There always seems to be something happening around Jefferson Primary School. Students like it that way and they enjoy new experiences and to also receive a pat on the back for a job well done.
The first two months of the school year have been an especially busy time. The Huntington Fire Department recently visited Jefferson and gave some important lessons for the building’s kindergarten students who were impressed by the group’s emergency vehicles.
Firefighters were on the scene with some of their equipment, which intrigued the youngsters. Naturally, the kindergarteners had lots of questions and the Huntington Fire Department displayed a great deal of patience answering every last one.
There was also a special segment of the visit that was both fun and might one day save someone’s life. “A team of firefighters brought their safety house to show the students how to crawl below the smoke in the event there was a real fire in their home,” Jefferson Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide said. “They taught the students how to stop, drop, cover your face and roll during their classroom lesson.”
Featured Artists of the Month
Maria Mazzola is Jefferson’s art teacher. She’s been a member of Huntington UFSD’s faculty for more than three decades. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in art education K-12 at St. John’s University and a Master of Art degree in studio art at Adelphi University.
When she’s not teaching her classes in Huntington, Mrs. Mazzola keeps busy pursuing a variety of artistic endeavors. For example, she’s worked in the Lu-Hi summer camp program for the past seven years, teaching arts and crats. She also enjoys creating polymer clay jewelry and various arts and crats and selling the goods at craft fairs around Long Island.
Several years ago, Ms. Mazzola began the “Featured Artist of the Month” achievement award program at Jefferson and at Washington Primary School, where she also teaches. The monthly initiative highlights outstanding young artists in every class in the building.
The most recent group Featured Artists of the Month at Jefferson School includes Genesis Banegas Mejia, Katelynn Biancardo, Nicholas Chan Camargo, Kareena Dagly, Deisy Dominguez Torres, Bella Duke, Brady Duke, John LaPlaca, Gabriel MacManus, Maxwell Manu, Logan Mazure, Taylor Merrell, Aiden Salamanca Garcia and Alexander Von Holt.
The exceptional young artists were presented with medallions hanging on red, white and blue ribbons. The group was assembled in the main lobby for a photo with Mrs. Mazzola. Their artwork is being displayed in that same area.
Jefferson Parent Workshops
Dozens of Jefferson Primary School parents turned out for a series of workshops one recent evening. The sessions covered plenty of ground and provided information and hands-on experience for the parents to better understand what their respective child is studying in school and how they can help the youngsters. Many Jefferson teachers participated in the evening program.
