John Muir News
September 2023 - Volume 1
Calendar
Sept 4 - Happy Labor Day!
Sept 5 - First Day of School for 2nd Grade ONLY!
Sept 6 - First Day of School for all students 2-5!
Sept 8 - Full day of school
Sept 13 - Picture Day
Sept 15 - Early Release
Sept 22 - Early Release
Sept. 29 - Full day of school - Homecoming Parade in afternoon
Early Release Fridays for 2023-24
Sept: 15, 22
Oct: 6, 13, 20
Nov: 3, 17
Dec: 1, 8, 15
Jan: 12, 19
Feb: 2, 9, 16, 23
Mar: 1, 8, 15
Apr: 12, 19, 26
May: 3, 10, 17, 24
Message from the Principal
Welcome back, students, staff, and families!
Like many of you, I really enjoy the summer and taking a break to relax and rejuvenate. The beginning of September is so exciting because the real life of a school is the people within it. We are so excited to welcome back our returning students and staff members and meet our new students, staff members, and families.
This year we have many goals to increase learning and support our students. In reading we hope to increase students' skills in synthesizing information which means putting together what they read and analyzing it (a very difficult skill). Parents and guardians will again be invited in to celebrate student learning during our Units of Study celebrations. Through our Bridges math curriculum our goal is to build student fluency by using a multitude of math strategies (in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with whole and part numbers). Information about helping your child with learning at home will be sent home in each newsletter.
The best thing you can do is have your student(s) read at least 20 minutes each night. Students of any age enjoy listening to adults read to them so reading together is a great option as well! Please contact me with any questions or concerns you may have. Introduce yourself to me if you see me on supervision duty and just keep reminding me of your name as there are many people for me to get to know.
Looking forward to a great year,
Angie Gulrud
Contact Information-
Email : gulruda@portage.k12.wi.us
Phone: 608-742-5531, ext. 2001
Behavior Tips : Common Language at School and Home
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING -
The first month of school will be focused on helping students feel welcome, safe, and confident at school. Staff will run morning meeting activities in which students get to know each others' names, connect through common interests, and build community within their classroom and grade level. This year at Muir in addition to our Warrior Way that we pledge in announcements daily (We are respectful, responsible individuals on task, ready to learn, and safe.), we will be working on routines and procedures in all settings that follow these ideals - take care of yourself, take care of others, and take care of this place.
Sometimes words like responsible and respectful can be confusing for students as they aren't concrete terms, so breaking down what being responsible and respectful look like will help students understand.
Each grade level will use these rules and you can use the following rules at home as well so students have common language between home and school:
1. We listen to each other.
2. Hands are for helping, not hurting.
3. We use I-Care Language.
4. We care about each other's feelings.
5. We are responsible for what we say and do.
EMOTIONAL REGULATION-
Helping students identify and voice their feelings is really important to emotional regulation. We will work on this as well. When students identify or name their feeling, then they can use a strategy (if needed) to regulate that feeling. For example - I feel "angry" when you try to budge in line in front of me. Adult can prompt, what are your strategies when you feel angry? Student can share the strategies and adult can urge the student to use a strategy to cope with anger.
This takes patience and practice. It is also something all people (children and adults) need as a life skill. It is really great for adults to model for their children as well. Talk out loud about the thinking process going on within your mind (which teachers call a "think aloud") and this will provide modeling for your student.
"I am really angry that that car just pulled so close right in front of us. In the moment it really made me feel scared and worried for our safety. I am going to do some deep breathing right now and turn down the radio for a few miles to calm my body and keep driving safely."
Mrs. Jahn, Dean of Students
Did You Know?
Missing 10%, or about 2 days each month over the course of a school year, can make it harder to learn to read.
Students can still fall behind if they miss just 1 or 2 days every few weeks.
Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
Attending School regularly helps children feel better about school-and themselves. Building these habits early on so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is importance. Eventually good attendance will be a skills that will help them succeed in high school and college.
What You Can Do
Set a regular bedtime and morning routine
Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
Develop backup plans for getting to school it something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor or another parent.
Try to schedule medial appointments and extended trips when school isn’t in session.
If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors and other parents for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and exited about learning.
*Adapted from AttendanceWorks.org: Help Your Child Succeed in School: Build the Habit of Good Attendance Early
Contact information ~
Karissa Jahn
Email: jahnk@portage.k12.wi.us
Phone: 608-742-5531, Ext. 2002
Walk for Hope Event
Prevent Suicide Columbia County is excited to be offering the 7th Annual Walk for Hope on Saturday, September 23rd at the Portage High School Track. We all know how important hope, mental health, and suicide prevention is for our youth, so we wanted to invite you, your school staff, students, and their families to attend the walk. We will have a speaker, walk, crafts, raffle, give away items, and a QPR suicide prevention training. There are activities for every age group!
