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Happy Tiger Tuesday!
Featuring Jefferson Elementary School
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Jefferson Elementary School is one of Warsaw Community School's STEM certified buildings. In addition to integrating this year's theme of #KindnessWCS, they have been providing many unique & hands-on opportunities for students!
Jefferson's staff is a great example of how to move the WCS mission forward. They work to support the four Strategic Plan Pillars: Empathy, Experience, Adaptability, and Inclusivity.
#WCSmission
#TogetherWeAreWARSAW
#kindnessWCS
Long-Standing Partnership with Grace College
Lunch Buddy Program
With Jefferson's close connection to Grace College, they have been able to match over 45 students with Grace College students as part of the lunch buddy program. The college mentors eat lunch with Jefferson's selected students (through teacher/staff referrals) and play games with them on the playground. This has been an amazing experience for all students involved.
Click the link below to learn more!
Cereal Domino Run... Currently Collecting Cereal Boxes!
Sure, you have heard of a domino run... but have you ever heard of a cereal domino run?!
Right now, Jefferson is collecting unopened boxes of cereal. Once the collection period is over, students will line the cereal boxes in the gym/hallways of Jefferson and have a cereal domino run! Every student will get to join in on the fun by lining the gym/hallways as well.
...and what's even better than that? Once the event concludes, Jefferson will donate the boxes of cereal to Combined Community Services!
If you want to participate, collection boxes will be available at the following locations through March 17:
- Winona Lake Park Office
- Jefferson Elementary
- Winona Lake Town Hall lobby
- Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church
Have you heard about Jefferson's Family Groups?
“I think it provides the older students with leadership qualities. The younger students look up to a good role model.” - Sandy Monce
Students at Jefferson build community, character, and leadership by working together in mixed grade level groups. The idea of family groups began years ago as a tradition to foster togetherness among the whole student body.
- Each family group has a mix of all grade level students led by a 6th grade student. The 6th grade students practice leadership skills prior to meeting their group. They review the lesson plan several times prior to introducing it to the students.
- A core group of teachers spends time outside of the school day meeting to discuss new ideas and organize the event. The family groups team is led by Sandy Monce, Evan Overman, Scott McClintock, and Jamie George. Other team members include Kyla Kohler and Elizabeth Moore.
- The students will remain with the same family groups every year. They will build relationships that tie our school community together.
“I love connecting with the different age groups. It’s really fun to be with the 1st and Kindergartners.” -Kinley Briscoe, 6th grade student leader
Evan Overman, 3rd grade teacher and family groups leader shared, “The opportunity for teamwork is outstanding. It’s great for older students to work with younger students. It’s also an awesome opportunity to be creative, engage in problem solving, and an opportunity to create.”
Happy Beans Coffee Shop
Miss Jensen, a special education teacher at Jefferson STEM Elementary, has recently started up a student-run coffee shop called “The Happy Bean Coffee Shop”. Students will take teacher orders, create a budget of supplies, and practice important social and organizational skills throughout this journey.
Stacey Gagnon, a Jefferson parent and founder of Trauma Lens Care had this to say about her son’s involvement in the program: “The Happy Bean Coffee Shop is providing a way for my son to help and assist others. It is something he can do and feel empowered by.
Make sure to tune in this week for Happy Bean's feature on TigerCast!
High-quality STEM Education
At Jefferson, students have access to:
- advanced robotics systems
- the most sophisticated 3D printing technology
- connections to numerous community partners that help us expose students to college and career opportunities.
Some of Jefferson's closest community partners include:
- Grace College
- Zimmer Biomet
- Wishbone
- Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams
- Kosciusko Soil and Water
- Winona Lake Town Council.
MakerSpace
MakerSpace has given students the opportunity to create, imagine, and discover new ideas and possibilities.
This year, Jefferson's MakerSpace committee unveiled a new MakerSpace room sponsored by VIA credit Union.
Click the link below to learn more!
Student of the Month: Fishing!
When Jefferson students earn student of the month, they get the special opportunity to take a walking trip down to the Winona Lake canals for some incredible fishing! They have caught bluegills, crappy, and rock bass. The students always have an amazing time!
Inclusivity Highlights
Community Visits
Students in Jefferson's functional life skills classroom have the opportunity to take community trips to the local grocery store, Magical Meadows and other exciting places to learn new social skills and develop an awareness of our community!
A Focus on Reading
Little Library
Students get to choose books from the outside little library. Thanks to Lauren Harbison and the Warsaw Shop class for this awesome support.
Book vending machine
Students can choose a book from the vending machine as prizes for Spartan buck drawings.
#empathyWCS
#experienceWCS
#adaptabilityWCS
#inclusivityWCS
Our mission is to inspire and equip all students to continuously acquire and apply knowledge and skills while pursuing their dreams and enriching the lives of others.
Email: kpolston@warsawschools.org
Website: www.warsawschools.org
Location: 1 Administration Drive, Warsaw, IN 46580
Phone: 574-371-5098