Rocket Roundup
May 17, 2023
"All Hands on Deck" for Packing and Moving Day May 26
The much anticipated May 26 moving and packing Professional Learning Day is upon us. In the spirit of Rocket community, we will be taking an “all hands on deck” approach to packing our high density areas. Whether you’re moving to a new building, a new classroom, or just packing for the summer, there is plenty of work to be done and we’re all here to help.
Click here for a document where you will find the names of our non-certified staff members and District Office administrators with assignments to assist in high density packing areas across the District. We ask that those staff members listed on this schedule report to the assigned building at the start of the workday on May 26 and assist in packing the area to which you’re assigned.
We’ll break for lunch at 11 a.m. and ask that you return to your designated location until the designated areas are packed and ready. If your name is not listed on this form and you are not moving your room, please support your colleagues and pitch in to assist us in taking on this task. If you have questions regarding this process, please reach out to your building principal for more details.
Annual Staff Survey Due Thursday
All NJSD staff members should have received an email from "School Perceptions" for our 2022-23 NJSD staff survey. All employees are urged to complete the short survey by Thursday, May 18. The email contained a unique code for each individual employee to complete the survey. The survey is being conducted by a third party in order to ensure anonymity. If you did not receive an email, please contact Jim Strick and a survey will be sent to you.
Board of Education Meeting Recap - May 16
A three-year agreement between the Village of Fox Crossing and the Neenah Joint School District to supply a school resource officer at Neenah High School beginning in the fall of 2023 was approved by the Board of Education at its May 16 meeting. The Board also approved the 2023-24 Employee Policy Manual. Click here to read the full recap
Changes Made to 2023-24 Calendar
The Board of Education approved a change to the 2023-24 school calendar at its May 16 meeting to address the half day scheduled for the last day of school on Monday, June 3, 2024.
In order to end the student school year on Friday, May 31, 2024 rather than the following Monday, the Professional Learning Day scheduled for Friday, May 24, 2024 will now be a regular school day. Teachers and educational assistants will not need to make up the PLD and their pay will not be affected with this change. Additionally, Tuesday, June 4, 2024 will be a compensation day for teachers and educational assistants and they will not be required to work.
Teachers and educational assistants will also each have the individual option of whether to work on their teacher prep day on Friday, September 1, 2023 or Monday, June 3, 2024. More information about how to select which day you would like to work will be provided in next week's Rocket Roundup. Click here for the new 2023-24 calendar.
Shattuck Open House Set for June 4
The public is invited to celebrate Shattuck School for the final time with an open house on Sunday, June 4 from 1-3 p.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to take a self-guided tour of the school that will host students for the last day of school on May 31.
There is no need to register in advance and people are welcome to arrive anytime in the two-hour window. Items or memorabilia will not be available for sale or to be taken from the property.
Employee Personal Leave Update
A reminder that there is a limit of 15 people who need a substitute that may exercise personal leave on the same day. Days that are now closed for the use of personal time are: Friday, May 19. Days that are close to be closed include, Thursday, May 18; Monday May 22.
Personal days may not be exercised at all from May 23 through May 31 as these are the last five student contact days of the year. Remember that there are cash incentives available for perfect attendance and also for not using personal leave!
NHS Graduation Parade is May 24 at 10 a.m.
Neenah High School's 2023 graduating class will be honored with a procession around the school on Wednesday, May 24 at 10 a.m.
Graduates will gather in their vehicles in Lot B in front of the high school and then depart heading south on Tullar Road. The procession will turn right onto Apple Blossom Dr. and proceed west before taking a right into Memorial Park. The procession will go behind Rocket Stadium and turn right into the Memorial Park parking lots past Harry Kelderman Soccer Field. Vehicles will turn right onto Tullar Road and conclude back in Lot B.
The community is invited to line the route to personally congratulate the Class of 2023, which will be honored in a traditional graduation ceremony the same night at 7 p.m. This is the fourth straight year of the procession as a way for the community to offer congratulations to the seniors.
Get to the Silver Status Promised Land in Go365
The District's Wellness Program requires all insurance participants to reach three targets in order to capture or to continue to enjoy significantly lower Wellness premiums:
1. biometric screening
2. health assessment
3. earn Silver Status in the Go365 program by August 31!
There are a variety of ways to get you and/or your family to Silver Status and we urge you to focus on reaching that target by the end of the summer. Click here for suggestions on reaching Silver Status.
If you missed the biometric screening and/or the health assessment back in February, you still have time to get those in and earn Silver Status. Contact Becky Frakes to obtain the biometric screening form you can take to your physician. You can complete the health assessment at any time by accessing the Go365 app on your mobile device or logging on with a desktop computer.
Please do get to Silver Status by the date specified as the financial penalty for not doing so is steep. For more information, please contact Becky Frakes (x10108).
Non-Certified Job Vacancies for 2023-24
Non-certified job vacancies due to retirements, resignations or changed assignments are in the link below. If you are interested in making a change for next year (or sooner), please complete the form and press "submit," so that we can note your interest. Be sure to indicate the specific job that interests you by checking the box next to each listing. Shortly after this internal posting goes live, the vacancies will be posted on WECAN.
