CEPS Express
April 2021
Conrad Elvehjem Primary School Information
School Principal: Greg Nelson, nelsong1@mcfsd.org,
608-838-4602
Associate Principal: Brooke Hauser, hauserb@mcfsd.org,
608-838-4595
4K/CEPS Building Administrative Assistant:
Emily Broome, 608-838-4652, broomee@mcfsd.org
CEPS Administrative Assistant:
Sarah Goecks, 608-838-3146, goeckss@mcfsd.org
A Note From Our Principal
Dear Families,
Happy April! As the month begins, I hope this note finds you rested and rejuvenated after spending time as a family during spring break.
We are down to our final nine weeks of the school year, and are eagerly anticipating our beginning of Step 4 on April 12th! We’ve had a great year working with your kind, unique, and creative students, and we are so pleased with the growth they have shown despite all the different circumstances that have come our way. Thank you for all you have done to support the unique plans in place this year. Once we begin Step 4, we will keep you updated if adjustments need to be made. As always, do not hesitate to ask us your questions, either. It’s always amazing how fast a school year just flies by!
With the lion and lamb days of spring, I ask that you please check the weather before sending your student to school. We get the gamut...warm, cool, wet, dry, muddy, but hopefully no more snow! At least, keep the boots and coats out for just a bit longer to make sure. Some students may even be ready to learn some independence...teach them how to check the weather on a thermometer and/or look at weather forecasts to make their selection for outerwear. This time is also a good reminder to label all gear with your student’s name and teach them that part of being responsible is to mind their belongings. Our lost and found sure does pile up quickly, and it is a shame how many items are left unclaimed at the end of the year.
In March, we wrapped up our “Welcome to Kindergarten” Orientations (held virtually over Zoom this year). It was a treat for us to show off what a “Day in the Life of Kindergarten” looks like to those families that will be joining us next year. We welcome that class of 2034 and their families and are excited to meet our newest Spartan Stars in September!
Till next time!
Greg Nelson, CEPS Principal
CEPS April Dates At A Glance
April 5-6 - NO School/PD Days for Staff
April 8 - Back to in-person learning
April 12 - Step 4 begins!
April 16 - Hat Day at CEPS
Coming Up:
May 3-7 - Teacher Appreciation Week
1) Please save cell phone conversations (handheld or hands free) for after the loop during drop off and pick up. This distraction is slowing up the lines.
2) Please make sure your student buckles their seatbelt. If you need to help them, please twist around to help instead of exiting your vehicle.
3) Please ensure your child is safely in the back seat unless they are over age 8, more than 80 pounds in weight, or more than 4 ft. 9 in. tall by Wisconsin law.
Reminder, McFarland Mobil App Available!
We are happy to roll out the McFarland School District Mobile app which is tied to our website. You can easily access News, Events, staff contact info and more.
You can customize what alerts you receive by selecting the 'My Alerts' option!! This is an additional tool we will use to inform families and students of important developments like school closures so make sure you have your Emergency Alert activated!
The app is available from the Apple App Store, Google Play as well as any device using this URL.
Beginning APRIL 12TH - Conrad Elvehjem Primary School (K-2) 608-838-3146
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
● Student school day is 7:50 - 2:20
● Buses drop-off will begin at 7:35 am
● Car drop-off in both loops for K-2 students begins at 7:40 am
● 4K GBH AM car drop-off is at 7:35 am in the Creamery Loop-School Hours 7:45-10:45 am
● 4K GBH PM car drop-off is at 11:10 am in the Creamery Loop-School Hours 11:20 am-2:20 pm
● At the end of the day, bus and daycare van students (Spartan Day Camp) will be dismissed at 2:15 pm
● Car pick-up, bike riders, and walkers will be dismissed at 2:20 pm
WEDNESDAYS
In order for students to continue to work on their academic skills, a Wednesday checklist will be sent home with your student. It will be similar to the daily checklist you have seen weekly during Step 3, but will only be expected on Wednesdays. It will include an asynchronous PE lesson, a science and/or social studies lesson, Dreambox, reading minutes and other activities as assigned by your teacher. If best for your family, your student can complete this work throughout the week.
