After many years of rising scores on the WVGSA test, JCS saw a steep decline during the pandemic, from which we have not recovered. The latest scores show staggering deficits in ELA and math that keep hundreds of children below the mark for proficiency. To ensure that our students are ready for academics and life beyond the classroom, we are adjusting our elementary education program for 3-5 grade students. Please visit www.jcswv.org/expansion to learn more. There will be a district-wide TWO-HOUR EARLY DISMISSAL for all students on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, to support teachers as they prepare to make these adjustments. Thank you for your trust and support.
JCS is still hiring substitute teachers to fill short and long-term positions for this school year! Interested in substituting for JCS? Here's everything you need to know about the required training offered through our partnership with the Eastern Panhandle Instructional Cooperative (EPIC). EPIC offers the training you need to be eligible to apply for open positions. Visit www.epicresa8.org/subteachertraining to learn more, and follow our JCS Careers Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JoinJCS to learn about new positions as they become available!
Several JCS teachers recently received much-needed classroom materials thanks to a generous donation by Horace Mann Insurance Co. The company has spent over 75 years financially supporting public educators, including its national sponsorship of DonorsChoose, a nonprofit classroom funding site. Horace Mann representative Casey Belzer personally delivered the donations to several JCS schools, including C.W. Shipley and T.A. Lowery Elementary, Wildwood Middle, and Jefferson High School. Thank you to Casey and Horace Mann for supporting JCS!
La Asociación Hispano/Latina del Condado de Jefferson le invita a conocer información importante relacionada el nuevo año escolar a conocer a nuevos contactos y amigos y a comer algo rico. Las primeras 25 familias recibirán una mochila con útiles escolares. El flyer tiene más información! The Hispanic/Latino Association of Jefferson County Schools invites you to learn important information regarding the new school year. Meet new contacts and friends and eat good food! The first 25 families will receive a bookbag filled with school supplies. See flyer for additional information!
Hello, T.A. Lowery families! Thank you to everyone who attended our recent Back to School Night and Open House. We hope you took advantage of our book giveaway to take home some free literature from the Journey's reading series to enjoy quality reading time as a family. We're so excited to kick off this new school year!
It is so exciting to have students back in our schools! Thank you for all you are doing to ensure a smooth start to the school year. Please remember that all JCS schools and offices will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2022, in observance of Labor Day. We look forward to welcoming students and staff back on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Have a great weekend.
Hello JCS Families,
We had a wonderful first week of school welcoming children back into the classroom. We are happy to share an update on WVEIS 2.0, the WVDE’s upgraded information system that impacts our communications and academic tools. Much progress has been made, and as of Sept. 6, we will have full use of our Canvas Platform. For more information about the update, please visit www.jcswv.org/canvas
✨ We're so excited to open our doors for the start of another school year! A big shoutout to our teachers and staff for working hard to prepare for a great year. Be sure to check out all the fun first-day photos from throughout the district in our "Back to School: 2022-2023" photo album on the JCS Facebook page. Welcome back, JCS! 🎉
Happy first day back, T.A. Lowery Elementary! Thank you to the Shepherdstown Rotary Club for starting us off with some awesome donations. It is going to be an awesome year!
Hello T. A. Lowery families!
We look forward to welcoming your children back on Monday, August 22nd.
Our Open House and Back to School Night will be held on Monday, August 29th from 6:00 - 8:00 PM.
I would like to welcome Mrs. Tina Swift to our first grade team as she joins Mrs. Blue and Ms. Ring. I would also like to welcome Mrs. Amy Lassen to our fourth grade team as Mrs. Pearson will be our new Librarian.
All of our students at T. A. Lowery will eat breakfast and lunch for free this year, you do not have to complete an application. Monday's breakfast will be a cinnamon roll and lunch will be pepperoni pizza.
We look forward to seeing your children on Monday.
Thank you!
The start of a new school year means sharing the road. Please keep the following safety tips in mind when buses start rolling on Monday:
⚠️ Be alert and watch for children, especially near schools, bus stops, school buses, and school parking lots.
