Jefferson Elementary School

We forgot to mention a big accomplishment from this school year: the passing of the 2024 Ignite Student Learning Referendum! Watch this brief video from Superintendent Pekel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQK9P5NxpZU

As the 2024–2025 school year comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on some of the highlights from the past ten months. This list doesn’t capture everything great that happened in our schools, but I hope it gives you a sense of the extraordinary work we’ve done together. Everyone connected to Rochester Public Schools (RPS) should feel proud of what we’ve accomplished—and even more excited about what lies ahead. Read Superintendent Pekel's End Of Year Review: https://bit.ly/end-of-year-review-2025

🍕One last slice with our amazing principals! Our Jaguars enjoyed their final Pizza with the Principals of the school year—full of laughs, gratitude, and cheesy goodness. Thank you for making every moment special! ❤️📚 #PizzaWithThePrincipals

🍉☀️ Nothing says summer like sweet watermelon and big smiles! Our 3rd graders had a blast enjoying a sunny Friday. A perfect way to wrap up an amazing year! 🎉📚💛 #LastDaysOfSchool #WatermelonFun #ThirdGradeSmiles

Get Ready, because free summer meals are back! Starting June 9, summer meals will be offered at Elton Hills, Gage, Franklin, Longfellow, Overland, Riverside, Washington, Willow Creek, and John Marshall High School. Breakfast and lunch served daily. All meals for children 18 years of age or younger are FREE. Adult meals can also be purchased for $3.10 for breakfast and $5.50 for lunch. See the flyer for a full list, dates, and times, or visit www.rochesterschools.org/summermeals for more information. 🍏 June Menu: https://5il.co/3gpjn 🍏 Flyers: https://www.rochesterschools.org/documents/school-meals-and-menus/summer-meals/805175

There will be no school on Monday, May 26, and RPS offices will be closed in observance of Memorial Day. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, May 27.

Congratulations to our incredible 5th grade track and field athletes! We’re so proud of your outstanding performances—what a fun day filled with determination and plenty of ribbons! Most of all, we celebrate and proud of the sportsmanship and school pride you showed every step of the way. Way to go, Jaguars!!!

Don't forget, School Year SACC Registration opens at 6 a.m. this morning! Get logged in to register: https://rochester.ce.eleyo.com/child-care/3/school-age-child-care

Last Friday may have passed, but the excitement is still fresh in our minds! Jefferson Elementary celebrated Exploration Day, giving students a chance to dive into creativity, curiosity, and fun. From building with Legos, experimenting with watercolors, learning hip hop and ballet, to meeting pet animals, playing card games, and drawing—the day was packed with joyful discovery and fun. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the day so special! #ExplorationDay #JeffersonElementary #HandsOnLearning #CreativityInAction

Huge shout out to the Jefferson Elementary PTSA and Indigo Açaí Bowls for showing so much love to our amazing teachers and staff! Your support and generosity truly made their day extra special. THANK YOU for helping us celebrate the heart of Jefferson — our incredible educators!

Earlier this week, our amazing Jefferson teachers were welcomed with heartfelt messages of gratitude and appreciation written in colorful sidewalk chalk near the entrances—what a beautiful way to kick off Teacher Appreciation Week! Simply Amazing!!

Sunny days mean smiles at Jefferson! Yesterday, our students enjoyed lunch outside followed by some fun in the sun at recess. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the beautiful weather and make the most of the day!

We're halfway through Teacher Appreciation Week, and it's been full of joy! We have loved seeing all the celebrations, from a giant chicken outside a building to chalk art, treats, high fives, and hugs! RPS schools are showing huge love for our teachers! Thank you for everything you do for our students! We appreciate you!

Heads up, students! There will be no school on Wednesday, May 7. Staff will be engaged in a Curriculum Adjustment Day. See you back on Thursday, May 8.

We're excited to see you all in TWO days! Join us for Kick Off 2 Kindergarten, a fun and informative fair designed just for incoming kindergarteners and their families. It's the perfect way to explore all that RPS has to offer and get excited for the school journey ahead! 🎒 When: Thursday, May 8, 4–7 p.m. 🎒 Where: Century High School, 2525 Viola Rd NE, Rochester, MN 55906 🎒 Admission: Free and open to the public! At the fair, families can: 🎒 Meet the friendly faces from Transportation, Student Nutrition, SACC, and more. 🎒 Connect with community partners to learn more about their services. 🎒 Ask questions, gather info, and feel ready for Day One. 🎒 Capture the moment in our super-fun photo booth. We will also have multilingual interpreters ready to help! Discover what makes RPS a great place to learn and grow, because every big dream starts with a strong foundation. Play, learn, and get inspired with us!

Congratulations to our 4th and 5th Grade Math Master Teams! We are incredibly proud to celebrate the achievements of our Math Master students! Our 4th grade team earned 3rd place, while our 5th grade teams placed 4th and 10th in a competitive field. Adding to the excitement, many of our students also placed individually, showcasing their exceptional math skills and determination. Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and perseverance—you’ve made Jefferson Elementary proud!

Congratulations to Jefferson’s and Ms. Schad’s talented first grader, Rina, for winning the 2025 Rochester Public Utilities Arbor Day Poster Competition for first grade! She was honored at Friday’s Arbor Day celebration, and we are so proud of her creativity and hard work. Way to go, Rina!

Join us for Kick Off 2 Kindergarten, a fun and informative event designed just for incoming kindergarteners and their families. It's the perfect way to explore all that RPS has to offer and get excited for the school journey ahead! 🎒 When: Thursday, May 8, 4–7 p.m. 🎒 Where: Century High School, 2525 Viola Rd NE, Rochester, MN 55906 🎒 Admission: Free and open to the public! At the fair, families can: 🎒 Meet the friendly faces from Transportation, Student Nutrition, SACC, and more. 🎒 Connect with community partners to learn more about their services. 🎒 Ask questions, gather info, and feel ready for Day One. 🎒 Capture the moment in our super-fun photo booth. We will also have multilingual interpreters ready to help! Come discover what makes RPS a great place to learn and grow, because every big dream starts with a strong foundation. Come play, learn, and get inspired with us!

Today was a trash-tastic day at Jefferson Elementary! Students had the exciting opportunity to meet real Waste Management heroes and explore a real garbage truck up close. From learning how recycling works to hearing what it's like to drive one of these green giants, our students walked away with a new appreciation for keeping our community clean. Thank you, Waste Management, for an unforgettable visit and for showing our kids that even trash can teach us something valuable!