The Lumberjack Log
November News; 2023
Hello from Ms. Kolarik
Everyday I am impressed with how focused and happy our students are, the families who work to provide their best, and our dedicated faculty and staff. Woodside is truly a wonderful place because of the positive relationships between all of our people-thank you!
The connections between home and school are so important and working as partners is the best way we can support those positive experiences and help students reach their fullest potential. This year our parent teacher conferences will be on the evening of Thursday, November 16 and the evening of Monday, November 20. Each family is asked to sign up on skyward for a 15 minute conference time with their child's classroom teacher. In the case of split families, we ask the parents come together whenever possible so that we can have time with all of our families within the two evenings. If you would prefer a virtual conference, you can choose that instead of an in-person conference via Skyward as well.
If you are unable to make one of our parent teacher conference nights, please reach out to your child's teacher via Seesaw or email to discuss your child's progress, strengths, and needs and work together to help you child do well in school.
Our PTO is another home-school connection that is so beneficial. Our PTO supports our students and staff mainly through fundraising and volunteering time in school. We have many opportunities to support our students through projects around the school. Please contact PTO President, Becky Wysocki, for more information. I cannot wait to see how our Woodside home-school community continues to grow! Please note our November meeting in the calendar section of this newsletter. Our meetings are about 20 minutes and length and there is a time at the end where you can bring up questions you may have and/or ideas for supporting the success of Woodside!
Though the positivity throughout Woodside is constant, our weather is not. The crispness of the air and colors of the trees are some of the beauties of our four seasons, but the changing of the colors of the leaves also heralds a beast; the unpredictability of Wisconsin's weather. I am asking for your help to make sure warm clothing is sent to school with your child. Please label those hats and mittens, and since the snow is sure to start soon; labeling those boots and snow pants as well.
Yours in Partnership,
Ms. Julie Kolarik
Woodside Elementary Principal
Helpful Phone Numbers
- Woodside Absence, Early Pick-ups (call before 2:30), etc. (Woodside Office) 715-424-6793
- Nurse; 715-424-6793, option 8
- Bus Questions/Concerns? Contact Safe-way; 715-423-1117
- Non-Safe Way District Transportation Questions? 715-424-6700.
Oh the Weather Outside....
Our elementary schools will have three traditional snow days before remote learning begins. A remote learning packet will be sent home with all students after the second snow day, though it does not need to be accessed until the fourth snow day. We are sending home after the second in the case the third and fourth days occur back to back. Details on what to do will be in the packet as well as sent via seesaw on the remote learning day.
SeeSaw is getting a new look!
Safe Route to School Survey: Please Provide Your Input
Woodside Elementary (Grades 4K-5)
Parent Survey; English Version
Encuesta para padres; Spanish Version
Niam Txiv Survey; Hmong Version
The Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools is partnering with North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and the City of Wisconsin Rapids to review walking and biking conditions around each school – and hopefully plan to make them better.
We would like to gather your thoughts about children walking and biking to school, and have developed the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) survey for this purpose. The survey will take about 5 -10 minutes to complete, and it will be open through November 21, 2023 for you to provide feedback. We ask that each family complete only one survey per school that your children attend. If your family has more than one child at the same school, then please fill out the survey for the child with the next birthday from today’s date.
Safe Routes To School programs are an opportunity to make walking and bicycling to school safer for children in grades K-8, and to increase the number of families who encourage their children to walk and bike. On a broader level, SRTS programs can enhance children’s health and well-being, ease traffic congestion near the school, and improve community members’ overall quality of life.You can learn more about SRTS by going to: https://www.saferoutesinfo.org/
Thank you for taking the time to complete the SRTS survey! (linked above)
NOTE FROM OUR GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, MRS. BECKY STECKBAUER
Happy November Woodside Families!!
What a busy year we are having at school. You students are learning so much and having fun doing so! We are currently headed into the colder months and with that can sometimes come dips in behavior, emotions and general health. I wanted to take this opportunity to share 2 resources that I have both personally used and shared with many staff and families.
First, I am a huge supporter of, a research driven, whole child approach to parenting and teaching children. I have used many of the logical tools and strategies with my own children as they have grown, as well as all of my students over the last 15 years working as a School Counselor. What I love most about this resource is the loving, calm nature of working with children and how effective behavior, social and emotional management becomes. You can find the resource here. I enjoy the weekly emails with tips and tricks as well as the free online events they have nearly monthly.
The second resource that I would like to share is called Care Solace. Care Solace is a partnership the district has just implemented, coordinating help matching students, staff, and families with mental health services in our community. It’s strictly confidential and has really helped many of our students and families access the right mental health care in our community. You are able to refer yourself or any of our pupil services staff can refer you to this great resource. Care Solace takes your care from there. You can learn more about this great service at caresolace.org. Please let us know if you would like more information on either of these two great resources!!
This month I’d like to highlight developmental levels of 1st Graders using the book Yardsticks by Chip Wood, elementary principal and cofounder of The Responsive Schools. Please see this great information in a later part of the newsletter.
As always, reach out for help!
Becky Steckbauer, Woodside School Counselor
Becky Steckbauer
715-424-6793 x2803
Warm Clothes Donations Always Accepted!
Welcome to Nurse Mandy!
Hello Lumberjacks!
