EC-5 Elementary Express
September 2017
September EC-5 Dates At-A-Glance
September 8 - Elementary Campus Assembly 8:30am - MPS Gym
September 8 - WIS Welcome Back Assembly 8:15am
September 8 - WIS 3rd Grade Last Day at the Beach 12pm-1pm
September 11 - Breakfast on Elementary Campus begins (K-2 all at MPS)
September 15-17 - McFarland Family Festival - Located at the Curling Club
September 17 - Family Festival Homecoming Parade at 12:00pm
September 22 - Blue and White Day - EC-5
September 26 - Picture Retake Day
September 29 - NO SCHOOL - Staff Professional Development Day
Dates Coming Up In October...
October 5 - Kindergarten Open House 6:00pm - 6:30pm
October 6 - 4th Grade Old World Wisconsin Field Trip
October 13 - 4th Grade Mackenzie Center Field Trip
October 19 - 3rd Grade Open House
October 26 & 27 - NO SCHOOL - Staff Development Days
October 30 - November 3 - 3rd Grade Swim Unit
CEELC/Primary Campus Information
CEELC/Primary Principal:
Kelley Novak
Building Administrative Assistant:
CEELC - Emily Broome / 608-838-3146
MPS - Sheryl Leemon / 608-838-3115
Email: novakk@mcfsd.org
Website: http://www.mcfarland.k12.wi.us/schools/elementary/
Phone: 608-838-3115
From The Desk of Principal Novak...
Welcome Back!
T’was the night before school,
when all through town
the parents were cheering
~ a robust sound!
By eight, kids were washed
and tucked into bed where
memories of homework
filled them with dread!
New pencils, new folders,
new notebooks too!
New teachers, new friends ~
Their anxiety grew!
The parents just giggled
When they learned of this fright
and shouted, “GO TO BED!
IT’S A SCHOOL NIGHT!”
~Author Unknown
Dear Elementary Campus and 4K Families,
We are excited to open the doors of the Conrad Elvehjem Early Learning Center and McFarland Primary School for another successful school year! Whether you are a long-standing McFarland family or are new to our community, we are looking forward to working with you and your child this year. I am thrilled to be joining the Elementary Campus as your new principal and am grateful for the warm welcome. Over the summer months and first few days of school, I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work with our dynamic staff and I’m looking forward to getting to know the dedicated families and enthusiastic young learners that make the McFarland community a wonderful place to learn and grow.
We begin this year with feelings of excitement around our new building project and the anticipation of a new and improved elementary campus where all of our students and staff will eventually be combined under one roof. We know that the construction on our site has required some changes to a few routines and access points on our campus, and with the first week of school almost complete, we are so pleased and grateful for the positive response of our students and families. With new arrival and dismissal routines, as well as some alternate play spaces for recess, the students have adjusted beautifully and we are thoroughly impressed with the flexibility and enthusiasm they have shown.Your continued support and understanding about the changes taking place on our campus is sincerely appreciated.
In an effort to fold the building project into our teaching and learning community, we are excited to share our newly adopted school-wide theme around construction. With the mantra, “Under “Kid”struction: Building Learners, Leaders, Dreamers, and Doers,” our staff has tenaciously decorated the walls and halls of our buildings with images, slogans, and colors associated with construction. Additionally, our PBIS theme for the year is aligned with this theme as the students will work to earn enough Spartan Stars to fill up the blueprint of our new Conrad Elvehjem Primary School site. With monthly assemblies focused on various character traits and our PBIS behavior expectations: Be Safe, Be Kind, and Be Responsible, we are dedicated to creating a supportive learning environment where all of our students can shine!
A successful school experience is not possible without strong, collaborative partnerships between home and school. Our staff is committed to maintaining open communication and I encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher or any other pertinent staff member with any support you need. Our success is measured by the success of your student and we know we can do it better together!
