Jefferson County Public Schools
May 2012
2012-13 Back-to-School Issue
You can pay for your child’s school meals online (page 2) JCPS joins national Breakfast in the Classroom Program (page 3)
Bus information (page 6) Getting ready for the first day (page 8)
www.jcpsky.net Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Offering Equal Educational Opportunities
You can pay for your child’s school meals online You don’t have to send your child to school with cash or a check to pay for meals this year. All Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) District cafeterias have partnered with EZPay, a secure online system that accepts debit or credit card payments. Once you sign up with EZPay, you can deposit funds into your child’s account, check the balance, and replenish them anytime. You’ll receive payment verifications through e-mail, and you even can choose to receive low-balance reminders. There are no charges for registering with the system, checking your balance, or 2
receiving e-mails. There is a $2 fee each time you make a deposit, but you can deposit money into multiple student accounts at once and pay only one $2 transaction fee. Please note that deposits may take up to two school days to post to your child’s EZPay account. To set up an account, log on through the See my student’s profile (Infinite Campus) link on the Parent Portal. Then click Fees. Or you can sign up through the EZPay site. If you do, you’ll need your child’s district ID number, which is available through the Parent Portal. For more information on
EZPay, contact the cafeteria manager at your child’s school. See the article below if you need to set up a Parent Portal account.
Have you signed up for the Parent Portal? You can use the Parent Portal, a secure online system available through the JCPS Web site, to check on your child’s school schedule, test scores, report cards, attendance, bus information, and immunization records. You also can receive school notices, send e-mail to teachers, pay for school meals, and check on your child’s daily assignments and grades (if your child’s
teacher uses the online grade book). To sign up for a Parent Portal account, send an e-mail message to campus.portal@jefferson.kyschools.us. Include your child’s name, your name, your phone number, and the name of any other parent/guardian who should have access to the account.
Your child’s information will be available when you click See my student’s profile (Infinite Campus) on the Parent Portal.
After your information has been verified, you’ll receive login instructions.
JCPS joins national Breakfast in the Classroom Program Several JCPS elementary schools will join the Breakfast in the Classroom Program during the new school year. It’s a national program implemented in selected districts to provide wider access to healthy school breakfasts and a good start to the school day. At participating schools, all students—regardless of income level—are invited to eat a free, nutritious breakfast, which includes such menu items as breakfast quesadillas, chicken biscuits, fresh fruit, and 100 percent fruit juice. The students eat together in their homeroom soon after the opening bell. “Breakfast in the Classroom Programs have proven to
improve student attendance and behavior and decrease tardiness and trips to the school nurse,” says Julia Bauscher, director of JCPS School and Community Nutrition Services. With funding from the Walmart Foundation, Break-
fast in the Classroom was launched in several cities in January 2011 by four nonprofit organizations: the Food Research and Action Center, the National Association of Elementary School Principals Foundation, the National Education Association Health Information Network, and the School Nutrition Foundation.
These national partners are providing training and support as JCPS implements the program. At this writing, it’s planned for 19 schools, which means it will serve about 9,000 students—3,000 more than the number of students who usually eat breakfast at the schools. They are Blake, Breckinridge-Franklin, Cane Run, Cochran, Dixie, Engelhard, King, Lincoln, Maupin, McFerran Preparatory Academy, Mill Creek, Minors Lane, Price, Rangeland, Roosevelt-Perry, Rutherford, Semple, Watson Lane, and Wheatley. Visit www.breakfastintheclassroom.org for more information on the national program.
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Parent to parent:
New strategic plan provides district direction Our schools and staff members are busy preparing our classrooms to welcome you and your children to an exciting school year. With our newly adopted Strategic Plan—Vision 2015 in place, the Jefferson County Board of Education (JCBE) has provided the direction for the district. Everything we do and every dollar we spend will be focused on the goals and strategies that will best prepare all students for life in a globally competitive environment. Our vision for the district—
“ Our mission is to provide relevant, comprehensive, quality instruction ...”
