Jefferson Journal

Hello Ranger Families,

We are heading into a big finish this week! As we wrap up our "One School, One Theme" focus on resilience, it has been rewarding to see our students apply that "keep moving forward" mindset to their daily work. Between the guest readers and our resilience activities in the classrooms, our Rangers have truly stepped up to the challenge.

Tomorrow, March 5th (3–6 PM), is our "Rangers are Resilient" Family Night. We want to see you there! This open-house event is specifically designed to get learning resources into your hands. Our goal is to make sure every family leaves with practical tools and activities to help support their student’s progress at home. This is not just for families who have conferences- everyone is welcome!

A few reminders for the week:

• Family Night: Drop in tomorrow between 3 and 6 PM for math and reading stations, free goodies, and take-home resources.

• Read-A-Thon: Our Read-A-Thon officially ends this Friday, March 6th. Encourage your Rangers to get those final minutes in! It has been a great run, and we are proud of the stamina they’ve shown.

Thank you for the incredible support you’ve shown for these initiatives. We look forward to celebrating a successful program with you tomorrow evening.

Thank you,

Mrs. Platt & Mr. Eberly

35980 Lakeshore Blvd. Eastlake, OH 44095

Office Email: tj.office@weschools.org

Main Office Line: 440-942-7244

Attendance Line: 855-612-7207 (24 Hours)

Transportation Department: 440-975-3736

• Mrs. Candace Platt, Principal
• Mr. David Eberly, Assistant Principal
• Mrs. Lori Dugger, Principal's Secretary
• Mrs. Wendy Flick, Administrative Secretary
• Mrs. Jacque Sparent, Family Liaison
• Ms. Katie Klemencic, School Nurse
• Ms. Priscilla Drewery, Health Aide

• 3/5- Conferences 3-6 PM
• 3/5- Rangers Are Resilient Family Night- 3-6 PM at Jefferson Elementary
• 3/13- Science Assemblies
• 3/17- PTO Meeting- 3:10 PM at Jefferson Elementary
• 3/19- Crumbl Dine to Donate
• 3/20- No School for Students- Records Day
• 3/23-3/27- No School- Spring Break
• 4/1- Yearbook Orders Deadline
• 4/2- Skating Party at United Skates
• 4/3 & 4/6- No School

I am thrilled to share the return of the Just Run program at Jefferson Elementary. It has been a few years since we have been able to offer this opportunity, but thanks to Miss Gibson, Ms. Kussman, and Miss Sawaya we are able to start again!

Students in Grades 3-5 are invited to participate in this year’s JUST RUN LAKE COUNTY youth fitness program! *Students in grade 2 are also invited, but must have a parent join them for all practices.

JUST RUN was designed to combat obesity and to promote physical activity in our youth. The program focuses on nutrition, exercise, and making healthy lifestyle choices.

The primary features of the JUST RUN program include:

• JUST RUN – Students will meet for practice twice a week from 3-4 PM. Practices will include warm ups and activities followed by walking/running. Students must have a ride home.

• JUST RACE – Just Run 5K goal race will be Saturday, May 23rd at Fairport Harbor. Students will train and be encouraged to participate.

• JUST RUN WITH YOUR PARENTS – Students are encouraged to walk/run/hike or bike with their parents on the weekends in order to promote family fitness.

• Cost to participate in the race: $25 registration fee online, $20 registration paying with cash or check.

• Check out the website for more information: https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/FairportHarbor/JustRunLakeCounty

We will have a Parent Interest Meeting at 3:15 PM on March 11th at Jefferson Elementary. Please fill out this Google Form if you are interested in having your child join our Just Run program: https://forms.gle/Y2Th5vtfBJK7HZCU8 Please have this form filled out by Friday, March 6th.

If you have any questions, please contact one of our three coordinators for the program:

Nicole Kussman: nicole.kussman@weschools.org

Jaycie Gibson: jaycie.gibson@weschools.org

Jessica Sawaya: jessica.sawaya@weschools.org

• Thanks to everyone who has helped raise funds for our school already!
• Our readers are rounding the corner to the finish line of our Read-A-Thon fundraiser on March 6th. We are so proud of them! Would you please share Read-A-Thon with all your friends and family to support our hardworking readers one last time? Our readers want to finish strong!
• https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/tool/XcAQBp/2

In Ohio, we know that the weather can change at a moment's notice! Please be sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the changing temperature. We go outside for arrival, dismissal, and recess any time that the wind chill is 20 degrees or above. Winter coats, hats, gloves, and boots are recommended. If you are in need of assistance providing winter weather gear for your child or children, please fill out THIS form and we will try to help.

