Jefferson Elementary

Exploring Trees: A Hands-On Learning Experience

This week, students dove into the fascinating world of trees! The lesson began with a unique greeting activity where each student chose a part of a tree to represent—either trunk, branch, or leaf—and greeted their classmates in character. This playful exercise helped them understand each part’s role in a tree's structure.

Next, students headed outdoors to pick a tree to draw. With journals, colored pencils, and some close observation, they sketched and labeled different parts of their chosen tree, adding details and colors to bring their trees to life. Back in the classroom, they compared drawings with classmates, discussing similarities, differences, and how each part of the tree functions.

To wrap up, students enjoyed a read-aloud from a tree-themed book, enriching their understanding of these essential parts of nature. This activity not only sparked creativity but also deepened students' appreciation for the diversity and beauty of trees around us!

Our kindergarteners took their math lesson outdoors this week as they explored symmetry using fall leaves! After learning about symmetry in class, students headed outside to find leaves with symmetrical patterns, using their observation skills to connect math with the natural world. Back inside, they created beautiful leaf rubbings, bringing their discoveries indoors. This hands-on activity combined science and math, sparking curiosity and encouraging students to explore symmetry through inquiry and observation. What a fun and engaging way to learn!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Family Food Night! We had a fantastic turnout, enjoying live music and a delicious meal featuring ingredients our Jefferson JAGS helped grow in last spring’s Seed to Sauce project. The sauce included peppers, tomatoes, garlic, basil, and onions planted by our students – a true farm-to-table experience! The book fair was also a big hit, and we appreciate all the volunteers and families who made this event so special. Thank you for your support!Thank you to everyone who joined us for Family Food Night! We had a fantastic turnout, enjoying live music and a delicious meal featuring ingredients our Jefferson JAGS helped grow in last spring’s Seed to Sauce project. The sauce included peppers, tomatoes, garlic, basil, and onions planted by our students – a true farm-to-table experience! The book fair was also a big hit, and we appreciate all the volunteers and families who made this event so special. 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.

Click HERE for a copy of the Winter Weather Information.

Our 3rd-grade students had an exciting and informative session with the Mankato Public Safety crew, where they learned all about staying safe during the winter months! Officers shared essential tips on how to dress warmly and protect themselves from the cold, as well as guidelines for playing safely around snow removal equipment. The highlight of the day? Getting an up-close look at a real snow plow! This hands-on experience not only taught students valuable safety skills but also left them in awe of the big machines that keep our community safe and running smoothly during winter.

Time is sure flying by in the art room! Students have been doing a great job of reviewing the Elements and Principles of art while diving into some really fun projects. We have been focusing on skill building in the art room so we can move on to our art units and try out new forms of art. Things that your student might have already had the chance to do: observational drawings, collage, painting, paper sculpture, wearable art, exploring new materials, and even doing some digital investigation about art history. Be on the lookout for some awesome art on display when you attend your student's conference.

Check out what has been happening around our social emotional learning in Ms. Olivo's November update!

A current Dakota Meadows Middle School student, Ansh Mohapatra, (former Jefferson Jaguar) successfully led a fundraising effort that raised over $500 to support those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Driven to help after witnessing the hurricanes’ destruction, Ansh, along with the support of his family, friends, and classmates, collected donations and presented a check to the Greater Mankato Area United Way on Thursday. By partnering with this trusted local nonprofit, Ansh ensured that the funds will directly aid impacted communities where assistance is most needed.

Students attending morning ACES have a spot for non-school day ACES care.

We are pleased to inform you of a significant update regarding your child's academic progress as we continue to enhance our communication and streamline access to important information.

We will continue our work to inform you when recent data has been updated in the Infinite Campus parent portal throughout the year. Your child's DIBELS fall assessment results are now available for you to view under the student test detail tab.

Simply log in to your parent portal account using your credentials to access your child's DIBELS data in Infinite Campus. Click here for a complete set of directions to help walk you through the process. Please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's school If you encounter any difficulties or have questions about accessing or interpreting the data.

We believe we can strengthen the partnership between home and school to ensure academic success of our shared students by communicating and making DIBELS data readily available on Infinite Campus.

