Grove Gazette
August/September 2020
2020-2021 School year
Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year! We are excited to see you whether in-person or virtually. The Wisconsin summers go by quickly and this summer was no different, well actually it was a lot different. Hopefully, you were able to enjoy some time relaxing and creating lasting memories, at home! I know your child will be provided continuous opportunities to grow socially, emotionally, and academically this school year through the dedicated and caring staff. At Northview, we believe that through meaningful and engaging learning experiences, your child will be inspired to become lifelong learners. We will continue to foster positive character development, provide a safe, engaging, and fun climate, and promote positive choices through Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) that your child will learn essential interpersonal skills that will last a lifetime. PBIS is a school wide universal framework that focuses on student safety, positive behavior, and proactive education centralized on mutually agreed expectations to be a positive Northview student.
Thank you for all you do to support your child’s school success and well-being, as well as our school. We look forward to a great 2020-2021 school year.
Pick-up & Drop-off (PUDO)
Beginning of the day drop-off
Before School drop-off begins at 8:30 for Kindergarten - 4th grade.
Vehicles enter the West (Large) parking lot for grades Kindergarten - 4th grades
Vehicles proceed along the sidewalk along the school (next to the gymnasium).
Students exit the vehicle safely and proceed to the West playground area to enter the building through door ‘G’
Adults dropping off your child (ren) stay within or with your vehicle.
Once students are safely on the sidewalk, the vehicle needs to exit the parking lot.
End of the day pick-up
Pickup students in three designated areas: across from the front of school by the flagpole, near the drop-off/pick-up area on the West side of the school, and by the bike rack on the Eastside of the school. Please do not hang out by the front door, we need to keep the front of the school clear. There is a lot of traffic at the end of the day. Please take extra caution as you exit school grounds. Please refrain from using your cell phones as you are entering and exiting school grounds as a safety precaution for self and others. We'll be dismissing students by manner of going home. For instance, parent pick-up and walkers will be dismissed first being mindful of social distancing. Then, we'll dismiss one bus at a time. Students will be staying in their classrooms until it is time to be dismissed.
Chromebooks
Ways to connect
Mr. Cole: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3hNKabciye7sOvpHGFgR6Q/featured
Feel free to add comments to the youtube page. It's a great way for me to connect with students while school is out. Morning Announcements will be posted at 9:00am.
Message from our School Counselor
Greetings Northview Families,
As with any new school year, students may feel anxious and get that butterfly feeling in their stomach. This year is likely to provide students with a lot of uncertainty and nervous feelings given the current pandemic. We have made many new changes at our school to help keep everyone safe and healthy. Below are a few helpful tips to help your students prepare for the upcoming school year.
Remind them that everyone feels a little nervous about the first day of school.
As a school, we will be learning the new changes, routines, and expectations together. This is new for everyone.
Focus on the positive things, such as seeing old friends and teachers, meeting new classmates, and buying new school supplies.
Talk to your kids about what worries them and offer support. Be honest.
Help your student understand why they have to wear a mask.
Give your student time to adjust to the new changes. Let them look, watch, and get used to what’s new.
Answer any questions your student may have.
Let them know that all feelings are okay.
Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns. I am here to help. Remember we are stronger together!
Amanda O’Connell
Northview School Counselor
Counselors Column
Welcome Back! I hope you and your family had a fun and relaxing summer!
A lot has changed this year to ensure the safety of our students, staff and families. The start of the school year can create a lot of anxiety amongst our students. The mental wellness of our students is of high importance. At Northview we work as a team to help your students grow academically, socially, and emotionally.
As the school counselor I have the privilege to work with every student in the school. I will be working with students at a classroom level, small groups, as well as individual counseling. I will also be meeting with parents/guardians, collaborating with teachers and staff, and consulting with community organizations to benefit and meet the needs of all Northview students.
