Jefferson Jotter
February 2020
Letter from Principal
Dear Jefferson Parents,
Happy New Year to all of our Jefferson families! I hope you enjoyed your holidays and time with your children over winter break. Since returning from break our preschoolers have been learning about the seasons and our kindergarten students are starting to learn about different cultures around the world.
Now that we are in 2020, it is time to think about the 2020-21 school year. Please read further in the Jotter about how to enroll your child for preschool or kindergarten for the 2020-21 school year, as the steps are different. All students need to enroll each school year. If you have any questions about the various steps to the enrollment process please call my secretary, Kathy Luppo, at 847-318-5360.
January to March is my favorite time of a school year, because the skills and concepts the children have been working so hard to learn become more evident and integrated into their everyday experiences and interactions! For the child who was learning how to be a part of a school community, they are now more independent in taking care of their personal belongings and following routines. The child who was hesitant to participate earlier in the year has now found his/her voice and is volunteering at circle, spontaneously making comments, and engaging in conversations with peers. And the child who knew how to rote count, has expanded his/her depth of number sense so now counts out a specific number of items, groups items to make parts of a bigger number, and knows that zero means none. We hope that you too are seeing great growth in your child's development. Preschool parents will have an opportunity to speak more with their child's teacher at the upcoming Parent - Teacher Conferences and our EDK parents will have an opportunity to see what their child has been learning at the upcoming Family Cultural Night.
I look forward to observing your child grow and learn in the next few months!
Lisa Halverson
Principal
Upcoming Events
Monday, February 3 - Yoga - afternoon classes
Wednesday, February 5 - D64 Parent University - 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Field School
Friday, February 7 - Kiwanis Spaghetti Dinner - 4:45 - 7:30 p.m. - Park Ridge Presbyterian Church
Monday, February 10 - Dog Therapy - morning classes
Yoga - afternoon classes
Tuesday, February 11 - Preschool Screenings by Appointment
Monday, February 17 - No School - Presidents' Day
Tuesday, February 18 - Kindergarten Pre-enrollment begins
Board of Education Meeting - 7:00 p.m. - Jefferson
Thursday, February 20 - PK Parent - Teacher Conferences - 4:00 - 7:45 p.m.
Monday, February 24 - Parent Group - 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Dog Therapy - afternoon classes
Cultural Night - 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. - EDK morning classes
Wednesday, February 26 - Library Lady - morning and afternoon classes
Cultural Night - 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. - EDK afternoon classes
Monday, March 2 - PK Picture Day
Wednesday, March 4 - Parent Workshop - 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. - Franklin School
Thursday, March 5 - PK Parent - Teacher Conferences - 4:00 - 7:45 p.m.
Inspire every child to discover, learn, achieve, and care
Jefferson School Information
We've had some parents who fail to make their PK or EDK tuition payment by the first of the month, therefore, are being accessed a late fee ($25 if payment isn't made by the 3rd of the month and $50 if payment isn't made by the 20th of the month). If late with payments, not only are you responsible for paying a larger bill but your child is also in jeopardy of being dropped from the program! Please stay current with payments so your child can benefit from the Jefferson School programs!
Withdrawing and/or Dropping Days
If you withdraw from the Preschool or EDK program and/or want to drop a day(s) you must notify the Jefferson School secretary, Kathy Luppo, by the 14th of the month or before an invoice is submitted. If you notify the office after the 14th or have already received an invoice you will be responsible for paying the tuition for the upcoming month.
Developmental Screenings
On a monthly basis the Early Childhood Diagnostic Team conducts screenings of children ages three to five. The screenings are conducted by a team, consisting of an occupational therapist, speech language pathologist, psychologist, and social worker. The areas assessed include motor, communication, play skills, pre-academic and thinking skills.
The next Preschool Screenings is scheduled for Tuesday, February 11. If you have concerns about your child's development in any of these areas please call 847-318-5360 to schedule an appointment for the screening.
