Jefferson News
October 2019
Principal Corner
Thank you to all the families that came out and played with us at the Fall Festival. Our PTA has worked hard at transitioning this event into a community celebration rather than a fundraiser and I think that the results were amazing. If you like what the PTA did, I encourage you to donate to them to show that you too believe in their mission.
The year is up and running for our students and staff. Our 5th and 6th grade girl’s basketball team has more students involved than before and the word is that they rock! While the girls are playing, the boys may participate in our after school Coding Camp held from 3:30-4:30pm October 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 with a snack provided. We will host our girls Coding Camp during the boy’s basketball season.
Celebrate STEM Day is coming to Jefferson. Every grade level will host a science or STEM experiment on the morning of October 17th. Look for information about our Celebrate STEM day soon. We would love parents to either volunteer with their classroom teacher or just attend with their children. We want this to be a family event.
One of the tenants of Love and Logic says that the students who enjoy the best academic success are the ones who contribute to the family through family chores. Kids who form the habit of completing chores successfully also usually do the same with their academic assignments. When we treat kids like guests, true self-esteem plummets and some develop attitudes of entitlement both of which contribute to low achievement.
Here are the Love and Logic ABCs for training kids to do chores.
A – Assign every member of the family a meaningful contribution. Think: What am I doing that my kid could do on a regular basis. Allow them to have a deadline for each contribution. Careful not to say “Do it now.” That only creates struggles.
B - Be quiet, avoid nagging. Just set the deadline and walk away.
C – Consequences preceded by sincere empathy will do the teaching.
When children refuse, forget or do their chores haphazardly, some parents complete the chore for the child and expect their child to repay the time and energy expended to accomplish those contributions. This can look like doing extra chores for the family, or staying home or doing without some privilege. This could also mean paying the parent or a professional to do the job.
Remember – Anger and frustration create resentment, while sincere empathy (WITHOUT SARCASM) creates responsibility.
Love your children although it may be difficult at time and support them through this most challenging transition.
National Walk and Bike to School Day
ACHD has also donated flashing red safety lights the students will receive when they get to school that they can use at home and going anywhere.
October 5th Free Community Event
Character Ed Assembly
If your students are receiving a certificate, you will be notified by their teacher and you are welcome to come join us for that hour.
We will be having "Bob-Bishop the Math Magician" perform at that time.
Congratulations to all the winners.
Parent / Teacher Conferences in October
Teachers will then be sending home assigned times to those families that did NOT sign up online. Please email your teacher with any conflict concerns or call the main office at this time.
October 23rd:
No Kindergarten classes - Kindergarten Conferences will start at 8 am and end at 8 pm.
Grades 1-6 conferences will start at 3:30 pm and end at 8 pm.
October 24th:
No School for ALL Grades - Conferences will start at 8:30 am and end at 8 pm.
October 25th:
No School for All Grades and No Conferences
Red Ribbon Rally Day
5th grade will be attending the Red Ribbon Rally at the State Capitol that day but everyone is encouraged to wear red in recognition of drug prevention and making healthy choices.
Colder Weather
Students should not be dropped off before 8:20 am in the morning; we do not have supervision outside until 8:20 and with the colder weather, it is less time the students have to be outside in the mornings.
What if it is raining????
A sprinkle - all students are outside
Pouring rain - in the morning we invite the students inside to the gym and cafeteria starting at 8:15 am.
What if it snows?????
All students are outside unless our playground is deemed unsafe due to ice.
Thank you Parents
- THANK YOU to all the parents that signed their students up for the free Flu Clinic that we had at Jefferson. We had around 50 students this year and we hope it helped you out and made it easy for you with your busy schedules. It is just another way to help keep our school healthier.
If you missed the clinic you can still take you and your family to Central District Health or your local doctor or any immediate care facility.
Second
-THANK YOU for helping us keep your students safe before and after school. Using the crosswalks on Latah and in the parking lot really helps students from running in between buses and parked cars.
Remember - with such a small parking lot, only buses and daycare vans are allowed in the parking lots before and after school so parking on Latah in the legal spots is perfectly ok with the use of the crosswalks.
Title One Parent Notification
Title One Parent Notification Of Highly Qualified Staff
Jefferson Elementary is a Title One School and federal law requires that as a parent of a student or students attending schools receiving federal program funds, you have the right to know:
Is my child's teacher licensed to teach the grades and subject(s) assigned? Yes, all teachers at Jefferson are licensed to teach the grades and subjects assigned.
Is my child's teacher teaching with a provisional license, meaning that the state has waived the requirements for my child’s teacher? There are no teachers at Jefferson currently teaching with a provisional license.
What degree or degrees does my child’s teacher hold? All teachers at Jefferson have a college degree. Please check with your child’s teachers if you are interested in the degrees they hold.
If there are instructional aides working with my child, what are their qualifications? Jefferson has 4 full time and 2 part time Title One instructional aides this year. All have at least a high school diploma, 48 hours of college credits, an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree, or successful completion of the ETS Paraprofessional Praxis test.
If my child will be taught for 4 or more consecutive weeks this year by a teacher who is not highly qualified, will I be notified in a timely manner? Yes, The Boise School District requires that every parent be notified in a timely manner if their child(ren) are taught by a teacher who is not highly qualified.