Jefferson Elementary School
Maggie Riddle, PrincipalMarie Ferguson, School Secretary
1400 Ada Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
Phone: (510) 644-6298
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School Information
Like all Berkeley elementary schools, our small size allows teachers, students and families to know each other well. About 300 children attend Jefferson. Teachers share information with their colleagues as students progress each year. Each Jefferson family becomes part of the larger Jefferson community.
Every day is special at Jefferson Elementary School. Weekly Assemblies are a Jefferson tradition. All students come together in the Cafetorium [that's Auditorium and Cafeteria all rolled into one!] each Thursday morning and sing together, perform for one another, and sometimes enjoy guest performers or educators.
Assemblies begin with music and song. The principal's weekly message follows, an informal conversation in which Principal Betty Delaney chats with the students about such topics as Courage, Kindness, and Respect - three of the school's Community Building Blocks. Special performances range from individual class productions to the all-school Jump Rope Assembly in which every child has a chance to demonstrate his or her skills. The Chinese New Year celebration is another high point at Jefferson. The school includes a Chinese Bicultural Program in grades K-3, where aspects of Chinese culture are integrated into the standard curriculum.
A great deal of thought and planning went into Jefferson's beautiful play yard. 
The space boasts a dry creek bed, outdoor classroom, terraces, as well as new play structures and basketball courts.
Music is another important part of learning at Jefferson. Students in kindergarten through second grade learn music skills, so that they are ready for the district-wide program in which all third, fourth and fifth graders participate.
After school there are many options. The Voyager program provides care until 6:00pm, with a wide variety of activities as well as Homework Club. The PTA organizes an array of classes including Kids Carpentry, Chess, Book Arts, Photography, Spanish, Mandarin, Mad Science, Steel Drums and more. The East Bay Center for the Performing Arts brings dance classes and quality, inexpensive individualized music instruction to school every Wednesday afternoon. Students can go to and from Voyager to these other classes, and the youngest kids are chaperoned back and forth.
Every month brings a community event that bring students, families, and staff together. A Welcome BBQ, Culture Night Potluck, Halloween Fun Night, the Book Fair Ice Cream Social, Family Art Night, Math Night, and the Mayfair are just some of the PTA-sponsored community events.
At Jefferson, every day is a new learning experience. Outside the classrooms, the wide and sun-filled hallways echo with the murmur of students learning. All is orderly and calm. The children at Jefferson greet each day with an eagerness to explore, to discover, to create and to thrive.