McFarland EC-5 Elementary Express
October 2016
October EC-5 Dates At-A-Glance
October 3 - District-wide Picture re-take day!
October 4 - School Garden Harvest Field Trip - Hiveley and Wisniewski
October 5 - School Garden Harvest Field Trip - Huber-Drake and Adams
October 6 - School Garden Harvest Field Trip - Schmidt and Garvoille
October 6 - Fall Open House - KINDERGARTEN - 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm
October 6 - Open House - Referendum - WIS @ 6:30pm
October 7 - School Garden Harvest Field Trip - Jefferson and Paley
October 7 - 4th Grade Old World Wisconsin Field Trip
October 10-14 - Fire Prevention Week
October 12 - 1st Grade Field Trip to Olbrich Gardens - Mandli and Orlowski
October 12 - McFarland Fire Station Open House 6pm-8pm
October 12 - Kindergarten Fire Station Field Trip - Dettlaff, Gray, Heim, Marking
October 13 - Great Lakes Apple Crunch Day
October 13 - 1st Grade Field Trip to Olbrich Gardens - Rotunno and Brezenski
October 14 - Kindergarten Fire Station Field Trip - Cook, Kuehl, Mosso, Paugel
October 14 - 5th Grade Mackenzie Center Field Trip
October 17-21 - National School Bus Safety Week
October 17 - 3rd Grade McFarland Walking Field Trip
October 19 - 3rd Grade McFarland Walking Field Trip
October 19 - Kindergarten Pumpkin Patch Field Trip - Cook, Gray, Heim, Mosso
October 20 - Kindergarten Pumpkin Patch Field Trip - Dettlaff, Kuehl, Marking, Paugel
October 20 - 3rd Grade McFarland Walking Field Trip
October 20 - 3rd Grade Related Arts Welcome to Waubesa Open House 6:30pm-7:30pm
October 24-26 - Conference Week: CEELC and Primary School
October 27 - NO SCHOOL - Teacher work day (end of first quarter)
October 28 - NO SCHOOL - Conference Release Day
October 31 - Orange and Black Day @ CEELC and Primary School
October 31 - November 4 - 3rd Grade Swimming Unit
October 31 - November 4 - Conference Week: Waubesa Intermediate School
Dates to remember for November...
November 7-11 - 5th Grade Swimming Unit
November 14-18 - 4th Grade Swimming Unit
FOOD ALLERGIES
Due to the presence of food allergies in our student population, all classrooms at Waubesa Intermediate School will be observing a nut free environment. Some homerooms may have other food restrictions.
District Building Website
The Latest "Buzz"
The 2016-2017 “Buzz Book” is available through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. To access the Buzz Book, log into Infinite Campus and click the “Buzz Book” link. Printed copies of the 2016-2017 Buzz Book will be available in the Early Learning and MPS school offices for $5.00 in early October.
CEELC & Primary School News
Building Information
Email: Boatmas@mcfsd.org
Website: http://www.mcfarland.k12.wi.us/schools/elementary/
Phone: 608-838-4602
Thank you to the McFarland Lion’s Club for sponsoring the Annual Fill-the-Bus campaign back in August. Due to the efforts of the entire community and organization from members of the Lion’s Club, we have been able to distribute countless school supplies to students in need. As each year passes more and more families find it challenging to purchase basic school supplies. We have been able to establish a small surplus of basic school supplies to distribute to students in need throughout the year.
Emergency Contact Numbers
Attention McFarland Families -
The McFarland School Primary School is looking for gently used book donations. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to Sandra Taylor-Marshall our PK-5 Reading Specialist/Coordinator at 608-838-4500 Ext. 5471 or by email at: MarshaS@mcfsd.org
Students on the Elementary Campus continue to demonstrate what it means to be a “Spartan Star”. As students participate in activities and curriculum across the different learning communities including the classroom, cafeteria, playground, halls, bus, bathrooms, etc. students are learning what they are expected to do to BE SAFE, BE KIND, and BE RESPONSIBLE.
As Spartan Stars, we expect children to be Safe, Kind and Responsible. To achieve that, students who ride their bikes to and from school are expected to walk their bikes when on school sidewalks, they can park their bikes in the bike racks.
Attendance Line
If your child is going to be absent or late to school, please make sure you contact the school office no later than 8:00 AM. (Early Learning Center @838-3146, MPS @838-3115)
Transportation
If your child is absent from school or leaves school early…
And rides the school bus, contact Nelson Bus Service, the school office and your student’s teacher.
Or if your child attends preschool or after school daycare, contact your child’s daycare provider, the school office and your student’s teacher.
Halloween Costume Policy
Early Childhood: Students are invited to bring a costume on Monday, October 31.
Kindergarten, 1st Grade and 2nd Grade: Wearing of costumes is not allowed.
Waubesa Intermediate School News
Building Information
Email: MurphyS@mcfsd.org
Website: http://www.mcfarland.k12.wi.us/schools/intermediate/
Phone: 608-838-7667
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Waubesa.Intermediate.School/?fref=ts
A note from Principal Murphy...
It is amazing how quickly we get right into the school year routine. We are looking to have another great year and look for your support in making this happen.
The Waubesa staff is working very hard to promote a love of reading with our students. We want reading to be seen as something that is fun to do. As families, you can help support this initiative by setting aside time for your child to read at home each night and model reading for them. Some students may enjoy reading fiction books, some nonfiction books, while others may prefer newspapers or magazines. What they choose to read is less important than the fact that they are reading and see it as a fun pastime.
The staff at each grade level is working on consistency related to students recording their homework in their assignment notebooks. We appreciate your help by checking in with your child about homework.
