Jefferson Elementary Newsletter

Newsletter - December 19, 2025

Jefferson Families,

As we head into winter break, I hope each of you finds time for rest, joy, and connection. This season is a wonderful opportunity for our students to recharge and reflect on the learning and growth we’ve achieved so far this year.

Encourage your child to spend time doing what makes them happiest reading a favorite book, playing outside, creating something new, or simply relaxing with family. A little rest goes a long way in preparing for the exciting months ahead.

School will resume on Friday, January 2nd and we look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for a strong start to the new year!

Warmly,

Lady Jones

December

• 12/22 - 01/01 - Winter Break

January

• 1/2 - Students return to school
• 1/5 - PTO Meeting @ 5:30 pm in the Library Media Center
• 1/19 - No School | Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• 1/20 - No School for Students | Staff Professional Development

It's time to order your 2025-2026 yearbook! Yearbooks are available to purchase for $15 directly from Network Photography using this link. All yearbook orders must be completed by March 6, 2026.

If you are looking to purchase a yearbook, it must be done through this link by March 6, 2026. Jefferson will not have yearbooks to purchase. Yearbooks will be delivered to students at the end of the school year.

The enrollment window for ALPs (Advanced Learning Program) is now open. Please see this link for application instructions.

See Mr. Schneider's updated under Specialists Corner for more information on how you can sign-up for the Kids Heart Challenge and complete Finn's Mission!

Winter is upon us and we want to make sure all students stay safe, warm, and comfortable while outside. Below are our guidelines and a friendly reminder of what children need to dress for chilly days:

• We hold outdoor recess time before school and twice during the day.
• Students will be outside whenever the temperature is 10 °F or above, or when the wind chill is above 0 °F.
• We stay indoors if it’s below 10 °F, or the wind chill is 0 °F or below, or if it’s raining.
• Students are required to wear a coat or jacket if the temperate is 50 °F or below.
• Snowpants and boots are required to play on the field and playground when there is snow present.
• With how wet the playground and field may be, it is also helpful for all of our students K-5 have an extra change of clothing in their backpacks to change into if they get wet.

If students do not bring snowpants or boots, they will need to stay on the blacktop when we have snow. If your family needs assistance obtaining winter gear, please contact the office at 920-424-0165.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students warm, safe, and ready to enjoy outdoor time as weather allows!

All reports of a student absence must go through the office. If your child(ren) are sick multiple days, please let us know each day they are absent. All communication regarding your student's attendance (appointments, late arrival, early departure, etc.) must go to the office. You can copy in your child's teacher in the email or the office will then pass this information on to the classroom teacher. You can also request absence time off through your parent portal in Infinite Campus. Our school secretary's email is: katie.ascher@oshkosh.k12.wi.us and the school phone number is 920.424.0165. Thank you for your help with this important communication.

• Beginning at the end of the blacktop on 11th Ave and continuing down to Oregon St. is a parking zone. You are able to park along the street here and exit your vehicle, walk your student to the blacktop in the morning or wait on the blacktop for your student in the afternoon.
• Minnesota Street along the school is a loading zone only. You will not be allowed to park and exit your vehicle here. This area will be for pulling up and immediately dropping off your student in the morning, or pulling up to allow them to enter the vehicle while picking up in the afternoon.
• The area along the blacktop in front of the playground on 11th will remain a bus zone only. Vehicles are not permitted to park or load in this area.
• We also ask, if possible, to keep the traffic flow on Minnesota heading north. We prefer vehicles that do not drive south and stop in the middle of the road to drop off their student(s), leaving them to cross the road in front of oncoming traffic. If traffic only flows north, we can avoid this safety hazard by using the designated loading zone on the same side of the street as the school.
• Jefferson Traffic Flow/Parking Map

Supervision on the blacktop begins at 7:30 AM. Students should arrive no earlier than 7:30 am. At 7:30 am, students may arrive on the blacktop and go to their classroom line-up spots. The first bell rings at 7:40 am, where students will enter the building with their teachers and classes. Students are expected to be in their classrooms at 7:45 am when the second bell rings. Any students arriving late should be dropped off at door 1 and the student will be let in to the office to check in and receive a late pass. Parents/Guardians can say goodbye to their students outside of the building at door 1.

Students will be dismissed at 2:45 pm and all adults picking up students should remain on the blacktop away from the pavement pad next to the door. Teachers will bring your students to their line-up spots on the blacktop to meet you. Please stand behind pink lines that are painted around door 1.

If a parent/guardian is visiting Jefferson Elementary, they must ring the doorbell to be let in through the office. Do not enter the building when students are entering or leaving the building. Parents are not permitted to walk students to their classrooms.

Happy holidays! In the art room we are creating our winter inspired art projects and moving onto winter stations when we are closer to the end of the week before break.

