Jefferson Elementary

On Monday, February 3rd, we had a fantastic turnout at the Blue Earth County Library for a special literacy event! This event was made possible through our Achievement and Integration grant and focused on fostering a love for reading among our students and families.

In partnership with Bridges Community School, we shared valuable information about The Read Act while families enjoyed a variety of engaging activities, including craft stations, a scavenger hunt, story readings, and coloring. Of course, there were also plenty of books to explore and check out!

It was a wonderful evening celebrating literacy, bringing our community together, and encouraging a lifelong passion for reading. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this event such a success!

Our February Phenology Friends Activity focused on enhancing students’ observation and sensory skills in a fun and engaging way. We began with an interactive "I Spy" activity, where students greeted each other by saying, “I spy someone with glasses. Good morning, [Student’s Name]!” or “I spy someone with a red shirt. Good morning, [Student’s Name]!” This helped students practice using their observation skills and pay attention to patterns in their environment.

To celebrate I Love to Read Month, we read the book The Hike by Alison Farrell. As we read aloud, students made predictions about what they might see, hear, feel, smell, or touch during our nature walk. Older students also had the opportunity to read to younger students, fostering a sense of community and shared learning.

After the reading, some students ventured outside for a nature walk, where they were encouraged to find things in nature that connected to the story. Following the walk, students had the chance to write or draw in their journals, reflecting on what they saw, heard, felt, smelled, or touched. They also thought about whether they noticed anything new that they hadn’t observed before.

This activity provided a wonderful opportunity for students to connect what they read with the world around them and develop their observation and sensory skills in a meaningful way. It was a memorable experience that brought together nature, reading, and learning in a hands-on, engaging way!

Jefferson Families,

Did you know that if your Jag misses 17 or more days of the school year that they are considered chronically absent by the state of Minnesota? We know that students miss school for many reasons such as illness, vacation, or family emergencies. It is expected that a student will miss a few days throughout the year. However, when students start to miss more than a few days of school, it can be detrimental to their academic growth. Research shows that students who miss 7 or more days of school are more likely to struggle to be at grade level academically. Here at Jefferson, we want to see our Jags in school as often as possible so that they can continue to get what they need to succeed in school.

Here are some important things to know about how we will be approaching attendance for the remainder of the year:

• Stay below 17 Days Absent: Ms. Brueske will be sending a message out to all families who have students on pace to miss more than 17 days of school this year. We have about 10% of students who are at this point. Our school goal is to have less than 5% of our students missing 17+ days this year. If you receive that message from me, know that we are looking to partner with you to make a plan for better attendance for the remainder of the year.
• 7 Sick Days=Med Letter Needed: If you have had a student who has missed up to 7 days because of illness, we will be requiring a doctor's note to excuse any further absences for illness. If your child isn't feeling good but they seem like they could be at school, I encourage you to bring them to school and have them checked out by our school nurse, Ms. Vicki. She will let you know if your student should stay at school or go home for the day.
• Doctor's Note Needed: Every time your student goes to an appointment (doctor, dentist, therapy, etc.), they must come back with a note from the visit excusing them from the time they were absent. If they have no note and it is just called it, it will be marked as unexcused until a note comes in verifying the absence.
• County Involvement: When a student has 8 or more unexcused absences, our school partners with Blue Earth County to support families with a plan to get their students to school more often.
• Helpful Video: Please take a few minutes to watch a great video on the importance of students being at school every day. Click here or on the Attendance Matters picture to watch the video.

Thank you for your partnership around attendance. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at mbrues1@isd77.org

Partners in Your Child's Education!

Melissa Brueske

Jefferson Principal

mbrues1@isd77.org

• At Jefferson, we believe that strong parent-teacher collaboration is essential for our students' success. When parents and teachers work together, we create a powerful support system that enhances student learning and achievement.

• Title I is a federally funded program included under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. It is a source of funds to assist schools in providing additional instruction for students. Title I funds are targeted to public schools with the greatest economic need; public schools whose average population of students who qualify for Nutrition Benefits is greater than 35% K-5 or 75% K-12.

• We encourage you to engage in open communication with your child’s teachers, participate in school events, and provide feedback on school programs. Your involvement not only helps us understand your child's unique needs but also fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility for their education. Together, we can help our students thrive academically and socially. Thank you for being an integral part of our school community!

• Hello! I am in my last semester of the Professional School Counseling master's program at MSU-Mankato. I have always loved working with kids and wanted to be in a helping field, so school counseling is a perfect fit! I have learned a lot from Annika Olivo this year; I've gotten some great experiences leading small groups, planning and teaching classroom lessons, and working with students individually. Outside of this internship experience and taking graduate classes, I enjoy reading (especially fantasy), taking walks, and spending time with friends and family. I feel privileged to be an additional support for students here at Jefferson. I have loved getting to know students and staff and hope to continue to build connections throughout the rest of the school year! I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have about me and my role at Jefferson!

Student Reports are live in Infinite Campus. What does this mean? You can access your student's test data from the parent portal anytime you log in. Data is updated throughout the year as testing windows close and data is final. Local and State Assessments that your child has taken throughout their time MAPs, are readily accessible as well as available for you to download.

