Jefferson Journal

We’re now well into the second quarter, and it’s inspiring to see the focus and enthusiasm our students bring to school each day.

Classrooms are alive with learning, collaboration, and creativity as students build on their skills and continue to make impressive progress.

Our Rangers are showing PRIDE—Prepared, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Excellence—in everything they do. Whether working hard on academics, helping a classmate, or showing leadership around our school, their efforts make our school a place where everyone can grow and succeed.

The coming weeks are filled with exciting events and opportunities to connect as a school community. Be sure to read through this newsletter for updates, important dates, and highlights of the great things happening around our school. Be sure to check out our Facebook page for even more photos and videos!

Thank you for your continued partnership and support—together, we’re making this an outstanding year!

Warmly,
Mrs. Platt & Mr. Eberly

35980 Lakeshore Blvd. Eastlake, OH 44095

Office Email: tj.office@weschools.org

Main Office Line: 440-942-7244

Attendance Line: 855-612-7207 (24 Hours)

• Mrs. Candace Platt, Principal
• Mr. David Eberly, Assistant Principal
• Mrs. Lori Dugger, Principal's Secretary
• Mrs. Wendy Flick, Administrative Secretary
• Mrs. Jacque Sparent, Family Liaison
• Ms. Katie Klemencic, School Nurse

• 11/10- Mobile Dentist
• 11/11- Veterans Day- Wear Red, White, and Blue!
• 11/12- Picture Retake Day
• 11/13- Rangers Rock- Wear Neon Colors!
• 11/17-11/21- Book Fair Week
• 11/18- PTO Meeting- 3:10 PM (Choir Performing!)
• 11/20- Raising Cane's Dine to Donate
• Community Literacy Event: Right to Read Screening at South High School- 6:30 PM
• 11/21- Family Game Night & Evening Book Fair Shopping- 5:30 PM
• 11/27-12/1- No School- Thanksgiving Break

Don't forget that school photo make up day is November 12, 2025 - before photo day you can click the link below and register your online account. You will need to log in using your students First name, Last name and Student ID number exactly as it appears in power school. Your images should be ready in the gallery within 48 hours of make-up day and you can then log in to view and order them. As always if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Cirino Photography they are here and happy to help at 40 953-8200 or cuyla.cirino@gmail.com

Here is the online link https://my.photoday.com/gallery/jefferson-elementary-portr

Congratulations to our overall Yearbook Cover Contest Winner Aerionna Harris! Aerionna's design will be featured as our front cover this year.

Our back cover will also feature a winner from every grade level who submitted a design. Congratulations to:

• 1st- Mason Wiles
• 2nd- Max Vahcic
• 3rd- Harper Pavlick
• 4th- Filip Letic
• 5th- Hailey Wolf

Look for details on ordering a yearbook in the spring to see these great designs!

Now that we are into November the holidays are fast approaching! Over the last three years our school community has come together to "Help-A-Friend" and it has been a truly special experience for everyone involved. The holidays can be a stressful time for families as they try to provide gifts. Many people have reached out to see if they can help others during this season. Please fill out THIS form if you need help or can provide help. We may not be able to help everyone, but we will try. We will follow up with you if you fill out this form to coordinate the next steps. This is not a required form, only if you are interested.

In Ohio, we know that the weather can change at a moment's notice! Please be sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the changing temperature. We go outside for arrival, dismissal, and recess any time that the wind chill is 20 degrees or above. Winter coats, hats, gloves, and boots are recommended. If you are in need of assistance providing winter weather gear for your child or children, please fill out THIS form and we will to to help.

In October we were focusing on the "R" in our PRIDE Promise which is "Respectful". Students who exemplified this characteristic were invited to a Party with the Principals at the beginning of November. We had snacks, games, and play time on the playground to recognize these students. This month, we are focusing on showing "Integrity".

Congratulations to the following students for being "Respectful":

• Kindergarten: Bennett Peeples, Daisy McCarthy, Jade Tominec, Connor Zaharewicz, Elliott Pleichner
• 1st Grade: Emerson Lehtonen, Baker Simmons, Grace Armintrout, Ari Pugh, Elliott Grau
• 2nd Grade: Tristan Carney, Niko Cindric, Lexi Schoenbeck
• 3rd Grade: AJ Schoenbeck, Elliot Alexander, Casey Frances, Carter Johnson
• 4th Grade: Quay-Shawn Pruitt, Mallory Lunato, Aerionna Harris
• 5th Grade: Harlee Masters, Peyton Gasiewski, Cayden Harris
  

Attendance Matters! Every week we award the homeroom with the best attendance from the week before with our attendance trophy! They get to have it (and bragging rights!) for the week until they pass it to the next winners. Any homeroom that wins three times in a grading period will get a special prize.

