Dear PJHS Families,

During the Winter months the 7th/8th grade students have been very busy participating in music concerts, the school musical, athletics, spelling bee, geography bee, running club, chess club, mock trial, youth to youth, student council and many other activities. It is great to see how many of our students are involved in so many activities both inside and outside of school.

It is already time to begin planning for the next year as your child continues to progress to their next grade level for the 2018-19 school year. Over the next couple of months there will be many events scheduled to help prepare our 8th grade students transitioning to the high school and getting the 7th grade students’ class schedule prepared for next year. I encourage you to attend as many of these events as possible so that you are informed of the many academic options available.

March 6 will be a big day for students going into the 8th grade for the 2018-2019 school year. We would like to invite our students and their parents/guardians to an 8th grade Registration Night that will begin promptly at 6:30 pm and end at 7:00 pm. This will include information about the 2018-2019 school year and changes that will go into effect.

Following this meeting, students who will be 7th graders during the 2018-2019 school year, and their parents/guardians, are invited to Perrysburg Junior High in preparation for their transition to the junior high. This meeting begins at 7:30 pm and will provide information on the schedule and other important facts in preparation for next school year. These meetings will take place in the junior high auditorium.

Thank you for the continued support of your child, our teachers and school.

Respectfully,

Don Christie Principal

dchristie@perrysburgschools.net

BUZZThe

at PJHS

LeTTer from THe PrinciPaL

™

AdministrAtion

Don Christie,Principal

Scott Buker,Assistant Principal

Dwight Fertig,Assistant Principal

Perrysburg Junior HigH scHool

550 E. South BoundaryPerrysburg OH 43551

419-874-9193

issUE 13FEBrUArY 2018

coUnSeLorS’ cornerThe Second Semester is flying by rather quickly and there are many activities/meetings scheduled for the 8th grade students that are important to have on the calendar.

Wednesday, February 7, 6:30 pm - High School Curriculum Fair. This event showcases the academic offerings at the high school and also the different clubs/activities available.

Tuesday, February 20-22, 8th grade Registration Meetings. Counselors from the high school will come to the junior high to meet with the students during the school day to create their schedule for their 9th grade year.

Friday April 6 - Frosh Fest. All 8th graders will be bussed to the high school during the school day to learn what a day at the high school will look like for them and also learn about the many clubs, sports and activities that are available.

April 10, 12, 24, 26, May 1, 3 - Air Assessments - ELA, Math, and Science assessments will be administered each day between 8:00 am and 11:00 am.

Wednesday, May 23, 6:00 pm - 8th grade Recognition / Graduation Ceremony. This ceremony is held in the high school gym and followed by a dance in the high school Commons.

Our 8th grade class has had an outstanding first semester and we look forward to the same for the second semester.

nUrSe noTeSWith the cold and flu season upon us, we wanted to send out a reminder that when students need medication, they must get the paperwork from the physician as well as paperwork completed by parent/guardians. The medication must be in the original prescription packaging labeled from pharmacy and given to the nurse in the clinic. Students may not carry or possess medications for a number of reasons. The medication forms may be downloaded from our web site. Please call Sandy Meredith, School Nurse at 419-874-9193 ext. 4011 if you have any questions.

School Clinic Guidelines for Healthy School BuildingsIn following school policy 5310 Health Services, our goal is to protect the school community from the spread of communicable diseases. A student should not attend school if they have an illness that prevents his/her from participating comfortably in school activities and/or could be spread to others.

In order to assist your child's complete recovery from his/her current illness and prevent the spread of illness in the classroom, please review the following guidelines for attending school:

• Must be fever free for 24 hours without taking Tylenol, Ibuprofen or Aspirin-type medications

• If vomiting and/or diarrhea – must be 24 hours since last episode and when a normal diet is resumed at home

• After chickenpox – when spots are dry and crusty and no new spots are occurring (usually 6 days after onset of rash)

• After bacterial infections (i.e. strep throat, impetigo or pinkeye) 24 hours after starting the antibiotics prescribed by a doctor

• Your doctor certifies that your child is able to return and attend school

Failure to follow these guidelines will mean your child will be sent home until recovery is complete.

