Jefferson Elementary

The vision for the Jefferson faculty is to implement research-based, student-centered instruction. Teachers will strive to achieve a more student-centered classroom by using Kagan structures and Standards in Practice. As a result, students will become highly engaged in authentic learning.

Jefferson is an integrated neighborhood school with resources that include pre-kindergarten, all-day kindergarten and a before- and after-school program. Jefferson uses Orchard for Your State Reading and Mathematics Lab Applications, Accelerated Reader lab and English for Speakers of Other Languages. A full-time Instructional Coach, librarian, social worker and a parent resource center are also a part of Jefferson’s success. Additional programs involving our students, parents and community include Community in Schools, COMPEER and Parents as Teachers (including weekly playgroup).

Other opportunities are Multicultural Dance Troupes, Falcon Flyers Club (student council), Boeing tutoring, Reading is Fundamental and before- and after-school program.

Achievement Highlights

Exit east Kellogg at Oliver. Go south on Oliver to Orme. Jefferson is on the corner. See Maps for all USD 259 locations.

Jefferson is a school where everyone demonstrates respect, responsibility and makes the right...

Courteous
Honest
On task
 In control
Cooperative
Everyone learns

Focus Area: Reading
Focus Area Goal #1: All Jefferson students will increase their reading comprehension skills across the curriculum as measured by multiple state, district and building level assessments.

Focus Area: Writing
Focus Area Goal #2: All Jefferson students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate through written language.

Focus Area: Problem Solving
Focus Area Goal #3: All Jefferson students will demonstrate gains in math problem solving.

Each school has a site council, which is a group of parents, community members, business representatives, teachers and other school staff. Site councils identify, consider and discuss educational problems and issues at the school. Councils provide advice and counsel for evaluating state, school district and school site performance goals and objectives. Councils may also recommend methods that may be employed at the school site to meet these goals and objectives.

Site Council Meeting Day: Last Tuesday of the month
Time: 5 - 6 p.m.
Location: Jefferson Elementary Library
Chairperson: Mark Bates

Parent Teacher Organization

Meeting Day: Second Tuesday of the month
Time: 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Location: Jefferson Elementary Art Room
Chairperson:

• Resource teachers and Wichita State University Cooperative Students assist classroom teachers in providing innovative learning opportunities and instruction that integrates appropriate activities into an all day experience.
• The Wichita Comprehensive Reading Model is used by all regular education classroom teachers as their main research-based reading instruction tool.
• Extended day kindergarten incorporates appropriate activities into an all-day experience.
• A pre-kindergarten program provides early intervention with developmentally appropriate activities in a half-day learning experience.
• A Parent Resource Center involves parents in activities to help their children.
• A Parent Involvement Worker contacts and coordinates parent involvement in school activities.
• Jefferson provides a before- and after-school program during the school year and during the summer.
• Jefferson/Hilltop Association provides support for students and families.
• Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program provides literacy opportunities for all students.
• English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) supports students with English as a second language.
• Communities in Schools (CIS) support students and families to improve attendance.

Kindergarten

Pre-Kindergarten Program: 9 - 11:50 a.m. and 1:20 - 4 p.m.
All-Day Kindergarten

• A new iMac computer lab gives students daily opportunity to work individually on reading, math, writing and research skills
• School-wide Accelerated Reader Program to increase student achievement in reading comprehension
• School-wide projects include Author’s Day, Camp-Read-A-Lot, Research Project Display, Family Math Day, Reading Marathon, Books and More, Videotaped Book Reports, Science Showcase and a Multicultural Block Party to celebrate diversity
• Phonemic awareness workshops for students and families
• Family literacy night – Camp-Read-A-Lot
• Family math nights
• Technology week for parental involvement with computers
• Community partnership with Kansas Surgery and Recovery

When the Hilltop Manor housing addition was opened to accommodate the growth of the aircraft industry in Wichita, a school was needed to supply educational facilities for the children moving into the area. To solve this problem, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School was established.

The site was bought by the Board of Education for $4,900 in June 1938. In 1941 the site was deeded to the federal government for $1 with the agreement the government would build a school on the land and then lease the property to the school district of Wichita for operating a school. The option was given to the Board of Education to buy the property if they wished to do so. The building when completed in 1942 cost $133,358.06. The government furnished equipment for hte building costing $5,861. The Board of Education furnished additional equipment totaling about $600.

On March 1, 1949 the Board of Education re-acquired the deed to the land and purchased the building for $65,000. Also in 1949, additional ground was purchased for $9,000, which nearly doubled the original site.

School first opened September 8, 1942 with an enrollment of about 640 pupils and a staff of 14 teachers. The building could not accommodate all of the children, so several classes were housed in other buildings in the area.

The beginning enrollment on September 3, 1946 of 755 was the largest of any elementary school in Kansas at that time. In 1947-48, 916 students were enrolled and classes had to be held in shifts. Caldwell, Fabrique and Munger Elementary schools were built in 1950 and 1951 to relieve the overcrowded conditions in the Jefferson School area.

Jefferson School has had a gradually declining enrollment from 638 pupils in 1952 to stabilize at approximately 250 in the 90s. In 1975-76 two Learning Disabilities rooms were added and students were transported to the school to achieve racial balance. In 1987 the office was remodeled.

At the beginning of the 1988-89 year, sixth grade students were incorporated into the middle school program, leaving a PK-5 enrollment of around 250.

In 1990 Jefferson became naturally integrated with neighborhood children. The need to bus children for racial balance was ended.

In 1995 Jefferson shared a principal with Sunnyside.

On April 5, 1999, a tornado caused an estimated $300,000 damage to three portable buildings, the roof of the main building, and destroyed numerous supply and content items. Jefferson received a multipurpose room, which provided a "storm safer area" and the building's extension was divided into classrooms. In August 1999 the Board authorized PBA Architects to prepare the construction drawings and to obtain bids for the addition. In January 2000 the Board authorized a construction contract in the total amount of $586,296 with Descon, Inc. to construct the multi-purpose addition. On January 24, 2001 the safe room/multipurpose room was officially dedicated.

In April 2000, the voters of the Wichita School District approved a $284.5 million bond issue. The projects began in the fall of 2000 and were completed over the next five years. The plan built 19 multipurpose rooms, upgraded science labs, replaced portable classrooms with permanent construction, improved handicap accessibility to all buildings, rebuilt five existing elementary schools, added a new elementary and middle school, expanded seven other elementary schools and provided nine new libraries as well as the expansion of nine others. Building infrastructure in 82 buildings was also upgraded, including the replacement of antiquated plumbing, updates and expansion of electrical systems, replacement of inefficient or broken windows and doors, upgrades of heating and cooling systems, and asbestos abatement when required.

The district authorized work with PBA Architects, P.A. and Walz Harman Huffman Construction Co., Inc. With this, Jefferson received a new addition including a library and eight classrooms.

The renovations were completed and the dedication ceremony was held September 26, 2002.