Jeffries Elementary
February 2017 Parent Newsletter- from Dr. Liz Cooper
February Important Dates:
Thursday, Feb. 2- Groundhog Day;
PTA Exec. Mtg. 6:30PM in the Conference Room
Friday, Feb. 3- Leadership Assembly 9:30AM; Mid-3rd Quarter;
*EXPLORE packets & V-Puppy Gram Pre-Orders go home with students.
Saturday, Feb. 4- Happy Birthday, Mr. Mendenhall
Feb. 6-10- National School Counselor Appreciation Week! Please help us show our appreciation to our full time counselor, Mrs. Livingston & part time counselor, Mrs. Schindele (Wed. & Thursdays).
Feb. 6-13- V-Day Puppy Gram Sales (8:20-8:50AM) until supplies are gone
Tuesday, Feb. 7- Jaguar Junction; Student Council Mtg.; Carver Strolling Strings perform for 5th grade (11:00-11:20); 2nd Grade Dress Rehearsal Assembly at 2PM in the Gym; PTA Mtg. with 2nd Grade Performance 7PM (students should arrive at 6:45PM)- Valentine Puppy Gram Sales ($3 each or 2 for $5)
Thursday, Feb. 9- PTA 3rd Quarter Luncheon for Staff (Conference Rm. from 11-1PM)
Tuesday, Feb. 14- V-Day parties from 2:30-3:30PM; Valentine Puppy Grams delivered
Thursday, Feb. 16- 3rd Grade Peter & The Wolf Field Trip (Drury) from 9:30-12:30PM
Monday, Feb. 20- President's Day (no school)- building closed.
Wednesday, Feb. 22- Jeffries Bus Evacuation Drill 9AM (K-5)
Thursday, Feb. 23- PTA Founder's Day Banquet at Glendale H.S. 6PM (ticket event)
Future Dates:
Thurs., March 2- Dr. Seuss Day (Dress Up Like Your Favorite Dr. Seuss Character); Jeffries PTA Fun Night (Jump Mania 6:30PM; Board Mtg. at 6:30PM)
Fri., March 3- Leadership Assembly & 3rd Quarter Awards
Tues., March 7- Jaguar Junction; Student Council Mtg. 7:45AM; 1st Grade Dress Rehearsal Assembly 2PM for school; PTA Mtg. with 1st Grade Performance 7PM
Wed., March 8- Jeffries Kindergarten Registration Day (9-12PM)- students who will be 5 before Aug. 1 need to enroll for the 2017-2018 school year!
Thurs., March 9- Jeffries Custodian Appreciation Day (please help us shower Kathy, Steve & Isaac in thank you cards, gifts, etc.); End of 3rd Quarter
Fri., March 10- Professional Work/Learning Day! (No school for students)
March 13-17- Spring Break! Sharpen Your Saw!
Thurs., March 17- St. Patrick's Day
Sat., March 18- Happy Birthday, Mrs. Stacie Allen (Art Teacher)
Wed., March 22- Spring Pictures, Graduation Pictures (5th Grade) & Yearbook groups
Tuesday, April 4- Go vote! SPS Bond on ballot
Thursday, April 6- Jeffries Skating Party (Skateland on S. Campbell)
Thursday, April 13- Kindergarten Field Trip to Dickerson Park Zoo
Tuesday, April 18- District 5th Grade Field Trip to the Cardinals (tentative)
Thursday, April 27- Jeffries Fine Arts Night 5PM
Tuesday, May 2 or 3rd (TBD)- 4th Grade Field Trip
May 1-5- Teacher Appreciation Week
Monday, May 1- District 4th Grade Field Trip to the Cardinals (tentative)
Friday, May 5- Jeffries PTA Spring Fling 6:30PM; Leadership Assembly with Real Encounter 9:30AM
Saturday, May 6- FREE Family Fun Day (Ridgecrest sponsored) at Jeffries with special guests: Real Encounter
Tuesday, May 9- 4th Grade Field Trip- Frontier Theatre
Monday, May 15- Last Leadership/Celebration Assembly 9:30AM; 100% Attendance Limo/Lunch for qualifying students
Wednesday, May 17- 3rd Grade Field Trip to the Cardinals (tentative)
Friday, May 19- Jeffries Field Day
Thursday, May 28- Jeffries Talent Show (9:30AM)
Probably either Friday, May 26 or Monday, May 29- Last day of school w/5th Grade Graduation (pending snow days)- the Board should be deciding soon.