Congratulations to our winners: Miss Lewis' Class, Ms. Gibson's Class, and Ms. Henrich's Class

Students are nominated by our staff members for showing PRIDE and kindness and recognized weekly. Keep up the great work!

We try to keep our lost and found under control and reunite students with their items and quickly as possible. Unfortunately, it is now filling up with many unclaimed items. If your child lost something, please have them check the lost and found. We will be clearing it out before Thanksgiving Break. Please write your child's last name on your items, if possible, to make it easier to get their items back to them in the event they are misplaced. Thank you!

We have a limited number of new Jefferson Rangers t-shirts left. Click the button below to order and we will send them home with your student immediately. Please be sure to type the student’s first and last name when ordering.

Welcome to the 2025-26 school year! We have a lot of fun things planned this year, but first get to know the PTO!

President: Diana Warner
Vice President: Marcia Gamiere
Secretary: Katie Pavlick
Treasurer: Melissa Grinstead

Contact: jefferson.pto01@gmail.com

We have a very active PTO and we are always looking for more people to get involved to help create fun, engaging, and memorable experiences for our students and families! You are already a member of the PTO by having a child attend our school. There are no membership fees and requirements- plan to attend a meeting!

PTO meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 3:10 PM at Jefferson Elementary. The first PTO meeting will be Tuesday, 10/21. Your child can stay after school to have a snack and do a fun activity with one of our staff members while you attend our meeting! The meetings are typically under an hour each time. You can come to a meeting or two or attend every one throughout the year. We cannot wait to meet you!

We’d love for you to join us at our next meeting! This meeting will feature a performance from our school choir, so we will be meeting in the gym this time. This is a great opportunity to support our students, and allow younger students to see what the choir is all about for when they reach the age to join. Don’t miss it!

If you plan to attend, please fill out the form below so your student(s) can stay after school while you’re at the meeting.

Students will visit the fair during their library time throughout the week. A shopping flier will come home soon to help your student shop before the fair begins.

Do note that most books are at least $5 and up - PLUS TAX! They do send some clearance items that are less than that. But we are at the mercy at what clearance items they send.

Join us for an evening of fun games, books and community!
We will have games available, but feel free to bring your favorites from home. Join in with other families and make new friends! Light concessions will be available to purchase for $1.00 each, but feel free to bring your own!

Come hang out, enjoy some snacks, play games, and shop at the Book Fair!

• Students may not pass out birthday invitations. If the family is having a party and wants to invite the entire class, the parent may contact the teacher and request for the teacher to pass the invitations out to all students in the class. NO FOOD BIRTHDAY TREATS MAY BE SENT IN TO SCHOOL THROUGH THE STUDENT OR DROPPED OFF IN THE OFFICE. We will contact the family to pick these up. Thank you for your cooperation!

• Outside Food Deliveries are Prohibited (Uber Eats, GrubHub, etc). If a student forgets a lunch, and the family can’t drop one off prior to the student lunch period, we will provide them with a school lunch.

• Student cell phones must be turned off and stored in student backpacks. Students may not have their cell phones in their pockets (pants, sweatshirts, jackets etc). Some bus drivers allow kids to use their phones on the bus, but they should not be walking in or out of school with them in their hands/pockets.
• Offense #1 - Staff Member reminds the student to turn the phone off and put it in their backpack (notify classroom teacher for tracking purposes).
  • Classroom teacher discretion whether to notify parents or not.
• ​​​Offense #2 - Staff Member takes the student’s phone and keeps it in their possession (or gives it to the classroom teacher to keep in their possession) until the end of the school day.
  • Classroom teacher will notify parents of the 2nd offense and warn about the consequences of a third offense.
• Offense #3 - Staff Member notifies the classroom teacher and brings the student’s cell phone to the office.
• Principal or Assistant Principal calls home and informs parents that the phone will remain in the office until picked up by the parent.

• Smart watches may only be used to tell time. If students are using them for communication or gaming purposes, they will follow the same rules above stated for cell phones.

  Students are not allowed to have their personal headphones (airpods, earbuds) during class time (unless approved by teacher for use), recess, or during ENCORE classes. Unauthorized use of these items will result in the above stated processes for cell phones and smart watches.

• Students should not bring their own toys, balls, or electronics to school and may not bring them out to recess. If they do bring them to school (for before/after school use), this is at their own risk, and they need to be kept in the student’s backpack. The school is NOT responsible for lost or stolen items.

• Students may wear hoodies inside the school, but they must keep their hoods down at all times. Having hoods up makes it difficult to identify students and their actions, and often leads to academic disengagement. Hats are not permitted inside the school unless it is a designated “hat day”.