Dear Jefferson Families and Friends!
April Fool’s Day! Happy Easter! Good luck on tests! More breaks! Field Trips! Yippee!!!! Hello, folks, April is here! We have two short weeks coming up stemming around the Easter Break, NO SCHOOL April 14-19. School will resume on April 20. Next week is a full week followed by school on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday April 11-13, then the break begins. The good news: we will be in school from April 20 to the end of the year, May 19, the last day of school for students.
Illness and Attendance
Whether it is COVID, Influenza, or some other illness, if your child has been exposed and IS showing symptoms, it is best to keep them home from school. If you are not sure, you are welcome to call Nurse Sara and discuss with her after 7:45 am daily. If you go to the doctor, dentist, etc., it is always best to get a note and turn it into the office for documentation. By law, the school has to turn in absences to the County Attorney once they reach 20 absences. My goal is not to go to court with any of you, however, we do have to follow the State Statutes. Doctors' notes work in your favor and do not count against you. Whenever possible, please attain a note. We will work with you as much as we can to avoid the County Attorney, but ultimately it is your responsibility to ensure your child is at school. (Repeat from last month)
Student Encouragement
With Spring comes “Spring Fever!” Students get back into spring activities and wanting to be outside…..we all do…however, this is also the most critical time of the year for student learning. By now the subjects have begun to get harder and harder, challenging students on many levels. It is important to continue to encourage your student to do his/her best. Our goal is to grow your students into a confident, strong learner that can think independently and solve problems for themselves. We need your help in finishing the year on a strong note and making great strides in their learning. Thank you for your help. While you are at it, please give a shout out to your student’s teacher and other staff for their work, their efforts, their long hours of planning and preparation, and their dedication to your student and our school. Teaching is not an easy profession. Many of my staff have families and they sacrifice a lot to educate your children. Sometimes we take for granted that we only have to work with one or a couple of children at home. Teachers have to work with 15 to 25 students at a time. They have to look at all the different needs and learning styles and develop lessons that reach each and every one of the students. They have to grade all of the papers and then they get to go home and provide for their families. Teaching is not easy. It is, however, very rewarding, especially when they get to see the look of joy on your student’s face when they have finally achieved their goal.
TESTING
That being said, we are in the middle of our State testing window, the NSCAS for grades 3-5. At the end of April we will be testing MAPS for all grades K-5. I have shared with the students that we are tied for last place on our scores in MAPS in our District. I have put the challenge to them that we have to do better. I am competitive and do not like to lose. As a whole, we have to do better! We cannot do it alone. We really do need your help to encourage your students and help them to strive to be the best that they can be and do the best that they can. If they know it is important to you it will be important to them as well.
Field Trips
Many classes will be going on some field trips over the course of the next few weeks. Please be aware of drop off and pick up locations when they are before or after school and where to go. We would hate to have anyone miss a field trip.
Wednesday, April 13 4th Grade to Lincoln
Wednesday, April 27 3rd Grade to the Extension Office
Wednesday, May 4 3rd Grade to Kearney (release trout)
Friday, May 6 5th Grade DARE Day at the Rec Center
Wednesday, May 18 5th Grade Recognition
Thursday, May 19 Awards, Field Day, Last day of school TBA
The rest of the school year is going to fly by quickly. Please contact me here at school: (308) 535-7136 OR jellsworth@nppsd.org if you have any questions or comments, or if there is anything else I can assist you with.
Mr. E
