Programs

For those new to Running Club, students in kindergarten through 5th grade run during their lunch recess for a 30 minute period. Running Club is offered from early September through October, and after spring break until mid-May, when weather permits. The kids have the opportunity to run around Van Voorst Park on a set course. Three times around the field is about 1 mile. Kids will receive a chain when they sign up, followed by the chance to earn a colorful plastic foot charm for each mile they run !

Running club is able to operate safely and efficiently due to our wonderful parent volunteers! Look for sign up opportunities in Tiger Beat. And remember, kids participating in Running Club should store their necklaces in a safe place and wear them on Mondays and Wednesdays so they can immediately attach their hard-earned charms.

Safety Patrol is open for 5th grade students to ensure our community is safe during school drop off and pick up. Every year, the PTA sponsors a thank you lunch for all our student and staff volunteers. 

For information on the PTA National Art program, Reflections, please click here. Watch out for information on this program in the Tiger Beat!

Jefferson can NOT survive without Room Parents. They serve as the first point of contact for everything that happens in the classroom. Interested in becoming a Room Parent? Please reach out.

Is your child interested in Chess? Chess Club meets one afternoon a week immediately after school ends. Each week a new aspect of the game is introduced (forks, pinning, discovered attacks, etc) and the kids then group- solve chess puzzles that reinforce the lesson. After that, they are paired up for their club tournament match. Reach out if your child is interested!

What is a 5^thGrade Memory Book?

When your child is in 5^thgrade, a memory book team, made up of parents, will compile a memory book of your child and their classmates from Kindergarten thru 5^thgrade.  In addition to the memory book, ALL parents/students get two free uniquely printed pages that are only printed in your child’s memory book, so you can fill your child’s yearbook with photos and memories that might not otherwise make the cut.

Types of Photos we’re looking for:

• Group Pictures (3+ students)
• Hi-Resolution pictures
• School events
• Photos showing action or emotion that tell a story

Types of photos we’re NOT looking for:

• Blurry pictures
• Individual pictures (there are a few exceptions… example … your child in front of their State Project)
• Family Pictures
• Pictures from personal, non-school events (Birthday parties, sporting events, trick or treating, etc…)

Examples of potential topics covered:
1st day of school, Incoming Kindergarten students with yard signs, Science Olympiad, Halloween Parade, Thanksgiving Feast/Pilgrims, Giving Tree, Carnival, Field Trips, State Reports, Plant Projects, Girl/Boy Scouts, Band/Orchestra, Safety Patrol, Spelling Bee, Student Council, School dances, 5th grade buddies, Relatives day, Field Day, Running Club, Junior Great Books, Ice & Roller Skating Parties, students with teachers, End of year picnic, Last day of school, etc...

What if my child is on the NO PHOTO list?
Your child may still be in the yearbook. Parents are allowed to take photos for yearbook purposes.  Please Note: Parents are NOT ALLOWED to post pictures of other children on social media... regardless of if they are on the No Photo list. 

How you can help:
1) TAKE PHOTOS!! When you’re on a field trip or at a school event... take group shots. We love both action shots and candid shots. 
2) We will be collecting any photos you have taken.

We love our prairie/perennial garden on the west side of our school! It is a treasure trove of seeds and bugs and non-stop nature in action. Volunteers are needed year round to weed, seed and maintain the garden.

The Jefferson Library volunteers are a group of parents who help out in the library by shelving returned books.  Volunteers usually go in on a monthly basis.  This is a great opportunity to volunteer during your child’s specific library time or another time convenient for you. 

Read along each day with your school, watch videos, do fun at-home activities and more!  Be on the look out for more information.

Jefferson Mathletes will provide an enrichment opportunity to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students that have a passion for problem solving and excel at math. Team Leaders (parent volunteers) will be present to help facilitate discussion and introduce games. Team Leaders will not be providing tutoring or instruction on the math curriculum. During scheduled meetings, students will work on practice problems and play math games.