News & Announcements

This school year we are using a new communication tool to reach parents and guardians. ParentSquare allows families to connect with teachers and school staff, receive weather delay and crisis notifications, view school events and securely receive important student documents.

Whether you are wondering about when the first day of school is, what school supplies are needed or how to get bus route information, we have answers for you.

The Richland School District will be offering free summer meals for any child 18 years of age and younger.

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits will be available in Summer 2023. This will be a one-time, lump sum benefit of $120 per eligible child.

We have more than 900 certificated staff, which includes teachers, school counselors, specialists, school psychologists, school nurses and so many more, work hard each day to support, engage and inspire students.

To celebrate our Education Support Professionals, we are shining the spotlight on several of our education support professional staff members. Read about them and their deep connections to our schools.

Nine Destination Imagination teams of RSD elementary students received top honors at the Regional Destination Imagination Tournament and will be moving on to compete at the state tournament on March 25.

Introducing RSD’s Family Launchpad! This portal brings all the RSD platforms parents and guardians need into one digital space.

Will you have a kindergartner starting their academic journey or will your child be joining our schools for the first time in the fall? Our online enrollment portal for the 2023-24 school year is now open.

Thank you for your continued support of students!

It’s official! The first day of school (grades 1-12) for the 2023-24 school year will be August 29.

Learn about the ways you can be informed if schools are delayed or closed due to inclement weather.

Celebrate "Inclusion Spirit Week" with us February 14th-18th. 

Dress up days and a kindness challenge, too!  Let's have fun while reminding ourselves there is room for everyone in this nest!

Amy Salinas will be the next principal for Jefferson Elementary!

Explore the arts and express yourself in any of the six categories.  Student entries are due Friday, November 12th and must have an entry form with artist's statement attached.  Click HERE for examples of finalists from last year.  Entry forms are in the office or online HERE.

For the week of October 25 through October 29 we dress up in fun and funky ways to open conversations about bullying and how to STOMP it out!

Scholastic Book Fair begins on Friday, October 15th with a SNEAK PEEK in the front parking lot from 3-6 p.m.  Students can shop during their library time October 18th-22nd.  Sign up HERE to volunteer!

Our online Spirit Gear store is open now through October 4th.  All profits from the sales go to your Jefferson PTA for student and classroom supports!  Click HERE to order today!

School picture day!  Please order HERE ahead of time.

Overview map of Jefferson Elementary and the pick up/drop off routes.

COVID-19 led to a very unique year of Destination Imagination competition and RSD teams still did an impressive job demonstrating their creativity and problem-solving.

Through the fall of 2021 Richland School District will use a screening tool to help gauge where students are in their social-emotional learning and help them grow.

Map and descriptions for Jefferson school drop-off and pick-up.  Biggest change is the direction of the car pickup loop reversed.

Picture Day is Wednesday, February 17th at Jefferson.  Please order online ahead of time to help decrease contact needed with collecting envelopes and passing them around.

Online students or students that do not typically attend on a Wednesday will be scheduled on this day as well during the break between our two instruction windows.

Please check out our Virtual Open House on the Jefferson Hub. There are new procedures and guidelines to explore.  Our teachers and staff members put together some great videos explaining what school looks like now.  We can't wait to see you back at school!

Learning materials and Chromebooks needed for this school year available for pick-up on Wednesday, September 3rd from 7:30-4:00 pm and Thursday, September 4th from 12-6:00 pm.

Details on our school hours and links to helpful resources to stay updates on information for the 20-21 school year.

One of our fabulous counselors, Mrs. G, offers some words of encouragement for parents during this season of distance learning.

Jefferson families can order from the Online Scholastic Book Fair through this link between April 20th - May 4th.  All BOOK ONLY orders $25 and over will ship for FREE. 

Any incidental, non-book items that you buy will negate the free shipping.

Check out 'Kindness with Mrs. G' and get some useful tips on navigating a situation that is new to all of us!  Come back each week for a new dose of Kindness Club.  Click HERE to watch

Mr. O'Konek, your principal, will now share a weekly update online for families to stay in the loop and connected!  This update will have a permanent home on his Principal page here on the website.  Click HERE to read the newsletter.

We are excited to celebrate Read Across America Week in honor of Dr. Seuss and his creativity.  Let's have a little fun and spend some more time reading during the day.

Your PTA has thoughtfully set up a PayPal pre-payment option for BINGO night where you can save a little money and time by purchasing before the big night!  This option ENDS Wednesday, February 5th.  Bingo cards are $2.50 per card or $10 for five cards with pre-payment.  At the door cards will be $3.00 per card of $11 for five cards.  Get yours now!  Prizes include:  32-inch TV, Legos, mini-game systems, Baby Yoda t-shirts, a Chromebook, gift baskets and more! 

One of the best nights of the year is coming up...BINGO night!  Donations are a huge part of the excitement and success of this evening and are greatly appreciated.

Please reach out to your PTA with any questions you may have.  Their contact information is on the PTA page of this site.

PTA Sponsored Science Night this Thursday, January 9th at Jefferson from 6:00-7:30 in our gym.  Join us for a night of FREE family fun and watch science come ALIVE!

Junior Joggers returns to Jefferson.  Students will jog on Thursdays during their lunch recess.  Volunteers needed to track laps!

It's that time of year again—make sure you know as soon as our schools are on delay or canceled due to inclement winter weather.

Jefferson Elementary students and families are encouraged to send in photos and information to susie.oram@rsd.edu 

Please come to our assembly on Friday, November 8th at 1:30.

Fifth-grader Isla Fowler is committed to making this the best year at school ever. Discover how she's reaching that goal.

We are really excited to have the Scholastic Book Fair at school all this week during our spirit week!  Hours are posted for each day on our calendar and on our Facebook Group page.  

We are reminding students AND ourselves that it's COOL to be KIND!  Have fun with us on each of our dress-up days and complete the kindness challenges at home or work, too.

Fun family night with dinner, math activities, and trunk or treating.  Wear your costumes.  No masks or fake weapons, please.

No Kindergarten on Wednesday, September 25th

Our Jefferson School Spirit Store is now open!  This is a great time to snag some new gear and show your love for Jefferson.

The store closes on October 7th and the products will be delivered to your students or available for pick up in the office a few weeks after the store closes.

As of Monday, September 16th we will have a new pick-up route for car pick-up.

Road construction on George Washington Way will affect vehicle and pedestrian traffic for the Early Learning Center, Jefferson and Sacajawea elementary schools and Hanford High School. Learn about designated pedestrian crossings, alternate routes and other steps students and families can take to stay safe and reduce delays.

Mr. O'Konek joined the district in 2013 and most recently served as assistant principal at Jason Lee Elementary. He is thrilled to become part of a school with such dedicated staff and families who have long put students first.

Check out just a few of the high school students the Careers In Education program at Richland High School is helping prepare to become the next generation of teachers.

Join us in congratulating our teachers who recently earned or renewed their certification with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Thank you to everyone who helped celebrate the opening of the new Jefferson Elementary on Aug. 27 with a ribbon cutting ceremony.