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TABLE OF CONTENTS

• August 2015

• From the Desk ofKevin Groebner

• Upcoming Events

• 2015 – 2016 DailySchedules

• AdditionalInformation AboutChromebooks

• Helpful Hints

• Parking Information

• Health Information

• College & ResourceCenter

• 2015-16 TestingDates

• Academic Integrity

• Cell Phone & OtherElectronic Devices

• Clubs & Activities

• Host families needed!

• Volunteers Neededfor BloomingtonHeritage Days

• 2015-2016 SchoolMeal Prices

August 2015

From the Desk of Kevin GroebnerHello!!

Once again, it seems like summer hasgone by in a flash.  It is our hope thatJefferson students and families areenjoying a fun and relaxing summer. The weather has certainly beenenjoyable.

We are busy preparing for thebeginning of the 2015-16 school yearat Jefferson.  Student schedules arebeing determined and class sizes are

being balanced.  The administrators and several teachers are planningstaff development activities and discussing changes we’d like to seeat Jefferson.

Speaking of changes, following is an update for the coming schoolyear at Jefferson . . .

Personnel . . .

Meredith Aby, Jefferson’s Gifted and Talented Coordinator, will beback - part time - to teach AP Government, Philosophy, andmainstream U.S. Government classes.  Meredith will continue herwork with the Dimensions Academy High School program.

Marcie Covall, will be joining us as a Social Studies teacher. Marcieworked with our secondary teachers in the Bloomington Schools as acurriculum development coordinator; and, prior to that, as a teacher atKennedy High School.

Jane Dorn will be joining us as our new Media Center Director. Most

recently, Jane served as the Library Media Specialist at the SpanishImmersion School in St. Louis Park.  Prior to her time in SLP, Janeserved as the Library Media Specialist at Shakopee High School,Chanhassen Elementary School, Orono Middle School, andMenomonee Falls North Junior High School.  Prior to her work as aMedia Specialist, Jane taught English at Brookfield Central HighSchool in Wisconsin and Badger Middle School in West Bend,Wisconsin.

Carrie Jarvis, our new Assistant Principal, comes to Jefferson fromthe Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists.  While at theConservatory, Carrie served as an English teacher, College Counselor,and Dean of Students. Prior to that, Carrie taught English for 4 years inthe Chicago area.

Nick Olson will be joining us as a part time Physical Educationteacher.  Nick comes to Jefferson from Kennedy High School andValley View Middle School.

Ashli Teter will be joining Jefferson as a part time Spanish teacher. Ashli will also be teaching Spanish at Olson Middle School.  Ashli isreturning to Jefferson after a successful student teaching experiencewith us last school year under the tutelage of Spanish teacher Kate

Brooke-Beyer.

Briana Weigel is joining Jefferson - part time - as the Deaf and Hardof Hearing teacher. Briana has been with the district for 4 yearsworking with early childhood, elementary, and middle schools as wellas at the transition center. She will continue to work with thesepopulations in addition to working with JHS students.

Due to staffing considerations, some teachers have reduced time atJefferson, have transferred to other schools within Bloomington PublicSchools, or have moved onto other opportunities outside of ourschool district.  FACS teacher, Jane O’Connell, will teach at Jeffersononly for the 1st Trimester.  Jane will be at Kennedy High School for the2nd and 3rd Trimesters.  Physical Education teacher, Andy

Meinhardt, will be transferring to Oak Grove Middle School.  Artteacher Megan Logering, will be at Jefferson only during the 2ndTrimester.  Tech Ed teacher Mark Caine, will be at Jefferson onlyduring the 3rd Trimester.  Unfortunately, English teacher, Jennifer

Atterberry, and math teacher, Janelle Lauer, were laid off due to thecuts.

Unrelated to budget considerations, others will not be returning toJefferson this coming year.  Deaf and Hard of Hearing teacher, Amy

Kaufman, resigned her position to accept a full time opportunity southof the river.  Media Center Director, Belle Nelson, resigned herposition at Jefferson to become Media Center Director at HillcrestCommunity School.  School Psychologist Joe Meuwissen, Spanish

teacher Deb Dargay, Assistant Principal Deb Holman, and SpecialEducation teachers Mary Dupont and Jean Butala all retired this pastJune.

Best wishes to all those who are moving onto other ventures!  Thankyou for your service to the students and families of Jefferson!!

Facilities . . .This summer has been a bit more active in regard to facilities work. Here is an update . . . 

Most notably our Main Entrance, Door #1, has been reconfiguredto better control traffic flow into the building during the school day.An integrated alarm system was installed (flashing amber lightscoinciding with audio alarms).Lock upgrades on all classroom doors and most office doors.  Thekeysets on these doors were changed so they remain locked fromthe outside at all times.

These school safety and security improvements were approved in the2013 referendum.

Another project has been the re-sealing of the Main Gym and C-Wing roof.  This project should be completed by August 28th.The floor of the Activity Center was resurfaced and looks beautiful.A possible final project may be a reconfiguration of the TennisCourt Parking Lot to allow more suitable traffic flow for schoolbuses.  If this project is to occur, it is to be completed prior to thestart of school on September 1st.

Beyond that, our Building Chief, Scott Murphy, and his crew havebeen up to their usual summer work of repairing, cleaning, andreplacing.  Our facilities are well kept.  If you see any of ourmaintenance crew in and around the school, please join me inthanking them for their hard work all year long.

