Back to School
Dear JLS Families,
Welcome to the 2021-22 academic school year! The staff and I are proud of our school and the exemplary programs and learning experiences we offer all of our students. At JLS we share high expectations for ourselves as well as for your children/our students, and we are very excited to return to in-person learning this year! It is our mission to educate and nurture all students in ways that will assist them to discover their potential as young adults. We look forward to working with you to support this goal, and we appreciate your partnership throughout the middle school years of 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade.
As a parent/guardian, there are multiple opportunities for you to stay connected and involved as your child navigates the challenging world of adolescence. Please make sure you have updated your online Infinite Campus information for the new school year. This is also referred to as the Annual Data Update, or ADU. Our faculty and staff members rely on this contact information being accurate so we can connect with you when needed. Also, if you have an incoming 7th grader, we need verification of an up-to-date Tdap vaccination. Students need to have these two items completed, otherwise they will not be admitted to class in accordance with district policy.
Please use this important link to JLS-specific online forms. Take some time to fill out important paperwork and familiarize yourself with our school’s information.
The staff and I are looking forward to a positive and productive year, and we hope your family is too! If you have any questions, please visit the JLS website at jls.pausd.org or contact us at (650) 856-5188.
We will be sharing more information with you later this week as we prepare for a fantastic school year.
Warm regards,
Chris Grierson
JLS Principal
Back to School Packet
Online at https://bit.ly/JLSbacktoschool
Important Events
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We are holding a parent information session for “New To Palo Alto” Families on Monday, August 9 at 5:30 PM via Zoom. If you have recently moved into our school/district, we hope you are able to join us to learn about our JLS and Palo Alto community!
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STUDENT SCHEDULES will be available to view by Monday, August 9, 2021. To view your student’s schedule, please login to Infinite Campus.
- The first day of school is Wednesday, August 11. Students are expected to be in their first class by 8:30 AM (every day). Students will attend all seven classes on their schedules, as well as their PRIME (Advisory) class on Wednesday, August 11.
- Panther Camp for ALL! Our first week of school will include orientation activities for students to learn the location of their classrooms, procedures and protocols for health and safety, and include many opportunities for students to meet and get to know their peers. Please note, our first week of school will be dedicated to helping students know where to go and who is on their team.
- If you are available to help volunteer at Panther Camp, please visit http://bit.ly/PantherCamp21 to see what is needed.
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Our first JLS Community Zoom will take place on Thursday, August 12 at 5:30 PM, and it will include an overview of the events and plans we have for the week, as well as provide an opportunity for parents and family members to ask questions.
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Our second JLS Community Zoom will occur Friday, August 13 at 8:45 AM, and will cover the same information for parents and families.
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Our Back to School Night parent event will be on Wednesday, August 18, and will be an online event. Please mark your calendars. More information will come to you soon. Thank you very much for supporting JLS.
Meet the Administrators and Counselors
The counselors invite you to reach out to talk! Learn more about them and the many ways they contribute to student wellness.
Meet the Principal, Assistant Principals, and Administrative TOSA who work closely with teachers and counselors to support JLS students.
Check out our welcome video!
Connect with the PTA
The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) supports a range of important work at JLS. Sign up for eNews, volunteer to help, and donate at the JLS PTA website.
Support JLS through PiE
PiE raises money from parents and the community to provide all Palo Alto Unified School District students an educational experience beyond what is possible with public funding. Learn more on PiE's website. At JLS, your PiE donation funds electives, music, counselors, and classroom support.