Jefferson Primary School

Jefferson Primary School’s faculty and support staff has made it their mission to educate students by effectively teaching an enriched body of knowledge through the active participation of all students, building upon their unique talents and abilities to produce creative, self-assured, responsible citizens who are capable of critical thought and action.

Jefferson currently educates more than 450 students from kindergarten through fourth grade. In addition to teaching the 3 R’s, all students enjoy experiences in art, music and physical education. Students also attend weekly story telling sessions in the library and make excellent use of the technology available to them in the library, classrooms and media center.

The staff, students and parents of Jefferson Primary School work together in creating a place of rich academic programs in a safe and positive environment. Faculty, staff and parents believe children learn what they live. Extensive efforts have been made to create a school environment where children have the opportunity to be happy and are treated with respect in school.

The Jefferson School community believes each student has the right to a safe, caring, secure school environment. In this environment children are taught to be responsible for their behavior and continually work on developing the skills necessary to grow academically and socially.

Valerie Capitulo-Saide

631-673-2070

vcapitulo-saide

Valerie Capitulo-Saide assumed the position of principal of Jefferson Primary School on August 1, 2012. She came to Huntington after serving three years as principal of PS 101Q-The School of the Gardens in Forest Hills, Queens. She worked earlier as that school's assistant principal for two years.

Ms. Capitulo-Saide earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in creative studies-dance at Hofstra University. She pursued graduate level studies at LIU-C.W. Post College, obtaining a Master of Science in elementary education and a certificate in education administration-school building leader.

Prior to embarking on an administrative career, Ms. Capitulo-Saide worked in Community School District 26 in Bayside for two years as a dance teacher in a "literacy through the arts" program for students ranging from pre-kindergarten through ninth grade. She then taught grades three, five and six in elementary classrooms at PS 173Q and PS 213 in Bayside from 2001 to 2005.

Ms. Capitulo-Saide was a math coach and academic intervention services team leader at PS 101Q in Community School District 28 in Forest Hills from 2005 to 2007. She has engaged in a wide variety of professional training and development activities, including the Principal's Institute, NYC leadership mentoring program, advanced leadership mentor program for assistant principals, City College of New York Mathematics Institute mentoring program, Marilyn Burns Math Solutions Institute, Columbia University-Teachers College summer institutes in reading and writing and various experiences with the Educational Leadership Institute.

Students' Bill of Rights

1. I have the right to feel safe and secure in my school.
2. I have the right to be treated with respect which means no one should hurt my feelings on purpose.
3. I have the right to hear and be heard in school.
4. I have the right to expect my property will be safe in school.
5. I have a right to be myself in this school. This means that no one should treat me unfairly because I am black or white, fat or thin, boy or girl, tall or short, adult or child, handicapped or because of my religious beliefs.
6. I have the right to travel to and from school in a safe environment.
7. I have the right to feel safe on the playground at all times.
8. I have the right to eat my lunch in a pleasant, orderly and clean atmosphere.
9. I have the right to attend school without being abused by my classmates. This means that no one should be permitted to hit me, pinch me, kick me, threaten me, push me, or hurt me.
10. I have the responsibility to respect the rights of others. This means I will not hit, kick, threaten, push or hurt anyone.
11. I have the responsibility to treat others with respect which means I will not tease or try to hurt the feelings of others.
12. I have the responsibility to help keep the school calm and quiet. This means I will not yell, make loud noises or disturb others.
13. I have the responsibility not to take or destroy the property of others.
14. I have the responsibility to respect others as individuals and not to treat others unfairly because they are black or white, fat or thin, boy or girl, tall or short, adult or child, handicapped or because of their religious beliefs.
15. I have the responsibility to sit and stay in my seat and listen to the bus driver.
16. I have the responsibility to use the playground area and equipment in the correct way and obey all safety rules.
17. I have the responsibility to eat my lunch and clean up in an orderly manner.
18. I have the responsibility to make the school safe by not hitting anyone, pinching anyone, kicking anyone, threatening anyone, pushing anyone, or hurting anyone.