Jefferson Times

Home of the Wildcats

July 26th, 2024

Dear Amazing Jefferson Families,

I hope this message finds you well and that you had a restful and enjoyable summer. I am excited to welcome you and your children back for another incredible school year here at Jefferson. While the break was nice, I have missed the students and am anxiously waiting to see their smiling faces on the first day of school.

Our dedicated staff will be returning next week to prepare for the upcoming year, ensuring that we provide a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment for all students. We are committed to partnering with you to ensure your child's success this school year. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance. For those of you who are new to Jefferson this year, welcome to a phenomenal school community. For those returning to Jefferson, let's continue our journey of excellence!

Please take the time to read our emailed newsletter each week, especially the "weekly events schedule" and the "important upcoming events." It is also available on our school website. Furthermore, follow us on Instagram @jeffersonwildcats. Also, get involved with our fabulous MJPFA by visiting them at https://mjpfa.ptboard.com/ and follow them on Instagram @mjpfa6. For any questions, contact our office at (209) 835-3053.

Take care,

Jason Strickland

Principal

"Every Student. Every Day. Whatever it Takes"

Jefferson Weekly Schedule July 29 - August 2

School Office is open all week from 7:30am-4:00pm

Tuesday, July 30th

9:30 - 5th grade orientation and BBQ

Wednesday, July 31st

9:00 - ASB Leadership Camp

4:00 - Student schedules available in Aeries (once you complete data confirmation)

Thursday, August 1st

Office open for help with data confirmation and/or printing student schedules

Friday, August 2nd

Office open for help with data confirmation and/or printing student schedules

August 5th - First Day of School!

August 8th - Back to School Night

6th Grade Science Camp Meeting
8th Grade End of the Year Activities Meeting

August 14th - Picture Day

August 20th - School Board Meeting

September 2nd - Labor Day (NO SCHOOL)

September 6th - Coffee and Conversation with the Principal

September 20th - MJPFA Carnival

Student Schedules in Aeries

Student schedules will be available after 4:00pm on Wednesday, July 31st via your Aeries Parent Portal. In order to see and print your child's schedule, you must complete the data confirmation.

Please make sure to PRINT your child's schedule so they know where to go on the first day of school.

In addition, please PRINT & SIGN the Student Emergency Card and acknowledgment signature page and have your child turn it into their CORE teacher on Monday, August 5th. We need these for EVERY child attending Jefferson.

Here is the link to the Aeries Parent Portal (opens Wednesday at 4:00pm):

https://jefferson.asp.aeries.net/Student/LoginParent.aspx?page=default.aspx

If you have any questions on the process or need support, please reach out to the front office. We are open normal hours from 7:30am - 4:00pm starting next week.

Bell Schedule and District Instructional Calendar

Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures

Morning Drop-Off at Jefferson Campus

Drop-off is in the front parking lot (Linne Rd) OR back parking lot (Chrisman Rd). Students should not arrive before 7:30 a.m. Students must remain in the cafeteria if arriving between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Classes will open at 8:10 a.m., and students will report to their first-period class (Accelerated Math starts at 8:00 a.m.)

Front Parking Lot (Located off of Linne Road)

Afternoon pick-up for 7th and 8th Grade ONLY

● The drive-thru line is designed for a single lane for cars to drive through.

● Please pull all the way up to the drop-off line at the end of the sidewalk.

● DO NOT stop at the first crosswalk to unload your children.

● Do not open your trunk or get out of your car if you are in the car line. Park in the parking lot if you need to open the trunk or get out of the car.

Be patient with each other. This system takes time to learn, especially for new students. Let's help each other out!

Back Parking Lot (Located off of Chrisman Road)

Afternoon pick-up for 5th and 6th Grade ONLY

● The drive-thru line will be for Jefferson School busses and parents during the drop-off.

● This parking lot is designed for a single lane of cars to drive through.

● Please pull all the way up to the drop-off line at the end of the sidewalk.

● All bus students will exit the school grounds and go onto the buses first. Then, the rest of the students will be released.

● Please park in the lot if you arrive before the school buses leave. Once they leave, you can drive through the parking lot.

Back To School Night

We are pleased to invite you to Jefferson's Back to School Night on Thursday, August 8th. The event will begin promptly at 6:00 PM, where you will have the opportunity to move through your child's classes and gain insight into their daily school experience. While the class sessions will be brief, they will provide valuable glimpses into your child's educational environment. Please note that this event is for parents only; we kindly ask that you do not bring your child.

Your child will be bringing home an important form by Wednesday, August 7th, which is also attached below. Please ensure you receive this form from your child and bring it with you to BTSN so you can navigate the classrooms accordingly. Without it, you won't know where to go!

Following BTSN, we will be hosting two informational meetings:

6th Grade Science Camp Meeting: 7:00 PM in the gym
8th Grade End of Year Activities Meeting: 7:00 PM in the cafeteria

We look forward to seeing you there and partnering with you for a successful school year.

Safety Update

In order to keep students and staff safe, Jefferson is a closed campus during school hours. If visiting the campus, please come to the front office and get a visitor's badge using your driver's license to check-in at the kiosk. This is only during school hours and does not include if you are visiting to attend an event after school (sports, music, etc). Thank you for helping us keep Jefferson safe for all of us!

California Distinguished School Recognition

I am thrilled to share some exciting news with you all: Jefferson School has been recognized as a 2024 California Distinguished School!

This prestigious honor is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and collaborative spirit of our students, teachers, staff, and families. It reflects our commitment to academic excellence, innovative teaching practices, and creating a supportive environment where every student can thrive.

Being named a California Distinguished School is not just an accolade; it is a celebration of our shared values and commitment to providing the best possible education for our students. It is a recognition of the efforts of our entire school community in fostering a culture of learning, growth, and achievement.

As we celebrate this accomplishment, let us take a moment to acknowledge and thank everyone who has contributed to making Jefferson School the outstanding institution it is today. Whether you are a student, parent, teacher, staff member, or community partner, your dedication and support have played a vital role in this achievement.

This recognition serves as both a validation of our past successes as this is the 5th time Jefferson School has been recognized as a California Distinguished School (1989, 2009, 2013, 2019, and 2024). It also serves as an inspiration for all of our future endeavors. Let us continue to work together to uphold the high standards of excellence that have earned us this honor and to ensure that every student who walks through our doors has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Once again, congratulations to our entire school community on this remarkable achievement! Together, we have shown what is possible when we unite behind a common purpose and commit ourselves to excellence in education.

If you would like to learn more about the selection process for California Distinguished School, check out their website HERE.

Attendance Reminders

TO REPORT OR CLEAR AN ABSENCE, PLEASE EMAIL: JeffersonAttendance@jsdtracy.com

Chronic absenteeism is a serious problem on our campus. Many students are absent or tardy

on a regular basis and this has a huge impact on their learning! We want you to join us in making school attendance a high priority for your family. Remember, school is your child’s

first and most important job. Please support them by getting them here on time

and scheduling appointments and vacations outside the school day.

* Students are REQUIRED to be checked in at the office by a parent

when arriving to school tardy, returning from an appointment,

and/or departing early from school *

Anti-Bullying / Harassment

Bullying and harassment are not tolerated on the Jefferson campus. We have a strict policy in our district, and personally, I take it very seriously. The biggest thing you and your child can do to help stop it is REPORT, REPORT, REPORT. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING... SAY SOMETHING!

Please ensure that an adult on campus is aware so that we can take the necessary steps to address the issue. I am a big proponent of supporting all children and I never criminalize or adultify them, however, I will hold them accountable while making the experience/resolution a teachable moment.