Jefferson Elementary Newsletter
Patriot Press
Dear Jefferson Families,
This week at Jefferson Elementary has been full of learning and growth, and we are excited to share that our students are making great progress, especially in their iReady learning! Growth is happening, and we are proud of the effort students are putting in each day.
Looking ahead, please mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
Family Bingo Night with the PTO – Thursday, February 20th
Family Night at Jefferson Elementary – Wednesday, March 5th
Thank you for your continued support as we work together to help our students grow and succeed!
Warm regards,
Lady Jones
February
- 2/2 - PTO Meeting in Library Media Center
- 2/5 - As Needed Parent Teacher Conferences
- 2/6 - No School | Professional Development
- 2/10 - As Needed Parent Teacher Conferences
- 2/20 - PTO Family Bingo Night
- 2/25 - Recess with Relatives
March
- 3/2 - PTO Meeting in Library Media Center
- 3/5 - STEM Family Night
- 3/6 - No School | Professional Development
- 3/19 - Quarter 3 Student Celebration
- 3/23-3/27 - No School | Spring Break
🐾 Cattail Crew Animal Presentation Coming to Jefferson!
We’re excited to share that the Cattail Crew will be visiting Jefferson Elementary for a special live animal presentation for our next quarterly celebration. This interactive experience is similar to a small zoo visit and gives students the opportunity to see and learn about animals up close.
Animals scheduled to visit include an armadillo, skunk, rabbit, wallaby, and tortoise. During the presentation, students will learn about animal habitats and how to treat animals with care and respect.
📄 A permission flyer went home with students this week.
The presentation will take place on March 13, 2026. Please complete the form and return it with your student so they can participate in this exciting learning experience.
Thank you for your continued support in providing meaningful and memorable experiences for our students!
Recess with Relatives
Recess with Relatives: Building Relationships with Jefferson students and their families one recess at a time!
When: Wednesday, February 25, 2025*
Time:
Kindergarten, 2nd, and 4th Grade Students - 11:40 am to 12:05 pm
1st, 3rd, and 5th Grade Students - 12:05 pm to 12:25 pm
*If inclement weather, Recess with Relatives will be postponed.
General Guidelines:
Before finding your child on the playground, please see a recess supervisor with a yellow vest on for a visitor badge. Please stay until the end of your child’s recess time, and say good-bye outside. 🙂
For some students it may be hard to see you go at the end of recess. Before you leave, please remind your students that you will see them later and their job is to go back to learning and make it a great afternoon.
We understand some of you may not be able to come. However, it can be hard for some students. Thus we encourage you to have a conversation with your students about it, and remind them that you love them and that they can have fun with their friends and their relatives.
Have fun, be safe, and respectful to all others.
This is a special time for family members to visit our students, get some fresh air, and enjoy a fun recess together!
Now Hiring: Substitute School Nurse (RN, BSN)
We are seeking a School Nurse (RN, BSN) for substitute coverage weekdays from approximately January 19 through April 27. Responsibilities include providing nursing care to students and supporting a healthy school environment. School or pediatric experience preferred.
For more information, please call Matt Kaemmerer at 920-424-0113.
Cold Weather Reminder - Dressing for the Outdoors
Winter is here and we want to make sure all students stay safe, warm, and comfortable while outside. Below are our guidelines and a friendly reminder of what children need to dress for chilly days:
- We hold outdoor recess time before school and twice during the day.
- Students will be outside whenever the temperature is 10 °F or above, or when the wind chill is above 0 °F.
- We stay indoors if it’s below 10 °F, or the wind chill is 0 °F or below, or if it’s raining.
- Students are required to wear a coat or jacket if the temperate is 50 °F or below. Please ensure your students have a coat even if the temperate is expected to be in the 40s.
- Snowpants and boots are required to play on the field and playground when there is snow present.
- With how wet the playground and field may be, it is also helpful for all of our students K-5 have an extra change of clothing in their backpacks to change into if they get wet.
If students do not bring snowpants or boots, they will need to stay on the blacktop when we have snow. If your family needs assistance obtaining winter gear, please contact the office at 920-424-0165.
Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students warm, safe, and ready to enjoy outdoor time as weather allows!
Student Drop Off and Map
- Beginning at the end of the blacktop on 11th Ave and continuing down to Oregon St. is a parking zone. You are able to park along the street here and exit your vehicle, walk your student to the blacktop in the morning or wait on the blacktop for your student in the afternoon.
- Minnesota Street along the school is a loading zone only. You will not be allowed to park and exit your vehicle here. This area will be for pulling up and immediately dropping off your student in the morning, or pulling up to allow them to enter the vehicle while picking up in the afternoon.
- The area along the blacktop in front of the playground on 11th will remain a bus zone only. Vehicles are not permitted to park or load in this area.
- We also ask, if possible, to keep the traffic flow on Minnesota heading north. We prefer vehicles that do not drive south and stop in the middle of the road to drop off their student(s), leaving them to cross the road in front of oncoming traffic. If traffic only flows north, we can avoid this safety hazard by using the designated loading zone on the same side of the street as the school.
- Jefferson Traffic Flow/Parking Map
Join us for our next PTO meeting - February 2nd at 5:30 PM in the Library Media Center - we will be doing a gift card raffle for our teachers! When you attend you will get a raffle ticket for your child/children’s teacher to win a gift card. Additionally if their teacher comes, they get an additional entry into the raffle! Let’s increase attendance at our meetings so we can do more together! Check out their Facebook page here.
The PTO plays a vital role in supporting our students through various events and activities, including field trips, Opera for the Young, and school events. We’d love to see you there and share how you can help make a difference!
Yearbook Ordering Link
Reminder - Yearbooks are available for purchase directly from Network Photography only for $15 using this link.
Yearbook orders are due by March 6, 2026. After this date, they will not be available for purchase from Network Photography and Jefferson Elementary will not have any on hand at the end of year for purchase.
Yearbooks will be delivered to students that ordered them at the end of the school year.
Volunteer in the OASD
As a reminder, if you are interested in volunteering by helping in your child's classroom or chaperoning a field trip, you must have a pre-approved volunteer application on file before the volunteering event. Applications are good for 3 years, and are effective for all OASD schools. You can find the application HERE.
Important!: Once you have completed your application, let the office know so that we can request that the application be processed; this does not happen automatically, and can take up to 48 hours, so please plan accordingly!