Jefferson County Schools -

💡 Calling all innovators and STEAM enthusiasts! The JHS Science National Honor Society Chapter invites you to join its triannual STEAMtalks! This unique event features TED Talk-style presentations from students and community professionals on exciting STEAM topics. Want to mentor a student researcher or share your expertise? Sign up to inspire the next generation at https://app.droplet.io/form/ym4kp0! We’re still looking for presenters for the first event this Tuesday, November 22. Join us for a night of inspiration and discovery—we hope to see you there!

Six juniors and seniors from Jefferson and Washington High Schools have joined the third district cohort of the Grow Your Own Program, created by the WV Department of Education. This week they shadowed teachers at Page Jackson Elementary, Wildwood Middle, and Charles Town Middle, gaining valuable classroom experience. The Grow Your Own program allows students to fast-track their path to becoming K-12 educators through dual enrollment at Shepherd University. A great step toward building the future of teaching and education in our community! 👏✨

🎓College and career pathways took center stage last week as JHS and WHS celebrated College Application and Exploration Week! Students from both schools explored future pathways, from college and career programs to military service. Highlights included College Attire Day, a field trip to Blue Ridge CTC, presentations from WVU and Shepherd University, and a fun door decorating contest featuring staff alma maters. School spirit was in full swing throughout the week!

👏 At JCS, we're proud to celebrate excellence in coaching! Join us in congratulating these outstanding leaders for their 2023-24 achievements: 🏆 Codie Gustines – WVSSAC Coach of the Year, Wrestling (WHS), 🏆 Amanda Orkoskey – WVSSAC Coach of the Year, Softball (WHS), 🏆 John Serian – WVSSAC Coach of the Year, Girls Track & Field (JHS), 🏆 Bryant Currence – EPAC Coach of the Year, Men’s Golf (WHS). These dedicated coaches were recognized at the October 28 Board of Education meeting. Thank you for your commitment to excellence and your teams!

🌄 Washington High School's newest CTE class gains hands-on experience in West Virginia's thriving tourism industry! Students in the Intro to Tourism class at WHS recently took an exciting trip to the Bavarian Inn, where they explored the tourism industry! The group learned about various hospitality roles from Director of Sales Kaitlyn Henry and listened to inspiring stories from owner David Asam. To finish their trip, students enjoyed a tasty meal of German favorites like Sauerkraut and Bratwurst. What a fantastic opportunity for hands-on learning!

JHS/WHS Families: Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 29th, is PSAT/NMSQT testing for all sophomores and registered juniors. All other students (freshmen, non-registered juniors, and seniors) will stay home for online learning through Canvas. James Rumsey and BRCTC will operate as normal, and students should report to school for the bus. MedEd is canceled.

JCS Families: There are bus delays today, Friday, October 25, 2024. Please check the status of your student's bus on the JCS Bus Tracker page: https://www.jcswv.org/page/bus-tracker. We appreciate your patience as we work to get all our students to school safely.

JCS Families: There are bus delays this morning please check the JCS Bus Tracker for updates - https://www.jcswv.org/page/bus-tracker. Thank you for your patience as we worked to get all our students to school .

JCS Families: Early voting has started in Jefferson County at Charles Washington Hall in Charles Town. JCS has a levy on the ballot this election, learn more at JCSWV.org/levy

JCS Families: All students who ride the bus have been dropped off at home. We appreciate your patience and have a wonderful weekend.

JCS Families: Law enforcement has reopened the 2 southbound lanes and one northbound lane of 340. Expect delays due to traffic and the late release of buses. We appreciate your continued patience as we work to get your students home.

JCS Families: We anticipate transportation delays across the county due to law enforcement shutting down a portion of 340 due to a hazardous materials spill. WHS, HFMS, CWS, and BRC will be most impacted.

🍎 We're celebrating National School Lunch Week with heartfelt thanks to our incredible cafeteria staff! During the first full month of the school year, JCS proudly served 7,654 meals per day, thanks to our team of 68 dedicated cooks. Every day, our cafeteria staff goes above and beyond to nourish our students, ensuring they have the energy to learn and grow. Plus, all JCS students can enjoy free breakfast and lunch every day! A wonderful example of this commitment can be seen at Blue Ridge Primary School, where the cooks created a colorful bulletin board showcasing daily meals with photos for our younger students. Thank you to all our school lunch (and breakfast!) heroes for your hard work and heart! ❤️

🎃 Join us for our 3rd Annual Sensory-Friendly Trunk-or-Treat! 🎃 With spooky season upon us, families with autism and sensory processing needs are invited to this fun, inclusive Trunk-or-Treat event on October 30, from 5-7 PM at Charles Town Middle School. Want to help make the evening extra special? Drop off peanut-free candy or wishlist items at the PERC office through October 30. Find the Amazon wishlist here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/DPSZGC6YGBMN?ref_=wl_share Your support is truly appreciated!

📱 Worried about your child’s screen time? Let’s talk solutions! Join us on Wednesday, October 30, from 5:30-7:30 pm at Driswood Elementary School to learn practical tips for managing screen time for your elementary-aged students. We’ll cover healthy screen habits, setting boundaries, and fun alternatives to help balance tech time! Presented in partnership with Access 304, this adults-only event will offer plenty of helpful tips for families. For more info, visit www.jcswv.org/screentime.

🏆🎶 The JHS Marching Band takes first place in the Tournament of Bands! Congratulations to the Cougars for their first-place win in Class 4A at the Musselman High School Tournament of Bands Show this weekend with a score of 90.21! The band also won Best Percussion, Best Music, Best Visual, and the “People’s Choice” award. They are now ranked first nationally in the Tournament of Bands circuit. Go Cougars!

🚒🔥 JCS students learned about fire safety during Fire Prevention Week! Last week, students at Blue Ridge Campus, T.A. Lowery Elementary, and C.W. Shipley Elementary learned fire safety basics with help from our incredible community EMS partners! Students explored fire trucks, checked out the gear, and learned important fire safety tips. Thank you to our local heroes for partnering with us for Fire Prevention Week to make these important safety lessons fun and informative! 👨‍🚒

📢 Join the Hispanic/Latino Association of JCS this Friday, October 18, for an informative presentation! Families are invited to learn about Canvas, Rooms, attendance policies, and the JVA Program, plus information about HLA! Enjoy music, games, and refreshments. Food will also be available for a small donation. All ages are welcome!

🚀 Ranson Elementary’s STEAM teacher, Beth Lee, was recently featured by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research! In her interview, Beth shares what inspired her path to STEAM, her favorite classroom projects, and why she loves what she does. We're proud to congratulate her on this incredible accomplishment! Read the full interview here 👉 https://www.afosrstem.org/teacher-feature-interview-beth-lee

🥇🎶 Congratulations to the Jefferson High School Marching Band on another 1st place win in Group 4A at the annual Tournament of Bands event! The Cougars are currently ranked #1 in the circuit, competing against bands from eight states across the Mid-Atlantic region. This is the second year in a row they’ve taken top honors after returning to the competition last year following a 10-year hiatus. Way to go, Cougars!