Coffee with the Director of Student Services
Dr. Lea Anne Frost, District 64’s Director of Student Services, will host a monthly coffee for parents to express their concerns, ask questions, or discuss any matters related to the Student Services Department. The next coffee will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. on Monday, February 3 in the Roosevelt School conference room, 1001 South Fairview Avenue, Park Ridge. Please feel free to attend all or part of this meeting.
More coffees will follow on March 10, April 22 and May 19 with schedules to vary between morning and afternoon and locations to vary between schools. See the entire schedule here.
The All Abilities group, in collaboration with the District 64 Student Services department, is hosting a “Planning for the Future of Children with Special Needs” parent workshop on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 from 7-9 p.m. at Franklin Elementary School, 2401 Manor Lane, Park Ridge. Attorney Mr. Brian Rubin, the founder of Rubin Law, will be presenting on the use of government benefits as well as estate and future planning for parents of students with special needs. Please join us for this informative event by registering and identifying any specific questions you might have to be addressed. For questions on this workshop, contact Maura Cullen at maura.cullen@yahoo.com or Dr. Lea Anne Frost at lfrost@d64.org.
Frustration, we all experience it, even children! Learning how to deal with frustration is an important skill for young children to develop. If they don't learn how to deal with frustration it can lead to feelings of anger and/or temper tantrums. To learn more about how you can support your child manage frustration click here.
No School
Mark your calendars! Students and staff will have Monday, February 17th off in observance of Presidents' Day. Please mark your calendars!
Health Office Reminders
District 64 school health offices are always busy, but we tend to see an increase in illness-related visits at this time of year. Please review these important updates about what we are experiencing:
Temperature guideline: To ensure that students recuperate adequately at home, and to minimize the spread of infection to others, students with an oral temperature of 100 degrees or above will be sent home, and will not be allowed to return to school until they have been fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. In addition, students who feel ill but who do not have a fever may be sent home from the health office, based on presenting symptoms. In these cases, students should remain home until it is determined by the parents and students that they have sufficiently recovered to return to school.
Influenza, or the “flu,” is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses. Illness can range from mild to severe, infecting the nose, throat, and lungs. Winter is generally the time for influenza, with activity peaking in January or later, but outbreaks can occur as early as October or as late as May. General signs and symptoms of the flu include fever or feeling feverish, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue. The flu can be spread to others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop to 5-7 days after becoming sick. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting an influenza vaccine each season. Vaccines don’t completely guarantee against getting sick, but those who have been vaccinated and get the flu will have milder symptoms. Please consult with your primary care provider regarding whether the vaccines are appropriate for you and your family members. For more information on seasonal influenza visit: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/index.htm
We typically also notice an increase in other illnesses such as upper respiratory infections (“common cold”) and strep throat. To learn more about the differences between the flu and colds, click here. For information about strep throat and sore throats, visit the KidsHealth website.
Cough drops are considered over-the-counter medication, and are treated as any other medication in school. If your child is coughing enough to require lozenges for relief, he or she may be unable to focus on academic work, and may be contagious to others. Please discuss this need with your child’s physician/practitioner and provide the required documentation to administer medication at school. All medications, including cough drops, will be administered in the health office. A water bottle is often an effective substitute and is safer and healthier than cough drops.
GOOD HEALTH HABITS offer other ways to help prevent illness:
Wash hands often with soap and water, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers
Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth
Cover mouth and nose with tissue while coughing or sneezing, or cough/sneeze into inner elbow
Avoid close contact with those who are ill; avoid sharing cups, utensils
Stay home when sick
Get plenty of rest, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids, eat nutritious foods, and remain physically active
See What’s Going on in Our Community!
