JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
THE BOBCAT - February 2020
WE ARE JEFFERSON BOBCATS! WE ARE IN CHARGE OF OUR LEARNING
Be respectful
On task and focused
Body and objects are safe
Care for self and others
Always follow directions the first time given
Treat others the way you want to be treated
Speak positive words
A NOTE FROM MR. FRANKLIN, PRINCIPAL
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES COMING SOON!
Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for the evenings of February 25th, February 27th, and March 2nd. Teachers will be sending home a notice the beginning of February regarding your child’s conference time. The PTA will also be having a Book Fair in the gym during conference hours. Please return the notice telling us if you can attend the assigned conference time.
DROPPING OFF STUDENTS IN THE MORNING
We have had some students being dropped off before the start of our school day. The school doors open, breakfast begins, and supervision starts at 7:40 am. Please don't drop off students earlier unless they are in the MASH program. Students will not be allowed to come into school until 7:40 am. If you need to drop students off earlier, please contact our MASH program for enrollment opportunities. The contact information for MASH is below:
Rachel Albright
School Age Site Coordinator at Jefferson and Horace Mann/Roosevelt
YMCA OF CASS AND CLAY COUNTIES
(P) 626 773 6304 | (D) 218 359 2336 | (S) Jefferson 701 412 8970 (S) HMR 701 371 6277
(E) Rachel.Albright@ymcacassclay.org | (W) www.ymcacassclay.org
Upcoming Events
February 17th - No School
February 18th - No School/Staff Development Day
February 20th - PTA Meeting 5:30 pm. in 4/5 POD
February 25th - Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:00 - 7:00 pm.
February 25th - PTA Scholastic Book Fair 3:00 - 7:00 pm. in gym
February 27th - Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:00 - 7:00 pm.
February 27th - PTA Scholastic Book Fair 3:00 - 7:00 pm. in gym
2020-21 School Year Open Enrollment & Petition Process Deadlines
Petitions that are presently in place for the current school year need to be filled out again for the next school year. A new petition form must be completed and submitted to the principal at the school by May 1, 2020. You may mail this to the school address or bring it to the school office.
The elementary principals of the Fargo Public School District will meet after May 1 to review continuing petition requests. Your child’s current placement does not guarantee the same placement for next year. You will be notified by mail as to the status of your request no later than June 15, 2020. Deadlines for student open enrollment and the in-district petition process are coming soon.
To request a student transfer from one school to another school within the Fargo School District, follow the PETITION guidelines:
- Deadline for Middle and High School Fall Enrollment: January 31
- Deadline for renewing petitions for Elementary School Fall Enrollment: May 1
To request a transfer from one school district to another, this must be done by February 28, 2020, following the OPEN ENROLLMENT guideline. Find detailed information on our website.
Fargo Public Schools Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2020 opens online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/registration on February 1, 2020. Child must be age 5 by July 31, 2020 to attend school in the fall.
Registration is a two-step process: online registration and document submission.
STEP ONE: Registration can be completed at home online anytime or at computer kiosks in the office at each Fargo Public elementary school building on the following dates with extended office hours:
- February 24, 26, and 28 – 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- February 25, 27, and March 2 – 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
STEP TWO: Once online registration has been completed, families MUST bring the following documents to the school their child will attend to finalize their child’s registration:
- Child’s certified birth certificate
- Child’s current immunization record
- Document (i.e. current city utility bill or bank statement) that includes parent/guardian name and address to verify the correct neighborhood school
If you do not know which school your child will attend, call 701.446.1043 or check online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/boundarymaps.
Questions? Call the school office or Betsy Beaton at 701-446-1043.
Calling all Parents… Our children NEED You!!!
- What if there was no PTA????? What if there was no Halloween Dance, Secret Santa Shop, School Carnival, VIP Breakfast, Color Run-and so much more? What if our school didn’t have anyone to keep the following events going?
Scholastic Book Fair, Box Tops, 5th Grade Redhawks Trip, 5th Grade Graduation, School Pictures, Halloween Costume Dance, Secret Santa Shop, Teacher Luncheon, Teacher Appreciations, Teacher Conference Meal, Day of Compassion, Donuts for Dad, Muffins for Mom, Skate City Nights, Carnival, Free Popcorn Day are all examples of what the PTA sponsors.
· What if there were no school events?
· What if no one steps up to serve?
Our PTA helps fund many events for our students and helps build strong community spirit by hosting various events all year long.
If you would like to become more involved and make a tremendous difference, please consider becoming an Executive Board member.
