Upcoming Events:
November 11th: Veterans Day Ceremony, 8:00 am, Gym
November 18th: Fifth Grade CHAMPS Graduation, 8:30 am, Gym
November 19th: All Pro Dad, 7:00 am, Gym
What a wonderful week at South Jackson! We loved welcoming so many families into our classrooms for our October Family Learning Events. It was exciting to celebrate the progress our students are making, share our goals for continued growth, and see families learning and practicing alongside their children. Your partnership makes such a meaningful difference in student success, and we are grateful for the time and energy you invest in supporting learning at home.
We hope many of our families will be able to join us again next week for our Thanksgiving Feasts! These special opportunities to come together remind us just how fortunate we are to have such a supportive school community. We are truly thankful for our South Jackson families and the important role you play in helping every Eagle SOAR!
Skip the Car Rider Line Raffle!
Want to skip the afternoon car rider line? We are excited to announce our “Skip the Car Rider Line” Raffle! Enter for a chance to enjoy VIP treatment! No more waiting in the long car line! There will be a new drawing every 9 weeks giving us the opportunity for more VIP’s! The next winner will be picked when we return from Winter Break.
How to Enter:
Purchase your raffle ticket(s) online at schoolwindow.com.
Prefer to pay in person? Cash payments are accepted in the front office.
If you don’t win, your ticket will remain in the raffle for the next 9 weeks drawing!
$5 for 1 ticket, $20 for 5 tickets or $50 for the length of your car in tickets!
Where to Park:
There will be two designated “VIP” parking spots in our front parking lot. If you are selected, you will be able to park in your spot for the 9 weeks that you are the raffle winner.
You can skip the line and pull in your designated, painted spot. Once the afternoon bell rings, a staff member will escort your student or students to your vehicle.
Good luck, and thank you for supporting our teachers and staff!
The Jackson County School System will be hosting a Thanksgiving Food Drive to assist with families in need this holiday season. JCSS will be accepting donations of the following items on Thursday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside the Empower College and Career Center Gymnasium.
We invite you to join your child for our annual Thanksgiving Holiday Meal Feast at SJES!
Pre-K, First, Second, and Fifth Grades will celebrate on November 3.
Kindergarten, Third, Fourth, and Multiage will celebrate on November 6.
Please click this form for more information and to RSVP by October 26. Visitor meals are $8, and we encourage families to prepay through SchoolWindow. For quicker check-in, please preregister through the Raptor app. All guests must be listed as a contact in Infinite Campus, and each student may have up to two guests.
We look forward to sharing a special Thanksgiving meal with our SJES families!
Veterans, please join us on November 11th at 8:00 a.m. for a special Veterans Day Program and Breakfast as we honor and celebrate the veterans in our South Jackson Elementary family!
Click here to RSVP! You may use this form to submit photos and information about your veteran(s) for our slideshow. You may also email veteran photos and information to angie.embry@jcss.us. Photos/information are due by November 3rd. If you have already submitted photos and information, there is no need to submit them again.
We look forward to honoring those who have served our country!
It’s time for Chapter Eight of our One School, One Book adventure! This week, families are invited to read Chapter Eight of The Chocolate Touch together! John begins to have real trouble with the Chocolate Touch when he tries to play his musical instrument at school!
We’ve included some fun conversation starters and family activities you may choose to enjoy together. There’s no pressure, just have fun!
Enjoy the reading, the conversations, the laughter, and most of all, the time spent together as a family with a good book. We are so excited to continue this sweet adventure with our students, families, and staff!
Fun reading. Fun family time. Learning is Sweet at SJ!
Lil' Dawgs & Families,
We're reaching out to invite you back to Athens for our upcoming UGA Lil’ Dawgs Baseball Camps, where campers can learn from and work alongside Georgia Baseball coaches and players.
It’s a great opportunity for young players to develop their skills, compete, and experience what it’s like to be a Dawg for the day!
Upcoming Camp Dates: October 12th, November 23rd, and December 21st
Camp Details:
Camp runs from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Ages 5 - 12 years old
Foley Field – Athens, GA
Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m.
Snack time will be provided, and campers can stay after camp for autographs from Georgia Baseball players!
Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!
Register Here: https://www.playnsports.com/organization/wesjohnson/
We would love to have you back at Foley Field!
Go Dawgs!
Georgia Baseball
Show your South Jackson Elementary pride! Visit the SJES School Spirit Store to shop for school gear and show off your Eagle spirit. Whether you’re looking for a shirt, sweatshirt, or other SJES favorites, there’s something for everyone. Shop the Spirit Store and let’s show our Eagle pride all year long! https://jacksoncountyga.schoolwindow.com/estore/sjes.html
Eagle Treat Friday
We’re excited to share that supplemental snacks and ice cream will be available for purchase every Friday! We let our students sample a variety of Friday treats at the start of the school year, and their feedback was clear: they liked them all!
Our regular school meals will continue to focus on providing nutritious choices throughout the week, while Fridays offer students an opportunity to enjoy a little something extra!
For the easiest way to provide money for supplemental purchases, we encourage families to use LINQ Connect. If sending cash, please place it in a clearly labeled envelope or Ziploc bag with your student’s first and last name and homeroom teacher. Exact change is appreciated. Any extra funds will be added directly to the student’s meal account.
We’re looking forward to making Fridays a little sweeter!
