Jerabek Elementary School

We are thankful for our Jerabek Elementary School community. Happy Thanksgiving from our homes to yours!

Here are some great articles about activities at Jerabek - Thank you Scripps Ranch News
Jerabek's 40th Anniversary Celebration http://www.scrippsranchnews.com/schools/fullstory.php?ID=1258
Ranch Round Up http://www.scrippsranchnews.com/family_fun/fullstory.php?ID=66

Jerabek holds Ranch Roundup Jerabek Elementary School held its 37th annual Ranch Roundup on the afternoon and evening of June 2. Children enjoyed an abundance of fun activities such as bouncy jump houses, a climbing wall, face painting pony rides, laser tag and a petting zoo.

Jerabek teachers embark on our STEM journey as they participate in professional development

Thank you students and families for representing Jerabek at the Scripps Ranch 4th of July Parade !

Jerabek Celebrates 40 Years (THANKS for the article Scripps Ranch News and Mr. Gregory) Jerabek Elementary celebrates 40 years
By John Gregory

http://www.scrippsranchnews.com/schools/fullstory.php?ID=1258

Forty years ago, a handful of teachers and parent volunteers herded a group of students out from their temporary classrooms at Miramar Ranch Elementary School and paraded them several blocks to the site of Jerabek Elementary, their new school.

The year was 1978 and some of the teachers who were present that day returned this year on June 1 to attend a special reception and ceremony at Jerabek Elementary School to commemorate the school’s 40th anniversary. Diane Pali Belliveau and Stacy Wible are two of those teachers. Belliveau was a kindergarten teacher and Wible taught first grade in the early days of the school. Their new classrooms were close and they could easily see one another during the day. They remember connecting immediately, forming a close bond. Both recalled that first day when they moved to the new school.

“We gathered them up by classroom and we got parents to help us out, and we just walked down the streets and came over here,” Belliveau said.

Before the new school was finished, the students who would attend Jerabek had classes in the portable classrooms at Miramar Ranch Elementary. Essentially, there were two schools within a school.
Jerabek Elementary began with eight teachers in September of that year. By January, there were 12 and the number kept growing. There were about 35 teachers by the third year of the school’s existence.

The first day and the parade to the new school were an exciting experience for everyone involved.

“Kindergarteners are excited about everything,” Belliveau said. “So, we just herded them together.”

The school was named in honor of Chauncy Jerabek, the head gardener and horticulturist for the old Scripps estate. He was present for the school’s ribbon cutting in 1978 and, wearing a three-piece suit, addressed the crowd.

Wible recalled Jerabek’s speech. He was 84 years old at the time, and she wondered if he was a bit lost as he was making a noise for the children: “clickety-click-click.” He was telling the kids about when he was a student in a small wooden classroom.

“He was imitating the woodpeckers that would peck on (his) school building when he was a boy,” Wible explained.

“He said he wished his mother was there to see it (the dedication),” Wible said. “He even said she thought he would amount to nothing. ... He passed away four months later.” As classes continued throughout the year at the new school, and for the years to follow, the teachers and staff became a close team.

“We did things as a staff to make us feel cohesive because when you bring in people who don’t know each other and plunk them down as a staff, there’s no norm set, there’s no protocol set,” Belliveau explained. “We had that rare opportunity of building a school from the block walls up and bringing that heart that you always want to bring in for teachers and children. It stayed, I can see that.”

Belliveau taught at Jerabek until 1995 and Wible was there full-time until 2007. The two have witnessed the school change and grow, and they marveled at the computer lab. They remembered a time when someone collected spare computer parts in an attempt to build computers for the classrooms. There was a debate about whether they should have PCs or Macs. Eventually, volunteers donated the first computers.

“One thing hasn’t changed, and that’s the support the community has given from the very beginning of the school, how they just helped us get settled in,” Belliveau said. “The FFO (Family Faculty Organization) was formed and the support obviously is continuing.”

“The FFO has always been very supportive,” Wible agreed. Jerabek Elementary was named a California Distinguished School in 1987, only nine years after opening, Belliveau said.

Today, Principal Kristie Joiner oversees the school’s daily operations. She has completed her fourth year as principal, noting that she was glad to provide stability and implement a students-first policy, especially in light of the fact that she became the fourth principal at the school in five years when she arrived.