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all JCPS students graduate prepared to reach their full potential and contribute to society throughout life—is rooted in the understanding that our mission is to provide relevant, comprehensive, quality instruction in order to educate, prepare, and inspire students to learn. The strategic plan guides our daily work and aligns our efforts in four focus areas, each with a single goal: • FOCUS AREA: INCREASED LEARNING Goal 1: Every student progresses in his or her learning and meets or exceeds proficiency in all subjects. • FOCUS AREA: GRADUATION AND BEYOND Goal 2: Every student graduates prepared for his or her postsecondary choice—for college or career, and life. • FOCUS AREA: STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT/ENGAGEMENT Goal 3: Parents, community, and partners enrich students’ educational experiences and support
their success. • FOCUS AREA: SAFE, RESOURCED, SUPPORTED, AND EQUIPPED SCHOOLS Goal 4: All schools are staffed, resourced, and equipped to support student needs. Nine core values are at the heart of the plan and embody the school board and district’s beliefs about teaching and learning. 1. Our students are cared for and treated as if they are our own. 2. Children learn differently. 3. What happens in the classroom matters the most. 4. The differences of each are assets of the whole. 5. High-quality teaching is the most powerful tool for helping students reach high standards. 6. Leadership and innovation are essential to prepare students for their future. 7. Talents and resources are used wisely to benefit students.
8. Partnerships among schools, families, and community are important for the health and well-being of our students. 9. Adults model integrity, respect, creativity, and accountability. The outcomes of this strategic plan will not be accom-
plished in a few months or even a year. However, the work will be accomplished when all of us—teachers, principals, school support staff, parents, and the community—work together. Our expectations for students, the school system, and the community must be high. We should settle for nothing less than JCPS being the
best urban school district in the nation. Our students deserve that. Sincerely,
Donna M. Hargens, Ed.D. JCPS Superintendent
Back-to-School page helps you get ready JCPS has created a Web page that offers all the back-to-school information you need in one place—including a link to the Bus Finder, an interactive tool that instantly displays pickup times at the bus stops closest to your home. Available through a link on the homepage of the district’s site (in late July), the Backto-School page also offers links to many elementary and middle school supply lists, lunch menus, a school calendar, and health information. There’s even a video that shows what it’s like for a kindergarten student to ride the bus on the first day of school, and there are many other tools to help you get ready for the new school year.
District information—however you want it Web site—The JCPS site offers general information on the district, links to individual school sites, maps, forms, lunch menus, and much more.
Facebook—The Facebook page offers district news and alerts. During inclement whether, the page provides school closing information. Twitter—The district’s Twitter feed includes school closing information and other news items posted on the Facebook page. YouTube—The JCPS YouTube Channel offers news videos and feature stories, including student profiles. Free JCPS app—Available in the iTunes and Android app stores, the district app offers new, alerts, and much more.
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Bus information Some parents like to take their child to school on the first day, but if your child is going to be a bus rider most of the time, it’s a good idea for him or her to ride it on the first day to help the driver establish a routine. If you’re the parent of a young child and you want to be part of his or her first school day, you may want to follow the bus and meet your child at the school. JCPS bus information is available through the Bus Finder feature on the district’s Back-to-School Web page. When you enter your address, you’ll see the closest stops. Please check the Bus Finder a few days before school starts to confirm your stop. Your child’s bus number or the bus arrival time may have changed since last year. Parents should anticipate that buses will run late during the first few days of the new school year.
Elementary parents: Have you confirmed your child’s transportation arrangements? Earlier this year, parents of incoming first- through fifth-grade students were asked to fill out information cards about their child’s transportation arrangements. If you received and returned this card last spring, a confirmation letter will be mailed to you by the end of July. You should contact your child’s school if you've moved since you returned the card.
mation, a confirmation letter will be mailed by the end of July. If you didn’t provide this information, please contact the office staff at your child’s school to let them know where your child should be dropped off in the afternoon. The staff will help you find your bus stop.
Kindergarteners and new English as a Second Language (ESL) students will receive a sticker with the Parents of incoming kinname of the child’s school dergarteners were asked to on it. Please remember provide their child’s afterto put this sticker on your noon drop-off address when child’s clothing on the first they completed the JCPS day of school. enrollment form. Luggage tags will be placed If you provided this infor6
on each elementary stu-
dent’s backpack on the first day. The student’s name, bus number(s), school, and afternoon bus stop will be printed on the tag. For security reasons, student phone numbers will not be included. Students who do not have a backpack on the first day of school will receive lanyards for temporary use.