This event is free; however, raffle tickets are available for $1 for 1, $5 for 6, and $20 for an arm’s length. The speaker, walk, crafts, give away items, and optional suicide prevention training are all provided at no cost.
To register you can find the link on our website or here: Walk for Hope Registration (google.com)
According to the CDC, there were 905 Wisconsin deaths by suicide in 2021; 11 of those were in Columbia County; and one in six youth in Wisconsin have seriously considered suicide in the past year. We are hosting this walk to honor the 11 who died in 2021 and the countless more who have died before and continue to lose their lives to suicide; to give hope to those who are still alive; and to connect people to resources they need. Our students deserve a future full of hope. We would love to see you all at our event, and please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions.
Darienne Blair
Health Educator
Columbia County Health and Human Services
Phone: 608-742-9741
Fax: 608-742-9700
Thunderbird Youth Hockey Sign Up
Market Box Sign Up
We are excited to offer this great opportunity to our PCSD families and need to see how many families would like to participate!
The MARKET BOX will contain both perishable & non-perishable food. There is NO COST to participate and this program is open to all PCSD families. Here's the link: 2023-24 Market Day Box Sign-Up.
MARKET BOXES may include:
Eggs
Bread
Fresh Fruit
Fresh Vegetables
Frozen Meat
Boxed dry goods (Breakfast items/snacks/lunch options)
MARKET BOXES will be available for pick up on the THIRD WEDNESDAY of each month. The first MARKET BOX pick up is scheduled for September 20, 2023 from 4:30-5:30.
Families will need to pick them up from JOHN MUIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
If there is a change in the day or time for pick-up, we will notify families of the change.
Please fill out this form. Only submit ONE response per family/household per school year, even if you have multiple children attending the district by September 18th, 2023.
Rock the Boat Homecoming Dress-Up Week!
Dress up in denim
Tuesday, September 26 - Favorite Cartoon Character
Dress up like your favorite cartoon character
Wednesday, September 27 - Road Trip Day
Wear clothing to represent any place you have traveled to or hope to visit! (Dells, Disney, Florida, Minnesota, etc
Thursday, September 28 – Rock the Boat Day
Dress up for the water - fishing/boating/etc.. (please no swimsuits, can be swim shorts if worn with a shirt)
Friday, September 29 - Spirit Day
Dress in orange & black to support the Warriors
There will be a parade on September 29 at 2:00 pm on Slifer St. Students need to stay sitting with their class. If parents want to watch the parade with their student(s), please check them out with the office before 1:30.
John Muir Counseling Program
Hello dear students and families,
I am Ms. Shier, your school counselor for students in grades 2 and 3, and I am Mr. Meyers, the school counselor for all of you in grades 4 and 5, and we both wish to welcome you back at the start of a new and exciting school year!
School counseling services are part of a comprehensive program in our Portage Community Schools.Your school counselor works with you and many people in our school and community to help you understand not only yourselves, but also the world around you. We provide a developmental counseling program that addresses the academic, personal/social, and career development for all our students. At times we collaborate with your teachers and other staff members to provide a well-rounded and comprehensive program for you all. These services are provided through…
Classroom Guidance Lessons
The guidance lessons are taught each week in your own classroom, and lessons are tailored to students’ age and developmental level. Example units of lessons include mindfulness, self-regulation skills, friendship, bullying prevention, and even an introduction to careers, to name only a few.
Small Group Lessons
Students may have the opportunity to participate in small groups to help address and build their skills in more specific areas. These could include social skills, self-esteem, friendship, emotion management, and sportsmanship. The goal of small groups is the building of skill-sets to help our children be successful. Please contact your child’s counselor if you should have specific questions, or if you wish your child not to participate if invited.
Individual Counseling
Sometimes it may be helpful for a child to meet individually with their counselor. A child may refer themself, or a referral may come from a parent. The conversations between the student and the counselor are confidential unless there is a threat of harm to self or others or alleged abuse. Students may also want to discuss a particular problem, need to learn and practice alternative behaviors, or just talk about adjusting to new situations. It is important to stress here that school counselors are not trained as therapists, so your child therefore will not be receiving therapy, however, a suggestion may be made to parents for a referral to a community agency. We have a list of community resources available.
Consultation with Parents and Teachers
Elementary school counselors also meet with parents and teachers to share ideas, information, and options to specific concerns. We have information on community resources, websites, and presentations helpful to parents.
