The Dragon Digest

I continue to be amazed by the JTES students, the JTES staff, and all they accomplish together.

Recently, I had the joy of accompanying the Jarrettown Show Chorus, led by our talented music teacher and chorus director Brian Stoudt, to the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg. Our students shared holiday music on the grand steps of the rotunda, performing with confidence, skill, and joy. They filled the space with their voices and truly reflected the spirit of Jarrettown.

State Representative Melissa Cerrato welcomed our choir with enthusiasm, invited other representatives to enjoy the performance, hosted a pizza lunch for our students, and arranged a tour of the Capitol building. It was a memorable experience that our students will not soon forget.

Back at school, the celebration continued with two follow-up concerts that included the entire fifth grade chorus—one during the school day and one in the evening. Once again, our students brought the music to life with energy, talent, and heart.

Hats off to Brian Stoudt and all the students in his program for a week full of music, joy, and wonderful memories—and for representing Jarrettown and our district so beautifully.

In partnership,

This week, our fifth grade students enjoyed a very inspiring visit from Ben Hartranft, the powerhouse behind Benergy. Ben is a former Jarrettown Dragon who now travels to schools and organizations across the country each year to share his powerful story and uplifting message with young and old alike.

Ben spoke with our fifth graders about his personal experience living with autism, how kindness and inclusion shaped his life, and the importance of supporting others. From facing early challenges with communication to growing into a confident speaker and advocate, Ben’s message reminded students that each of us has unique strengths and the ability to make our school community a kinder, more welcoming place.

Our students were fully engaged as Ben shared his journey and encouraged them to notice ways they can uplift others through simple acts of compassion and understanding. His presentation is part of an annual tradition at Jarrettown that continues to inspire our students year after year.

We are so grateful to Ben for returning to our campus, for sharing his time and wisdom with our fifth grade, and for reminding us all about the power of kindness, inclusion, and believing in ourselves.

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A reminder that K-5 Progress Reports are available to view in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Go to Documents in the left-side menu to view the reports and contact your child’s teacher with any questions.

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We are excited to highlight UDSD’s exceptional arts program and the creativity of our students through an ongoing feature we call The UDSD Art Spotlight. Visit our Virtual Art Gallery to see a curated selection of student artwork!

Virtual Art Gallery