**Please call the school office, Conrad Elvehjem Primary School (K-2) 608-838-3146, to report an absence or tardy. If we do not hear from you regarding your child’s attendance, we will reach out to you to verify your child’s absence. If we are unable to connect to verify your child’s whereabouts, a member of the student services team may make a home visit to ensure the student is safe and accounted for.
Families can update their contact information via the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
Hot lunches will be free and available to all students starting April 12. You will still need to sign your student up for meals in advance using the attached link.
All students signed up for free hot lunch will receive a free breakfast to take home at the end of the day.
There will be only one hot entree offered (no PBJ Uncrustables) so be sure to check out our menus on the attached link.
CEPS Library News!
During Step 4 students will continue to check out books independently using the iPad app just as they have done all year long. Library staff will deliver books to student cubbies here at school. During the last two months of school, students @ CEPS are welcome to check out and return books at their leisure, just like patrons would at the Public Library! Feel free to refresh your child’s book supply as often as you would like, requesting and returning library books in a routine that works best for your family. All CEPS students are allowed to select 3 library books. Please email martina@mcfsd.org (Amie Martin-CEPS Librarian) if your CEPS student needs help logging into our library search app on school devices. We love that students are getting library books this year!
Introducing…. Mindfulness Club!
Mindfulness Club is a new shortcut “app” on your child’s iPad! This is a place where your child can access activities that help his/her brain, heart, and entire being. These optional activities are not required, however it is encouraged that your child visits Mindfulness Club often. Your child may choose to do one activity, or explore more in one session. Students were also taught to access Mindfulness Club in times of sadness, frustration, loneliness, anger, etc. (of course, with approval to use their device from a grown up). Mindfulness Club activities are here to support your child in feeling calm, ready for learning, and to provide a place to spark creativity and imagination. Please reach out to Jess Lawinger at lawingj@mcfsd.org with any questions, concerns, or feedback.
Thank you on behalf of the PTO to all the families that so generously donated food items or made a financial contribution to our staff appreciation luncheon. The teachers and staff greatly appreciated the meal with Rock and Rollz subs and all the delicious side items during a busy week of parent, teacher conferences.
The PTO is still hosting their annual NO HASSLE FUNDRAISER. This is a simple, effective way to help our children and schools. The PTO financially supports the following: supplies to support safety adaptations (donation of masks and water bottles), support students in need (snacks, lunches, Spartan star T-shirts, and field trip fees), guest speakers and authors for assemblies, offsets costs for the 5th grade Kindness Retreat, 7th grade Courage Retreat and the 8th grade Ropes Course Challenge. The PTO further facilitates staff appreciation events, tutoring and assistance for children with special needs, donation of playground equipment and supports the arts, technology, and science.
Donate by going to our website www.mcfarlandpto.org and use our easy, secure PayPal online donation form or you may send a check to your child’s school and make payable to McFarland EC-8 PTO. The PTO is a designated 501c3 nonprofit and has tax exempt status. Your donation is tax deductible, and your employer may even match your contribution.
We are also busy working on yearbooks for the 2020-2021 School year. A yearbook fee should appear in your infinite campus account. Please make payment to ensure your child receives a yearbook.
The PTO will be holding elections for President, Secretary, and advisory council members at our Virtual General PTO Meeting on May 19th, 2021 at 6:30pm. If you are interested in serving in one of these positions or learning more, please email Michaela Voeck at mcfarlandptoprez@gmail.com.
The PTO also meets the second Thursday of the month for PTO advisory council meetings. To join us please email Michaela Voeck (PTO president) at mcfarlandptoprez@gmail.com to be added to the Zoom meeting invite.
You can see all our updates by following our Facebook Page www.facebook.com/McFarlandPTO or visiting our website www.mcfarlandpto.org
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Cielo Lazo
Crisis Counselor
1717 N Stoughton Rd
Madison, WI 53704
Cell: 608 445-8583
Office: 608 445-8583
Fax: 608 246-4760