School phone number: (540)828-6081

Dear Jaguar Families,

Mrs. Secord and I hope you are having a wonderful summer and finding time to relax, recharge, and make special memories with family and friends. It's hard to believe, but we're now less than a month away from welcoming our students back to John Wayland for another exciting school year!

This edition of the Jaguar Jiggy Journal is a mid summer check in to help everyone prepare for the start of school. Inside you'll meet many of the outstanding educators and staff members who have joined our Jaguar family this year in our Teacher Feature section. I know you'll be just as excited as we are to welcome them to our school community.

You'll also find reminders about school supply lists, Open House, and a few special events our PTO is hosting that will help us kick off the year together. We are also still looking to fill a few important positions at John Wayland. If you or someone you know is interested in joining an incredible team of educators who truly care about children, we would love to hear from them.

As always, thank you for the trust you place in us each day. It is a privilege to partner with you in your child's education. We cannot wait to welcome our Jaguars back to school and begin another year of learning, growth, and unforgettable memories together.

See you soon!

Doug Granger
Principal

August 17th- Elementary Back to School Night from 4-6pm (start time that day is 10am).

August 18th- Kindergarten Popcorn on the Playground from 2-4pm

August 20th- First day of school!

September 7th-Labor Day (no school)

Every year, we say goodbye to valued colleagues and friends who have helped make John Wayland such a special place. While those farewells are never easy, a new school year also brings the excitement of welcoming new faces to our Jaguar family. We are incredibly fortunate to have added such a talented group of educators and support staff to our team. Each of them has been carefully selected through a thorough hiring process, comes with outstanding references, and brings a unique set of skills, experiences, and talents that will benefit our students. We hope you'll take a few moments to get to know the newest members of our John Wayland family!

Aaron Carriker: English Language Teacher

Please join us in welcoming Aaron Carriker to her new role on our English Learner team! Aaron is already a familiar face to many John Wayland families, having served as one of our long term substitute teachers. Throughout her career, she has worn many hats, including teaching middle school band and supporting John Wayland as an instructional technology assistant for many years. Aaron brings a wealth of experience, flexibility, and enthusiasm to our school, and we are excited to have her continue serving our students in this new role.

I taught in RCPS at the beginning of my career.  Returned to the county 6 years ago to work in various roles at JWES. Am excited to get to serve in a teacher role again, in the school I now call home. I have two amazing teenage kids -one son and one daughter. And two very affectionate pups. I enjoy making art and crafts and participating in local markets and fairs. I am a doll collector and love board games and puzzles. I'm looking forward to a new school year full of learning, growth, and fun.

Rachel Lemn: 2nd Grade Teacher

While Rachel may be new to this role, she is certainly not new to our school.  She previously taught at John Wayland and has continued to support our students over the years as a substitute teacher, most recently serving as a long term first grade substitute.  Even more importantly, Rachel and her family are already an important part of our Jaguar community.  As the parent of Jaguar students, she knows firsthand what makes John Wayland such a special place.  We are thrilled to welcome Rachel back to the classroom and know she will be a wonderful addition to our second grade team!

I am thrilled to be back full-time in the classroom this year in second grade! I taught for 13 years in RCPS at Elkton Elementary and John Wayland Elementary School! All four of my children have attended JWES, and I am thankful to have my younger two children still in the school with me this year. JWES is a special place to work. I am excited for this opportunity and the learning and growth that will take place in my classroom this year!

Katee Lindsley: 5th Grade Teacher

Katee and her family are relocating from Indiana back to Bridgewater, and we were thrilled to welcome her to our team.  She brings valuable experience to our fifth grade team and will be a wonderful addition to our school.  Like many of our other new hires, Katee is also the parent of Jaguar students, which gives her a unique perspective as both an educator and a member of our school community.  We feel doubly blessed to have Katee and her family at John Wayland, and we know she will make a positive impact on our students this year.

I am very excited to join the John Wayland Elementary community this year as part of the 5th-grade team. I grew up in Shenandoah County, but I have 10 years of teaching experience right here in Rockingham County.

On a personal note, my husband, Brandon, and I stay very busy keeping up with our four kids, who are 11, 10, and 4-year-old twins. Whenever I do catch a quiet moment to myself, I love diving into a good book, finding a great deal while bargain shopping, or heading outdoors for a run. I look forward to a great school year ahead and working with our 5th-grade students and families.

