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October 2023
From the Principal
Hello Jefferson Families,
The first month of school has flown by! I am really proud of the students for quickly getting into the routine and embracing our Charger Expectations (Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible and Be Kind) on a daily basis. I hope your family has gotten into a good rhythm with school. As a fellow parent, my family has finally gotten into a groove with bedtimes, wake-up, getting ready, etc... Consistency is so good for my own children, and I'm imagining for yours too!
Open House is Monday Night!
We hope to see your family at our Open House this Monday, October 2nd. Teachers have planned a variety of activities for you to engage in, and the PTA will be welcoming everyone at the front of the school. Doors open at 6:30pm. Hope to see you here!
National Anti-Bullying Month
October is the month we place extra emphasis on bullying prevention. I wanted to pass on a helpful resource. The PACER Center in Minnesota (https://www.pacer.org) provides information on bullying, addressing bullying, and more. I pulled a few of the frequently asked questions from their bullying page to share here. For the full compliment of questions and answers, you can go to that page of the PACER website: (https://www.pacer.org/bullying/resources/info-facts.asp)
How is bullying defined? – Bullying is an intentional behavior that hurts, harms, or humiliates a student, either physically or emotionally, and can happen while at school, in the community, or online. Those bullying often have more social or physical “power,” while those targeted have difficulty stopping the behavior. The behavior is typically repeated, though it can be a one-time incident. Students often describe bullying as when “someone makes you feel less about who you are as a person.” Note: Definitions vary greatly. These are not legal definitions. Find your state’s law and definition at StopBullying.gov
Conflict vs. Bullying – Bullying is different from conflict.
Conflict is a disagreement or argument in which both sides express their views.
Bullying is negative behavior directed by someone exerting power and control over another person.
Bullying is done with a goal to hurt, harm, or humiliate. With bullying, there is often a power imbalance between those involved, with power defined as elevated social status, being physically larger, or as part of a group against an individual. Students who bully perceive their target as vulnerable in some way and often find satisfaction in harming them.
In normal conflict, children self-monitor their behavior. They read cues to know if lines are crossed, and then modify their behavior in response. Children guided by empathy usually realize they have hurt someone and will want to stop their negative behavior. On the other hand, children intending to cause harm and whose behavior goes beyond normal conflict will continue their behavior even when they know it's hurting someone.
What is the difference between bullying and harassment? – Bullying and harassment are often used interchangeably when talking about hurtful or harmful behavior. They are very similar, but in terms of definition, there is an important difference.
Bullying and harassment are similar as they are both about:
power and control
actions that hurt or harm another person physically or emotionally
an imbalance of power between the target and the individual demonstrating the negative behavior
the target having difficulty stopping the action directed at them
The distinction between bullying and harassment is that when the bullying behavior directed at the target is also based on a protected class, that behavior is then defined as harassment. Protected classes include race, color, religion, sex, age, disability and national origin.
How does peer pressure impact bullying behavior? – Peer pressure occurs when a peer group or individual encourages others to change their attitudes, values, or behaviors to conform to those of the influencing group or individual.
Peer pressure can impact bullying behavior both in positive and negative ways. For example, the influence can have negative effects if a peer group’s bullying behavior encourages others to laugh at someone. It can also be negative when the group views other individuals as not worthy to be part of their group. The impact of negative peer pressure can create environments in which individuals are intimidated to speak out on behalf of someone being hurt or harmed.
Peer pressure can also be positive and healthy. For example, when the peer group encourages kind and inclusive behavior, such as inviting others to join them at the lunch table or letting someone know that they care what is happening to them. The action of peers encouraging each other to reach out to those who are struggling can have a positive impact on the group and other individuals who want to speak out against bullying.
