Jefferson Family Newsletter
OCTOBER 2026
I AM A FARIBAULT FALCON
I am Safe
I am On Task
I am Accountable
I am Respectful
I SOAR with PRIDE!
3rd - 5th grade Jefferson Families
3rd - 5th grade Jefferson Families,
We are excited to share that your child’s class will be participating in the Bike!Fun! Bicycle Safety Curriculum! We will have a fleet of bicycles and helmets here from October 19 - October 30, 2026.
Your child will learn:
How to safely ride a bike and share the streets, roadways, and trails with other drivers and pedestrians
Hand signals & traffic signs
Proper helmet use
Parts of a bike
Bicycles and helmets are provided by BikeMN. If your student would like to bring their own helmet and bike that is OK. Bicycles brought from home must past the ABC check:
Air - tires are inflated and in good condition
Brakes - brakes are working
Chain - chain is in good condition and does not fall off
If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Teigen at: hteigen01@faribault.k12.mn.us
For additional information on safe walking and biking education, contact BikeMN at education@bikemn.org.
Excited to teach bicycle safety,
Heather Teigen & Matt Knutson
Physical Education Teachers
Jefferson Elementary
DATES TO REMEMBER
Nov . 2 ~ Picture Retakes
Nov. 10 ~ Conferences 3:30PM - 7:00PM
Nov. 13 ~ Falcon Day - No School
Nov. 16 ~ Conferences 3:30PM - 7:00PM
Nov. 20 ~ Conferences 7:30AM - 3:30PM
Nov. 25 -27 ~ Thanksgiving Break- No School
Dec. 11 ~ Falcon Day- No School
Health Services - Parent Information
At Faribault Public Schools we have a strong belief that students learn better when their physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing is balanced. If your child has signs and symptoms of illness, it is important to keep them home to rest so they can return to school feeling well enough to participate without their illness interfering with their learning. Please use the following as a guideline for when you should keep your child home.
When your child is absent is it important to call the Jefferson attendance line everyday your child will be out of school.
Please call: 507-333-6501
The attendance lines are open 24 hours a day. Leave a message with:
Your name and relationship to the child
Child’s name
Child’s grade / teacher
- Reason for absence **
**If illness, please specify all symptoms your child has such as fever, cough, sore throat, vomiting, etc.
WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL
Your child should stay home if they:
Has had a fever of 100 degrees or more, and should remain at home for 24 hours after the temperature returns to normal without fever reducing medication to keep the temperature down
Has vomited or has continual diarrhea
Has a persistent cough which interferes with learning
Has a rash without a physician's diagnosis
Has open or draining skin sores
Has strep, should remain home until prescription medication has been taken for at least 12 hours and has been 24 hours fever free without fever reducing medication
Had or potentially has an communicable disease-- Please report this to the nurse to assist you on a case by case basis
Please encourage your children to wash their hands often, as we have seen an increase in contagious illnesses.
COUGH DROPS: Cold and Flu season is upon us. Faribault Public Schools Health Services Team is committed to keeping your child healthy and safe while in school to promote optimal learning. Health Services does not have a stock supply of medications for student use. Cough Drops are allowable with written parent permission. The cough drops must be supplied by the parent in the original, unopened, packaging and stored in the school’s health office. They will be used according to the package instructions. Please direct your questions about Health Services to your school’s health office staff.
Any other questions please call the Jefferson Health Office at 507-333-6556. The Health Office is open 7:45am to 3:15pm everyday that school is in session. More information can be found regarding specific illnesses on our FPS website under the department tab, Health Services.
Health Office Donation Request
The Health Office is looking for stretchy pants sizes 5-14 that are in good condition. If you have any that you would like to donate please submit the clean/washed items to the Health Office. Donations are greatly appreciated!
Classes begin at 8:15 am and conclude at 2:55 pm. Students who do not ride the bus should arrive at 8:00 am.
School is dismissed at 2:55 pm. Students need to be picked up promptly. Students are not allowed to play on the equipment after school, they are to go directly home.
Please do not leave your car unattended at the curb during drop-off / pick up times or block driveways. Thank you for your cooperation.
ATTENDANCE LINE
Please call the attendance line if your child is absent for any reason.
Before 7:30 am
333-6501
After 7:30 am
333-6500
Attendance line is available 24 hours a day.
Good Morning Jefferson Families,
If you are dropping off/picking up on the east side of the school, there are two lanes. The lane closest to the school is for dropping off/picking up, and the other lane is for exiting the parking lot. Please unload/load your children from the curb closest to the school for safety and traffic flow purposes.
Thank you!
Nick Jurrens
Jefferson Elementary Principal
Please take a moment to review the parking lot map and read the notes on the right side.
