N EW FAM I LY I N F O R MAT I O N
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MISSION STATEMENT “We instill a passion for academic, artistic, and athletic excellence while
Welcome to USJ I am so happy to welcome your family to the University School of Jackson. You are about to begin a journey with us, and your learning experiences will create memories that will last a lifetime. USJ is an extraordinary community where our teachers, staff, and families are making excellence happen every day. Our school is a special place, and we are so excited that you have chosen to join us. I know that starting a new school can be a little overwhelming, so we have put together a packet with some
committing to personal integrity, mutual respect, and lifelong learning.”
IDENTITY STATEMENT USJ is a non-denominational, nonsectarian, college preparatory school dedicated to academic excellence and to our founding principles of faith, service, and scholarship.
information to help with this transition and inform you of
Based on a heritage grounded in
the different parent groups which you can join. We hope
Judeo-Christian values, we provide
that you will take advantage of some of these opportunities
an educational environment where
and become involved in the life of the school.
students of all ethnic, cultural, and
Thank you for entrusting your children to USJ. If you ever have any questions, please know that you can always reach out to me. I’m looking forward to working with your family throughout your time with us.
religious backgrounds are valued and respected. The faculty, administration, and students are empowered to nurture and embrace the JudeoChristian values and our operating principles. Through the fulfillment of
Laura Moore, Director of Admissions 731.660.1692 lmoore@usjbruins.org
our mission and adherence to these core principles and values, we prepare our graduates to be responsible and informed world citizens.
Key Contacts
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
At USJ, we encourage open communication between our families, faculty, staff and administration. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Chairman: John Whybrew Vice Chairman:
Head of School Don Roe, Head of School droe@usjbruins.org
Geoffrey Lindley Secretary: Ashby Scott
Becky Baskin, Assistant to the Head of School 731.668.0447, bbaskin@usjbruins.org
Lower School Cynthia R. Kirsch, Lower School Director ckirsch@usjbruins.org Holly Stroup, Lower School Assistant Director & Early Education Coordinator hstroup@usjbruins.org Lisa Cates, Lower School Secretary 731.668.8401, lcates@usjbruins.org
Treasurer: Matt Fite
Caroline Campbell Jennifer Craig Brian Dougan Matt Fite Anita Hamilton Darrell King Preston Miller Trey Teague Kathryn Tucker
Middle School Margaret Livingston, Middle School Director mlivingston@usjbruins.org
John Whybrew Sara Jane Via
Hayley Wilkerson, Middle School Secretary 731.660.2110, hwilkerson@usjbruins.org
Social Media Upper School David Suber, Upper School Director dsuber@usjbruins.org Kim Rainey, Upper School Secretary 731.660.1447, krainey@usjbruins.org
Laquita Robinson, After School Program Director, lrobinson@usjbruins.org Erin Wagner, Accounts Receivable Coordinator, ewagner@usjbruins.org
Stay up to date on the day to day happenings on campus. facebook.com/usjbruins twitter.com/usjbruins instagram.com/usjbruins
Beginning of School Tuesday, August 9
Parent Orientation (Jr. Cubs - 5th) Lower School - More information to Come
Wednesday, August 10
Lower School Come and Go Day (Jr. Cubs - 5th) This is an opportunity to see your classroom and meet the teacher. Uniforms are not required.
Wednesday, August 10
Middle/Upper School Student Orientation- Uniforms Required Thursday, August 11
First Full Day of School This is the first full day of school for students in grades 1 - 5. The hours are 7:50 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. for grades 1-3 and 7:50 a.m. – 2:40 p.m. for students in grades 4 & 5. This is the first full day of school for Middle and Upper School students. The hours are 8:00 a.m. – 3:05 p.m. *More Carpool Information to Come
Thursday, August 11
Staggered Start for Jr. Cubs - Kindergarten We will have a staggered schedule on Thursday, August 11 and Friday, August 12. August 11 Girls only 7:50 a.m. – 2:20 p.m. August 12 Boys only 7:50 a.m. – 2:20 p.m. August 15 first full day for all students Jr. Cubs - K. Information and questions will be shared and answered by your teacher on the new school year. • Teachers will email welcome letters to their students on Friday, August 6.
