Theodore Robinson Intermediate
February 2020
Principal News
TRIS Families,
Second semester is here and hopefully warmer weather is just around the corner. Students are managing with our limited play space due to the snow. It sure would be nice to see some grass again though. The sunshine was much appreciated earlier this week. On January 24th, we had our H.E.R.O.E.S. groups and played a series of games: Telephone, Drawing Telephone & HedBanz. These are easy quick games that you can play as a family so check in with your child. We will be using our February Celebration to have some fun in celebration of everyone’s hard work this first semester.
As you know, report cards are currently available for view on Skyward. If you would prefer a printed copy, please let your child’s teacher know. We are happy to provide paper copies of email communication including our monthly newsletter. We just need to know that you prefer this method. If you have any changes to your contact information, please contact Kristin Howlett at 882-3385 or howlettk@evansville.k12.wi.us Thank you so much for helping us with this! We want to be able to contact you quickly if your child is sick or if there is an emergency. We send out automated messages as a district which are based on the numbers and email that we have in Skyward.
Please let me know if you have questions, ideas or concerns. My direct line is 882-3842 and my email is DornB@evansville.k12.wi.us. We appreciate all that you do at home to support your child’s success at school! We are glad that you are here!
Help us celebrate ECSD!
Facebook- @EvansvillECSD Twitter - @EvansvillECSD
Instagram - @evansville.csd YouTube – Evansville Community School District
Welcome Jacqueline Briggs Martin to TRIS!
Theodore Robinson Intermediate School welcomed author, Jacqueline Briggs Martin, on February 5, 2020. She has written several fiction and nonfiction children’s books including Snowflake Bentley, a Caldecott Award winner.
During her visit, Jacqueline Briggs Martin, visited with Kindergarten through 5th Grade students throughout the day. She discussed her writing process, including developing characters and expressing creativity, and also shared about her life and passion for being curious and following your dreams. Students also had the opportunity to ask her questions and engaged in lively discussion with her.
We are thankful for the Evansville Education Fund for allowing our students to experience this wonderful opportunity to inspire our young authors.
Our Changing Landscape
How will your child become a better reader? By READING, READING, READING!
Need books or ideas? Please let your child's teacher know. We are happy to help!
Ten Benefits of Reading
2. Reading exercises our brains strengthening connections and building new ones.
3. Reading improves concentration.
4. Reading teaches children about the world around them by exposing them to people, places, and events outside their own experience.
5. Reading improves a child's vocabulary, leads to more highly-developed language skills and improves the child's ability to write well.
6. Reading develops a child's imagination.
7. Reading helps kids develop empathy.
8. Children who read do better at school in all subjects and all the way through school.
9. Reading is a great form of entertainment.
10. Reading relaxes the body and calms the mind.
Yahara Rivers Writer's Contest
Several fifth grade students recently participated in the Yahara River Writer’s Contest at the local level. The main goal of this contest is to create an opportunity for those children who love to write or draw, to share their work and showcase their creative talents. Students could enter in the categories of poems, short story, editorial, or cartoon. All entries were evaluated by a panel of judges, and four of those entries were selected to represent our school at the regional level.
Those students with prize-winning entries at the local level are: Lilly Takala-poetry; and Aubrie Mentele, Olivia Nelson, and Clara Koser-cartoons; and Syriana Jorge-short story.
The regional Yahara River Writer’s Contest is sponsored by the Greater Dane County Advanced Learner Network. Once an entry arrives at the contest, it is evaluated by an experienced panel of judges. Students from all over the greater Dane County area submit entries so there are literally hundreds of entries in each of the four categories. The top-ten authors in each category are invited to attend a day-long workshop and award ceremony on the UW-Madison Campus in May. Each winning entry is also published in the Yahara River Writer’s Anthology.
We will be notified in March if any of our students qualify as top-ten authors. Congratulations to all who participated at the local level and best of luck to the four students who have their work entered in the regional competition.
5th Grade KEVA trip! Lots of fun memories made!
Music Notes
5th Grade Concert: Thursday- February 13th
The 5th Grade students will present their music concert “Musical Countdown” on Thursday, February 13th at 9:30 AM and 6:30 PM
In the High School Performing Arts Center. Each 5th grade class will be featured in one song.
3rd Grade Concert: Thursday- March 19th
The 3rd Grade students will present their music concert on Thursday, March 19th at 9:30 AM and 6:30 PM in the
High School Performing Arts Center. Each 3rd Grade class will be featured in one song.
Theodore Robinson Singers!
Calling all dedicated, hard-working, fourth and fifth graders who wish to be in a beginning choir! Theodore Robinson Singers will be offered this year during the second semester. Rehearsals will begin on Tuesday, February 4th. This group focuses on singing through teamwork, ensemble and fun! The group meets from 3:05 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the TRIS music room on the following dates and will have a spring concert on Tuesday, May 5th at 6:30 PM. Being in TRIS Singers is a full semester commitment. With so few rehearsals it will be very important to have everyone attend each rehearsal.
Dates of Rehearsals:
Tuesday, February 4th
Tuesday, February 11th
Tuesday, April 7th
Tuesday, April 14th
Tuesday, February 18th
Tuesday, February 25th
Tuesday, April 21st
Tuesday, April 28th
Tuesday, March 3rd
Tuesday, March 10th
Tuesday, March 24th
Tuesday, May 5th Dress rehearsal afterschool
Tuesday, May 5th (Concert at 6:30 PM)
Date of Concert: Tuesday, May 5th at 6:30 PM in the TRIS Gym
Please send in the attached permission slip by Tuesday, February 4th if you would like to participate in the Theodore Robinson Singers. Students as well as parents need to sign. Students are asked to bring a healthy snack of their own to eat at the beginning of rehearsal. Please let me know of any food allergy concerns. Students will be released at 4:00 PM and parents should pick their child up in front of the TRIS building at 4:00 PM.
