Jackson Elementary School

Jackson Elementary has 510 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The school opened for students in the fall of 2004. It has 22 general classrooms, four special education classrooms, an art classroom, a music classroom, a computer lab, a FEMA safe multipurpose room, a cafeteria, a student support area and a spacious playground. Jackson also has a spacious, well-stocked Media Center with a full-time librarian.

Technology is incorporated in the learning throughout the school. Each classroom has a SmartBoard, a projector and a minimum of three computers. Palm handhelds, document cameras and clickers are also utilized by teachers to help students achieve academically. Jackson has a fully equipped computer lab and a paraprofessional to assist teachers and students with utilizing technology. Teachers also have access to two wireless laptop carts for use in the classrooms. Jackson has an active Parents as Teachers program with playgroups meeting every Wednesday.

Jackson Elementary achieved Standard of Excellence on the Math State Assessment in 2004-2005, as well as AYP status on the Reading State Assessment in 2004-2005. AYP was reached in 2006-2007 in Math; 2007-2008 in Reading; and 2008-2009 in Reading and Math.

Jackson Elementary has an active Battle of the Books program. Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 participate each year. Jackson has had a team finish as champions in both 2004 and 2005 - our first two years!

Technology is valued at Jackson Elementary as an important learning tool. Each classroom has a SmartBoard mounted on the wall and a projector mounted in the ceiling. This allows for each teacher and student to participate in hands-on, interactive learning activities. Jackson Elementary also has multiple sets of clicker units allowing teachers to provide assessment and learning opportunities. Grade level teams have two document cameras to share. The Jackson Elementary staff is well-trained in the use of technology and includes one Intel Master Teacher, a Clicker Master Teacher, and STEPS graduates.

Exit I-135 at Highway 96. Go east on Highway 96 to Woodlawn. Go south on Woodlawn to 27^th Street. Jackson Elementary is on the southwest corner of 29^th & Woodlawn. See Maps for all USD 259 locations.

Our mission at Jackson Elementary is to provide a safe, positive, collaborative community by promoting student achievement with high standards and expectations in a technology-rich setting. Jackson will be a place where diversity is valued and students are nurtured academically, socially, emotionally and physically to be productive citizens in our ever changing society.

• Reading - Jackson’s goal is to improve in the areas of vocabulary, literacy, and comprehension.
• Math - Jackson’s goal is to improve knowledge and application skills in the areas of geometry, numeration, and probability and statistics.
• Writing - Jackson’s goal is to increase proficiency in writing scores by improving in the areas of conventions and sentence fluency.

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.

Meeting Day: Second Thursday of the month
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Jackson Library
Chairperson: Becky Green

• Professional Learning Communities
• Small learning communities
• Parents as Teachers
• Before- and after-school program
• All day Kindergarten
• DARE Program, Grade 5
• Active Site Council and PTSO
• Battle of the Books - Champion 2005 and 2006!
• Tutoring and mentoring
• Reading Counts
• TechKnowCats (Student Technology Leadership Team)

Pre-Kindergarten Program: None
Half-Day Kindergarten: None
All-Day Kindergarten: 9 a.m. - 4:10 p.m.

• TechKnowCats (Student Technology Leadership Team) - This team consists of ten 3rd - 5th grade students and two sponsors. Students must apply and are interviewed. Members of the team attend two district sponsored events and present to the staff. The team assists the teachers and students by: taking pictures and videos, putting together PowerPoint and Movie Maker presentations, assisting with laptop carts and helping with the yearbook.
• Stucco - This is the first year for the student council......
• Battle of the Books - Third - fifth graders may choose to become a member of a team. Teams work together to complete a list of books. Teams compete against one another in January by identifying books and the author in response to a question. The winning team competes at the district level.
• Chess Club - Jackson has had a chess club since 2005-2006 and has been participating in competitions the last three years.
• Lunch room helpers - Students in the third - fifth grades may sign up to assist the lunch room servers.
• Honor Choir - Students may try out and become a member of the honor choir. The honor choir competes at the district level in the spring.

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 new elementary school that was added would become Jackson Elementary.

The District contracted with Charles F. McAfee FAIA NOMA, P.A. for architectural and engineering services, and utilized Simpson and Associates Construction Co. to complete the new 600-student elementary school. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Monday, October 7, 2002.

On February 10, 2003, the Board of Education approved the name, Abner Val Jean Jackson Elementary. Mr. Jackson was a member of many local organizations and offered support and resources to those in need and frequently asked for those contributions not to be made public. He sponsored numerous local scholarships, continuing education funds and community events aimed at providing higher education opportunities to students. He adopted Seltzer Elementary School and provided financial resources to the school and individual students.

The school opened in the Fall of 2004. The Bond Celebration was held on November 18, 2004.