Happening This Week:
Embedded Files
Tuesday, October 21st:
Bus Driver Driver Appreciation
National Assessment Day
Pathway Information Night, 5:30-7:30 PM, Empower
Friday, October 24th:
Friday Night Lights Theme: PINK OUT
Beta Club School Supply Drive Drop-off at Football Field Entrance during Home Game
Athletic Events are posted in the Athletics section below.
Friday Night Lights
🎀 Pink Out Night! 🎀
Friday, Oct. 24 | JCHS vs. Loganville
Show your Panther Pride and wear PINK to support breast cancer awareness! Let’s fill the stands and cheer loud for our Panthers!
🎃 Join Us for the Jaxco Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat! 🎃
We’re inviting all Westside families to come out for an evening of food, games, and trunk-or-treat fun on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, from 5–7 PM at Jackson County High School. Admission is free for everyone!
🚗 Host a Trunk!
We’re encouraging local businesses, churches, and families to get involved by decorating the trunks of your vehicles and handing out candy or goodies to our Fall Festival guests. It’s a great way to show your creativity and help make this community event a hit!
Each trunk host should bring their own decorations, props, tables, and candy.
👉 Sign up your trunk HERE!
Come out for a spooktacular night of community fun — we can’t wait to see you there!
Advance Notice – Early Release on December 17th
We would like to provide families with advance notice regarding the final exam schedule in December.
Tuesday, December 16th will follow a regular school schedule, with students completing their third and fourth period exams.
Wednesday, December 17th will be an early release day as students take their first and second period exams in the morning.
On December 17th:
Car riders and students who drive may leave campus at 10:56 AM.
Lunch will be served for all students from 10:56–11:20 AM.
Bus riders will be dismissed at 11:25 AM.
The full first semester exam schedule is available HERE.
The second semester exam schedule will be shared at a later date.
We hope this early notice helps families plan ahead as we approach the end of the semester.
Athens Rock Lobsters - October Reading Minutes
Hey Students! Don’t forget to submit your October reading log minutes for the Claws Up for Reading Rock Lobsters Reading Challenge! Every minute counts—and all student entrants are automatically entered into our monthly prize drawing!
PLUS… students who reach the challenge goal of 1,000 minutes by January 1 will earn the grand prize: a FREE Rock Lobsters game ticket!
Log your minutes this week and let’s read and rock the rink!
📣 Upperclassmen Information Night
Current juniors and seniors—and their families—are invited to Jackson County High School on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, from 5:30–7:15 PM for an evening designed to help you plan, prepare, and take your next step after high school.
💡 Featured Sessions
Choose from sessions on college prep, dual enrollment, work-based learning, and more:
The Power of 5: Your College Prep Essentials
Planning for Life After High School: Enrolled, Employed, Enlisted
Countdown to Graduation: All Things Senior Year
Dual Enrollment: Get Ahead in College
Healthy Relationships 101 (presented by Peace Place)
Work-Based Learning: Learn, Earn & Prepare
Building Your Senior Year Schedule with Purpose
Visit information tables featuring Peace Place, Military Recruiters, Upward Bound (UGA), Project Aware, HSYP, Wellness Workshops, and Local Employers.
Pathway Information Night
National Assessment Day - Tuesday, October 21
The Jackson County School System will host our National Assessment Day for all students in grades 9–12 on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. This important day allows students to participate in nationally recognized assessments that support their academic and career readiness, while also providing meaningful learning opportunities for students who are not testing.
All students will need a fully charged Chromebook and pencils, and should review the testing schedule below. Teachers will share testing room numbers with students prior to the test day. Students taking the ACT or ASVAB will also need to bring a photo ID. Please note that calculators will not be provided, so be sure to bring your own if needed and review the schedule for additional details.
Below is an overview of the day’s schedule and logistics:
Click HERE to view schedule in new window.
IB Student of the Week
Kayla Boebel, Diploma Program Candidate ‘26
Defining IB learner profile trait: Inquirer 🔎
Favorite IB class: IB Spanish B
Favorite IB teacher: Ms. Hamrick 🧑🏫
Go-to study snack: Chocolate-covered pretzels 🥨
Favorite club/sport/activity: Mountainbiking & HOSA 🚵
Favorite song/artist/show right now: Hamilton ⭐
Dream career: Senator on the HELP committee 🏛️
Why IB? Joining IB has helped me critically evaluate information and see intersections between different subject areas.
WBL Students Thrive in Healthcare Apprenticeships
Northeast Georgia Health Systems (NGHS) continues to be an outstanding Work-Based Learning (WBL) partner for Jackson County Schools. This semester, seniors Harmony Her and Zora Craig are gaining valuable hands-on experience as healthcare apprentices in Gainesville.
Harmony is completing three CTAE Healthcare pathways—Allied Health, Biotechnology, and Pharmacy—while also taking dual enrollment courses at the University of North Georgia and working in the Pediatrics Department at NGHS.
Zora is also completing three Healthcare pathways—Allied Health, Biotechnology, and Phlebotomy—while balancing AP and IB coursework and working in the Lab Services Department.
Both students show impressive dedication by also holding part-time jobs at Cracker Barrel in addition to their academic and WBL responsibilities.
🚌 Happy School Bus Driver Appreciation Day!
This week we celebrate the amazing drivers who keep our Panthers moving safely every day. Thank you for your dedication, patience, and care — rain or shine, you always go the extra mile!