I am Nurse Mandy, and I am privileged to say that I am the new nurse at Woodside. I am thrilled to be joining the Lumberjack family and looking forward to meeting all of you. My favorite part of nursing is getting to connect with all of my patients and making someone’s day a little brighter. Outside of school I enjoy going on hikes with my family and dog, and finding new crafts to do. Stop down in the health office at any time to say hello! I am excited to see what the
school year has to bring.
Please remember with the cold and flu season upon us that students must be sent home from school for a fever greater than 100.4, diarrhea or vomiting. Please keep students home if they are not feeling well or until they can go 24 hours without using fever reducing medications. A great way to prevent the spread of illness is to stay home when sick, wash hands frequently and cover coughs and sneezes.
Exercising, eating healthy foods and getting enough sleep will help keep you healthy and strong to prevent illness as well. And as always as the weather is turning colder please remember to send your child with appropriate (and labeled with their name) weather gear (i.e. hats, gloves, jackets, boots).
Stay happy and healthy Lumberjacks!
-Nurse Mandy
Pick-Up/Drop-Off Reminders
- Tuesday through Friday Drop off times; 8:30-8:43.
- No passing out of the drop off/pick up lanes.
- Drop off/pick up in the CONE ZONE (between the large orange cones) only. Pull up as far as possible and wait for all students to exit.
- Please stay in your vehicle.
- Pick up lane turns RIGHT ONLY out of front lot.
- Pick up times; 3:30-3:43.
If you are picking up your child before the end of the school day, please send a note with the student in the morning, or use the agenda planner AND call the office. Please write the note to the teacher letting the teacher know when they should be ready to go in the office--that will be the time they will be in the office AND be sure to let the office know. Please call when you arrive and wait in the pick up line, your child will meet you out there.
If you need to make changes after you child is at school, please call the office before 2:30 pm, 715-424-6793, ext 2800
Toys for Tots
Dear Mom, Dad, or Caregiver;
The people of South Wood County have historically been very generous during the holiday season to help assist families in need. One such generosity is the Marine Corps Reserve, “Toys for Tots” (TFT) Christmas for Children program. During the 2022 holiday season, “Toys for Tots” will be jointly operated by the Grand Rapids Lions and FOCUS (“Feeding Our Communities with United Services”).
If your family is in need this holiday season, please follow the below steps:
1) Register your family:
a. On or after Ocotober 15, 2023 please complete the online referral form at https://wisconsin-rapids-wi.toysfortots.org and click “Apply for Toys” (Preferred); OR
b. Fill out the referral form (please print) and make sure to include age and gender and a cell phone contact number;
c. Return the referral form to the main office of your child’s school by December 01, 2023.
d. Please only complete one referral form.
2) You will receive an email acknowledgement that your application has been received.
3) Toy pickup will be on 12/16/2023 from 9 am-12:30 pm at Mariani Cold Storage located at 1909 32nd St N, Wisconsin Rapids. There is no assigned time. You must bring your acknowledgement letter with you.
4) This will be the only opportunity to pick up your toys. In the event you cannot attend the pickup please send an authorized individual, with your ackowledgment letter, to the pickup on your behalf.
Additionally, FOCUS will have a holiday food basket available. Please note: in order to receive a holiday food basket your family must meet the FOCUS Food Pantry income guidelines. If you meet the guidelines, please call FOCUS after November 1st at 715-422-2050 to register for your holiday food basket. Holiday food baskets distribution will also be on December 16th at 2321 W Grand Ave Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495.
Please do not indicate you want a holiday food basket on the TFT referral form. Only those contacting FOCUS Food Pantry and registering for a holiday food basket will receive one.
Sincerely;
The Grand Rapids Lions Club and
FOCUS
Attendance
We want our Lumberjacks in school! Students are obligated to attend school on a regular basis. We send out attendance letters, make phone calls, schedule meetings, and/or consult with law enforcement when students are in danger of or are missing too much school. The legal statute defines a “habitual truant” as a student who is absent or tardy from school without an acceptable excuse for part or all of five (5) or more days during a term. Students may not be absent more than a total of ten (10) days for the school year.
What research says:
Every day counts. Missing school even 10% of the time has a significant impact on reading and math achievement as children progress through school.
Students with good attendance performed better in math and reading. Children who had good attendance in Kindergarten through Grade 2 were more than twice as likely to score proficient on state math tests by the time they reached Grade 8 as their peers who missed more school. In reading, there were similar results.
Good attendance starts early. Research has shown that the attendance habits established in Kindergarten through Grade 2 have lasting effects on students throughout their elementary and middle school years.
Calendar
- Thursday, November 2: Sign up for parent teacher conferences is open via skyward
- Wednesday, November 15; Keep kids warm (must sign up prior--click this link!) AND fundraiser pick up after school--get those Kringles!
- Thursday, November 16: Parent Teacher Conferences (3:45-7:15)-sign up for either in person or virtual via skyward sign up AND Taqueria Restaurant night--they are donating a percentage of their sales to our PTO and last year they rounded up to $1000!
- Monday, November 20: Parent Teacher Conferences (3:45-7:45)-sign up for either in person or virtual via skyward sign up AND virtual PTO meeting (7PM)
- Monday, November 30; End of first tri-mester
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday November 22-24: Thanksgiving Break – NO SCHOOL
Woodside Elementary is a school community made up of a skilled staff of professionals, educational assistants, and support staff who enjoy working with elementary students. Check out our Facebook page to see some of the amazing educational opportunities our team is providing our students! Go Lumberjacks!