Please note: All students who are feeling ill need to be seen in the clinic before a parent/guardian is contacted for pickup or dismissal. If your child texts you for pickup due to illness, please have him/her go to the school clinic. The nurse or school personnel will call you if the student needs to go home.

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Be aware of THe dangerS of SociaL media for middLe ScHooLerSThe average middle schooler spends nine hours a day connected to social media. So it is no wonder that their online “friends” have such an outsized influence on what they think.

However, not everyone your child interacts with online is a real friend. In fact, kids can lose connections with the people they see every day because they spend so much time online. (And who has 639 friends in real life anyway?)

But this is not the only danger of social media for middle school students. Their brains are just not wired to use it responsibly. Their frontal cortex, which is what helps adults manage distractions and plan ahead, is not well-developed yet. This means that middle schoolers lack the maturity to use social media appropriately.

In addition, children can easily become addicted to social media, which can lead to future addictive behaviors.

To protect your child:

• Delay. If he/she isn’t on social media, wait. The longer you delay, the better.

• Set limits. Don’t allow devices at mealtime. Keep devices out of your child’s bedroom overnight.

• Talk about what is appropriate to post and what’s not.

• Stay connected. Follow him/her social media accounts and be sure he/she knows you will look at them.

• Create a family account. This lets your middle schooler stay in touch with friends, but in a safer space.

• Schedule family time. Middle school is a time when your child needs you more than ever. So plan time to do things together—with the devices turned off!

Reprinted with permission from the February 2018 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2018 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc. Source: V.L. Dunckley, “Why Social Media Is Not Smart for Middle School Kids,” Psychology Today, niswc.com/mid_social.

3The Buzz At PJHSFebruary 2018 • Issue 13Perrysburg Junior High School550 E. South BoundaryPerrysburg OH 43551

Drugs change brains. So once people become addicted to drugs, it will always be harder to stop using them.

Brain researchers know the best way to prevent drug abuse is to keep people from ever using drugs. The middle school years are a time when prevention messages are most important in preventing drug abuse.

Times of transition make people more likely to turn to drugs. Adults who face job loss or divorce may use drugs to feel better. For adolescents, the challenge of changing schools can also make drugs seem appealing. Middle schoolers face new classmates, new classes and a new building. No wonder they feel challenged.

At the same time, middle schoolers want to try new things. Drugs and alcohol may seem appealing because they are new. Since middle schoolers’ judgment and decision-making skills are still developing, they may not see the risks associated with this behavior.

middLe ScHooL yearS are key for PrevenTing SUBSTance aBUSe

What can you do as a parent/guardian?

• Ask your child what he/she has learned in school about substance abuse. Reinforce those messages at home.

• Send clear messages. Let your child know he/she should avoid all drugs, including alcohol and cigarettes. Also talk about the problem of misusing prescription drugs.

• Set clear rules and enforce them. Praise appropriate behavior. Parents/guardians who are consistent find they don’t have to be punitive.

• Build a strong relationship with your child. Do things together as a family. Enjoy spending time on shared activities.

• Be a good role model. Your example is the most powerful teacher.

Reprinted with permission from the February 2018 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2018 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc. Source: “Preventing Drug Abuse: The Best Strategy,” National Institute on Drug Abuse, niswc.com/mid_braindrug.

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PJHS SeTS recordSThe Perrysburg Junior High School Band not only set a record for the number of students ever selected from the PJHS Band for the Ohio Music Education Association Honor Band this year, but also for the number of students ever selected from a single school in Northwest Ohio! Twenty-eight students from the PJHS Band make up over 25% of the 110-member ensemble.

