can do my best to reduce anxieties over the process.  What I cannot do is eliminate the effects of the process, but one thing I will promise you is that I will be as transparent as possible in every process that has an impact on Jackson.
 
This post may be lengthy, but I would like to address two issues.  One, what we can’t control and two, what we can.  A quote was recently shared with me and it gave me some perspective.  I feel that it speaks to this past week. “Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.” - Charles R. Swindoll
 
First, let’s take a moment to review the 10%.
 
Each year in the spring, the district makes enrollment predictions based on past enrollment, historical data and enrollment trends over the past few years.  Once the schools receive these enrollment predictions, they begin to prepare for the upcoming year to ensure that staffing is in place based on the predicted enrollment.  This has the possibility of creating a catch 22 situation.  Many parents have recently asked “Why didn’t this happen earlier so that students aren’t disrupted?”  To answer that question, you have to understand that our enrollment is always an unknown. We staff based on enrollment predictions.  Each year there are students who enroll the week before and during the first week of school.  There are students who move without notifying the school, and those who come off of waiting lists at private schools last minute and do not notify the school.  If we waited until school started, then there is the possibility that we would have to add a class based on enrollment and again we would be asked the same question of “Why didn’t this happen earlier so that students aren’t disrupted?”  as we move students from one class to a new one. 
 
During the first 10 days of school, we take daily enrollment counts based on students in seats.  Even if we know that a student will be starting AFTER Labor Day, we cannot count that student.  We can only count students that are physically IN CLASS during our 10 day enrollment count.  Based on the reported enrollment numbers, the district begins to look at overages and areas of need.  Just like every organization that operates on a budget, the district must maximize its budget and resources to meet needs on a systemic level.  In this case, Jackson’s enrollment is considerably lower than predicted.  Based on enrollment numbers, Jackson lost an allocated EIP teacher position. There will some required adjustments to facilitate this loss, but those impacted can rest assured that Jackson teachers will ensure that students' needs come first. Once a transition plan has been fully solidified the classes will be officially notified. 
 
Now, over the past few days I have received many comparisons to the private schools in the area and how they care about their students more than the public school system does.  This is not a fair comparison, as we are not comparing apples to apples.  The schools that we are comparing are on separate funding models. Private schools are tuition-based organizations that utilize an application process for their enrollment.  They are able to control their class numbers easily.  They fill their classes to their designated max numbers and waitlist any overage.  Public schools do not have that luxury.  We provide services to all students within our attendance zone who register. We are also funded on a state-wide model that sets our max and minimum classroom sizes, it is not a school based decision as at individual private schools.  There is a funding model in place (and I won’t lie, it’s pretty complicated) in which we must work.  Even within the model, we work to have the lowest class sizes possible while still leveraging our human capital and budget to meet the needs of individual schools as well as the district.  Please do not take this as a slight on the area private schools; this is just a comment on a tuition-based funding model and a taxpayer-based funding model. 
 
This is an oversimplification of the leveling process, but what I wish to convey is that this is a statewide process that all public schools are subject to.  Schools are not targeted or selected based on their achievement level or socio-economic status.  The leveling process is a transparent process based on the state’s funding model. Every organization operates based on funding models. If a law firm does not have enough cases, they lay off employees.  The same is true for hospitals with patients and Wal-mart with shoppers.  Unfortunately, the school’s model happens to be teachers to students.
 
Now, I would like to address the 90% and how we react to it.
 
In the past week, there has been much inaccurate information shared and anxiety caused by information that was passed through channels that were not official.  As the Jackson Community, we are responsible for our own morale and culture, and the preservation of both.  As a community, we allowed damage to be caused to both this week. 
 
There will always be outside forces in our community at large that work to harm the unique culture that is Jackson. There will always be those who take bits of information and attempt to craft their own scandalous narrative with an end goal of causing anxiety and strife.  The goal of gossip and misinformation is never to help but to harm.  My goal is to present the community with information as it becomes available and shutdown unofficial channels. 
 