Academics . . .As we begin our fifth year on the 6-Period/Trimester Schedule,Jefferson begins its 3rd year with Effective Feedback and Grade

Reporting.  The primary purpose of grading is to communicatestudents’ academic progress to parents and guardians, high schools,employers, post-secondary institutions, and students themselves.   A grade should accurately reflect what students know and are able

to do in a course.

Non-academic factors including attendance, attitude, behavior in

class, and completion of homework are valuable, but are

communicated separately.  All grading and reporting will be basedon the essential and important standards of a course and not on a

curve. Students are not in competition with each other for the highestscore.  Extra credit will not be part of a student’s grade.

To assure students' grades accurately reflect what they know and areable to do, students' grades are a combination of Formative and

Summative Assessments.

Formative Assessments – These assessments will not be morethan 20% of the final grade at the high school level.  The goal ofFormative Assessments is to monitor student progress in an effort toprovide ongoing feedback for the teachers to inform their instructionand to provide ongoing feedback for the students to improve theirlearning.  This grade is meant to communicate how a student is doingduring the learning process.  It may be helpful to view this stage oflearning as practice or rehearsal similar to what occurs in athletics orin an activity such as choir or band.

Examples of formative assessments may include:

drawing a concept map during class to represent understanding ofa topic;submitting one or two sentences identifying the main point of alecture; or,turning in a research proposal or outline an essay for earlyfeedback.

Summative Assessments – These assessments will not be lessthan 80% of the final grade at the high school level.  The goal ofSummative Assessments is to evaluate student learning at the end ofan instructional unit by comparing it against essential and importantstandards or benchmarks.  This grade is meant to communicate whata student knows and is able to do after adequate study andpreparation.  Again, using athletics and fine arts as comparisons, itmay be helpful to view this stage of learning as the end performance –a game, a concert, or a play.

Examples of summative assessments include:

a midterm exama final projecta paper

Many students take the attitude that since Formative

Assessments, which to a large degree are comprised of

homework, account for only 20% of the final grade, there is no

need or urgency to perform the homework.  This approach results

in holes in student learning, skill, and ability development.  As

mentioned earlier, homework is practice.  Other Formative

Assessments are practice.  To not engage in this practice is to

miss opportunities to make mistakes and learn while those

mistakes come at little or no risk.  The end result for students

who do not take full advantage of doing their homework is

inadequate preparation for the Summative Assessments which

results in poorer performance on those assessments for which

the stakes are higher.

Please encourage your child to do his/her homework and to do it

diligently.

An outcome of the change in how we report grades produced a

change in how we handled cheating and plagiarism. Based upon

what we’ve learned since that change, we felt it necessary to update

our approach to cheating and plagiarism for the coming school year. 

Please look for information on this topic in the pages that follow in this

edition of the Jag Quarterly.

Classroom Technologies . . .As most of you know, all of our students will be issued Chromebooks

for this coming school year.  Our teachers were involved in a great

deal of staff development this past year to prepare for the

Chromebooks.  Our staff will continue to be involved in training,

throughout the school year, to continue to learn how to adjust

instruction and enhance student learning via the use of

Chromebooks.  The vision is that student learning, via online

resources, will be available to all of our students at school, home, and

out in the Bloomington community due to 24/7 Internet access.

The Internet and Electronic Devices . . .This will be our sixth year of allowing public and student wireless

access to the Internet within the school.  We feel it is important for

students to have easy access to Internet and other technological

tools/devices (such as Chromebooks) for appropriate education and

social uses.  Students are encouraged to bring their laptops to school

and use them to enhance their learning.  It is extremely important to

guide our students in using technology for appropriate educational

purposes.  Six years ago, we opened YouTube to all students and

staff as a pilot program at both Bloomington high schools.  We had

very few negative issues, and witnessed many positive educational

reasons to continue to keep access to this site available, during the

school day, to our staff and students.

We continue to have many reports regarding the theft of cell phones

and other electronic devices.  Please talk with your sons and

daughters about being careful with these expensive personal items at

school.  Once the electronics go missing, it is very difficult to

recover them as they go underground quickly. The use of the

Internet and electronic devices allows ample opportunity for

students to engage in inappropriate behavior.  This is concerning

to school staff and parents alike.  Any conversations from parents

and guardians about this topic would be greatly appreciated.

Graduation Requirements and Major Assessments . . .

As you know, graduation requirements, as they relate to majorassessments, have changed over the last year or so . . .

9th graders will take the MAP Assessment in the spring.  The MAPis not a requirement for graduation.10th graders will take the PLAN exam in the fall and the MCAReading exam in the spring.  The PLAN is not a graduationrequirement.  However, the MCA Reading exam is required in orderto graduate.All students enrolled in a biology course, during the coming schoolyear, are required to take the MCA science test in the spring.11th graders are required to take the ACT, or an approvedalternative, exam in the spring.  Approved alternatives to the ACTare Accuplacer, Work Keys, and ASVAB.

More information on all of these testing situations will be shared withstudents and families as we move through the school year.

The Metro West Conference . . .

This will be our second year in the Metro West Conference.  Ourconference includes Kennedy, Richfield, Chaska, Chanhassen, St.Louis Park, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, and Cooper high schools. Meanwhile, we recommend you use the Metro West Conference’sscheduling program to review and plan your busy schedule ofactivities for the 2015-16 school year.  To access this program, go tothe Jefferson website, click on “Activities and Athletics” and then clickon “Metro West Conference”.  This will link you with the Jeffersoncalendar program for athletics, fine arts, and other events specific toJefferson.  You can also access the entire Metro West Conferencescheduling program for all the schools that participate in theconference.  The Web address for Metro West iswww.metrowestconference.org. Once at these websites, turn theminto a “favorite” that you will revisit often.

