Welcome Back Jefferson Eagles!
2025-26 School Year
Dear Jefferson Elementary Families,
Welcome back to what promises to be an exciting and enriching school year! As we open our doors once again, I am filled with anticipation for all the learning, growth, and memorable moments that await our students. Our dedicated team of teachers and staff have spent the summer preparing engaging curricula, organizing classrooms, and planning special activities to ensure every child feels welcomed, supported, and challenged. Whether your student is returning to familiar hallways or stepping through our doors for the first time, we are committed to creating a nurturing environment where every child can discover their potential and develop a lifelong love of learning.
This year, we will continue to focus on building strong partnerships between home and school, recognizing that your involvement and support are essential to your child's success. We encourage you to stay connected through our monthly newsletters, attend school events, and maintain open communication with your child's teacher. Together, we will celebrate achievements, navigate challenges, and ensure that each student at Jefferson Elementary feels valued and empowered. Thank you for entrusting us with your most precious gifts – your children. Here's to a fantastic year ahead filled with discovery, friendship, and academic growth!
Warmly,
Mrs. Ziemer, Principal
This is a friendly reminder that the Mount Vernon School District will provide universal school supplies for all elementary students for the 2025–2026 school year. This means that every student will start the year with the necessary supplies, at no cost to families.
Supplies will be delivered directly to schools and placed in classrooms before the first day. Families don’t need to shop for or purchase any basic supplies. The only thing your child will need to bring is a backpack.
If your child needs a backpack, please let us know. We have backpacks available and are happy to help.
Why Daily Attendance Matters:
1. Missed Lessons = Missed Opportunities
Even one day out can mean falling behind on key lessons, activities, and class discussions.
2. School Today, Success Tomorrow
Consistent attendance is one of the strongest predictors of academic progress and opens doors to future opportunities.
3. Resilience in Action
Being present every day builds habits of responsibility, perseverance, and grit.
4. Stronger Friendships
Daily attendance helps students form strong social bonds and feel more connected at school.
5. Healthier Habits
A consistent routine supports mental and physical wellness for kids and families.
Need support getting your child to school?
We're here to help. If your child is hesitant to come to school, reach out to:
Mrs. Castro - Attendance Secretary
Mrs. Monroe Smith - Assistant Principal
Dr. Hixson - School Counselor
August:
25th - Back to School Open House 5:30 -6:30
27th - First Day of School for 1-5th Grade (Full Day)
September:
2nd - First Day of School for Kindergarten Students!
11th - Jefferson Parent Group Meeting (All Are Welcome)
We Are Now Using PickUp Patrol for All Communication Regarding Student Drop Off and Pick Up!
Starting this year, we will be using a system called PickUp Patrol to help us track dismissals. PickUp Patrol provides you with a convenient way to make changes to your child’s dismissal plans and helps ensure that students are accurately dismissed each day.
How It Works:
Your child’s regular dismissal plan will be entered into the system. This is called their Default Plan.
Whenever your child is doing something other than their Default Plan, you’ll submit a Plan Change via PickUp Patrol.
Examples of a Plan Change:
Your child normally rides the bus but is getting picked up today.
Your child is getting picked up by someone other than yourself.
Your child has a doctor's appointment and will be leaving early.
When the change is submitted, our school will be notified and we’ll relay the change to your child & their teacher.
REGISTER: You will receive a registration email from PickUp Patrol with a link to set up your account. The parent portal is free to parents and can be accessed from your phone or computer. The link in your registration email will be live for 48 hours. As soon as you receive it, please log in and confirm your child’s default plan.
Thank you for using PickUp Patrol to make safety a priority and to ensure our dismissal process is efficient for all.
If you have any questions, please first check the PickUp Patrol Parent Guide & if you need additional assistance, let us know.
Car Pick Up Procedures:
- Only pick up/drop off on the South side of the school (please DO NOT utilize the drive through or parking lot in front of the main school entrance. This is reserved for bus traffic.
- Avoid blocking the church driveways
- pull all the way forward in line when directed and we will have your child/children walk to your car.
- Do not pick up your students at the main school entrance as we do not have adults available to securely check them out.
**Student walkers will be dismissed from the front of the building. However, if an adult is walking to pick them up, please wait in the South side parking area. They will also be dismissed from the car pick up area.
**Please enter any transportation changes into the Pick Up Patrol website before 1:30 on the day of the change (i.e. taking the bus instead of car pick up)
We are excited to announce that our district is transitioning to ParentSquare, a comprehensive communication platform designed to strengthen the connection between home and school. ParentSquare will serve as your one-stop hub for all school communications, allowing you to receive important announcements, updates from teachers, and district news through your preferred method—whether that's email, text, or the mobile app. This user-friendly platform also enables two-way communication, so you can easily message teachers and staff, RSVP to events, sign up for volunteer opportunities, and stay informed about your child's academic journey.
ParentSquare supports multiple languages and ensures that all families can stay engaged and connected with their school community. We believe this transition will enhance our communication efforts and provide you with more convenient, timely access to the information that matters most to your family's educational experience
Welcome to the 2025-2026 School year!
My name is Heidi Hixson and I am the school counselor at Jefferson.
I get the privilege of supporting all students. I work with teams in the building to build the best learning environment possible! Connecting with your student is my number one priority. Part of my role is to teach classroom lessons, meet with individual students, facilitate groups and partner with the adults in your child's education.
I will be in consistent communication with you regarding all things School Counseling! The biggest partnership is with you!
My email is hhixson@mvsd320.org
My phone number is 360-428-6128 ext. 22005