As we move forward, I can make a promise every member of the Jackson Community.  I will be as transparent as possible through every process that affects Jackson and its students.  I will always advocate for our school and I will always do what I feel is in the best interests of my students.  As we moved through this process, as information was solidified, it was shared and the leveling process timeline was followed. Once all options were researched fully and a definitive decision was made (based on the data that showed what was in the best interest of Jackson) that information is being shared, and will continue to be shared, through official channels.  I encourage the community to trust only official information that comes from the school and challenge all other sources.  When decisions are made officially, we will share our data and rationales for decisions in a transparent manner. Parents will never have to rely on word of mouth for school based decisions.
 
I thank you for taking the time to read this lengthy post and for your continued support of Jackson and for the efforts you are making to preserve its culture. 
 
-B

Jackson Data Talk August 25th:
Have you recently received your Milestones Scores and don't have a clear understanding of what all the numbers really mean?  Have you heard our CCRPI score but really don't understand how we arrived at it or what the school can  do to help increase it? If you have any questions about the DATA the helps define Jackson in the eyes of the state, district and community, please join me  on August 25th of my principal's coffee on Jackson's data.  We all agree that our students are more than test scores and that Jackson is  more than a number, but it's importation to understand the framework in which we operate. 

Are you Anti-Social??
Our students are growing up in a time of social media and we are doing our best to celebrate our successes yet balance the protection of our students. Each child at Jackson was sent a  Media Release form in the APS student handbook. In order for teachers, PTA and the administration to use your child's image in outside of the building communications, permission must be obtained. While considering if you would like to provide this permission, know that we are using the professional guidelines as outlined at ​www.commonsensemedia.org/educators  and www.webwise.ie/teachers/posting-pictures-to-your-schools-website-2/
​
​In short, here are the bullet pointed guidelines.

• Staff will educate students about the risks associated with the taking, using, sharing, publication and distribution of images. In particular, teachers will recognise the risks attached to publishing their own images on the internet
• Staff are permitted to take digital/video images to support educational aims, but must follow school policies concerning the distribution of those images, which should only be taken on school equipment
• When taking digital/video images ensure that students are appropriately dressed and are not participating in activities that might bring the individuals or the school into disrepute
• Students must not take, use, share, or publish images of others without consent
• Pictures to be published on the school’s website, or elsewhere, which include pupils will be selected carefully and will comply with good practice guidance on image use
• Pupils’ full names will not be used anywhere on a website or blog, particularly in association with photographs
• Written permission from parents or carers will be obtained before photographs of students are published on the school website
• Student work can only be published with the permission of the student and parents or carers

If you still have concerns regarding social media and the use of your student's image, please discuss with your classroom teacher.  If you and your family decide that you would like to opt out of social media usage please make sure to communicate this to your child's teacher. 

We are making every effort to ensure that your child's needs are met and celebrate the accomplishments that they achieve, as well as celebrating our school's successes.  

CARPOOL REMINDERS:
Since we are back at dual campuses, there have been some changes to carpool.  At Main Campus,  carpool will take place on the side entrance of the building.  Please do not drop off students at the front entrance of the building, we reserve this space for bus drop-off.  

WEEK III Celebrations:

Parents, 
Curriculum night will be held at Jackson Main on Wednesday, August 17.  At Curriculum night, you will get a glimpse of your child's academic day. Teachers will discuss a variety of topics that will better prepare you as you support your child this year.  Some of the topics that teachers will cover are:
1. Methods of classroom communication
2. Academic programs and expectations (the IB:PYP Program)
3. Grading policy
4. Volunteering in the classroom
5. Fall Conferences

This is a valuable time for parents to make connections with the classroom teacher. The classroom teacher is your first contact through the school year regarding your child's educational and socio-emotional needs.  
I encourage you to come and see all of the wonderful things taking place in your child's classroom!!

SUPER FRIDAY:
Friday will be a special Spirit Day at Jackson.  Teachers and students will wear their favorite superhero t-shirt to celebrate the superheros that work at Jackson everyday.  We invite parent to join in on the action. Wear your favorite superhero shirt in support and appreciation of your favorite superheroes....our teachers!!!