At Jones, all third through fifth grade teachers are GATE certified. This year all kindergarten through second grade teachers are being trained in the district’s K-2 Nurturing Scholars program. The K-2 Nurturing Scholars certification trains teachers to use GATE strategies that are aligned with and extend the state academic content standards and curriculum framework to support rigor in kindergarten through second grade.  The program is supported by best practices,  application, and theory appropriate for gifted young children.  Our goal is to have challenging instruction for all students in every classroom and at every grade level, and to ensure second graders have a smooth transition into designated GATE cluster classes in third grade.    

At Jones we strive to develop well-rounded students who excel academically and socially.  We not only expect our students to excel in literacy, math, social studies, science, technology and the arts, but we also want to produce Students Of Character. We believe good character doesn’t just happen automatically.  A student’s character is a summation of his or her habits, attitudes and attributes; these qualities are learned and they can also be purposefully taught. To support our student’s social development we teach Character Counts, a curriculum that focuses on Six Pillars:  Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship.  These Pillars are taught explicitly six times a year during grade level character assemblies, and addressed by teachers and other staff throughout the year. 

Our Principal, Mrs. Rita Powell, is easily accessible to family and community members. She hosts Principal Coffees throughout the year (“Tea With Me”) where she shares student achievement data, provides speakers to discuss topics of interest to parents, updates the parents on school and district issues, and answers questions and problem solves with the community.  Mrs. Powell’s mission for Jones is aligned to the district’s mission statement that says: All San Diego Unified students will graduate with the skills, motivation, curiosity, and resilience to succeed in their choice of college or career in order to participate in the society of tomorrow.  Every staff member of Jones is dedicated to the work of ensuring that all students are:

Middle School Prepared

High School Ready

And

College Bound!