This column is a new feature from our librarian, Ms. Hill!

As parents we've all heard the near-bedtime declaration, "Mom, Dad, I need a science current events article (or History Day resource) tonight!"

Look no further than the Jouett Library homepage for worthy age- and level-appropriate resources: http://tinyurl.com/jjmslmchome. The page is regularly updated to keep current with student needs.

If you or your student are wondering what the next book in a popular kids' series is, be sure to scroll down the homepage to the "Favorite Series" site.

The magazines you ordered are on the way! Please be patient. Great American Opportunities, our magazine company, serves hundreds of schools, so the company has thousands of orders to process. On average, most customers begin to receive their subscriptions in November and December.

To check the status of your order, you may go to www.magtrak.com, and type in your address or phone number. Estimated delivery dates are now being posted.

The holidays are coming! Magazines are easy to give, and the school continues to make a profit if you buy online. Go to www.gaschoolstore.com, and enter the Jouett ID number, 402578. The online store is open every day of the year.

At long last, the limo ride has been scheduled for qualifying students. The date is Thursday, December 3, during school hours. Students will receive more details in several days.

Monday is Pajama Day.  Wear your favorite pajamas to school.  Just make sure you follow the dress code.

Tuesday is Twin or Triplet Day.  Find a buddy or two and dress alike.

Wednesday is Wacky-Tacky Day.  Dress as wacky as you can but please, not costumes or wigs.

Thursday is Team Spirit Day.  Wear your favorite sports team's apparel. 

Friday is Costume Day.  Wear your favorite costume to school, but please, no masks or toy weapons.

There is going to be a contest going on throughout the week.  Mr. Arquette and the SCA members will be looking for three of the best teacher and student participants of each day.

Each day Tuesday through Friday, the SCA members will choose the overall best participant, who will receive a gift card. There can only be one winner per day, so teachers and students, SHOW YOUR SPIRIT!!! Let's see who has more Jouett spirit--teachers or students.

Jouett Middle School has its own gallery within the National Gallery of Writing, sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).  All members of the Jouett community (students, families, teachers, and staff) are encouraged to submit a piece of writing to the gallery.  Mr. Steinbach is the gallery's curator, and submission guidelines can be found on the gallery page.  The National Gallery of Writing is opening on October 20, which has been designated by the U.S. Senate as the National Day on Writing.

Click here to visit the Jack Jouett Middle School Gallery and browse other galleries from around the country. 

Click here for updates forms and information relating to H1N1 and Albemarle County Public Schools.

Greetings, Albemarle County Public Schools Families and Educators:

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Health, has produced brief videos to inform parents and educators of the steps they can take to prevent the spread of H1N1 A and seasonal influenza in schools.

Please view "H1N1 for Parents" (length 3:05) by clicking this link: http://www.vdoe.whro.org/h1n1_parents/DOE_H1N1_PAR.swf .

A companion video, "H1N1 for Educators" (length 3:54), describes the steps schools should take to protect the health of students and staff and may be viewed at this address: http://www.vdoe.whro.org/h1n1_educators/DOE_H1N1_EDU.swf

Additional information on H1N1 A Influenza and schools is available on the VDOE Web site at this address: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/health_medical/influenza/index.shtml .

Thank you for your support as we all work together to keep our children safe, healthy, and ready to learn. You may also visit our News site, www.k12albemarle.org/news and click on the H1N1 information link on the left hand side. We are posting updates from the Thomas Jefferson Health Department, as well as copies of any communications regarding H1N1 A influenza distributed through our schools.

Grocery Store Receipts...Please take a few minutes now at the start of this new school year to link your grocery store cards to the programs these stores offer.  These are wonderful programs that earn the school money and educational products each year.  All you have to do is link your cards and shop as you normally do.  It costs you nothing extra to participate.  Even if you have participated in the past, you must renew each year.  Thanks for your support!

Harris Teeter Shoppers: You can join the Together in Education program, which last year earned over $224 for our school. You may link your VIC shoppers card to Jouett at the website: http://www.harristeeter.com/community/together_in_education/link_to_your_school.aspx .   Jouett's school code is 4564.

Food Lion Shoppers: Link your card to Jack Jouett Middle School using this website:
https://apps.foodlion.com/ShopandShare/secure/registermvpcards.asp . Look for Jack Jouett in the organizations tab, provide your MVP card number, and begin earning rewards for your school.

Kroger shoppers: Please join us in a new program for us, Campbell's E-Labels for Education.  Register your Kroger shoppers card at the website below and designate Jouett as your school. The school will then receive points for every participating Campbell/Swanson/Pepperidge Farm product that you purchase at Kroger. No need to clip labels-- the store's checkout computer tabulates your labels for you.  The website does allow you to designate more than one school. http://www.elabelsforeducation.com/Sites/Campbells_eLabels/Page/HomePage

Target shoppers:  If you have a Target REDCard or Target Visa, you may link your purchases to Jouett to earn money for our school.  Last year, 9 Jouett families enrolled in this program, which earned the school $162. 
To enroll, visit www.Target.com/tcoe (look for the Take Charge of Education tabs)  or call 1-800-316-6142.  Target donates up to 1% of purchases to the school every time you pay for purchases with the Target card.  Jouett's ID number is 103181

Giant shoppers:  We are still in the registration process.  More info coming soon...

BOX TOPS 4 EDUCATION is a great fundraiser sponsored by the PTO and managed by the Functional Skills class at Jouett.  Box Tops are collected monthly through GROWL and the top collectors earn a prize.  Together, last year, we earned over $500.00 for our school.  The website is a great resource for coupons, contests, recipes, and much more.  Please visit the website:  http://www.boxtops4education.com/Default.aspx  and start collecting today. 

If you have any questions, contact Dina Baber @ dbaber@k12albemarle.org .