Wildcat Parent News
February-March 2016
A Note from the Principals
We are excited to have begun the second semester of the 2015-2016 school year! We look forward to another great semester full of learning, engagement, and fun! By now you have received your child's new standards based report card and have had the opportunity to celebrate their growth. We are hoping to get a great deal of parent feedback so, immediately following this letter is a link to a parent survey we are hoping all families will participate in. Thank you in advance for your constructive comments and feedback!
This spring students in grades 3-8 will take the Wisconsin Forward Exam. This new statewide assessment will be used to gauge how well students are mastering the State Standards in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics. More information will be coming in the next month about this state test.
With the recent snow, students have had fun playing both indoors and outdoors! Students have enjoyed building snow forts and snow people! Thank you for continuing to make sure your child has the proper winter gear with which they can enjoy their outside time.
As you will see from the following highlights, we have been very busy doing what we do best- teaching and learning! As always, please feel free to contact us with questions. Thank you for your partnership in your child's education!
Best Regards,
Pam Emmerich, Principal
Amy Kraemer, Associate Principal
Important Report Card Survey
Important Drop-off and Pick-up Reminders
Elementary School:
Please pull as far forward as possible when dropping off on Pearl Street. Also, parents should not get out of their vehicle when dropping their child in front of school. Parents who wish to walk their child to the door or into the school, should park on a side or adjacent street.
Intermediate School:
Please make sure that there is a single line of traffic when dropping off; please avoid passing other cars or creating multiple lines of drop off. In addition, please be sure not to park in the cross walk area which causes a significant safety hazard for students and staff.
Thank you for helping to keep our schools a safe place to learn and grow!
Alternate Transportation Arrangements Reminder
Upcoming Events
February 16 & 17: Child Development Days 8:15-4:15
February 22: Early Release 12:30
February 22: School Board Meeting 6:30 @ HS LMC
February 24: Facilities Meeting and Elementary School Walk through 6:30-8:00 @ ES LMC
February 20-March 4: Dr. Seuss Week (More info coming from your child's teacher)
March 9: PTO Meeting 7:00 @ IS LMC
March 14: Early Release 12:30
School Board Meeting 6:30 @ HS LMC
March 15: Science Night & Boundary Water Soup Supper Fundraiser 5-8 @ HS Cafeteria (Please see link below) https://drive.google.com/a/belleville.k12.wi.us/file/d/0B7HO8JA6q0AnR0dsZnVDbHB0cVk/view
March 16: Parent/Teacher Conferences
March 23: Parent/Teacher Conferences
March 25: Early Release 12:30
March 28-April 1: Spring Break
Months in Review
Grand Opening of the Remodeled Elementary and Intermediate School Book Rooms
On Thursday, January 21, book rooms at both elementary schools officially opened! The book room is a teacher planning and resource room where teachers select books for small group reading. Literacy coaches met with grade level teams to acclimate teachers to the book rooms. During this time, teachers had the opportunity to see texts available, browse through books, and check out books for small group reading instruction.
We’d like to thank the following volunteers for donating much-needed time on our book rooms: Bonnie Donahue, Trina Pauli, DeLynn Palmer, Nicole Lundborg, Becky Legler, Lacy Wolter, Wendy Berg, Kathy Wetzel, Kari Evenson, Gayle Doyle, Amy Rice, Kiley Ogodogu, Sandy Walejko, Natalie Andersen, and Heather Gordon.
More books are on their way, so volunteers are always welcome! Let us know if you’re interested!
First Grade Research Projects
Spelling Bee
Literacy Corner:
Writing Workshop
Developing and implementing Writing Workshop is one of our School Improvement goals this year. Writing Workshop, or the writing block, is one component of the Comprehensive Literacy Model. Students receive anywhere from 30-60 minutes of writing daily depending on his or her grade level. This block of time is called a “workshop” as students learn, experiment, and construct writing in a variety of genres using the writing process. In Writing Workshop, students:
receive explicit instruction based on developmental learning standards;
use authentic, complex, real literature as models for their writing;
are guided in their writing through small group or one-one contact with their teacher;
are provided time to practice their writing independently;
share their writing pieces with others;
and learn how to utilize the writing process of brainstorming, prewriting/planning, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.
So far this year teachers have received extensive, on-site professional development and coaching centered on writing workshop. Teachers were also provided Monday guided-planning times to enhance and implement understanding by developing lesson plans for rich, writing instruction. Ask your child what they’re writing about in class, look for published pieces in our hallways, and take time to view this video of all our exciting, in-depth writing work so far this year.
It is a pleasure to work with the teachers, students, staff, and families of Belleville! If you have any questions please contact us.
Tammy Boyd
4K-2 Literacy Coach
Dawn Stiegert
3-6 Literacy Coach
A Message From Our Art Teacher, Mrs. Carter
Attention: Developmental screenings for all children 2 1/2 - 4 years old are occurring soon! Please share this with your family and friends.
Families will have the opportunity to sign-up for 4K during Child Development Days! Children who turn 4 on or before September 1, 2016 are eligible to enter 4K (4 year old kindergarten) in the fall of 2016.
If your child is 2 1/2 - 4 years old please make an appointment and request the screening/enrollment paperwork by calling the Belleville High School at 608-424-1902 ext. 3449 and ask for Tammy Kielbasa.