Child Safety Matters Parent Meeting:
We are excited to share that Jonathan Alder will once again partner with Madison County Prevention to teach the MBF Child Safety Matters® program in December and May for all K-4th grade students whose families have opted in. This research-based program from the Monique Burr Foundation helps children learn how to recognize and respond to unsafe situations such as bullying, cyberbullying, child abuse, and digital dangers — all in an age-appropriate and engaging way.
To help parents understand what their children will be learning, we invite you to join us for an optional parent meeting on Thursday, November 12th at 6pm in the Canaan Middle School library. During this session, we’ll give an overview of the program, share examples of classroom activities, and answer any questions you may have.
You can learn more about the program at www.mbf prevention education.org.
Kindergarten-Fifth Grade Report Card Update (elementary/CMS only)
Teachers and administrators worked together during the 2025–2026 school year to review our reporting practices and make adjustments to better communicate student learning and progress toward Ohio’s Learning Standards. This document provides an overview of these updates and answers frequently asked questions about standards-based grading and reporting in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade. Please reach out to Assistant Superintendent Carla Quick at quickca@japioneers.org with any questions.
Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) (all buildings)
At Jonathan Alder, our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is how we work together to ensure every student receives the support and challenge they need to grow and succeed. MTSS is for all students, not just students who may be struggling. It begins with strong instruction for every learner and provides additional support or enrichment based on each student's individual needs. Through MTSS, teachers and support staff regularly look at student learning, identify strengths and areas for growth, and work together to determine what each student needs next.
We recently completed our fall data collection window, which provides our staff with an important early look at student learning and progress. Across the district, teachers and teams are now reviewing multiple sources of data and having meaningful conversations about what students are showing us. These conversations help us celebrate strengths, identify students who may benefit from additional support, determine where greater challenge or enrichment may be needed, and adjust instruction to meet students where they are. This ongoing process of reviewing, responding, and monitoring helps us remain focused on meeting the needs of every student, every day.
Attendance Matters (all buildings)
Regular attendance is an important part of student success. In Ohio, a student is considered chronically absent when they miss 10% or more of the school year for any reason, including both excused and unexcused absences. This can add up quickly. Missing just two or three days each month can result in chronic absenteeism by the end of the year.
At Jonathan Alder, we want to partner with families early, before attendance becomes a barrier to learning. Families will receive an attendance letter when a student's absences reach approximately 5% of instructional time (approximately 45–50 hours) and again when they reach 10% (approximately 90-100 hours). These letters are intended to keep families informed and provide an opportunity for us to work together if additional support is needed.
When your child is absent, please communicate the reason for the absence to the school so that we can accurately document and code it. Even when an absence is excused, most time missed from school still contributes to chronic absenteeism. Whenever possible, we encourage families to schedule appointments, vacations, and travel during times when school is not in session. Our goal is always to work in partnership with families while maximizing each student's access to instruction, relationships, and support at school.
Please see our Every Day Counts flyer for more information.
