Written by: Sara Streeter - Jefferson Elementary Principal
At Jefferson this year, our students, families, and staff have worked hard to see the positive in each and every day. I feel humbled, grateful, and inspired to do what is right in the most difficult times of our lives by teaching students and staff about service, perseverance, and learning from our failures. Each school year, we take time daily to learn about the “Keys of Excellence” as a community to deepen our commitment to being the best that we can be both academically and socially as positive community members.
The “Keys of Excellence” are a way for our staff and students to connect around a central idea and become Jefferson's values. As a school community, we work to “Live the Jefferson Way!” by working to truly embrace these 9 Keys of Excellence: integrity, failure leads to success, speak with good purpose, this is it, commitment, ownership, flexibility, balance, and finishing strong.
As a school community, we are focused around choosing the following:
- I focus on NOW and keep a positive attitude
- I own the choices I make and the results that follow
- I think before I speak honestly and kindly
- I take positive action to make my dreams happen
- I view failures as feedback and learn from my mistakes
- I match my behaviors with my values
- I’m flexible about doing things differently
- I make time for what is important to me.
Each month our students are recognized for doing the right thing and showing our “Keys of Excellence” by working to earn “Student Shout-outs” as well as being a “PAWS-itive Influencer” at Jefferson. Staff watch daily to catch students who are truly being “Tommie” leaders both as friends and learners. At the end of each month, students are recognized for their efforts. Four students are chosen from our “PAWS-itive Influencers” as our “This is It” kids of the month. These students receive a special certificate, a gift certificate for a free kid’s meal at Buffalo Wild Wings, and a special “This is It” yard or window sign for them to display at home.
This January, our Jefferson staff and students are working on learning from our previous failures by learning about the key, “Failure leads to success.” We purchased all Jefferson students a special kickball (hacky-sack) to practice this key. As a school community, students are “Kicking off the New Year” learning about the key of “Failure leads to success.” I challenged all students to kick the ball ten times in a row by the end of the month, which isn't easy. Students are using this kickball to understand better how "Failure leads to success," looks, sounds, and, most importantly, what they learn about themselves in the process? We can always look for the negative in any situation, but 2020 has produced some amazing unexpected gifts in the Jefferson community, teaching students about perseverance and encouragement.
As we enter February, we hope that they have learned more about themselves and what it will take to be the best “Tommie” they can be. So, we ask you, “What unexpected gifts have come out of 2020 for you and your family? What lessons do you not want to forget?” We challenge you to take the greatest parts of 2020 and move them forward in 2021 to build your success as you look to become the best you can be. In the new year, remember to “Live Out!” the keys of excellence just like our Jefferson “Tommies,” there is so much to celebrate! Go, “Live the Jefferson Way!” and look for those “This is It” yard signs of students in our community who are “Living It Out” each and every day!