Rusch October 2017
A GREAT PLACE TO BE: EVERY STUDENT, EVERY CHANCE, EVERY DAY
NOTES FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Having our students at school every day is a priority for us. We love seeing all of our Ruschies smiling faces at Rally every day. Our goal is that every student does not miss more than 10 days of school for the entire year. I am so proud to say that for the month of September we have cut our absences in half. Thank you for your help in getting your children to school on time every day!
I am excited to share with you that we will be starting a Family Pride Organization. The focus for this organization will be attendance and family events at Rusch; both during the day and in the evening. We will be in touch with more information.
We are very excited for the opportunities our students will have this year. Thank you for being an active participant in your child's education. Together it does take a village.
Office News
- the way your child goes home changes
- your child will be picked up early
Please call the school by 7:45 AM if your child will be absent.
Please send back the Parent/Student Handbook Verification Page.
DATES TO REMEMBER
- Oct. 1-22 - Coat Drive- Collecting Coats
- Oct. 11 - Kindergarten Fire Station Tour
- Oct. 11 - Fire Dept. coming to Second Grade class room
- Oct. 17- Fall School Bus Evacuation Practice
- Oct. 17-30 - Butter Braid Fundraiser
- Oct. 18 - Picture make-up days
- Oct. 23-24- Parent Teacher Conferences 4-7 PM
- Oct. 23-24 - Book Fair http://www.scholastic.com/bf/juliaruschelementaryschool2
- Oct. 26-27 - No School- Fall Break
- Oct. 27-28 Distributing Coats Portage Fairgrounds Building #8
Kindergarten is off to an AMAZING start! We have been making new friends, learning new things and getting used to being at school all day. We love all of the cool things we get to do in school. We are lucky to go to gym class, music class and even art class! Rusch Rocks!!
September has been very busy for the 5th graders. They have not only been learning new rules and routines, but they have also been adjusting to their new responsibilities with their Safety Patrol Jobs. The students have also been working on place value in math and story structure, point of view, and irony in reading. It has been warm for them, but they have been so focused and determined to work hard and persevere.
Music
-Miss Janes
Physical Education
Art Class
Hello Parents!
I am having so much fun with your children in the art room! So far, we have created fish drawings, painted rocks and even decorated our portfolios. Portfolios are the folders that we use to save kids artwork for the fair or other art shows.
Attention: If you have large rectangle plastic table cloths with fuzzy stuff underneath and would like to donate them to the art room, the kids and I would very much appreciate it! We use them to protect the tables and save artists from spending all art time cleaning up! Any color and even slightly used will work or new ones would be fairly inexpensive if you buy them at that very large store in Portage that sells everything under the sun that I will not name...you know you all have been there!
If I could buy anything else in the world it would be the following items: (Also, If you would like to donate these items to the art room I would let you;)
Rolls of colored duct tape
A good teacher stapler with staples
Yarn
Wooden popsicle sticks
Masking tape
Fabric cooking aprons-to use as art smocks
Thanks so very much in advance for your donations and good intentions.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to let me know!
Sincerely,
Your Friendly Art Teacher,
Mrs. Martens
Cafeteria
Reminder about lunch accounts:
Please maintain a positive balance.
Pre-payment is needed for breakfast, lunch, and a la carte (milk only) items.
Please ask the office for Free and Reduced applications at any time during the school year.
Art Club
Art Club is every Tuesday, beginning Sept. 26th through Dec. 19th. Art Club is from 3:00-4:10 PM. There will be no Art Club Oct. 24th and Nov. 21st.
Nursing
Head lice
Everyone dreads these two words, “head lice”. Head lice are a nuisance and do not spread disease. Portage Schools protocol is when students are found to have live head lice, parent or legal guardian contact will be made to notify you of the finding and to come pick your child up from school. A handout about how to get rid of head lice will be given to you at the time of pick up. A child must be treated before returning to school. Upon return to school, the child must have a head lice check in the main office. If live lice are found, the child will again be sent home. Please call the office or send a note with the type and date of treatment used. Follow all directions on the package of the head lice treatment product each time you treat. Many new products are available by prescription. Contact your clinician for assistance in obtaining one of those products.
