February News

Office Hours & Phone Numbers

MJH School Office   -7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.   -309-833-2074

Attendance Office    -7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.   -309-833-2484

Co Principal E-Mail Addresses

Dana Isackson isacksond@mcusd185.org

Brock Bainter bainterb@mcusd185.org

Asst. Principal's E-Mail Address

Brett Burton burtonb@mcusd185.org

SIP Day

February 17, 2023-Half day attendance AM

President's Day

February 20, 2023--NO SCHOOL

Clay Club

Clay club meets on Tuesdays after school in room 170 from 3:00 to 4:40. Please contact Mrs. Biggs for more details. biggsj@mcusd185.org

Yearbook Club

Yearbook Club will meet Wednesdays from 3:15-4:00 in Mrs. Cooper's Room #185.

MJH Athletic Family Pass

2022-2023 Jr High School Athletic Pass will allow immediate family members admission to regular season Jr High Athletic Events only.  (IESA State Series Athletic Events are not included)  $75.00 per Family Pass (Immediate Family Only)  These passes are available in the Athletic Office at the Jr Sr High School.

JH School Hours

8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Jr. High classes begin at 8:00 a.m.  Outside doors are unlocked at 7:30 a.m. Students arriving before 7:50 a.m. should go to the Commons.  Students are dismissed from the Commons at 7:50 a.m. to go to the restroom, and/or get a drink.  Students need to be in their seats for their first hour class at 8:00 a.m.  Buses arrive between 7:35 and 7:50 a.m.  

Breakfast is served  at 7:30 a.m.  Jr. High students should budget their eating time daily, so they are not late for their first hour class at 8:00 a.m.

MJH DAILY SCHEDULE 2022-2023

1st Hour 8:00- 8:43

2nd Hour 8:46-9:29

3rd Hour 9:32- 10:15

4th Hour Class 10:18-11:01

(4A Lunch 10:18-10:53)

5th Hour Class 10:56-11:39

(5B Lunch 11:04- 11:39)

6th Advisory 11:42-11:57

7th Hour 12:00-12:42

8th Hour 12:45-1:27

9th Hour 1:30-2:12

10th Hour 2:15- 3:00

E-Learning Days

Here is the District link for E-Learning Days.  Our chart with shortened schedule is posted.


E-Learning Day Schedule

Class                          Time

First Hour            8:00 am - 8:23 am                 

Second Hour       8:26 am - 8:49 am

Third Hour           8:52 am - 9:15 am

Fourth/Fifth Hour 9:18 am - 9:41 am 

Seventh Hour      9:44 am - 10:07 am

Eighth Hour        10:10 am - 10:33 am

Ninth Hour          10:36 am - 10:59 am

Tenth Hour          11:02 am - 11:25 am

Lunch                  11:28 am - 12:03 pm 

12:05 - 3:00 Complete daily tasks.  Teachers may be contacted via E-mail.

When there is no school due to inclement weather or other emergencies, the day will be an E-Learning Day. Students will meet via Microsoft Teams and complete Daily Tasks. The day will count as an instructional day and attendance will be taken for state reporting purposes.
macomb185.org

Winter Weather Information

If the weather becomes questionable, a parent/guardian will receive a phone call and an email from Skylert, the District’s notification system, will announce delays, dismissals or school closings. More information can be found on the School Closings page on the school website.

INCLEMENT WEATHER/NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

On occasion, poor weather conditions or other emergencies may arise which make it necessary to delay the start of school, dismiss early or close school. Families will need to have a plan in place that addresses the change in routine when these situations arise.
Skylert is the district's notification system that enables school personnel to notify all parents/ guardians of an emergency or unplanned event that causes early dismissal, school cancellation or late start.  Please make sure you login to Family Access and click on the Skylert tab to confirm all information is up to date. If you would like additional people to receive notifications, you can enter the information in the additional contact fields.  (If you have forgotten your Family Access login information, please contact your child’s school office for assistance.)
In addition to the call and email, families can opt into receive text messages.  To receive text messages, you must complete two steps.
 Log into your Skyward Family Access account and click on Skylert in the toolbar on the left hand side, confirm your cell phone number is in the "Text Messages Numbers" field in the Skylert tab in Skyward.
Text Y to the number 67587.

To learn more about, Skylert, please visit the district website.