⚠️ Motorists are required to stop when approaching a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing and STOP arms extended. NEVER pass a bus from behind when it is stopped to board or offload children.
⚠️ Be especially careful when children are present in school zones and residential areas.
⚠️ Pay extra attention to lower speed limits in school zones.
⚠️ Watch for and obey signals from school crossing guards.
⚠️Only drive or park in authorized areas to drop off or pick up children at school.
We can't wait to see you on Monday!
Hello JCS Families,
Our staff have been working all summer to prepare our schools to welcome students next week. As always, there are unexpected problems that arise. An updated version of the West Virginia Department of Education's information system (WVEIS) that all school systems are required to use for everything from class lists to schedules is being upgraded. Some of the systems we worked hard to put in place over the summer are not usable right now because that system is not functioning correctly. We have created a web page about possible changes during the transition. We have taken steps to minimize the disruption for you and for students while the WVDE completes this work. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we begin a new year together! https://www.jcswv.org/wveis
As you wrap up your back-to-school shopping this weekend, consider including a few items for the JCS Stuff-a-Bus school supply drive! Join us August 21-27 at the Jefferson County Fair, where we'll be stuffing a bus with donations of backpacks, crayons, pens and pencils, lunch boxes, notebooks, and other necessary school supplies. Volunteers from the JCS Transportation Department will be on hand to collect donations all day Sunday, August 21, and every evening from 5-8 p.m. And while you're there, learn more about how you can become a bus operator for Jefferson County Schools. It's a great way to make your mark in our caring community of educators!
Students are back on August 22! We want to make sure everyone has what they need to start the year off right, starting with the trip to school. Visit our website at www.jcswv.org/myschoolbus to get information about your student's bus this year. Everyone at Jefferson County Schools is excited to start the year with you!
Jefferson County Schools extends our appreciation to Mr. Justin P. Brown, Sr. for his service as an interim member of the Jefferson County Board of Education. Earlier this year, Mr. Brown applied and was selected in a competitive application process to serve Jefferson County students at a critical time. His dedication, thoughtful decision-making, and calm, steady leadership have been greatly appreciated in helping move our school system forward.
Jefferson County School stands in solidarity with the families, children, educators, and communities in Uvalde, Texas, in the wake of the tragic events of May 24th, 2022. There are no words that can restore what has been taken, not only from those individuals but from all of us. Everyone at Jefferson Schools is here for the community as we support our children together. You can find a list of resources on speaking to children about this difficult topic following this link: https://bit.ly/39SwBoW. We will also have counseling staff available for any of our students or staff who need that support. Please join us as we continue our end-of-year student celebrations and honors while remaining mindful of the impacted communities and our solemn responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of our children.
Good morning T. A. Lowery families,
This message applies to our Pre-School classes for Ms. Hillary and Ms. Samantha. There will be no preschool classes for Ms. Hillary and Ms. Samantha today, March 28 due to insufficient staffing. Thank you for your understanding and I apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you, Mrs. Martin
Congratulations to 5th graders at T.A. Lowery Elementary School on the hatching of their first chick through WVU Extension's Adopt-a-Chick program! This science-based program involves incubating eggs and hatching chicks in school. Lessons include learning how chicks develop, their characteristics, the importance of scientific observation and record-keeping, and some fun STEM activities utilizing eggs. Students have been waiting 21 days for their chicks to hatch, and yesterday their patience was finally rewarded!
Good evening T. A. Lowery families,
Due to the potential for icy weather conditions tomorrow evening, we are cancelling parent teacher conferences that were scheduled for February 24. Conferences will be rescheduled on Thursday, March 3rd from 6:00-8:00 PM by appointment only. Thank you for your understanding and have a nice evening. Thank you!
This week (February 7-11) has been National School Counseling Week, a time to recognize and honor the crucial work performed by school guidance counselors. Shoutout to all JCS counselors for offering our students unconditional guidance, support, and stability all day, every day. We appreciate you!