2022 - 2023 Calendar Highlights August 2022 8/3 – New Teacher Orientation 8/4 – Admin Day – Teacher Breakfast 8/5 – Admin Day 8/8 – Admin Day 8/9 – Admin Day/ LS Parent Orientation 8/10 – LS/MS/US Student Orientation Day 8/11 – 1st Full Day of School 8/16 – MS/US Parent Orientation
January 2023 1/3 – Admin Day 1/4 – Students Return 1/16 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day 1/17 – Late Start
September 2022 9/5 – Labor Day 9/15 – Parent/Teacher Conferences – 3:30-6:30 pm 9/16 – Parent/Teacher Conferences – 8:00-3:00 pm 9/19 – Late Start 9/30 – Homecoming
March 2023 3/10 – Q3 Ends 3/13-17 – Spring Break 3/20 – Late Start
October 2022 10/3–10/7 – Fall Break 10/10 – Late Start 10/14 – Q1 Ends
May 2023 5/13 – Graduation 5/22-25 – Exams 5/25 - Last Day of School 5/26 – Admin Day
November 2022 11/23-25 – Thanksgiving Break December 2022 12/13-16 – MS/US Exams 12/16 – Q2 Ends 12/19/22-1/2 – Christmas/New Year’s Break
A full calendar of events is listed on our website at usjbruins.org
February 2023 2/17-20 – Winter Break 2/21 – Late Start
April 2023 4/7-10 – Easter Break 4/11 – Late Start
Cafeteria Account
Lunch Times: 10:50am-11:10am • Toddlers, Jr Cubs, Cubs, Jr. K
Welcome to the USJ cafeteria! You will have a cafeteria account once your information has been added in the school system. Once the account is added, you will receive an email link to set up your lunch account. Your family ID and password will then be given to you.
11:05am-11:35am • Kindergarten 11:30am-12:00pm • 1st Grade 11:50am-12:20pm • 2nd Grade 12:15pm-12:45pm • 3rd Grade 12:45pm-1:15pm • Grades 4-5
To add money to your lunch account,
11:50am-12:20pm • Grades 6-8
login to usj.revtrak.net
12:45pm-1:15pm • Grades 9-12
If you are new to USJ, you must click on Create New Account and fill in the word form accordingly. You will add your email address and password. This will not be the Family ID and password that is provided by the school. After you create your own login for Revtrak, you will then use your family ID and password from Total K-12 to link the two systems. Then follow the steps to preload money to your account. (You must have an account to add money. We do not accept cash or checks.) Total K12 and Revtrak will notify you daily when the account is below a $15.00 positive balance. Note that if you have more than one child, the system will notify you $15.00 per every child you have at USJ. Example, if you have two children, K12 will notify you starting at $30.00 available balance, three children, $45.00, etc. If you would like to inquire about what your child is purchasing, you can login to usj.totalk12.com. This website will give you payment information, food purchases, and will let you set limits on your child’s account or deny items.
If you have any questions, contact Erin Wagner at ewagner@usjbruins.org
Our lunch menus are updated weekly and can be found on our usjbruins.myschoolapp.com portal.
Technology Requirements All students in grades 4-12 are required to have a laptop. The minimum specifications for all laptops used by USJ students on campus are as follows:
Apple Minimum Specs OS 10.2 Sierra through 10.5 Catalina 4 GB RAM 128 GB HD Anti-virus/Spyware Required
Windows 7 or Windows 10 Minimum Specs 6GB RAM 128 GB HD Anti virus/Spyware Required
Apple iPad (6th generation and up, 4th and 5th ONLY) Must have a keyboard attachment
Devices that do not Meet Device Requirements Smart Phones
Carpool Carpool is the system we use to safely and efficiently get your child into the building in the morning and into your car in the afternoon. Please do not park your car in the carpool area and leave it unattended. School administrators have devised a carpool plan so that the process goes as smoothly as possible. - Parents can help the carpool process by following arrival and dismissal times. - Never park your car where it blocks traffic. - S tudents can help the process by getting to their carpool pick-up spot as soon as possible after dismissal.