On a separate note, Waubesa students will soon take part in a “buddy” activity. Each homeroom is paired with another homeroom at a different grade level. Throughout the year these two homerooms will meet and participate in activities that promote a positive school culture. We discuss ways for students to be leaders and prevent bullying from occurring in our school. The students also learn about ways they can make a difference in their classroom, the school, and the community. Our focus in the community this year will be ways to help the McFarland Food Pantry. More information will be coming your way about this initiative.
Thanks for all your help in making the start of the year a success!
Sue Murphy
Principal
Waubesa Intermediate School
Parking Lots
RED OAK TRAIL LOT:
PICK-UP & DROP OFF ONLY
When dropping off or picking up children at Waubesa, PLEASE USE THE DRIVE-THRU PARKING LOT OFF OF RED OAK TRAIL. This drop-off area has been expanded for your convenience and the safety of students. Simply pull over near the front of the yellow zone, let your child safely exit on the passenger side and leave. There’s no need to wait for the car ahead.
LEANNE LANE LOT:
BUSES AND DAY CARE VANS ONLY
Please do not use the Leanne Lane parking lot for drive-thru drop-off or pick-up of students. This parking lot is for buses, daycare vans, and all those who need to park and enter the school with their student(s). WHEN DROPPING OFF OR PICKING UP CHILDREN AT WAUBESA, PLEASE USE THE DRIVE-THRU PARKING LOT OFF OF RED OAK TRAIL.
7:52am
First Bell
8:00am
Tardy Bell
2:55pm
Dismissal
Our school day begins at 7:52 am with a bell tone. A second tardy bell will sound at 8:00 am. Students arriving after this bell will be marked tardy that day. Please have your student(s) to school by 7:50 so they are able to be on time to their classroom.
Adult supervision is available on our playground starting at 7:30 am. Supervision for 1 bus group at 7:22 am. If it is raining when they arrive, students may enter the building and either play in the gym or watch a video in the commons until the 7:52 bell rings.
Will your child be absent?
Please contact Arlene Bast at 838-7667 prior to 8:00 am if your child will not be in attendance on any given day.
After School
Students should immediately go home after school unless they are in a supervised club activity, our after school program, or homework club. It is our expectation that all other students be picked up by at least 3:05. We have had some problems with students not leaving right away after school.
Student Assessments:
Ours students are just starting their MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessment in math and reading. Adults have also been meeting one-on-one with students to administer a running record. This assessment helps teachers to know the students’ reading level, so they can prepare instruction for them. Students have also taken an on-demand writing assessment on narrative writing. Teachers have read the assessment and will also use this information in their planning for writing instruction.
At conference time, teachers will discuss the strengths of your child and areas where your child can work on improvements. Teachers use all of the information they receive on these assessments as well as their observations in class based on student daily work and tests.
Secure Entrance
Each day at 8:00 am all of our school doors lock. Students and visitors who enter after 8:00 am, must go through the office. To enter the office, visitors and students must press the “Buzzer” and then when buzzed in visitors must show some form of identification, sign in on our visitor list, and then attach a visitor sticker before entering the school. We love having family members visit our school! These steps are in place to help ensure the safety of our children.
Waubesa Swimming Unit
Waubesa Students will be taking a bus to the McFarland High School Pool for a gym unit on swimming! Please be sure your students are prepared and have a swim suit and towel for this unit.
October 31 - November 3 / 3rd Grade Swimming Unit
November 7 - November 11 / 5th Grade Swimming Unit
November 14 - November 18 / 4th Grade Swimming Unit
Thank you PTO for your continued support. We purchased some standing desks, several document cameras and lots of books with your most recent donation.
Thank you to all of those who donated school supplies to our school. We greatly appreciate their continued support of our school.
Thank you families for the great start to the school year. We appreciate the great turn out at our supply drop off night. We look forward to working with you this year.
Library FUN!
- STEAM Saturdays at the Library. Come join us for fun projects with a Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math (STEAM) twist. Steam Saturdays are designed for children in grades 1-5 and feature projects to encourage inquiry and learning while also being a lot of fun! On October 29 our program will be “Attack on Fort STEAM.” Participants will build forts and catapults out of different recycled materials. Then, when the building is finished, they will get to try and knock down their forts with the catapults. Registration is appreciated but not required. To register stop by the library circulation desk or call 608-838-9030.
- PJ Storytime will be on Thursday, October 20th at 6:30 Pajamas are not required but encouraged. Each storytime will feature books, songs, and activities (including crafts) featuring math for children of all ages. Research has found that practicing math related concepts right before bed can help those centers of the brain develop better as well as reduce any math anxiety children may face in school. October’s theme is Space Math.
- There’s still time to take the Fired Up For Reading Challenge “A book a day builds your brain today!” Reading at least once a day for at least 20 minutes has benefits beyond measure. To help encourage young readers to read this fall we have created the Fired Up For Reading Challenge. Similar to summer reading programs participants will be tracking their reading – but only their time. Starting on September 12th children (PreK-5) will be able to register and pick up reading logs to keep track of their time. After completing 10 hours they can turn their logs in for a certificate of completion and small prize – but the program doesn’t stop at 10 hours. This is a time competition with a great prize at the end. The participant with the highest number of hours at the end of the program will be given a ride to school in a Fire Truck! Program ends on October 20th and the ride in the firetruck will be on Monday, October 24th.
- Afternoon Movie Thursday, October 27th at 2:00 p.m. : Throw Back Thursday with Ghostbusters (1989). Come enjoy a “throwback Thursday” movie and popcorn on your day off from school. We’ll be showing the 1989 version of Ghostbusters. Rated PG—parental discretion is advised with language and content.
- Duplo/Lego Building Day – Friday, October 28 at 1:00 p.m. What better way to spend a day off at school then to come and build with Legos at the library. We provide the blocks, you provide the ideas. Duplo blocks will be available for the little builders.