Yours in Education,
Kelley K. Novak, Ed.D
Principal & 4K Program Supervisor
Conrad Elvehjem Early Learning Center & McFarland Primary School
New Staff At The Elementary Campus
Melissa Wiswell - Special Education Teacher - Kindergarten
Melissa Gann - Special Education Teacher - Primary School
Kristi Doll - Kindergarten Teacher
Megan Lueck - 2nd Grade Teacher
Susan Schmaling - 2nd Grade Teacher
Heidi Ackley - 2nd Grade Teacher
Brooke Hauser - Technology Teacher
Alayna Klapperich - Physical Education Teacher - Primary School
Rachel Lamps - Speech and Language
Joanna Yanna - Special Education Assistant
Lydia Fimreite - Special Education Assistant
Jena Rinzel - Special Education Assistant
Nancy Dixon - Special Education Assistant
Amanda Jaskolski - Special Education Assistant
Lori Lovell - Literacy Coordinator (PK-5)
Jenny Jefferson - Reading/Math Interventionist
Sandy Chairez - Bilingual Resource Specialist
Elementary Campus Enrollment 2017-2018
150 - 4K Students
177 - Kindergarten Students
150 - 1st Grade Students
182 - 2nd Grade Students
September Early Years
Waubesa Campus Information
School Principal:
Sue Murphy
Building Administrative Assistant:
Arlene Bast
Phone# 608-838-7667
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
From the desk of Principal Murphy...
Welcome to the 2017-2018 school year! The Waubesa staff has been busy getting ready for the arrival of our students. We can't wait!
I am never sure how much the community knows about what happens in schools over the summer. Most of you know we have an excellent summer school program that has amazing attendance rates. However, many people don't know about all of the teacher meetings, trainings, and planning sessions. The past month in particular has been very busy.
As a part of our school goal setting meetings, we established goals for academic, social and emotional learning. We know this community is full of families that have high expectations for the learning of their children, just as we do here at school. Your help in following through by supporting your child's homework completion, making sure they arrive to school on time (between 7:30am and 7:52am) and have regular attendance, and promoting reading at home are all vital components of school success.
We will be continuing our Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) program called Waubesa POWER (Pride, Ownership, We take action, Empathy, and Respect). If you are a parent of a third grader you know this program as Spartan Stars. We have been happy with the success of the program and will continue to teach our students about our behavioral expectations.
Additionally, we will have the school-wide theme of The Power of One, The Power of Team, and the Power of Community. As a part of this theme, students will be involved in activities that focus on their ability to be a part of positive changes to improve themselves , their school, the community and the world. Providing service to others is a key way to be a change agent and will be a part of our efforts with students.
Please know that you are always welcome to visit Waubesa School. Feel free to call and set up an appointment at any time to meet with me or just stop by to say hello if you are in the building. These brief visits are an excellent way for me to meet you and learn more about your children.
Welcome Back!
Sue Murphy
Principal
Waubesa Intermediate School
Waubesa Attendance Policy Information
We look forward to partnering with families to continue to make attendance a priority and helping your child understand that establishing good attendance habits now is important for success in school and on the job.
McFarland School District policy allows for ten (10) excused absences in a school year. Beyond ten days, we ask that absences be verified by a doctor’s excuse, appointment card, or be approved by the Principal.
We realize that some absences are unavoidable. At the same time, we know that when students miss too much school, they can fall behind academically. We don’t want your child to fall behind and get discouraged. Here are some things you can do to keep your child on track:
● Make daily, on-time attendance the expectation in your household
● Establish regular routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep
● When possible, avoid scheduling dental and medical appointments during the school day
● Avoid extended vacations that require your child to miss school
● Don’t let your child stay home unless he or she is truly sick [ie: fever, diarrhea vomiting…]
● Ask for help from school officials if you’re having trouble getting your child to school
If your child is sick or there is a legitimate reason for keeping your child home, we ask that you please contact the Waubesa Intermediate School Office at (608) 838-7667 before 8:00 A.M. If your child does see a doctor or is in the care of a medical professional, kindly provide the school with a note from the doctor or clinic [ie: have them email it to the WIS Office, fax it…].
Parking Lots
RED OAK TRAIL LOT:
PICK UP AND 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 is 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). We ask that nobody is pulling into the Leanne Lane parking lot and dropping their students off.
