Welcome to our new digital version of the Pioneer Pages! During the 2022-23 school year we produced two printed versions of the district-wide Pioneer Pages. We will continue with the two mailed pieces in 2023-24, but are also adding a monthly e-version, which will be shared through email and the district's social media channels.

Each month readers will be able to see highlights from all five school buildings, as well as a message from the superintendent, announcements, and upcoming dates of significance.

Enjoy!

Dear Jonathan Alder Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to the November edition of our Teaching and Learning Department’s Family Newsletter!  We are thrilled to share important updates that will support your child’s educational journey.  As partners in your child’s learning, we believe that effective communication and collaboration are key to their success.

Important Gifted Review Update: We continue to make significant progress with our gifted services evaluation.  Marge Mulcahy from the ESCCO has already met with multiple JA staff members, conducted site visits, and taken a deep dive into our district's gifted data.  

The next step in the process is to offer gifted focus group presentations to the school community on the evenings of November 30th and December 12th from 6:30-7:30pm in the JAHS library.  Please consider joining us for one of these evening events to learn more about our current services, possible options for the future, and to provide feedback to inform our next steps and recommendations to the Board of Education.  In order to better plan for these events, please complete this online RSVP form.  

Curriculum and Instruction Updates: We are in the process of conducting a full review of our curricular materials for all content areas.  A survey went out to every teacher so that they can provide feedback and information about the resources that they are using for each content area.  We will use this information to engage in further conversations and make decisions in order to ensure that our students have access to the highest quality resources available.

Our department will conduct a K-12 literacy core curriculum selection and adoption process this year.  There is new Ohio legislation requiring every school to implement high quality instructional materials based on the science of reading at the start of the 2024-2025 school year.  We feel strongly that an aligned literacy curriculum will have a positive impact on each of our JA Pioneers.

Student Library Accounts: Did you know that you can and are encouraged to access your child’s library account to review the books that they have checked out? See the steps below to check your child’s account:

1. Go to infohio.org
2. Click on "state wide user" (located top left)
3. Enter login information:  username: jals (all lower case)  password: pioneers (all lower case)
4. Click the red isearch button (located at the bottom right). A red search box will pop up. 
5. In the drop down box, select your child’s school. 
6. Click on the red isearch button. 
7. You should see the online catalog.
8. Click on "My account" located top right under the school name
9. Enter login information: username: lunch code  password: birth month birthday  - example: 0808 - for August 8 

Did you know about the April Total Solar Eclipse?  April 8, 2024, marks the first time since 1806 that Ohio will experience a total solar eclipse.  Plain City is in the path of full totality.  This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to view this as the next total eclipse in Ohio will be in the year 2099!  We will be sharing information in the very near future about school plans for this important date.

Staff Professional Development: As a reminder, our 2023-2024 Professional Development focus is “Who are our students and what do they need?”  Our entire staff spent the morning with safety expert, Officer Gary Sigrist, learning tools for a proactive approach to student safety.  Each of our staff members also completed threat assessment training with Officer Sigrist.  The afternoon was spent discussing how we can build relationships and connect with every student in our schools.

Our next professional development opportunity will take place on February 16th.  This professional development day will kick off the Educational Visioning Process as part of our Facilities Master Planning.

Please note the dates of our remaining professional development days for the 2023-2024 school year.

• Friday, February 16, 2024

• Tuesday, March 19, 2024

We appreciate all that you do to support our students, staff, and school community.

Warm regards,

Jonathan Alder Teaching & Learning Department
Carla Quick, Assistant Superintendent
Becky Krall, Director of Student Services
Nicole Schrock, Director of Instructional Technology

Our Treasurer's webpage has been updated. Check out the information by clicking on the image below!

To celebrate the fall season, Monroe students worked in their "House" teams to decorate pumpkins with a theme. Each of the eight House teams were given three pumpkins that they were tasked with decorating using craft supplies. Each House team did a great job being creative. At a school House Assembly, each team voted on which pumpkin decorations were the best. The Pink House claimed first place.

On October 2nd, schools across the country celebrated Custodian Appreciation Day. At Jonathan Alder Junior High School, one of our teacher-led committees opted to extend this recognition for the entire week. 9th period classes were challenged to compete in the Cleanest Room Competition as a way of showing their appreciation to our custodians for their hard work in cleaning our building. During the last few minutes of each day, students were seen grabbing brooms, dustpans, and even mops to ensure their rooms looked great before dismissal. Some classrooms even took out their own trash! At the conclusion of the week, Mrs. Swackhamer, our evening custodian selected the cleanest 7th and 8th grade classes: Mrs. Heinig (7th) and Mr. Peck (8th)! These students were celebrated by our Student Council with a pizza party for their efforts to keep our building clean. Lastly, in Advisory, all students wrote thank you messages on quilt pages that were displayed in our lobby for our custodians to see. 

Mr. Bakenhaster and Mrs. Swackhamer are valuable parts of the JAJHS community. We appreciate their work in keeping the grounds and building looking great. 

Canaan Middle School has used the beginning of the 2023-24 school year to introduce the fifth grade class on the importance of unity, as well as the sixth grade class slogan, "Symphony 2030." All of the teaching culminated with the school's annual Unity Day, which was celebrated on October 19, 2023. Students worked together to complete unity challenges throughout the school day. Additionally, Canaan Student Council members shared their canned good donations with local law enforcement.

Jonathan Alder High School students had a terrific experience at Wright State University's annual Spanish Immersion Day. Students in levels 3, 4, and AP Spanish courses attended the event. This year’s theme was Día de los Muertos. All sessions were in Spanish and students only spoke Spanish. Sessions included dance and customs in Central America, trivia, lotería, and using Mayan numbers to count. The students also won prizes.

Meet Principal Ella Swartz, a diligent and conscientious student who struck gold when she was selected for the coveted “Golden Ticket Principal Prize” at PCES. With a beaming smile and a newfound sense of authority, she donned her official name badge and clipboard and stepped into the role of principal for a day. From the bustling chaos of lunch duty to the task of teacher evaluations, Principal Swartz embraced her temporary position with grace and enthusiasm. However, what set her apart was the heartwarming initiative she took to recognize her fellow students. Principal Swartz had  special Pioneer Pride Principal Tickets, each worth five times the usual amount, and roamed the halls finding those fellow students who exemplified the school's values of our Pioneer Pledge of being safe, respectful, responsible, and connected. It was a day of empowerment, recognition, and a golden touch that left a lasting impact on the Plain City Elementary learning community.