Forever Endeavor
Endeavor Elementary Newsletter - -March 2018
Ms. Thistle's Thoughts
Greetings!
Thank you to the Endeavor Parent Club for your support of the Endeavor donut day held in February. The event was well attended, and enjoyed by students and staff. Endeavor hosted over 200 people for the event.
We are gearing up for Read Across America week at the beginning of March. Throughout the week we will have guest readers coming in everyday, classroom door decorating, special dress-up days, and lots of fun reading activities planned.
Thank you very much for your support of our school. Let’s make it a great month!
All the best,
Salina Thistle
Woodridge/Endeavor Principal
608.742.3494 ext. 3002
Endeavor Attendance
Starting in the spring of 2015, we noticed that there were quite a few students who were missing more than ten days of school in the Portage Community School District. In some cases, this directly impacted achievement for students. That being said, I know that there are sicknesses and family emergencies that happen throughout a school-year. As a parent, I try to make sure that my boys get to school each day. However, if they are sick (fever, vomiting, etc.) then they will stay at home until they are feeling better. This year, each month we have been sending home letters if your child missed more than 3, 5 or 10 school days. These letters are supposed to help keep parents in the loop about how many days their child has missed. The goal is not, to make parents feel bad about school that their kids have missed.
Each Principal in our state has the responsibility of "serving as a deterrent to truancy." This means that we have to set policies, inform parents and follow-up if students are absent more than our designated thresholds. At the end of the day, the goal is to miss the least amount of school as possible. Less than ten days of school per year is the goal. We have the theme “10 or less is success.” However, if there is a reason for your child to have missed more than ten days please let me know about them and we can work together before any referral would be sent on for truancy. A referral for truancy, is absolutely the last thing that I would want to do. This is done rarely and in extreme cases.
The best thing we can do is work together to support you and your family. If there is anything that we can do to help your child attend every day, please let me/your child’s teacher know. As you can see from the data below, we are on our way to having a great year for attendance at Endeavor. Thank you for your support!
Salina Thistle
Goal Area: Attendance
Goal
Decrease percentage of students missing 11 or more days by 5%
(District-wide goal beginning 2015-16)
Data
2015/Spring (District K-5)
28% of the elementary student population were absent more than 10 days
2016/Winter: Endeavor
13% of the population were absent more than 5 days
2016/Spring: Endeavor
31% of the population were absent more than 10 days
2017/Spring: Endeavor
23.8% of the population were absent more than 10 days
2018/Winter: Endeavor
7% of the population were absent more than 10 days
Mark Your Calendars
March 2 -- Art Reception at Portage Center for the Arts
March 5--PTO Raffle Tickets to go home with students
March 13 & 15 -- Parent Teacher Conferences, 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM
March 14 --PTO meeting at 4:30 PM
March 19 through 23 -- Spring Break, No School
March 28 -- Endeavor Sharing Supper
March 29 --Spring Fling, AM only
March 30 --No School
Notes From the Office
It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to contact the school by 8:15 AM to report an absence with detailed reason. If a phone call, phone message, or email is not received stating that your child is out by 8:15 am, safety calls will be made to insure that your child is safe. This is for the safety and well being of all students.
Email: gohlkek@portage.k12.wi.us
Website: http://www.portage.k12.wi.us/end/
Phone: 608-587-2625
Music With Ms. Janes
The big news in March from the music room is that choir has started up again. We are working on music for the end of the school year! All of the classes are doing similar things in February and March. Lots of instruments are being used right now in music classes, which is great fun!
-Ms. Janes
Email: janese@portage.k12.wi.us
Art With Ms. Martens
Don't forget to mark your calendars for the Portage Center for the Arts K-8 Art Show. The reception for artists and their families will be Friday, March 2nd from 4-6pm. Anyone is welcome to come and celebrate Youth Art Month with us on this date! See below.
Email: martensm@portage.k12.wi.us
Nursing Notes with Nurse Hon
Keeping our Children Lead-Safe
Was your home built before 1978? If so, your children could be exposed to lead in the dust from lead-based paint. Just a small amount of lead dust can cause learning disabilities, developmental delays, and other behavior and health problems for your child. Fortunately, you can prevent exposure to lead by making sure your home is lead-safe.
Get your young children tested for lead.
Get more information about how to protect your children and prevent lead poisoning.
Email: Honv@portage.k12.wi.us
Counselor's Corner With Mrs. Brown
Spring is on its way!! In classroom guidance, we will be wrapping up the Zones of Regulation lessons in March. Ask your child how to belly breathe, bunny breathe or how to do the drain, and see what they show you! Students have learned a handful of strategies to use when they feel themselves in need of calming down.
We will then begin our personal safety unit in Kindergarten - Second grade. Students will learn strategies that will keep them safe in different situations. Please work with your child on knowing your (parents), first and last names.
Happy Spring!
Mrs. Brown
Email: brownd@portage.k12.wi.us
Library Media Center
Here are the days that each class will have library. Remember to bring your books back every week so that you can check out a new one.
Mrs. Beaulieu's Class--Tuesday
We are celebrating Dr. Seuss this month.
Mrs. Steinhaus' Class--Wednesday
We are celebrating Dr. Seuss this month.
Mrs. Petrulis' Class--Thursday
We have started reading/listening the book Wonder by R.J. Palacio.
Mr. Hammer's Class--Wednesday
We are reading/listening to a book from last year's Battle of the Books, Rain, Reign by Ann M. Martin.
FORWARD TESTING
The Forward Exam is a test that will be taken over several days and it will cover the topics of English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. This test is an important assessment that provides information about what students know and can do in relation to the Wisconsin Academic Standards. The Forward Exam will be given to students grades 3-5 at Endeavor Elementary starting on April 2nd. It will take close to three weeks for the testing to be completed.
How can you prepare your child for the Forward Exam?
--make sure your child gets a good night's sleep
--make sure your child has a healthy breakfast
--make sure your child is prepared
--remain calm and upbeat about the test
There is an ONLINE TOOLS TRAINING available for students at http://dpi.wi.gov/assessment/forward/sample-items
If you have any questions, please contact the school.
Positively PTO
The money that is raised from this fundraiser will help support a variety of school activities, field trips, technology support, playground upgrades, and Mini Course day.
The drawing for the raffle tickets will take place on Friday night, April 20th at Endeavor Elementary's Family Fun Night. There will also be a silent auction and door prizes that night. If you have any questions, or would like to donate to the fundraiser, please contact the office or a PTO member.