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Happy Thanksgiving to our JCS community! We remain grateful for the privilege of serving your children.
![Happy Thanksgiving](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3370952/large_T-giving_FB.png)
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Mark your calendar for the return of JCS STEAMTalks tonight at 6PM! π
![JHS SteamTalks Flyer](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3364469/large_JHS_STEAMtalks__1_.png)
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Kindergarten and first grade students at Jefferson Virtual Academy enjoyed a special Veterans Day lesson this week when Sgt. Jordan Iden of the Army 173rd Airborne brigade joined them all the way from Italy! The students loved listening to Sgt. Iden talk about his experiences as a "sky soldier." In our continuing celebration of American Education Week, Sgt. Iden's visit is proof that our public school community extends worldwide! #WVEd #aew2022
![Sgt. Darren Iden](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3350959/large_2022-11-14_JVA_Veterans_Day_Lesson.png)
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Nov. 16, 2022: The telephones at Shepherdstown Middle School are currently down. If you need to reach the main office, please dial 304-671-7436. Thank you.
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Jefferson County Schools begins our celebration of American Education Week today! Everyone at Jefferson County Schools is excited to highlight and cheer on the incredible people who work in public education here and across the country. JCS staff and students are so important to our community and our future. We are grateful to each of you for what you do to create and maintain a safe, enriching, and fun learning environment!
![American Education Week](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3330564/large_AEW2022_Kickoff.png)
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Veterans at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center will receive an extra dose of holiday cheer this year, thanks to a creative group of JCS students! Students taking part in the JCS 2022 Summer Experience at Page Jackson Elementary School created festive handmade cards for residential veterans at the VAMC using the artistic method of fork painting. Special thanks to JCS aide Jamie Renalli who assisted students with the STEM-based project and coordinated the delivery of the cards last week to distribute just in time for the holidays. The student-driven project is a fitting way to honor our local veterans on Veterans Day and the upcoming holiday season! Read more about it here π https://bit.ly/3WSxu5e
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Today we take time to recognize Veterans Day with respect, honor, and gratitude to all who serve or have served in our nation's armed forces. JCS is proud to acknowledge and celebrate the veterans among our teachers and staff who now share their experience, skill, and insight serving students in our schools, offices, and buses. Thank you!
![Veterans Day](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3312822/large_Veterans_Day_2022.png)
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REMINDER: All Jefferson County Schools will be closed tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day. Jefferson County Schools joins in expressing our thanks and appreciation to the men and women who served and continue to serve in our military. Thank you.
![JCS logo flag](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3312423/large_JCS_Vote.png)
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C.W. Shipley Elementary School Principal Dr. Brooks Kursey and former Principal Dr. Dawn Tyler are in Washington, D.C. for the 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony today. The U.S. Department of Education selects National Blue Ribbon Schools based on overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. CWS was recognized as an Exemplary High-Performing School earlier this year.Congratulations to C.W. Shipley Elementary School! CWS Principal Dr. Brooks Kursey and former Principal Dr. Dawn Tyler are in Washington, D.C. for the 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony today. The U.S. Department of Education selects National Blue Ribbon Schools based on overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. CWS was recognized as an Exemplary High-Performing School earlier this year. Congratulations!
![Dr. Brooks Kursey and Dr. Dawn Tyler](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3278477/large_photo1667591660502.jpg.jpg)
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Please remember that all Jefferson County Schools and offices will be closed next Tuesday, November 8, for the General Election and next Friday, November 11, in honor of Veteran's Day. Thank you for modeling good citizenship for our students by exercising your right to vote and supporting all who have served our country.
![JCS Logo](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3260006/large_Logo_SMALL.png)
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π£ Shoutout to the Jefferson High School Boys' and Girls' Cross Country teams for their strong showing at the West Virginia State Championship! The boys finished fourth and the ladies fifth, with the first five female and six male finishers placing among the Top 50 racers in the state. Well done, Cougars! πββοΈ
![JHS Cougars](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3259128/large_6_fallback_square.png)
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Congratulations to JHS seniors Layla Parker and Eli Dillow on being named semifinalists in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program! Eli and Layla will continue to showcase their academic talents at the Finalist level to compete for a National Merit Scholarship Award. Visit https://bit.ly/3Dywevg to learn more about the program.
