Paragould Junior High School

Today we are highlighting 4 new staff members: Heather Claude, Ryan Adams, Farah Virani, and Ashley Mangrum. Welcome to the Ram family! #RiseUpRams #psdrams

Health and safety will always remain a top priority for the Paragould School District. In April of 2022 the district discontinued the practice of contact tracing/quarantining of probable close contacts and reimplemented policy 4.34 as the district’s response to student illnesses. We continue to utilize policy 4.34 to guide our response to illnesses. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will be required to isolate at home for 5 days from the onset of symptoms or a positive test. The Arkansas Department of Health guidance states that the isolated individual may return to school on day 6 with a mask and must continue to wear the mask around others through the 10th day. If the Individual is unable to wear a mask, he/she will be required to continue to isolate for the full 10 days. If you have any questions regarding COVID-19 please contact Lynn Treece at 870-565-8686 or email ltreece@paragouldschools.net.

Today we are highlighting 4 new staff members: Grace Dial, Brandon Harper, Markus Pillow, and Chandel Knuckles. Welcome to the Ram family! #RiseUpRams #psdrams

If you would like to provide input on the PHS PE facility, please click the link below and complete the survey. https://forms.gle/j4JczRxVi9KJKoAm7

Parents/ Guardians of 8th grade students: If your child has Mrs. McPherson or Mrs. Weber for Math, please fill out the parent contact form inside their lesson plan folder by Friday, August 26th .

If there's tailgating; a water balloon fight; a student tunnel on the field for the athlete run through; snow cones; Gaga Ball; The Paragould Pride Marching Band; The Mob dance team; cheerleaders; and Ram Football, it must mean it's Friday Night Under the Lights at Ram Stadium!! This week is extra special because it's the BELL GAME. Check out this lineup of events happening this Friday. You won't want to miss out! Tailgating and Water Balloon Fight - Open to the public; Hosted by JROTC. STUDENT TUNNEL for the athlete's run through onto the field - For the first time ever, we are inviting all PSD students in grades K-12 to join us on the field for the athlete run through. Students should arrive no later than 6:35pm to be a part of this new tradition. Sno-Cones for StuCo - Support our Student Council by buying a frozen treat. Gaga Ball - You'll have to see it to believe it. Fun for kids of all ages! Throw on your red and blue, check out the fliers for more information, and join us at Ram Stadium this Friday night! #psdrams #RiseUpRams #RamUp

7th grade band students & parents are needed at 6p.m. Monday, August 22nd at the band complex for the beginning band rental meeting. Do not let money be an issue. There are plans for every household. No child will be turned away.

The Paragould School District Master Facility Plan includes a PE facility on the high school campus. As part of the planning process, the district has arranged for a public meeting to take place on Thursday, August 25 at 6:00pm in the high school auditorium. During the meeting we will discuss partnership funding and various options for future construction. Those in attendance will also be provided with the opportunity to provide district leadership with feedback. We hope to see you there!

PJHS Reminder of Open House this Thursday, August 11th. 7th Grade from 5-6pm 8th Grade from 6-7pm *8th Graders, at Open House when you get your schedule, look to see if you have Physical Science or Algebra 1. If so, please stay for the parent meeting in the library at 7 on Thursday for very important information.

Open Houses are scheduled! The attached has dates and times for each campus. If you cannot attend Open House, please call your child's school and update information (such as transportation, address, phone numbers, etc.). Paragould Primary 240-2201 Baldwin 240-2211 OGE 240-2221 WWE 240-2231 OGMS 240-2241 PJHS 240-2261 PHS 240-2271 Go Rams!

Open Houses are scheduled! The attached has dates and times for each campus. If you cannot attend Open House, please call your child's school and update important information (such as transportation, address, phone numbers, etc.). Paragould Primary 240-2201 Baldwin Elementary 240-2211 OGE 240-2221 WWE 240-2231 OGMS 240-2241 PJHS 240-2261 PHS 240-2271 Go Rams!

2022-23 ACT test dates and registration deadlines have been announced. Please see the attached for information. Contact the PHS counselor's office to register your student(s).

Attention PJHS Parents/Guardians and Students: Paragould Junior High Open House will be Thursday, August 11th. 7th Grade from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 8th Grade from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. If you have any questions feel free to call the PJHS office at 870-240-2261.