Bus safety tips • Make sure your child gets to the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. • If you live on the opposite side of the road from a bus stop, tell your child to wait on your side of the road until the bus arrives and the driver gives the signal to cross. • Students are allowed to get off the bus only at a regular, designated stop. Temporary changes—for instance, if your child wants to get off at a friend’s house instead of the regular stop—must be requested by parents and approved by the school principal. • Tell your child to walk several giant steps away from the bus after he or she has been dropped off, but remind your child to wait for a signal from the driver if he or she has to cross a road to get back to your house. Teach your child to never cross the road behind a bus.
2012-13 new principals Conway Middle: Gregory Fehr Crosby Middle: Michael Kelly Dunn Elementary: Patti Barron Foster Traditional Academy: Robert Gunn Greenwood Elementary: Dylan Owens
Riding the bus on the first day of school—the video
What’s it like for a young student to ride a JCPS school bus on the first day? A video that simulates the experience is posted in the Bus Information section on the Backto-School Web page.
Transportation Hotline 485-RIDE (485-7433)
JCPS staff members will be available at the following times to tell you your child's bus number and find the closest stops near your house. • Sun., Aug. 19 — 4 to 7 p.m. • Mon., Aug. 20 — 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. • Tues., Aug. 21 (first day of school) — 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. • Wed., Aug. 22 — 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Layne Elementary: Ron Marshall Lowe Elementary: David Armour Meyers Middle: Jack Baldwin Shelby Traditional Academy: Kim Goff Smyrna Traditional Elementary: Tiffany Stith St. Matthews Elementary: Shannon LaChappelle
Requesting teacher qualifications Parents of a student attending a Title I school may request information about the professional qualifications of the student’s classroom teachers. Contact your child’s school for more information.
Appointments as of July 2, 2012 7
Getting Ready for For parents of preschoolers:
Eight ways to help your child learn
There are many simple things you can do to help your child get ready to learn and have fun in preschool:
him or her to make up a story and act it out with dolls, stuffed animals, or toy cars and trucks.
• Draw and color together. This not only gives you a chance to teach colors and shapes but also helps your child develop the small muscles that he or she needs to hold a pencil.
• Read together as often as possible. Make sure your child has at least a small collection of simple picture books.
• Help your child learn as he or she plays. For example, you and your child could build something with blocks. This helps your child begin to understand how to plan and carry out a project. • Fire your child’s imagination by encouraging 8
• Point out letters and sounds when you read. For instance, you could say, “That’s a mouse. It starts with m. It sounds like mmm.” • Trace letters on your child’s back with your finger. Ask your child to guess which letters you wrote.
• Choose a word for the day (a simple word, such as go or stop), and ask your child to see how many times he or she spots it on signs, in books, on television, or anywhere else. • Help your preschooler start learning to take on responsibilities. For example, you could ask your child to set the table, sort clothes, and clean up after bath time. Preschoolers who help at home gain independence and self-confidence, which will help them succeed in school.
the First Day
For parents of kindergarten students:
Five ways to build your child’s confidence One of the best ways to help your child get ready for kindergarten is also one of the easiest: Just talk about what to expect on the first day of school and on an average day. Talk about the things your child might do and how the school schedule works. Also, talk about the opportunities your child will have to work and play with other students. Here are some more tips: • Tell your child that it’s okay to be nervous. Point out that everyone— even the teacher—will be a little nervous but that learning and doing other
fun stuff will soon help evfirst and last name. eryone get over the first- — Say his or her telephone day jitters. number and address. • Eliminate as much — Recognize basic colors: stress as possible from red, blue, yellow, green, the getting-ready-fororange, black, brown, school ritual. For exand purple. ample, you can lay out — Recognize numbers from clothes and get supplies 1 to 10, count from 1 to ready the night before so 20, and recognize all the the morning routine will uppercase and lowercase be less hectic. letters of the alphabet. • Talk to your child about — Hold pencils, crayons, the importance of sharmarkers, and scissors ing, getting along, correctly. paying attention, and — Use the bathroom on his waiting in line patientor her own. ly. — Zip, snap, tie, button, and fasten Velcro. • Make sure your child knows how to: — Say and write his or her 9
Getting Ready for For parents of older students
Seven ways to make this your child’s best year ever How can students make the new school year their best so far? Encourage your child to:
steps will be prepared to manage projects when they enter college and the work world.
• Speak up. Is your child eager to join classroom discussions and other opportunities to think and learn with other students? If not, help your child develop the skills and confidence to become a more active participant.
