Welcome back, JCS Families! We hope you’re settling into the new semester after our extended Winter Break. We’re bringing you this special mid-month issue of The Beacon to share important calendar updates following last week’s closures, details about Non-Traditional Instruction Days (NTID), and guidance to help ease attendance concerns during cold and flu season. Thank you for staying connected with us as we move forward together!
JCS Mid-Month Update
January Calendar Updates and Reminders
January 20: MLK Day (JCS schools and offices closed)
January 21: High School Math Field Day
January 27: BOE Meeting
January 28: Middle School Math Field Day
January 30: Elementary Math Field Day (Grades 4 & 5)
WEATHER-RELATED EVENT & ATHLETIC UPDATES
January 18: Jefferson County Science & Engineering Fair
January 23: JHS Wrestling (at Brunswick)
February 17: JHS Girls Basketball vs. Washington (H)
February 20: JHS Boys Freshman Basketball (at Martinsburg)
Non-Traditional Instruction Days
Snow Days, What's Next?
Jefferson County Schools has used our 5 "free" snow days for the 2024-25 school year. So what do we do now? Snow Days 6-10 are Non-Traditional Instruction Days (NTID), meaning learning will continue at home with asynchronous activities and instruction.
All Students Pre-K-12
Teachers will be available on these days via Teams from 8:30 am to 12 pm and 2:30 pm to 3 pm.
All students are counted as present.
Teachers will share a Teams meeting link via email, Rooms, or Canvas.
Students Grades K-2
Your student's teacher will send your student a choice board of activities via email or Rooms.
Students Grades 3-12
Classwork will be available on Canvas; please take time this week to practice accessing Canvas at home. Teachers will also be performing test runs at school to ensure students can access Canvas and log in to virtual meetings for assistance.
Jefferson Virtual Academy (JVA)
Students will continue instruction as usual.
Need Internet Access?
Each school has a limited number of hotspots available for families who do not have access to the internet at home. If you need one of these hotspots, please contact your school. Hotspots are available as needed and on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Need Technology Assistance?
The JCS Technology team will help connect JCS-issued Chromebooks to your home wireless internet or hotspot. Please encourage your student to bring home their Chromebooks this week to test connecting to your home internet.
Parents/Guardians can call the Jefferson County Schools Technology Department for assistance at 540-751-8746. This number is only available on non-traditional instruction days and for parent/guardian use only.
Attendance Guidance for Cold & Flu Season
How Sick is Too Sick?
Jefferson County Schools is committed to ensuring our students are healthy and able to attend school. We understand that illnesses happen, and students may need time off to get better or see a doctor. Below are the Jefferson County Schools guidelines on when is too sick to come to school and when you can return after an illness.
My student has a cold, can they come to school?
Students can attend school with a cold when symptoms are mild enough not to prevent them from participating in a typical school day or infect other students. Staff cannot provide cough drops or medicine without a doctor's order.
When is it safe for students to return to school after an illness?
Fever-free for the past 24 hours without using fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol. A fever is a temperature of 100.4º F or higher.
No vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours.
After at least 24 hours of taking antibiotics for bacterial illnesses such as strep throat, pneumonia, etc.
Appetite and activity levels have returned to almost normal.
What if I am unsure?
If you have any questions about whether your child may return to school after an illness, please call the school nurse. They are happy to assist you in deciding what the best course of action is.
Visiting the Doctor's Office
If your child's doctor has prescribed medication that must be given during the school day, please remember that an order from the doctor is necessary. Most area physicians have these forms. If not, we would be happy to fax one to their office.
During your child's visit to the doctor, please remember to obtain a note so that your child will be medically excused.
Reviewed and endorsed by Terrence Reidy, M.D., Health Officer, Jefferson County Health Department, and Amy Papavero, R.N., Charge Nurse, Jefferson County Schools.
Attending school when students are healthy is essential to preventing them from becoming chronically absent when they are sick and need time off.
Reminder: New JCS Transfer Process
The Jefferson County Schools Transfer Application opened on January 1, with priority placement and notification given to applications submitted by January 31. The JCS Transfer Procedure prioritizes students within a school’s attendance zone and supports smaller class sizes to create the best learning environment.
Key Highlights:
Transfer requests are reviewed in the order they’re received and approved on a year-to-year basis.
Transfers may be denied due to capacity limits, discipline infractions (levels 3 or 4 in the past year), or lack of programs/services.
Voluntary transfers depend on parent/guardian-provided transportation and may be rescinded to accommodate students living in the school’s attendance zone.
Notifications:
June 1: Grades 1-6 (applied by January 31) and grades 7-12 (based on class scheduling and athletic preparation).
August 1: Kindergarten, waitlisted students, and applications received after January 31.