Mrs. Cindy Zblewski -TRIS Music
zblewskic@evansville.k12.wi.us or 882-3854
Counselor's Corner
Good Afternoon TRIS Families,
3rd Grade: Students are continuing to learn about our calming down steps. We are continuing to discuss handling disappointment and anger appropriately. Students are learning that we all experience disappointment and anger but there is appropriate ways to handle these strong feelings. Students also discussed sportsmanship and potential consequences when we don’t handle our strong feelings in an appropriate way.
Step 1: Use a stop signal
Students are learning different ways to tell themselves to stop so they can recognize that they need to calm down.
Step 2: Name their feeling
Students are working on identifying different emotions.
Step 3: Calm down
Students are focusing on three main calming strategies; deep breathing, counting, and positive self-talk. Other strategies are discussed as well, however the three listed are the main focus due to being able to use these anywhere.
4th Grade: Students are continuing to discuss anxiety. Students are discussing different situations in which a 4th grade student may experience anxiety. Students are also discussing the physiological signs associated with anxiety. The focus continues to be on our calming down steps when experiencing anxiety and other strong emotions.
Step 1: Use a stop signal
Students are learning different ways to tell themselves to stop so they can recognize that they need to calm down
Step 2: Name their feeling
Students are working on identifying different emotions.
Step 3: Calm Down
Students are focusing on three main calming strategies; deep breathing, counting, and positive self-talk. Other strategies are discussed as well, however the three listed are the main focus due to being able to use these anywhere.
5th Grade: Students are continuing to discuss stereotypes and racism. Students were introduced to the definition of diversity; Understanding that each individual is unique and may differ in race, gender, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs,
political beliefs, or other ideologies. We took time as a class to break down each of these categories and discuss the importance of diversity as well as ways in which people may be discriminated against or stereotyped in each of these categories. Unfortunately, many of our students could relate and shared ways in which they have been discriminated against and/or stereotyped. Students could see first hand how this has affected some of their classmates and how hurtful words can be.
Once again, if you need anything please feel free to reach out to me by phone 882-3847 or email mcnamaras@evansville.k12.wi.us. Thank you for supporting your child in learning the skills that lead to success in school and in life!
Upcoming Events
February
13th - 5th Grade Concert
14th - Popcorn Day
21st - No School
24th - No School-Staff Developement
25th - Bridging Brighter Smiles Visits
March
3rd & 5th - Parent Teacher Conferences
6th - 4th Grade Field Trip
19th - 3rd Grade Concert
20th - Popcorn Day
27th - Early Release at noon - End of 3rd Quarter
28th - 5th Spring Break
Evansville Youth Center February Calendar
February 2020
Craft of the Week February 3-7
Fizzy Hearts
3—Bottle Bowling
4—Wii Medieval Games
5—Mystery Activity
6—Challenge Us
7—Challenge Us
Craft of the Week February 10-14
Drawing
10—Air Hockey Tournament
11—Bowling
12—Slot Car Racing
13—Let’s Cook
14—Rummikub
Craft of the Week February 17-20
Bead Jewelry
17—Party
18—cribbage
19—Movie & Popcorn
20—Pizza Night with Mary Anne
21—NO SCHOOL/NO EYC
Craft of the Week February 25-28
Snowflakes
24—NO SCHOOL/NO EYC
25—NERF Wars (Final Signup for Boy’s Night)
26—Card House Contest
27-- Spoons
28-- UNO (Boys Night 5:30-8pm)
Process for determining when to close school
When weather conditions are severe, the Evansville Community School District follows a set of guidelines for determining if schools should be closed. The District will base a decision on what is best for all students. Individual family circumstances may vary. We encourage and strongly support you in making a decision that is best for your child(ren). You are always the best judge of your family’s health and safety.
Process for determining school closure due to severe weather:
- Information is gathered from multiple local and state weather forecasts.
- The District Administrator, Director of Building and Grounds, Ringhand Bus Company, and the Rock County Sheriff's Department determine if roads are safe for student travel.
- The District Administrator consults with other local School District Administrators.
Extreme cold:
When the National Weather Service issues a wind chill warning for Rock County during the school day, school will be closed. Schools will not necessarily be closed if there is a wind chill advisory for the county, but cancellation will be considered when an advisory shows temperatures may reach -20 degrees Fahrenheit.
School closings notification:
We make every effort to have a final decision prior to 6:30 a.m. We then communicate this decision to local news outlets, post information on our website (www.ecsdnet.org), through an automated phone call and in an email to all families. At times, we will post to social media, our website and news/radio stations prior to calls going out to families as we try not to place phone calls prior to 6 am.
After school activities when school is closed:
When Evansville schools are closed for the day, it also means that all activities scheduled in school buildings for that day are canceled. This includes all programs and all after school activities. Exceptions may be made based on changes in weather conditions.
Late starts and early dismissal during severe weather:
We try to start school on time and keep school open until the regular dismissal time if road conditions are safe. However, if you feel your child(ren) will be safer at home, it is up to your discretion to determine their attendance. Please notify the school office if absent, dropping off late or picking up early. If there is a 2-hour delay, there will not be morning 4K. Afternoon 4K will proceed as scheduled.
When schools are closed for other reasons:
When we close schools for reasons other than severe weather, a notification will be sent to local news outlets, a posting on our website (www.ecsdnet.org), through an automated phone call and in an email to all families. Depending on the circumstances for closing/delay, the District may limit information that is released to the public. Please know, the only reason this would be done would be to keep our top priority, the students, safe.
The safety of every child is our highest priority. We appreciate your understanding and your support when school closing decisions are made.