Sing out Jefferson School! This is a place where music is an important focus and a lot of fun. A music specialist visits each classroom weekly, bringing a common repertoire of song to the student body. Jazz pianist Ellen Hoffman is the official school accompanist. Last year for the annual Juneteenth Celebration, third and fourth grade students sang the "Harriet Tubman Ballad." For the Chinese New Year Pageant the whole school enjoyed the traditional "Lion Dance," -- especially the moment when the lion stole the good luck money Principal Goodman was dangling too close to the edge of the stage!
The New Year Celebration is part of Jefferson School's Chinese Bicultural Program, where Chinese children in the four lower grades gradually gain fluency in English. At the same time, all students in the class are introduced to Chinese culture and language.
A visit to the school should start on the yard, which means a lot to Jefferson parents. Ten years ago, the yard was a flat piece of concrete. Parents dreamed, schemed and rolled up their sleeves in a unique partnership with the school district to create a great place for learning and play. On the yard, the P.E. specialist trains the children to ride unicycles for the school's annual "Do It Yourself" circus. The Butterfly, Vegetable and Shade gardens grow and the space boasts a dry creek bed, an Asian-style bridge, an outdoor classroom, terraces, as well as a brand-new play structure and grass lawn.
Math is an important subject in all grades at Jefferson School. In kindergarten, the children tally each day of school on a number line. When they reach a day whose number ends in zero, they receive a visit from the ever-resourceful Captain Zero (who bears a strong resemblance to Principal Goodman in a spangled hat and cape), who delivers a special lesson on the number they have reached. "We have a lot of spirit, a lot of humor," Principal Goodman says. "We call mistakes 'unplanned learning experiences,' and learn to value them, too." Last year the entire school celebrated the 100th day of school by writing 100 letters to 100 Jefferson Schools around the country. For their efforts they received over 50 responses, some with pictures -- and one with a sweatshirt -- included.
In the library, under a magnificent mosaic mural -- and a brand-new child-sized model of Tyrannosaurus Rex -- the Media Technician oversees an excellent collection of current and classic books. The library is developing a computer software collection to lend to Jefferson families.
Outside the classrooms, the wide, sun-filled hallways echo with the murmur of solid learning. All is orderly and calm. The children at Jefferson School greet each day with an eagerness to explore, to discover, to create and to thrive.