Money Back to Our Schools . . .

Many local stores have programs that donate money back to schoolsand we have received significant dollars from these programs over theyears.  Last year, we received over $9300 from Target in their “TakeCharge of Education Program”.  This program has been our largestcontributor, by far.  It is easy to get involved in Target’s program and itdoes not cost a penny to sign up.  You can designate Jefferson inthree ways:  1) Visit Target.com/tcoe; 2) stop by your favorite Targetstore, or 3) call 1-800-316-6142.

When you shop, at other retailers, please ask the cashier at thecheckout if their store participates in a school contribution program. We certainly would appreciate any contributions made to Jefferson or

any of our Bloomington Public Schools.

Communication . . .One of my more important functions as Jefferson’s principal is tocommunicate with our Jefferson students and families in a timely andaccurate manner.  One method of communication is via thisdocument, the Jag Quarterly School Newsletter.  The Jag Quarterlyis published on the Jefferson website in August, November, February,and May.  To access Jag Quarterly, go towww.jhs.bloomington.k12.mn.us.  Then click on ParentResources.  Once there, scroll down to Jag Quarterly and beginreading.  We have saved $6000/year the past nine years, bypublishing the Jag Quarterly online.  If you do not have access to acomputer, you can have your child print a copy of the Jag Quarterly,at school, and bring it home to you.  The Jag Quarterly will provide agreat deal of information about what is happening at Jefferson HighSchool.  To read it is time well spent.

Another form of communication we have is the Jag E-Wires.  This isan e-mail program sponsored by the Jefferson PTSA.  Teachers,staff, and booster clubs use Jag E-Wires to send announcementsabout upcoming events such as car washes, school plays, CareerCenter news, etc. To have a JHS-related item posted to Jag E-Wires,please submit it to jaguarnews@gmail.com and allow up to 72 hoursfor posting.  Many thanks to Chip Groth, former PTSA President, whoworked long and hard to bring Jag E-Wires back to life after ouroriginal program crashed nearly four years ago.  Chip has continued tooversee the care of this program.  Thanks, Chip!!

As many of you know, Bloomington Public Schools has acommunication program called BlackBoard Connect.  BlackBoardConnect allows schools to communicate with all of our parents via e-mail and phone in a matter of minutes.  At Jefferson we useBlackBoard Connect to communicate emergency messages orimportant outreach information about events such as registration,parent-teacher conferences, changes in schedules, etc.

As Jefferson’s principal, I look forward to renewing relationshipsdeveloped through the years and creating relationships with studentsand families new to Jefferson in the 2015-16 school year.  I also lookforward to watching the relationships develop between our studentsand our staff, and between our parents/guardians and our staff as ourstudents become engaged in their academics and activities during thecoming months and years.

My best wishes to you and yours as we embark upon the 2015-16school year!!

Kevin GroebnerPrincipal

Jefferson High School952-806-7650kgroebner@isd271.org

Upcoming Events

Jaguar Jump StartWednesday, August 19th, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM in the Cafeteria

Jaguar Jump Start day gives students the opportunity to complete anumber of important tasks prior to the start of the 2015 – 2016 schoolyear including:

Obtaining class schedules for the upcoming school yearObtaining district password and login to the HUBHaving school pictures taken for the yearbook and school I.D.cardsObtaining parking permitsReceiving lunch account codes (if needed) and deposit money intotheir accountsPicking up locker informationPurchasing a student plannerReceiving information about athletic teams, clubs, and otheropportunities for students to get involved

Guidance counselors will be available during Jump Start to discussthe upcoming school year and make necessary changes to student’sschedules.  Students may request a schedule change, however classschedules have been built and teachers assigned based upon theregistration choices students made this past February. Therefore,schedule changes will only be made if there is space available toaccommodate the change.  We are not able to make changes simplybecause students may have changed their minds about what coursesthey would like to take this year.

The Counseling Office will also be accepting appointments prior toJump Start for new students, PSEO students, Dakota County Techstudents, or those students who have an error on their schedule. These appointments will begin on August 11th.  To schedule anappointment please call the Counseling Office at 952-806-7625.

If you are unable to attend Jump Start, we strongly encourage you tocomplete the above list of tasks prior to the first day of school.Students who do not get their picture taken at Jump Start will havethe opportunity to do this during school on Wednesday, September2nd.

Back-to-School NightTuesday, August 25th, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM in the Auditorium

This evening is for all students new to Jefferson and their

parents/guardians.  We will be in a large group for the first half of the

meeting.  Then, students will get a tour of the school with a student

host while parents have separate breakout sessions with their child’s

administrator and counselor.

Pathfinder Day (New Student Orientation)Thursday, August 27th, 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM in the Gymnasium

This half-day event is for students new to Jefferson.  Students will

meet their student mentors and participate in a number of welcome

and relationship-building activities.  Students will also have the

chance to walk through their class schedule to find their classrooms

and meet their teachers. Students will receive additional information

about other areas of the school including the Media Center and

Computer Labs.

First Day of SchoolTuesday, September 1st, 7:50 AM (Early Bird classes start at 6:50

AM)All students are to report to their homerooms

Student Class Schedules:All students will receive a new copy of their class schedule on the first

day of school.

