Jefferson Jotter
March 2022
Letter from Principal
Dear Jefferson Parents,
We are in the midst of my favorite time of the school year (January to March) 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 has never been 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 and play with peers. And the child who could recognize their name in print, has expanded his/her knowledge of letters and sounds so now knows how to write their name, is using "brave spelling" and writing the letters heard in words, and is reading environmental print or high frequency words. I hope that you too are seeing great growth in your child's development. I look forward to observing all of the Jefferson students grow and learn the final months of the school year!
Preschool parents will have an opportunity to speak more with their child's teacher at Parent Teacher conferences. Our EDK parents will have an opportunity to see what their child has learned about different cultures at the upcoming Cultural Night.
Please read further in the Jotter to learn more about the next phase of our construction project, registration for the 2022-23 school year, and upcoming events and dates at Jefferson.
Have a safe, relaxing, and fun-filled spring break!
Respectfully,
Lisa Halverson
Principal
Upcoming Events
Thursday, March 3
- Parent Teacher Conferences - 4:00 - 7:45 p.m.
Friday, March 4
- No School for Students - Records Planning Day
Monday, March 7
- Picture Day
- Weekly COVID Testing for Students - 1:00 - 2:45 p.m.
- Jefferson Construction Open House - 7:00 p.m. - Jefferson
Tuesday, March 8
- Preschool Screenings by Appointment - 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Friday, March 11
- No School for Students - Teacher Institute Day
Monday, March 14
- Weekly COVID Testing for Students - 1:00 - 2:45 p.m.
- EDK Culture Night (morning classes) - 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 16
- EDK Culture Night (afternoon classes) - 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 17
- Parent Teacher Conferences - 4:00 - 7:45 p.m.
- Board of Education Meeting - 7:00 p.m. - Field School
March 21 - March 25
- No School for Students and Staff - Spring Break
Monday, March 28
- School Resumes
- Weekly COVID Testing for Students - 1:00 - 2:45 p.m.
Monday, April 4
- Weekly COVID Testing for Students - 1:00 - 2:45 p.m.
Tuesday, April 5
- Preschool Screenings by Appointment
Monday, April 11
- Weekly COVID Testing for Students - 1:00 - 2:45 p.m.
Wednesday, April 13
- Picture Retakes
Friday, April 15
- No School for Students and Staff
Inspire every child to discover, learn, achieve, and care
Jefferson School Information
We are starting to move into the next phase of the Jefferson renovation project. Beginning Saturday, March 19th a section of the west side of the building will go under construction. This section is currently utilized by the Extended Day Kindergarten program for classroom and lunchroom space, as well, as a few office spaces for other Jefferson staff. The four EDK classrooms will be moved to the mobile units that are being delivered this week. The EDK students and staff will occupy the mobile units when they return from spring break on Monday, March 28th. The staff members who have office spaces in the west side of the building will be relocated to another space within Jefferson.
Due to limited parking on Greendale Avenue for preschool and Emerson parents, the EDK drop off and pick up locations will continue to vary depending upon the time of day. Below is an explanation of how EDK drop off and pick up will proceed between March 28 and the last day of school, June 2nd.
- Before School Care program - will continue in its current location so parents should continue to use door #4
- Morning EDK students - drop off will remain at door #6
- Afternoon EDK students -
Because Greendale Avenue is used for preschool and Emerson parents picking up their children, your child's pick up location will be dependent upon the time you arrive.
- Students being picked up before 3:10 will need to come to the main entrance door #7. For families who consistently come before 3:10 we will gather the students up ahead of time and bring them to door #7. If you don't typically come before 3:10 we will have to call into the classroom, have your child get ready, and then a staff member will walk your child to door #7. Please understand that if you don't typically pick up before 3:10 it may take awhile for your child to get from the mobile classroom to door #7.
- Families who are able to wait until after 3:10 to pick up their child will be able to park on Greendale Avenue as the preschool and Emerson parents should be gone by then. You will need to park along the curb on Greendale Avenue. Once parked, you will need to go through the gate to get to the mobile units. The staff will meet you there and will call into the classrooms to notify the teacher that your child is ready to be picked up. Do not park behind the cars in the angled parking spots as Jefferson staff park there and may need to leave before you return to your car.
In addition to the EDK classrooms being moved over spring break a few other projects will be completed. The floor tiles in the main office, nurse's office, principal's office, speech waiting room, diagnostic team room, and the two conference rooms will be removed and abated for asbestos. The asbestos abatement in conducted under strict regulations with everything being sealed off, professionally removed and taken off site, and cleaned. Before students and staff are allowed back into the building air quality tests are conducted to ensure that it is safe. After the tiles are removed, the floors in these effected areas will be down to concrete so some areas rugs will be utilized. The west section of the building that will be under construction will be partitioned off from the remainder of the building so students and staff will not have access to the area.
While the construction project will cause some changes and inconvenience, we are excited about having the building renovated and look forward to having a new interior look next school year! Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation as we go through the next few months. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me at 847-318-4249 or lhalverson@d64.org.
Jefferson Construction Open House
The district will be hosting a Construction Open House on Monday, March 7th from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Jefferson gymnasium. Drawings of site plans will be available for review and attendees will have an opportunity to ask District 64 administrators questions about the construction plans.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. If you have concerns about your child's development in any of these areas please call 847-318-4290 to schedule an appointment for the screening. The next Preschool Screening is scheduled for March 8.
