NEWS ALERT!!!

Great things are happening at Jefferson Preschool!
Click on the links and pictures below to see the highlights!

In February 2009

In November 2008

Thank you City of Wheaton!
Jefferson Preschool is partnering with the City of Wheaton and will be recycling hundreds of mum plants. The City of Wheaton has agreed to donate the mum plants that they use in the downtown area and around the ‘Welcome to Wheaton’ signs to Jefferson so that we may recycle them by planting them around the school, at our homes and neighboring homes.

Jefferson Preschool honors our Veterans.
On behalf of the Jefferson staff, we thank all of the courageous men and women who make incredible sacrifices for our freedom everyday.

We Honor, Remember and Thank You!

In September 2008

Jefferson Preschool families and staff participated in the N.E.W. 200 Foundation Fun Run. For more information on the NEW 200 Foundation go to www.new200foundation.org/

We are very proud to announce the formation of the Jefferson Preschool Green Team! Prior to the formation of the Green Team, the staff at Jefferson had consistently recycled batteries, cell phones, and computer ink. The Jefferson Preschool Green Team was created to take these efforts a step further. The Green Team is dedicated to encouraging eco-friendly activities and innovative recycling programs at Jefferson Preschool.  The team officially met for the first time on Wednesday, September 3rd and has plans to make many improvements this year.
Click here to view the "Let's Go Green" presentation from the October 22nd Board of Education Meeting held at Jefferson Preschool.

In May 2008

Thank you to the employees of First Choice Bank in Wheaton Illinois who came to Jefferson Preschool to conduct a service project. They came ready to work as they helped mulch, edge, plant and transplant bulbs to make the area around our Jefferson Preschool sign look beautiful!

In February 2008

Jefferson Preschool participated in a nation wide Jump Rope For Heart campaign to raise money for the American Heart Association.  The event took place on Friday, February 15th during each classroom's regular gym time. Thank you to all the families and staff for raising $2,659 for this worthy cause. We couldn’t have done it without the help and support of our volunteers which included Ginger Maurer, Kathleen Gerhart and Sue McFarlene, Kathleen Gerhart, Lea Lamb, Donna Johnson, Sara Kud, Julie Rodriguez and Martha Aderholdt. A very special thank you
also goes to Sara Kud, Cathy Maurer, Terri Donahue, Pam Carey and Martha Aderholdt who spearheaded our first Jump for Heart event.

Preschool Grant: Thank you to Pam Williams who wrote and received a $750.00 grant from Wal-Mart on behalf of the PTA and Jefferson Preschool. This money will be used to purchase instructional materials for the classrooms.

In December 2007

Monroe Middle School Book Buddies - Another wonderful school partnership has begun between Monroe Middle School and Jefferson Preschool Students. Monroe students come to spend quality time with our preschoolers working on reading together, writing and eventually publishing their own special books that they have created together! Thank you Monroe!

In November 2007

Veteran's Day 2007: America the Beautiful. Jefferson Preschool celebrated Veteran’s Day with many Jefferson family members who are veterans or who are currently serving in the military. The children paraded to the ceremony while waving their flags to patriotic music. The Color Guard Team from the Marmion Military Academy, under the direction of Sergeant Major John Gissel, joined us to present the flag for the morning ceremony. The Color Guard from Wheaton College, under the leadership of Staff Sergeant Robert Metzger, presented the flag in the afternoon. Staff and students watched as the flag was presented, everyone recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and the children gave thank you cards to the veterans in attendance and sang a special “thank you” song to them. A student representative from each class “mailed” a handmade card in a life size mailbox to troops overseas. These cards, along with care packages created from Jefferson family contributions, will be sent to troops stationed overseas via Illinois Operation Support Our Troops. Additional child crafted cards were given to veterans at the DuPage Convalescent Center. The ceremony concluded with Emily DeSouza and Amy Norton singing “America the Beautiful” and the entire audience joined in singing “The Star Spangled Banner” as images of Jefferson students and veterans filled the screen.A heartfelt thanks goes to Deborah Johnson, committee chair, Sara Kud, Diana Newberry, Amy Norton, Emily Desouza, Bertie Lazzari, Lori Roberton, Sharon Doll, Diane Wheeler, Meghan Antioho and Judy Wynn. This year Deborah Johnson and Diana Newberry represented the children and families of Jefferson Preschool on WETN radio. We believe the community has a better awareness of how our youngest learners in District 200 have learned more about our veterans and reached out to the many brave men and women serving our country. On behalf of the Jefferson staff, we thank all of the courageous men and women who make incredible sacrifices for our freedom everyday. We Honor, Remember and Thank You!

In October 2007

SHARING A VISION: is an approved Professional Development Provider by the Illinois State Board of Education—State Teacher Certification Board. This program was spearheaded by Kris Stoffels and Marlene Byron and was funded by the  New 200 Foundation Mini-Grant two years ago. The conference was held in Springfield Illinois on October 17-19, 2007

CATCHING THE DREAM: Reach Your Goals-Use Your Ideas-Invent Your Own Dreams and Visions. Cassi Williston, Mary Iffert and Joanne Metoyer have been awarded a grant by Sea200 to institute their support group, Catching the Dream. This group has been created for children who have a sibling with a special need. There will be 4 sessions this fall for siblings ages 3rd - 5th grade. In spring there will be a session for K - 2nd grade.