Upper and Middle School Carpool Middle School carpool flows on the east side of the McClellan Road campus to the cafeteria doors, Entrance 1. Please form one line on the outside, leaving the middle lane open so cars can exit when the child arrives. As you wait, pull your car up as far as possible, your child will walk to your car. Do not stop where your child stands if there is space to pull forward. When students are safely in the vehicle, parents may pull to the outside lane to exit. - Middle and Upper School students are not to be dropped off or picked up in the front of the Upper/ Middle School building during carpool hours. (7:15 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. and 3:05 p.m. - 3:25 p.m.) - The front parking lot will be one-way traffic from 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. and from 2:50 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. daily. Traffic will flow from east to west, entering from the Middle School drive and exiting through the Upper School drive. - Parents and guests will not be allowed to park in the Upper School parking lot waiting to pick students up after school. Students can only be picked up from the carpool line. - All buses will pick students up on the Upper School side of the building. Buses will enter the last turn into the parking lot and proceed to the curb area for pick-up.
Lower School Carpool Lower School students are assigned carpool numbers and a specific drop off/pick up door, which is staffed by school personnel. Every Lower School child will have a carpool number and a color-coded mirror tag. Carpool numbers are available in your child’s classroom as students return to school. Every Lower School family must complete the Lower School carpool form. The driveway behind the Lower School is closed to traffic except during carpool times. (There is no through traffic.) - To help the flow of carpool, parents should not arrive before carpool starts. - If parking your car, park only in parking lots and not on the road or in front of the school where you could block traffic. - I nfants and Toddlers parents are asked to park in the parking lot on the Early Childhood Gym side of the Lower School building or the front parking lot and walk their students into and out of the school building. - During afternoon carpool, please have your carpool tag visible. - All Jr. Cubs through 5th Grade students will be dropped off and picked up in carpool.
“My School App” Information The “My School App” is in the top right corner of our USJ website home page at www.usjbruins.org. This tab is designed for our current families to help with any important information during the school year. The tab links to the usjbruins.myschoolapp.com portal, where you can find the following information:
Back to School Information Calendar and Calendar Highlights Calendar of Weeks and Bell Schedule Carpool Directions Event Broadcasts Family Directory Grades/Report Cards Inclement Weather Information Infant and Toddler Schedule Lunch Menus MOBILE Middle School Test and Homework Schedule Parent Involvement Information CLICK HERE Spirit Store Summer, After School, and Winter Programs Transportation Options Uniform Information USJ Arts Guild Bruin Box Office
DESKTOP
CLICK HERE
Grade Level Representatives President : Tracy Rasbach Treasurer : Neila Scott Assistant Treasurer: Julie Martin Recording Secretary: Rachel Morris Corresponding secretary : Nancy Piercey Chaplain: Molly Richardson Teacher Liaison : Hannah East Caring Liaison : Betsy Little and Summer Ferguson New Family Coordinator: Andrea Driggers Hospitality : Katie Seabrook, Brittany Harris, RiCha Buchner Holiday Mart : Carmen Simeon, Kelly Barnes, Megan Moore, Magen Kisner Auction Coordinator : Anna English Events Coordinator: Emily Gamble
Jr Cubs/Cubs : Abby Norville Jr K : Brooke Hinson K : Natalie Butts 1st : Tonya Smith 2nd : Carrie Brown Campbell 3rd : Brittney Tucker 4th : Damini Patel 5th : Pam Stanfield 6th : Jessica Bosco 7th: Ashley Studebaker 8th : Amber Smith 9th : Brooke Pugh 10th : Tracy Rasbach 11th : Melissa Hutchinson 12th : Tracey Sullivan
Ways To Get Involved at USJ USJ parents play a key role in the success of USJ. From volunteering to work at concession stands and Holiday Mart to serving on the Board of Trustees, parents are always involved in school activities.
Board of Trustees
Arts Guild
school needs, the Parents Club
Members of the Board of
The Arts Guild supports the Fine
supports the teachers through
Trustees meet each month.