Title
What an incredible season for our volleyball team! Your hard work, teamwork, and determination carried you all the way to a Region Championship and the Sweet 16, and we couldn’t be more proud of you!
🔴45 PPG (#3 offense in AAAAA)
⚫11 PPG (#3 defense in AAAAA)
➡️ Friday night, our football team surpassed the single-season record for points scored in a season. IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE A PANTHER!
Seal of Biliteracy Testing
Are you fluent in a language other than English?
Students interested in taking the test to earn the Seal of Biliteracy should contact Mrs. Hoppe (nhoppe@jcss.us).
The test will be conducted during the third week of November. All payment is due through School Window by November 4.
More information about the Seal of Biliteracy and the languages offered is available here.
Updated Jaxco Boys Basketball Tryout Information
Panthers — please note the new tryout times for the 2025–2026 Jackson County Boys Basketball Team!
Dates: Monday & Tuesday, October 20–21
Location: Jaxco Main Gym
9th–12th graders: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Visit this link for additional details and to sign up for tryouts:
For questions, contact Coach Joel Lecoeuvre at joel.lecoeuvre@jcss.us.
JSLT Thrifting Extravaganza
Jackson County High School’s student leadership team is excited to host our first Thrifting Extravaganza on December 3–5. During the event, JCHS students will be able to “shop” for new or gently used clothing—completely free! We’re now collecting donations of clothing in all sizes (children through adult), so if you’re cleaning out your closets, we’d love to give your items a second life with our students.
Donations accepted at the JCHS front office through November 26.
Thank you so much for supporting our students and helping make this event a success!
Environmental Club
Beta Club School Supply Drive for Teachers!
The Jackson County High School Beta Club is hosting a School Supply Drive to support our amazing teachers! 🖍️✏️
📅 When: Friday, October 24th (during the home football game)
📍 Where: Supply drop-off stations will be located at the football field entrance.
We’re collecting the following much-needed items:
Tissues
Expo Markers
Markers
Colored Pencils
Sharpened Pencils
Paper Towels
Clorox Wipes
Highlighters
Sharpies
Hand Sanitizer
💛 Thank you for helping us stock classrooms and support our teachers!
It's Socktober! Get your crazy socks and support the Environmental Club!
Announcements from the Counseling Department
Click HERE to open the Counseling Department's announcements in a new window.
Bookmark the Jaxco Class of 2026 Senior Information Site!
Bookmark the Senior Website HERE. This site will have the latest information about senior celebrations and graduation.
Don’t miss out on scholarship opportunities!
Check the Counselor’s Corner announcements each week in the Panther Press and visit the JCHS Scholarship Database regularly for the most up-to-date scholarships and resources to support your plans after graduation.
📣 Mark your calendars now!
Camp Logistics — June 1–5, 2026 • 9:00 AM–4:30 PM • UNG Gainesville
Free, week-long camp for high school students in Jackson County. Learn from industry pros in the mornings, take field trips in the afternoons, and enjoy lunch provided daily.
Questions? Tracy Nichols — tracy.nichols@ung.edu | 706-867-2190. More info/registration: 2026 Camp Logistics
Mark Your Calendar!
The Jaxco Holiday Market is happening Saturday, November 29, 2025, from 10 AM–4 PM at 152 Jaxco Jct, Hoschton, GA.
Kick off the holiday season on Small Business Saturday by shopping unique gifts from local vendors and spending a festive day with family and friends. Admission is FREE—we can’t wait to see you there!
Vendor applications are available through the QR code on the flyer or by clicking HERE.
Certificate of Enrollment
Students: If you plan to obtain your learner’s permit or driver’s license within the next 30 days, please request your Certificate of School Enrollment and ADAP Certificate by visiting the JCHS website (Families & Students → JCHS Forms → Certificate of Enrollment for Driver’s License) or visit this link.
Once requested, certificates will be ready for pickup in the front office the NEXT DAY after 1:00 PM.
For questions, please email Mrs. Armendariz at larmendariz@jcss.us.
Buy Your Yearbook Today!
Don't miss your chance to own a piece of Jackson County history. Order your 2025-26 yearbook today at www.yearbookordercenter.com. Secure your copy at the lowest price of the year.
JCSS Foundation Nights with the Athens Rock Lobsters
Mark your calendars! The Athens Rock Lobsters are hosting 4 JCSS Foundation nights! A portion of every ticket sold will be donated back to the Foundation to support staff grants and student scholarships! Tickets are on sale now! Visit www.jcssfoundation.org/upcomingevents.
Celebrate Our Teachers’ IMPACT
At JCHS, teachers make a difference every day by inspiring, motivating, and supporting students in powerful ways. If a teacher has had an IMPACT on your year, lift them up by completing the IMPACT Teacher Form.
📲 Scan the QR code or click HERE
Let’s recognize the teachers who truly make a lasting impact at JCHS.
Jackson County School System Day with the Falcons
The Jackson County School System Foundation is excited to announce a new partnership with the Atlanta Falcons! The JCSS Foundation will be taking part in Jackson County School System Day with the Falcons when they host divisional rival Carolina on Nov. 16. Five dollars of every ticket sold will be awarded back to the JCSS Foundation! Purchase tickets online by visiting www.gofevo.com/event/jacksoncounty30.
Facebook: @jacksoncountyhighschool
Instagram: @jchspanthers
X: @panthers_jchs
JCHS PTO Facebook: @JAXCOPTO
Visit the Jackson County High School website for more information!
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