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Students showcase science projects and community partnerships at board meeting
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Summary
Students from George Washington and Susan B. Anthony elementary schools presented science projects and community partnership work, including an attendance campaign tied to a local restaurant and a student-run garden program; trustees praised student voice and teacher planning.
Students from George schools took center stage at the Jefferson Elementary School District board meeting Wednesday, presenting science projects and community partnerships that trustees said showcased hands-on learning and student leadership.
At the start of the meeting, Principal Lauren Buckley of George Washington Elementary outlined grade-level science work — from TK students observing butterfly life cycles to older students using the scientific method and engineering design. Buckley said the curriculum emphasizes collaboration, problem solving and perseverance and highlighted a new district-aligned science curriculum adopted in recent years. "They are observing, predicting, testing, and reflecting as they explore the world around them," she said.
Later, Roxanne Hannon, principal of Susan B. Anthony Elementary School, described partnerships the school has developed to expand equity and opportunity. Hannon said a collaboration with the Stanford Spark Lab is piloting performance-based assessments for TK–3 students, and she described a partnership with a local Chick-fil-A that helped launch a "perfect attendance" campaign. Student Hayden Hanford told the board the attendance initiative used weekly raffle tickets and spirit nights to boost turnout; administrators reported a 30% year-over-year increase in attendance in the first year of the program.
Students also described a school garden project developed with the University of California Cooperative Extension and CalFresh. Student leaders said the garden will include an automatic irrigation system (a grant application was submitted) and will be used for student-led lessons about seeds, planting and healthy foods. "This project gave all students the opportunity to learn, participate, and connect with healthy foods in a meaningful way," one student said.
Trustees commended the programs and praised teachers and families who supported the efforts. The board presented certificates of appreciation to several students who participated in the flag ceremony and presentations.
The presentations preceded a packed agenda that included public comment and several routine board actions. The meeting recessed later for a closed-session convening.
