What is JumpStart! ?
Mission Statement: The goal of JumpStart! is for every student to have a positive beginning to their school day which heightens their senses and increases their focus on learning the skills they need to be successful in school and in life. As a result, they will feel confident in their ability to set goals and in their ability to achieve them.
What's in it for the kids?
* Self Esteem.
* Feeling of belonging.
* Positive connection with teachers.
* Increased focus first thing in the morning.
* Wanting to be at school!
* Increased reading scores.
All three elementaries have a JS! program that are set up slightly different because of size and layout of schools. At Washington Street Elementary our program has approximately 50 students. We have two groups of kids that participate 15-25 minutes every morning before they begin their academic day. They miss out on the seatwork that is done in the classroom. Students in JS! are allowed to go to their lockers 5 minutes earlier than the rest of the students. When they get off the bus they go to their lockers, check in with their teacher, get their desk area ready for the day and go directly to their group’s spot for the day. They go to either the JumpZone! or the gym. Each group does 2 days in each place alternating daily Monday through Thursday and a full group activity on Friday. The activities need to be self-starting ones so directions don’t need to be repeated whenever someone else arrives. With bus arrivals it varies for each student. Having the students go to and from JumpStart! quietly and with control is something that is taught and reinforced with JS! students.
A great resource to understand the premise and background of our program is found in the book, Spark, by John J. Ratey, MD.
We have limited space and would love to be able to have everyone participate, but space is an issue.