Jackson Middle School, Home of the Indians, is proud to celebrate our amazing 6th Grade English teacher, Dr. Valerie McGahee, for being awarded a $5,000 K-12 Catalyst Grant for STEM Education by the Savannah River National Laboratory, funded through the generosity of Battelle Savannah River Alliance and The Battelle Memorial Institute. 🌟
Dr. McGahee’s dedication to enriching student learning and bringing innovative STEM opportunities to our school is inspiring. This grant will help bring her vision to life—impacting not only her students, but also our school community. 💡📚
Please join us in congratulating Dr. McGahee on this outstanding achievement and in thanking her for her commitment to excellence in education! 👏❤️
#JMSIndians #JMSProud #STEMEducation #TeacherExcellence #JacksonMiddle #WeLoveOurTeachers
All parents, teachers, and community members were entered upon their joining Jackson's 25-26 PTO.
👏 8th Grade took the crown for the most students passing Reading lessons—way to flex those literacy muscles! 📖💪
🎉 6th Grade crushed it in Math with the most students passing Math lessons—numbers never looked so good! ➗✖️
We are proud of every single Jaguar for working hard and showing what it means to think today, lead tomorrow! 🐆✨
#JMSPride #iReadyRally #AcademicAllStars #ThinkTodayLeadTomorrow
Get Ready to Boost Your Brainpower! 🚀
Jackson STEM Magnet Middle School’s Afterschool Tutoring Program kicks off August 25th—and spots are filling fast! From 3:30–4:30 PM, our teachers are ready to help you shine in your core subjects:
Monday: Science & Math 🔬➕
Tuesday: English, Science & Math 📚🔬➕
Thursday: Science, Social Studies & Math 🌍🔬➕
Whether you want to sharpen your skills, get ahead, or just feel more confident in class, this is your chance to level up!
Don’t wait—sign up today!
Dear Parents & Guardians,
As we begin the school year, we want to partner with you to ensure that all 6th grade students understand the expectations for respectful and safe behavior at Jackson STEM Magnet Middle School. Two of the most common areas of misunderstanding for our students are Horseplay and Bullying.
Below are clear guidelines—based on the ACPSD Code of Conduct for Middle School 2025–2026—to help you talk with your child about the “do’s” and “don’ts” in these areas.
🚫 Horseplay
Horseplay may seem harmless to students—especially with friends—but any hitting, shoving, slapping, or rough physical contact is strictly prohibited.
Examples of Horseplay:
Hitting, slapping, shoving, kicking—even if “just playing”
Grabbing, tripping, or pushing someone in the hallway
Play-fighting or wrestling
Throwing objects at others, including backpacks, hats, or classroom items
Why it’s not allowed:
It can lead to accidental injuries
It disrupts the learning environment
It can easily be mistaken for aggression
Do’s for Students:
Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself
Use friendly words instead of physical gestures to show you’re joking
Respect personal space—yours and others’
Don’ts for Students:
Don’t assume physical play is okay—even with friends
Don’t touch or grab someone without their permission
Don’t engage in any roughhousing on school grounds or buses
🚫 Bullying vs. Conflict
Students sometimes confuse bullying with normal disagreements or conflict.
Bullying is repeated, intentional harm—physical, verbal, or social—targeted at someone who has difficulty defending themselves.
Examples of Bullying:
Repeated name-calling, teasing, or put-downs
Spreading harmful rumors or embarrassing someone online (cyberbullying)
Excluding someone from activities to cause hurt
Persistent threats or intimidation
Conflict is different:
It’s a disagreement or argument between people of relatively equal power
It can often be resolved through communication, compromise, or mediation
Do’s for Students:
Speak up if you feel unsafe or targeted
Report repeated harmful behavior to a teacher, counselor, or administrator
Seek help from an adult when a disagreement is getting out of hand
Don’ts for Students:
Don’t retaliate—get help instead
Don’t minimize bullying as “just joking”
Don’t ignore someone being targeted—support them by speaking up or getting help
✅ Our Commitment:
We are committed to providing a safe, respectful environment where every student can learn and thrive. By working together—school, parents, and students—we can prevent misunderstandings and promote positive behavior.
Thank you for reinforcing these expectations at home. Together, we can help our 6th graders make positive choices every day.
Jackson STEM Magnet Middle School Administration
A huge shoutout to our incredible 8th grade students diving into the world of forces and motion through our exciting Stomp Bottle Rocket Lab! This hands-on STEM experience brought science to life as students explored how mass and force directly impact an object’s motion—and they got to see it in action!
At our STEM-focused school, we believe in learning by doing, and today’s lab was a perfect example of how curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking launch learning to new heights. 🌟
We’re so proud of our young scientists and can’t wait to see where their discoveries take them next!
We are incredibly grateful to all the amazing parents who joined us for today’s AVID Parent Information Meeting! Your presence and enthusiasm made it a truly special event, and we’re thrilled about the incredible turnout.
AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a college and career readiness program designed to help students develop the skills they need to be successful in school and beyond. It focuses on academic strategies, leadership, and building a strong support system to help students achieve their goals.
We’re so excited for the journey ahead and can’t wait to see all the growth and success this year will bring. Thank you for being such an important part of our AVID community!
📣 ATTENTION JMS FAMILIES: OPEN HOUSE RESCHEDULED!
We want to let you know that Jackson Middle School's Open House has been rescheduled to Thursday, August 14th. We apologize for the short notice and appreciate your understanding — we believe this change will allow for a better experience for everyone.
📅 New Date: Thursday, August 14th
🕓 Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Jackson Middle School Cafeteria (starting point)
We’re excited to welcome you and look forward to connecting with our JMS families!
JMS would like to welcome and introduce our new bookkeeper, Mrs. Rhonda Hawes.
My name is Rhonda Hawes and I’m excited to start a new adventure this year at JMS. I’ve worked for ACPSD for 21 years, starting at Hammond Hill, then Redcliffe and, for the past 17 years, at Silver Bluff; as a SPED aide, Lab Proctor and Bookkeeper.
I grew up in the New Ellenton/Jackson area and graduated from SBHS, as did my son and siblings. I live in Jackson with my husband of 33 years, Mike, and our spoiled but adorable rescue puppy, Sox.
I enjoy camping, reading, and cheering on the Auburn tigers when I have the time. But my favorite “to do” is spending time with our son, Chase, when he comes home from Colorado.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns about school fees, which can be paid on the Parent Portal, and now by phone at 803-471-2237. I’m here to help!
Rhonda Hawes, Bookkeeper
The graphic design of Mrs. Hawes' introduction letter was created by the 6th period Media Arts students.
Contact Mrs. Hawes, the JMS bookkeeper, at 803-471-2237
Ms. Neville’s AVID binder spot checks yielded amazing results! Great job, kiddos—keep it up!
#6CsofEngineering
#Collaborationiskey
#thinkingtoday
#leadingtomorrow
