Jefferson Jotter
May 2021
Letter from Principal
Dear Jefferson Parents,
We are now in the final stretch of the 2020-21 school year! We've turned the corner... we've now had more in-person learning days than remote days and anticipate that we'll be able to maintain in-person learning for the remainder of the school year! Thank you again for following the health and safety protocols so our students and staff are safe at school.
As I reflect on the year it would be an understatement to say that it was a challenging year for students, families, and teachers. First, I'd like to thank you, the parents, for your perseverance through these challenging times as you balanced your professional and family responsibilities, while providing a positive and healthy home environment for your child(ren). You have also been a great partner in your child's education as you became a co-teacher during remote learning! Second, I'd like to acknowledge our wonderful students who showed resilience and always had a positive attitude, as they learned new school routines of wearing masks, using goog hand hygiene, being mindful of physical distancing, and learning how to play with peers in new ways. Our students were always happy to be engaged with their teachers and peers whether through the screen or in person! Finally, I'd like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our teachers and school staff for juggling many things this year as they adjusted their teaching practices for remote and in-person learning. Regardless of the challenges this posed the teachers have continued to stay focused on building positive relationships with your child and making their school experience positive, engaging, and safe during very unusual times. We are so fortunate to have such highly dedicated, caring, and talented staff working with the children! Please join me in showing your gratitude to our teachers/staff next week for National Teacher Appreciation Week.
I feel fortunate to work in a district where everyone pulls together during challenging times, supports those who experience hardship, and remains optimistic that things will get better if we stay together! We've all been pushed beyond our comfort zone the past 15 months, but somehow, someway it will make us better. As Haruki Murakami said, "And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won't even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in. That's what this storm is all about."
So as we continue to navigate this storm, remember to take care of yourself so that you can care for your family. Thank you again for being a partner in your child's education and for collaborating with us these final weeks of school!
Respectfully,
Lisa Halverson
Principal
Upcoming Events
Thursday, April 29
- Virtual Board of Education Meeting - 6:30 p.m. - Emerson Middle School
May 3 - 7 Teacher Appreciation Week
Monday, May 3
- No School for Students - Remote Learning Planning Day
Tuesday, May 4
- Virtual Kindergarten Roundups - 6:00 pm. - Carpenter and Roosevelt Schools
Wednesday, May 5
- Nurse's Day
Thursday, May 6
- Virtual Kindergarten Roundups - 6:00 pm. - Carpenter, Franklin, and Roosevelt Schools
Thursday, May 13
- Virtual Board of Education Meeting - 7:00 p.m. - Emerson Middle School
Monday, May 31
- No School for Students and Staff - Memorial Day
Thursday, June 3
- Virtual Committee of the Whole Board Meeting - 7:00 p.m. - Jefferson School
Wednesday, June 9
- Last Day of Preschool
Inspire every child to discover, learn, achieve, and care
Jefferson School Information
School Nurse's Day
I also invite you to join me in celebrating School Nurse's Day on May 5th. This has been a particularly busy year in the health office, as they have navigated the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) guidance for maintaining student and staff safety as more information became available throughout the COVID pandemic. Our wonderful health office staff include: Paula Coleman, school nurse, and Margaret Temari, district nurse.
Families who go through the car line in the back parking lot know that it can take a long time to get through the car line to pick up your child. The process also takes a considerable amount of teacher and staff time after the official end to the morning session or the end of the school day. To help improve the efficiency of dismissal the following will be implemented:
- teachers will have the morning students ready for dismissal by 11:20 (Wed 10:55) and the afternoon students ready by 2:55 (Wed 2:05).
- we've extended the drop off/pick up zone to accommodate five cars. The drop off/pick up zone will continue to be marked with orange cones.
- we ask that parents or caregivers get their child buckled into the car seat as efficiently as possible.
Per Illinois State Law all preschool aged children need to be secured in a car seat when a vehicle is in motion. Please do not allow your child to ride in the front seat of the car when dropping them off at school, even if you are in the car lane. Your child's safety is very important to us and it can be confusing for children when they are sometimes allowed to ride in the car without a car seat and other times need to be in the car seat.
As new information becomes available and new guidance is provided, our district nurse, Margaret Temari, provides updated information for families. To get the latest update for return to school guidelines click here.
The district is seeking substitute teachers, lunchroom supervisors, and substitute custodians to work in the District 64 schools. If you are interested in applying click here or call 847-318-4300 to inquire.
No School
Students will not have school on Monday, May 3rd due to a Remote Learning Planning Day and Monday, May 31st in observance of Memorial Day. Please mark your calendars!
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