James Madison Intermediate School
Welcome Back to School Information - August 2023
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From Mrs. Abatemarco, Principal
Along with many students who will be walking our hallways for the first time, we also have several staff members who are new to JMI:
- Mrs. Laila Modzelewski - Self-Contained LLD Teacher
- Mrs. Michelle Rivenburg - Instructional Coach
Our theme for this year is Learning is an ADVENTURE that never ends. It is the combined efforts of our staff, students, and families that make JMI a nurturing and inviting place where our children feel safe to learn and grow. On behalf of the entire JMI staff, I look forward to partnering with you this year to support your child's educational journey.
See you in September!
Mrs. Abatemarco
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Parent Portal
Since we platoon at JMI, our 5th-grade students will have a homeroom teacher and then a platooning teacher. The partnerships in 5th grade are as follows:
- 5-1 and 5-2: Mrs. Bowler (5-1) will teach ELA to both sections; Ms. Misko (5-2) will teach Math, Science, and Social Studies to both sections.
- 5-3 and 5-4: Mr. Hackworth (5-3) will teach Math, Science, and Social Studies to both sections; Ms. Hunter (5-4) will teach ELA to both sections. (Ms. Hunter will be on leave until December.)
- 5-5 and 5-6: Mrs. Benson (5-5) will teach ELA to both sections; Ms. Purnell (5-6) will teach Math, Science, and Social Studies to both sections.
- 5-7 and 5-8: Mrs. Nuesa (5-8) will teach Math, Science, and Social Studies to both sections; Mrs. Landrove (5-9) will teach ELA to both sections. Mrs. D'Angelo will travel with 5-8 students to Mrs. Landrove's class for ELA.
Log In Information
https://parents.edison.k12.nj.us/genesis/parents?gohome=true
- If you are locked out or forgot your password, please click the "Forgot My Password" button.
- After 15 minutes, refresh the log-in page.
- An option to reset your password should be available for you to reset your password.
- If that does not work, please email genesis.help@edison.k12.nj.us.
- The school is not able to reset your password.
Once all the required forms are completed, you can view your child's homeroom teacher(s) for the 2023-2024 school year.
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Supply Lists 2023 - 2024
Please note that bookbags with wheels are not permitted. If your child needs a rolling bookbag, they must carry the bookbag through the hallways. Students cannot roll their bookbags through the hallway.
Mrs. Modzelewski's Supply List
Mrs. Agostinacchio's Supply List
Thank you in advance for purchasing the materials requested for the upcoming school year. If you need assistance with purchasing the materials, please contact Mrs. Abatemarco directly.
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New Student Orientation - August 31, 2023
Families who are new to JMI will receive more information regarding our New Student Orientation towards the end of the month.
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Arrival Procedures
Non-Bus Students
Time
Arrival Time for JMI Students - 8:30 - 9:00 AM.
- To ease the congestion of the complex, JMI students are allowed to come to school starting at 8:30 AM. Students should not arrive prior to 8:30 as there is no supervision.
- Students will enter through Door 1 and wait in the multi-purpose room until 8:45.
Options
Students not assigned to a school bus can arrive by walking or by car. Students arriving by car have two options:
- Park and Walk - Parents/Guardians can park the vehicle by staying to the left when entering the parking lot. Vehicles must be parked in a designated parking spot, and parents/guardians MUST walk your child through the lot, across the crosswalks, and onto JMI property. Students should never walk through the parking lot unattended.
- Drop Off - Students can be dropped off through our Drop Off lane. When entering the parking lot, stay to the left and continue alongside the fence on the right until you are in front of the school. Students MUST be able to exit the car by themselves (please remove child locks) and MUST exit out the passenger side. Please follow the directions of the JMI staff and pull all the way up and have your child exit the vehicle as directed.
- All teachers (except Mrs. Peters, Mrs. Modzelewski, and Mrs. Agostinacchio's classes) will meet their students on the blacktop behind JMI. Mrs. Peters, Mrs. Modzelewski, and Mrs. Agostinacchio will meet their students at Door 9.
- Teachers will have signs to help students find the correct line (see picture below).
- Students will enter the building with their teacher at 9:00.
- Parents/Guardians are not allowed to enter the building.
Inclement Weather - Inside Arrival for September 6,7 or 8
- All students will enter through Door 1 and go into the Multi-Purpose Room (MPR) adjacent to the lobby.
