PRINCIPAL'S CORNER

Good day all,

This week I wanted to share some celebrations and updates about our Every Day Matters attendance campaign here at Jefferson. Coming off the COVID-19 pandemic, school attendance rates have struggled to return to their pre-pandemic levels across the nation. Schools have been working hard to help kids, and families, get back into the attendance habit.

To start, let’s dive into some data. Researchers have found that students who miss more than 10% of the school year begin to see negative impacts on academic performance and social emotional growth. This is why they have deemed a rate of 95%, or missing no more than one day per month, as the target for what is considered “regular attendance.” As of March 28, 53% of Jefferson students have hit this regular attendance target (49% in 2023-24 and 36% in 2022-23)! Another 30% fall in the at-risk attendance level (90-95%) (33% in 2023-24 and 32% in 2022-23). And as of this writing, 17% of our young scholars have missed more than 10% of the school year (18% in 2023-24 and 31% in 2022-23).

While these numbers are heading in the right directions, they do call for one caveat. Schools often see an “attendance slump” in the spring. Let’s partner together to help our shared scholars understand that Every Day Matters at Jefferson and to continue being here each and every day that they are not too ill to be at school!

I’ll end today’s Principal’s Corner by asking each of you to be part of a shared goal of getting all of our kids back to school. I know we can do it. Jefferson had a pre-pandemic attendance rate in 2019-2020 that saw 71% of scholars with a satisfactory attendance rate, 25% being at-risk and only a 4% of scholars landing in the chronic absentee category!

We can do this!

Brent

Brent A. Perdue (he, his, him)

Principal, brentp@spokaneschools.org

April 14, 2025

CALENDAR

April 14

3rd Grade Lego Club 3:00-4:00pm, Room 121

April 15

Anxious Generation

Book Discussion

Part 4-Chapters 9-12

& Conclusion

7:30 - 8:00am, Library

3:30 - 4:00pm, Conf. Rm

5:30 - 6:20pm, Library

K-2nd Grade

Board Game Club

3:00-4:00pm, Room 128

Kindness Club

3:00-4:00pm, Library

3rd-5th Grade Chess

3:00-4:30pm, Room 129

PTG Meeting

6:30-7:30pm,

Library or ZOOM

April 16

Crisis Drill Today

3rd Grade Art Club

3:00-4:00pm,

Art Room 108

STEM Class

3:00-4:30pm, Library

April 17

3rd - 5th Grade Board Game Club

3:00-4:00pm, Room 128

4th & 5th Grade

Multicultural Club

3:00-4:00pm,

Room 122

August B.

Kody M.

Layn K.

Charlotte A.

Cici H.

Natalie K.

William H.

Elizabeth H.

Raymond M.

Haidyn B.

Evelyn T.

Emberly T.

(located on the Jefferson Website in the “Students” dropdown menu or click here)

Playground (Before and After School) (Page 23)

Jefferson’s playground is closed before school each day. The Jefferson playground is closed for 60 minutes after school lets out each day. The playground is reserved for after-school activities and for Jefferson’s Express Childcare program. Families are asked to remind their scholars that they are to go straight home after school. Families picking up students are also asked to help by having their children stay off the equipment until after 4pm.

Every Day Matters!

As parents and caregivers, we all want to give our children the best possible chance at a happy, healthy successful future. One way to do that? Get them to school as often as possible! Being here in person helps them develop in so many ways. Plus, they’re able to connect with friends and adults, collaborate and problem-solve, think critically, be creative and engage in hands-on learning. Showing up matters!

Congratulations to Mrs. Teshome's Primary DI students for recently filling up the 60 spaces on their classroom PRIDE posters!

Classrooms at Jefferson can earn stickers for their PRIDE posters when they collectively meet PRIDE expectations across the building. When their poster is filled with stars, classes receive a Smart Snack compliant treat and extra recess with Mr. Perdue or Mrs. Gage and Millie, Jefferson’s emotional support dog. The five PRIDE expectations include: Peace, Respect, Integrity, Diligence and Empathy.

