The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree passed through our area during its journey through West Virginia, and two JCS choral groups were there to mark the occasion! On Wednesday, the Driswood Elementary School Chorus and Washington High School Chamber Choir performed at the Harpers Ferry Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center, which hosted a special appearance of the tree that included holiday festivities like hot cocoa, ornament decorating, and more. Students later took turns posing in front of the 63-foot tall Norway Spruce harvested from the Monongahela National Forest, and signed their names to the truck carrying it. The event marked the final stop for the tree before it travels on to light up the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the holiday season. 🎄
American Education Week continues with a shoutout to our amazing team of service personnel! These folks hold a special place in our JCS community as they work to keep our students safe, healthy, and focused. We're grateful for the many different ways they support our students.
As we kick off American Education Week, we're excited to highlight and celebrate the incredible people in our JCS community who contribute to public education! Our staff, students, and families are the heart of our community, and we're grateful to each of you for your role in creating and maintaining a safe, enriching, and fun learning environment. Keep an eye out this week for #AEW2023 celebrations throughout our JCS community!
Today we take time to recognize Veterans Day with respect, honor, and gratitude to all who serve or have served in our nation's armed forces. Thank you!
A reminder that all Jefferson County schools and offices will be closed on Friday, November 10, in observance of Veterans Day.
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!
#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!
NOTICE 10/25/23: Driswood Elementary School learned of a water main break that caused a disruption to water pressure at approximately 1:00 this afternoon (10/25). American Water issued a precautionary boil water advisory due to the duration of the outage. That advisory remains in place through noon tomorrow (10/26). The outage did not impact meal service. Additional bottled water is also being delivered to the school this afternoon for use today and tomorrow.
Many thanks to our DES parents and staff who helped facilitate our “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.
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
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!
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!
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).
Join us TODAY, October 12, at the JCS Operations Facility, located at 635 McGarry Blvd. Kearneysville, for our next hiring event exclusively for school service personnel! JCS staff will be on hand to conduct onsite applications, screenings, and interviews for all service positions. Plus, a representative from WV Adult Education will be available to answer your questions about their new self-paced preparatory course for the state's Service Personnel Competency Test! Visit www.jcswv.org/careers for a complete list of job openings. JCS offers service positions with the flexibility to meet your needs as a busy family, so join us today and learn how you can make your mark in our caring community of educators!
In recognition of National School Lunch Week, we want to express our sincere gratitude to the men and women serving as cooks in our school cafeterias who keep our students fed, focused, and ready to learn. Thank you for the important role you play in supporting their success!
Ms. Brooks and Mrs. Noland's first grade classes used their knowledge from their CKLA Human Body Unit to have successful day in the OR!
