Jefferson News
Hello Jefferson Families,
It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is next week! We have had a great first three months of school, and will close out November STRONG and POWERful! Tomorrow, Friday, November 22, is our first PBIS Party-- PJs, Movie and Popcorn-- to celebrate the classrooms that were able to earn and collect 200 Power H Tickets. Next Monday, students will be able to start collecting Power Tickets for December's PBIS Party, which will be a Gingerbread House Party!! Below are details for how you can help with the Gingerbread Party!!
Each week at Jefferson we focus on a specific area of our building, or time of day to focus on teaching and reteaching behavior expectations. The areas of focus over the next month are the cafeteria, playground, bathroom, and hallway. Each behavior lesson has an accompanying video to help students remember the rules and routines. Watch for these videos to be shared with families through our website.
As we move into December, please be on the lookout for volunteer and donation opportunities to help support our Jefferson PTO and our Jefferson students.
Please feel free to contact us directly if you have any questions or concerns.
Warmly,
Sara Folkert, Principal
Jennifer Heinritz, Assistant Principal
Candy Cane Grams
Our Jefferson PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) team is running a Candy Cane Gram Sale the week of December 16th. Candy Cane Grams are a fun way for students to celebrate friendships and appreciation for others. Each Candy Cane Gram comes with a candy cane and handwritten card that is delivered to the recipient. Candy Cane Grams will cost .50 cents. All proceeds will go to fund our Jefferson Power H Store!
We are accepting donations of Candy Canes!! Please consider donating a box or two to help with the Candy Cane Gram sale!
Gingerbread House Party
Our December PBIS Party will be held on Thursday, December 19. We need as much support as possible to make this a success!! Please visit the following link to sign-up to donate items or to volunteer to help during the party: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4EADA728A6FD0-pbis
Outdoor Clothing
Our crazy Michigan weather is in full effect! Students play outside even in the cold and snowy weather. Please send your student(s) with everything they need to stay warm and dry when playing outside in the rain, snow and cold. It is also helpful to add in an extra pair of socks and a plastic grocery bag for wet feet and/or clothing. We always are in need of extra snow pants, boots and winter coats. If you have any items that your student(s) has outgrown, please consider donating them to Jefferson!
Jefferson Power H Store
Jefferson students collect Power H Tickets that they earn by following our POWER expectations. Our Jefferson Power H Store is stocked with a wide range of items that students can “purchase” with their saved tickets. Students LOVE visiting the store!! We are always looking for volunteers to help run the store! Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4EADA728A6FD0-52763377-jefferson
Attendance Update
This month at Jefferson, our attendance incentive program goal is to have classes reach 85% or better attendance each week. We just finished week 2 and our students are doing such a great job of attending!
Thank you caregivers and grownups for helping your students to be attending and on time! It is so important to our students to attend as much as and as consistently as possible in order to create routines, gain more knowledge, and build relationships.
We had 19 out of 22 classes meet their goal of 85% attendance each week for weeks 1 and 2 so far! Hooray!!!!
Classes with most weeks of meeting their attendance goals in November will receive a class reward on our half day, Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
Keep sending those learners :) You can learn more about the importance of daily attendance here: https://www.hollandpublicschools.org/pub/news/posts/2948
Nurse News-- Healthy Hints for Healthy Children
Slow Down and Give Thanks!
The holidays are quickly approaching. It’s a great time of the year to slow down, reflect, and try to put some balance into life. Here are some tips to help relieve stress during this hectic time of year-
Get plenty of sleep. Sleep deprivation during a stressful time may make things feel less manageable.
If you are feeling like you have too much to do and not enough time to do it, ask for help. Use friends and family and community resources that are available.
Take a walk or get some exercise no less than 5 days a week. Exercise increases dopamine which is a chemical that helps to relieve stress.
Take a minimum of 15 minutes every day to be alone. Listen to soothing music, rest quietly, take a bath or walk. This is often enough time to soothe frazzled nerves and get back to daily chores.
Try to maintain a healthy diet with occasional treats. Having water or a healthy snack before a large holiday meal will help prevent overeating.
Sit down with your family or friends and talk about what you’re thankful for. It’s easy to lose sight of all the positives when we are feeling overwhelmed and stressed.
Mindfulness
Lifestyle has a profound impact on your brain health. What you eat and drink, how much you exercise, how well you sleep, the way you socialize, and how you manage stress are all critically important to your brain health. Here are a few other examples of things to try to decrease stress and boost your mental health:
Go outside
Reach out to loved ones
Journal
Art- Whether that be drawing, painting, sculpture, etc.
Breathing exercises
Yoga or meditation
Putting a limit on social media!
Taking care of your body by exercising, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep
“The brain is only as healthy as the body that carries it”
Emily Byl, RN, School Nurse
HLA 616-494-2624
Jefferson 616-494-2532
ebyl@hollandpublicschools.org
Community Partnership News
If you are in need of holiday food or gift assistance, please see the images below regarding what organizations you may contact for more help. If you are interested in using one of these programs, please do not delay on registering because they may fill and not allow for more registrations.
The next Power H Shop, our district non-food pantry, where you can get free items, such as laundry detergent, school supplies, hygiene products, and more, will take place on Thursday, December 5 at Maplewood School at 4:30 to 6 pm.