Jefferson Variety Show

Jefferson students wowed audiences on Thursday, 3/28 and Friday, 3/29 with musical numbers including singing, dancing and playing instruments in addition to comedy, gymnastics and martial arts routines and even stop motion films. It was a fantastic show! More pictures can be seen on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

NASA Ambassador Visits Jefferson 3rd Graders

Third-grade students at Jefferson have been learning about Space. On Friday, March 21st, they had a special visitor come to Jefferson to support this adventure. Joe Bruce is a Solar System Ambassador for NASA. He has dedicated his life to space exploration. He is an educator, lecturer and artist who works for NASA and tours around the country teaching students about Space. He has visited several NASA centers around the country and has been present for four Space Shuttle launches!

In addition to his presentation, Joe brought space artifacts to share with the students as well as a presentation on space. He believes that "by sparking an interest in Mathematics and Science, we never know where a child might go. They might go on to be the next Sally Ride, the next Neil Armstrong or make a discovery that benefits all humankind."

Mr. Vogt Keeps His Balance in Out There Outdoors Magazine

Tom Vogt, who was mistakenly referred to as Bruce in the print version of the article, was recently profiled in the local Out There Outdoors magazine for his unicycle exploits. Check out the online version of the article, along with his correct first name, here.

ToothSavers Date Change

There has been a slight change of date for the upcoming Toothsavers program coming to Jefferson. The new date is Tuesday, April 29th.

2025-26 Preschool Applications Open April 14

Families who are interested in preschool for the 2025-26 school year will need to complete the school district’s new comprehensive electronic application, which opens on April 14. The application will be available on the SPS Preschool Web Page and will also include application requirements, program information and more.

All parents/guardians must complete the application and verification process for their child to be considered. The State of Washington requires Spokane Public Schools to determine eligibility based on income, risk factors, previous early learning opportunities and/or special education needs. This ensures we can offer high-quality preschool at no charge. Children must be 3 or 4 on or before Aug. 31 and live within Spokane Public Schools boundaries.

While eligible 3-year-olds may attend preschool at Grant Elementary if accepted, Jefferson’s program is for 4-year-olds who live in the Jefferson attendance area. And while preferential enrollment is given based on income status, or a child having special needs, all Jefferson area 4-year-olds will be considered with our hope to enroll all who are interested in our free Tuesday-Friday 8:15am-3:00pm program.

All interested families should be encouraged to connect with the Eligibility and Enrollment Specialist assigned to their feeder pattern. Jefferson’s specialist is Gwen Cracroft who can be reached by email at GwenC@spokaneschools.org or 509-354-2774.

Together Spokane

Learn more here: Home | Together Spokane

Legos Needed!

Jefferson has many young students that are interested in a Lego club after school. The trouble is, we still need more Legos! If you have old sets laying around that you are willing to donate to Jefferson, we would be so grateful! We would love to have a large collection of Legos for students to free build with. The more Legos we have, the more students we can have participate. Send any that you have to spare our way! Talk with your friends with older children, too, since we know that most families with elementary aged children likely are still using their Legos all the time. Thanks in advance for your help!

PTG Upcoming Events

5th Grade Memory Book

Attention 5th grade parents

and Guardians!

Did you forget to turn in your pictures?

We will still accept them this week.

We need pictures for the 5th Grade Memory Book (yearbook) and promotion slideshow.

Please upload

1) your child's baby photo labeled with their name.

2) Any fun group photos of the 5th graders from over the years.

Upload pictures HERE or email them to Jeffersonpatriotmemories@gmail.com

Volunteer Clearance

All previously cleared volunteers are still cleared to help until June 1st.

Parents continuing to volunteer beyond this school year, or for end of year events like Field Day, need to update their application in the Raptor Tech system HERE before

June 1st, 2025.

If you have questions about your volunteer status, please email jeffersonptgvolunteer@gmail.com.

Jefferson Jog Moved to October

The Jefferson Jog fundraiser will be returning in October 2025!

Due to field availability and other factors, the Jefferson Jog will be moving from a spring event to a fall event. Get ready for your lemonade stands over the summer!

Last Anxious Generation

Book Discussion

Tomorrow, Tuesday 4/15

5:30-6:20pm

Jefferson library, in person only

April PTG Meeting

Following the book discussion

Tuesday 4/15 6:30-7:30pm

Jefferson Library or on ZOOM

PTG Website

For more information on all of our events, please visit our website at www.jeffersonpatriotsptg.net

Last Week for Pet Food and Supply Drive for SCRAPS

The Jefferson Leadership Team and Kindness Club are collecting pet supply items for SCRAPS. Please see their included wish list.

3/25-4/18

Items can be brought to the Jefferson office.