• Ask for help. JCPS schools offer not only caring teachers but also counselors, Family Resource and Youth Services Centers (FRYSCs), Extended School Services (ESS), and many other programs and resources that meet an array of student needs.
Family discussions offer an ideal environment for nurturing your child’s ability to evaluate and build on others’ ideas and to reach consensus on the ideas that seem most productive. • Get involved. School sports, clubs, music programs, and art activities give your child a chance to explore talents and develop skills in a fun, supportive environment. • Develop organizational skills. Students who learn to budget time, keep track of papers, and break down big assignments into small 10
tween subjects they study in school and social, political, economic, and environmental issues in the larger world.
• Become a leader. Encourage your child to volunteer to lead class projects, prepare presentations, and teach other students what they’ve learned. • Engage in service learning. Community-service projects help students make connections be-
• Set long-term goals. In addition to helping students measure their success, long-term goals can help students explore their ability to make a difference in the world and to create a positive vision of their future. Encourage your child to take advantage of all the college- and career-preparation opportunities offered at JCPS schools. Contact the Parent Connection editor, Thomas Pack, at 485-6315 or at thomas.pack @jefferson.kyschools.us.
the First Day
Schools starts Tues., Aug. 21— Are you ready? • Have you registered your child or verified his or her school assignment? Call 485-6250 if you need to find out which school your child will attend or what documents you will need to register. • If your child is riding the bus, have you talked about behavior expectations and safety issues? (See page six for information on JCPS bus transportation.) If your child is walking or biking, have you discussed safety precautions regarding traffic and strangers? • Do you know what time school starts for your child? At most JCPS elementary schools, the hours are 9:05 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. At most middle and high schools, the hours are 7:40 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.
students and $1.85 for middle and high school students. If your child qualifies for free or reduced-price meals under USDA guidelines, have you filled out an application? A new one is required each year. Call 485-3186 for more information. • Have you checked with the school about the supplies your child will need? • Does your child have a backpack? Call your child’s school if you need help purchasing one. • Do you know if your child’s school has a dress code? Will your child need dif-
ferent clothes for physical education or art classes? • Have you filled out health, emergency contact, and other forms that have been sent home? • Has your child developed any health problems during the summer that will affect his or her school day? If so, have you notified school staff? If your child needs to take medication at school, have you made arrangements? • Have you established an earlier bedtime to help your child get back on a school schedule?
• Do you know how much school meals cost? Lunch is $2.40 for elementary students and $2.50 for middle and high school students. It’s $4.25 for adults. Breakfast (available at most schools) costs $1.75 for elementary 11
ECE services meet special needs Exceptional Child Education (ECE) services are available to JCPS students with disabilities. The students receive specially designed instruction to meet their individual needs as described on each student’s Individual Education Program (IEP).
their child’s school. Other contact numbers include ECE Programs (485-6270) and ECE Assessment (4856052). If your child is new to JCPS and already has an
IEP from a previous school, contact ECE Placement (485-3215). The ECE Web site is located at www. jcpsky.net/Programs/ ECE/index.html.
IEP development and placement are determined by the student’s Admission and Release Committee, which includes parents. To the maximum extent possible, students with disabilities are educated with students who are not disabled. JCPS offers a placement continuum that includes regular classes with coteaching, resource rooms, separate classes, separate schools, home instruction, and instruction in hospitals. Most JCPS schools serve students with disabilities. JCPS also offers specialty groupings of students with similar needs at specific schools. Specialty groupings include Visual Impairment, Hearing Impaired (HI), Functional Mental Disability (FMD), Autism (AU), and Multiple Disabilities (MD). The ECE Parent Resource Center (485-3215) offers information on special education services. Parent Liaisons help parents work in partnership with 12
ECE tips
Tips for parents from the ECE Department: • Start back-to-school routines at least a week in advance. • Encourage your child to ask questions about the school schedule. • Participate in orientation and other back-to-school events at your child’s school.
• Share information with your child’s teacher (e.g., health issues, likes, and reinforcers). • Encourage your child to read often, regardless of his or her reading level. • Encourage and foster independence. • Request an IEP meeting early in the school year if concerns arise.
