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Page 12A The Braselton News Wednesday, October 24, 2007 School WJMS BAND PERFORMS The WJMS band and chorus performed a selection of patriotic songs at Thursday’s “Math & More” event. WJMS holds ‘math and more’ night BY KRISTI REED West Jackson Middle School held a “Math & More” night on October 18 to explain recent changes in the Georgia Performance Standards for mathematics. Rise Hawley, principal of West Jackson Middle School, said she hoped the event would be helpful for parents. “There are changes and we want the parents to understand how the changes affect their child’s transition into high school,” said Hawley. Kathy Miller, math support specialist at WJMS, said the curriculum changes have been implemented in phases state wide. Though changes were made to the Georgia middle school math curriculum last year, the high school changes will not be implemented until next year. “Parents need to be aware that the names of the math courses in high school are changing,” said Miller. “Students will be taught integrated math courses with algebra, geometry and sta tistics each year.” Miller said the changes in curriculum are designed to improve understanding of math and the ability to use math in real world situations. Created with input from state colleges and universi ties, the new math curriculum focuses on depth of student understanding. The courses will also provide teachers with more guidance regarding what the students should be able to accomplish at each phase of instruction. Parents and students attend ing the event also enjoyed per formances by the WJMS band and chorus. NEW INFO SYSTEM Parents attending the “Math & More” event also learned more about Jackson County’s new student information sys tem, Infinite Campus. Infinite Campus’ parent portal provides access to student grades and attendance records. Jason Grizzle, technology integration coordinator for West Jackson Middle School, said the parent portal also allows par ents to reprint progress reports and see lesson details. Grizzle said soon parents will be able to email teachers and access teacher web pages through the parent portal. Access codes for the par ent portal were sent home the week of September 4th. Forms to request replacements for lost access codes are available at the school’s front office. WJMS parents who are having difficulty logging in or access ing information should contact jgrizzle@jackson.kl2.ga.us. STUDENT ART EXHIBIT Students at West Jackson Primary School currently have art work on display at the Jackson County School Board office. Exhibits will be on display through December. The exhibit theme is “Under the Sea.” Students drew an under the sea composition and then added a patterned border. “Student comments and observations about their artwork are displayed with the painting which really add meaning to the artwork,” said Tamara Thomason, art educator. The following first grade students are participating in the exhibit: Mattie Davis, Jackson Harvin, Autumn Her, Jose Lemus, Peyton Mitchell, Ashley Moore, McKenna Sheffield (not pictured) and Reagan Solis. Gwinnett seeking input for curriculum review Gwinnett County Public Schools is seeking communi ty participation in the annu al review of the Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum now through Nov. 9. The annual review ensures that the school system’s curriculum covers state requirements, as well as community and educator expectations for learning. Community members can make suggestions on the AKS curriculum by filling out the AKS review form, available on the school system’s web site at www.gwinnett.kl2.ga.us. The form may be submitted by Friday, Nov. 9, to the school’s system’s curriculum develop ment office at: Instructional Support Center, 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, Suwanee, GA 30024-2978. Forms may also be e-mailed to AKS_Review@ gwinnett.kl2.ga.us. JCCHS class of ‘92 plans reunion for Nov. 3 The Jackson County Comprehensive High School class of 1992 well celebrate its 15 years since graduation with a reunion from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Commerce Civic Center. Tickets are $30 at the door and $25 in advance. There will be food, music and fun, coordinators say. All gradu ates and faculty are welcome. For additional information, contact Jennifer Gravenor White at j grav 10127 @ aol.com. WJPS fall festival set for Friday, October 26 West Jackson Primary School will hold its fall festival on Friday, Oct. 26, from 6-9 p.m. The event will feature fun for the whole family. The WJPS PTO is seeking volunteers. Donations of prizes, canned drinks, candy and bottled water for the event are also requested. Local school schedules for the 2007-2008 school year Businesses sought for middle, high school career fair in Nov. The following is a list of school schedules for the 2007- 2008 school year for the Barrow, Hall, Gwinnett and Jackson county school systems - which serve the Braselton-Hoschton area. BARROW COUNTY •Thursday, October 25: end of first grading period/early release day •Friday, Monday and Tuesday, October 26, 29 and 30: fall holiday. •Wednesday, October 31: teacher planning/in-service day •Thursday, November 1: beginning of the second grading period •Wednesday, November 21 through Friday, November 23: Thanksgiving Holidays •Friday December 21, through Tuesday, January 1: Christmas Holidays •Friday, January 18: end of