Our goal as school counselors is to help all students get the most out of school and to work to be kind, happy, and, ultimately, productive community members and citizens. It is our hope that parents and students feel free to use these services, and we look forward to working with you. Our offices are at Muir Elementary, though Mr. Meyers also travels to Endeavor once a week on Fridays or as needed. Again, if you have any questions or concerns about your child participating in any of the school counseling program, please feel free to contact contact your child’s counselor at our numbers below:
2nd and 3rd Grades
Ms. Shier 608-742-5531 x2454 shierj@portage.k12.wi.us
4th and 5th Grades
Mr. Meyers 608-742-5531 x2453 meyersm@portage.k12.wi.usHello Families and Students!
Welcome back for the 2023-2024 school year!
My name is Shelby Glasgow and I am so excited to be joining John Muir Elementary as your school social worker! I want to start off by introducing myself a little bit and explaining my role in the school. I grew up in Pardeeville, WI so I am familiar with the Portage area and am excited to be returning to my roots. After I graduated from high school I went to school in Green Bay, WI at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay where I received my Bachelors degree in Psychology. Once I graduated from college, I took some time to work at a daycare in Green Bay. I stayed here for two years before I decided to head back to school at Edgewood College in Madison, WI to obtain my certification in Child Life to become a Child Life Specialist in the hospital setting, however this didn’t pan out the way that I had thought, which led me to looking into other options that involved working with children and being able to help them and their families. After five years of living in Madison and working with children in different capacities during this time I found social work which led me back to Green Bay and my alma mater of UWGB to obtain my masters degree in social work specifically school social work. My journey through school and my different experiences working with children has provided me the opportunity to fulfill the role of a social worker in the school system.
Some of you may not be familiar with the role of the school social worker but I will give you some of the basics of what I will do within John Muir during the school year. I will work on emotional support/self-regulation and conflict resolution. I will also work with the students' teachers on behavioral issues within the classroom. I will also work with the team to help create individualized education/intervention plans for students that may need those and my role in those would be to contact the parents or legal guardians of the students and conduct a social interview to gain a better understanding and knowledge of the student’s background so that we can better assist the student within the school setting. In my role I am focused on student advocacy, and positive behavioral support as well as providing a bridge between the school, families and community by providing resources both in the community and within the school to families who may be in need of those resources. Overall, my role within the school system is to wear many hats and to be a voice for the students as well as the families. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns via my email below. Thank you and I look forward to working with all the students, families and staff members at John Muir Elementary this school year!
Shelby Glasgow, Social Worker
Contact Information
Email: glasgows@portage.k12.wi.us
Phone: 608-742-5531, ext. 2107
Resources for Families within the Portage Community:
River Haven Shelter: 108 East Pleasant Street Portage, WI (608)742-7687
St. Vincent de Paul Society Thrift Store: 1311 W. Wisconsin Street Portage, WI (608) 742-5513
Aspen Family Counseling: 2639 New Pinery Road, Suite 1 Portage, WI (608) 742-5020
McKinney-Vento Act: https://dpi.wi.gov/homeless
Portage Food Pantry: 405 East Howard Street Portage, WI (608)742-3774 Hours vary, open Wednesday through Friday
Family Resource Center: 2946 Red Fox Run Portage, WI (608)742-8482
Picture Day September 13!
Welcome Back!
Let's make this a safe and healthy school year. Medications that must be available to a student while at school or school related events must follow district policy. This requires one completed medication form for each medication. Medication may be prescribed by a healthcare provider or purchased as an over the counter product. Cough drops or throat lozenges are being sold with other ingredients that require us to return to the process of completing a medication form and having these administered through the main office. The medication form is available on the website in both English and Spanish. Print the form or pick one up in the main office. Complete the form. Parents must deliver the form and pharmacy labeled or originally packaged container of medication that is not expired to the main office. Several steps will be completed with the parent there and then provided to the school nurse for review prior to the medication being administered by designated trained school personnel. Until the school nurse has completed the medication and form review, parents are welcomed to come to school to administer the medication.
Students who will participate in school-sponsored activities outside of school hours or overnight should also plan ahead for any medication needs during these times. Again, one form for each medication. Some coordination with the school nurse to prepare for these special events is just a phone call or visit away.
Please take a moment to talk with your child about medication safety. Discuss the importance of not bringing pills to school in a pocket or sharing any medication with others. Students found with medication on their person without paperwork will have the medication secured in the health room and parent notification made. Together, we will keep our school safe and supportive while meeting each child's needs.
Contact your school nurse for assistance.
Valerie Hon, MSN, RN, LSN, NCSN
Pronouns (she/her)
District Nurse & Safety Committee Chairperson
Portage Community School District
305 E. Slifer Street
Portage, WI 53901
608/742-4867, extension 4022 or
PHS 608/742-8545, extension 1156
Fax 608/742-3989
Volunteering at John Muir!
