Ruschies Rock Review!
February 2022 - Vol IV
Calendar of Upcoming Events
February 4
February 11
February 18
NO SCHOOL - Inservice
Monday, February 21
A Message From the Principal
Second semester has begun. Report cards should have gone home with your child. If there are multiple households, multiple copies were sent home with the child. Students and staff are preparing to celebrate 100 days of being smarter on Feb.8th! We continue to work on skills and stress reading as each class is working toward a reading goal and celebration.
State testing for grades 3, 4, and 5 will be here at the end of March before we know it. Two weeks after spring break, we'll kick off our testing with test preparation spirit week. Parents can partner with us now by making sure your child gets plenty of rest, eats breakfast at home or at school, and attends school regularly. Here is a RACES poster the teachers use to help students do their best during testing. Thank you for your support.
Mrs. Gulrud
Email: gulruda@portage.k12.wi.us
Website: https://www.portage.k12.wi.us/schools/rusch/
Location: 117 West Franklin Street, Portage, WI, USA
Phone: (608) 742-7376
A Message from your Dean of Students
Hello Ruschies!
Your students have been doing phenomenal things here at Rusch Elementary. During the month of January, we focused on demonstrating the character skill of empathy at school and in the community. You may have seen your student(s) bring home copies of the Great Kindness Challenge the last week of January. We had so many students participate in spreading kindness throughout our community and I was so impressed to learn the many ways that they demonstrated this skill. This month, Ruschies will continue practicing and applying the character skills they have learned throughout the year as we shift our focus to creating and strengthening new and existing friendships.
I'd also like to send out a quick reminder on our school's attendance policy. Regular, punctual attendance is one of the most critical habits students can develop. Success in school, as well as future employment, is strongly related to punctuality and regular attendance. Please support your student in achieving the maximum benefits of school by ensuring they are regularly in attendance. If you are aware of any upcoming days in which your student(s) will be absent, please contact the office to obtain an advance absence form and return the completed form to the office as soon as possible.
If circumstances render advance notification impossible, please contact the office by 8:15 a.m. on the day of the absence to inform school officials of a detailed reason for the absence.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me.
Ms. VanderSchaaf
Message from School Counselor, Angela Kenas
Dear Families,
I hope you are all staying well and warm! As we move into February, we continue to focus on being kind and showing empathy and respect to others. Here’s what we’ve been learning this month in our classroom counseling lessons.
In Kindergarten and first grade, we learned about a variety of feelings as well as how to categorize them into colored zones called the Zones of Regulation. So far we have discussed the Blue Zone, which is when we have low energy and may feel tired, sad, or sick. We also discussed the Green Zone. We talked about kindness and how showing kindness can keep us and others in the Green Zone, where we are calm, happy, and ready to learn.
In second and third grade we finished our conflict resolution lessons with practice and review. In Second grade we then discussed the importance of choices, and how our choices determine how our day will go. In both grades, we then moved into our kindness lesson and discussed how we can be kind to others.
In fourth grade, we talked about how to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes and how we all have the ability to be a leader. We then had a lesson about kindness and the ripple effect it has on others. In fifth grade, we’ve been discussing how to be more resilient by building our support network, finding ways to take care of ourselves, and showing kindness to ourselves and others.
This time of year can be hard for us as adults and for our students. Cold days and indoor recess, longer stretches without school breaks, and testing means kids are feeling the stress. It’s important we take a step back and remember to take care of ourselves. Encourage your child to use safe and healthy coping skills and don’t forget to model them yourself. See below for “50 Ways to Take a Break!”
As always, please reach out if there is anything I can do to support you or your student!
Angie Kenas
School Counselor
742-7376 x6313
NURSING NOTES
Oral health care is as important as our physical health care. Children should brush their teeth for two minutes twice a day. Flossing is ideally done once a day. Use fluoridated toothpaste for the extra protection fluoride provides the enamel on the outer surface of the teeth.
Check out the resources on the district’s web page about dental health including low or no cost dental care.
COVID-19 Vaccine
Anyone aged 5 years and older are eligible for COVID-19 vaccine. Anyone aged 12 years and older is now eligible for a booster dose 5 months after receiving dose 2 of either Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or 2 months after receiving 1 dose of Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine. You may obtain this vaccine from your health system, public health, or a pharmacy.
RUSCH BOOK GIVE-A-WAY!
"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you will go." ~Dr. Seuss
24 Math Tournament
Winter Weather is Here!
Closings and Delays
District families will be notified via automated phone and/or email messages when there will be a delay or school closing.
Students and parents are encouraged to listen to local radio and television stations for further updates. If school is delayed for 2 hours, keep listening because school may be canceled entirely if the weather does not improve.
It is very important that your child’s school has the most current phone numbers and email addresses in order to receive messages. Call Rusch main office with ANY changes: 608-742-7376.
Message from Administrator Joshua Sween
"Remember that if it becomes necessary to close schools due to inclement weather, we will do our best to make that call by noon the day prior to an event. That will give us time to prepare technology and work for virtual or remote learning and allow families to make the necessary arrangements as well. There may be some instances where surprise weather situations come up and it will be necessary to cancel school the morning of the event. If that happens it will be considered a true snow day and there will be no expectations of learning on those days. They will also need to be made up at the end of the year in the second week of June.
Optimist Tri-Star Basketball Contest - Feb. 19th
Getting young people involved in sports, and community activities is a GREAT way for kids to build self-esteem, meet new friends and develop new skills. On Saturday, February 19, 2022, the Portage Optimist Club will be hosting its annual Tri-Star Basketball Contest. We hope you and your children will participate in what will be sure to be an enjoyable morning!
Local Tri-Star Basketball Contest
Saturday, February 19, 2022
9:00 a.m.
John Muir Gym
2600 Woodcrest Drive, Portage, WI
The contest is composed of three basic skills tests in passing, shooting, and dribbling for boys and girls from ages 6 to 13. Each participant will be evaluated individually within his/her own age bracket and gender group.
To register, click on this link and complete form -
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s4FeDmJjaCNYnzmww_KEpJh9OOp1u0NBrJ2SIEG9wKo/edit?usp=sharing
Mini Course Day - Offer your time and talents
We are hoping to have a Mini Course Day on Thurs., May 12 (rain date May 19) from
8:30-2:30 pm. Students rotate through stations and might for example do art projects, outdoor games, karate, flower arranging, theater games, learn about therapy dogs, etc.
If you have any skills or contacts and would like to lead a session or have an individual we could reach out to and contact to provide a session, we would appreciate your help. Adult volunteers have to pass a background check and then would mask and social distance while presenting.
Please email Mrs. Gulrud if you are interested in helping or know of a resource.
Thank you for your support,
Angie Gulrud