second grading period •Monday, January 21: MLK Holiday •Tuesday, January 22: teacher planning day/in-service day •Wednesday, January 23: begin third grading period and second semester •Friday, February 15: teacher planning day/in-service day •Monday, February 18: President’s Day Holiday •Friday, March 28: end of third grading period and second semester •Monday, March 31: Spring Holiday •Tuesday, April 1, through Friday, April 4: Spring Holiday •Monday, April 7: begin fourth grading period •Monday, May 26: Memorial Day Holiday •Thursday, June 5: Apalachee High School graduation •Friday, June 6: Winder- Barrow High School graduation •Friday, June 6: last day of school •Monday, June 9, through Wednesday, June 11: teacher planning/in-service HALL COUNTY •Tuesday, November 20: early release day •Wednesday, November 21, through Friday, November 23: Thanksgiving Holidays •Friday, December 21: teacher planning/student holiday •Monday, December 24, through Monday, December 31: Winter Holidays •Tuesday, January 1, through Friday, January 4: Winter Holidays •Monday, January 7: teacher planning/student holiday •Friday, January 18: early release day •Monday, January 21: holiday (students and staff) •Monday, February 4: teacher planning/student holiday •Friday, February 15: early release day •Monday, February 18: holi day (students and staff) •Monday, March 24: holiday (students and staff) •Friday, April 4: early release day •Monday, April 7, through Friday, April 11: holiday (stu dents and staff) •Monday, May 26: holiday (students and staff) •Tuesday, May 27 and Wednesday, May 28: teacher planning/student holiday GWINNETT COUNTY •Wednesday, November 14 and Thursday, November 15: early release for elementary and middle schools •Wednesday, November 21, through Friday, November 23: Thanksgiving Break •Tuesday, December 18 and Wednesday, December 19: early release for high school exams •Thursday, December 20: early release for high school exams/ end of second nine weeks/end of first semester •Friday, December 21, through Tuesday, January 1: Winter Break •Wednesday, January 2: teach er planning/professional learn ing day (student holiday) •Thursday, January 3: begin ning of second semester/begin third nine weeks •Monday, January 21: MLK Jr. Day (system wide holiday) •Wednesday, February 13 and Thursday, February 14: early release for elementary and mid dle schools •Monday, February 18: stu dent and teacher holiday or snow make-up day •Monday March 10: teacher planning/professional learning day/snow make-up day (student holiday) •Friday, March 21: student and teacher holiday •Monday, April 7, through Friday, April 11: Spring Break •Monday, May 19 and Tuesday, May 20: early release for high school exams •Wednesday, May 21: early release for high school exams/ last day of school •Thursday, May 22: post-plan ning/professional learning day/ snow make-up day •Friday, May 23: post-plan ning/professional learning day •Monday, May 26: Memorial Day (system wide holiday) JACKSON COUNTY •Wednesday, November 21, through Friday, November 23: Thanksgiving Holidays •Thursday, December 20, through Wednesday, January 2: Christmas and New Years Holidays •Thursday, January 3 and Friday, January 4: teacher work days •Monday, January 21: student and teacher holiday •Wednesday, February 20, through Friday, February 22: student and teacher holiday •Monday, March 14: teacher workday •Monday, April 7, through Friday, April 11: student and teacher holidays •Monday, May 26: student and teacher holiday •Tuesday, May 27, through Thursday, May 29: teacher workdays Businesses are being sought to participate in an upcoming career fair for eighth and 10th graders in Jackson County’s middle and high schools and Jefferson Middle School. The event will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at Educators may submit announcements and photos for school-related activities to MainStreet Newspapers. Each photo should be clear and in focus, and include a description of the events happening in the photo. Photos of poor quality may not be published. Educators are asked to submit no more than two quality photos for each event. Photos should not be attached to a Microsoft Word document, but attached within an e-mail. When using a digital camera, please ensure the camera is set at a medium quality setting to produce the best quality photos. Photos taken at a low resolution may not publish well. the Jefferson Civic Center. Those who are interested in receiving an application may contact Deb Hanzel, Jackson County Comprehensive High School counselor, at (706) 367- 5003 ext. 255 or dhanzel@jackson.kl2.ga.us. The first and last names of those shown in the photo, including adults, must be submitted. Please ensure that all names are spelled correctly. Educators may also submit announcements, such as special events and learning activities. Honorrolls andperfectattendance lists may also be submitted according to the format preferred by MainStreet Newspapers. School news will be published according to available space. For more information, or to submit school news, call Amy McKown at 706-387-5400 e-mail her at amy@mainstreetnews.com. Fax announcements to 706-387- 5409. Submit your school or social news from Braselton, Hoschton, Chateau Elan, Mill Creek, South Hall or West Jackson by e-mailing news@ mainstreetnews.com, faxing items to 706-387- 5421 or calling 706-367-5986. Feature story ideas are also welcomed. Schools may submit news, photos