Willow Creek Newsletter

Students will attend periods 1-4 on day 1 and 5-8 on day 2. (Please note that period 1 is Willow Creek's Advisory period. Students will not meet the entire hour). We will be incorporating a 4 day rotation for A and B day course offerings.

Also note that students will not be meeting with teachers during Target classes. Target is similar to a study hall. However, help is available via Google Meets using code: WCtarget.

January 21st - Student Support Day

On Thursday January 21st, the last day of quarter 2, live classes will not be held. Rather, we will be utilizing that day to provide students with any support they need as we end the quarter and semester. Teachers will be communicating with students how to get a hold of them on this day and the times they will be available to provide this support.

Learning Model Update and Virtual Supports

The district has updated the current learning model due to the rising Covid-19 cases in our area. Although the new model will not impact most middle school students, there are some important changes to note. Secondary schools will return to a model of DL+ supports the week of Jan. 18th. More information on these supports will be included in next week's newsletter.

Virtual Supports

Willow Creek has several things in place to provide virtual support for your student during distance learning.

Support during Target hours by utilizing the Google Meets code: WCTarget.
Our Schoolwide open hour for students following their Advisory from 8:55 - 9:20 on day 1's. All teaching staff are available using the Google Meets codes attached here.
Please connect directly with Teachers and Counselors to set up further individualized supports in specific classes as well.

Yearbooks

Buy your full color, hard cover, 2020-2021 Willow Creek Middle School yearbook for just $33! Prices go up January 30th.

Click here to purchase!

Attendance

If your student is going to be absent from school or class, please notify the office either by entering the absence into Skyward family access or calling our attendance line at (507) 328-5910.

*Please do not only notify a teacher of an absence. They do not have a way to excuse it in the Skyward system. Please route all absence reporting through the Main Office.

Remote Distance Learning Technical Support

Great News! RPS has announced a student and family Tech Support line to help solve technology issues that arise during distance learning. The support line is available Monday - Friday from 7am to 7pm. Give them a call at 1-800-789-0051.

COVID-19 Communications

What if I or my child are experiencing COVID symptoms?

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has provided a Decision Tree for individuals with COVID-19 Symptoms in Youth, Student, and Child Care Programs. To keep students and staff safe and healthy, Rochester Public Schools will follow this guidance to determine the length of time students will need to remain away from school when exposed or exhibiting symptoms. This exclusion guidance is designed specifically for schools and child care programs by MDH, therefore, these guidelines may differ from businesses or employers.

Prior to coming into a school building, students and staff should use the At-Home COVID Screening tool to determine if they are well enough to come to school that day. Individuals experiencing symptoms should remain home and talk to their health care provider about being tested for COVID-19. A Daily Symptom Monitoring Tool is available to help families track their child's symptom screening each day.

We understand that these are challenging times. The safety, security, and health of students and staff is our top priority. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our school community safe and healthy.

Curbside Library Pick-up

We are offering curbside library pick-up for students that would like to utilize the library. Please see the instructions below for the instructions on how to check out a book!

This week’s Second Step® Lessons at Middle School

6th Grade - Raising Awareness About Bullying

In this week’s lesson, your child and their peers will create bullying awareness posters. The posters will be displayed around the school to educate others about bullying and how they can help stop it.

Question

Ask to see your child’s poster. If they don’t have a picture, have them describe it. Ask your child to tell you about how their attitude toward bullying has changed as a result of what they've learned in the unit.

7th Grade - Preventing Harassment

In this week’s lesson, your child will create a public service announcement to inform their peers about their rights and responsibilities regarding sexual harassment and gender-based harassment.

Question

Ask your child to tell you three important things everyone should know about sexual or gender-based harassment. Brainstorm a list of things everyone can do to help create a harassment-free community.

8th Grade - Stand Up for Change!

In this week’s lesson, your child will develop a plan for challenging the factors they see around them that can enable bullying and harassment.

Question

Ask your child to tell you their plan and discuss how you can support them in enacting it.

Support Willow Creek and the PTSA

Box Tops for Education

Box Tops have turned electronic! Raising $$ for Willow Creek is now easier than ever. Simply download the Box Tops app on your smartphone, choose Willow Creek Middle School as the school to support, scan all receipts in which you purchased items with a Box Tops logo, and start earning! Refer to the Box Tops website for more details: www.BTFE.com

Amazon Smile

The PTSA would like to pass forward the following information about Amazon Smile and the opportunity to raise funds:

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Willow Creek. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find exactly the same prices, vast selection, and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to the Willow Creek PTSA.

Go to Smile.Amazon.com
Select a charitable organization (PTA Minnesota Congress 005004 Willow Creek PTA) to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. They will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation.
Shop as you normally would!


Andrew Kappel - Principal Denise Long - Assistant Principal Craig Schneider - Assistant Principal	Counselors Jessica Olson - Grade 6 Counselor Tracy Lund - Grade 7 Counselor Dawn Johnson - Grade 8 Counselor School Social Workers Tonya Rein Nate Gendron	Main Office Janine Fix Amber Allen Carolina Hottel Nurses Office Amanda Parkes Sue Bass