Pertussis ("Whooping Cough") Suspected at Jefferson School

For the second time this week, a potentially serious disease is suspected at a SOMSD school.

Susan Grierson, Principal of Jefferson Elementary School, sent home a letter to parents and guardians on Thursday warning of a suspected case of whooping cough at the school. It is the second time in a week that a possible case of the disease -- technically called "pertussis" but more commonly known as whooping cough -- has been identified in the South Orange-Maplewood School District. South Orange Middle School principal Joseph Uglialoro sent home an identical letter on Wednesday. "I've never know anyone who's had it, I only know (of) it from the vaccine the kids get," said Julie Pauly, parent of an 5th-grader at Jefferson. "It strikes me as unusual," she said. "I'm not alarmed but I thought this was eliminated by children's vaccines." …

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Jefferson Students Multiply as they March

For these students, learning multiplication is as easy as climbing stairs.

The following article was written by Lorraine Sudol and submitted to Patch. Students at Jefferson School are exploring multiplication patterns as they climb the main stairwell into their school. In keeping with the district's transition to the new mathematics curriculum which is based on the Singapore Strategies, Jefferson is engaged and ready with their new front stairwell project.   It was spearheaded by Principal Susan Grierson with help from PTA volunteers Christina Waldon, Jesse Torrey, and Cindy Prenovost, Cindy Sherman and Carrie Glasser. Together, they spent hours planning, creating, and painting the multiplication tables up to twelve on the stairs following a similar pattern as seen in a Singapore school system.   The tables are …

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Andrew Lee

10:45 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012

This is awesome and inspiring!   more ›

Journalism 101: Student Journalists Share Their Stories

Jefferson Students Reveal Secrets of Wizarding World

Mr. Bill teaches an enrichment class for Muggles, fans and aficionados of Harry Potter.

By Maia McNulty and Nicole Westwood Mr. Bill: By day he’s the school custodian. By Wednesday afternoon ... he’s Dumbledore. Mr. Bill, or is this case, Professor Albus Dumbledore, teaches Wizards Club, a fun after-school enrichment class at Jefferson Elementary School. Wizards Club is based on the magical world of Harry Potter, one of the most famous series in the world. We spent a few afternoons like spies on the wall observing all the spells and magic of the class. We saw the students duel and cast charms. One day, Mr. Bill’s rat was wet, and he was upset because he doesn’t like his rat wet. “Stop crawling around the house like a house elf!” he scolded one of this students. The students are split up into teams -- Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, …

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