Katie MacDonald: Special Education Teacher

Please join us in congratulating Katie MacDonald, better known to many of our students as Ms. Mac and a proud JMU alum, on her new role as a special education teacher! Ms. Mac is already a familiar face at John Wayland, where she has been a valued member of our special education department as a teaching assistant for the past several years. This year she will step into the classroom as a full time teacher, a role that suits her perfectly. When she's not working with our students, Ms. Mac stays busy coaching the state level gymnastics teams at Turner Ashby and Spotswood High Schools. We are excited to see her continue making a difference for our students in this new role. 

I am thrilled to begin this school year as a full-time teacher at John Wayland Elementary! Having spent the last couple of years here supporting our students, I am excited to continue growing with this wonderful community. When I am not at school, you can usually find me reading a mystery novel, hanging out with my beautiful little rescue cat, or getting together with friends and family for game nights. I cannot wait for a fantastic school year and all the adventures it will bring.

Andrea Skelton: English Language Teacher

Andrea brings years of experience supporting multilingual learners and joins us after working in Harrisonburg City Public Schools.  We were fortunate to welcome her to John Wayland this spring, and her knowledge and passion for helping students succeed will be a tremendous asset to our school.  Andrea is also a proud John Wayland parent, and like so many of our new staff members, she already knows what makes our school such a special place.  We are incredibly fortunate to have Andrea and her family as part of our Jaguar community.

My name is Andrea Skelton. I am so excited to join the team at John Wayland Elementary School! I have worked in Harrisonburg City Schools for the past 20 years. When I am not at school, I enjoy spending time with my husband, 2 sons, and my 2 dogs. We love to cook, paint and take walks together. I look forward to working with the wonderful students at JWES.  

Faith Cowens: Special Education Teaching Assistant

Faith Cowens will be coming to John Wayland as a Special Education Teaching Assistant! Faith joins us from John C. Myers Elementary School, where she spent the past three years working with students. We are excited to have her continue that important work as a member of our special education team, supporting students and teachers each day. As an added bonus, Faith's daughter will be starting kindergarten at John Wayland this fall, making this an especially exciting year for their family. We are proud to welcome them both to our Jaguar family and look forward to the positive impact Faith will have on our students.

Hi, JWES! My name is Faith Cowens, aka Ms. Faith. As a prior Jaguar myself, I am thrilled to join the team here at John Wayland with my daughter, Vivienne, who will be starting kindergarten. I worked three years as a SPED assistant at John C. Myers and LOVED it. Before starting my career in the school system, I worked for five years as an ABA (applied behavior analysis) therapist for children with autism. Working as an ABA therapist is what really jumpstarted my passion for this field. As much as I loved working at John C. Myers, I decided to take the leap and join a school that I trust just as much and that is close to home, figuratively and literally. I am studying speech pathology and hope to become an SLP in the future, preferably still in the school system. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, wire wrapping crystal jewelry, Legos, crafts with my daughter, and board game family nights! My daughter and I look forward to being a part of the John Wayland community. I can’t wait to be a Jaguar again!

Anne Elkins: First Grade Teaching Assistant

Please join us in welcoming Anne Elkins to her new role as a part time Teaching Assistant! Anne is already a familiar face around our school as a dedicated John Wayland mom who has spent many mornings substituting in our classrooms. This year, she is making that commitment official by joining our first grade team, where we know she will be a tremendous support to both students and teachers. Anne is a Jaguar through and through. One of her children recently completed fifth grade and is headed to Pence Middle School, while another will be entering fourth grade this fall. The Elkins family has been an important part of our school community for years, and John Wayland simply wouldn't be the same without them. We are thrilled to have Anne serving our students in this new role!

I feel incredibly blessed for the opportunity to be a part of JWES this year. I can’t wait to meet the students, work alongside the amazing staff, and help make this school year a great one.

JWES has always held a special place in my heart. My husband, Larry, and I have loved being part of this wonderful community as parents and have watched our children grow, learn, and make so many special memories here.

