Woodridge in October
Think and Wonder. Wonder and Think
Mrs Thistle's thoughts
Greetings!
It has been such a pleasure getting to know our new students and their families. We have all been impressed by how quickly they have adapted to our school. Our first grade friends have been setting a great example of our school’s expectations and we are very proud of them.
All of the staff at Woodridge have been busy modeling and positively reinforcing great behavior. Teachers and staff have been very busy establishing routines and practicing making good choices. We have practiced lining up, how to walk in the halls, bathroom routines, eating in the cafeteria, riding the bus and playing on the playground. In order to continuously reward our students we celebrate and reward good choices.
Every Friday morning we will be celebrating our kids!
Wonder Card Award- The last Friday of the month we will have an assembly. Students have a chance to earn wonder cards when they are making good choices at school.
Two students will be selected from each class. Bucket-Filler Award- Students who are using kind words and safe actions will be celebrated. We give each students a certificate, trophy, one prize and they get their picture taken for the website and our bulletin board.
I look forward to working with you throughout the year. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Have a great month!
Salina Thistle
Woodridge/Endeavor Principal
Mark your calendars
1st-22nd Collecting coats for the Coat Drive
4th. PTO @ 4:30
18th. Picture Re-Take at Muir 7:45am
19th. Flu Clinic 3:30-5:30pm (Set up at 3pm in the Gym)
20th. School Assembly in the Gym
23th-24th. Parent/Teacher Conferences 4-7
23th-24th. Book Fair in the Conference Rm.
26th-27th. No School
31st. Halloween/Fall Party
Secretary's Notes
Reporting an Absence
Please send a note with your child in their folder if there is a change in the way they normally go home.
If you are sending lunch money with your child please enclose it in an envelope with your child's name and teacher on the envelope.
Halloween/Fall Party
Our Halloween/Fall parties will take place on Tuesday, October 31st.
Please remember that costumes should:
Be school appropriate and non-violent in nature
Contain no weapons. This includes cap guns, pretend guns, swords or knives of any kind.
Your child’s teacher will let you know when the celebration will be during the school day. This way you can plan for your child to wear his/her costume to school or not. This is still a day of instruction and valuable learning will take place. Wearing a costume or participating in this party is not required and if your family would prefer to have your child not participate, an alternative activity will be arranged. Please let your classroom teacher know about this ahead of time.
Art Warriors
So far, our Art Warriors have been creating masterpieces to celebrate International Dot Day for September 15th (ish). The kindergarten students have been practicing painting skills and techniques and the 1st grade students have been reviewing cutting skills. For October, look forward to your students learning about explorative art processes.
Physical Education
In the gym, we have been getting to know each other and learning the routines. Every day your student has gym they do a two minute warm-up which includes one minute of jogging and one minute on the climbing wall. We always end class by loading up the muscle train. In order to get on the train they have to name a muscle or bone. Kindergarten students will be learning the names of about 25 muscles and bones and their locations. First graders already know a bunch of them!
Thanks parents for all your help getting your student set up for success with gym shoes. (If anyone can tell me where I can get some of those shoes with lights all around the bottom in adult sizes, I would appreciate it! So cool!)
Music Notes
The First Graders have been reviewing music room rules and procedures and play music games to learn each other's names. They have also been working on their voices by playing a game of hide and seek with their voices called Tommy Tiddlemouse. All the Woodridge students have been learning The Dot song in celebration of International Dot Day-Sept. 15. If you would like to sing it with your child, go to Youtube and find The Dot song. Click on the one with the paintbrush. It has the words as you sing it.
Remember music is the universal language of peace.
Stories, Snack and Snuggles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCkpBIa2O88
Story: Crankenstein
Snack: Frankenstein Grape Cup
Snuggles: Grab a blanket and curl up with your child, enjoy a story and make memories
Use a large, clear plastic cup.
Use a black sharpie and decorate your Frankenstein face and hair.
Fill the cup with green grapes.
Nurses Station
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 and or nits, 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.