Attendance/Passes/Bus Pass

If your child is absent from school any portion of the day, the parent/guardian must notify the school by 9:00 am.  A parent may call the office anytime before 7:30 a.m. and leave a message on the voice mail.  After 7:30 a.m., please call and speak with office personnel.

If a child is absent and no notification from the parent has been made, a reasonable effort by the school to notify the parent will be made.  A parental note is required on the next date of attendance.  This is in addition to the contact made between the parent and school on the day of the absence.   The note should be submitted to the Attendance Office or Jr. High Office before the student begins classes.  The Attendance Office or Jr. High Office will issue a pass to re-enter class.

If your child has an appointment during the school day, please send a note to school with the student.  The student should bring the note to the Jr. High office and a pass to leave class will be written.  It is very difficult to ensure a timely response if you show up unannounced requesting a student.  For example: PE classes may be hard to find so you may be late for an appointment if we are not notified in advance.  

Bus drivers try to ensure safety for all students on the bus.  Limiting numbers of riders is necessary to ensure safety.  Therefore, if a student needs a bus pass, the student must have a signed note from the parent.  We cannot accept phone calls.  A written request with the parent/guardian signature is required for a bus pass.

Sporting Events 

Jr. High students attending sporting events like Macomb High School football game are required to sit in the Jr. High section of the bleachers.  Students need to refrain from playing football, running around, or loitering as well as using inappropriate language.  If a student does not follow these rules, they may be banned from attending sporting events for the rest of the year.

Drop Off/Pick Up Locations & Procedures

Safety is our main concern in creating procedures for drop off and pick up.  With safety in mind, please follow procedures noted below:

CAR

Parents who drop off/pick up their child should do so in the circle drive or east entrance (Door A) at the Jr/Sr High School.  The circle drive is located by the football field on the northwest side of the building.  The east entrance is on the tennis court side of the building.  

Students who ride with high school sibling/students should enter the building at the circle drive entrance into the Commons. High School students park in the west parking lot by the football field.  High School students bringing Jr. High students should have them in the Commons before 7:55 am.  Jr. High students should be in their seats at 8:00 am or they will be marked tardy.   

WALK

Students who walk to/from school should enter/leave the Commons.  Student walkers may leave from the east doors or Commons.  They are advised to walk on the grass, not through the parking lot.  

RIDE A BIKE

There is a bike rack on the side of the building.  Students should park AND LOCK their bikes at the bike rack.  They should enter/leave the building in the Commons.  

BUS

Students riding a bus will be dropped off and picked up at the main entrance (Door H)  southwest side of the Commons.  At dismissal, students should go directly to the Commons, be seated, and wait to be dismissed when their bus is called.

Jr. High students riding home with their high school sibling should wait in the Commons for the high schooler.

PARENT EXCUSED DAYS & MENTAL HEALTH DAYS

Students are allowed 9 parent excused days.  These days are to be used for family related reasons. 

Mental Health Days are used for actual social/emotional stress related absences.  When mental health days are reported, families should call the school to report this to the school.  A counselor will be advised so that support can be available at school.      

2022-2023 MCUSD 185 Visitor Notice 

When entering any Macomb CUSD #185 school building, all visitors will be required to leave a PHOTO IDENTIFICATION CARD during their visits. Staff will provide approved visitors with a badge before allowing them into the building.  When leaving the building, visitors will have their photo ID returned.   Sign-in sheets for visitors will no longer be used. 

New Cell Phone Policy  

In order to support student learning, the cell phone expectation at Macomb School District #185 is that all students, pre-k through grade 8 will not have cell phones in our classrooms and will leave their phones in their lockers when they are brought to school. This policy was already in place through grade 6 and as we transition to a new middle school model, we find it beneficial to extend the policy through grade 8.   The cell phones are to remain in the locker until the end of the school day.  If parents need to reach their child due to an emergency, please call the office of the building your child attends. Students contacting parents needs to be consistent. Students will ask teachers before they contact parents when they are ill, upset or require something. Teachers will assist students in contacting home through the classroom/office phone.  

Detentions

Detentions are issued to students when other strategies have failed to redirect inappropriate behavior.

