Jefferson Elementary Newsletter
Patriot Press
Newsletter - December 5, 2025
Principal's Message 🍎
Jefferson Families,
I want to share a few updates as we look ahead to the coming weeks. Jefferson will not be holding a winter concert this year; instead, we are excited to announce a spring concert on April 14th at 6:00 PM. We look forward to celebrating our students’ hard work with you then.
Next week begins our next round of iReady testing, so please help your child come prepared with plenty of rest and a good night’s sleep.
As the weather turns colder, please note that students should not be on the playground before or after school due to winter’s slippery conditions. This helps ensure the safety of all students and staff throughout the season.
A heartfelt thank-you to all the families who joined us for Holiday Treasures Night, and to our amazing PTO for hosting such a fun and successful event. Your support truly strengthens our school community.
Wishing you warmth and wellness as we head into the winter months!
Warmly,
Lady Jones
Upcoming Events 📆
- 12/15 - Ms. Trzcinski's Class Field Trip to Paine Art Center
- 12/15-12/19 - Spirit Week
- 12/17 - PTO Dine and Donate night @ Chipotle
- 12/17 - Recess with Relatives
- 12/18 - Mrs. Jiricka's and Mrs. Hibbs' Class Field Trip to Paine Art Center
- 12/22 - 01/01 - Winter Break
January
- 1/5 - PTO Meeting @ 5:30 pm in the Media Center
⭐Spotlight⭐
New Staff Introduction
Please join us in welcoming Anna Weyenberg to Jefferson Elementary!
Ms. Weyenberg is joining our staff as the Media Specialist Assistant/Building Assistant. She recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, and moved to the Oshkosh area. She loves reading, and can't wait to help foster a creative and fun reading environment for the kids here at Jefferson.
Welcome Ms. Weyenberg! 🙂
Tri-County Dental 🦷🪥
Your students were sent home with an information packet for free dental care. Please return these to the office by Monday, December 8th if you are interested in signing up.
See this link for the online registration form.
Get Ready for Spirit Week
Recess with Relatives
Join your student on December 17th at their recess. See details below. If inclement weather, recess with relatives will be postponed.
Notes from the Office📄
Cold Weather Reminder - Dressing for the Outdoors
Winter is upon us 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.
- 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!
Attendance Information
All reports of a student absence must go through the office. If your child(ren) are sick multiple days, please let us know each day they are absent. All communication regarding your student's attendance (appointments, late arrival, early departure, etc.) must go to the office. You can copy in your child's teacher in the email or the office will then pass this information on to the classroom teacher. You can also request absence time off through your parent portal in Infinite Campus. Our school secretary's email is: katie.ascher@oshkosh.k12.wi.us and the school phone number is 920.424.0165. Thank you for your help with this important communication.
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
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Supervision on the blacktop begins at 7:30 AM. Students should arrive no earlier than 7:30 am. At 7:30 am, students may arrive on the blacktop and go to their classroom line-up spots. The first bell rings at 7:40 am, where students will enter the building with their teachers and classes. Students are expected to be in their classrooms at 7:45 am when the second bell rings. Any students arriving late should be dropped off at door 1 and the student will be let in to the office to check in and receive a late pass. Parents/Guardians can say goodbye to their students outside of the building at door 1.
Students will be dismissed at 2:45 pm and all adults picking up students should remain on the blacktop away from the pavement pad next to the door. Teachers will bring your students to their line-up spots on the blacktop to meet you. Please stand behind pink lines that are painted around door 1.
If a parent/guardian is visiting Jefferson Elementary, they must ring the doorbell to be let in through the office. Do not enter the building when students are entering or leaving the building. Parents are not permitted to walk students to their classrooms.
Specialists Corner 🎉
A message from Ms. Keefe
A message from Ms. Noll
Check back next newsletter for an update!
A message from Mr. Schneider
A message from Mrs. Boettcher and Mrs. Vollbrecht
A message from Mrs. Bauer
Check back next newsletter for an update!
Technology and Media Update with Mrs. Kese
Health Office 🩺
A Letter from the Health Office - December
Susan Martin LPN/Health Assistant and Liz Lynch, BSN, RN, NCSN
Check back next newsletter for an update!
If your student has a change in their health or has a healthcare need at school, please contact Susan Martin susanm.martin@oshkosh.k12.wi.us or Liz Lynch elizabeth.lynch@oshkosh.k12.wi.us
Medication Information:
If your student will need to take medication during the school day, please have your child’s provider fill out and sign the appropriate form below. These can then be returned to the office or faxed by the provider to: 920-424-7583.
Over the Counter Medication Form *parent signature only required*
Epipen/Allergy & Anaphylaxis Form
REMINDERS:
- Directions on the medication bottle/box must match the written order on the medication request form.
- Stock Epi-pens do NOT go on field trips.
- Please fill out an Emergency Epi-Pen/Anaphylaxis Plan even if you don’t have a personal Epi at school.
- PRN medications (Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Tums etc.) must come in a new and unopened bottle.
- Is your child up to date with their immunizations? Please contact the doctor for physicals and immunizations! All students at Jefferson are required to have their Tdap, Polio, MMR, Varicella and Hep B! Please check with your doctor to see what wellness requirements are needed for your child.
Reminders 📌
School Spirit Store 👕
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!
Jefferson PTO 🤝
Stay informed and involved by joining our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). Our next meeting is on Monday, January 5th at 5:30 PM in the media center and all are welcome! Please note that PTO meetings will now be held at 5:30 pm instead of 5:00 pm. 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!