From the library to the park district, our communities of Park Ridge-Niles have lots to offer. For information on all the latest happenings, be sure to check the Community Info & Events webpage.Preschool Information
Registration for 2020-21 School Year
Thank you to the families who submitted the Reserve a Spot form. We are excited to have your three year old attend Jefferson for another year of learning and/or have a younger sibling coming to Jefferson! Please note that four year olds attend in the afternoon from 12:25 - 3:00, except on Wednesday 12:00 - 2:10 p.m. You will have the option of either 4 days (M,T, Th, F) or 5 days per week. Beginning February 3rd enrollment will be open to the general public for the 2020-21 school year.
There are two steps to the registration process for the 2020-21 school year: pre-enrollment (begins in February) and registration (end of April).
Next Steps:
1. Current student who is kindergarten age for fall 2020
- Complete the pre-enrollment form by going to the district website. Starting February 18, 2020 the pre-enrollment form will be available on the district website. Through the pre-enrollment process you will be asked to upload your residency documents.
- If you plan to enroll in the Jefferson Extended Day Kindergarten program, you will receive a confirmation email after your pre-enrollment has been approved/completed. The confirmation email will provide you with information/link to register for the Extended Day Kindergarten program.
2. Sibling new to Jefferson
- Complete the pre-enrollment form by going to the district website. If you submitted the "Reserve a Spot" form by January 31st a spot has already been reserved for the sibling. However, you still need to complete the pre-enrollment form, which will be available starting February 3, 2020. Through the pre-enrollment process you will be asked to upload your residency documents.
3. Current student who isn't kindergarten age for fall 2020
- By completing the Reserve a Spot form you have taken care of pre-enrollment. You will receive an email on April 21, 2020 from the District to complete the registration process through the Parent Portal. If your child has an IEP for the preschool classroom you still need to complete this step of the registration process.
4. Current speech only student
- If your child will only receive speech services and won't be attending our preschool program, you will receive an email on April 21, 2020 from the District to complete the registration process through the Parent Portal. If you would like your child to attend Jefferson's preschool program and didn't complete a Reserve a Spot form you will need to complete the pre-enrollment form by going to the district website.
Parent - Teacher Conferences are just around the corner! Parent - Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, February 20 and March 5 from 4:00 - 7:45 p.m. The teachers are excited to have an opportunity to share all of the wonderful growth your child has made across all areas of development! Teachers will be sending you sign up information soon.
The teachers are finishing up the winter benchmark assessments in literacy, numeracy, and vocabulary. After the assessments are completed, the teachers will review the data to determine how to appropriately group students for instruction so they continue to grow. Teachers will share more information about your child's progress at the Parent - Teacher Conference.
The topic for the next parent group is about child nutrition and the Advocate Children's Health Resource Center. The group will be held on Monday, February 24 starting at 9:00 a.m. Childcare is available. We hope to see you there!
Summer Program
Jefferson will be offering a World's of Wonder program for our current preschoolers again this summer. Information that is included on the district website and in other school newsletters is for current kindergarten through seventh grade students. The registration for Jefferson's WOW program will be done via paper registration, not through the online district registration. More information will be shared with families in March.
Preschool Learning!
Learning to Rhyme!
Preschools Learn About Forces in Motion!
Working on Grasping Skills!
Extended Day Kindergarten (EDK) Information
Family Cultural Night
Recently, our EDK students started learning about different cultures from around the world. The students are learning about various traditions, landmarks, and languages and comparing them to their own cultural traditions and experiences. The students are excited to learn about other cultures and are looking forward to sharing some projects with their families during the EDK Family Cultural Nights. The morning classes will have their Cultural Night on Monday, February 24th from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. and the afternoon classes will have their event on Wednesday, February 26th from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m
After 28 years working with the Extended Day Kindergarten program, Mrs. Tsevis will be retiring at the end of January. We are saddened to see Mrs. Tsevis leave Jefferson School, but know that she deserves to have more time to pursue her hobbies and volunteer activities. Throughout the years Mrs. Tsevis has touched the lives of many children and know that she too has been touched by our amazing students! We wish Mrs. Tsevis the best and look forward to her coming back as a substitute and/or to visit the students!