Kindergarteners are working on mixed media snowmen, working with paint, glitter, and colored pencils.

1st graders are making mini winter murals with a partner. Learning about foreground, background and horizon lines. We are working with paint, glitter, colored paper and oil pastels.

2nd and 3rd graders are learning about polar bears. Not only learning about how we draw polar bears but why polar bears are endangered and what we can do to help. We will then be making our bears with paint and charcoal.

4th and 5th graders will be finishing their zentangle designs and then begin working on our holiday moose. We will not only be learning about moose, their habitats, and their living patterns, we will be creating these pieces with colored paper, colored sharpies, and paint.

Ms. Keefe

Here is what our Jefferson musicians have been learning in November!

All grades have been learning about the famous work, The Nutcracker. We have been learning about the various versions you might hear and comparing and contrasting them. The theme for December is learning all about the various holidays celebrated around the world. Students have learned about Kwanzaa, Lunar New Year, Hanukkah, and Christmas. We learned about how each holiday has special traditions, food, dances, gatherings, and more that is celebrated. We talked about how our heritage makes us special and how some students celebrate one holiday, some celebrate many, and some celebrate none this time of year and how that makes each family unique. Have a conversation with your child about what holiday(s) your family celebrates and the traditions that go along with it. One shared holiday we talked about is the New Year, and how we are looking forward to a new calendar year.

Here is a sample of some other activities happening in class: Kindergarten has been loving "ice skating" using paper plates, and playing jingle bells. 1st grade has been using "snowballs" to show various rhythms, and jingle bells as well. 2nd and 3rd graders have been learning a game called "Pass the Snowball" that helps them keep a steady beat. 4th & 5th have been diving in a little deeper learning about Tchaikovsky with some listening selections.

All grades have been continuing to work on following the music class expectations to keep the music classroom a place where everyone can be safe, learn, and make music together. Stay tuned for next month’s recap of what we are doing in music!

Ms. Noll

Jefferson Elementary Families,

I am excited to help create a community of lifesavers and am asking you to join me. Sign up tonight to receive a wristband!

This year, we have an important goal to have 100% of our families learn the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR! It only takes a few minutes to learn, and it can make all the difference in an emergency.

1. Sign Up for Kids Heart Challenge by downloading the free “AHA Schools” app for Apple or Android or http://www2.heart.org/goto/jeffersonoshkosh.

2. Be a hero: Send 10 texts TODAY to help save lives.

3. Complete Finn’s Mission: Complete all 7 steps, learn Hands-Only CPR, and be entered to win two Super Bowl tickets!

Complete Finn’s Mission = Pizza Party with Mr. Schneider! Also earn Victor, the leader, the Lifesaver Cape AND Go in the NFL Sweepstakes for the 2027 Super Bowl Experience!

When we have 125 students sign up online, our school will receive a BONUS $500 PE Equipment Certificate!!

By signing up and raising funds, you can help us earn gift certificates for physical activity and recess equipment to support the health & wellness of our school community.

Let’s work together to create a community of lifesavers. Thank you for your support in helping us achieve this incredible goal!

Thank you,

Mr. Schneider

A new year means a chance to start a new reading challenge. A reading challenge is a great way to get children to grow the kinds of books they read. Even as adults, reading challenges help us discover new genres and authors. The following URL is a January reading challenge to help children find a new book they may not pick out themselves. Feel free to give it a go and attempt a couple or all of the items: Bookish Fun for Winter: A January Reading Challenge for Kids

☃️Do you want to know how you can keep your child’s math-brain growing over winter break?

💻Check out the Math Learning Center Site where you will find grade level activities called “Math at Home.” Click on your grade level and use the dropdown from “Select a Set” to choose “Winter Medley” where you will find a variety of winter-themed math investigations.

https://mathathome.mathlearningcenter.org/

❄️Fold and cut paper snowflakes to explore symmetry, angles, and create complex geometric designs. How are the snowflakes the same and different?

🪣Set up buckets or bowls and have kids toss rolled-up paper "snowballs" in, counting points or how many land in each. Vary the number of points each snow ball is worth (2 points, 5 points, 10 points, challenge: include ½ points).

🧊Use ice cubes to explore volume (how many fit in a cup?) and capacity, or time how long they take to melt. Estimate first. How many ice cubes do you think will fit in this container? How long will the ice cubes take to melt?

📏Measure everyday items that are also winter-themed like the length of snowpants, blankets, soup cans, hot chocolate box, etc with rulers or tape measures. How much longer is the length of one object to another?

📊Track daily snowfall or temperature, then create simple bar graphs.

🍪Make arrays (rows and columns) of cookies or candies on a tray and find different ways to figure out how many in total.