Students will pick up a copy of their schedule at Jump Start on August

19th.  However, schedules may change before the school year

begins.  In an effort to keep class sizes as small as possible we are

constantly balancing classes.  These changes will not affect students’

course selections, but may change the trimester or period of the day

those courses occur.  If there is a change on the schedule that youreceive on the first day of school, it is important that you follow thenew schedule.  Teachers will not permit students, who are not on their

updated rosters, to remain in their classes. Thank you for your

understanding and cooperation with this process.

Chromebook Distribution:All students will be receiving a Chromebook on the first day of school. 

During homeroom, students will go through a brief training session to

familiarize themselves with their new devices. These devices will be

the student’s responsibility until returned at the end of the school

year.  For questions regarding your HUB login information or student

devices, please contact Kevin Coenen at kcoenen@isd271.org or

952-806-7681.

Open HouseMonday, September 14th, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM in the Auditorium

This evening is for all parents and guardians of Jefferson students. 

We will have a short welcome in the auditorium and then parents will

walk-through their child’s class schedule to meet all of his/herteachers and learn about their classes.

2015 – 2016 Daily Schedules

MONDAY, TUESDAY, & FRIDAY

EARLY BIRD                            6:50 – 7:43PERIOD 1                                 7:50 – 8:47PERIOD 2                                 8:53 – 9:51   Announcements                     8:53 – 8:54PERIOD 3                                 9:57 – 10:54PERIOD 4                                 11:00 – 12:30   Lunch 1                                  11:00 – 11:30   Lunch 2                                  11:30 – 12:00   Lunch 3                                  12:00 – 12:30PERIOD 5                                 12:36 – 1:33PERIOD 6                                  1:39 – 2:37   Announcements                      1:39 – 1:40

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY

EARLY BIRD                               6:50 – 7:43PERIOD 1 / 2                              7:50 – 9:26   Announcements                       7:50 – 7:51Homeroom/Academic Seminar   9:33 – 10:18PERIOD 3 / 4                              10:24 – 12:30   Lunch 1                                    11:00 – 11:30   Lunch 2                                    11:30 – 12:00   Lunch 3                                    12:00 – 12:30PERIOD 5 / 6                              12:37 – 2:14   Announcements                       12:37 – 12:38

Additional Information About ChromebooksThe 2015-16 school year willbe the first year students atJefferson will be carrying aChromebook.  We are excitedfor the advantages this willbring to all of our students inthe years to come.  Byproviding district devices, allstudents will have anytime,anywhere access to learningmaterials.  Staff have beenworking to create digitalcontent and to increase their capacity for teaching with technologytools.

It is an exciting time as we plan for the distribution of over 1,600devices to our students. They will get a Chromebook, charger, and acase during homeroom on the first day of school. The Chromebook isexpected to be used for school-related use. Students are responsiblefor the care and charging of their Chromebook. If a Chromebook isdamaged the following fees will apply:

If the damage is deemed accidental:

There will be no fee for damage that doesn’t affect theperformance of the machine (i.e. dents, scratches, dings, etc.).There will be a $25 fee for the damage that affects theperformance of the machine (i.e.  cracked screens, damagedpower cords).There will be a $50 fee for any damage that makes the machineunusable or costs more than the machine is worth (i.e. drops, loss).

If the damage is intentional, the student will be responsible for thecost of the repairs.

We feel the chromebooks will open up many new and excitingopportunities for teaching and learning. They can help increasestudent engagement, prepare students for the digital world in whichwe live, and allow for more timely and effective feedback that iscurrently not possible. Visit www.bloomingtonschools.info/NTL for more informationincluding some FAQs.

Helpful Hints

Some helpful tips from Jefferson parents: JHS parents composed thislist as a tool for new Jefferson parents. There is also lots of goodinformation in the Student Handbook, which is distributed to studentsthe first week of school.

DancesThe following information about dances reflects what traditionallyoccurs at Jefferson. Dances, other than Sadie Hawkins and Prom, arenot date dances. Homecoming is traditionally a date dance butincreasingly groups of friends also attend. All students are encouragedto participate.

September: Cheerleader Jam- casual. No date required.

October: Homecoming - semi formal. Girls wear nice dresses; boyswear sport coats, or dress pants with shirt and tie. Sometimes, kidshave (or try to have) coed sleepovers. This is not recommended orsupported by JHS PTSA. Parents, please use good discretion.Sometimes, group limousines are rented, usually for those withoutdriver’s licenses. The cost is shared by those riding in the limousine.COR (Site Based Leadership) is recommending that student’s “tone

things down” in terms of expenditures so that more students canafford the event and feel comfortable with the festivities.

May: Prom - formal dance for all Bloomington 11th and 12th gradestudents. Girls wear formal dresses and boys rent tuxedos. Pressureto have coed sleepovers and weekend getaways are prevalent, butnot recommended or supported by JHS PTSA. Parents, please usegood discretion. Sometimes, limousines are rented. The cost is sharedby those riding in the limousine.

Pepfests

These generally occur the first day of school and occasionallythroughout the year. All students and faculty are encouraged to gatherin the main gym. Students sit in their own grade level groups of 2016,2017, 2018, and 2019. At this time, events are explained andcelebrated, and achievements are recognized. The entire studentbody is asked to get informed, involved, and excited abouthappenings at JHS.

Finals

Exams occur the last two days of every trimester. Three exams arescheduled each day with a 52-minute lunch break (from 11:38 to12:50 pm). Exams are scheduled so that periods 1, 3, & 5 are testedon the 1st day of finals, and periods 2, 4, & 6 are tested on the 2ndday of finals. Early Bird finals will be scheduled by Early Bird teachers.Freshmen stay at school for the lunch period and cannot be excusedby parents to leave school during lunch. Activities are provided forthem in the gyms.

