A Message from Ms. Farias
Dear Jefferson Families,
Happy November! Please read our newsletter as it highlights important information. We hope you enjoy the pictures below which include fun events/activities that took place during the month of October.
No Place for Hate:
The Summit Public Schools have partnered with the Anti Defamation League, the ADL, joining an initiative known as “No Place for Hate.” What a powerful message. The ADL is a leading anti-hate organization that endeavors to create an inclusive and nurturing learning community. In addition to our Social Emotional learning curriculum and lessons, this initiative will continue to bolster inclusive and safe spaces for our students where everyone will grow and learn together. In our schools and community, everyone belongs. Everyone is welcome. This ongoing work, which will span the remainder of the school year, will inspire and model for our young students the process of making safe and respectful choices and standing up for what is right. As classroom and school lessons are taught, we will share more details as to the classroom lessons. This will afford you the opportunity to hear more about the initiative and extend learning beyond the walls of our schools. Each day we tell our students that everyone makes mistakes and it is our job to learn from them. Let’s all learn together and continue to make our schools and the community of Summit a warm, welcoming, and inclusive place, where hate has no place.
Attendance:
Jefferson Elementary Students are expected to arrive between 8:05am-8:15am; after this time, parents/guardians would need to park in the pool lot and escort their child(ren) to the building. Many students are arriving late and not being signed in. Students are expected to line up on the blacktop from 8:05-8:15. Please note that JPC's carline is from 8:15-8:25. After 8:15, all students must be escorted to the main office and signed in by a parent/guardian. Students should not enter through the cafeteria unless we have inclement weather.
Attendance Letters: As of January 2023, the district began using the Genesis Parent Portal to send attendance letters. For students between the ages of 6 and 16, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25, we are obligated to ensure that each student is attending school on a consistent basis. For further clarification, please refer to Board Policy 5200 which may be found on the Summit Public School’s website. We send attendance letters on a monthly basis for tardies and absences. In order for you to receive notifications, please ensure that you follow the steps below. Once you turn on the notification feature, if an attendance letter is posted on your portal account, you will receive a notification. In the Parent Portal, under "Message Center" > "Message Alert Setup" please make sure the box is checked under "Letters" in order to receive an alert to the email address on file. Once this is turned on, you will receive an alert when the letters are released.
Dismissal Reminder:
Please note that after 3:00, if students remain on school grounds, they need to be supervised by a parent/guardian. Please ensure that your child(ren) play safely to prevent any injuries. Students should refrain from throwing rocks, climbing on trees, and need to be in your view at all times. If your child(ren) walk(s) home, please remind them to go to their destination and that they should not remain on school grounds unsupervised. Please also note that the carline lane is not used for dismissal/pickup. It is important that you park in the pool lot and meet your child(ren) on the blacktop. Please note that we are unable to allow students/visitors back in the building after 3:00 to use the restroom or go back to their classrooms. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Ms. Farias
A Message from Our School Counselor: Ms. Mortenson
October lessons
October was filled with lessons on the topics of respect, diversity, how to have a respectful and effective conversation and personal space.
Our second THRIVE lesson of the month was an extension lesson on the topic of including others and respecting differences. Here is the link to the parent letter.
We ended the month celebrating Red Ribbon Week which is a week dedicated to highlighting healthy and safe choices. Students enjoyed activities shared in a virtual space with teacher Bitmojis; third graders had a special guest reader, Officer Donnie DeFilippis, who read “The Red Ribbon” to both classes; fifth graders helped share morning announcements about healthy choices and a few students helped wrap the red ribbons around the trees out front.
November at-a-Glance
November lessons will focus on different topics such as good sportsmanship, kindness, and managing emotions.
I will be speaking at the November PTO meeting to discuss our Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying procedures. Both staff and students receive information about our HIB law and investigation steps at the very beginning of the year. It’s important that we all work together to understand the law, how to report a possible HIB and what to expect if your child is involved in a HIB investigation. The PTO meeting will be held on Thursday, November 21st at 7PM. A copy of the presentation will be shared after the meeting for anyone who cannot attend.
A Message from our School Nurse: Ms. Mendez
Coughs - What Parents need to Know
Cough
Cough is an important reflex, most are a normal part of a cold and coughing up mucus protects
the lungs. Coughs can be dry (no mucus) or wet (with white, yellow or green mucus).
Phlegm or Sputum: What's Normal?
White or clear phlegm is a normal part of the healing of a viral respiratory illness. Other colors of
nasal discharge or sputum may be signs of infection.
Trouble breathing is a reason to see a doctor right away. Call the doctor if...
● Noisy breathing-whistling or harsh sound when breathing in and/or ribs are pulling in
with each breath or coughing up blood.
● The lips or face have turned bluish during coughing, breathing is faster than normal,
there is chest pain when taking a deep breath or even when not coughing.
● There is a Fever over 104° F (40° C), your child looks or acts very sick or is not alert
when awake (seems “out of it”). Fever lasts for more than 3 days or returns after gone
for more than 24 hours.
● Your child has a weak immune system.
● When coughing causes vomiting 3 or more times, has kept home from school for 3 or
more days or lasts more than 3 weeks.
● Also if there is a runny nose that lasts more than 14 days.
WHAT TO DO FOR A COUGH
● To decrease the irritation or tickle in the throat you can give warm clear fluids like
apple juice, 1-2 teaspoons 4 times a day when coughing.
● For a child that is over 1 year old you can give 1 teaspoon of honey or corn syrup, it
works as a homemade cough medicine, thinning mucus and loosening up cough.
● Hard candy works similar to cough drops (can be used after age 6) use these at home
● Encourage drinking plenty of fluids such as water.
● Use a humidifier because dry air makes coughs worse.
● Fevers less than 102° F (39° C) are important for fighting infections, is how your body
kills germs. Fever reducers are not usually needed unless the fever is higher than 102.
About Us
Email: nfarias@summit.k12.nj.us
Website: https://www.summit.k12.nj.us/schools/jefferson
Location: 110 Ashwood Avenue, Summit, NJ, USA
Phone: 908-273-3807