Our daughter, Hagan, wrapped up 5th grade in June and will be starting 6th grade at Pence Middle School this fall. Our son, Henry, is excited to begin 4th grade at JWES, and we are so thankful that our family gets to continue being part of such a caring and supportive school community.

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Adah Liskey: Behavior Support Specialist

Adah Liskey is coming to John Wayland as one of our new Behavior Support Specialists! Behavior Support Specialists work with students who, for a variety of reasons, benefit from additional adult support throughout the school day.  Sometimes that support involves helping students develop strategies to manage big emotions, while other times it can be as simple as taking a walk together, playing a board game, or providing a quiet moment to reset before returning to class. Adah's caring nature, patience, and positive relationships with children will help students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. We are excited to have her as part of our Jaguar team this year! 

Hello! My name is Adah Liskey, and I am honored to be joining the John Wayland Elementary School team this year. As a former John Wayland student who grew up in the local community, it is especially meaningful to return in a role where I can give back to the school that played such an important part in my own education. I am passionate about creating a positive and supportive learning environment and look forward to building meaningful relationships with our students, staff, and families throughout the school year!

Keith Payne: Bus driver

We are excited to welcome our new bus driver Keith Payne, who will be taking over Larry Wittig's route.  Mr. Payne drives bus 7.  He works hard to ensure every child arrives at school safely and returns home each day with care. We are fortunate to have someone with experience joining our team. He has worked with children for many years and is one of only four bus drivers in the county who is qualified to train and mentor other bus drivers. His dedication, expertise, and commitment to student safety make him a wonderful addition to our school family.  Please join us in giving him a warm John Wayland welcome!

Looking forward to a new school year and a new school.

Bayan Rostem: Cafeteria Monitor

Please join us in welcoming Bayan Rostem to John Wayland as one of our new Cafeteria Monitors! Families who regularly join us for lunch know just how important this role is. Every day, more than 500 students eat lunch in our cafeteria, and our cafeteria monitors help create a safe, orderly, and welcoming environment while encouraging good manners and helping keep the cafeteria clean. Bayan will play an important part in making lunchtime a positive experience for our students, and we are excited to have her as a member of our Jaguar team this year.

My name is Bayan Rostem, and I'm excited to join the school as a lunch monitor this year. I'm 37 years old and a proud mom of four children. As a parent, I understand how important it is for students to feel safe, welcomed, and supported every day. I look forward to getting to know the students and staff and being a positive part of the school community. I'm excited for a wonderful school year!

Colleen Shank: Preschool Teaching Assistant

Colleen holds a certification in Early Childhood Education and has spent many years working with young learners. Her experience, patience, and passion for early childhood education will make her a wonderful addition to our preschool team as she provides additional support to our students and teachers. As a bonus, Colleen is a John Wayland alumna as a student which makes her return especially meaningful. We are fortunate to welcome her back to the Jaguar family and look forward to the positive impact she will have in this very special program.

Hi! My name is Colleen Shank, and I am so excited to be joining the John Wayland family as a Preschool Assistant this year! JWE has always held a special place in my heart because I attended school here, so it is truly a full-circle moment to be back as an educator.

I have 10 years of experience working in a private preschool setting and love watching children learn, grow, and gain confidence throughout the school year. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our 3-month-old son, Beckett. I can’t wait to get to know your children and partner with your families for a fun and exciting school year!

Hanna Foster: Custodian

Hanna joined our team this summer and has already made a wonderful impression. While she's new to our staff, she's not new to our community. Hanna is a Turner Ashby High School graduate and formerly called Bridgewater home. She proudly admits to being a bit of a neat freak, a quality that certainly comes in handy in her new role, but what stands out even more is her warm personality and kind heart. When she's not helping keep John Wayland looking its best, Hanna enjoys pet sitting for just about every kind of animal imaginable, including dogs, cats, chickens, and more. We are excited to have Hanna as part of our Jaguar family!

I am so excited to be joining the John Wayland team this year. Although I'm new to the staff, I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a welcoming school and community. I look forward to getting to know our students, families, and staff, and to doing my part to help make John Wayland a wonderful place to learn each day. I can't wait to meet you all this fall!

Lucinda Furry: Educational Diagnostician

Mrs. Furry served as a General Curriculum Special Education Coach supporting several schools last year. Before that, she spent many years at John Wayland as both a general education and special education teacher, making this a familiar place for her to return.

