Dear Jefferson Families,

The month of January flew right by, and we are headed into February with no signs of slowing down! On Monday, January 30th we welcomed our newest students in our Transitional Kindergarten program. As we move into February, we celebrate Black History Month, Healthy Heart Month, as well as many more opportunities for our students to learn and grow.

Believe it or not, the first semester of the school year is wrapping up. Friday, February 3rd marks the official end of the semester, and Monday the 6th is a non-student day where teachers work on preparing first semester progress reports. You can expect your child to bring their progress report home in their backpack on Friday, February 17th.

I encourage you to take some time to reflect with your child on their progress report and their growth and achievement up to this point of the year. As a fellow parent, a few things my wife and I try to do when reflecting with our own children include the following:

1. Begin with the positives- Have your child reflect on why they performed well in a particular subject area.
2. Acknowledge effort- This is something our school values deeply, as we seek to foster a growth mindset with our students. I would encourage you to play close attention to the “21st Century Skills” section to glean information about your child’s effort at school or within various content areas.
3. Talk about opportunities for growth- Have your child reflect on areas they want to get better at and help them set some specific, attainable, time-bound goals.

Above everything, my wife and I always aim to communicate we love our children no matter what, and we are their greatest cheerleaders as they continue on their educational journey.

Kind regards,

Steve Hopkins

Greetings, Charger families!

We are excited to share a wonderful opportunity open to Jefferson’s young authors. The Washington State Parent Teacher Association (WSPTA) is sponsoring an essay contest in which students write about an influential role model who has had a profound impact on their life. The role model must be a real person the student has interacted with, not a fictional character. Students may wish to consider the following questions (among others) when thinking about who to celebrate and writing their essay:

• Why is this role model important in my life?
• What life lessons, ethics, or skills has this influential role model taught me?
• Why do I look up to this role model and appreciate having him or her in my life?
• How would my life be different without this role model?
• How would other kids benefit from having a similar role model in their lives?

Student essays will be scored on current state standards for informational/explanatory writing in grades K-2 and opinion writing in grades 3-5. The deadline for submissions is February 15th. For more information about participation guidelines and access to the online application form and resources, please visit the WSPTA website.

Good luck, authors!

Winter Graham, K-2 ELA & Math Coach

wgraham@everettsd.org

Jessica Lundgren, 3-5 ELA & Math Coach

jlundgren@everettsd.org

February is a great month to visit a museum! The Shack Art Center in Everett is free and open to the public most days. In Seattle, the Frye Art Museum is free and totally worth the trip!

Deadline for the District Art Show: February 2nd (I will bring it to the district office on February 3rd). Only original, high-quality works that demonstrate a student's best effort will be submitted for the show. No coloring pages, paint by numbers or sketches will be accepted.

Thanks for doing your best every week in Art!

Andrea Aguilera (Gardner)

Art Teacher

Jefferson Elementary

Happy February and happy heart month! Students have begun learning and practicing jump rope skills in PE. Jumping rope is a great body+brain exercise! Not only is it great exercise for the heart, but it also helps to develop skills like memory, focus, and spatial awareness. If you happen to have a jump rope at home, see if your student would like to practice or show you what they have been working on. Jumping rope is a great way to improve Cardiorespiratory Endurance (CRE), a component of fitness Jefferson students practice in P.E..

CRE is the ability of our heart and lungs to supply oxygen to our muscles during long periods of physical activity. Students are also working on pacing to find a just-right speed while they jog. While we might think of long distance endurance athletes like marathon runners having great Cardiorespiratory Endurance, there are many ways that your child can build and strengthen their endurance. Along with jumping rope, dancing, jogging, riding a bike, swimming, hiking, and team sports are all great ways to train the heart and lungs to work more efficiently.

Consider your child’s interests and natural skills when encouraging exercise. Movement-based activities are a fun way to develop healthy, positive exercise habits!

Calling all dads, uncles, grandpas, and father figures! Join Mr. Hopkins and the TOP Dogs on February 16th at 6:00 p.m. in the cafeteria to hear more about the WATCH D.O.G.S. program and how you can be a hero in our school! Pizza and beverages provided by the PTA.

A BIG thank you to everyone who donated books to our book drive. Our vending machine will be well stocked because of your generosity!