Dear parents/guardians,
Happy Friday Patriots! Yes, that is right, I am two days early! We took a break from Math Boot Camps last weekend, but we are back in business tomorrow, Saturday, April 26 from 0930-1200pm. Please pick your cadet up NLT 12:30pm. Here are more reasons to send your cadet to Saturday Math Boot Camps. For 8th graders in Pre-Algebra, if you can achieve a level 3, 4, or 5 on the State PM3, you will start high school on or above grade level and all academic paths are open to your cadet. A little extra practice on Saturday could help your cadet achieve this goal. If your cadet is in Algebra I or Geometry for high school credit, the state EOC (End of Course Exam) counts for 30% of your cadet’s final grade. Algebra and Geometry grades become a permanent part of your cadet’s high school transcript. For all my sixth and seventh graders, getting a three or 3 or higher keeps you on grade level and away from extra intensive math classes. Regardless of what math course your cadet is taking, a few hours of extra help can make all the difference in their grades and how they perform on the state tests in May.
The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) is a progress monitoring system that is administered three times per year to track your student’s progress in learning the Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards throughout this school year. The purpose of this letter is to inform you that your student will participate in the third administration (PM3) Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) Reading and Mathematics assessments according to the schedule below. The results from PM3 will show how well your student has mastered the grade level content standards.
FAST Reading, grade 8: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
FAST Reading, grades 6 and 7: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
FAST Mathematics, grades 6 and 7: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
FAST Mathematics, grade 8: Thursday, May 15, 2025
Testing Calendar as of April 15.docx
Thank you to all my parents and guardians who completed the 2025 Duval Parent Survey. We have exceeded our goal. However, if you still would like to give us feedback, the survey window is still open until April 30, 2025. I will not be sending text messages anymore.
http://survey.5-essentials.org/duval/survey/parent/
Teacher Appreciation Week is coming! I would love for my staff and faculty to feel the love the week of May 5-9, Teacher Appreciation Week! If you could send us some $5 and $10 gift cards (Amazon, Target, Starbucks, etc) I would love to get enough for each of my 64 employees. Just bring them to the front office next week. No donation is too small or too big!
Summer Camp Information - Attached is Communities in Schools Summer Camp locations, dates, times & other information for your cadets. These camps are open to all DCPS rising Middle & High School students. Use the QR code in the attachment to sign up. 8th graders use the high school one.
Success Summer Program Flyer 2025 Split Codes.docx
Middle School 2025 Summer Camp QR Code.pdf
Algebra I tutoring – Need help with Algebra I, we have afternoon tutoring from 3:30 – 4:30pm every Wednesday with Ms. McNally.
Calendar Events this week:
Monday, Apr 28– (B Day) Baseball and Softball @ Westside Middle.
Tuesday, Apr 29 – (A Day) Flag Football @ Chaffee Trail Middle. Regional Swim @ Paxon HS.
Wednesday, Apr 30 – (B Day) Early Dismissal at 1:40pm. Baseball/Softball vs Westview at home.
Thursday, May 1 – (A Day) Flag Football vs Twin Lakes Middle at home.
Friday, May 2 – (B Day) Gradventure for grade 8.
Saturday, May 3 – Math Boot Camp
Coming Soon:
May 8 – Last SAC meeting of the year at 1730.
May 12 - Ambassador trip to Busch Gardens.
May 21 - Field Day for all Cadets
May 22 - Memorial Day Ceremony at 10:00am on the football field.
May 23 - 8th grade Award Ceremony, time TBD.
May 30 - Last day of School - Half Day, ends at 12:25pm.
Tamara Roper
Proud Principal
JSMAL Vision: We exist to ensure that all cadets value and demonstrate leadership, character, citizenship, physical development, and academic excellence.