Week of October 5, 2025 Newsletter

At West Jackson Middle School, our mission is to empower students, educators, and our community for success. We bring this to life through our Three Panther Pathways: Achievement, Collaboration, and Engagement.

Each week, we’ll highlight how our students, teachers, and families are demonstrating these pathways—whether it’s through academic excellence, teamwork, or innovative learning experiences.

How Can You Get Involved?
We’d love to hear from YOU! If you see a great example of the Panther Pathways in action—whether it’s your student showing leadership, a teacher going above and beyond, or a community member supporting our school—share it with us! Email rhawk@jcss.us or tag us on social media using #PantherPathways to be featured in an upcoming newsletter.

Together, we make WJMS a place where every Panther thrives!

School Announcements

October 6th: WNB Spirit Night
October 9-13th: Fall Break
October 14th: Teacher Workday- No School for Students
October 14-18th: 8th Grade, Washington DC Trip

Upcoming Dates

Claws up everybody! Our school is partnering up with the Athens Rock Lobsters to offer a free ticket to an ice hockey game. All your student has to do is log their reading minutes for each month until January 1st. When they reach 1,000 minutes, they have earned a free ticket to a game! See the flier for more information and remind your student to check their Canvas announcements and Clever page for their Google form to log their reading!

What an awesome opportunity for our students of JCSS and their families! Take a look at how you can help build our community and get watch the Falcons!

Our 2025-2026 Yearbook is on sale! Scan the QR Code or go to the website to order your student's copy today!

School Updates

Please download the Box Tops App using our referral code TD9F6SH7 or by scanning this QR code and our school will get $5. Each time you shop, just scan your receipt in the box tops app and money will go back to our school.

Shop for you and help our school! Link your Kroger card to our school and each time you shop, our school will get a percentage back.

Get the apps! Stay up to date on our school's communication, your student's course work, and your student's course grades.

Click the links below to learn about logging in to the apps and further navigation.

If you need further assistance, contact Ms. Hawk at rhawk@jcss.us

Needing to drop your student off at school early? Enroll for our Before School Care which opens every instructional day at 6:30AM.

School Information

We are thrilled to announce all JCSS schools are adopting 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. Learn more by visiting www.jacksonschoolsga.org/raptorsafe.

WJMS Families, it is incredibly important that students are coming to school each day with their Chromebooks and that the Chromebook is fully charged. When students do not have their resources, it puts the student behind in daily assignments which have to be completed at a later time. Please help us by reminding your student to have their supplies and be best prepared for the day!

As a reminder, students should not bring in any outside food from restaurants. This will help with concerns about food safety, potential disruptions in the classroom, managing food allergies among students, and maintaining the cleanliness of the school environment.

🔗Click here for the current lunch menus for your school.

Thank you for your help!

Families, please remember that 1st period instruction begins promptly at 8:45 AM each day. To ensure students are in class and ready to learn on time, they need to be in the building no later than 8:40 AM. This allows them time to get to their classrooms and prepare for the day ahead.

Thank you for your help in supporting a smooth start to the school day!

Your best school supply is a library card! JCSS has partnered with the Piedmont Regional Library System, and conveniently, your student ID number acts as a library card for your public library! The public library provides free access to books and online resources to help you succeed, as well as fun resources that help develop a lifelong love of reading.

To view the 2025-26 calendar, click here.

Get involved at WJMS!

Check out our 2 NEW Spiritwear designs here:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/spirit-wear-11

Birthday Shout Outs

Give your student a birthday shoutout on our digital signage. Click here to order your shoutout!

Boost your business and sponsor our school!

We are looking for dedicated families and businesses to sponsor our school. This is a great chance for you to give back to the community of students that becoming great leaders! Email wjmspantherspto@gmail.com for more information.

Snapshots From Around WJMS

Congratulations to our Students, Support, and Teachers of the Month!

7 Mindsets of the Month

WJMS Athletics

Athletic Accomplishments for the 2024-2025 School Year

Football - PAC IX Champions

Comp Cheer - PAC IX Runner-up

Volleyball - PAC IX Champions, NEGA Runner-Up

Softball - PAC IX Runner-up

Boys Cross Country - PAC IX Champions

Girls Cross Country - PAC IX Runner-up

Boys and Girls Swimming - PAC IX Champions

Wrestling - PAC IX Champions

Boys Tennis - PAC IX Champions

Girls Tennis - PAC IX Runner-up

Boys and Girls Soccer - PAC IX Champions

Baseball - PAC IX Champions

Boys Golf - PAC IX Champions

Girls Golf - PAC IX Runner-up

WJMS Athletes in Action

***BOYS BASKETBALL TRYOUTS***

A Team, B Team, and 6th Grade Premier Team

Calling 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Boys! It's time for tryouts!

Monday, October 6th from 6:30PM - 8:15PM

Tuesday, October 7th from 6:30PM - 8:15PM

Students will NOT be allowed to stay after school and must take their normal after-school transportation. Please make transportation arrangements. Tryouts will be closed to the public.

Any student wanting to participate in tryouts must have an active physical on file with Coach McCutcheon in order to participate in tryouts. You can find the physical paperwork on our school website or picked up from Coach McCutcheon.

If you are selected for one of our teams, we will have a Mandatory parent meeting on Wednesday, October 8th, @ 6 pm.

If you have any questions, please email Coach Latty (glatty@jcss.us).

***GIRLS BASKETBALL TRYOUTS***

Calling 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Girls! It's time for tryouts!

Monday, October 6th from 4:00PM - 6:00PM

Tuesday, October 7th from 4:00PM - 6:00PM

Wednesday, October 8th from 4:00PM - 6:00PM

Tryouts will be closed to the public. Any student wanting to participate in tryouts must have an active physical on file with Coach McCutcheon in order to stay and participate in tryouts. You can find the physical paperwork on our school website or picked up from Coach McCutcheon.

If you have any questions, please email Coach Odom (keaten.odom@jcss.us). #onlythebestatwjms

Thank you to our WJMS Sponsors!