![National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3251076/large_National_Merit_Scholarship.png)
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Thank you to everyone who came out to scare up some community fun with our first PERC (Parent and Educator Resources) Sensory Trunk or Treat! π The children and their families had so much fun in the safe and inclusive environment provided by our student greeters, wonderful volunteers, and partner agencies. A special thank you to the Jefferson High School National Honor Society, Leadership Club, and mascot; Washington High School Key Club and mascot; Charles Town Middle School Builders Club and mascot; Shepherd University Ram; Charles Town Police Department; Citizens Fire Company; and West Virginia Air National Guard Chief Master Sgt. Billy Gillenwater. They interacted with the children and helped create a welcoming atmosphere while also distributing 100lbs. of candy! More about the event here π https://bit.ly/3sNPWhi π»
![Saxe Family](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3245144/large_Saxe_Family.jpg)
![Carter Family](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3245151/large_Carter_Family.jpg)
![Mascots](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3245158/large_Mascots_Page_1.jpg)
![JHS students](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3245187/large_JHS.jpg)
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October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a time to highlight the importance of safeguarding online activity from harmful cyber attacks. Each Friday this month, we'll share tips to help our students, staff, and families secure their sensitive data and stay safe online. Tip #4: Never leave your devices unattended, even for a short time. Always secure your laptop, tablet, phone, or flash drive so no one else can use it while you're away. And while you're at it, tidy up your desk to ensure no passwords, account details, or important files are sitting out openly exposed. You'll leave with peace of mind AND a clean workspace! We hope you've found these tips helpful. To learn more about Cybersecurity Awareness Month, visit www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity-awareness-month.
![Tip 4](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3077896/large_Cyber_Security_Tip__4.png)
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π Good luck to the Jefferson High School Boys' and Girls' Cross Country teams as they head out to the WV Cross Country State Championship for the third consecutive year! Both teams advance to states having won their conference championship and regional meets with near-perfect scores. Let's go, Cougars! πββοΈπͺ
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OLC students make popcorn balls and ghost lollipops for Ranson Community Gardens(behind Ranson Civic Center) Annual Fall Festival that is Sunday, October 30th from 1-3.
![spooky lollipop ghosts](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3209702/large_1666876540000.jpeg)
![yummy popcorn balls](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3209701/large_1666876540000.jpeg)
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HUGE congratulations to the Jefferson High School Boys' and Girls' Cross Country teams on their dual sweep of their conference championship and regional meets! Both teams won the Eastern Panhandle Athletic Conference (EPAC) Championship and the Class AAA - Region II meet at the individual and team levels. And not only did they win, they did so with near-perfect scores! πββοΈπββοΈπ₯πͺ Congrats also go out to new coach Brad Dugan, who was named EPAC Coach of the Year for both teams. Well done, Cougars - we're proud to have you represent JCS! π Read more here π https://bit.ly/3ePog8G.
![JHS Boys' and Girls' Cross Country Teams Sweep Conference Championship and Regionals](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3177787/large_JHS_Cross_Country.jpg)
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October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a time to highlight the importance of safeguarding online activity from harmful cyber attacks. Each Friday this month, we'll share tips to help our students, staff, and families secure their sensitive data and stay safe online. Tip #3: Disable Bluetooth when you're not using it. Devices can be hacked via Bluetooth, placing sensitive information at risk for theft. If you have no reason to have Bluetooth on, consider temporarily turning it off. Visit www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity-awareness-month to learn more about Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
![Tip 3](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3077848/large_Cyber_Security_Tip__3.png)
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"Orange" you glad for awesome people in the world? π Driswood Elementary students donned orange on Wednesday to celebrate Unity Day, the signature event of October's National Bullying Prevention Month. Students wore orange and held a parade to demonstrate their unity in displaying kindness, courage, and inclusion in their school and community. Way to go, Owls! π¦
![DES Aerial](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/live_feed_image/image/3154191/large_Aerial.jpg)
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National School Bus Safety Week is underway! Thank you to the bus drivers, mechanics, and all the behind the scenes administrators that get our students to and from school safely every day.