DUPAGE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM: Marcia McRae from the DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) worked with some of the classes at Jefferson Preschool on October 2nd to create art work which will be exhibited at the new Good Show! Gallery, “ Sea of Shape and Pattern”. This show is open to area families.

In September 2007

HUBBLE MIDDLE SCHOOL- A school partnership has begun with Hubble Middle School as students accompanied by Social Worker Maureen Henry come twice a month to help in classrooms and to interact with our preschool students. Thanks Hubble!

PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY - Jefferson Preschool has had many visitors from our community! A local firefighter and police officer have visited some of the preschool classes during community helper units. Many of the classes have visited the Wheaton fire dept and had tours of their firehouse. We will have various visitors from the community including local dentists, pediatricians, veterinarians.

In May 2007

SHARING A VISION: The Showcasing Committee has selected Jefferson Preschool's application to present "Our Together Time" which is designed to instruct students by combining the self-contained and tuition-based preschool classes for units of instruction.  This program was spearheaded by Kris Stoffels and Marlene Byron and was funded by the  New 200 Foundation Mini-Grant two years ago. The conference will be held in Springfield in October!

There was 1 New 200 Foundation Mini-grant awarded to Jefferson Preschool! Teachers Kris Stoffels and Marlene Byron were awarded the grant. The grant is intended for use in the Jefferson garden. Now the teachers will be able to expand the garden in size, buy new tools and implement other activities to do (composting and worm farm) as part of "together time" !

In April 2007

Exchange Club Grant

We are pleased to announce that Martha Aderholdt, Physical therapist, applied for and was awarded a grant on behalf of Jefferson Preschool.
Grant monies will be used to purchase equipment for the playground and gym!

Yang Wei gave a cultural arts assembly for the morning class on Wednesday, April 25th at 9:30.  He is a famous musician who has played with YoYo Ma. His instrument is called the Pipa, a chinese lute-like instrument.

In March 2007

Jefferson Preschool received NAEYC Accreditation Recertification for 2007!

Congratulations on maintaining NAEYC Accreditation and engaging in continuous improvement to provide high quality care and education for the children and families you serve! From: NAEYC Academy for Early Childhood Program Accreditation

Students win VFW Post 2164 Coloring Contest!

In November 2006


A heartfelt thanks goes to Deborah Johnson, committee chair, Judy Wynn and Susan Sauer. The committee was instrumental in spearheading the planning and coordination of all activities leading to and including the Veterans Day ceremony. Due to the outstanding activities planned, the children have a better understanding of Veterans Day and honoring the many brave men and women who protect us and keep our country safe.
It has been our honor to represent the children and families of Jefferson Preschool on WGN-TV and WETN radio. We believe the community has a better awareness of how our youngest learners have reached out to the many brave men and women serving our country by teaming up with Operation Support our Troops to provide needed items to soldiers serving overseas.

On behalf of the Jefferson staff, we thank all of the courageous men and women who make incredible sacrifices for our freedom everyday.
We Honor, Remember and Thank You!
Click here for highlights

In October 2006

Miss Kris and Miss Marlene's AM and PM classes harvested pumpkins, watermelon and gourds that they had planted the previous spring. Photographers from the Daily Herald and The Wheaton Leader came and took pictures and put an article in the papers!
Click here to see the articles!

The Daily Herald

The Wheaton Leader

In September 2006

New Family Welcome! Families had an opportunity to tour our facility and investigate all of the resources available at Jefferson.

In May 2006

We invited our grandparents to Jefferson Preschool. We had a great day!
See the special photographs

In April 2006

Thank you City of Wheaton for our beautiful new tree! Happy Arbor Day! The City of Wheaton selected Jefferson preschool as the site of this year’s Arbor Day celebration.
On Friday April 28th AM classes sang a special song and helped plant a tree in the front of the building with the Mayor Jim Carr of Wheaton. This event will be aired on the local cable station. Wheaton channel 10.

In November 2005

We Honor, Remember and Thank you!

As part of Jefferson’s observance of Veteran’s Day, November 11th, we would like to recognize all those connected with Jefferson School students (parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, etc.) who are currently serving in the military or have done so at any time in the past. If you have a family member who is a veteran or who is presently serving in the service, please make sure you complete a “star form” by the end of this week. We will display these pictures in our hallways for all the children to see.

The children will also be decorating cards that will be sent to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. The cards will be placed in packages sent by Operation Support Our Troops Illinois. If you are interested in donating an item for the care package, we will be glad to have it delivered along with the cards.

In September 2005

We will be participating in helping the George Cox Elementary School in hurricane stricken Gretna, Louisiana with supplies for children and staff during the course of the school year. IT will be a joint effort with the school staff, families, and PTA organization. Children will be bringing in donations and writing letters to the students at this school. Staff will be in contact with the staff there through e-mail. We hope to instill a keen sense of community responsibility in our students.

Congratulations to last year's MDA Hop-a-Thon participants who raised over $4,500 to support families in our community living with neuromuscular diseases. Representatives of the Jefferson Preschool will present live on the WGN Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon on Monday, September 5th between the hours of 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

Hurricane Katrina Update!!! The items collected by both Emerson and Jefferson students and staff left November 4, 2005 for Gretna, LA.  It should be arriving in Louisiana sometime next week.They are very appreciative at George Cox Elementary School of the help we are sending their way.   Please let your students know their efforts are really appreciated.

Congratulations to All!

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