Hawk Happenings
December 2023
From the Principal: Bring on December!
Hello Halmstad Families,
November sure went quickly! I hope that you were able to spend the Thanksgiving break enjoying family and activities. Some highlights we had here were:
- our first all school celebration
- 4th and 5th Graders enjoying the high school play
- valuable professional development for our staff
- a well deserved break for students and staff
- and of course our students becoming one month wiser and all of the wonderful learning taking place here.
December has a lot of activities coming up too. We have our Winter Festival on December 2nd, the Holiday School Store, a school wide trip to the Micon Movie Theater, our 5th grade volleyball tournament, and many more activities that will be happening in classrooms. Please look for more information on these events as the month continues.
We want to be accommodating to all of our Hawk families. This issue of Hawk Happenings is full of information! If you have questions about anything, please ask them. We welcome your questions.
O.O.P.S.
Over time you may have received a message from Infinite Campus about your child’s behavior. These came in the form of either a major Office Disciplinary Referral (O.D.R.) or minor behavior notice. Whether or not the behavior was considered a “major” or a “minor,” the notification stayed in the students’ permanent records in Infinite Campus. As a school we have decided to replace the “minors” with new O.O.P.S. slips.
Why the Change?
O.O.P.S. stands for Other Opportunity to Practice Skill. The purpose of the change is to:
Continue to inform parents about behaviors that students need to change.
Teach students appropriate strategies to change them here at school.
Help students learn to become more independent and improve their skills.
As a bonus those behaviors will not stay in the students’ records in Infinite Campus.
What Do I Do If My Child Brings Home an O.O.O.P. Slip?
As a parent you would talk to your child about what skill they need to improve, what they will do better next time, and sign the back. Again, these are minor behaviors that we want students to improve, but still want parents to be aware of. The slip should be returned to school and a short conversation will take place with your student and the adult who filled out the OOPS form to set your child up for success.
What about Major Behavior Referrals (O.D.R.s)?
Major behavior referrals will still be recorded and sent by Infinite Campus. Your child’s teacher or Mr. Lowe will contact you if your child receives a major Office Disciplinary Referral.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact your child’s teacher or Mr. Lowe with any questions. Thank you families.
Important Dates
November 27- December 8, PTO Holiday Shop Conation Collection
December 2, Halmstad Winter Festival 10AM-12PM
December 18, PTO Holiday Shop
December 19, All School Movie in the morning
December 25, No School Holiday Break
December 26, No School Holiday Break
December 27, No School Holiday Break
December 28, No School Holiday Break
December 29, No School Holiday Break
January 1, No School Holiday Break
January 2, No School Holiday Break
Recess Dress Protocol
Temperatures 50 degrees or higher
- No jacket required
If the temperatures are close, send your students outside with their long sleeves and pants; if the temperature rises to 50 degrees, the students can put their items in the classroom line just like they do with their backpacks in the mornings.
Temps 32 - 50 degrees
- Outerwear required (Outerwear is defined aS a hoodie, sweatshirt, 1/4 zip, fleece, windbreaker, jacket, etc) Just cannot be the student's base layer. Students should also be wearing pants.
Students may wear shorts in the building during the colder months. They should put pants on when they go to recess if temperatures are below 50 degrees
Temps below 32 degrees
- Winter jacket required
If snow is on the ground students are to wear snow pants and boots at all times in order to play in areas other than the blacktop. If students do not wear snow pants and boots with snow on the ground they will be required to stay on the blacktop.
Temps below -6 degrees
- Indoor recess
Morning Drop Off
Our drop off area gets a little congested in the morning. We have unlocked the gate at the far end of the family drop off area so that students can walk right onto the soccer field instead of having to walk all the way down.
Amazing Hawk Award
Latex Allergy
End of the Day Pick-Up
Remember to contact Chippewa Yellow Bus more than 24 hours in advance at 715-726-2454 if you have any bus changes or requests. The school can't authorize bus changes.
ALL changes need to be called in to the Main Office and not to the teacher in case there is a sub in the room that day. That number is 715-726-2415.
Cardinal Learning Center
Start and End Times
The recess bell will ring at 7:30.
Students will enter at 7:35.
Morning meeting and breakfast will begin as soon as students settle in to class.
Our school day ends at 2:35.
Contact Address of Students / Parents / Guardians
This will prove extremely important should an emergency arise.
Please keep phone number(s) and email address(es) current. Parents and/or guardians are able to do this via the Parent Portal.
Breakfast and Lunch
You can find the menus by going to the link included here. Be sure to choose the level that the child is in to see the correct menu.
Breakfast cost: 0.35
Lunch cost: $2.25
To see if you qualify for free/reduced breakfast/lunch, go to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and look for "Applications/Forms" or call the office and we can send the appropriate form home in your child's folder.
From Nurse Caitlin
Health and Wellness Message:
Just a friendly reminder as it is that time of year where viral and bacterial illnesses are on the rise and we are in cold and flu season. Please help remind your children to cover their coughs/sneeze into an elbow, Kleenex, or sleeve. Wash hands often! If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer. Handwashing is always the preferred method, but if unable use hand sanitizer until you are able to wash with soap and water. Follow these steps:
Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
WINTER HEALTH TIPS Exposure to cold can lead to injury or serious illness such as frostbite or hypothermia. Follow these tips to keep your children safe in cold weather: Dress your children appropriately before coming to school. The air temperature does not have to be below freezing for your child to experience cold emergencies such as hypothermia or frostbite. Wind speed can create dangerously cold conditions even when the temperature is not that low. Dress your child in layers so they can adjust to changing conditions from indoors to outdoors. Most of your child’s body heat is lost through their head, so they should wear a hat, preferably one that covers their ears. Mittens provide more warmth to a child’s hands than gloves. Your child should wear waterproof, insulated boots to help avoid hypothermia or frostbite by keeping their feet warm and dry and to maintain their footing in ice and snow.
Sick Procedure:
Keep your student home if any of the following apply:
Temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher in the last 24 hours before medication (Tylenol/Ibuprofen)
Vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours
They have been diagnosed with a contagious illness (e.g.; strep throat, pink eye) and have been on medication for less than 24 hours if medication is required
They have an unexplained rash
Bus Information
Realiving
PTO Update
Your participation in the organization is welcome and encouraged! There are opportunities for everyone - small roles and bigger roles. PTO members and its officers meet every third Thursday each month during the school year.
PTO President - Casey Levrich halmstadptopresident@gmail.com
PTO Vice President - Alicia Bowe halmstadptovicepres@gmail.com
PTO Secretary - Liz Tice halmstadptosecretary@gmail.com
PTO Co-Treasurer - Kyrah Klika and Jerrica Richel halmstadptotreasurer@gmail.com
Social Media Coordinator - Jerrica Richel
Fundraising Coordinator - Amber Vetch
Events Coordinator - Jamie Chavez
PTO Meetings take place in the Library at Halmstad. Everyone is welcome to attend.
December 14th at 6pm
Halmstad Elementary
Email: lowerj@chipfalls.org
Website: https://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/halmstad/
Location: 565 East South Avenue, Chippewa Falls, WI, USA
Phone: (715)726-2415
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chippewafallsschool/
Twitter: @ChippewaFallsSD