We are excited to announce that we have filled our counselor position. Check back on the January 2, 2026 newsletter for more information and details!

Help Kids Make Friends and Interact Safely Online

Last month in the library we read a book together about online safety and what information is ok to share and what is not. This month's digital citizenship topics are relationships and communication. Soon after kids start reading and writing, they often begin interacting with others online. Whether they're chatting within games or texting family members, kids need the skills to interact respectfully. These skills will help kids -- and the people they're communicating with -- have positive experiences online.

Check out these 4 tips:

1. Give them the right words.

Kids learn about appropriate verbal and physical communication from watching you. But online conversations can be invisible. Occasionally, narrate as you're writing texts or social media comments when your kids are in earshot.

2. Play a game of telephone.

Discuss how a message can change depending on the person delivering it or the delivery method. Read a question like "What are you doing?" with different tones of voice. Talk about how emoji and punctuation can help communicate tone and emotions.

3. Help kids navigate online friendships.

In the beginning, you might limit all communication with strangers online. As kids get older, you can monitor any online chatting. And once they're more independent, you can discuss which methods of communication are appropriate as well as which types of information to keep private from online-only friends.

4. Develop their instincts.

Help kids trust their guts so they can exit iffy or inappropriate online conversations. Discuss different scenarios and ask how they would feel and what they would do.

K–5 Family Tips: Relationships & Communication.” Common Sense Education, 18 Dec.. 2024, https://www.commonsense.org/education/family-tips/k-5-relationships-and-communication.

Make Reading Interactive & Fun:

To help elementary kids read, make it fun by reading aloud daily, using funny voices, tracking words, and letting them choose books, while also connecting stories to their lives; gently correct mistakes, encourage re-reading favorites, and provide diverse materials like magazines or audiobooks. Surround them with books and lead by example, making reading a positive, regular routine.

• Read Together: Take turns reading pages, or read the same passage aloud at the same time, pointing to words to show left-to-right flow.
• Be Expressive: Use different voices, add sound effects, and act out characters to make stories engaging.
• Ask Questions: Involve your child by asking open-ended questions about characters, plot, and pictures to boost comprehension.
• Re-read Favorites: Repetition builds confidence and fluency; let them read their beloved books repeatedly.
• Connect to Life: Discuss how the story relates to your child's own experiences or family.

Students have access to ebooks and audiobooks on SORA if they have access to an electronic device to download the app or go to the website. This link has directions, if your student does not know their username and password contact angie.kese@oshkosh.k12.wi.us and she can print off and send home a quick card for logging in.

Susan Martin LPN/Health Assistant and Liz Lynch, BSN, RN, NCSN

Check back next newsletter for an update!

If your student has a change in their health or has a healthcare need at school, please contact Susan Martin susanm.martin@oshkosh.k12.wi.us or Liz Lynch elizabeth.lynch@oshkosh.k12.wi.us

Medication Information:

If your student will need to take medication during the school day, please have your child’s provider fill out and sign the appropriate form below. These can then be returned to the office or faxed by the provider to: 920-424-7583.

Over the Counter Medication Form *parent signature only required*

Prescribed Medication Form

Inhaler/Asthma Action Plan

Epipen/Allergy & Anaphylaxis Form

REMINDERS:

• Directions on the medication bottle/box must match the written order on the medication request form.
• Stock Epi-pens do NOT go on field trips.
• Please fill out an Emergency Epi-Pen/Anaphylaxis Plan even if you don’t have a personal Epi at school.
• PRN medications (Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Tums etc.) must come in a new and unopened bottle.
• Is your child up to date with their immunizations? Please contact the doctor for physicals and immunizations! All students at Jefferson are required to have their Tdap, Polio, MMR, Varicella and Hep B! Please check with your doctor to see what wellness requirements are needed for your child.

Are you looking to order your student or yourself Jefferson gear? Look no further! Our school spirit store is now OPEN at this link! A portion of the proceeds go back to the Jefferson PTO to help support fun events and activities at Jefferson. Orders will be shipped directly to your address.

As a reminder, if you are interested in volunteering by helping in your child's classroom or chaperoning a field trip, you must have a pre-approved volunteer application on file before the volunteering event. Applications are good for 3 years, and are effective for all OASD schools. You can find the application HERE.

Important!: Once you have completed your application, let the office know so that we can request that the application be processed; this does not happen automatically, and can take up to 48 hours, so please plan accordingly!

Stay informed and involved by joining our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). Our next meeting is on Monday, January 5th at 5:30 PM in the media center and all are welcome! Please note that PTO meetings will now be held at 5:30 pm instead of 5:00 pm. Check out their Facebook page here.

The PTO plays a vital role in supporting our students through various events and activities, including field trips, Opera for the Young, and school events. We’d love to see you there and share how you can help make a difference!