Jefferson County Schools -

The Jefferson High School Jazz Band is set to take the stage at the Kennedy Center! The award-winning jazz ensemble will perform a ✨FREE✨ concert at The Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage on Wednesday, April 24 at 6 p.m. The performance will offer a preview for the "Essentially Ellington" Jazz Festival at Shenandoah University on May 2 at Shenandoah University. Visit http://rb.gy/23ecf9 to reserve your ticket today!

The Jefferson High School Performing Arts Department is proud to present its spring musical, Mamma Mia! Showtimes are Friday, April 26 at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 27 at 2 p.m. and 7p.m., and Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. Tickets on sale now at http://rb.gy/4pmp25!

What happens when you pit a porcupine against a velvet worm? And what exactly IS a velvet worm anyway? WMS students discovered the answers to these questions and more during March Mammal Madness, a fun way to learn about animals great and small. Students progressed through their brackets, choosing which mammals would advance to the next round until only a great white shark and giant squid remained. The ultimate victor? The great white, of course! Then again, we didn't see any Huskies or Gamecocks in there. 🤔

JCS Reminder: Tomorrow, Friday, April 12th is a 2-Hour Early Dismissal for students and a Faculty Senate day for staff.

🏋️‍♂️ Washington High School students showed off their strength in an Iron Soldier deadlift competition during a recent table visit from the soldiers of the U.S. Army Recruiting Station in Martinsburg and the Frederick Army Recruiting Company. Kyree Brooks, John Wilson, and Grace Troxel emerged as the winners of the challenge to deadlift 150 pounds on a hex bar for maximum reps. Now that's what we call a flex - literally! 💪

JCS Reminder: Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 10th Juniors will be taking their SATs on campus at JHS/WHS. Freshmen, Sophomores, and Seniors will have assignments in Canvas to work on remotely.

JCS Reminder: On Wednesday, April 10th Juniors will be taking the SAT. Freshman, Sophomores, and Seniors please remember to bring your devices home tomorrow for remote learning on Wednesday via Canvas.

JCS Reminder: Tomorrow, Monday, April 8th is a 2-Hour Early Dismissal.

A reminder that Spring Break begins on Friday, March 29, with all Jefferson County schools and offices closed. Schools will remain closed April 1-5, while JCS offices will be open. Students will return to school on Monday, April 8. Enjoy your Spring Break!

Please review the JCS calendar reminders and changes for April. April 8th is now a 2-Hour Early Dismissal: https://www.smore.com/n/qr4xnh

Jefferson Virtual Academy is collaborating with the Charles Town Library to offer Thursday evening Library Nights exclusively for JVA students! Students are invited to join library staff every Thursday through May 31 from 6-7 p.m. to check out books and enjoy a read-aloud story. Come out tonight for some storytime fun!

Congratulations to the winners of the Black History Month Art Contest! More than two dozen student artists from JCS middle and high schools submitted breathtaking original artwork for this district-wide art competition to recognize the achievements and amplify the voices of Black men and women throughout history. With so much talent on display, choosing the Top 5 proved challenging! The following winners were selected based on their inspiring creations: 1st Place: Melody White (JVA), 2nd Place: Chiara Machesse (JHS), 3rd Place: Brianna Bradford (WMS), 4th Place: Emily Jack (JHS), 5th Place: Noelle Nicodemus (JHS).

💫✨ C.W. Shipley Elementary students embarked on an intergalactic journey of creativity and imagination with the "Out of This World" Art Show! Budding artists from Kindergarten through fifth grade created celestial works of art for a schoolwide art show to coincide with the school's annual book fair this week. Visitors to the book fair will find themselves transported to distant galaxies and lunar landscapes as they fuel their imaginations with tales of adventure, exploration, and discovery. Check out some of the creativity on display in the halls of CWS! 🎨

💵 Thanks to the Office of West Virginia State Treasurer Riley Moore for helping JCS middle school students "Get a Life!" Eighth-graders across the district participated in this interactive, award-winning program to learn about financial literacy. Students developed a family budget, managed an expense ledger, and participated in real-life simulations with the help of community volunteers serving as salespeople, insurance agents, and doctors. Thank you to these local business leaders for supporting our students in this crucial hands-on learning experience!

🤖 The Shepherdstown Middle School robotics club finished the season strong at states! Congratulations to the SMS robotics team "The Shepherds!" on their fifth-place finish at the 2024 VEX State Championship. The team also took home the Builder Award at the March 14 tournament at Fairmont State University. Fellow SMS teams "The Mech Makers" and "The Live Wires" placed in the top 50% of teams statewide at the event. It was a successful end to an exciting season that saw the first-ever regional VEX Robotics competition held in Jefferson County. Way to go, Cardinals!

Join members of the local STEM community and JHS students for our latest STEAMtalks TONIGHT at 6pm!

📚 The Black Men Read Program returned this week to offer supplemental library education for JCS fourth-graders! Wes MacKall visited fourth-grade classrooms at North Jefferson Elementary School to read "Clayton Byrd Goes Underground" by Newbery Honor winner Rita Williams-Garcia. He was one of several community members, professional actors and storytellers, and other black male role models who visited schools across the district this week as part of the nationally recognized program. Created in 2022, Black Men Read is a collaborative effort between artists, educators, and parents focused on building relationships with supportive community members. To learn more about the program, visit https://www.jcswv.org/article/699690.

Students from all four middle schools recently represented JCS at the first-ever West Virginia Middle School All-State Band in Charleston. The event marked the first time middle school band musicians had the opportunity to earn this state-wide recognition. Visit https://www.jcswv.org/article/1386997 for a complete list of attendees!

Congratulations to the JHS Chamber Choir and Pop Singers on their winning performances at the Martinsburg American Classic Choral Festival! The Pop Singers took first place in the Large Mixed Division and first runner-up in the Finals. The Chamber Choir won first place in the Large Choir Division and took the Grand Champion title! Well done, Cougars!

🎨 JCS student artists display their talent at the Jefferson Arts Council's annual Youth Art Show! 🎨 Congratulations to the talented young artists selected to participate in the 2024 Youth Art Show! JCS art teachers submit the best of students' 2D and 3D artwork for the annual event celebrating West Virginia's Youth Art Month. A public reception on March 10 honored the featured artists, and their art teachers were on hand to support their success! The Youth Art Show runs through March 31 at the Firehouse Gallery in Charles Town.