School phone number: (540)828-6081
John Wayland Elementary School
Corrections made to calendar!
When we sent this out yesterday we had the wrong dates for upcoming events. We had inadvertantly labeled them as August dates instead of September dates. Those mistakes have been corrected. You can find them updated at the end of this Jaguar Jiggy Journal.
Mr. Granger
Principal Message
This week’s Jaguar Jiggy Journal is full of important updates for our school community! Inside, you’ll find key information about the ways we work every day to keep our students safe, a great way to support John Wayland financially simply by eating pizza through the JWES Dominos “Spirit Night,” and details about our upcoming Schoolwide National Anthem singalong. Finally, we’re including two simple reminders. The first is about labeling your child’s jackets with their name to prevent them from getting lost, and the second is about the different color days for the kindergarten. This is a packed Journal!
One small note: Moving forward the Jaguar Jiggy will now be sent out on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month. If something urgent or exciting comes up, we’ll send a special update to keep you in the loop. Thank you for staying connected and for all the ways you support our students and school!
Keeping Safety First at JWE
At John Wayland Elementary, providing a safe and secure environment for every child is one of our highest priorities. We believe this responsibility is best shared among the school, families, and our community. Details matter. Whether it’s maintaining safe equipment, encouraging safe behaviors, or following intentional procedures. Together, these efforts form the foundation of a proactive and caring environment for all.
In the next few weeks we’ll be practicing our lock down drills and fire drills periodically. We encourage you to ask your students about the drills! Our main message to kids during drills is to remain quiet and calm, and to always listen to the adults. Practice makes perfect! As always, if you have any questions about any safety issues or would like to speak further you are always welcome to give us a call to set-up a time to chat.
Here are a few “Did You Knows” about safety at JWE this school year:
Safety Committee – JWE has a Safety Committee that meets to discuss, analyze, and implement safety practices to support our students and staff.
Playground Mulch Upgrade – We purchased finer mulch for all playgrounds to provide extra cushion at the bottom of slides and in high-activity areas.
New Cameras – Additional cameras have been installed both inside and outside the school to help ensure student safety at all times.
Monthly Drills – In addition to monthly fire drills, JWE completes all other state required emergency drills to stay prepared.
Teacher Preparedness – Teachers carry whistles and practice a variety of ways to quickly alert others in case of potential harm.
🐾Domino’s Spirit Night
Our first JWES Domino's “Spirit Night” of the 2025/2026 school year is Monday, September 8th. Please use Coupon Code DN6 when ordering online, or mention John Wayland if ordering in person/over the phone. Enjoy a night off from cooking while also supporting John Wayland!
National Anthem Singalong
On Friday, September 12, right after school begins for the day (around 8:30) we will commemorate the writing of the poem "The Star Spangled Banner" by Francis Scott Key in 1814. All students and faculty, and any guests who would like to join us, will gather at the flagpole to sing together our National Anthem. All students, staff and guests are encouraged to wear red, white, and blue. Grades 3-5 are encouraged to have the lyrics memorized. It is sure to be an exciting event!
Please Label your Children’s Jackets
As the weather cools down, please take a moment to label your child’s jackets or other clothing with their name. This helps us return lost items quickly and keeps our lost-and-found from overflowing. Thank you!
Kindergarten Color Days Reminder
As mentioned previously, our kindergarteners are having special lessons this week and next that have to do with different colors. We have a theme color for each day, and it's not too late to join in!
On the days below feel free to have your students dress in the color of the day!
Friday (tomorrow), September 5th: Green
Monday, September 8th: Blue
Tuesday, September 9th: Purple
Wednesday, September 10th: Pink/White
Thursday, September 11th: All the Colors Day! (Pick a favorite color and wear it all day long, or wear as many colors as you can find!).
Friday, September 12th: Red/White/Blue (same day as the National Anthem Singalong)
It is so cool when all of the kindergarteners see these colors all over the school on each day!
Upcoming events
Monday, September 8: Domino’s Pizza Night
Friday, September 12: National Anthem Sing-Along
Thursday, September 18: School Pictures
Friday, September 19: JWES Tailgate before the TAHS Homecoming Game (more info to follow)
Stay Connected
We are working hard to make sure this year is a great one for your child. I’m energized by the opportunity to partner with you to support your child’s growth—academically, socially, and emotionally.
For updates, reminders, and celebrations throughout the year, be sure to follow John Wayland Elementary School on Facebook. Also, Rockingham County Public Schools has an incredible new app called the RCPSApp that allows you to stay connected to the latest news and information about our school and the division.