⏰ Reminder: After-School Tutoring at Jackson STEM Magnet Middle School! ✏️
Don’t forget—After-School Tutoring begins on Monday, August 25th from 3:30–4:30 PM! This is a wonderful opportunity for students to get extra support and strengthen their skills.
✔️ Monday: Science & Math
✔️ Tuesday: English, Science, & Math
✔️ Thursday: Science, Social Studies, & Math
✨ Sign-ups are still open! Use the link or QR code to register today and make sure your student is ready to take advantage of this program.
Let’s partner together to help every Jackson student succeed! 🌟
✨ At Jackson STEM Magnet, our students don’t just learn about STEM—they experience it in action! We are thrilled to thank Jaden Coffey, a proud student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, for inspiring our students with her journey in aeronautical science. ✈️
She shared how her dream of becoming a pilot connects directly to STEM, showing students the incredible role that physics, meteorology, and technology play in aviation. Our students were captivated as they learned how classroom knowledge connects to real-world careers.
Bringing in career speakers like Jaden is a vital part of our STEM program, helping students envision future pathways, ask thoughtful questions, and see how their learning today prepares them to lead tomorrow. 🚀🌎
#ThinkingTodayLeadingTomorrow #STEMCareers #JacksonSTEM
She shared how her dream of becoming a pilot connects directly to STEM, showing students the incredible role that physics, meteorology, and technology play in aviation. Our students were captivated as they learned how classroom knowledge connects to real-world careers.
Bringing in career speakers like Jaden is a vital part of our STEM program, helping students envision future pathways, ask thoughtful questions, and see how their learning today prepares them to lead tomorrow. 🚀🌎
#ThinkingTodayLeadingTomorrow #STEMCareers #JacksonSTEM
🎉🥎 Our 8th graders had an absolute blast in science today! 🎉🥎
They brought force and motion to life through our softball lab—combining learning with laughter, teamwork, and lots of “aha!” moments. 💡🙌 Watching them connect classroom concepts to real-world action was just priceless!
Way to go, 8th grade—science has never looked so fun! 🚀⚡💥
They brought force and motion to life through our softball lab—combining learning with laughter, teamwork, and lots of “aha!” moments. 💡🙌 Watching them connect classroom concepts to real-world action was just priceless!
Way to go, 8th grade—science has never looked so fun! 🚀⚡💥
Wednesday, August 20, 2025, is a scheduled Early Dismissal Day for students.
On Early Dismissal Days, elementary school students are dismissed at 11:30 a.m., middle school students at 12:10 p.m., and high school students at 12:30 p.m.
Early dismissal times are slightly different for Aiken Scholars Academy (ASA), as well as our schools in the Ridge Spring area. ASA early dismissal will be at noon, Ridge Spring-Monetta (RSM) Elementary is at 11:55 a.m., RSM Middle at 12:15 p.m. and RSM High at 12:20 p .m. The ASPIRE Evening Program will not be held tomorrow.
These Early Dismissal Days are part of the 2025-26 Aiken County Public School District Calendar and are necessary to support state-wide required teacher training. Please make any necessary arrangements for your child's early dismissal. Elementary school student after school care through Quest Zone is available.
On Early Dismissal Days, elementary school students are dismissed at 11:30 a.m., middle school students at 12:10 p.m., and high school students at 12:30 p.m.
Early dismissal times are slightly different for Aiken Scholars Academy (ASA), as well as our schools in the Ridge Spring area. ASA early dismissal will be at noon, Ridge Spring-Monetta (RSM) Elementary is at 11:55 a.m., RSM Middle at 12:15 p.m. and RSM High at 12:20 p .m. The ASPIRE Evening Program will not be held tomorrow.
These Early Dismissal Days are part of the 2025-26 Aiken County Public School District Calendar and are necessary to support state-wide required teacher training. Please make any necessary arrangements for your child's early dismissal. Elementary school student after school care through Quest Zone is available.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025, is a scheduled Early Dismissal Day for students.
On Early Dismissal Days, elementary school students are dismissed at 11:30 a.m., middle school students at 12:10 p.m., and high school students at 12:30 p.m.
Early dismissal times are slightly different for Aiken Scholars Academy (ASA), as well as our schools in the Ridge Spring area. ASA early dismissal will be at noon, Ridge Spring-Monetta (RSM) Elementary is at 11:55 a.m., RSM Middle at 12:15 p.m. and RSM High at 12:20 p .m. The ASPIRE Evening Program will not be held tomorrow.
These Early Dismissal Days are part of the 2025-26 Aiken County Public School District Calendar and are necessary to support state-wide required teacher training. Please make any necessary arrangements for your child's early dismissal. Elementary school student after school care through Quest Zone is available.
On Early Dismissal Days, elementary school students are dismissed at 11:30 a.m., middle school students at 12:10 p.m., and high school students at 12:30 p.m.
Early dismissal times are slightly different for Aiken Scholars Academy (ASA), as well as our schools in the Ridge Spring area. ASA early dismissal will be at noon, Ridge Spring-Monetta (RSM) Elementary is at 11:55 a.m., RSM Middle at 12:15 p.m. and RSM High at 12:20 p .m. The ASPIRE Evening Program will not be held tomorrow.