Wild Cherry – Leanne Lane Intersection
The 15 minutes before and after school can be very busy times around Waubesa Intermediate School. It is important that all parents follow the pick-up and drop-off procedures outlined. It is also important for each of us to follow the 15 mph speed limit during this time. This is especially true near the Wild Cherry and Leanne Lane intersection. Many students do need to cross there, and cautious driving will help keep our children safe.
Parent/Student Handbook
When you registered online this year you were asked to read the Parent Student Handbook and then click to acknowledge that you had done so. There are some items in the handbook that have periodically been problem areas for us. The handbook is located on our school website. Please make sure you take a few minutes to check over the various sections. Reading through these sections really helps reduce confusion with our expectations.
First Bell: 7:52am
Tardy Bell: 8:00am
Dismissal Bell: 2:55pm
Our school day begins at 7:52am with a bell tone. A second tardy bell will sound at 8:00am. Students not in their classrooms at 8:00am will be marked tardy that day. Please have your student(s) to school by 7:50am so they are able to be on time to their classroom. Adult supervision is available on our playground at 7:30am, and in the commons for breakfast starting at 7:15am.
Waubesa Enrollment 2017-2018
169 - 3rd Grade Students
185 - 4th Grade Students
182 - 5th Grade Students
New Staff at Waubesa
Lori Lovell - PK-5 Literacy Coordinator
Maria Bjugstad - 4th Grade Teacher
Shawn Hartlaub - Physical Education Teacher
Meghan Wolf - Computer/Technology Teacher
Joe Swinea - 4th Grade Teacher
Pete Williquette - Physical Education Teacher
Ryan Vorce - Special Education Assistant
Jessica Klingenberg - Special Education Assistant
Sandy Chairez - Bilingual Resource Specialist
Christina Matrosic - 4th Grade Teacher
Picture Retake Day - SEPTEMBER 26
5th Grade Safety Patrol
The Safety Patrol will help monitor stairwells, bike racks, and the school playground before and after school. Thank you Ronelle Jordan for organizing our patrol this year!!
Food Allergy and Classroom Snacks
The McFarland School District is committed to the daily management of students with identified life threatening food allergies. The increase of these allergies in the school setting poses unique challenges for both students and staff. Our goal is to avoid and prevent accidental exposure for those students to the allergenic food substance. Therefore, all classrooms at Waubesa Intermediate School will be observing a nut free environment (peanuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts) and some homerooms may have other food restrictions. This does not apply to the lunchroom setting. Please visit the website snacksafely.com for a link to a safe snack guide.
Thank you to the PTO...
Thank you to parents...
E.D. Locke Library September Events
The fall is jam-packed with programming at the E.D. Locke Public Library. There is never a dull moment with everything from book clubs, STEAM Saturdays, and Read 2 Dogs.
- Starting this September the library will be offering two new book clubs.
On the second Tuesday of the month at 3:30 p.m. the Magic Tree House Book Club will meet. This book club is designed for students in grades K-3. We will travel with Jack and Annie as they explore the world and history in their magic tree house. Each meeting we will discuss the books, have an activity/craft themed from that month’s book, and get our next month’s book. Our first meeting will be September 12th at 3:30 p.m. No registration is required. For more information contact Heather, the Youth Services Librarian.
Tween Book Club will meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 4:00 p.m. This book club is designed for students age 10-12. We will read a variety of books based off of the member’s interests. Each meeting we will discuss our book, do an activity themed around the book, and get the next month’s book. Our first meeting will be September 26th at 4:00 p.m. No registration is required. For more information contact Heather, the Youth Services librarian.
- Our first Family Board Game Day of the school year will be on Saturday, September 9th from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Drop in and play a favorite board game or try something new. This program is open to all ages. The library will provide different games but you are welcome to bring your own as well.
- S.T.E.A.M. Saturday’s are back this fall! 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! Our first S.T.E.A.M. Saturday will be on September 23 at 1:30 p.m. and features Sphero robots. Participants will work in teams to try different programming challenges and games that incorporate light, sound, and motion.
- Keep an eye open for information about our “Booked for Reading” winter reading program starting on December 1st. All readers who complete the program will get “booked” for reading – getting their own wanted poster made and hung in the library. The top reader this year will get a ride home from school in a police car!