Our students prepared difficult audition music on their own time and recorded it during the school day. Recordings from all 35 middle schools in OMEA District I were separated by instrument and sent off to the OMEA adjudicators for evaluation. The process is completely blind, meaning that the adjudicator only sees “Flute 1,” “Flute 2,” etc., and cannot make choices based on history or the student's school.

All of the selected students will give a performance at the Stranahan Theater in Toledo on Sunday, February 18 at 2:30 p.m. Their director will be Dr. Courtney Snyder, Associate Director of Bands at The University of Michigan.

The students accepted from PJHS include:

cHeck maTe!!!CHESS CLUB starts back up February 20th, on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school from 3:00-3:45. However, on Tuesdays we will be in room 209 and on Thursdays we will be in room 212 (due to mock trial). 7th and 8th graders are welcome both days! Stop by Mr. Knurek's room (212) for more details. All levels of players are welcome! Come learn the game of chess and compete against your peers!

if… yoU can dodge a BaLLAre you ready to have some fun with your friends? Do you want to form your own dodgeball team?

YES - READ ON and ACT FAST!

Our Jr. High H.I.P.P. (High Impact Peer Program) will be sponsoring a Dodgeball Tournament on Friday, March 2nd beginning at 4. Teams will consist of 8 players and must have at least 1 male and 1 female. Sign up sheets will be available outside Miss Derr's room (230), Mrs. Treece's room (208) and Mr. Ferguson's room (103).

ALL REGISTRATION FORMS MUST BE TURNED IN BY 3:00 ON MONDAY, FEB. 12th in order for T-shirts to be ordered and ready for tournament day.

The winning team will receive championship T-shirts.

We will also have pizza and water available for purchase in the cafeteria during the tournament.

All proceeds raised from this tournament will help us maintain H.I.P.P. opportunities at PJHS.

If you have any questions, please contact Jackie Derr at jderr@perrysburgschools.net.

Caroline Hannah, 1st chair flutist, recording an audition

Caroline Hannah, 1st chairKristin Eli, 2nd chairNora Cheng, 4th chairAralyn Wise, 9th chairFarah El Nemr, 12th chairKara Lintner, 13th chairJacob Zilles, 1st chairKayleigh Brickner, 1st chairRyan Ulrich, 3rd chairHana El Nemr, 1st chairChelsea Ward, 3rd chairWill Swartzbeck, 4th chairOwen Laib, 5th chairAndrew Chung, 6th chair

Aubry Clinard, 7th chairJazmine McKinney, 13th chairNikhil Methi, 15th chairAbbey Hudak, 9th chairAndrew Mack, 12th chairYsabella Aromas, 7th chairNick Barry, 8th chairJohni Weidner, 11th chairRyan Matthews, 12th chairRyan Oesterle, 5th chairBeau Craig, 2nd chairMatthew Rutherford, 4th chairEthan Gruden, 4th chairCaleb Neidt, 5th chair

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TeacH yoUr middLe ScHooLer To make deciSionS in five STePSDecision-making can be a tough process for middle schoolers. However, there are few skills more important in school and in life than learning to make wise decisions.

Teach your child to follow these steps:

1. Get the facts. Let’s say he/she has been asked to look after a neighbor’s dog for the weekend. He/she should find out exactly what he/she will need to do. How often will he/she need to feed and walk the dog? At what times?

2. Anticipate conflicts. Your child has to study this weekend. He/she’s also been invited to watch a friend’s soccer tournament. Can he/she do both and still care for the dog? If the dog needs to be let out several times during the day and the soccer tournament lasts all day, your child will have to choose between the two.

3. Consider the consequences of each choice. If he/she skips the tournament, will his/her friend be upset? If he/she turns down the job, will the neighbor ask another person to care for the dog in the future?

4. Come up with alternatives. Perhaps your child can explain to his/her friend that he/she is trying to get steady work caring for the dog. Could he/she come watch his/her friend play in a soccer game next weekend instead?

