HFMS families, Thank you all for what you are doing to support our students. Their enthusiasm and versatility as we continue to adapt to the ongoing work to restore the historic section of our building and install modular units to replace affected classrooms is inspirational. At this time, a number of external circumstances beyond our control have caused delays in the installation process. In order to minimize disruption, we have made the difficult decision to restart our remote learning schedule, beginning next week with the 8th-grade students shifting out of the building. We anticipate having the units ready for student use by Monday, September 19. For more information and updates, please visit: https://hfms.jcswv.org/o/hfms/page/renovation-work-updates
Sept. 6, 2022: Earlier today we had a student injury which resulted in the need for emergency treatment. Although the injury is non-life threatening, emergency responders made the decision to have the student airlifted for treatment. When incidents like this occur, we recognize that our families will be concerned. We want to share as much information with you as possible while also respecting the privacy of the student involved. We appreciate the swift response of our staff and partners with emergency service for continuing to keep our students safe.
It is so exciting to have students back in our schools! Thank you for all you are doing to ensure a smooth start to the school year. Please remember that all JCS schools and offices will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2022, in observance of Labor Day. We look forward to welcoming students and staff back on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Have a great weekend.
Hello JCS Families,
We had a wonderful first week of school welcoming children back into the classroom. We are happy to share an update on WVEIS 2.0, the WVDE’s upgraded information system that impacts our communications and academic tools. Much progress has been made, and as of Sept. 6, we will have full use of our Canvas Platform. For more information about the update, please visit www.jcswv.org/canvas
✨ We're so excited to open our doors for the start of another school year! A big shoutout to our teachers and staff for working hard to prepare for a great year. Be sure to check out all the fun first-day photos from throughout the district in our "Back to School: 2022-2023" photo album on the JCS Facebook page. Welcome back, JCS! 🎉
Welcome back, Tigers!
The start of a new school year means sharing the road. Please keep the following safety tips in mind when buses start rolling on Monday:
⚠️ Be alert and watch for children, especially near schools, bus stops, school buses, and school parking lots.
⚠️ Motorists are required to stop when approaching a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing and STOP arms extended. NEVER pass a bus from behind when it is stopped to board or offload children.
⚠️ Be especially careful when children are present in school zones and residential areas.
⚠️ Pay extra attention to lower speed limits in school zones.
⚠️ Watch for and obey signals from school crossing guards.
⚠️Only drive or park in authorized areas to drop off or pick up children at school.
We can't wait to see you on Monday!
As you wrap up your back-to-school shopping this weekend, consider including a few items for the JCS Stuff-a-Bus school supply drive! Join us August 21-27 at the Jefferson County Fair, where we'll be stuffing a bus with donations of backpacks, crayons, pens and pencils, lunch boxes, notebooks, and other necessary school supplies. Volunteers from the JCS Transportation Department will be on hand to collect donations all day Sunday, August 21, and every evening from 5-8 p.m. And while you're there, learn more about how you can become a bus operator for Jefferson County Schools. It's a great way to make your mark in our caring community of educators!
Hello JCS Families,
Our staff have been working all summer to prepare our schools to welcome students next week. As always, there are unexpected problems that arise. An updated version of the West Virginia Department of Education's information system (WVEIS) that all school systems are required to use for everything from class lists to schedules is being upgraded. Some of the systems we worked hard to put in place over the summer are not usable right now because that system is not functioning correctly. We have created a web page about possible changes during the transition. We have taken steps to minimize the disruption for you and for students while the WVDE completes this work. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we begin a new year together! https://www.jcswv.org/wveis
Please join us this evening, August 9, at 6:00 PM in the HFMS Gym for a Student/Family meeting to discuss the renovations to the historic section of the school and the necessary schedule adjustments for the start of the school year. You may join in person or via ZOOM at https://zoom.us/j/93192789943
Students are back on August 22! We want to make sure everyone has what they need to start the year off right, starting with the trip to school. Visit our website at www.jcswv.org/myschoolbus to get information about your student's bus this year. Everyone at Jefferson County Schools is excited to start the year with you!
Volleyball open gyms will be held on Wednesday, August 10th and Friday, August 12th from 4-6 pm.
Tryouts will be held Tuesday, August 16th- Thursday, August 18th from 4-6 pm. Athletes must have a valid physical to tryout.
Cheerleading tryouts will be held August 15th-17th in the cafeteria of Harpers Ferry Middle School from 6-8pm. Please bring your report card, a completed sports physical, lots of water, and a smile. A parent meeting will take place in the HFMS cafeteria at 6pm on August 11th. Please bring a copy of their report card and their completed sports physical to determine if your student is eligible.
Harpers Ferry Middle School Families, Please watch this important announcement from Principal Eric Vandell regarding a modified schedule for the first three weeks of the 2022-2023 school year. https://hfms.jcswv.org/o/hfms/page/renovation-work-updates A community meeting will take place on August 9th at 6:00 PM in the HFMS gym to share additional information.
Renovations to the historic section of Harpers Ferry Middle School will impact the start of the school year. Please visit the HFMS website to learn more about the schedule changes and how we are keeping students together safely. https://hfms.jcswv.org/o/hfms/page/renovation-work-updates
We are so excited to welcome back our HFMS students and families and to get to know our new students and families as well! Please join us for an outdoor BBQ from 4-6pm on August 11th. We will be serving hotdogs, chips, and water/lemonade. There will be a raffle drawing and (a limited supply of) FREE backpacks filled with supplies for students. Kona Ice will also be available for purchase. We hope to see you there! Please RSVP by August 1st using the following link:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=S7AZ4AwzekaLrgn7FzdNajsfnmOXhjNOl7P8TNCYadNUREVWQ01NMEtZVjRQT1RWN0tQVDFBQ0haMS4u
Jefferson County Schools extends our appreciation to Mr. Justin P. Brown, Sr. for his service as an interim member of the Jefferson County Board of Education. Earlier this year, Mr. Brown applied and was selected in a competitive application process to serve Jefferson County students at a critical time. His dedication, thoughtful decision-making, and calm, steady leadership have been greatly appreciated in helping move our school system forward.
Taming the Tiger will be held for students NEW to Harpers Ferry Middle on August 10th and 11th. Transportation is available. To register, please use the following link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=S7AZ4AwzekaLrgn7FzdNajsfnmOXhjNOl7P8TNCYadNUMVdQSUdLOFFFUFpFNUVJQVJXOVFDMThYVy4u
The Harpers Ferry Middle School history bowl team took part in the 2022 WV Fest Saturday in Charles Town. They competed in the "Are You Smarter Than an 8th Grader" contest and didn't miss a question! Congratulations to Douglas Gillette, Isabelle Warnick, Lillian Weaver, and Lauren Spitzer for such a wonderful showing! And special thanks to coach Allyson Whitacre (left) and Randall Reid-Smith, the Governor’s Curator for the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History (right).
Congratulations to the HFMS 8th Grade team that won Grand Champion at the Are You Smarter Than An 8th Grader-WV Edition at WV Fest 2022 in Charles Town today! We are so very proud of you!