Dear Parents and Guardians,
Happy Monday Patriots! I hope everyone had a fantastic three-day weekend. By now you should have seen your cadets’ 3rd quarter progress report card. We gave out paper copies this week and you can see them in your parent portal. We also sent out scholarship warnings if your cadet has a D or F in any course. These are especially important documents we send home, and they inform you how your cadet is doing in all seven courses he or she attends every day. If you have questions about specific classes, please reach out to your cadets’ teacher. If a cadet fails a core course (ELA, Math, SS, and Sci), they will have to repeat the course to promote and complete middle school. For eighth graders, you will be required to attend summer school to promote to high school if you fail any of your core courses. For sixth and seventh graders, you will retake the course you fail next year. That means you will give up an elective to fit it in with your schedule. If you fail two core courses, you will be retained in the same grade and NOT promoted. If you need help, please reach out to your cadets’ teacher (s), or Mr. Dillinger, school counselor or AP Thompson or even me.
Scholastic Book Fair is still here! We are keeping the book fair open for two more days. If you want your cadet to buy a book, poster, pens or pencils, a safe way to give money to buy book fair items is to put money in an e-account on the scholastic website. Go to Scholastic.com, put in our zip code (32221) to find a fair and select JSMAL. Follow the instructions to set up an e-wallet.
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/josephstilwellmilitaryacad
Free Eye exams and glasses are back: Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program is returning to Duval the week of March 9th-13th to offer NO COST eye exams and glasses. Please see the attached flyer for more information and register at the following link:
Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program.
We need at least thirty signed up for them to come out to JSMAL.
Spring Sports are here! - Get those Aktivate accounts up to date and check your EL2 (athletic physicals) because tryouts for spring sports start February 17th. Please email our Athletic Director, Shawn Vieceilli at viecellis1@duvalschools.org if you have any questions.
Yearbooks are on sale now! Order your 2025–2026 JSMAL Yearbook today! Purchases can only be made through the Lifetouch website at www.ybpay.lifetouch.com. Yearbook ID Code: 15481026 (Joseph Stilwell Middle School). Price: $45.00. Important: Yearbook sales end on March 20th—do not miss out! For 8th grade parents, yearbook ads are available: NEW: ½‑page ads are now available for $50 and ¼‑page ads remain available for $25. Flyers with full details are available in the main office. For questions, contact Ms. McNally at ortong@duvalschools.org.
Community Events:
Spring Break Meal Bags– Do you need help with feeding your children over Spring Break? The deadline to request food bags is March 4. See the attached flyer and register using the QR code.
Have you heard of NAB - the Neighborhood Accountability Board? This program invites compassionate, community-minded individuals to volunteer. This meaningful opportunity allows volunteers to support youth in making positive choices, encourage accountability, and help create pathways toward brighter futures. The Westside NAB meets at Inspire to Rise Campus, 5927 Old Timuquana Road, Jacksonville FL 32210. The calendar is attached for multiple locations. If you are interested in learning more or would like to participate, reach out to Molly Bonk (mbonk@coj.net) and/or Jerald Helm (jhelm@coj.net).
REAL CONVERSATIONS & COMMUNITY HEALING
Join us for the next Community-Police Relations Forum on Friday, February 20, 2026, from 5:00–7:00 PM at the Florida Barber Institute.
This important forum will continue the conversation on gun violence awareness and prevention, with a focused discussion on the connection between mental health and gun violence. Together, we will create a safe, trusted, and solution-driven space for community members, youth, parents, educators, and public safety partners to share perspectives, ask questions, and explore prevention-centered strategies.
Free haircuts will be provided
Open dialogue & community voices
Resources, partnerships, and solutions
Come be part of the conversation. Bring a friend, bring your questions, and help us strengthen our community, one conversation at a time.
Link to register:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/JacksonvilleUrbanLeague/TheJacksonvilleUrbanLeagueCPRForumRegistration
Calendar Events this week:
Mon, Feb 16–Presidents Day – Schools closed
Tues, Feb 17 –Boys/Girls Soccer at home vs Baldwin at 5pm.
Wed, Feb 18 –Boys and Girls Basketball at Baldwin 6-8pm.
Thurs, Feb 19– Boys/Girls Soccer and Basketball at Lakeshore.
Coming soon:
Mon, Feb 23– 6thgrade vision and hearing screening 8:30-1:30pm.
Thurs, Feb 26– All Pro Dads Meeting at 0745am. Title I DATA night for parents and cadets. Dinner will be provided. 6-7:30pm.
Tamara Roper
Proud Principal
JSMAL