“When I came in, I just had to pull everybody together and kind of get on a path,” she said. “We had about three goals. One was to improve achievement. The second one was to change our culture from an adult-centered culture to a child-centered culture. … The third was to relentlessly pursue kindness and positivity on our campus. … Just getting back to the business of kids and achievement.”

A special anniversary ceremony was held the afternoon of June 1. Jerabek students performed the entire ceremony, with children making speeches and the school choir providing the musical highlights. The event ended as former faculty, staff and administrators led the crowd in a spirited rendition of Jerabek’s school song.

This was an even bigger day at Jerabek Elementary because the anniversary ceremony was soon followed by the opening of the school’s annual Ranch Roundup carnival, a major fundraiser held each year at the campus.

Article from 92131 Magazine

A Lesson in Commitment

When Heather Chell was a young student, she had a difficult time learning in school. She remembered many of her teachers not knowing how to respond to her learning challenges. As an adult, Heather used this memory as motivation to acquire her own teaching credential and help other students learn in a way that they could thrive. “I wanted to be a teacher and learn how to teach children who needed someone who understands what it’s like to not always understand,” said Heather. “I wanted to approach teaching with a multifaceted lens, knowing that not all students fit in the same box and that students need different approaches to learning material.”

Today, Heather is a third grade teacher at Jerabek Elementary School in Scripps Ranch. “I wear a lot of hats at Jerabek,” noted Heather. “First and foremost, I am a classroom teacher who teaches to the individual needs of each of my students.” Heather is also the lead teacher at her grade level, administrative designee when the school principal is off campus, and the Site Governance Team co-chair. “I love my jobs!” she exclaimed.

Name: Heather Leann Chell
Profession: Third grade teacher and higher ed professor at UCSD Extensions
Community: Scripps Ranch
Hobbies & Interests: Traveling with family, planting succulents in my yard (my husband and I are always on the hunt for new varieties!), and dinner with friends
Favorite Places to Visit in 92131: Coffee and pastries at the French Oven, soccer with my daughter at Jerabek or Cypress Canyon Park, a quiet spot at the Scripps Ranch Library, walking our dogs in the neighborhood with my husband, son and daughter, and Yanni’s Bar & Grill

Although she has her work cut out for her, Heather wouldn’t have it any other way. “I love Jerabek for so many reasons,” she shared. “The community support is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of this community. When anybody needs anything, they are here to rally and provide whatever that may be. Our parents donate in the way of time, money, personal talents.” Heather’s own two children, Reese (11) and Evan (13) were “Jerabekians,” as Heather would say. “I couldn’t be more proud to say that,” Heather said.

As if she doesn’t do enough for the school, Heather also gives back by volunteering in setting up the school’s new STEM lab. “(My volunteer work) included everything from assembling furniture, engaging in conversations about the overall vision, and training for Piper computers and our new 3D printer,” described Heather.

“I have given my heart to this school and will continue to do so through volunteerism.”

As she plans for her future, Heather sees Jerabek remaining a big part of her life. “I see my work at Jerabek continuing even after I eventually retire,” she said. “I have given my heart to this school and will continue to do so through volunteerism.”

Essential Summer Reading for All

Essential summer book read. Watch these authors trailers: Ted Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyElHdaqkjo
Extended Talk to a school group
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGMNZ3ZwnAc

Our last group of teachers will complete their training in writing at Columbia University's Teacher's College. We ARE the only school that this has occurred and our student outcomes are showing it's impact not only in the area of English Language Arts but in Mathematics. The time for students to be good at basic mathematical calculations are over. Students now must be able to think. read, conceptually represent and write about their reasoning IS how students are successful. Our work in conceptual understanding, critical thinking and writing has directly contributed to our scores rising at Jerabek ! Thank you FFO for your above and beyond investment in what makes a difference - training of our teachers which translates into superior work with our students.

Fifth Grade Promotion Wednesday, June 13th 11:00 am - 11: 55 am ALL guest entry through the back gate of the school - gate opens at 10:30 am.

It's Kindness Week at Jerabek !

Jerabek Families, Thank you for your service !