Volunteering to help at the school or go on field trips is a wonderful way parents can stay connected to their student's school activities. To become a volunteer, the district asks that a background check be completed prior to participating. Here's the link to the district web page. It will take about five working days to process. Please keep in mind, this process must be completed prior to getting involved in your student's school activities. It cannot be completed the day of the activity as we will not yet have the approved results. The background checks are required to be done annually, i.e. if one is done in September, 2023, it will be good until September, 2024! It can be completed at any time during the school year.
We hope to see you at school!
66 Positive Things to Say to Your Child
- I am grateful for you.
- You make me proud.
- Your words are meaningful.
- You have great ideas.
- I love being your parent.
- You don't have to be perfect to be great.
- Your opinions matter.
- You are important.
- You are loved.
- I believe you.
- I believe in you.
- This family wouldn't be the same without you.
- You are valuable.
- You can say no.
- You can say yes.
- I know you did your best.
- You were right.
- I accept who you are.
- We can try your way.
- You are helpful.
- You are worth it.
- You make me happy.
- I love your creativity.
- Being around you is fun.
- I can't wait to hear about it.
- Don't be afraid to be you.
- You're making a difference.
- I'm excited to spend time with you.
- You are interesting.
- I love seeing the world your way.
- It's good to be curious.
- I love the way you tell stories.
- What you did was awesome.
- I admire you.
- That's a great question.
- Your friends are lucky to have you.
- I trust you.
- That was a really good choice.
- Seeing you happy makes me happy.
- Being your parent is my favorite job.
- I learn new things from you every day.
- You make me better.
- You are a good boy/girl.
- Thank you for being you.
- I'm so glad you're here.
- You look great.
- I understand you.
- Watching you grow up is the best.
- That was really brave.
- I forgive you.
- I appreciate you.
- We all make mistakes.
- Yes, me too.
- You are very good at that!
- You can try again tomorrow.
- Nobody is perfect.
- I love how you said that.
- Not everyone will like you, and that's OK.
- You did that so well.
- I'm listening.
- That's a very fair point.
- You are beautiful inside and out.
- I love you.
- I could never stop loving you.
- You are enough.
- You make my heart full.
Boys and Girls Club is Open and Ready for you and your family!
The Boys and Girls Club of Portage opened May 1, 2023! They are occupying a portion of the old Rusch Elementary School on Franklin St. in Portage. We are so excited to have this organization supporting our community. Please check out their web page at bgcwcw.org for available opportunities during the school year or their Facebook page, Boys & Girls Club - Columbia County/Portage.
Bus ID's
Students should be using their bus pass to ride the bus again this year (even students who normally don't ride a bus as we use these for field trips, too). The pass is scanned and allows the system to track who is on the bus. New students and 2nd graders will receive their passes later in September when Galley photo sends us ID cards with the photo.
Replacement lanyards and badge holders are available in the office. Students should fasten the badge to their backpack using the lanyard to keep from misplacing it. Students will need this bus pass whenever they ride. If you need a replacement pass, contact the Muir Office and the cost is $5.
The Here Comes the Bus App is a free app that enables the user to see the location of your child’s school bus on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. The app allows families to see real-time updates of where a bus is along its route, to create a custom notification for when the bus reaches a certain point in its route and to receive notifications if there has been a schedule change. If you wish to sign up for scanning notifications of when your child scanned on and off the bus, the district code is 29776.
The app is available from the App Store or Google Play. Download instructions and additional information can be found at www.herecomesthebus.com.
Lost and Found
School hasn't even gotten into full swing and here's an article about lost and found! The lost and found will be located outside the school office. Items either lost in or around the school or left on the bus can be hopefully found here. While Riteway does it's best to ensure lost items from the bus are returned to the right school, if your lost item is not at John Muir, you might want to check with one of the other schools. They might have what you're looking for!
School Lunch and Breakfast 2023-24
The meal prices for students and adult visitors are as follows:
Milk: $.50/carton
Breakfast: $2.00
Lunch: $3.10
Reduced Breakfast: $0.30
Reduced Lunch: $0.40
Adult Breakfast: $2.75
Adult Lunch: $4.50
Please visit the PCSD Food Services webpage for additional information. Click the image below for the Free and Reduced Lunch Application.
Can't remember your lunch pin? Sign in to your Infinite Campus account, your lunch pin is the 5-digit number under your picture. Monthly breakfast/lunch menus are sent home with your student at the beginning of each month. You can also access the menu through our website by clicking on the lunch bag in the upper right corner.