National Banned Books Week - 9/27 to 10/03/2020Good morning, Jaguars! This is the 14th edition of the virtual Jaguar Junction for the 2020-2021 School Year! We publish a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday edition. Please check back frequently to find out the latest SMS, media center, counselor, and community news, as well as student birthdays. Teachers & students who would like to be featured in the Jaguar Junction - Submit pictures or short videos (under 60 seconds) of you:
You may also send comments and suggestions to the the Jaguar Junction News by clicking on "Comment", by going to the home page of this website and filling out the comment form. **Consider trying Flipgrid - super easy to use - to submit your videos (instructions in the right hand column).** Thank you for reading The Jaguar Junction, and we really want to hear from you! Previous Issues Did you see an interesting website in a previous issue, but you can't remember the address? To view previous issues, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click "previous." All issues are archived! Need help with Virtual Learning Tools? Password Reset? Launchpad Issues? Verge Issues? New Student? Call the DeKalb County School District Help Desk at 678-676-1188 and/or complete this form: https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/virtual-learning-support-ticket/ Weather Report - Wednesday Sunny. High 72 degrees. Low 55 degrees. Time to get out your sweaters! Dr. Booker's MAP Testing Letter September 21, 2020 Dear SMS Stakeholders, The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) utilizes the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) as a universal screener three times a year - Fall, Winter, and Spring. In an effort to accommodate the many schools within the district and our new virtual environment, the Assessment Administration Department for the DeKalb County School District, has set the Fall MAP testing window to open on Monday, September 21, 2020, and closes on Friday, November 11, 2020. However, your student’s school will communicate specific information about dates for your child’s school. As the DeKalb County School District begins the school year virtually, the Fall MAP Growth assessment will be administered remotely. Should a learning environment shift occur during the Fall MAP test window, students will be administered the Fall MAP test either in a remote or face to face test environment. Please note that no matter the learning or test environment, all students will be afforded the opportunity to participate in the Fall MAP test administration. MAP Growth tests from NWEA® are unique in that they are adaptive tests taken on a computer or tablet. This means the test questions will become more difficult when your child answers a question correctly and easier when your child answers a question incorrectly. The information presented on the test is aligned with the Georgia Department of Education curriculum and is the same information that your child should have already been exposed to in school. If, based on your child’s IEP, 504-IAP, or EL-TPC plan, there are allowable accommodations that your child may receive on the Fall MAP assessment they will be provided as outlined in their plans. Each remote MAP Growth test session will consist of up to nine students (eight students, plus your child). Each face to face test administration will consist of up to twelve students (eleven students, plus your child). Below are instructions on how to prepare your child for their virtual MAP Growth assessments. Additionally, attached to this letter is a Student Log in Quick Guide that will provide you with a visual on how to access the MAP assessment. Prior to Test Day 1. Make sure your child’s device has an internet connection. 2. Make sure your device meets testing requirements using the Workstation Diagnostic Tool. 3. Make sure your child has headphones (Grades K – 2 and students with text to speech accommodations). Please contact your school if headphones are needed. 4. Watch the MAP Growth introduction video 5. Practice the test at practice.mapnwea.org (Username: grow Password: grow) On Test Day 1. Minimize distractions for your child as much as possible. 2. Provide a quiet testing environment. 3. Follow all instructions from the teacher/proctor. For more information about MAP Growth, visit: NWEA.org/Parent-Toolkit. If you have any additional questions, please contact Cindy Mosley at [email protected] After watching Dr. Battle's video and reviewing her testing information, please click here for the: MAP Parent Student Assurance Form that must be reviewed by the scholar and his/her parent/guardian. The DeKalb County School District has provided this form as an agreement between the school, parent, and student for a secure testing administration for our upcoming MAP Growth assessment. After you review the assurance statements with your scholar, please sign the verification link located here: MAP Parent Student Assurance Signature Form Please Join Us! Stephenson Middle School Title I Stakeholders Input Meeting (Asynchronous - listen at your own leisure)
Please click here to listen to the audio of this meeting. Please click here in order to record your attendance. Please click here in order to provide stakeholder feedback. Media Center NewsFree Books Still Available Waiting to be Claimed Brand new books, including graphic novels, Wimpy Kid, Dork Diaries, Rick Riordan, and many more! Instructions about how to choose and receive your free book(s) are on this Google Form: https://forms.gle/Bk2QaF4Xmi3dyfvr8 Book giveaways will continue until all the books have been distributed. Book pickup times will be coordinated with our Early Bird Meal Pickup or Lunch Schedule at Stephenson Middle School. State the day/time you want to pick up your book order when you complete the form. In some cases, home or mail delivery may be possible. Just ask! Ms. Jenkins' Tech Corner This Week's Tech Suggestion - Hello Talk (IOS/Android) Want to practice your French or learn about life in Japan? HelloTalk matches you with native speakers in your country of choice so you can talk, text, or video chat. Translation tools are provided in case you need a little help along the way! Prefer print books to ebooks? Now you have access to both! Beginning Monday, 9/21/2020, we are offering contact-free book checkout from our SMS Media Center during Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during Early Bird and Lunchtime meal pickups. Books can be returned then or any other time by placing them in the marked book bin outside of the front of the school. For details and instructions, read about this new initiative here. Books may be requested using the Google form below: https://forms.gle/zk8zBHVH4AvBWMPj7 SMS families: New Audio Book & eBook Database - Teen Book Cloud through Tumblebooks
Teachers will receive a direct link to this resource and can share with their students. You may also contact [email protected], and I will email the link to you. Be sure to provide me with your first and last name and student number. Banned Books Week - 9/27 to 10/03/2020 Did you know that some of your favorite childhood and adult books have either been banned or challenged in some places? Who knew Junie B. Jones could cause controversy? What about The Hate U Give? Or, Drama? Read more about censorship and titles that have caused controversy here. Take our SMS quick trivia quiz here, and win a prize(s) for getting the answers correct and even checking out a title on the list. Counselor's CornerCommunity NewsResume Building for Ages 11 to 14 years Tweens create a resume through Google Applied Digital Skills classroom. Each participant will receive a pair of over-the-ear headphones to support digital skills activities. This is a two-part series, so please register for both days, September 30 and October 1, 2020. Participants must have or create a gmail account and password. Limited to the first 10 participants. Register here & here No Touch Food Pantry every Thursday from 11 - 1:00 p.m. @ Columbia Drive UMC - 2067 Columbia Dr.; Decatur, GA. 3003 Featuring the gorgeous produce grown by Partners in Action for Healthy Living (pahlga) by sponsoring garden spaces all over South DeKalb to ensure everyone has access to healthy food. Happy Birthday - 10/01
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Good Morning, Jaguars!Students and teachers can contribute to the Jaguar Junction using your email or using our Flipgrid. (Click on Flipgrid - it's a link.) Log on with your school Microsoft account s# @dekalbschoolsga.org. (Use the s before your number and the full email address.) Contribute a short (30-60 seconds) video through Flipgrid or picture via email, and you may be selected to appear in a future Jaguar Junction News edition! Archives
April 2024
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