March Newsletter
Dear Jefferson Families,
Welcome to March! March brings so many great things to Jefferson: One Book/One School, Read-a-Thon Fundraiser, Carolyn Stitch, Mountain Film Festival field trips, 5th graders visit to the middle school, and, most importantly, March is READING MONTH!!
With March comes CRAZY weather! Please continue to send your student(s) with everything needed to stay warm and dry in cold and wet weather: A winter coat, snow pants, boots, gloves and a hat.
As Spring Fever builds, we need help reminding our Jefferson students about school expectations. Please review our Jefferson POWER expectations with your child(ren). POWER stands for Pride, Own Your Actions, Wise Choices, Engaged, and Respect. Can your child(ren) explain how to have POWER in each school setting (bathroom, playground, cafeteria, etc.)?
As always, please contact our administrative team with any questions or concerns!
Warmly,
Sara Folkert, Principal
Jennifer Heinritz, Assistant Principal
One School/One Book
Jefferson has been celebrating March is Reading Month by participating in One School/One Book. Each student at Jefferson has received the book The Wild Robot, by Peter Brown, along with a reading schedule bookmark. Every few days students have been answering trivia questions about the chapters they have read. Continue supporting your student(s) at home as we finish up the last half of the book!
Late Student Arrivals and Parent Pick-up
If your student is arriving at school after the start of the day, 8:30 AM, then he/she/they must be signed into the office by an adult. Please do not send your child into the building unaccompanied.
Our school day ends at 3:36 PM. Please pick your child(ren) up promptly at the end of the day. Our office and administrative staff often have other obligations, and we cannot guarantee that there will be supervision.
Here is a note from nurse Emily Byl regarding healthy sleep habits:
Healthy Hints for Healthy Children: Spotlight on Sleep Hygiene
What is Sleep Hygiene?
Sleep hygiene is the collection of habits and behaviors that promote good sleep. Proper sleep is essential to a child’s development, physical and cognitive health, and academic performance. A lack of sleep negatively affects mood, concentration, the ability to recall information, and learning.
Tips for better sleep
Develop a routine - 20 minutes of winding downtime.
Use the bed only for sleeping - This avoids confusing the brain.
Try sound machines and black-out curtains.
Avoid screen time at least one hour before bed.
Create a sleep schedule and be consistent to help regulate their natural clock.
Play relaxing music or read to them before bed.
Use a stuffed animal to associate with sleep.
Do less stimulating activities 20 minutes before bed and make it a routine every night - Brush teeth, put on pj's, and take a warm bath.
Dim the lights to create a calming atmosphere.
Write in a journal together to discuss concerns or joys.
Try sugar-free snacks after dinner to avoid late-night wakeups.
Keep track of their sleep schedule to bring to their doctor if you notice excessive snoring, frequent nightwalking, behavioral problems while at school, or daytime sleepiness.
Sleep environments have a great impact on sleep quality. Follow these simple steps to create healthy sleep spaces at home- Super Sleep Spaces
Recommended Hours of Sleep
Infant (4-12 Months) 12-16 Hours
Toddler (1-2 Years) 11-14 Hours
Preschool (3-5 Years) 10-13 Hours
School Age (6-12 Years) 9-12 Hours
Teen (13-18 Years) 8-10 Hours
Adult (19-60 Years) 7 or More Hours
Learn more about good sleep habits at www.cdc.gov/sleep
Reference- https://bhcwsu.org/
Emily Byl, RN, School Nurse
HLA 616-494-2624
Jefferson 616-494-2532
ebyl@hollandpublicschools.org