Health information How do you know if your child is too sick to go to school? According to general JCPS guidelines, students should stay home when they have any of the following symptoms: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, undiagnosed rash, or a fever of 100.5 or greater. Of course, students also should stay home if they have been diagnosed with a contagious disease. Students at all Kentucky schools must follow state health regulations. Contact JCPS Health Services at 485-3387 if you have questions about the following requirements. You also can get more information and download forms at www.jcpsky.net/ Schools/Health_Descriptions.html. Dental Examinations—5and 6-year-old students entering kindergarten or first grade for the first time this year shall have a Kentucky Dental Form on file at the school they’re attending no later than Jan. 1, 2013. A dentist, dental hygienist, physician, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, or physician assistant must complete the dental screening or examination.
Medical examinations— Students entering a Kentucky school for the first time and all students entering the sixth grade shall have a Kentucky Preventative Health Care Examination Form on file. Vision examinations—3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old students entering school for the first time this year shall have a Kentucky Vision Examination Form on file no later than Jan. 1, 2013. An optometrist or ophthalmologist must complete the examination. Health/Medication concerns—Parents of a child who has health problems or requires health services while in school should notify JCPS Health Services as well as the child’s school. Students who need prescription medication and/ or over-the-counter medication during school hours must have a Medication Authorization Form on file with the required signatures. For such health conditions as
asthma/allergies, diabetes, seizures, respiratory disorders, and G-tube/swallowing/feeding disorders, parents need to submit the appropriate Primary Care Provider (PCP) Authorization Form to the school or directly to JCPS Health Services. PCP and Medication Authorization Forms are available through the Web page mentioned above, or you can access the forms directly at www.jcpsky.net/Departments/ HealthServicesPromotions/HealthServMedAdmin.html. Vision/Hearing screenings—Elementary school students participate in vision and hearing screening programs. Parents receive a nonconsent form to return to the school if they do not want their child to participate. Scoliosis screenings— Middle school students participate in scoliosis screening programs. Parental consent is required.
Immunizations—Every student shall have a current, valid immunization certificate on file at his or her school within two weeks of entering it. 13
JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
School Calendar for Parents 2012-13
First and Last Days for Students
AUGUST MON TUE
8/21, 6/5*
*6/5 will be the last day of school unless there are days to be made up. Inclement weather may alter the school calendar, grading periods, and report card distribution dates. See below for more information on Make-Up Days.
First and Last Days for Teachers (No School for Students) ................................8/17, 6/6
No School for Students Labor Day ................................................................9/3 Election Day ...........................................................11/6 Thanksgiving Break ...................................11/21–11/23 Winter Break .................................................12/21–1/4 Martin Luther King Jr. Day .....................................1/21 Spring Break .....................................................4/1–4/5 Memorial Day.........................................................5/27 Professional-Development Days ..10/5, 10/8, 11/5, 1/4, 2/25, 3/1, 5/3
Make-Up Days for Students In case of inclement weather or other emergencies, missed school days will be made up in the following order: 2/25, 2/26*, 2/27*, 2/28*, 3/1, 6/6, 6/7, 6/10, 6/11, 6/12, 6/13, 6/14 *If 2/26, 2/27, and 2/28 are not used as Make-Up Days, schools may choose to offer remediation/enrichment activities for some students. If no activities are scheduled, students will not attend school on these days.
Parent-Teacher Conferences Parent-teacher conferences may be scheduled on the following dates: 10/8, 11/5, 1/4, 3/1
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
WED THU
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
WED THU
FRI
SEPTEMBER MON TUE
3 10 17 24
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
WED THU
FRI
OCTOBER MON TUE
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
WED THU
FRI
NOVEMBER MON TUE
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
WED THU
FRI
7 14 21 28
DECEMBER MON TUE
3 10 17 24 31
4 11 18 25
FRI
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
www.jcpsky.net
JANUARY MON TUE
7 14 21 28
1 8 15 22 29
WED THU
2 9 16 23 30
4 11 18 25
WED THU
FRI
FEBRUARY MON TUE
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
MARCH
MON TUE
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
APRIL
MON TUE
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
MAY
MON TUE
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
JUNE
MON TUE
3 10 17 24
4 11 18 25
FRI
3 10 17 24 31
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
WED THU
1 8 15 22
FRI
7 14 21 28
1 8 15 22 29
WED THU
FRI
6 13 20 27 3 10 17 24
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
WED THU
FRI
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
WED THU
FRI
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Offering Equal Educational Opportunities