Homeroom

Homeroom occurs every Block Wednesday for 45 minutes betweenperiods 1 & 3. This is a time when students build relationships withtheir homeroom classmates and homeroom advisors. Student groups,such as NHS, Anime, TOPPLE, will meet during Homeroom. Gradelevel meetings will also occur during this time.

Academic Seminar

Academic Seminar occurs every Block Thursday between periods 2 &4. Academic Seminar is used to re-teach essential standards, offerextra support, provide homework help, allow time to make-upassignments, makeup assessments, conference with students, and tooffer enrichment for students who are looking for additional academicchallenges. If a student is chosen, he/she is expected to attend.Attendance is tied to the Academic Seminar sessions. All students notselected to attend an Academic Seminar session will be required toreport to the cafeteria for structured study hall.

Parking InformationJHS is happy to announce that registration for parking is now

available online starting August 1st.  The process is very similar to theonline Activities Registration using FeePay via SchoolView.   Using thislink:  http://jhs.bloomington.k12.mn.us/node/3116904, click on #1. When the document appears, start on step 3 (unless you’re signing upfor another activity).  After completing step 3, follow the instructionson page 3 of the document to use FeePay via SchoolView.  Whencheckout is completed, please allow at least 1 business day beforestudents pick up their parking permits in the main office.

Our Front Lot & Activity Center Lot each filled up last year so register& pay as early as possible.  All permits are issued on a first come firstserve basis.  Anyone on the obligations list will not receive a

permit until his/her name is removed.  Call 952-806-7600 to checkand see if your student's name is on the list.

Whether purchasing online or using paper/pencil (applicationsavailable in the main office), please do so by August 25 to make sureyour vehicle is permitted for the first day of school on September 1st.  If you have comments or questions please contact Dean of StudentsDave Mousel using dmousel@isd271.org or 952.806.7620.

Health Information

Emergency Health Forms

In prior years, schools would give parents a printed health emergencyform pre-filled with the information on file at school. Starting this year,parents/guardians are asked to update health emergency informationin the HUB. Upon login to the HUB, parents/guardians will beprompted to review and edit the same health emergency informationthat was on the green emergency sheet in years past. All parents withemail addresses on file will be notified that the emergency informationis available for verification and updating via an email on August 18ththat also includes a reminder of the HUB username/password.

Immunizations

The State of Minnesota immunization laws have changed effectiveSeptember of 2014. All high school students are required to have, inaddition to 2 MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), the 3 hepatitis B series,2 varicella (chicken pox), a meningococcal vaccination, and a Tdap(tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis). If your child was a student in theBloomington Public Schools last year, previously documentedimmunizations are on file. All students enrolled at Jefferson must beup-to-date with required immunizations to attend school. Scheduleswill be withheld until this information is received. If you have anyquestions, please feel free to leave a message with school nurse JudyBelmore at 952-806-7608 or emailjbelmore@bloomington.k12.mn.us.

Medications at School

Students at Jefferson are not permitted to carry any type of

medications on their person at any time. By district policy, allmedications including prescription and over-the-counter drugs (suchas ibuprofen, Tylenol, cold and cough medicines, herbs, dietarysupplements, etc.) are to be administered through the Health Office.Written authorization from a physician and parent is required.Students are, however, permitted to carry their own inhalers and Epi-pens with this authorization. These policies are for the protection of allstudents. We need your support and cooperation to help our studentsrespect and comply with rules and policies that are in their bestinterest. Medications are to be supplied in the original, labeledcontainer and will be kept in the Health Office. Forms are available inthe Health office or from your provider. Forms may be faxed to theHealth office at 952-806-7901 to the attention of Judy Belmore, R.N.or brought to the health office. If you have questions, please call 952-806-7608.

College & Resource CenterHello from the College and Career Resource Center! There are anumber of upcoming events to be aware of as school gets going inSeptember. Check the CCRC website for information regarding thecollege application process, job and volunteer opportunities, careerexploration, and scholarships.

2015-16 Test Information

Be sure to reference the 2015-16 test information found in thisnewsletter for information on the following:  

ACT and SAT test dates, registration deadlines, and instructions (ifyou need special testing accommodations go to the testingwebsite to review eligibility/documentation requirements under“Services for Students with Disabilities”).PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT / National Merit ScholarshipQualifying Test).Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) testinformation. This is one of the best career identification resourcesavailable for students struggling with a career or college majordecision. Juniors and seniors may take this test at no charge.

Upcoming On-Campus Events

This information was also published in the May 2015 Jag Quarterly or

you may reference the Career Center website. If you are not familiar

with the CCRC website, you can access it from the JHS home page -

just click on Counseling, College and Career Resource Center or at

http://jhs.bloomington.k12.mn.us/CareerCenter

College Rep Visits:  One of the easiest ways for students to learnabout a college is to talk with an admissions representative,

sometimes one-on-one, when they visit the CCRC. Many out-of-state

colleges will schedule their visits during the weeks surrounding the

National Career Fair. For an updated list of colleges and when they

plan to visit, reference the CCRC website.

These college visits are typically geared toward seniors in the fall and

juniors in the spring, but anyone can sign up and attend if his/her

schedule permits, even parents. The most important piece of the

college search and selection process, however, is the campus visit.