MAPS elementary schools will be changing the timing of Progress Reports to increase the frequency of scheduled communication with families about student achievement. Starting in the fall of 2024, Progress Reports will occur at different times than Parent Teacher Conferences. Parent Teacher Conferences will continue to be held in November and March, and Progress Reports will be completed in January and June. This change will provide an opportunity for families to receive communication four times during the school year, and families will have an understanding of their child’s progress at the end of the school year.

Families will be able to see their child’s progress report through the Parent Portal in Infinite Campus. If families are unable to access their child’s progress report online, they can request a paper copy by contacting the office at their child’s school

We are thrilled to announce a new and future focused direction for Jefferson Elementary! Following the recent decision by the school board, Jefferson Elementary will be transitioning to a specialized outdoor and nature-based learning school beginning in the 25-26 school year. This shift reflects our commitment to innovative, meaningful education that prepares our students for the world they’ll inherit and shape.

Next Steps: In the coming months, we will work closely with teachers, families, and community partners to design programs and outdoor learning spaces that reflect the spirit of our vision. We understand that families will have questions about this new direction, and we are committed to providing information, resources, and engagement opportunities to ensure a smooth transition.

Information Session: We know you may have questions, and we’re eager to share more details about this exciting direction. Please read this link for more information as well as to find out when the informational sessions will be happening for you to learn more.

This new direction for Jefferson Elementary is an incredible opportunity to provide our students with a unique and impactful educational experience. We are excited to share this journey with you and invite you to stay engaged as we bring our vision to life.

Melissa Brueske and Tabatha Miller

As we approach fall conferences, we wanted to provide a quick reminder about how to sign up for conferences and highlight an exciting change in this year’s process—connecting with your student’s specialists!

Will be held on:

November 14th (Thursday) from 3:20 to 8:00

November 19th (Tuesday) from 3:20 to 8:00

November 21st (Thursday) from 3:20 to 8:00

PTCFast link: https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Jefferson_Elementary_8

In the past, specialists have always been available for informal check-ins, but this year we have made it easier for families by adding specialists to the PTCfast sign-up process. When you log into PTCfast, you will now see not only your student’s classroom teacher but also time slots to meet with our specialists. These specialists play a vital role in your child's educational experience, and we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to check in with them.

Our specialists include:

• Ms. Payne – Music

• Ms. Kroehler – Phy. Ed.

• Ms. Kulhers – Art

• Ms. Dilbeck – STEM

This addition is designed to foster meaningful connections and discussions about your student’s progress in these areas.

Specialist Availability at Jefferson:

• Ms. Payne – Music, Tuesday, November 19th 3:20 - 8:00

• Ms. Kroehler – Phy. Ed., Thursday, November 17th 3:20 - 5:20, Tuesday, November 19th 3:20 - 8:00 and Thursday, November 21st 3:20 - 5:20

• Ms. Kulhers – Art, Tuesday, November 19th 3:20 - 8:00

• Ms. Dilbeck – STEM, Tuesday, November 19th 3:20 - 8:00

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For instructions on how to access PTCfast and sign up, please refer to the information below.

PTCFast link: https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Jefferson_Elementary_8

If you have any additional questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

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.

Mankato Area Public Schools. The position is Intervention Paraeducator - Level 3 (ASD,EBD,DCE) and Student Success Coaches.
https://www.applitrack.com/isd77/onlineapp/jobpostings/view.asp?category=Support+Staff&AppliTrackJobId=4303&AppliTrackLayoutMode=detail&AppliTrackViewPosting=1

Keep the Book Fair excitement going! From November 3-17, you can shop our Book Fair online, where every purchase supports our school. Plus, enjoy free shipping on orders over $25! Shop here:

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/jeffersonelementaryschool72

Thank you, Jefferson School Community, for joining us at our 2nd Annual Family Food Night and Book Fair! With great food, live music and wonderful books, the evening was a success! Over 240 people attended making over $500 to use at Jefferson for our students. Special thanks to the staff and families who volunteered to make this event possible!

We would love your feedback on the event! Click the survey below to provide us with your thoughts!

Family Food Night Survey