Parents/Guardians/Caretakers - School will be back in session before you know it! Here are some things you can do to start the year off right: 1) Download/Update our free app and turn on notifications - you'll be the first to know important information such as early release, school closings, PTO meetings, etc. 2) Back to School letters will be mailed soon - have you moved? If so, please call your child's school and give them your new address. 3) Make plans to attend Open House at your child's school. Information will be posted soon with those dates/times. 4) K-6 School Supply Lists are now available by clicking the following link https://www.paragould.k12.ar.us/documents/for-parents/2022-23-school-supply-lists/352715

The Greene County Juvenile Division is hosting its' first ever "SCHOOL BACKPACK BASH" and they would love for PSD students and families to join them. Check out the attached flyer for information!

The Paragould School District is proud to announce an exciting virtual learning opportunity for motivated students in grades 5-12. Students who meet the requirements to be accepted into the PSD Virtual Academy will receive a targeted education delivered by highly qualified teachers. Virtual students will also have access to state-of-the-art technology programs, extracurricular activities (athletics, band, ROTC, theatre, etc.), and the added flexibility of being a virtual learner. If you are interested in applying to the PSD Virtual Academy for the 2022-23 school year, please complete the following form: https://forms.gle/V8BEWy2ZEAGdpmt98 Applications will be accepted until August 1st. GO RAMS!

Paragould High School will be providing an opportunity for Driver’s Education this summer. There are 15 spots available. We will have one (1) class only. The dates for this class are July 18th- August 5th, 2022. The first 15 qualified students to register for the course will be enrolled. Class time will be from 8:00-10:00am Monday- Friday. Driving times will be assigned later. The program consists of 30 hours of classroom instruction, 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction (BTW) on public streets and highways, and 6 hours of in-the-car observation. Students must be at least 14 years of age and have completed the 8th grade prior to the beginning of classroom instruction. Students must obtain and have in their possession a valid learner’s permit when receiving the BTW instruction on public streets and highways. If you are interested in taking Driver's Education, please fill out the form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfK_mtqvK2YnXC7bDpe5EA0iE18z9F7j8DjixIPw3qt_pdqZA/viewform?usp=sf_link *Please be aware that for those who sign up and are able to take the course- there will be a $100.00 fee to take the class. This will be due in the first four days of the class. If the fee is not paid by then the student will be removed from the class.

Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) is a federal program designed to provide food support to families with children who were receiving free and reduced price school meals and missed school for COVID related absences. It can help families pay for food when students are absent from school due to a COVID-19 related isolation/quarantine. The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), in collaboration with the Department of Human Services (DHS), received approval to operate this program in response to the COVID-19 related school closures for school year 2021-22. The State’s plan provides P-EBT benefits to SNAP and non-SNAP households with children who temporarily lost access to free or reduced price school meals due to a COVID related isolation/quarantine. This plan will provide P-EBT benefits to students who: 1) qualify for free or reduced meal benefit and 2) were absent from school due to a COVID related isolation/quarantine. Students will qualify to receive P-EBT benefits if the answer is yes to both statement #1 and statement #2. The state has formalized a parent initiated option for meal application benefits. Access to the online application can be found on the district website or by clicking on the link below. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfp78rK9f0ptIfTJOd3n0z7uS4ZV01oOXjNGDLpEJ538uCijw/viewform?usp=pp_url Once the application is submitted, the school district will verify the absences, approve the application, and submit the student’s information to the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. DESE will work alongside DHS to process the benefit for each household. Benefits will be provided at a rate of $7.10 per day/days absent, due to a COVID related isolation/quarantine. Anticipated timeline: The deadline for a household to complete the application process and submit the application is July 29, 2022. The Paragould School District will consolidate collected student information and submit the information to the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) by August 12, 2022. Feel free to contact your child’s school for more information.

The NEA area substitute teacher training is scheduled for Wednesday, June 8 from 9-12 at the ESS South Central Office. This training is for anyone interested in becoming a substitute teacher for the 2022-2023 school year. For additional information, or to apply online, please visit ess.com.

Attention PJHS Parents and Students: All PJHS chromebooks, chargers, and library books should have been turned in. Anyone with computers, chargers, or library books that have not been returned by the last day of school will be CHARGED for those items. Make sure these get turned in. Thanks for your help.