Once you have narrowed your search to just a few colleges, we

recommend that you visit on numerous occasions, if possible, for

different events (athletics, concerts, visit with faculty, etc.). Some

colleges provide an overnight opportunity for this purpose.

College Panel Discussion:  For this event we bring in admissions

representatives from a variety of types of colleges and universities to

answer your questions. If you have a college-bound student, this can

be a valuable evening for you. Mark your calendar for Monday,

October 19, at 6:30PM in the auditorium. Check the CCRC website for

additional information as the event gets closer.

Upcoming Off-Campus Events

Groves Academy LD/ADHD College & Post-Secondary Fair

Tuesday, October 20, 6-8 PMGroves Academy, 3200 MN Hwy 100, St. Louis Park, 55416This fair is designed to help students, parents, and counselors understandmore about the specific programs and services available at the colleges inattendance. Representatives from 50+ schools and organizations willattend. For more information:http://www.grovesacademy.org/community-workshops/502/d-adhd-college-fair-and-post-secondary-opportunities-2-2/

National Christian College Fair

Thursday, October 1, 6:30-8:30 PM

New Life Academy, 6758 Bailey Rd, Woodbury, MN

To Register: www.myblueprintbarcode.com

NACAC Performance  & Visual Arts Fair

Tuesday, October 13, 7-9 PM

Minneapolis Convention Center

To Register: www.gotomypvafair.com

National College Fair (sponsored by National Association  for College

Admission – NACAC)

Wednesday, October 21, 9 AM - 2 PM; 4:30 - 8:30 PM

Minneapolis Convention Center

To Register: www.gotomyncf.com

*** Students who attend this fair during the school day must report

their absence to the Attendance Office ***

This event usually has a very large turnout, so it pays to plan the trip inadvance (determine which college booths to visit, prepare a list ofquestions, etc.). For ideas on how to prepare for this event, go tohttp://www.nacacnet.org/college-fairs/students-parents/resources/Pages/FaringWell.aspx.

Any additional college/career fair information will be added to theCCRC website as it is received. Students should watch for notices onTV Announcements, Daily Announcements, the CCRC Bulletin Board,and the CCRC website. Parents can read Daily Announcementsonline. Go to the Parent Resources tab on the JHS Homepage for thelink.

To-Do List for College-Bound Seniors

Seniors have much to work on during the next few months. Accessthe Senior Year Checklist to get started.  Go to the JHS Counselingwebpage, click on Academic Planning and then “Senior Class” to seewhat you need to do and to download necessary forms (which canalso be found in the Counseling Office).

Highlights of Senior Checklist:

Sign up for the ACT if you aren’t satisfied with your scores or if youhaven’t taken it yet. You’ll want to sign up for the September orOctober test to ensure schools receive your scores by applicationdeadlines: www.actstudent.org.Visit your counselor sooner than later!  DO NOT procrastinate!Ask for personal references from teachers, counselors, oremployers early in the year and AT LEAST two weeks before yourapplication deadlines. Find the form for requesting a letter ofrecommendation below the Senior Checklist (see directions above)or pick one up in the Counseling Office.Begin your application essay(s). You can bring them to the CCRCfor some feedback or proofreading help. Stop in to make anappointment.Start searching for and applying for scholarships. Many deadlinescome before college applications are due. Check the CCRCwebpage for lists of scholarships and scholarship search engines.Work hard in your classes ALL YEAR and keep your grades up.Second semester grades can affect scholarship eligibility ANDwhether you keep your spot in their freshman class. Don’t riskgetting dropped by your school.

All Students: Start your career investigation!Thursday, October 22, 9 AM - 12 PM.

It is important to be making informed decisions about your post-secondary plans, and that starts with having, at least, a generalidea of what you want to do for a career.Begin researching and investigating careers, colleges, and

scholarship opportunities early (there are a number of scholarshipsopen to non-seniors, so do some research).Bloomington has a license with MCIS (Minnesota CareerInformation Systems) that all students can access. MCIS ispassword-protected.  Contact the CCRC or your school counselorfor the username and password. You can find the link to MCISthrough the Counseling page under Career & College Planning, oryou can go directly to the site:www.mncis.intocareers.org/.MCIS which features several careerassessments, a link to free practice tests, including the Accuplacer(used at Normandale & other community colleges) and theREALITY CHECK, a eye-opening feature designed for students todetermine how much they will need to earn to support the lifestylethat they desire. It’s an awesome tool! You can spend hours onthis website, and we encourage you to do so!Another website that provides useful information, such as joboutlook and education needed, on thousands of occupations isO*Net. Once you have determined which types of occupations youwant to investigate, head to www.onetonline.org. There are nopasswords for this site. A Spanish version can be accessed fromthe O*Net homepage.

Resources AvailableThe CCRC has many books available for checkout covering theseareas:  ACT, SAT, ASVAB, and AP test prep, writing resumes andcover letters, writing college application essays, paying for college,and college search help books. A full list of these books can be foundat the bottom of the CCRC webpage.

2015-16 Testing Dates

Academic Integrity

Definition of Cheating Any action by a student to deceive a teacher about the content ororigin of his/her work is cheating.  It is cheating if a student provides -or receives - unauthorized assistance for work, which the student didnot originate.  It is cheating if a student possesses, uses or shares (i.e.electronic copies or hard copies) assignments, essays, projects,and/or assessments, etc., without the teacher’s knowledge andauthorization to do so.  When a student puts his/her name onschoolwork, that student is asserting the work is his/hers - only.

The above definition of cheating applies to both Formative andSummative work.

