The Dragon Digest

As we move into the winter months, it’s natural to start hearing more about the state-level assessments that take place in the spring. While those tests are part of our educational landscape, they are not our focus. Our work at Jarrettown is, and will continue to be, about building a strong learning community—one child at a time.

Across the building, that work looks different depending on where students are in their learning journey. Our older students are digging in as writers, building stamina, refining their skills, and learning to persevere through longer, more complex tasks. At the same time, our youngest learners are joyfully singing learning songs—about money, days of the week, and so much more—laying important foundations through play, repetition, and connection.

These moments matter. They reflect classrooms where students feel supported, challenged, and excited to learn. Our teachers and staff are deeply committed to knowing their students well and designing instruction that helps each child grow, academically and socially. When that work is done well—and it is—success on state assessments becomes a byproduct of the meaningful learning happening every single day, not the end goal itself.

We are proud of the steady, thoughtful work taking place across our school and grateful for the continued partnership with our families as we support our students’ growth all year long. Thank you, as always, for trusting us with your children and for being such important partners in this work.

In partnership,

Please check here for important updates from our amazing nurse, Mrs. Berman.

A big thank you to UDHS's Chris Hayden and his students for bringing Family Coding Night to Jarrettown! Chris’s students thoughtfully organized our learners into two groups—K–2 and grades 3–5—and worked alongside them as they tackled computer coding puzzles together. It was wonderful to see our students problem-solve, collaborate, and persevere with the support of older mentors who modeled patience, teamwork, and a love of learning. Experiences like this not only build important skills, but also strengthen connections across our school community in meaningful ways.

Friday, February 6

Purchase tickets at :

https://my.cheddarup.com/c/jtesbingo2026

Find all the latest PTO news Here!

Our next Cardinal Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Laurie Smith will take place on Tuesday, February 3 at 6:00 PM in the UDHS Forum Room and will focus on innovative student experiences—learning opportunities that reflect creative thinking and real-world applications of classroom content. We invite career professionals, educators, local business owners, and community members to join us as we highlight the impact of these experiences on students and explore ways to collaborate in creating more of them.

Join the Conversation

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