Can a friend be bullying me? – Friends will sometimes have bad days. Friends will sometimes disagree. Friends will sometimes hurt each other's feelings, have an argument, or simply need time away from one another. This is normal and can happen in any friendship, no matter how close. If you are experiencing treatment from a friend that hurts you and you have asked that friend to stop, but it still continues, then that is not friendship. That behavior could be bullying. Friendship behaviors do not include hurting someone on purpose or continually being mean even when asked to stop. A friend will change or be remorseful for her behavior if she finds out she's hurting you. If you aren't certain if what is happening is part of a normal friendship or if it is bullying, talk to an adult you trust and get help sorting out the relationship. And yes, it is okay (and the right thing to do) to ask for help.
How do I start a conversation about cyberbullying with my child? – The internet is the newest place for children and teens to communicate and share moments with their peers. While it can be a positive place for students to interact, the rise of technology has also led to a new and serious form of bullying, known as cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is defined as the use of technology to send or share mean, threatening, or embarrassing messages or images to or about someone. It might be in a text, email, message, on social media, or in a post online. Just as it’s important to talk with your child about bullying, it’s important to discuss cyberbullying as soon as your child starts to interact online. Discuss what information is and isn’t appropriate to share online, as well as establishing cyber rules together, such as what sites your child will be allowed to use and hours of usage. During this conversation, explain that if something hurtful is shared online (via words, images, videos, etc.), it counts as cyberbullying, and it’s important that you know about it. Together, you can strategize a plan to respond to the cyberbullying and keep kids safe online.
Here at Jefferson, I cannot promise conflicts, meanness, and maybe even instances of bullying will never occur. I do know that as a school community, we strive to provide a safe and inclusive environment for each one of our 485 students. In addition, we are committed to coaching, supporting and correcting when necessary students through conflicts, meanness, and incidents of bullying.
Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.
With gratitude,
Steve Hopkins, principal
October 2: Open House 6:30-7:30 pm
October 5th: Picture Day
October 6th: Free popcorn Friday
October 13: No School, Teacher work day
October 19: Thunder Fun Run
October 20: Recess with Watch DOGS
October 27: Fall Family Dance
November 2: PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m.
November 3: Early Release 1:00 pm, dismissal
November 10: Veteran's Day, No School
November 13-17: Conference Week, 1:00 pm dismissal
November 17: Reflections Deadline
November 22-24: No School, Thanksgiving/Native American Heritage Holiday Break
Big Smiles Dental Clinic is Coming!
News From the Music Room
Welcome to another great year in music! My name is Mrs. Rockwell, and I am so happy to be back for my seventh year of teaching music at Jefferson! September was full of singing, playing instruments, and dancing, and it’s only getting better in October.
This year, we will again have two concerts at the Everett Civic Auditorium. Grades 3-5 will take the stage on Thursday, February 22nd, and K-2 will perform on Monday, May 6th. Please save these important dates and look for more information throughout this year.
Debrah Rockwell
Music Teacher
Coach's Corner
Welcome Jefferson Chargers! If you are new to Jefferson I’d like to introduce myself. I am Jefferson's English Language Arts and Mathematics Instructional Coach. As an Instructional Coach, I am grateful for the opportunity to support all of Jefferson’s skilled educators as they implement best practices and deliver high quality instruction for all our students. I can’t wait to get to know each and every student and for those returning, to see how much they have grown over the summer. As the school year gets going, you can refer to this section of the monthly newsletter to see all that is happening in ELA and Math instruction and find out how Jefferson is supporting all learners. I am excited for a great school year!
Winter Graham
ELA & Math Instructional Coach
i-Ready Diagnostic
Students in grades 1-8 have been taking the i-Ready diagnostic in Reading and Math. The Diagnostic gives teachers important information about student learning. Go to the i-Ready Family Center to learn how you can support and encourage your student to do their best on the i-Ready diagnostics.
Peachjar Flyers for After School and Community Opportunities
School Hours
Regular Hours: 9:10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Learning Improvement Fridays: 2:15 p.m. dismissal
½ Day Early Release: 1 p.m. dismissal