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 covers all elementary buildings and may be reached at any of tyhe following:
608-742-4867, ext 4131
608/697-4912
honv@portage.k12.wi.us
Counselors corner
We are off to a great start with our Zones of Regulation classroom guidance lessons!
If your son/daughter comes home talking about being in a particular Zone, you might want to refer to the following chart to understand what they are talking about.
Portage Snack Pack Program
The Portage Weekend Snack Pack Program, a Portage Child Hunger Committee project, provides a weekend supply of nutritious food for children when school lunch and breakfast is unavailable on a weekend. Each food bag will contain some food for breakfasts, lunches, and snacks, for each weekend for your child(ren). All food is nonperishable and provided to children free of charge. It is our hope these resources will support the health, behavior, and achievement of every student that participates. All children are eligible for this program. The program is run completely by wonderful volunteers who help pack the food bags, shop, recruit etc. The program is funded through the generous gifts from The Rotary Club of Portage, Society of St. Vincent de Paul Portage, Columbia County UW-Extension and the community at large. Please note, that the program is always looking for more sponsors and volunteers! We look forward to working with staff, teachers, and you for your children!
For more information or questions, please contact Caitlin Richardson, Columbia County UW-Extension FoodWIse Coordinator at 608-742-9693. To sign up for the program, please contact John Muir Elementary front office at 608-742-5531 or Woodridge Elementary front office at 608-742-3494.
Wellness
The Portage Community School District believes that nutrition and physical activity influence a child’s development, well-being, and readiness to learn. The District will promote healthy schools by supporting wellness, good nutrition and regular physical activity as a part of the total learning environment. The District supports a healthy environment where students and staff members learn and participate in positive dietary and lifestyle practices. By facilitating learning through the support and promotion of good nutrition and physical activity, our schools contribute to the basic health status of students and staff. Improved health optimizes student performance potential and contributes to the success of all students.
Classrooms/School and Celebrations:
Snacks served during the school day or in after-school care or enrichment programs will meet the District Nutrition Standards (Healthy Snacks for Children).
- During occasional celebrations (i.e. birthdays, holidays) items that do not meet the District Nutrition Standards may be acceptable for student consumption within moderation. However, the District will encourage a healthy snack item to be offered in conjunction with other offerings.
- Strong consideration should be given to nonfood items (see Non-Food Rewards for Children Guide) as part of any Teacher-to-Student Incentive programs. If a teacher feels compelled to utilize food items as an incentive, they are encouraged to adhere to the District Nutritional Standards.
- The School District is concerned with the dietary and lifestyle practices of its staff, as well as its students. In order to promote wellness among its staff, the district will continue to provide opportunities for staff to become physically active. Staff is also encouraged to model ideal behavior for students by making food and beverage choices that align with the District Nutrition Standards outlined in this policy.
The Board Policy 537 is the official wellness policy of our school district. http://www.portage.k12.wi.us/district/wellness2.cfm
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
Portage Community School District
1) Create a great climate for parents, students and staff. (Action steps in italics)
Parents: We added a digital newsletter in hopes of reaching more parents.
Students: We are looking at our school environment and asking- where and how do students learn best? We are creating a lego wall, "Maker space" area and dry erase wall for students in the library.
Staff: Celebrate staff members at our weekly assemblies, discuss things that we can take off of teachers plates and planning monthly potlucks.
2) Reduce the number of students that are absent from school. "10 days or less is success." Students who are present at school are much more likely to be successful academically.
*We have classroom incentives for when all students are at school (extra recess, game day, free choice.)
*Students are celebrated at the end of each quarter when they have perfect attendance.
*Please let us know if there is anything that we can do to help your child get to school in the morning.
3) Increase student achievement.
*Teachers collaborate for one hour each week looking at our assessments and helping each other to meet student needs.
*We are using our district programs, pacing guides and our observations to ensure that all students are learning and growing.
*We have incorporated the social-emotional curriculum, Second Steps to help us explicitly teach social skills.