After school detentions are served 3:10 - 4:00 pm, Monday through Thursday. Parents are notified.  Students are required to be in the detention room, in their seat, and quiet by 3:10 pm.  The detention will not count as being served if they fail to follow these procedures. Students must bring school work and/or a book to read.  They may NOT go back to their lockers or the restroom after 3:10 pm.  

It is our mission to communicate desired behaviors, not emphasize what NOT to do. Detentions are a tool to redirect behaviors when all other efforts fail.

Reminder

It is the student's responsibility to pick up items brought to school and dropped off at the office by parents/guardians.

Thank you for helping your student remember to bring all items to school.  For example:  homework, musical instruments, lunch money, etc. 

Asbestos

ASBESTOS CONTAINING BUILDING MATERIALS MANAGEMENT PLAN – This is to notify you that Macomb Community Unit School District #185 has submitted its Management Plan prepared pursuant to the requirements of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA, 40 CFR 763) for XXXXX School. Copies of the Management Plan are available in the Administrative Office of the School District and in the Administrative Office of the school building. These plans are available for your inspection during normal business hours of the office (Monday thru Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) and during other times by special arrangements. We request that appointments be made with us to review the plans. To make arrangements, please contact Mrs. Dana Isackson or Mr. Brock Bainter, Co-Principals at (309) 833-2074.

Telephone Calls

We encourage parents and children to communicate before he/she arrives at school. This provides a sense of security for students throughout the day.  They know what's going on with family.  Please limit phone messages to emergencies, if possible.  If a student needs to make a call during the school day, they should report to the Jr. High Office.  A phone log is maintained.  The office phone is not for making plans with friends.  The main office closes at 4:00 pm. 

Change of Address

Please notify the office of any changes regarding: home address, employer information, home/work/cell phone numbers, emergency contacts.  Family access is available for you to view various students data such as attendance, grades, emergency contacts, food service summaries and other similar types of information. Please keep your account updated.  

 Macomb Junior High School Choral Department  

♫♪♫ FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER ♫♪♫ 

 

    Dessert Auction/Pops Concert Information- Monday, February 13, 2023 

The Dessert Auction/Pops concert is Monday, February 13th in the Fellheimer Auditorium from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.  This is the required concert grade for the third quarter for the 6-12th grade choral students.   This is the only concert where students are dismissed after they perform, though they are welcome to sit with an adult and enjoy the rest of the evening when they are done singing.  Admission for the event is free; however, we hope that you are generous in your bidding for these prized pies and desserts.    

 

Dessert Auction Performing Order and Call Times 

  

Choir            Call time            Performance Time 

7th grade Choir        5:50pm (Sit with your parents)    6:00-6:30pm 

8th grade Choir        6:20pm (Sit with your parents)    6:30-7:00pm 

 

Uniform for the Auction 

Dress for the concert performers is as follows: 

Junior High School Students – Macomb Music Shirts and jeans. 

 

See you on Monday, February 13th for the Pops Concert/Dessert Auction! 

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫ 

 

Macomb Choir Boosters 

Please become a member of the Macomb Choir Boosters. (Membership forms can be found: http://macombchoirs.org/boostersMembership dues can be mailed to Macomb Choir Boosters, P.O. Box 117, Macomb, IL, 61455.  Levels of membership include “Soloist”-$25, “Barbershop Quartet”-$26-$49, “Vocal Ensemble”-$50-$99, “Chamber Choir”-$100-$249 and “Choral Society”-$250-up. 

 

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫ 

♫ Upcoming Events: ♫ 







Monday, Feb. 13, 2023    





 6-12 grade Pops Concert/Dessert Auction *REQUIRED  

 5:30-8:00 pm   Fellheimer Auditorium 





Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 



IGSMA Solo/Ensemble Contest   

Optional for 7th and 8th grade choir & band students  

Place: Quincy/Time: All Day 





Fri., March 24, 2023 



WIU Junior High Honors Chorus- 9 am -4 pm 

Selected Students 





Friday, April 28 OR 29, 2023          



IESA Organization Contest  

*Required of all 7th and 8th grade choir and band students  

Place: TBA/ Time: TBA  





Wednesday, May 10, 2023 



Seventh and Eighth Grade Spring Choral Concert   

7:00 pm    Fellheimer Auditorium  

*Required of 7th and 8th grade students 

 

For event information and a calendar of events, please visit:  www.macombchoirs.org