Jefferson ES 2014-15 School Year

Jefferson kids gave their teachers flowers for Teacher Appreciation Day.

Thanks to many Jefferson parents for bringing flowers and to Monica Urick for assembling bouquets to thank our administrative assistants, Ana and Shirley!

Kids came to school in their pajamas. They could bring their favorite stuffed animal too.

Third graders experienced hands-on science lessons with some special visitors from the San Francisco Zoo. The chinchilla is a class favorite! 

Jefferson recently celebrated Winterfest, a schoolwide craft day.  Winterfest is sponsored by the PTA through Jefferson's Artworks program. All of the students make unique gifts to give someone special in their lives. 

Jefferson had a special visitor on Dairy Day: Buttercup the cow. The kids learn everything about her, in and around the Mobile Dairy Classroom.

The First Graders meet once a month in Golden Gate Park to play and get to know one another other better.

An interview with Ms. O'Brien, Jefferson's wonderful garden coordinator:

What is your favorite plant?

So hard to choose a favorite! I love Lamb's Ear. It is incredibly soft and I always found it to smell like bubble gum. I also love Hydrangeas because they remind me of home.  

Did your school have a garden when you were a kid?

When I was growing up, my elementary school had a small "reading garden." It was a quiet area with flowers and a nice bench for the students and community to enjoy. Teachers would bring their classes out there for read alouds and small reading circles. I just found out that they have recently started a community garden where they grow fruits and veggies! So excited about that! Wish they had had that while I was there though. 

What kinds of vegetables grow best in our neighborhood?

So far, I have had the most success with our kale and radishes. They are looking strong and have been tasting delicious! I have only lived here for a few short months so I am continuing to experiment with what grows best in our beds. 

What is the climate like in your home town?

I am from Connecticut so the climate there is much different than what we experience here in San Francisco. In my hometown there are generally hot humid summers followed by very cool and colorful falls. The winters are cold and snowy and the springs can be rainy and lush and sometimes quite sunny. A little bit of everything!

What interesting fact would you like to tell the Jefferson community?

I am a certified scuba diver!

Mr. Poon is a swinging show master for the Annual Jefferson Halloween Parade.

Do you struggle to extract information from your child about how the school day went?  Here are some suggestions gathered from other parents and a child psychologist:

Ask direct questions.

It helps if you know your child's class schedule.  (Most teachers put the daily/weekly schedule up somewhere in the classroom. You can take a picture for future reference.)  "How is your plant growing in the garden?"  "What book did you get out of the school library?" "Tell me something that made you laugh today."   

Choose when to ask.

Children (and adults) are more focused without TV, phones, or distractions.  I have found that dinner time and car rides are good quiet times.  

Start a conversation, not an investigation.

Sharing your trials and tribulations can lead to a discussion about what was frustrating/rewarding for your child.

The First Graders in Mrs. Lum's class have started their ceramics class. A dedicated art teacher, Deborah Hoch, comes in every week to lead projects. The ceramics class is always a great hit, and the kids are super enthusiastic.

Welcome back to Jefferson for the 2014-2015 school year!  Please introduce yourself and say "Hi" to our new Principal, Andy Poon, whenever you see him.  Mr. Poon comes to us from SFUSD's Sutro Elementary and will be acting as interim principal while we search for a long-term replacement. It's good to have him here!

A huge THANK YOU to all the parents and teachers who volunteered at last weekend's Outside Lands parking lot fundraiser. We raised over $6000 for Jefferson, and the school year hasn't even started yet! If you missed out, make sure to mark your calendar for the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass parking lot fundraiser on October 4th & 5th.