These Early Dismissal Days are part of the 2025-26 Aiken County Public School District Calendar and are necessary to support state-wide required teacher training. Please make any necessary arrangements for your child's early dismissal. Elementary school student after school care through Quest Zone is available.
Pizza Pals Lunch for $6.00.
Slice of fresh pizza
Soda
Chips
Cookies
Sitting with a friend for lunch (must be in the same lunch period and purchase a Pizza Pal lunch)
Pre-order your Pizza Pals lunch for August 28th for $6. students who purchase their pizza lunch will be able to sit with the classmates of their choice who also purchase a pizza pals lunch.
Please send your student with their full name and grade in an envelope with $6 to the school office by Monday, August 25th. No late orders will be accepted.
Dear Parents,
I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself as your new principal here at Jackson Middle School. I am truly honored to have been approved for this position and humbled to join such an amazing school community. I have been blessed to work in public education for more than 33 years. Before coming to Jackson, I served as a principal in the Columbia County School District in Georgia for 20 years, before retiring in 2022. Since that time, I have served as a Coordinator of School Effectiveness in Richmond County, where I worked to support school improvement efforts in elementary and middle schools. I look forward to returning to a school-based position, where the most meaningful and impactful work happens each day. Outside of school, I am married to my wife of 27 years, who is a high school math teacher, and we have three grown children.
As your new principal, I want you to know that I am committed to leading our school with honesty and humility. My leadership approach is to listen attentively, communicate effectively, and ensure that everyone in our school community feels heard and appreciated. This includes our dedicated teachers, our hardworking support staff, and our amazing parents and students.
Of course, my top priority will always be the students we serve. Every discussion we have and every decision we make will be guided by what is best for their education and well-being. I am here to support and collaborate with all of you as we work together to create the best possible learning environment for our students, building upon the solid foundation that is already in place at our school.
I am proud to be a part of the Jackson Middle School family, and I look forward to meeting you and your children in the days to come.
Sincerely,
Kirk M. Wright
I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself as your new principal here at Jackson Middle School. I am truly honored to have been approved for this position and humbled to join such an amazing school community. I have been blessed to work in public education for more than 33 years. Before coming to Jackson, I served as a principal in the Columbia County School District in Georgia for 20 years, before retiring in 2022. Since that time, I have served as a Coordinator of School Effectiveness in Richmond County, where I worked to support school improvement efforts in elementary and middle schools. I look forward to returning to a school-based position, where the most meaningful and impactful work happens each day. Outside of school, I am married to my wife of 27 years, who is a high school math teacher, and we have three grown children.
As your new principal, I want you to know that I am committed to leading our school with honesty and humility. My leadership approach is to listen attentively, communicate effectively, and ensure that everyone in our school community feels heard and appreciated. This includes our dedicated teachers, our hardworking support staff, and our amazing parents and students.
Of course, my top priority will always be the students we serve. Every discussion we have and every decision we make will be guided by what is best for their education and well-being. I am here to support and collaborate with all of you as we work together to create the best possible learning environment for our students, building upon the solid foundation that is already in place at our school.
I am proud to be a part of the Jackson Middle School family, and I look forward to meeting you and your children in the days to come.
Sincerely,
Kirk M. Wright
🌟 Our incredible AVID and STEM students blew us away this past week! 🌟 Each student researched a STEM career of their choice, brought it to life with a dynamic PowerPoint, and even built a creative model using paper towel rolls. Their presentations were nothing short of AMAZING—full of talent, creativity, and excitement for the future. We couldn’t be prouder of their hard work and brilliance! 🚀👏
🎉 Congratulations, Dr. Valerie McGahee! 🎉
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
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
Congratulations to the family of Presley Pitts (mother Jennifer Thompson) on winning the drawing for the PTO Registration Raffle!
All parents, teachers, and community members were entered upon their joining Jackson's 25-26 PTO.
All parents, teachers, and community members were entered upon their joining Jackson's 25-26 PTO.
Shout-out to our amazing students for leading the charge in learning this week!
👏 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
👏 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
We had a great turn out for the Open House and Annual Title I Meeting. Families got the opportunity to meet with the staff, interim principal, Mrs. Jill Jett, assistant principal, Ms. Kishni Neville, and incoming principal Mr. Kirk Wright. A huge thank you to Mr. Jim Broome for grilling delicious hot dogs for everyone. Our PTO officers and members were on hand to accept memberships and recruit volunteers. We're so excited about this school year!
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!
Join PTO! Enter to win a Stanley basket to be given away on August 15, 2025.
📢 JMS 6th Grade Parent Update: Understanding Common Disciplinary Infractions
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
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
🚀 8th Grade Scientists in Action! 🧪
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!
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!
🌟 Thank You, AVID Families! 🌟
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!
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!
Congratulations to our 2025 Lady Indians volleyball team!!
Congratulations to our 2025 Bullpups!!