Arts at all grade levels. The Guild
projects and a network of
provides support for numerous
room mothers.
Bruins Club
plays, musicals, and art festivals,
The Bruins Club supports the
as well as providing summer
Moms in Prayer International
total athletic program at USJ by
scholarship opportunities
The Moms In Prayer
providing funds for many extras
for deserving students and
International group is two or
that our athletes need. Besides
continuing education for faculty.
more moms who meet for one
revenue from its annual Super
The Guild also buys additional
hour each week to pray for
Booster membership drive, the
music and art equipment
our children, our schools, our
Bruins Club earns a significant
and supplies.
teachers, and our administrators. Mothers, grandmothers, or
portion of its income from operation of concession stands
Parents Club
anyone who is willing to pray for
at USJ home athletic events. In
The USJ Parents Club, which
a specific child and school are
recent years, projects funded
supports the school in many
invited. Moms in Prayer at USJ
by the Bruins Club included
ways, has one major fund-
meet every Wednesday from 8
irrigation systems for athletic
raiser each year: the Holiday
a.m. - 9 a.m.
fields and a new spring
Mart, which is always held the
sports concession stand
weekend before Thanksgiving.
with restrooms.
Besides raising money for many
Advancing Our Culture of Giving at USJ During your time at USJ, you will have many opportunities to support the school and the surrounding community. While each opportunity for support serves different needs, they all enhance your student’s experience. Your time and talents are great assets to the USJ family – thank you! There are many channels to direct a monetary gift as well. FUND FOR EXCELLENCE (FFE) The Fund for Excellence (FFE) supplements the annual budget and covers expenses that tuition doesn’t. In reality, tuition dollars cover 91% of the cost required to educate our students. A gift of any size to the FFE is critical in funding multiple areas of instruction and can be designated to the area of most interest, i.e. libraries, the arts, athletics, the Jones Academic Center and more. The FFE is an ongoing part of every school year. CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS A Capital Campaign funds building and renovation projects that enhance the campus, learning and extracurricular activities, as well as programmatic additions in support of the school’s strategic priorities, that are not covered by tuition. We are currently in the middle of the Imagine More Campaign. Campaigns of this nature are not ongoing and typically last from 3-5 years. ENDOWMENT FUNDS Invested funds in an Endowment provide a steady, predictable flow of income to support USJ over time. Named endowment funds, like the Donald Newman Endowed Chair of Mathematics, provide support for specific elements of the USJ experience. The principal dollars invested in any endowment provide long term stability and growth, while the institution can utilize a set percentage of interest accrued on an annual basis.
PLANNED GIVING Planned gifts made through bequests, life insurance policies, and charitable trusts provide for the ongoing sustainability of USJ. Naming USJ as the beneficiary to any planned gift provides financial security and opportunities to plan for future endeavors. SUPPORT GROUPS USJ offers families the options of supporting three unique support groups: 1) A rts Guild – designed to enhance experiences on the stage, in the studio, in the choir/chorus, and band. 2) Bruins Club – the Bruins Club provides different avenues to support the multiple sports that take place on our campus. From Super Booster Passes to concession stand proceeds and the Annual Bruins Booster Golf Classic, our athletes and coaches are provided with the tools they need to succeed. 3) Parents Club – Since our school’s founding, the USJ Holiday Mart, presented by the Parent’s Club, has been an annual holiday tradition in Jackson. The Parents Club supports our teachers, faculty, and staff throughout the school year, ensuring they have the best resources at their fingertips. If you would like to make a gift of support to USJ, please contact a member of our development team or go online to usjbruins.org/give.
Russ Ellis,
Elizabeth Atkins,
Chief Development Officer
Assistant Development Director
731.668.8401. rellis@usjbruins.org
731.300.3687, eatkins@usjbruins.org
USJ Uniform Resale Wednesday, July 27 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Location: Lower School Cafeteria NOTE: This is a CASH ONLY sale
USJ Spirit Store can be access on the usjbruins.org website and via social media links.
USJBRUINS.ORG