Dear JCS Lower School Family,
I am incredibly excited to begin a new year with your family and the Lower School team at Jupiter Christian School as we continue the great work being accomplished. Our heart as a school, and mine as an educator, is to provide the best possible opportunity for our students to grow into the individuals that God intends them to be. I look forward to serving you and your family together with the leadership team, faculty, and staff at Jupiter Christian School. This amazing and very skilled team of people are believing that this will be a year where our students will grow academically, will develop personally, but most importantly, that a relationship with Jesus Christ will be the foundation of our students' lives.
Parents, it is an honor to link arms with you in the teaching and training of your children. We look forward to the amazing ways in which the Lord will move on the campus at JCS and in the lives of our students in the 2020-2021 school year. We fully understand how precious your children are to you, and we take very seriously the privilege we have to be part of their lives. We enter this partnership and commit to support and love you and your children. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time.
Below are several key events and details that are important for you to know as we begin a new school year. This summer, a great deal of work has been done to prepare for a new season in the life of JCS. I know what follows is a great deal of information but hopefully it will help you to feel not only informed but empowered as to how we might best partner together as we serve your children.
Supply Drop-off in Front Carline On Monday, August 10th the Lower School Staff will be in the Front Carline and will take your child's supplies for location in their homeroom. When organizing the supplies, please label items and place small supplies together in a bag. The carline will be available for drop off from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. A staff member will greet you and receive the supplies for delivery to your child's homeroom.
Lower School Parent Orientation via Zoom Please mark your calendar for Monday, August 10th. At 6:00 p.m., parents (only) will "zoom" and gather virtually together as a homeroom class. At this time, I will introduce myself and address some key points for a successful year. Following that, you will have the opportunity to virtually meet with your child's homeroom teacher, gather important grade-specific information and pray over the class. (On the evening of Friday, August 7th, you will receive an email from your homeroom teacher with the zoom instructions.) Please know that two sessions will virtually occur in order for parents to be in multiple homeroom zooms. The session times will be from 6:00 p.m. – 6:40 p.m. and again from 6:50 p.m. – 7:10 p.m. As we seek to specifically meet your child's individual needs and see them reach their potential, it is my hope that we will have a real sense of solidarity of purpose and mission and that we will be a vibrant God-honoring learning community.
Lower School Student Open House via Zoom On Tuesday, August 11th beginning at noon you are invited to the Lower School Open House, a time for students to meet their teacher and virtually see their classroom. Similarly, to the night before, two sessions will occur in order for multiple family members to meet with the teachers. The two sessions will occur from 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. or from 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
First Day of School The first day of school is Wednesday, August 12th, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and concluding at 2:30 p.m. Extended early morning care begins at 7:00 a.m. with drop-off at the front carline. Carline drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m. with grades 2 - 6 at the front carline.
School Uniforms As parents, we all have noticed those summer growth spurts. We tuck our kiddos in one night and they seemingly wake up the next morning two or three inches taller! Now is a great time to think about uniforms. All students at Jupiter Christian School wear uniforms provided by Harris School Uniforms located off Blue Heron Boulevard. Information can also be accessed by viewing their website at https://www.harrisschooluniforms.com/store/ The Grace Team sponsors Used Uniform Sales several times a year with amazing discounts on recycled uniforms. Additionally, a JCS Theme shirt will be available for purchase the first few weeks of school. This shirt will be worn on Fridays. Similarly, the relaxed days of summer may mean that a quick, back-to-school haircut is needed. Please make plans to have those complete prior to the start of school.
Packed Food – (Snacks and Lunch) Please pack a lunch each day, an additional snack (nut free) and a labelled refillable water bottle (for use at our touch free stations). It is our goal to have Lower School children eat nutritious snacks during school and to stay hydrated.
Birthdays will be recognized by the child's teacher in the classroom. The child's name will be read during the morning announcements, and the child will receive a small, non-food birthday token to commemorate your child's birthday. (Please understand that birthday celebrations will not involve food.) If you would like to contribute to the celebration in some way, please contact your child's homeroom teacher to discuss appropriate non-food ways to honor the child's birthday.
Additional Safety Measures are being taken in an effort to protect our school community and we will need everyone's patience and cooperation as we seek to implement new procedures and protocols. The following safety measures have been implemented:
JCS COVID-19 Acknowledgment We have taken proactive measures to operate in a COVID-safe environment. While our policies may be adjusted to reflect local health guidelines available at the date of operation, it is important families opting into on-campus learning this academic year, understand they are entering a facility that has open enrollment to the public and there is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any public place where people are present. To assist in educating our population on the inherent risks of sending one's student to campus, we are requesting each family to complete the JCS COVID-19 Acknowledgment and Assumption of Risk Waiver prior to participating in classes. Click HERE to complete the form.
As we quickly approach this school year, let me offer a few thoughts to you that may help to guide you as we prepare for a successful start to the new school year!
1. Be a praying parent! Pray with and for your child, their friends, teachers and principal! 2. Be enthusiastic about the upcoming school year. If you are excited and confident, this will help your children. 3. Start daily routines for continuity. While this was not an overly popular idea with my own child during her younger years, it helped provide consistency and reliability. She even chooses to maintain some of these routines as a young adult! It is important to ease into the return of school by getting them to bed earlier. I would encourage this particularly during the last week of summer leading up to opening day of school. If necessary, you can give me the credit (or blame) for this one. 4. Put aside extra time, particularly on the first day for chatting together. (This is especially helpful for new students.) Provide opportunities for your children to express any feelings of anxiety or worry, as well as to share feelings of excitement and anticipation. Feel free to communicate ongoing concerns with your child's teacher or me.
Thank you for your thought and preparation for the new school year. I eagerly look forward to meeting your family. Enjoy your last few days of summer with your children. See you soon!
Serving Together, 700 S Delaware Blvd • Jupiter, FL 33458 • (561) 746-7800 |