Welcome to the new school year!

Friends of Jefferson (FOJ) is the parent-teacher organization for Jefferson Elementary. We bring families, teachers, staff, and neighbors together to support our school by funding enrichment programs, strengthening our community, and organizing events throughout the year.

This newsletter will come to your inbox on the first Tuesday of every month with an overview of what’s ahead, opportunities to support Jefferson, and some fun highlights from our school community.

Whether you’re a caregiver, neighbor, alumnus, sponsor, teacher, or another member of the Jefferson community, we’re glad you’re here!

✅ Action items

• Read the Jefferson quick start guide (in English and Spanish)

• Fill out the volunteer interest form: English, Spanish

📆 August events

• Fri 8/7 — Orientation
  K: 9am, UTK: 10am, new students 1st-5th: 11am
  

• Sat 8/8 — Families playdate
  10am - 12pm • Morley Field nature exploration area
  

• Sun 8/9 — Garden work day

  7:30am - 10am • Help weed, build greenhouses, and more
  

• Mon 8/10 — First day of school, minimum day for all students
  TK & K parent breakfast in the garden after drop-off
  

• Wed 8/13 — Curriculum night (adults only)
  5:00pm - 6:30pm
  

• Fri 8/21 — Movie night
  6:00pm - 8:30pm • Jefferson Field
  

• Fri 8/28 — Family Friday
  8:30am - 9:30am • Jefferson Auditorium

🤝 Meet our FOJ board members

The FOJ board is made up of community members like you who help bring structure to the volunteer work we all do to support Jefferson.

Here are our wonderful 2026-2027 board members:

Left to right, back to front: Mike Hartman, Clifford Young, Claire Deutsch, Charlie Herlevic, Dana Crites (President), Erin Leavitt, Allison Wood, Yaw Anokwa, Monica Montenegro-Martinez, Sydney Preish, Sophie Smith, Brianna Carroll-Colon, Ashley Fuller & Melanie Berry (not pictured).

You don’t have to be a board member to make a difference! Board members set priorities and keep Friends of Jefferson organized, but it takes our whole community to make things happen. Case in point, the new website, this newsletter, and many other initiatives are led by volunteers not on the board!

💡 Did you know?

Friends of Jefferson raises funds so that important enrichment programs like art, garden, dance, and after-school clubs are available to every student.

Last year, we raised a record-breaking $223K to support 400 students. We raise funds one year in advance, so that means this year's programs are fully funded!