As our Educational Diagnostician, Mrs. Furry will work behind the scenes as an important member of the special education evaluation team. Whether students are participating in an initial evaluation or a routine reevaluation, she will conduct their educational assessments and provide valuable insight into each child’s strengths and learning needs at our eligibility meetings.

The information Mrs. Furry gathers will help our special education team make informed decisions and support teachers in meeting the needs of every learner. Just as importantly, her work allows classroom teachers to spend more of their time doing what they do best—teaching kids!

This year, we’ll also be sharing Mrs. Furry with Pleasant Valley Elementary, where she will serve in the same role. We are grateful to have her expertise supporting students and staff at both schools.

Hello, everyone!

I’m excited to be returning to John Wayland Elementary as the Educational Diagnostician. I bring more than 30 years of experience in public education, including 22 years at John Wayland as both a classroom teacher and a special education teacher. It truly feels like coming home!

I’m looking forward to reconnecting with familiar faces, getting to know new colleagues, and working together to support our students and families. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of the John Wayland community again, and I can’t wait for a wonderful school year!

Stephanie Knicely: Instructional Coach

Stephanie joins us most recently from Augusta County, but she is no stranger to Rockingham County Public Schools, having previously taught at Mountain View Elementary School. She brings a wealth of classroom experience, a passion for teaching, and a collaborative spirit that will be a tremendous asset to our staff and students. As our Instructional Coach, Stephanie will work side by side with teachers to support high quality instruction, model effective teaching strategies, analyze student learning, and help plan engaging lessons. We are excited to welcome Stephanie to the Jaguar family and know she will have a positive impact on both our teachers and our students.

A little about me- I have one son, three dogs, and a cat. I have taught first, second, and fourth grades as well as being a reading specialist.  I was born and grew up in Georgia, and I enjoy traveling, reading, and cooking.  I am very excited about my new role and am looking forward to supporting teachers and their students at JWES.  

I'm a new paragraph block.

Deputy Kendall Smith: School Resource Officer

Deputy Kendall Smith is our new School Resource Officer (SRO).  Kendall has worked as an SRO for a couple of years at South River, McGaheysville, and Pleasant Valley Elementary schools but has recently moved to the Bridgewater area, making John Wayland a great place for him to continue his work!  His office will be at Turner Ashby High School, where he will also serve.    

SRO’s are sworn law enforcement officers who are specially selected and trained to work in schools.  In addition to meeting the same qualifications and academy training required of other police officers, SROs receive specialized training in working with children and adolescents, school safety, crisis response, de-escalation techniques, and building positive relationships with students and staff.  Like police officers who patrol our communities, SROs have full law enforcement authority.  However, their primary role in a school is much broader than enforcement.  They help maintain a safe learning environment, build trusting relationships with students, assist with emergency preparedness, provide education on safety-related topics, and serve as a resource for families and staff.  While they can respond to criminal activity when necessary, their day to day focus is prevention, mentorship, and supporting a safe and positive school community.

Dr. Phil Wickline: School Psychologist

Dr. Wickline will play an important role in supporting our teachers and families as our school psychologist. As a member of the special education evaluation team, he will participate in the referral process, conduct psychological evaluations, and provide valuable insight into students’ cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral needs.

His expertise helps our team better understand each child’s strengths and challenges so we can provide the most appropriate support and services. We are excited to have Dr. Wickline’s knowledge, collaborative spirit, and student-centered approach as part of our Jaguar team this year!

Greetings! My name is Phil Wickline, and I am excited to join the JWES staff this year! I have worked as a school psychologist in RCPS for the past 11 years, primarily in the Elkton/East Rock area. I'm looking forward to serving students, families, and teachers to the best of my ability in this new area of the County. According to Google, "Jiggy" means "excitedly energetic or stylish." On a personal note, my kids are hoping that at least a little JWES jiggy will rub off on me this year. 

Jessica Winters: School Social Worker

Jessica Winters is joining our team as our new School Social Worker. In this role, Jessica will play an important part in supporting students’ social, emotional, and behavioral well-being by working closely with children and families who may be facing challenges.  Jessica is skilled at connecting families with valuable community resources and has extensive knowledge of school-based supports and services. She is a compassionate advocate for students and has a strong track record of helping families navigate difficult situations with care and professionalism.  We are excited to welcome Jessica to our Jaguar family and know her expertise, kindness, and dedication will make a positive difference for our students, families, and staff.