Some things you should take into consideration if you are seeking a transfer:
1. You will only be considered for a transfer for the amount of time a job remains listed on our form, usually just a week.
2. You need to inform your current principal/supervisor that you are considering a transfer.
3. You will only be considered for transfer two times for a given school year.
4. Employees with an in-progress improvement plan on file are not eligible for transfer.
The District appreciates your service!
Click here to view current vacancies. If you have questions, please contact the HR Office.
Certified Job Vacancies for 2023-24
Certified job vacancies due to retirements, resignations or changed assignments are in the link below. If you are interested in making a change for next year, please complete the form and press "submit," so that we can note your interest. Be sure to indicate the job that interests you. Shortly after this internal posting goes live, the vacancies will be posted on WECAN.
Some things you should take into consideration if you are seeking a transfer:
1. You will only be considered for a transfer for the amount of time a job remains listed on our form, usually just over a week.
2. You need to inform your current principal that you are considering a transfer.
3. You will only be considered for transfer two times for a given school year.
4. Teachers with an in-progress improvement plan on file are not eligible for transfer.
Thank you for all you do!
Click here to view current job vacancies. If you have any questions, please contact the HR office.
Validating and Affirming Home Languages
Health and Wellness Center Summer Update
From Prevea Nurse Practitioner Sarah Bleier, APNP, FNP-C
With Shattuck Middle School closing at the end of the 2022-23 school year, you may be wondering where to find the Health and Wellness Center (HWC) this summer and going forward. There are currently no plans to move the HWC, even once Shattuck is no longer a school. We will remain right where we’ve always been for now, and you’ll continue to be able to use the clinic in the same ways you have for nearly seven years. If anything changes in this regard, you will be notified. The HWC is open all summer, with the same hours we offer during the school year. If you are due for a yearly physical or some other follow up, this can be a great time to get that done. Click here for more summer updates from the HWCBlue Ribbon Budget for All Event Set for Thursday at Washington Park
Women's Mental Health Month Support Session Offered
To join the training session:
1. Click here for the link to the session
2. Enter your name and email address.
3. Enter the session password: VDp69UbNYV6
4. Click "Join Now".
(The course material handout is currently available at the session link)
Healthy You Update
This week's theme is MINDFULNESS
Ever tried a Spotify podcast?
Have you heard of #morethanenough?
Looking to try a breathing meditation?
Want a new Pandora playlist?
There are many options to try this week to focus on MINDFULNESS.
Here's the link - lots of options!
Hope you try something new!
Take care of you
Employee Trust Funds Offers WRS Webinars
Save Cash on Dental Work
Did you know that if you take NJSD dental insurance, you are in a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)? While you can still visit just about any dentist you choose, you could save by taking advantage of the cost structure that Delta Dental has in place with PPO providers and Premier dentists in their network. It pays to check the Delta Dental app to see if the dentist you are using belongs to either special group.
To give a quick illustration, if a crown costs $1000 at your current dentist and the office is out of the Delta Network, your cost would be $200. The same procedure at a Premier dentist might run $900, with your cost being $180. At a PPO dentist, the same crown may only run $800 and your cost would be $160. Calling ahead to any dentist, whether the person is in the PPO or not, just to find out how much a particular service will cost is also a good idea. The coverage for orthodontia is 60% with a lifetime maximum benefit of $1500. Finding out where the cost of braces is the lowest will help your benefit go farther!
To check on whether a dentist is in the PPO or a Premier provider, please see this website: www.deltadentalwi.com
Otherwise, please contact Rebecca Frakes with any questions you may have!
Go365 Virtual Athletic Event Opportunity
Participants are encouraged to donate $5 OR $5 worth of health/beauty supplies or non-perishable food items. Items may be dropped off at the admin building or your school office. NHS-will have a collection in the staff lounge. If you choose to donate money, funds will be used to purchase items for NJSD students in need and can be sent to Bonnie McClone at the Administration Building.
Participants must upload proof of completion no later than May 21. You will receive a bib that you can then upload in your GO 365 account under activities/athletic events.
Click here to submit your athletic event information before May 21
This Week in NJSD Activities
Thursday, May 18
Boys Tennis, FVA Meet, 8:30 a.m. (at Appleton West)
Baseball Home vs. Fond du Lac, 4:30 p.m.
Girls Soccer Home vs. Kaukauna, 7 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse Home vs. Appleton, 7:30 p.m.
Touch of Class/Jazz Concert, 7:30 p.m. (Pickard Auditorium)
Friday, May 19
Boys Golf, FVA Meet, 8 a.m. (at Chaska G.C.)
Saturday, May 20
Boys Lacrosse Home vs. Sauk Prairie, 2 p.m.
Baseball vs. Menasha, 4 p.m. (at Fox Cities Stadium)
Tuesday, May 23
Boys Tennis, WIAA Subsectional, 8:30 a.m. (at Fox Cities Racquet Club)
Baseball Home vs. Kaukauna, 4:30 p.m.
Hoover Instrumental Concert, 6 p.m. (Hoover School)
Girls Soccer Home vs. Appleton West, 7 p.m.