The PTA is looking for parents to serve on the board for the 2020-2021 school year. All positions are open: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer AND PTA Volunteers.
If these positions are not filled by our last PTA meeting on May 21st, 2020, the PTA will have to dissolve and all of its books/records and assets will be turned over to the North Dakota PTA.
Is Jefferson’s PTA financially stable? Yes. We currently have roughly $2000 in checking and $4000 in savings. It is not about the money!
Can there be parent involvement groups without a PTA? No. In the Fargo Public School District, all/any parent involvement groups have to be PTA’s.
How can you help? Nominate yourself or another parent who would be a worthy candidate to serve on the board. Come to the next meeting on February 20th @ 5:30 PM to learn more.
Ashley Mack
Jefferson PTA President
PTA SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR
The PTA will have the Scholastic Book Fair during conferences on Tuesday, February 25th, Thursday February 27th from 3-7pm, and Monday, March 2nd from 3-6pm Jefferson Gymnasium. You can view the Scholastic Interactive Book Fair Flyer attached below.
The Book Nook from Mr. Lauer
2020 Youth Media Award Winners
This last week, in Philadelphia, the Youth Media Awards were announced. The awards represent the best in writing and illustrations for kids in the last year. Below are the awards for three of those awards: Geisel Award, the Caldecott Award and the Newbery Award. These could be great stories to practice reading with your beginning readers or for sharing a story as a family.
Geisel Award: Best books for beginning readers
Winner:
Chick and Brain: Smell My Foot by Cece Bell
Honors:
Flubby is Not a Good Pet by J.E. Morris
The Book Hog by Greg Pizzoli
Caldecott Award: Best illustrations for kids
Winner:
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander; illustrations by Kadir Nelson
Honors
Bear Came Along by Richard Morris; illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Double Bass Blues by Andrea J. Loney; illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez
Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons; illustrated by Daniel Minter
Newbery Award: Best book written for kids
Winner:
New Kid by Jerry Craft
Honor:
Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker
Other Words For Home by Jasmine Warga
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams
WINTER WEATHER AND PROPER CLOTHING
With the winter season here, we have had a few calls regarding the cold weather and noon recess. Please be aware that students will go outdoors at recess most days. The wind chill temperature guideline for all Fargo schools is 15 below. Students will be going outside for recess when the temperature is 15 below or warmer. We check the temperature and wind chill periodically throughout the morning prior to making the decision to go outside or stay in for recess.
It is essential that students come to school with the necessary clothing. Please make sure your child has a hat, warm jacket, snow pants and gloves. Students will also need boots if they choose to play in areas other than the sidewalk pavement area. During the winter season, we have many clothing items in our “lost and found” located in the foyer area. If your child is missing a clothing item please check the “lost and found”. We want to make sure the items get back to their owner.
5TH GRADE BAND FITTING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL
The time many 5th grade students have been waiting for is fast approaching. Your child will soon have the wonderful opportunity of beginning their participation in band as 6th graders in Fargo Public Schools.
Your child will have the opportunity to try band instruments before deciding on which music class to take in 6th grade. To help fit your child for the right instrument, the band directors from the three Fargo middle schools will help your child find the best instrument for him/her for band. We invite you to try 2-3 instruments at the middle school you will be attending next year. Your instrument fitting interview will be approximately 15 minutes long. Please view the attached letter for fitting times at the middle schools.
NEWS FROM MRS. SOKO, JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUNSELOR
Attached below is a helpful Snooze News handout from the Parenting Resource Center from the NDSU Extension Service. The handout provides information about healthy sleeping habits for your child.
LATE START/INCLEMENT WEATHER
On mornings when weather conditions warrant additional time to assess conditions, the Fargo Public Schools may use a late start procedure. This will allow time for the district to monitor the weather and allow roads to be plowed for safe transportation to school. On these days, a two-hour delay will be used. So, if the bus picks your child up at 7:35 am. each day, the bus will pick your child up at 9:35 am. during the late start. Jefferson School doors open at 7:40 am. with school starting at 8:20 am. On days with a two-hour late start, our doors will open at 9:40 am. with school starting at 10:20 am. Our before school MASH and other morning activities will not be held, so students should not arrive early.
The Superintendent of Schools will make the decision as to whether school will be held or called off due to inclement weather. Parents will be contacted via the automated phone, email and text system based on the contact information supplied to the school office(s). Parents are encouraged to update contact information with the school on a regular basis so we have up to date contact information. This can be done through PowerSchool or by calling the school office. School cancellation information will also be broadcasted via local media, and will be posted across our website and social media sites (Facebook and Twitter).