- 3rd and 4th Grade teachers will be in the MPR to meet their students and walk them down to their classrooms. 5th Grade students will report directly to their homeroom. Mrs. Peters, Mrs. Modzelewski, and Mrs. Agostinacchio will meet their students in the lobby.
- Parents/Guardians are not allowed in the building.
Starting Monday, September 12, and continuing for the rest of the school year, all students will enter the building upon their arrival starting at 8:30.
- 8:30 - 8:45 - All students will enter through Door #1
- 8:45 - 9:00 - Grade 3, Mrs. Peters, Mrs. Modzelewski and Mrs. Agostinacchio's classes and Bus Students enter through Door #1; Grade 4 and 5 non-bus students enter through Door #6 (on the blacktop)
As with every arrival, pets are not allowed on school property during arrival.
Bus Students
Students are only permitted to take a bus to and from school if they have been issued a bus pass. Bus Passes will be available on Parent Portal starting August 28.
- Bus passes are no longer mailed home. Bus passes must be printed from Parent Portal. The bus pass will include the name of the bus route and the bus stop.
- All students have a bus pass template in the Parent Portal account. A bus pass is valid if it lists a route and bus stop. If the bus pass does not contain a route or a stop, your child is not assigned to a bus and must either walk or get a ride to school. (See pictures below for examples of a blank bus pass and a valid bus pass.)
- If your child should have a bus pass and does not, please reach out to the Transportation Department through the Help Desk or by emailing transportation.bussing@edison.k12.nj.us.
- Students are expected to keep their bus pass in their bookbag at all times throughout the school year.
Students should be at the bus stop 45 minutes before the start of school. I ask for your patience with the buses during the first few days of school as there will most likely be delays. As the school year progresses, the time the bus arrives in the morning and afternoon should become more consistent.
Blank Bus Pass
Valid Bus Pass
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Dismissal Procedures
Bus students will be dismissed from their classroom and wait in the MPR until their bus arrives. Students will then walk to the bus, supervised by JMI staff.
Non-Bus Students - 3:30 PM
- JMI students should not walk home alone. Any parent/guardian who wants their child to walk home without an adult must email their child's homeroom teacher giving permission to let the child walk home without an adult.
- Students will be dismissed from Door 6 onto the blacktop.
- Parents/guardians should wait behind the white line to give our teachers and students space to exit the building.
- Teachers will lead the class out with a sign so parents/guardians will know when their child's class comes out. Teachers will walk students to a designated area. This will be the same area where the class will stand every day.
- Students cannot leave until they see a parent/guardian.
- Please discuss a meeting space on the JMI blacktop with your child so they know where to look for you. This helps ease their anxiety.
- Please tell your child they should NOT leave the JMI property even if you run late.
- Students will wait up against the side of the building with JMI staff until a parent/guardian arrives.
- At 3:45, students who have not been picked up will be brought to the office, and parents/guardians will be called.
- As always, pets are not allowed on school property during dismissal.
Siblings at JMP
Parents/Guardians with children at JMI and JMP are encouraged to pick up the child at JMP first and then come to the JMI blacktop to pick up the older child.
Parking Lot Safety
As we are all part of the school community, we must do our part to keep our children safe, especially in the parking lot.
- Students should never walk through the parking lot without an adult.
- Vehicles need to park in a designated spot. If the lot is full, you must park on an adjacent street, but please remember to respect our neighbors.
- Please practice patience with letting cars out of spots and merging. A security guard will be in the parking lot to help with traffic flow, but a safe parking lot environment requires everyone's help.
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Before/After Care Option Held at JMI
Other Before/After Care Options
These options will provide transportation to and from JMI before and after school:
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Breakfast, Lunch and Snacks
BREAKFAST - starting Wednesday, September 7
Breakfast will continue to be free for all students again for the 2023-2024 school year (as of 8/28/23). If students would like breakfast, they will need to order in advance with the homeroom teacher. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to review the Breakfast menu with their child to help the child determine which days they are ordering breakfast.
LUNCH - starting Tuesday, September 6
Times
Grade 3 and 4 - 12:23 - 1:08
Grade 5, Mrs. Peters, Mrs. Modzelewski and Mrs. Agostinacchio's classes - 1:10 - 1:55
Location
Students will eat in the multi-purpose room.
