General Information

Jerome Harrison School is a PreK-2 school located on Foxon Road in North Branford, CT.  Our school, which was built in April of 1998 is home to approximately 480 students.  Our kindergarten program is currently a half day program with four full time teachers.  Grades 1& 2 are served by eight classroom teachers per grade level.  Within this structure there are teams which cross all grade levels with a team consisting of one kindergarten teacher, two first grade teachers and two second grade teachers.  It is our goal to have students and families stay within a team during their time at JHS to ease the transition and to foster the important home/school communication and partnership.

Responsive Classroom is practiced school-wide and as result of this philosophy of teaching children to care and take responsibility for themself, each classroom begins their day with a Morning Meeting.  This morning meeting consists of a greeting, sharing, an activity and then news and announcements.  This method of starting the day this way sets a positive tone to the day and builds a sense of community within the classroom, across the grade level and throughout the school.  School rules are enforced and include expectations for the lunchroom, recess as well as the hallways and stairs.

Literacy is a key part of each and every day's instruction at JHS.  Classrooms have approximately 90 minutes of literacy instruction each day with an additional 30 minutes of literacy instruction serviced through our Response to Intervention model.  Literacy is centered around the use of Storytown.  This integrated program combines all aspects of reading and writing to support the growth of all learners.  Within each lesson there are a series of skills that are taught in conjunction with the theme that is being presented.  Students are assessed bi-monthly within the theme as well as at the end of each theme.  Benchmark assessments are given at the beginning and end of the year to measure growth of each student.

Mathematics is taught through the use of Math Expressionss which is aligned to our state Grade Level Expectations, Connecticut State Standards and the Connecticut Mastery Test.  Students are taught within a unit based on particular grade level expectations to mastery.  Approximately one hour is devoted to math each day in addition to 30 minutes of mathematics instruction serviced through our Response to Intervention model.  The program combines whole group instruction with hands-on exploration in the various skills and concepts to be taught and learned within a unit. Assessments are an integral part of the program to measure student skills. Beginning of the year and end of the year benchmark assessments are given to measure each student's growth on specific skills.  Math fact fluency is a part of our math program as well. 

Specials are provided for all students at JHS over the course of each week.  Students participate in specials which consist of library, computer, physical education, music and art.

Students in Grades 1-2 have recess daily.  This recess is outside unless the weather is inclement.  During the winter months recess is held outside unless the temperature is below 20 degrees.  If this is the case then recess is held indoors.  Parents are reminded to dress their children for outdoor recess.  

Technology use is an essential part of the curricula at JHS.  Teaching and learning is supplemented with this additional tool and resource.  Each and every classroom has a SMARTboard; an interactive white board that makes learning come to life in a visual and stimulating way for all students.  Additionally, there are computers in every classroom in addition to a MAC lab that is used by all classrooms at least once a week.  Lexia software is used to support our literacy instruction and Symphony Math Software is used to support our mathematics instruction.

Response to Intervention is in place at JHS.  This is a 30 minute block of time every day in both literacy and numeracy where all students are in specific skill groups based on their specific needs.  Various staff members assist during this time to lower the student to adult ratio and provide more explicit instruction.  Learning is monitored through ongoing assessments to identify when a student is ready to move to another group based on mastery of the previous skill.  Specific programs are in place to assist teachers and students during this time.    

Parents are an integral part of our educational environment at JHS.  Please be advised that for the safety of your child and all children at JHS it is imperative that all parents and visitors check in at our main office.  Once you come into the main office, please sign in and take a yellow visitor's badge.  Parents should never go directly to a classroom without the teacher being made aware of your presence at school by our office staff.  One question parents will be asked is whether the teacher is expecting you or not.  If you leave the main office area without a visitor's badge, please be aware that any staff member that sees you will ask you if you've checked in the office and regardless of your answer, without the badge you will be taken back to the office to obtain a visitor's badge.  Our staff will be identified by the North Branford lanyards that they will be wearing.  

Lost and found is located on the stage in our cafeteria.  Should your child come home without an item, please encourage him or her to check the lost and found first.  Parents are encouraged to label all items with the child's first and last name.  

Merit Education