News & Announcements

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.

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.

UPDATE 9/22/22: The survey on the draft strategic plan has closed. The Richland School Board will consider a final draft of the strategic plan for adoption in October 2022.

Richland School District has updated its latest draft of "Richland Ready," the district's 2022-25 strategic plan aimed at making sure every student is Richland Ready upon graduation.

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.

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 2022-23 school year is now open.

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!

Richland School District invites student families to share their feedback on the return to full-time in-person learning for the 2021-22 school year as well as how the district is assisting students and families in addressing learning loss and challenges connected to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

RSD is partnering with Rite-Aid to offer COVID-19 vaccination clinics for children ages 5-11 from 9 to 11 a.m. on Nov. 20 at Jefferson and Tapteal elementary schools.

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.

Will your soon-to-be kindergartner be joining our schools in the fall? Enrollment for the 2021-22 school year opens March 1. Learn about the process and how you can start from the comfort of your own home.

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!

As RSD moves toward bringing students back into schools, are you not ready for your elementary-aged child to return to in-person learning? RSD has two options for families looking to stick with remote learning.

Learn how we conducting health attestations as students return to in-person learning.

Face coverings are one of the public health precautions our schools will follow as students return to the classroom. We understand this is a big change for a student’s in-person learning experience and want to share what the requirements are and how schools will help students adjust.

RSD Transportation Department staff have finalized bus information for our elementary students returning for in-person learning and for middle and high school students coming into schools for in-person support

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.

It’s time to get ready for school! Schools are opening with online instruction this fall and staff are excited to connect, work and engage with students so they can be successful. Here are details about enrollment, student meals, daily schedules, supporting student learning at-home and more.

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.

Through technology, innovative teaching and collaboration with families, our new Virtual Classroom program will help students meet their goals and push their education forward while schools are closed in response to the novel coronavirus COVID-19.

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

The Richland School Board and district administrators will be in emergency meetings on March 13 to discuss when and how to close schools in response to the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The district asks families to begin making plans for their children in the event that schools close with short notice and for an indefinite extended period of time. Check out www.rsd.edu/coronavirus for the latest information.

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.

Wondering if your student could benefit from some additional academic enrichment? Learn what Richland School District's Highly Capable programs have to offer.

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.

Our families at Jefferson Elementary are invited to meet principal candidates for the school from 5:15 to 7:15 p.m. on Aug. 1 at Jefferson.

We are excited to launch our new district and school websites so our families, staff and community can better learn about the great things going on in our schools and find the information they need.

We will provide free breakfast and lunch this summer to children under of the age of 18 as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Program For Children.

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.