Attendance Matters! Every week we award the homeroom with the best attendance from the week before with our attendance trophy! They get to have it (and bragging rights!) for the week until they pass it to the next winners. Any homeroom that wins three times in a grading period will get a special prize.

Congratulations to our winners: Mrs. Conley's Class multiple times and Miss Henrich's class!

Students are nominated by our staff members for showing PRIDE and kindness and recognized weekly. Keep up the great work!

We have a limited number of new Jefferson Rangers t-shirts left. Click the button below to order and we will send them home with your student immediately. Please be sure to type the student’s first and last name when ordering.

Welcome to the 2025-26 school year! We have a lot of fun things planned this year, but first get to know the PTO!

President: Diana Warner
Vice President: Marcia Gamiere
Secretary: Katie Pavlick
Treasurer: Melissa Grinstead

Contact: jefferson.pto01@gmail.com

We have a very active PTO and we are always looking for more people to get involved to help create fun, engaging, and memorable experiences for our students and families! You are already a member of the PTO by having a child attend our school. There are no membership fees and requirements- plan to attend a meeting!

PTO typically meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 3:10 PM at Jefferson Elementary. Your child can stay after school to have a snack and do a fun activity with one of our staff members while you attend our meeting! The meetings are typically under an hour each time. You can come to a meeting or two or attend every one throughout the year. We cannot wait to meet you!

Our next PTO meeting is set for March 17th. If you have any questions about being on the PTO board next year, this is the meeting to attend. Nominations and voting will happen at our April meeting. If you would like to sign your student(s) up to stay after school for a fun activity while you attend the meeting, please sign them up below.

https://forms.gle/eohQkQSTVLPJaZeB7

Lastly, because of your tremendous support during the Rangers Rock Dance-a-Thon last fall, the PTO is excited to reward our students with Professor Wow's FUN-believable Science Show at Jefferson on March 13th! We are so excited for this fun and engaging experience.

• Students may not pass out birthday invitations. If the family is having a party and wants to invite the entire class, the parent may contact the teacher and request for the teacher to pass the invitations out to all students in the class. NO FOOD BIRTHDAY TREATS MAY BE SENT IN TO SCHOOL THROUGH THE STUDENT OR DROPPED OFF IN THE OFFICE. We will contact the family to pick these up. Thank you for your cooperation!

• Outside Food Deliveries are Prohibited (Uber Eats, GrubHub, etc). If a student forgets a lunch, and the family can’t drop one off prior to the student lunch period, we will provide them with a school lunch.

• Student cell phones must be turned off and stored in student backpacks. Students may not have their cell phones in their pockets (pants, sweatshirts, jackets etc). Some bus drivers allow kids to use their phones on the bus, but they should not be walking in or out of school with them in their hands/pockets.
• Offense #1 - Staff Member reminds the student to turn the phone off and put it in their backpack (notify classroom teacher for tracking purposes).
  • Classroom teacher discretion whether to notify parents or not.
• ​​​Offense #2 - Staff Member takes the student’s phone and keeps it in their possession (or gives it to the classroom teacher to keep in their possession) until the end of the school day.
  • Classroom teacher will notify parents of the 2nd offense and warn about the consequences of a third offense.
• Offense #3 - Staff Member notifies the classroom teacher and brings the student’s cell phone to the office.
• Principal or Assistant Principal calls home and informs parents that the phone will remain in the office until picked up by the parent.

• Smart watches may only be used to tell time. If students are using them for communication or gaming purposes, they will follow the same rules above stated for cell phones.

  Students are not allowed to have their personal headphones (airpods, earbuds) during class time (unless approved by teacher for use), recess, or during ENCORE classes. Unauthorized use of these items will result in the above stated processes for cell phones and smart watches.

• Students should not bring their own toys, balls, or electronics to school and may not bring them out to recess. If they do bring them to school (for before/after school use), this is at their own risk, and they need to be kept in the student’s backpack. The school is NOT responsible for lost or stolen items.

• Students may wear hoodies inside the school, but they must keep their hoods down at all times. Having hoods up makes it difficult to identify students and their actions, and often leads to academic disengagement. Hats are not permitted inside the school unless it is a designated “hat day”.