EXPLORE! at Jeffries Elementary
Explore registration information coming soon!
On Feb. 3, your child will bring home information about how to enroll in Explore 2017. In addition to the Explore Pocket Guide for elementary and middle school students, new this year is a Field Guide specifically designed for high school students. This summer, Explore will offer students eight weeks of exciting opportunities to pursue their unique interests and passions. Each day will be packed with engaging, relevant and personal learning opportunities, enriched by integrated technology, exciting field experiences and hands-on activities. There will be two sessions of Explore. Session 1 could start as early as May 30, depending on the actual last day of the regular school year. The last day of Session I will be June 28. Session 2 will be held July 5-July 28. Artworks will also be offered free at two locations in June. Free transportation will be offered for eligible students and free breakfast and lunch will be served daily at every school. High school students may register for Explore classes beginning Feb. 13. Registration for middle school students begins Feb. 15. Registration for elementary students begins Feb. 16.
Jeffries EXPLORE: Mrs. Mercado is Jeffries EXPLORE Liaison. If you have any questions about EXPLORE or enrollment, please contact her! crmorrison@spsmail.org
Mrs. Brittany Payne (formally Mullen) will be 1st Session's Principal; Ms. Trisha Baugh (Jeffries Kindergarten Teacher with a Master's Degree in Administration)- Session 2.
Valentine Puppy Grams!
Student Council will be selling them from Feb. 6-13th. Pre-Sales go home on Feb. 3.
A reasonable way to send something special to your child at school on Valentine's Day- and proceeds benefit our Leadership Program!
Jeffries Volunteers of the Year!
Gerry Koeneman
"The best part of my PTA adventure isn't arriving at the destination, but all the wild stuff that happens along the way!"
Amanda Gregory
Jeffries Team Members of the Month Highlights
Danae Schindele (Counselor- Wed. & Thurs.)
Name: Danae Schindele
Years at Jeffries: 1st one
Years in Education: 8
Degrees: Bachelor in Psychology, Masters in School Counseling
Favorite Children’s Book: Oh the Places You'll Go!
Hobbies Outside of School: I teach at my daughter's dance studio part time and drive my teenage son everywhere!! (not exactly a hobby) I love hot yoga and LOVE to travel.
Interesting Fact or Something You Would Like Others to Know About You: I have a 15-year-old son, Carson and an 11-year-old daughter Carli and I have lived in 7 different states.
Mrs. Wrendy Eske (4th Grade Teacher)
Name: Wrendy Eske
Years at Jeffries: 11 years
Years in Education: 14 years
Degrees: Masters in Reading, Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education
Favorite Quote: Dreams without action, stay dreams
Favorite Children’s Book: The Secret Garden, The Paperbag Princess
Hobbies Outside of School: snuggling with my puppies, Pigpen and Zoe; traveling with my husband, spending time with friends and family, and reading
Interesting Fact or Something You Would Like Others to Know About You: I went zip lining through the rainforest of Mystic Mountain in Jamaica. It was truly an experience that I will never forget. AAAHH. Yikes!! Scary! Never again. ;)I had been pestering my husband for 5 years to go, but he is scared of heights. Finally, after growing weary of my nagging, he gave in. I was adamant about being in the front of the line of 25 other tourists, because I just knew that I was going to soar through the air, like a zip line champion. Haha! This didn’t happen. I chickened out right as we got to the very top!!! I wanted to turn back, but there were so many people waiting patiently behind me, that the pressure was on!! My husband ended up being the bravest of all because he said that he would go first, if I would go. So, I finally got up enough courage to go, but got so nervous while zooming through the air, that I used my hand brakes too late and came in way too fast! The poor tour guide assistant about took a tumble over the platform, after I accidentally kicked him while coming in, and trying to slow down. I was elated that we both survived the experience, and next time will not be so eager to be a thrill-seeking daredevil.