CLASSROOM GUIDANCE LESSONS: CASE Lessons are provided every other week for all students. CASE stands for the curriculum content I teach encompassing topics of career, academic, and social/emotional learning.
GROUP COUNSELING: Group counseling is provided for small groups of students experiencing similar concerns. These may include making and keeping friends, anger management, coping with separation/divorce/loss and/or improving self-esteem. The groups are determined by the needs of the whole school.
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CIRCLES: This school year, each classroom will be split into groups to participate in circles every other week. We will discuss student concerns and check in on one another.
INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING: One-on-one counseling support is available to all students. Students may self-refer or be referred to the counselors by teachers/staff and/or parents/guardians.
* * If you wish to have your student opt out of any of the services listed above keep a look out for Pupil Service Opt-out form that will be coming home with your student the first week of school. **
MONTHLY CHARACTER TRAITS: Through our partnership with Core Essential Values each month we focus on a different character trait that is represented by an animal and color. We introduce the character trait and demonstrate it throughout the school year.
VIRTUAL MENTAL WELLNESS CHECK-IN: I will be offering virtual student check-ins to help students adjust to the new changes and support mental health needs. This is by no means considered a therapy session but as a way for us to help our students feel supported. If I feel that students need additional mental health support I will reach out to parents/guardians and provide mental health resources.
** A Virtual Mental Wellness Check-In consent form will be sent home with each student during the first week of school. Please sign the form and have your student return the form to their classroom teacher. This will allow me to virtual check-in with students in case we go virtual.**
PATH PROGRAM: Our school district has partnered with Ozaukee Community Therapies to support students and families with behavioral or mental health needs. This partnership makes counseling accessible and affordable for all families and acts as a mental health clinic within our school building.
MINDFULNESS: Mindfulness is a research-based tool that starts with purposefully bringing focus to thoughts, emotions, physical feelings, and environment, with kindness and without judgment. Mindfulness exercises are integrated throughout our school day to increase personal wellness and positive feelings, reduce reactivity and negativity, and improve overall classroom culture.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. I can be reached by email at aoconnell@hgsd.k12.wi.us or by phone at (920)565-4457 Ext. 133
Kindest Regards,
Amanda O’Connell
Northview School Counselor
Information from HGSD School Nurse
Greetings Northview Families!
I hope you’re having a wonderful summer. It’s hard to believe that the start of the 2020-2021 school year is right around the corner. As we prepare for the start of the school year, I want to reassure you that the health and safety of our Howards Grove community has been a top priority during the planning process. We would love to guarantee that we’re a “COVID free” district, however we’re doing everything in our planning process to ensure we’re a “COVID safe” district. This school year will be unlike any year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and with that in mind, I want to send out a couple of reminders to assist in preparing for this coming year.
-Purchase a thermometer for your home if you don’t have one already. It will be crucial to keep
your child home if they start to spike a fever. Following our sick day guidelines from previous years, any temperature 100.0 F or above, without the use of fever reducing medication for 24 hours, will need to stay home.
-Arrange back-up plans ahead of time if your child has to stay home sick or is instructed to self-isolate at home. Designate an additional pick-up person, if applicable, since we will encourage any ill child to be picked up from school in a timely manner.
-Have multiple cloth face coverings so they can be washed daily and back-ups ready. Consider sending a container with them to store their facial covering when not in use, ex: eating or recess. Face coverings should completely cover the mouth and nose, fit snugly but comfortably, and allow for breathing without restriction. Educate your child regarding facial coverings:
*How to properly put them on & take off
*The importance of wearing them (protect their germs from others)
*Some individuals may be unable to wear them due to medical conditions
*Practice at home and make it fun.
-Talk with your child about precautions to take at school such as proper hand hygiene, covering coughs/sneezes, social distancing, and not sharing objects with other students.
-Make sure your child is up to date on all vaccinations and has established care with a medical professional. If your child has any emergent medical condition, such as asthma, diabetes, severe allergies, or seizures, please make sure we have a completed health action plan on file.