To access your child's scores:

1. Log in to Infinite Campus Parent Portal

2. At the bottom of the navigation bar in the portal, click on "More"

3. A drop-down menu appears: click on "Student Reports”

4. A drop-down menu appears: click on "Select a Student”

5. Then select the report you wish to view:

1. To View MCA scores select MCA

2. To View ACCESS scores select ACCESS

3. To View DIBELS or NWEA select Student Test Detail

1. CogAT - mid-year 2nd Grade & new to the school district 3rd, 4th, & 5th grade students

How to Video of the Directions

Focus School Transition Update

• Building-level teams continue to collaborate and work on developing schedules, aligning content with the focus theme, and embedding it into core curricular areas.
• The PBIS team is establishing expectations for both indoor and outdoor learning and will begin practicing routines with students this year.
• Recent training from Wolf Ridge is guiding instructional practices, particularly in nature-based learning.
• Exploring ways to use technology as a tool to support the Focus School model.
• Strengthening partnerships that align with the Focus School theme, such as
• 5th graders visiting Drummer’s Garden Center and a Dairy Farm in Nicollet in February to connect with science standards on the web of life.
• Planning additional engaging activities tied to the theme.

• The lottery window closed on January 24.
• Families will be notified today about their acceptance or waitlist status.
• Accepted families have until March 1 to confirm their seat.

Future Events:

• March 12: Building tour and information session for new Jefferson families.
• March 19: Task Force meeting for input on progress.
• April 15: We Are Jefferson Night—outdoor learning experiences for students and families.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to our Climb to Feed fundraiser. Together, we raised $759.18, which will be donated to our Backpack Food Program to help provide food security for local students and their families.

Your generosity and support make a real difference in our community. Thank you for helping us ensure that every child has access to the nourishment they need to thrive!

To learn more about the Backpack Food Program click on their link: FOCP Feeding Our Communities Partners.

Students go outside for recess daily, weather permitting. Please ensure your child is dressed properly for the weather: snow boots, snow pants, winter jacket, winter hat and snow gloves. If your student is in need of winter gear please fill out this form.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfOeFrQvoqZq2BAv-sDN_pBAANeypHiD6Wua4woGl_QamPkSA/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0

We are currently accepting new or gently used donations winter clothing, including coats, snow pants, boots, winter hats, and snow gloves or mittens.

We especially need boys’ and girls’ jackets in sizes 6 and up, as well as boots in all sizes. While gently used boots are welcome, new boots are preferred.

Please note: we are completely out of winter snow gloves and would greatly appreciate donations of this item.

Donations can be dropped off at the office. Thank you for your support!

Winter weather will be here soon, so it’s a good idea to have a plan for your family in case of school closings, early dismissals, or late starts.

Notices for school closings and early dismissals will be posted on the following websites, radio, and television stations. You can also hear a recorded message on the District Notification Line at 507-387-6046.

Other ways to track school closing delays/dismissals/closures:

● www.isd77.org ● katoinfo.com ● mankatofreepress.com ● southernminnesotanews.com ● keyc.com ● KEYC 12 - TV AND MANY MORE.

Please Note: Blue Earth Area Schools is a smaller school district south of us. When you hear or see this, IT IS NOT Mankato Area Public Schools. Winter Closings are listed as Mankato Area Public Schools.

Click HERE for a copy of the Winter Weather Information.

The Cognitive Abilities (CogAt) Screener testing window will be open from February 1st thru the 15th. The CogAt will be given to all 2nd grade students and new-to-district students in grades 3-5 who have not yet taken the CogAt.

The CogAt provides insight into students’ abilities and guides educators in making appropriate educational decisions for students. Mankato Area Public Schools use the CogAt in the following ways:

• to help educators differentiate instruction for the needs and abilities of a student;

• to understand discrepancies between a student’s ability and achievement; and

• to use as a measure in identifying students for placement in Talent Development Services, including cluster and Rising Scholar classrooms.

In grade 2, the CogAt is untimed. Students in a typical 2nd grade class generally take less than one hour to complete the CogAt, In grades 3-5, the CogAt will take approximately 45 minutes. The CogAt has three sections: verbal analogies, quantitative analogies, and nonverbal matrices. There will be short breaks between sections.

If you do NOT want your child to take the Cognitive Abilities Screening Form, please contact your school no later than Wednesday, January 29th.

We have a opening for position for a Student Success Coach here at Jefferson. If you are interested in applying for this opportunity please click on the link below to see more details around the position as well as what qualifications are needed.

https://www.applitrack.com/isd77/onlineapp/jobpostings/view.asp?category=Support+Staff&AppliTrackJobId=4303&AppliTrackLayoutMode=detail&AppliTrackViewPosting=1

Thursday, February 27th | 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Join us for an exciting evening of Bingo, Dancing, and an Outer Space Art Gallery showcasing incredible student creations from every grade level! Reminder: Students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

We NEED volunteers to bring the fun to life! Please consider signing up for one of these roles:

• Event Set-Up: Help get everything ready before the event starts.

• Dance Monitors: Keep the energy high and make sure everyone is safe and having fun on the dance floor.

• DJ Needed: We’re looking for a DJ to get the crowd moving with some tunes!

• Prize Table Attendant: Help manage prizes for Bingo winners.

• Face Paint Artists: Add some glow and creativity with neon face paint!

• Clean-Up Crew: Help us wrap up the night and clean up after the fun.

If you’re interested in volunteering please sign up by https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F45ABAE2AA4FB6-54698295-neon

Get your Neon Night adult t-shirt for just $10 from January 31 – February 21! Fill out our T-Shirt Sign Up - Google Forms to lock in this special price, and we’ll deliver your shirt before the big event. After February 21, prices go back up to $15—don’t miss out!

The January and February PTO meeting minutes are now available. Check out key discussions, upcoming events, and ways to get involved.

Mark your calendars! Jefferson's Chipotle Night is coming! Join us on March 18th from 4–8 PM at Chipotle on 1600 Warren Street, Ste 1 to support our school while enjoying a delicious meal!

The PTO is seeking a Treasurer for the next school year! If you’re organized, detail-oriented, and passionate about supporting our school, we’d love to have you on our team. Please email jeffersonjagspto@gmail.com if interested or have questions.

• Sign up for Remind app: https://www.remind.com/join/jefpto