Three Driswood Elementary students have received recognition for their outstanding knowledge of fire safety! Kindergartener Aubrey Brumback, first grader Alora Cooper, and fifth grader Sophia Mriscin are among the dozen winners of West Virginia's annual fire safety poster contest held each October during Fire Prevention Month. State Fire Marshal Kenneth Tyree visited DES this week to present Aubrey, Alora, and Sophia with framed copies of their original artwork, which will also be featured in a 2024 wall calendar. Congratulations to these talented young artists!
Six students from Jefferson and Washington High Schools had the opportunity to observe JCS teachers in action as part of the second district cohort of the statewide Grow Your Own Program! Created by the West Virginia Department of Education for high school students interested in becoming K-12 educators, the program enables JCS juniors and seniors to fast-track their careers through dual enrollment courses at Shepherd University. Grow Your Own Shadow Day was a rewarding experience for our JCS students as they observed current teachers in preparation for their future careers! Read more here 👉 http://rb.gy/brn2q
JCS Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bishop took one for the team today at Jefferson High School's "Cougars Against Cancer" pep rally! Dr. Bishop, Principal Group, and other JHS staff members each took a pie to the face during one of several games at the school-wide event to support cancer awareness. With cancer affecting the lives of so many, students were encouraged to "pink out" in attire and complete a pink sign with the name of someone they support in the fight against cancer. Following the fun and games, the student body stood and raised their signs to show that Cougars stand together against cancer.
#TGIF! JCS students across the district celebrated Red Ribbon Week with fun themes and activities related to this year's theme, "Be Kind to Your Mind." From "decade day" to "super training" their brains with crazy hairstyles to simply wearing as much red as possible, students had a great time showing their school spirit during this annual celebration of health and wellness!
Thanks to everyone who came out to scare up some fun at our second annual Sensory Trunk-or-Treat! Our neurodiverse students and their families had a 👻spooktacular👻 time in this safe and inclusive trick-or-treating environment hosted by our Parent and Educator Resource Center (PERC). Special thanks to our student greeters and peer hosts, staff and community volunteers, and community partner agencies who helped facilitate the event. Read more here 👉 http://rb.gy/gpw57
Many thanks to our parents and staff and Driswood Elementary who helped facilitate the school's “Spooktacular Reading” event! With approximately 150 families in attendance, the event offered creative ideas to reinforce reading strategies at home. Students were invited to come in costume for a fun evening of stories, games, and crafts, and special guest Chrissy Overton of Bolivar-Harpers Ferry Public Library was on hand with the library's pet bearded dragon, Gourd. A photo booth provided lasting memories, and everyone in attendance received a free book!
Jefferson County Schools appreciates everyone's hard work during the first nine weeks of the 23-24 school year. As we calculate final grades, we want to inform you about a change in schedule. Report cards will go home on Monday, October 30, 2023, NOT this Friday as previously planned. Grades will also be available in Canvas. We appreciate your patience while we ensure all grades have been assessed and calculated.
10/23: C.W. Shipley called an "Evacuate" this morning in response to a fire alarm. The alarm was not genuine, and there is NO DANGER to students or staff. In an abundance of caution, firefighters who responded to the alarm inspected the building and confirmed it was safe. Students reentered the building, and instruction is continuing as scheduled. Visit www.jcswv.org/safety for more information on our standard response protocols.
Jefferson County Schools invites you to an informational meeting on Oct. 23 about the Standard Response Protocol we use in our schools and ways you can support student safety at home. Lt. Ben Williams from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department will present the information and answer questions. The event takes place at 5:00 p.m. in the Washington High School auditorium. https://www.jcswv.org/events?id=23365841
WHS senior Taylor Decker is not only a busy high school student, but she also takes classes through Shepherd University and Blue Ridge CTC as part of the WVDE's Grow Your Own teacher training program. Ms. Decker will finish high school with a year's worth of college credits at no cost to apply to her post-secondary education and will enter a teaching program next school year as a sophomore! She often uses her teacher training skills to tutor classmates, who commend her for her friendliness, stamina, and math positivity. To learn more about enrollment in the Grow Your Own program, talk to your school counselor or visit https://teachwv.com/grow-your-own/.
Thanks to the JCS community for supporting our teachers and staff as they worked to learn new skills and classroom techniques on this day of staff development!
REMINDER: Tomorrow, Oct. 20, is a staff development day for Jefferson County Schools. There will be NO SCHOOL for students while our staff take advantage of training opportunities to continue supporting students. Thank you, and have a great weekend!
Due to unforeseen circumstances, our Pep Rally scheduled for today (10/19) will be postponed to next Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. We understand the disruption this sudden change causes, and we appreciate your understanding. The new date will align the Pep Rally with a football game. We will follow the same schedule.
Congratulations to the Jefferson High School Marching Band on a winning weekend! The Cougars won first place at the Musselman High School Tournament of Bands and are currently ranked first nationally among the Group 4A circuit consisting of bands across an eight-state region.. The band also took second place in Class A at the West Virginia Governor's Cup Competition and was named first runner-up to the 11-time defending WV State Champion. Go Cougars!
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!
#TGIF In recognition of National Fire Prevention Week, C.W. Shipley Elementary students wrapped up the week with a special visit by Friendship Fire Company in Harpers Ferry! Following a schoolwide assembly on fire safety, students explored a fire truck and ambulance and learned more about their different functions. A big thank you to our EMS partners at Friendship for this hands-on learning experience!
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).
Congratulations to JHS seniors Britt Shoedel and Lucca Parker on being named semifinalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program! Britt and Lucca will continue to showcase their academic talents at the Finalist level to compete for a National Merit Scholarship Award. Visit http://rb.gy/6itxx to learn more about the program.
