A Terrific Start to School Year at Jefferson

When Jefferson Elementary School opened in September 1962 it was quickly filled to capacity with hundreds of enthusiastic youngsters. Six decades have passed, but that same energy and love for learning still exists today in the students who file into the building’s classrooms each morning.

“We are off to a terrific start at Jefferson Primary School,” Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide said. “We had a smooth opening of the 2022/23 school year. We were thrilled to welcome new and returning students. We are extremely grateful to our skilled faculty and staff and engaged parents. We know that our success depends on our entire school community.”

Jefferson has already hosted a visitation day and block party and most recently, the annual meet-the-teacher night. A parent engagement night is scheduled for October 13.

“Our Jefferson students have very busy in their classrooms,” Ms. Capitulo-Saide said. “All students are quickly learning new routines, making new friends and engaging in rigorous learning activities. All classroom teachers are implementing a newly adopted math program; Reveal Math. Teachers have been trained to implement the new program aligned to the Next Generation Math Standards. Students are utilizing math manipulatives to learn and practice new math skills in large and small-groups. We encourage student discourse throughout the math periods.”

Jefferson students are participating daily in the Sanford Harmony social and emotional learning program implemented by Huntington UFSD.

“The focus is on teaching students how to communicate, cooperate, connect, embrace diversity, resolve conflict and build healthy relationships,” Ms. Capitulo-Saide said. “Our goal is to meet the needs of individual students.”

Jefferson will be piloting a weekly “wellness tip” in alignment with the district’s Wellness Committee initiatives. “A special thank you to physical education teacher Karen Fischer, who will be developing each tip,” Ms. Capitulo-Saide said. “The wellness tip will be shared with families and discussed with each class during physical education lessons. Our goal is to encourage healthy habits for all Jefferson students.”

Jefferson is just as vital to the Huntington UFSD community now as it was when it opened in 1962. It’s alumni have gone on to realize exceptional accomplishments in just about every walk of life.

“We look forward to an amazing school year filled with exciting and engaging learning opportunities,” Ms. Capitulo-Saide said.

Jefferson School’s Proud History Dates to 1962

Sensing the need to add another elementary school to meet the needs of a growing community, the Huntington School District purchased an eight acre tract of land on Oakwood Road and in 1961/62 erected what would later be named Jefferson School, in honor of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States and the author of the Declaration of Independence.

Jefferson was the fourth building named for a U.S. president, with the others being Lincoln, Roosevelt and Washington elementary schools. The district had earlier decided to name any new school south of 25A in honor of a former president and schools north of that boundary after the area in which they were built.

After purchasing the land, the district engaged the architectural firm of Eggers & Higgins to design the new school. Some of the early designs were rejected in whole or part. The general contracting firm of D. Fortunato was retained to erect the new structure.

Construction began in the fall of 1961. The cornerstone was laid in 1962. J. Taylor Finley was the superintendent of schools and Louis C. Bernst was the board of education president at the time.

The design that was ultimately chosen included a central courtyard visible from the front door and main lobby, a timeless fieldstone façade, extensive interior brick walls, dynamic utilization of massive exposed wood beams in the cafeteria and liberal use of terrazzo-type floors. These features combined to give the new school a stunningly attractive look.

Construction of Jefferson Elementary School completed a longtime plan to place one school in each of the four corners of the district. The project cost $1.171 million. The bond that funded the work was paid off in 1991. As originally constructed, Jefferson included 18 regular classrooms, one “special” classroom, one remedial reading room, two kindergarten rooms, two music practice rooms, a combination gymnasium/auditorium, a library the size of a regular classroom, a main office with an administrative area, a nurse’s office and a 200 seat cafeteria with a large kitchen. The building measures 45,400 square feet. There is no useable basement.

While Jefferson was under construction, a citizen’s advisory committee consisting of two PTA representatives from each of the district’s elementary schools was formed to help develop recommendations for a redistricting of attendance zones. Eventually students from Woodbury, Lincoln and Roosevelt elementary schools, all of which would eventually close, were placed in the Jefferson zone.

Jefferson’s founding principal was J. Allen Matthews, who served in the post through June 1967 when he went on an extended sick leave. He was succeeded by Frank J. Marlowe, who served only until October 1967. Philip Nardone, who was a fifth grade teacher on the original faculty of the school, then stepped into the post and remained as principal until June 1980. The school has had only eight principals in its 60 year history.

Over the years, the parents of Jefferson School students have been extremely supportive of the school and its programs. That same tradition continues today. The school is a single story structure set back from Oakwood Road. A long driveway leads to the building with athletic fields and a large playground visible to the thousands of cars passing along the busy thoroughfare.

When Jefferson was built, most of the nearby land was used for farming and other agricultural purposes. Today, some of those large areas have been set aside for perseveration and are forever free of development, although they are no longer used for agricultural endeavors.

When Jefferson was built, most of the nearby land was used for farming and other agricultural purposes. Today, some of those large areas have been set aside for perseveration and are forever free of development, although they are no longer used for agricultural endeavors.

The building includes two large wings that are connected by a shorter span. There are two playground areas and a fully functional and modern library-media center. The spacious cafeteria overlooks the school entrance.

Jefferson’s Principals through the Years

1. J. Allen Matthews: 1962 – June 1967
2. Frank Marlowe: July 1967 – October 1967
3. Phil Nardone: November 1967 – June 1980
4. Jack Abrams: July 1980 – June 1986
5. Joan Skelly: July 1986 – June 1995
6. Anthony Barresi: July 1995 – June 2006
7. Margaret H. Evers: July 2006 – June 2012
8. Valerie Capitulo-Saide: August 2012 – present