Jefferson April News
Dear Jefferson Families,
Welcome to April! We are so excited to have our Jefferson students back from Spring Break!
On Monday, April 8, the first day back from Spring Break, we will be in the path of a solar eclipse. West Michigan will experience a partial eclipse from 1:55 to 4:24 PM with 94% totality at 3:11 PM.
While this is an amazing educational opportunity, there are also potential risks. Viewing of the eclipse without proper eye protection can cause permanent damage to vision. And regular sunglasses do not provide adequate protection.
In order to protect students from these risks, here are some of the precautions HPS buildings and classrooms will take during the eclipse:
- Students and staff will limit outdoor activities after 1:45 PM unless it is part of a pre-planned and supervised activity.
- Approved protective eye-wear (meets the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard) will be worn by all students during these planned activities.
- If your child's classroom will be participating in outdoor eclipse activities, their teacher has already notified you about those plans. If you choose not to have your child participate in a Solar Eclipse activity, please contact your child’s teacher.
- Because the eclipse will still be happening as we dismiss, we will remind all students and staff in an end-of-day announcement about the potential eye damage that could result from looking at the sun, even with sunglasses.
- Visit the following sites for more information about Solar Eclipses:
April begins our very busy testing season! Please take a few minutes to read over the M-STEP testing schedule and tips below.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Jefferson this year by volunteering at our building! Multiple opportunities to volunteer will be opening up from now through the end of the year, be on the lookout for more information!
As always, please contact our administrative team with any questions or concerns!
Warmly,
Sara Folkert, Principal
Jennifer Heinritz, Assistant Principal
M-Step Testing
For the next several weeks our 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students will be taking M-STEP, which is the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress. Please help us support our Jefferson students with a successful testing experience by doing the following: Get a good night of sleep, eat breakfast at home or at school, arrive on-time to school, bring healthy snacks on testing days, and bring a full water bottle. Below are the grade-level testing dates:
3rd Grade: May 1, May 7, May 8
4th Grade: May 1, May 2, May 8
5th Grade: April 11, 16, 17, 23, 25
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.
Drop-off and Pick-up Reminders
Our number one goal during drop-off and pick-up is to keep our Jefferson students safe. One important way we create a safe school environment is to prohibit any type of smoking on school property, this includes smoking in cars when transporting students in vehicles. No smoking of any kind is allowed on school property: Traditional cigarettes, vapes, and all versions of Marijuana use.
Please read over our Pick-up and Drop-off procedures to help ensure that our kiddos are coming and going from school in a safe manner:
Morning Drop-off
- Morning Drop-Off begins at 8:15 AM for all students.
- Pull your vehicle all of the way forward to the curve (by the playground gate) to unload your student(s).
- After your student(s) has exited your vehicle, please pull forward, so the next car can unload.
- Students may only be dropped at the curb by the playground. Students may not be dropped off in the outer lane of the parking lot, on the street, or in the front of the building.
- Parking is NOT allowed curbside! Please park in the parking lot if you need to stay longer or get out of your car with your child. This will help keep traffic moving!
- Students go directly to the playground, and should not enter the office.
- Students should not be dropped off on the VanRaalte Avenue side of the building.
Afternoon Pick Up
- Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Kindergarten students are picked up at the West doors on VanRaalte Avenue, Door #13.
- Siblings of TK and Kindergarten students are also picked up at door #13.
- 1st - 5th graders are picked up in the parking lot. There is a “drive” lane and a “pick-up” lane. Students may only be picked up at the curb, not in the “drive” lane.
- No parking in the pick up or drive lanes. We are trying to keep traffic moving quickly and safely for everyone.
- Siblings are picked up at the youngest child’s waiting place. This will allow parents to only have to make one stop.
- Do not motion students across the traffic lanes to the parking lot, or motion students into the traffic lanes to get into your vehicle. We want to keep our students safe!
- You may park in the parking lot and walk-up to the building to get your student.