Examples of CheatingExamples of cheating include, but are not limited to the following:

Plagiarism,

Receiving unauthorized materials/information and not informing

Jefferson’s administration or faculty at the earliest possible time,

Having an electronic device out (without permission) during an

assessment,

Having access to documents, crib sheets, and/or notes, etc.,

(without permission) during an assessment,

Sharing Formative work (i.e. study guides, homework, etc.), when

not authorized to do so,

Taking a picture of an assessment for sharing purposes or for

one’s personal use,

Stealing/receiving answers from another student,

Any action that compromises assessment security.

Consequences for Cheating

Cheating offenses on Formative work will be handled in the following

manner:

1. The teacher will inform the student of the violation.

2. The teacher will contact the student’s parents/guardians to inform

them of the violation.

3. The teacher will assign a “zero” to the work for which the cheating

occurred.  That “zero” will remain on the student’s record and will

not be replaced by any subsequent alternative work that may be

assigned by the teacher.

4. If a student accumulates multiple cheating offenses on Formative

work in a given class, a “No Credit” (NC) for that class may result.

Cheating offenses on Summative work will accumulate for a student’s

high school career and will be handled in the following manner:

1st Offense

Step 1: Teacher will notify student, parents/guardians, and

administrator that cheating has occurred.

Step 2: A meeting will be scheduled with the student,

parents/guardians, and administrator.

Step 3: The offense will be recorded in Jefferson’s discipline system.

Step 4: The student will complete a required Ethics Study.  Failure to

complete the Study within a reasonable time period will result in

community service being assigned.

Step 5: The student will complete an alternative assessment, which

will replace the original assessment.*  Failure to complete the

alternative assessment within a reasonable time period (as determined

by the teacher) will result in a score of “zero” being assigned to the

alternative assessment.  It is the responsibility of the student to work

with the teacher to determine a date and time for the alternative

assessment.

*The maximum score possible on the alternative assessment will

be 20% lower than the actual score on that alternative

assessment.

The student will complete a preparation packet for the alternative

assessment if required by the teacher.

2nd Offense

Steps 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 of the “1st Offense” process will be repeated.**

Step 6:  If the student participates in any school activities (athletics,fine arts, school clubs/organizations), an MSHSL Code of Conductviolation will be levied.  A student’s leadership status in anyorganization will be affected. In general, a student will not be removedfrom an activity.  However, in extreme circumstances, removal couldoccur.Step 7: The student will be ineligible for an academic letter and otheracademic recognition, events/honors throughout the school year inwhich the 2nd Offense occurs.Step 8: The student will meet with his/her guidance counselor todiscuss the incident.Step 9: The student will lose the use of his/her parking permit (for aspecified period of time), admittance to a school dance or dances, oradmission to one or more athletic events.  This will be determined byhis/her administrator.  If the previous consequences do not apply,then community service will be assigned.

**The maximum score possible on the alternative assessment, for

a 2nd Offense, will be 30% lower than the actual score on that

alternative assessment.

The student will complete a preparation packet for the alternative

assessment if required by the teacher.

3rd Offense

Steps 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, & 9 of the above process will be repeated.

Step 10: Student will lose credit and will receive an NC for the coursein which theoffense  occurred and will be placed in a Study Hall for the remainderof the trimester.  It will be at the discretion of the classroom teacherand principal whether the student rejoins the class in the subsequenttrimester(s).

Plagiarism

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is using another person’s ideas without crediting thatperson.  Whenever one consults a source to get information on anassignment, and when ideas that appear in that source show up in apaper, those ideas must be credited to that source. Paraphrasing ischanging the wording of another person so that a direct quotation ofthe material is not needed. Students sometimes feel that when theyparaphrase, that paraphrase then becomes their – the student’s -“original” material. That is not true and paraphrased material mustalso be cited in some way.

Citing sources is the method of giving credit to the source of an idea.

There are many different ways of doing this, and teachers will instruct

classes how to cite sources for specific papers. In academic and

research writing, most of the information presented will be cited.

Copying or paraphrasing another student’s work or material from any

other source without citing it is plagiarism and is cheating. See also

Definition of Cheating.

Cell Phone & Other Electronic Devices

Students who carry cell phones or other personal electronic devices

must not activate the sound on the device during school hours. If the

sound, or the device itself, is disruptive and causes a distraction, or in

any other way creates a problem during school hours, the device will

be confiscated and may be held until the end of the class period, until

the end of the school day, until a parent or guardian picks it up, or it

may be held overnight, or longer, by the student’s administrator. 

When a cell phone is confiscated – the whole phone is confiscated  –

Sim Card, battery, etc.

While Chromebooks and personal computers are permissible, other

electronic devices such as headphones, iPods, iPads, and cell phones

are generally not allowed in the classrooms - once the school day

begins and until it ends.  Students will be allowed to use their cell

phones only during passing time and during lunch periods.  Cell

phone use is prohibited during class time, study hall, tutorial,

homeroom, meetings in the gymnasium, assemblies in the auditorium,

attendance make-up sessions, pep rallies, etc. 

However, a teacher may give specific permission for their presence

and/or use in special circumstances. Teachers will use their discretion

to decide if the use and/ or possession of electronic equipment is

appropriate in the classroom. If such an item is brought to the

classroom, when permission has not been granted, and becomes a

disruption, it will be confiscated.

Loss from theft is an ever-present risk. Therefore, students are

strongly encouraged to leave these items at home. The school will not

be responsible if such items are lost or stolen. Students bringpersonal electronic devices to school at their own risk.