In partnership with Southside Church, South Jackson Elementary is proud to offer the Backpack Kids Program! This free, confidential program provides a bag of non-perishable groceries every Friday to ensure our students have nutritious food over the weekend. All families are welcome to participate - no questions asked.
Sign up your child(ren) here: https://forms.gle/W6JFgnbXiegFeuFe9
Bags begin going home the week of September 1st, and you can sign up anytime throughout the school year. If you have any questions, please call us at (706) 543-8798.
Is your child missing a jacket, water bottle, or lunchbox? Our Lost and Found is full of items waiting to be claimed!
Please encourage your student to stop by and check the Lost and Found for any of their belongings. We have many lonely items waiting for their owners!
To help us return lost items to you quickly, please write your child's first and last name on their jackets, water bottles, and lunchboxes. Labeling items makes it easy to reunite them with your child.
Remember, any unclaimed items will be donated on October 2nd.
All Pro Dad continues to be a valued part of South Jackson Elementary, allowing SJ dads, grandfathers, uncles, and other important guys to come together, connect, and support one another. Led by Mr. Nick Waters, this group provides a welcoming space for fathers to encourage one another and focus on loving and leading their families well. When we come together, we grow stronger together—building stronger families, stronger connections, and a stronger SJ community.
Just a friendly reminder for our Eagle families—there’s no need to line up early for car rider pickup. Our line moves quickly and efficiently, taking only about 20 minutes from start to finish. Car rider dismissal begins at 2:40 and ends at 2:55. Arriving too early can block the school entrance, so we appreciate your help in keeping the process safe and smooth for all.
Safety is our top priority during arrival and dismissal. Help everyone stay on time and out of harm's way by following our trusty Eagle timeline and car rider protocols. Staff will be on hand at the front of the school every day from 7:00-7:35 and 2:35-2:55 to ensure student safety.
South Jackson Named a 2025-26 National Beta School of Merit
South Jackson Elementary has been named one of just 10 schools in the Jackson County School System to earn the distinction of being a 2025-26 National Beta School of Merit.
The National Beta School of Merit award recognizes a school's dedication and commitment to academic excellence. To receive this prestigious honor, a school must include members from all eligible grade levels in its Beta Club. This year, 6,103 schools nationwide were recognized as 2025-26 National Beta Schools of Merit.
The National Beta Club serves students in grades 4-12 and is built on four pillars of success: achievement, character, leadership, and service.
Congratulations to our South Jackson Beta members and sponsors for this outstanding accomplishment. We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition!
WHO CAN GET FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE MEALS?
All children in households receiving benefits from SNAP or TANF are eligible for free meals.
Foster children who are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.
Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals.
Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.
Children may receive free or reduced-price meals if their household’s income is within the limits of the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines.
Children receiving Medicaid may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
Parents may apply for free and reduced meals at ANY POINT throughout the school year.
To apply for free and reduced meals, parents can log into Linq Connect. Paper applications will also be sent out on the first day of school.
Please note, there are multiple Jackson County School Systems throughout the nation. Please ensure you select the Jackson County School System located in Jefferson, Ga.
South Jackson Elementary is seeking Partners in Education for 2026–2027!
Do you know, visit, or own a business that wants to make a difference in our school community? We’d love for that business to join us as a Partner in Education!
Partnership packages include recognition opportunities such as:
✔️ Logo on our LED road sign
✔️ Logo in the yearbook
✔️ Logo in the Eagle Express parent newsletter
✔️ Table at Open House
Check out the flyer for details about available partnership packages. If you’re interested, please reach out. We’d love to connect!
Infinite Campus & ParentSquare
Before using ParentSquare, all families must first set up an Infinite Campus Parent Portal account. Click HERE to learn more.
Your Infinite Campus Parent Portal is required to connect your information to ParentSquare, where you'll receive important school announcements and be able to message your child's teachers.
After your Infinite Campus Parent Portal has been activated, please allow 24 hours for your information to sync with the ParentSquare app before messaging features become available.
If you need assistance setting up your Infinite Campus Parent Portal or ParentSquare, please email Mrs. Embry at angie.embry@jcss.us.
If you are unable to access ParentSquare at any time, please contact your child's teacher by email.
Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, the Jackson County School System will begin utilizing Where’s The Bus, which provides families and students with precise information on when your bus will arrive at your stop, providing up-to-the-minute arrival time and bus location.
All JCSS schools use the Raptor Safe mobile application as part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing school safety, while streamlining visitor management check-in at our schools. The Raptor Safe app builds upon existing visitor procedures, offering a more convenient and secure check-in process for visitors.
What is the Raptor Safe App?
The Raptor Safe app offers a convenient and secure way for visitors to manage and verify their identity before arriving at a school. With the Raptor Passport feature, visitors can pre-verify their identity, allowing for a seamless sign-in process when they arrive on campus.
How Does It Work?
When visiting a school, visitors can use their secure QR code generated by the app to expedite the check-in process. QR codes automatically regenerate every 5 minutes to ensure security and prevent misuse.
Getting Started
Click Here to access the Raptor Safe Set Up Guide
Did you know we have our own Little Free Library? Located in the back parking lot near the trail entrance, this tiny library is filled with books waiting to be discovered. Feel free to stop by to take a book or leave a children's book for others to borrow; let's keep SJ Eagles reading!
Thank you to our Partners in Education! Your support means so much to our school community.
Join us as a Partner in Education; it's a win-win for our schools, our students, and your business!