Hi, my name is Jessica Winters and I am very excited to be joining the team at John Wayland! This is my 5th year as a school social worker with RCPS.  Prior to that, I worked in child welfare, in Child Protective Services for 13 years. I’m looking forward to a great year. I’m married and have two daughters. When I’m not at school, I enjoy gardening, drinking coffee, and taking walks with my mini Bernese dog, Cooper!

Mark your calendars for our upcoming Open House!

Join us for Open House on Monday, August 17, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM as we kick off another exciting school year! This is a wonderful opportunity for students and families to meet their teachers, visit classrooms, ask questions, and drop off school supplies before the first day of school. You'll also have the chance to meet members of our PTO, learn about ways to get involved, and add money to your child's lunch account or pay off any remaining balance. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to John Wayland!

Just like mechanics need tools to fix things, schools need supplies to teach young children.  To that end, we have a suggested supply list that we share with families that outlines exactly what we think is necessary for each child for this coming school year.  We know that every family is different.  Some families are able to buy extra items for their class, while other families are less able to do so.  Please only purchase what your family can comfortably afford.  While purchasing all of these items for every child in our school would be a hardship for us, we know that many people generously donate items whenever they can.

If you know someone who would be a great fit for any of the following openings at John Wayland, please encourage them to apply.  Finding great people is always easier when they come recommended by great people.

Teaching Assistant (Part Time)

As the title implies, teaching assistants provide assistance to classroom teachers in the management and instruction of students.  Our part time assistants work from 8AM-11:30AM when school is in session.

Custodian (Part-Time)

Our custodial team keeps our school crisp, clean and hygienic for the kids and teachers who spend time here each and every day.  This part-time position is for later afternoon and evenings, starting at 4PM and finishing at 8PM.

Substitute Bus Drivers

If you or anyone you know is interested in learning to drive a school bus, I’d love to get a few more Jaguars trained to be substitute bus drivers.  We are on a pretty thin margin when it comes to bus drivers, so anytime one of them is out we find ourselves scrambling to get kids to and from school.  The training is free, it pays pretty well, and only takes a few hours of the day.  And as a substitute you only work when your schedule allows!  This seems ideal for recent retirees, folks who are in seasonal work, or anyone who has a flexible schedule and wants to pitch-in around the greater Dayton/Bridgewater area.  Please let me know if you or anyone you know are interested!  I’ve been in training all summer and hope to have my license in time for school to start.  If I can do it, anyone can!

Popcorn on the Playground – August 18, 2:00–4:00 PM

Our PTO is hosting Popcorn on the Playground for incoming PreK and Kindergarten families on Tuesday, August 18, from 2:00–4:00 PM. It’s a relaxed, welcoming time for our newest JWES students and their families to meet one another, share some easy conversation, and enjoy a snack before the first day of school. Come as you are, stay as long as you'd like—just swing by the upper playground through the bus lane gate out front. We’d love to see you there! 

Teacher Prep Day Note from the PTO

Dear JWES Parents and guardians,

We hope you are having a great summer. Your PTO exec team is hard at work planning for the upcoming school year! Our first volunteer opportunity is August 18 from 10:00 to 12:00. This is a chance for parents to come help teachers prepare their classrooms! We will spread out in the cafeteria and teachers will bring us projects to work on. This may include cutting, pasting, laminating, making copies, etc. All parent and guardian help is appreciated! If you are on our PTO mailing list, you should have received an email with a sign up link. To join our mailing list and receive more information, please email us at jwesptova@gmail.com.

Thank you for your continued partnership!

-JWES PTO

Need a new t-shirt?  Looking for a nice fitting hoodie?  Wondering where all those great looking John Wayland clothes come from?  Look no further.  The University Outpost has created a site you can use to order a number of great items that not only look great, but support the school as well.  The University Outpost will donate 15% of every purchase back to the school.

You can find t-shirts, hoodies, polos and more at this site: https://stores.inksoft.com/john_wayland_elementary_school/shop/products/all?page=1