Students may not use cell phones:

to contact other students in class;

to take photos or make recordings of other students, staff, faculty,

or other school personnel at any time, at school;

in bathrooms or locker rooms at any time;

to take pictures of and/or distribute images of any schoolwork

without the expressed permission of the classroom teacher;

to access social networking sites with the intent to intimidate or

bully another student.

Please note that when investigating an incident at school,administrators will, as a matter of practice, temporarily confiscatestudent cell phones in an effort to prevent contamination of theinvestigation that is taking place.

Cell phones may be searched if there is reasonable suspicion ofcheating, harassment, threats, or other actions that are in violation ofschool district policy, are disruptive to the school day and/ or harmfulto other students or staff. If a cell phone, or other electronic device, is“out” during an exam - without specific permission from the teacher,that circumstance will be considered as cheating - or attempting tocheat on that exam.

** Please review the JHS Handbook found on the school’s website formore information on this and other school procedures.

Clubs & Activities

Robotics ClubThe Jefferson Robotics Club is getting ready for another exciting year.Registration is open from August through September 30th. Studentsinvolved with the Robotics Club will help design and build a robot forthe US FIRST robotics competition. The club is structured around themain subgroups of making a robot function: electrical, computerprogramming, mechanical, pneumatics, public relations, and otherareas of importance and interest. Each group is managed by both astudent leader and adult mentor(s), professionals who volunteer fromoutside of Jefferson. Our group welcomes all students; no experienceis necessary. If you are interested in being part of the Robotics Teamthis year please register on the Jefferson High School Activities andAthletics web page. If you have questions please contact Mr. DonVerdegan at dverdegan@isd271.org

Trap/Skeet ClubThe Jefferson Trap/Skeet Teams will be taking part in the FallMinnesota State High School Clay Target League. Our groupwelcomes all students; no experience is necessary.  We shoot onenight per week; students must have their Minnesota Hunter SafetyTraining Certificate. Registration is August 15th - September 11th. Ourhome club is the Minneapolis Gun Club in Prior Lake. If you areinterested in shooting trap, skeet, or both please register on theJefferson High School Activities and Athletics web page. If you havequestions please contact Mr. Don Verdegan atdverdegan@isd271.org

Debate TeamLike arguing?  Join the Bloomington Debate Team!  Our intro meetingwill be on Wednesday, September 9th after school in room C20 from

2:40-3:40 PM. Come and learn about our winning program.  Want tojoin but can't come after school?  Come to our first novice practice onThursday, September 10th from 6-8PM in room C20.  For furtherinformation contact the team advisor:  Ms. Meredith Aby-Keirstead atmaby@isd271.org.

Jefferson Theatre CompanyThe 2015-2016 award winning Jefferson Theatre Company's seasonhas something for everyone. The season kicks off with Oscar Wilde'sfarcical comedy The Importance of Being Ernest: October 7th at 4 PM(senior show); October 8th, 9th, and 10th  at 7:00 PM; and, October11 at 3 PM. This production on love and marriage will be in the roundwith the audience seated on the stage offering an intimate theatricalexperience.

The holiday show is  Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen:December 4th and 5th at 7 PM and December 5th and 6th at 3 PM.You are familiar with the movie Frozen; this is just another adventurethat will be become a family favorite.

Jefferson's entry into the State One-Act Play Competition isTennessee William's compelling drama Suddenly Last Summer with apublic performance on February 5th at 7 PM.

Jefferson Theatre Company's student directed show is yet to bedetermined but will be on March 18.

Finally, we end the season with the tap dancing musical ThoroughlyModern Millie. Set in the roaring 20's, we follow the adventures ofMillie in the big city. Performances are May 4th at 4 PM (senior show);May 5th, 6th, and 7th at 7 PM;and, May 7th and 8th at 3:00 PM.

All performances will be at Jefferson High School in the auditorium.We encourage all students to audition and get involved backstage oron stage!

For more information go to our website:www.jeffersontheatrecompany.org; follow us on twitter@JefferTheatreCo; FBJeffersonTheatreCompanyFA. If you havequestions contact Ms. Laura Schmit, Director, atLaura.Schmit@wbdlaw.com.

Host families needed!

Youth For Understanding (YFU) and Jefferson are excited to enrollforeign exchange students next school year. You can become a hostfamily! Host families provide a bed, meals, a way to get to school, plusencouragement, love and limits.  The students pay for their otherexpenses and become a true family member sharing in the family’sreal life, fun and responsibilities. All different kinds of families host

successfully: large and small, single parents and empty nesters, big orlittle kids, all ethnicities and economic levels. There is strong supportfor students and families during the year. One student arriving toMinnesota is Reside from Turkey. Reside enjoys art and reading andshe is part of school government back home. She is a YESScholarship winner, so she has proven herself as a leader and verymotivated individual. Will your family open your heart to Reside oranother student? Now is the time to apply as the students arrive inAugust. To learn more about hosting or volunteering, contact AnnaPeters at 651-646-8173 or apeters@yfu.org. Learn why YFU, a non-profit that began over 60 years ago, is different at www.yfu-usa.org.

Volunteers Needed for Bloomington Heritage

Days

Volunteers can register athttp://www.bloomingtonheritagedays.org/registration/volunteer

2015-2016 School Meal Prices

High School Breakfast $1.55Reduced-Priced Breakfast Free

High School Lunch   $2.80Reduced-Price Lunch Free

Jag Quarterly

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