Lunch Options
Students can bring lunch from home or purchase lunch through our food vendor, Maschio's.
Lunch from Home
Students should bring their lunch with them to school to avoid lunch being dropped off during the day. Glass containers, knives, soda, seltzer, coffee (in any form) and hot beverages either are not allowed.
Buying Lunch from Maschio's
- Lunch will cost $3.50.
- Students will order lunch the week before during homeroom.
- Parents/Guardians are encouraged to review the Lunch menu with their child to help the child determine which days they are ordering lunch to help ensure accurate food counts.
- The Maschio's menu includes a hot and cold option for lunch daily. There is a hot vegetarian option everyday and most days there is also a hot non-vegetarian option.
Payment
- Option 1 - Families can add and replenish funds through My Schools Bucks. There is a convenience fee when adding money to the account.
- Option 2 - Students can bring money into school in a sealed, labeled envelope. Students need to give the money to their homeroom teacher during homeroom. Students should not give money in during lunch as it slows down the service.
Food Safety
- As in the past, students are not allowed to share food or buy snacks for other students.
- Glass containers, knives, canned beverages (soda, seltzer), and hot beverages are not allowed.
- If your child will be ordering through Maschio's and has specific dietary restrictions beyond being vegetarian, like celiac or dairy allergies, you MUST complete the food packet below. Again, this is only if you plan to have your child receive their lunch/breakfast through Maschio's. If you do not plan on your child eating a school breakfast or lunch you do not need to complete the form. Our school nurse, Mrs. Tejani, or Maschio's Dietician, Ms. Caccio (jcaccio@maschiofood.com), can assist you with the forms and the process.
SNACKS
All students will have time built into their morning for a working snack. The snacks must be sent in from home and should be healthy and quick so students can continue working. Snack is optional - students do not need to have a snack if they do not want to. Each homeroom teacher will determine the snack time based on their academic schedule.
Snacks are also available for purchase during lunch. Snacks vary from chips, Fruit Roll-Ups, Rice Krispy Treats, and novelty ice creams. Students can purchase snacks two days a week, depending on where they sit in the cafeteria. Your child can tell you which days they can buy snacks. Snacks are not sold on Fridays or 1:30 dismissal days.
WATER BOTTLES
Students must bring their own water bottles from home or purchase one through Maschio's. All our school water fountains are filtered and have refilling stations that students can use throughout the day, which also helps reduce waste. The school does not provide water bottles or cups.
Lunch Line Practice
To help our lunch line move faster, please have your child memorize their Student ID# and practice entering it on a replica of the Maschio's keypad below.
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Parent Help Desk
Our Parent Helpdesk and Support Solution has the following modules to support your needs (click on the department name to access the respective helpdesk):
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Back to School Night
Back to School Night will be on Thursday, September 14 starting at 6:00 PM for parents/guardians only. Back to School Night is completely in-person this year. All presentations will be made available on our school website after September 15 for anyone who cannot attend Back to School Night that evening.
Back to School Night will have two sessions. During the first session, the teachers will also present the welcome back message from Mrs. Abatemarco and Mr. Mirfield. Teachers will present the same presentation during both sessions.
Session I - 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Session II – 6:35 PM - 6:55 PM
Parents/Guardians can choose which session they would like to attend. As you can see from the options below, you do not have to attend both sessions - you can attend at 6:00 and then leave or you can come just for the 6:35 session. Here are some options for how you can enjoy our Back to School Night:
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Birthday Celebrations
Birthdays are very important to the students, and should be celebrated! They are just as important as the academic instruction that our children receive on a daily basis. While we recognize the importance of the celebration, we will no longer permit food or goodie bags of any kind (containing food or non-food items)for birthday celebrations. This includes sending things into school to send home with the students. The following are “non-food” birthday options:
read a book to the class (either by a parent/guardian, grandparent, or child)
donate a book to the classroom library
These options will allow for your child to celebrate his/her birthday while having a limited interruption to the classroom instruction.
Invitations to birthday parties cannot be distributed during the school day or on school grounds unless the entire class is invited.
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James Madison Intermediate School
Email: donna.abatemarco@edison.k12.nj.us
Website: https://jmi.edison.k12.nj.us/
Location: 838 New Dover Road, Edison, NJ, USA
Phone: 732-452-2960
Twitter: @JMI_Edison