Dear NJES Friends and Families, 

The month of February is packed full of activities, so please keep your eye on the school calendar and for various communications coming home. 

I want to take a minute to highlight three of the upcoming events. One is the practice West Virginia General Summative Assessment (WVGSA), which will run from February 10-13th. This is the staff and students’ opportunity to practice the end of the year assessment, which is one of the primary ways our school is judged on its academic success. Therefore, it’s critically important that students be in school to take this practice exam. The test also gives our teachers a better understanding of which concepts students have not yet mastered. Note the testing schedule for the week: Monday = Reading; Tuesday = Writing; Wednesday = Math; and Thursday = Science for 5th graders. There will be no make-up tests if a student misses a day. 

The second event is the Friendship Festival (and Dance). Bringing some Fun into February, our school is going to celebrate all the incredible friends and families that make our community so strong. And now that we know North Jefferson is staying open, we want to plan for our future! We hope to use the funds raised by the Friendship Festival and Dance to purchase an outdoor pavilion, which will provide us with a permanent outdoor classroom that can accommodate messy crafts and science experiments, a shaded space for recess, a meeting place for clubs, and much more.  

Finally, Parent Teacher Conferences are coming up on Thursday, February 27, from 5-7pm. For these conferences, teachers will be sending home letters, and guardians can sign up for a pre-arranged time slot. That same evening, we will offer tech support for guardians on the use of Canvas and the ROOMS app. Lastly, families can attend sessions on emotional regulation and behavior management with Ms. Bubb, which will be held throughout the evening. 

All this and more is coming up this month, and we certainly hope to see as many of you as possible. North Jefferson is all about community, and we thrive because of you. 

Sincerely, 

Priscilla Rodd 

Interim Head Principal 

More snow is possible in the coming weeks, which would mean additional Non-Traditional Instructional Days (NTIDs). We want to ensure all students have the necessary connectivity to fully participate in their studies when we are virtual, and even when we aren't! If your family needs internet access, we can help! All families in need of a hotspot may check one out from the school. A form has been sent home to all families, please complete this form and return it. If you did not receive a form, and need internet access please call NJES at (304) 725-9587. General NTID information can be found in the Beacon.

In an effort to better communicate with parents, guardians, and the community the PTO has launched a new public Facebook Page. The page is called the North Jefferson Elementary PTO. This page is run by PTO members. Any parent or guardian is welcome to join the Parent Teacher Organization. The PTO meets once a month, and their next meeting is February 11th at 6:00pm. Students are welcome to attend with their parents. The PTO raises funds for school improvements, school events, teacher appreciation week, and so much more. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the PTO please contact them at northjeffersonelementarypto@gmail.com.

If your student is missing a glove, hat, or jacket please encourage them to check the lost and found. The lost and found at NJES is full of hoodies and jackets.