BOX TOPS
The PTA is continuing to participate in the Box Tops for Education Program. The program is changing how we submit box tops. Rather than cutting them out, they are going to have the box tops digitally scanned. The flyer below will show you how to submit box tops by digitally scanning them. Thank you for supporting the Jefferson PTA.
Attend Everyday… & Students Can Pedal Away!
Each month students who have no Tardies or Absences from school are entered into an Attendance drawing box. The drawing is for a free girl’s and boy’s bike to be given away at the Jan and May all- school assemblies. Of course, please do not send your child to school if they are sick (fever, throwing up, head lice, etc.). The drawing starts over every month for a new chance to win the bikes. The Bikes have been donated by Horace Mann Insurance- Shawn Rehm agency.
YMCA BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING
The Y provides a safe and enriching environment for kids in Kindergarten - 5th Grade to explore their areas of interest, receive home-work assistance, stay active and meet new friends during before- and after-school hours, and on most school out days. Y programs also provide full-time programming during the summer months.
Rachel Albright
School Age Site Coordinator at Jefferson and Horace Mann/Roosevelt
YMCA OF CASS AND CLAY COUNTIES
(P) 626 773 6304 | (D) 218 359 2336 | (S) Jefferson 701 412 8970 (S) HMR 701 371 6277
(E) Rachel.Albright@ymcacassclay.org | (W) www.ymcacassclay.org
Jefferson Elementary Breakfast/Lunch Program
Fargo Public Schools is pleased to announce that Madison and Jefferson Elementary Schools will participate in a free breakfast and lunch program for the 2019-20 school year. This program is referred to as the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). CEP is a four-year reimbursement option for eligible schools participating in both the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program that wish to offer free meals to all students in a school with a high prevalence of low-income families without collecting free and reduced meal applications.
All students enrolled at Madison and Jefferson Elementary Schools may participate in the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program at no charge. Household applications are not required to receive free meals.
***SPECIAL NOTE***
Even though breakfast and lunch are free at Jefferson, if your child brings a bag lunch and wants milk, the milk has to be paid for at $.35 per carton.
Additional information on CEP can be found on the USDA website at this link.
STUDENT PICK-UP PROCEDURES
We will be asking to see the ID of the person picking up a child before the end of the school day if we are unsure of their identity. Thank you for having your ID with you or letting the adult that is picking your child up know we will be checking it. Sometimes we have other adults at the front desk and we want to keep student safety our priority.
PARKING LOT SAFETY
Thank you to all the drivers who take extra precautions when picking up or dropping off students in the parking lot. Please use the pickup and drop off area, so we do not block incoming and outgoing traffic. Last, please be sure the children are on the curb side of your vehicle, so they do not have to step into traffic. Thank you for your assistance.
GAP = GROCERY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
This is for families in the Jefferson neighborhood that are in need of help with food.
Tuesdays 4-5 pm. Fridays 10-11 am.
GAP is located at the Family Center in McCormick Park- Near CHARISM . Adults must be present to pick up food, do not send your children to do this.
Bring your own bags or boxes to carry the food home*
Food often available = fruit, veggies, meat, milk, juice, snacks, bread, canned goods
Positive Behavior at Jefferson
Every year, Jefferson has a different schoolwide theme. This theme is incorporated into our monthly Character assemblies and celebrations. This year’s theme is Bobcats are all different and that’s beautiful. It is a diversity theme that will focus on building an accepting and welcoming community at Jefferson
BOBCAT EXPECTATONS
Bobcats are in charge of their learning.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR GOLDEN TICKETS!
Golden Tickets are given to students when an adult notices them showing Bobcat expectations and following the school rules (being responsible, respectful and safe). At the end of each month 2 Golden Tickets are drawn from each class and those lucky winners get to sit at a special lunch table known as the Golden Table.
WHAT IS A SELF MANAGER?
Many students at Jefferson have shown that they ALWAYS show Bobcat expectations. These students can apply to be Self Managers. A Self Manager gets a special badge which means they do not need to use hall passes. There are also weekly celebrations for the Self Managers and many other privileges. Any student can be a Self Manager if they work hard at it and make good choices for themselves!
Jefferson Elementary School Parent Compact
Please click the link below to view the Jefferson Elementary School Parent Compact.
Jefferson Elementary School
Email: franklb@fargo.k12.nd.us
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/Jefferson
Location: 1701 4th Avenue South, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-4700