If your preschooler or EDK student had/has to quarantine between December 13 - April 8 you will receive a credit on your child's May/June tuition invoice. Any tuition credits due to quarantines after April 8 will be sent to parents in June. If you have any questions about your credit please contact Kathy Luppo at 847-318-5360.
In case of an accident or messy play, please send a change of clothes for your preschooler and/or kindergartener to keep at school. We continue to have a number of students needing a change of clothes, but they don't have anything to change into in their locker. While we have a few spare clothes in the office we don't have enough for each situation nor all of the necessary sizes. Also, remember to write your child's name on the clothing tags so that it can be returned to its rightful owner!
No School
This Friday, March 4 is a Records Planning Day for teachers so there will be no school for students. Friday, March 11 will also be a non attendance day for students as it is a Teacher Institute Day. Spring Break is the week of March 21 - 25. Please mark your calendars!
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.EDK Students Enjoying the Snow!
Afternoon Preschoolers Learning About the Planets!
Morning Preschoolers Learning Ball Skills!
preschool information
Our preschoolers will have their school photos taken on Monday, March 7. Color Portraits has established 3 ways in which you can order pictures: ordering online, ordering by phone, or scanning the QR code. Payment must be made prior to or on picture day. Read this link to learn how to order.
In mid February our preschool parents were invited to complete the 5 Essential Survey for Jefferson School. In order to receive a summary report we must reach a specific response rate. Unfortunately, we are currently below that response rate. The teaching staff and I value your input and feedback about how we are providing services to you and your child so invite you to complete the following survey by Friday, March 11th. Make certain you complete the parent survey which is on the far right.
If you have completed the 5 Essentials Survey for one of your other children in District 64 you will need to complete a separate survey for Jefferson School. Thank you in advance for taking time to complete this important survey so that the Jefferson School staff can learn from you and respond to your feedback.
This past month, our school nurse has been checking the students' vision and hearing. If any concerns arise from the vision and hearing screenings you will be notified by the school nurse.
Caring Tree
Thank you for catching your child in acts of kindness and caring this past month and sending the note to school so their act of kindness could be posted on the Caring Tree. The students enjoyed seeing their acts of kindness/caring posted on the wall and watched the tree become overgrown with hearts! Check out the picture!
Registration is underway! We currently have openings in our preschool program for next school year. If you know of families looking for a wonderful preschool experience please encourage them to register or call the school to get more information or to arrange a tour.
For our current families, see below for registration details based on your child's situation.
1. Current student who is kindergarten age for fall 2022
- Log into your Parent Portal account and click "Forms" on the left hand side. Then click the Enrollment tab. Complete the Registration 2022-23 forms. You may be asked to upload necessary documents, among them proof of residency.
- Your registration isn't considered final until it has been reviewed by the school secretary. You will receive an email confirmation once your registration has been approved.
2. Sibling new to Jefferson
- Complete the New Student Registration by going to the district website.
- Complete the New Registration form at this link. Here you will fill out basic information and need to indicate the year the sibling will begin at Jefferson (i.e. 2022-23).
- Within 1-2 days after submitting, you will receive an email with a link to the Parent Portal. Add the sibling to your Parent Portal account and complete the enrollment forms.
3. Current student who isn't kindergarten age for fall 2022
- You will receive an email from the District indicating it is time to Re-Register for the 2022-2023 school year. Re-registration begins April 19, 2022. If your child has an IEP for the preschool classroom you still need to re-register.
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 from the District indicating it is time to Re-Register for the 2022-2023 school year. Re-registration begins April 19, 2022. If you would like your child to attend Jefferson's preschool program and didn't complete a Reserve a Spot form, please contact the school at 847-318-5360.
If you have any questions about the registration process for Jefferson please contact the school secretary, Kathy, at 847-318-5360. If you have questions about the kindergarten registration process contact the secretary at the home school.
extended day kindergarten (edk) information
Our EDK students have enjoyed learning about different cultures these past few weeks. As a culminating activity to the Culture Unit of Study, EDK parents and students are invited to attend the EDK Culture Night. The Culture Night for morning EDK students is Monday, March 14 and the Culture Night for afternoon EDK students is Wednesday, March 16. Both events will be held from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
With spring comes varying weather conditions. Our EDK students will continue to have recess outside on a daily basis unless it is actively raining or snowing or the temperatures drop below 30 degrees. Please remember to send your child to school with the appropriate outerwear, including hat, glove/mittens, and/or boots.
When we return from spring break, we will go back to having students seated 3 feet apart during lunch when indoors. When the weather turns warmer we will return to eating lunch outside on warm days.
When sending a lunch to school with your child, don't forget to pack a fork and/or spoon and a napkin, as the school does not provide eating utensils or napkins for the students. If you are interested in purchasing white or chocolate milk for your child you can do so through MyMealOrder. For instructions, click here.
If your child will be absent from the EDK program, please call or email the Jefferson School nurse, Paula Coleman, at 847-318-5441 or pcoleman@d64.org. If your child attends the Beyond the Bell program please also notify the Park District.
Changes with EDK Enrollment
If you are planning to drop days and/or the EDK program in entirety the office must be notified by the 14th of the month or before an invoice is submitted. Otherwise, you will be expected to pay for the upcoming month even if your child doesn't attend all of the days covered on the invoice. If you have any billing questions contact Valerie Varhalla at 847-318-4322 or vvarhalla@d64.org.