Janney Elementary School

The Janney Jamboree

The Jamboree Schedule for the week is available here.

DETAILS AND DESCRIPTION: 

Janney Jamboree is a daily gathering designed with the purpose to build community, celebrate successes, recognize growth, and foster communication between staff, parents and our students. It also serves, as an additional benefit, to start the day in a positive and focused direction. Teachers and staff members are asked to receive their students beginning at 8:35, with the Jamboree opening at 8:40 and ending at 8:45 when staff and students will enter the building.

The Jamboree is designed in line with our vision and values in creating a community of learners with regard to equity, collaboration, reflection, achievement, experimentation and inquiry. We will also focus on the qualities of respect and responsibility in establishing a productive school culture and climate.

Parents are welcome to take part in the Jamboree and are asked to drop off students at the front of the building (Albemarle Street), allow them to walk around the sides through the paly areas, and/or escort their students from the front to the Jamboree gathering area on the greentop.

As the Jamboree committee plans future meetings, there will be increased teacher leadership, student involvement, and opportunities for parents to contribute.  Mondays will always serve as a welcome day, and Fridays will be reserved for celebrations.  The middle of the week might include songs, team building, performances, sharing, presentations and thoughtful questioning. 
 

THE DAWN OF THE JAMBOREE:

The Janney Jamboree was conceived after many conversations between Principal Lycknell and teachers, staff, students, and parents over the summer.  While Janney's strengths dominated most discussions, people were asked to also identify growth areas for the coming year.  Concerns were voiced that not all stakeholders felt like part of the community; there seemed to be a lack of efficient communication; tardiness rates were high and growing; announcements interrupted the learning day; parents who could not attend PTA meetings or other evening events felt isolated; increased connections between older and younger students were desired; some students were struggling to make friends and feel part of Janney; students were not aware of the work that their peers were doing; the morning arrival time was chaotic and disconnected; and celebrations of good work were limited.  Rather than make value judgments about the validity of these feelings, the Principal focused on how to ameliorate these concerns, whether for the sake of the important minority or for the majority.  After reflections on personal experience, research of best practices, and a study of the work on experts on building school community, a common thread emerged: starting the day with a community gathering.  Thus, the Janney Jamboree began to take shape.
 
WORKING OUT THE KINKS:

Principal Lycknell, in messages to the community, has reported receiving varying feedback on success of the Jamboree across all grade levels.  "To this point, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with several suggestions for improvement.  As is often the case with something new, I also want to acknowledge the discomfort and problems that the Jamboree has surfaced.  We have improved the process each day, many suggestions have already been incorporated, and solutions will continue to be implemented in the areas of time, opportunities to communicate with teachers, supervision and structure, weather (the Jamboree will be cancelled for inclement weather, in tandem with recess moving indoors), and content."

A survey was given to Pre-K and K families and to teachers after the first week of school, to gauge reactions to the Jamboree. 98% of the staff, including all early childhood teachers, expressed support for the Jamboree, citing increased instructional time, decreased tardiness, a clear and earlier start to the day, positive relationships between students, and excitement about future opportunities to participate.  79% of Pre-K and K families responded, and while the majority of responses were supportive, concerns were voiced. The Principal responded to these concerns, expressing her intention to "work on a path toward improving the Jamboree for all of our students;" and, immediately addressing some of the concerns raised by posting more staff to direct arriving students in the morning, making signs for students to find their classes larger and more visible, and explaining how and when teachers will make themselves accessible to parents.  All feedback is welcome as the Jamboree develops into the most positive and rewarding experience for all Janney students.