All people in the household should have their heads checked for lice. Often, it is the adults in the house who also have head lice but are overlooked in the treatment process. Cleaning of the environment is critical. Vacuuming and washing fabric items should be done for areas the person with lice has been in the past 2 days.
The custodians have cleaning schedules for each area in our district. This process includes washing hard surfaces and vacuuming floors.
Please talk with your children about your expectations not to share hats, combs, brushes, hair items, and to be considerate of personal space. A high five is a great alternative to a hug. For students with long hair, consider a braid or holder to keep the hair pulled back. Parents should develop a routine for checking their child’s head for lice daily or at least every few days.
The school nurse is available to you as a resource, please do not hesitate to call for support and guidance. Mrs. Hon may be reached at 608/742-4867, ext 4131, 608/697-4912, or honv@portage.k12.wi.us
Internet Safety
October is ‘Keeping Kids Safe Online Month’ in Wisconsin.
Please view this website DPI provided on internet safety.
BackPack Program
Staff at Rusch Elementary are teaming up to provide food to children for the 2017-2018 school year. The Backpack Program is a free program that provides kid-friendly, non-perishable food, for students most in need, to eat over the weekends. It is our hope these resources will support the health, behavior, and achievement of every student that participates.
Items distributed in the program could include: cereal, peanut butter, juice, fruit cups, soup, vegetables, and granola bars to name a few. Bags will be distributed to student participants on the last school day before the weekend or break. Any child who is in need is eligible to receive these weekly bags of food.
Please carefully consider your family’s economic status to determine if food assistance is needed by your child(ren). The goal of the program is to provide food to children who are hungry on a regular basis.
This program has been funded this year through donations, grants, and a private donation. It is staffed by Rusch teachers and volunteers.
If you feel your child(ren) could benefit from this program at any time during the school year, please email Mrs. Schoenborn at schoenbornn@portage.k12.wi.us. We will do our best to ensure that this program is confidential as students will not be identified as participating. Our staff will put a bag filled with food in your child(ren)’s backpack before school is let out for the weekend.
Columbia County Resources
Columbia County Health and Human Services
Food Pantries
2nd Harvest Mobile Food Pantries (open to all Columbia County residents)
2nd Monday of every month at 11:00am at the Columbia Co. Fairgrounds, Wauona Tr/Griffith St. Everyone welcome. No ID’s needed. Bring your own carts/baskets to carry your food.
St Vincent De Paul Food Pantry
Located at 1311 West Wisconsin Street in Portage
Monday–Thursday 9am–5pm, Friday 9am–8pm and Saturday 9am–5pm
*You will need to bring photo ID, proof of residency and your own bags. Applicants are eligible every 30 days.
Park and Recreation
806 Silver Lake Dr, Portage, Wi, 53901 (608) 742-2178
Family Resource Center
2946 Red Fox Run, Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-8482
Provides a variety of family services, including scheduled playgroups, parenting support and information series, workshops, and family visiting program. Staff are available to answer questions or provide resources to help families. All services are free.
Dental – Free or Low Cost Services - Seal-A-Smile
Susan Lorenz R.N. M.S. Columbia County Health Officer at 608-742-9227 susan.lorenz@co.columbia.wi.us
The Columbia County Seal-A-Smile dental sealant program is available at no charge whether or not your child is covered by dental insurance. The program will bill Medical Assistance or BadgerCare if your child is covered by these programs.
Free Immunization Clinic
2:30pm-5:30pm (10/10, 11/14, 12/12 - 2016) No appointment is necessary – Birth parent or legal guardian signature required. Bring immunization records.
Library Programs
Contact the library in your community to inquire about special programs for children and families, such as story hour or summer reading programs.
Portage Public Library 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage 53901 (608) 742-4959 Hours: Mon-Thurs 9-8:30; Fri 9-6; Sat 10-4 Sat hours between Memorial Day & Labor Day are 10-1 Contact: info@portagelibrary.us Website: http://www.portagelibrary.us/
There are many more resources available to our community, feel free to check out the Columbia County Health and Human Services Website: http://www.co.columbia.wi.us/columbiacounty/Portals/7/Resource%20Guide.pdf
Rusch Elementary School
Website: portage.k12.wi.us/rusch
Location: 117 W Franklin St, Portage, WI, United States
Phone: 608-742-7376