Ms. Anderson and Miss Cornell's Pre-K classes were all smiles using various musical instruments to make a marching band on our playground!
The JCHS Jazz Combo was out and about again in the community this week with Mrs. Bittles. They played at the Library Grand Reopening and the JCH Volunteer luncheon.
This Week in Jersey Activities
Grafton Elementary is proud of Judy "Elaine Lavey" Nurnberger, who achieved a lifelong dream of being an author! After 39 years, with support from friends and illustrator Danielle Seago, her book became a reality. NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS - MAKE THEM HAPPEN!
Grafton Elementary sends a massive thank you to the wonderful Mrs. Nurnberger for organizing such an exciting game and a fantastic year of challenges for our students! Your dedication to fostering both fun and teamwork is truly appreciated. You're the best! ❤️
JCMS Staff and Students of the month. Staff: Jae Brady, Jeff Wieneke, and Toni Goetten. Students: Jaxon LeMarr, Lexie Lee, Mable Pohlman, Logan Forbes, Kagen McClintock, and Raya Strang. Thanks for making JCMS a great place to be.
In celebration of National Student Leadership Week, our Senior National Honor Society students stepped up during Panther Time on Thursday to lead a campus clean-up and beautification project. Their efforts are a powerful reminder that leadership isn't just about grand gestures—it's also found in everyday actions that make a positive impact on our school and community.
Who's helping our youngest Panthers reach their full potential? 🌟 Our amazing Prevention Initiative Birth-to-Three Program Staff! HUGE shoutout to Cori Burkett, Michele Herkert, Tanya McGuire, Joanna Scott, Jill Zink, and Michelle Bidlack (not pictured) for their incredible work! 🎉 #BirthToThree #SupportFamilies #GoJerseyPanthers #WhereKidsComeFirst
JCMS 7th Grade Field Trip to the St. Louis Zoo!
What an unforgettable day our 7th graders had at the St. Louis Zoo on Thursday, April 24th! From watching playful sea lions and majestic elephants to exploring the beautiful zoo grounds with friends, it was a perfect mix of learning and fun. Huge thanks to our amazing staff and chaperones for making this adventure possible. Here’s to memories made, laughs shared, and curiosity sparked!
At East Elementary, we’ve been celebrating Autism Acceptance Month by learning about autism and embracing differences. Throughout the month, students participated in classroom activities and read-alouds focused on understanding and acceptance. Students also wrote how they can make a difference on handprints, which were assembled into an infinity symbol representing autism awareness.
We wrapped up the month with a special photo—our students spelling out the word AUTISM on the playground in their colorful shirts!
Thank you to our amazing students and families for supporting acceptance and making a difference!
ScoreZone 4/24/25
Grafton Elementary celebrated Earth Day by recycling books! Students swapped a book from home for a classmate's. Thanks, Mrs. Lumma, for the great idea! 🌍📚
Huge shout-out to our incredible students at Grafton who showed true grit and perseverance this month! 🎉 Their hard work and dedication are paying off, and we're so proud to celebrate their achievements. Congratulations to Waylon Legate, Rachel Blasdel, Nayomi Harris, Jaxon Cress, Colton Valstad, and Augustus White!
Today, 36 teams from all over our region came together to compete in the 5th & 6th Grade Jr. Olympiad, hosted by the Regional Office of Education. Jersey Community Middle School proudly sent four excellent teams to represent us! JCMS had two teams tie for 5th place and another one end up in 4th place. And our remaining teams were right behind them, with scores just a few points away. Students showcased their STEM skills in the following challenges: Building towers Designing wind-powered boats Protecting water balloons from bursting Solving tricky math puzzles Each team demonstrated incredible teamwork, creativity, and resilience—a true reflection of their hard work and dedication. Congratulations to all of our participants—you made JCMS proud!
ScoreZone 4/23/25
Congratulations to the JCHS Academic Challenge Team on finishing 15th in the STATE at last week’s competition at EIU! 🧠📚
🔥 Special shoutout to our Top 20 finishers:
🏅 Jaxon Brunaugh – 8th in Engineering Graphics
🏅 Dax Goetten – 12th in Physics
👏 And kudos to those who finished in the top half of their events:
Matthew Weitzel – 24th out of 90 in Chemistry
Dawson Petrea – 26th out of 62 in Physics
Dinah Slusser – 26th out of 88 in English
Corah Derrick – 33rd out of 88 in English
Reese Lorton – 38th out of 88 in English
Jaxon Brunaugh – 40th out of 124 in Math
Dax Goetten – 56th out of 124 in Math
Proud of you all! #JCHSAcademicChallenge #PantherPride #JCHS #OnTheProwl
Tuesday, our 5th graders had an incredible Science Day at JCMS! The students rotated through a variety of hands-on learning stations, each offering exciting opportunities to explore Earth Day themes and other fascinating science topics.
Highlights included interactive presentations from Pere Marquette, where students learned about local ecosystems and conservation efforts, and Bayer, which shared engaging science activities connected to agriculture and sustainability. The local Farm Bureau also offered an insightful session on farming and food production, helping students connect science to their everyday lives.
One of the most fun and creative stations was all about the science behind Shrinky Dinks—students loved watching their artwork transform through heat and learning about the chemistry behind it!
It was a fantastic day full of learning, curiosity, and fun, and we’re so grateful to JCMS staff and all the community partners who made it possible!
JCHS Cheer Tryouts: May 1st at JCHS in the secondary gym. Prep clinics: April 28–30, 3:30–5:00 PM. Wear a white/blue Panther tee, shorts & cheer shoes. Questions? Contact Coach Hansen at maddy.hansen@jersey100.org.
Congratulations to Anna Beauchamp, JCHS Fine Arts Student of the Month! Anna was Fiona, the lead, in the Musical "Shrek". She also performs in the band, including Jazz, and is an ILMEA District Choir Member. Keep up the great work, Anna!
Grafton Elementary thanks our PTO for bringing Mr. Scott Isringhausen (Dept. of Fisheries) to present on Illinois' native fish, owls, deer, and other animals. What a wonderful learning experience! 🦉🦌🐟