SCHOOOL SUPPLIES FOR ALL
Faribault Public Schools, together with the Community Action Center of Faribault and the Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce, is partnering with local businesses this August and September to support its School Supplies for All (SSFA) initiative—an effort that ensures every in‑person student in Pre‑K through 8th grade begins the school year with the supplies they need to learn and thrive. With multiple round‑up campaigns underway, residents have several opportunities to contribute to a program that directly benefits approximately 2,000 Faribault children.
The SSFA program addresses a significant need: 68% of Faribault Public School students qualify for educational benefits, making back‑to‑school shopping a financial strain for many families. To reduce that burden, the district asks families to contribute $35 per student, but this optional payment is fully waived for those who qualify. Community donations—especially through round‑up campaigns—help close the gap and ensure every child receives the same high‑quality materials.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOLS!
Why Work as a Substitute Teacher at Faribault Public Schools?
Make an Impact. Substitute teachers at Faribault Public Schools have the chance to directly influence students’ lives and contribute to their success.
Flexibility & Variety. Choose the grade levels and subjects that fit your interests, while experiencing different classrooms and school cultures.
Career Growth. Build valuable experience, expand your teaching skills, and network with educators to enhance your career in education.
Pay Rate: $200 per day or $40 per hour.
Qualifications: Teaching license or a short-call substitute teaching license
Apply: https://www.faribault.k12.mn.us/
*Paraprofessional positions are also available at $18 per hour*
Keeping Our Schools Safe with the Standard Response Protocol
Faribault Public Schools staff recently trained with the I Love U Guys Foundation on the Standard Response Protocol (SRP)—a nationally recognized safety plan used in schools across the country. The SRP gives students and staff simple, clear actions to follow during an emergency.
Here are the five actions your child may practice at school:
Hold – Stay in the classroom, where learning continues, and keep hallways clear until the
“All Clear” is given.
Secure – Get inside, lock outside doors, and continue learning in a safe, controlled setting.
Lockdown – Lock doors, turn out the lights, get out of sight. Used if there’s a threat inside the school.
Evacuate – Leave the building with staff and go to a safe location.
Shelter – Move to a safe place inside the building and use safety strategies for severe weather or other hazards.
Practicing these steps helps ensure that if an emergency happens, every student and staff member knows what to do—keeping our schools safe and prepared.
A reminder for Faribault Public Schools families:
It’s important that you log into your Parent Portal account at the beginning of every school year to update your information and complete once-a-year verifications and permissions. Here’s what you need to do to update your Parent Portal account:
Log in on a computer (not a mobile device)
Click “More” in the left column menu
Click “Click here to go to Existing Student Verification”
‘Click “Begin”
Review your information, make updates, and complete your verifications and permissions
Click SUBMIT to complete the verification process
Be sure to click “Next” to move forward. Click “Save and Continue” if you have to leave Parent Portal before finishing and if the “Next” button is no longer available.
If there are items you are unable to change, please contact your child’s school office after you complete the above process.
Raptor visitor management systems to enhance school safety
Raptor visitor management systems to enhance school safety
Faribault Public Schools implemented the Raptor visitor management system at all district buildings January of 2022. Raptor is an automated check-in system that replaces the paper sign-in process.
Once a visitor is cleared through the system, a badge is produced that includes a photo, name of the visitor, date and time, and destination. The badge enables personnel within the building to quickly determine if visitors are in areas where they should or should not be. A consistent, standardized system to track visitors and volunteers is especially useful in the event of an emergency as it allows us to know who is in the building.
What will I need to enter my child’s school?
The quickest way to check in is to have a government-issued form of identification. Raptor is only scanning the visitor’s name, date of birth, photo, and the last four digits of the ID card for comparison with private alert lists at the school, such as restraining/custody/sex offender orders. Additional personal data will not be gathered and no data will be shared with any outside company or organization.
If you don’t have an ID, you can check in by providing your full name and birthday. This information will be entered into Raptor manually.
If a visitor is flagged, the system sends alerts to designated school officials, who can then respond to potential threats to keep our students, staff and visitors safe.
Do I have to scan every time I enter the building?
No. After the first scanning at each school, the office staff would find the visitor’s name in the system and use the record of the previously-scanned ID to sign the visitor in and print a badge. This makes check-in much easier after the initial visit. The school secretary is able to view the ID card picture in Raptor to make a visual verification of the person signing in.
What is the checkout process?
The checkout process doesn’t involve scanning the card again. The secretary will simply find the name of the person who is signing out and click a ‘sign out’ button. This provides a record of entry and departure and time in any school. The visitor badge should be returned to the secretary.
If you have questions about the Raptor system, please contact your school’s administrator. For more information about the Raptor visitor management system, visit raptortech.com.
Videos
What is Raptor? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8idfzKmzVY
How does Raptor work? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xp8iJg27uo
For regular activities updates on your phone, download the
FALCON APP.
Jefferson Elementary School
Website: www.faribault.k12.mn.us
Location: 922 Home Place, Faribault, MN, USA
Phone: (507) 333-6500