Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. Dang, it brings back memories. I attended this school from preschool until sixth grade. And I was promoted to middle school with tears in my eyes, knowing that I was saying good-​bye to a large part of my childhood
The happy kids on Chestnut Hill resided in a quiet neighborhood and were always treated well by the staff and teachers. Every year on the first of May, they would venture into the surrounding area and leave May Day baskets of flowers for lucky residents.
The teachers were enthusiastic about working with their students. The primary focus was always reading comprehension, as opposed to math and science. Open Court was the preference for advancing reading levels. As the years progressed, the library implemented the typical reading program that tested for individual reading levels and provided the appropriate books for students to help them further their reading.
The school got a California Distinguished Schools award while I was there. We also had a partnership with Arden Fair, and it gave us a lot of perks :] Nutcracker ballet tickets for students and their families, and cool shirts and prizes for doing well in school.
interesting note: my fifth and sixth grade teacher is now on America’s Most Wanted list. What the heck, right? It sickens me to think about it. urgh.
While my list of things to say about the school can go on for days, reality kicks in and reminds me that the school closed a few years ago. Budget cuts were unkind and the students had to transfer to nearby Bancroft Elementary :/​
I miss this school. Hopefully it gets re-​opened sometime in the near future :/