-If a medication needs to be given during the school day, please fill out a completed Medication Authorization Form and bring all medications to school BEFORE the first day of school. Please contact the Northview office for hours. As a reminder, all prescription medications need to have written authorization by a physician. The medication will need to be brought to the school office by a parent/guardian in the original container clearly labeled with the student name, medication name, dosage, and expiration date clearly listed. All prescription medications will be counted with the parent and office staff upon drop off and pick-up. No expired medications may be given or stored at school. If a pill needs to be cut in half, please do so at home prior to bringing to school as we can’t do so at school.
We greatly appreciate your cooperation and assistance as we prepare for the start of the year. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.
In good health,
Jada Peterson BSN, RN-BC
District Nurse
Visitors Policy for 2020-2021
We enjoy welcoming parents and other family members for lunch or other special activities at Northview. However, this school year we are temporarily restricting visitors in our building. If you need to drop an item off, you are able to do so in the front office. Parents picking a child up will enter the front of the building through door 'A' and proceed to the front office. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility. Behind our masks, we are still smiling and can't wait to welcome you into our building again soon.
PTO
Next PTO meeting is September 28 at 6:00pm via zoom.
Northview Videos
Sneak Peek Cancelled
There is so much excitement in the air for the first day of school on September 1st. Our staff have been busy preparing their rooms and lessons for your child whether their learning environment is virtual or in-person. Our fantastic custodial staff have been diligent in their cleaning to ensure your child will learn in a clean and safe environment.
There are so many challenges we are all facing together this school year. Typically, Northview would be getting ready for the excitement and anticipation of Sneak Peek. A time where you meet your teacher, see your classroom for the first time, walk the halls of Northview, and even visit a teacher you may have had previously. Instead of in-person Sneak Peek, an introduction video from your classroom teacher will be sent to you along with some videos of changes at Northview in hopes of easing some anxiety students may be feeling.
I understand the gravity and maybe some disappointment that this decision may have on families and children. I miss your child dearly as does the staff. The reopening committee has decided that there will be no visitors in any of the buildings for the upcoming school year. The first day of school brings so much energy and excitement as well as tremendous anxiety and stress for some students. Northview staff will be all hands on deck the first few days of school to assist children and parents in any way we can.
School Supplies
Please do not feel obligated to send all of your child's school supplies with them on the first day of school. Your child's teacher will communicate ideas for getting supplies to school without overburdening children's backpacks and carrying capacity. We would like students to focus on getting to their room, greeting their teacher, and being back in their school.
Face Coverings
Every school year brings new challenges so this school year is no different. Wearing face coverings is something brand new for all of us especially our for our children. Our great Northview staff will work with children to understand why we wear face coverings during this period of time we are in and teach some strategies for wearing them.
The Children's Hospital has a wonderful article to provides some helpful tips to assist at home with children wearing face coverings.
2020-2021 NV T-shirt
Click link to place an order for 2020-2021 Northview T-shirt:
In-person or Virtual
Welcome New Staff or Faces in new spaces
Gabby Kramer - Early Childhood Teacher
Kayleigh Sherrer - 4th Grade Teacher
Amy Lyskawa - Special Education Para-professional
Job opportunities at Northview
(1) Special Education Para-professional
(1) Playground Supervisor
(2) Morning Grovers Supervisors
(1) Lunchroom Supervisor
https://wecan.education.wisc.edu/#/Employer/3498/Vacancies/2
Mark Your Calendars
September 1 - First day of School
September 7 - No School
September 8 - Color Day - Blue
September 25 - No School
Northview Elementary School
Email: jasoncole@hgsd.k12.wi.us
Website: http://www.hgtigers.org/o/northview-elementary
Location: 902 Tyler Road, Howards Grove, WI, USA
Phone: (920)565-4457
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/howardsgrovesd