5. Accept that decisions may have downsides. If your child decides to miss the tournament and care for the dog, he/she is giving up time with a friend. But he/she is gaining a chance to look after the dog when his/her neighbor travels. Sometimes good decisions require a small sacrifice to achieve a long-term benefit.

Reprinted with permission from the February 2018 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2018 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.

2018 STaTe air TeSTing daTeS aT PJHSTuesday April 10 English Language Arts ELA 7th & 8th grades

Thursday April 12 English Language Arts ELA 7th & 8th grades

Tuesday April 24 Math 7th & 8th grades

Thursday April 26 Math 7th & 8th grades

Tuesday May 1 Science 8th grade Only

Thursday May 3 Science 8th grade Only

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aTHLeTic avenUeThe winter athletic season at PJHS is beginning to conclude with all of the athletic teams experiencing much success!

The Jacket Wrestling team finished as NLL Runner’s Up in their league championship tournament. The Jackets were led by NLL Champions Ryan Avalos, Nick Hartzell and Allenson Denkins. Griffin Roberts, Nick You, Max Heltzel, Jackson Hawker and Farhan Anz were all league runners up.

The boys basketball teams enter their tournaments after having a fantastic regular season. The 7th grade team currently is 13-2 overall and the 8th grade team is 14-1 overall. The 7th grade team will host the 7th Grade NLL Tournament at PJHS during the first week of February. The 8th grade team will travel to Timberstone Junior High School to participate in their league tournament.

The girls basketball season just hit the midway point. The 7th grade team currently stands at 5-1 overall while the 8th grade team sits at 3-3. The teams will finish their regular season during the month of February and then participate in their league tournaments the first week of March.

Anyone interested in participating in PJHS Track and Field this spring, there will be an informational meeting on Wednesday, February 21. Beginning at 6:00 pm in the auditorium will be the PJHS Code of Conduct meeting for any athlete and family that has not already attended a previous session. Following the code of conduct meeting at 6:30 pm will be the informational meeting regarding track and field specifics with the coaching staff in the cafeteria.

If you cannot attend either event, please contact Scott Buker, PJHS Athletic Director at sbuker@perrysburgschools.net and either Sean Murray for girl athletes at smurray@perrysburgschools.net or Matt Ferguson for boy athletes at mferguson@perrysburgschools.net.

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reSPonSiBiLiTy incLUdeS SenSe of dUTy, SeLf-reLiance and PerSiSTenceOf course you want your child to become a responsible person. But does she know what that means? To help her understand what being responsible looks like, talk about the traits that most responsible people share. Suggest ways she can model those same traits.

For instance, responsible people usually demonstrate:

• A sense of duty. They do what they’re supposed to do—even if they don’t feel like it. For your child, that might mean getting ready for school on time, finishing her homework every night and doing her chores.

• Self-reliance. They value self-sufficiency, so they do as much as they can for themselves. True, your middle schooler is too young to be completely self-reliant. But she can take a big step toward becoming more responsible. Empower her to handle many of her own tasks, such as doing her own laundry.

• Persistence. They don’t give up, and they don’t abandon goals that seem out of reach. Your child can demonstrate persistence by hanging in there when the going gets tough. If she doesn’t earn a spot on the basketball team this year, for example, she can sharpen her skills in the off-season and try again next time.

Reprinted with permission from the January 2018 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2018 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc. Source: M.S. Josephson and others, Parenting to Build Character in Your Teen, Boys Town Press.

aBSence reminderSA main component for the success of students in school is consistent, regular attendance to school. Ohio Law (HB 410) recently changed how all schools across Ohio must track missed class time. No longer are absences tracked by number of days your child has missed. Lost time is now counted by how many hours your child is out of class, both excused and unexcused. One of the requirements of this law requires the District to send families an official written notice that your child has “excessive absences.” A letter is required to be sent when a student has been absent 38 hours or more in one school month or absent 65 hours or more in one school year with or without legitimate documented excuse.

Perrysburg Public scHools140 E. Indiana AvenuePerrysburg OH 43551

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