RUSCHIES ROCK REVIEW
May & June 2022 - Vol IV
Calendar of Upcoming Events
May 6
May 13
May 20
May 27
MEMORIAL DAY - Monday, May 30 - NO SCHOOL
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - Tuesday, June 7
FIELD TRIPS and SPECIAL EVENTS:
May 2 - Therapy Dog Visit
May 3 - Portage Movie Theater (5th grade)
May 10 - Discovery Center & Madison Zoo (3rd grade)
May 10 - STREAM Night @ Muir (all families invited)
May 11 - Gumz Farm (4th grade)
May 12 - Mini Course Day & Pool @Rusch (all grades)
May 18 - MacKenzie Center (5th grade)
May 19 - Blue Star Dairy Farms (4th grade & K(Eagan only))
May 20 - Bartels Middle School Visit (5th grade)
May 23 - Portage Library Trip (K-Eagan, 1st, 3-4th grade)
May 23 - Circus World Museum (2nd grade)
May 24 - Portage Library Trip (K-Brooks, 2nd grade)
May 24 - Kohl Center & Olbrich Gardens Madison (4th grade)
May 25 - Portage Library Trip (5th grade)
May 25 - Timbavati Wildlife Park (Kindergarten & 1st grade)
June 2 - Rusch Pool Day (2nd - 5th grade)
June 2 - Portage Splash Pad (K-1st grade)
June 3 - 5th grade Celebration
June 6 - Rusch Carnival all day!
A Message From the Principal
May 10th is STREAM night at John Muir and Woodridge from 4:30-6:30 PM. This family event will have reading, math, technology, art, engineering, and many activities. We will also be giving tours of John Muir and Woodridge so students can get an introduction to those schools. Hoping to see many Rusch families at this event.
I have been working with the mini-course committee planning activities for May 12th and I appreciate the over 100 volunteers, community members, parents, high school students, and other elementary and high school staff who will be joining us that day to bring some exciting activities to our students. Thanks to the many parents and the Rusch Family Pride Organization for donating funds and supplies for activities.
On May 18th from 4:30-6:30pm there will be an open house at Rusch to invite the public into the building and celebrate the 82 years of education in this building. There are many upcoming field trips and special classroom events our students will be participating in as well making this last month of school the best yet for our students.
It has been my honor to work and serve all students, parents, and staff at Rusch these past two years. Thank you for all you do to support your children, our school, and the school community.
Principal 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
Greetings Rusch Elementary Students and Families,
As I reflect upon the experiences our students and staff have engaged in over the past 8 months, I see a year that has been filled with opportunities that have brought joy, growth, and a love for learning to both the students and staff at Rusch Elementary.
I'd like to take a moment to thank our students, staff members, families, and community members for demonstrating an ongoing willingness to work together to ensure that Rusch Elementary continues to be a great place to learn. This year has been truly amazing and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as your Dean of Students for the 2021-2022 school year.
Have a great summer!
Ms. VanderSchaaf
Message from Rusch School Counselor
It’s hard to believe that the end of the year is upon us! This final month is full of excitement and celebration as we prepare to finish the year and move on to the next! Here’s what we’ve been up to in our classroom counseling lessons, and what is still to come.
All classes have completed their safety lessons. We are now moving into final lessons, review, and looking forward to next year. In second and third grade, we will also spend a little more time covering healthy friendships. In fourth grade we will cover mindfulness and growth mindset. And in fifth grade, we will discuss and explore careers.
In all classrooms, we are focusing on persevering through the end of the year. Both in our academics, but also socially and emotionally. With summer approaching and many months spent together, now is often a time that friendship conflicts increase. We are continuing to reinforce positive and safe ways to handle conflict. I find that recently I have been repeating the same pieces of advice to students:
You don’t have to be best friends, but you do have to be respectful.
You can’t choose what someone else does, but you can choose how you react.
And finally, surround yourself with good friends that make you happy.
Talk to your student about what they want in a friend and what they are doing to be a good friend. We have wonderful, kind students here at Rusch. If there is anything you or your student needs between now and the end of the year, please reach out.
Angie Kenas
School Counselor
NURSING NOTES
Wrapping Up and Planning Ahead At the end of each school year, families are asked to pick up any unused medications from the school office. Please make arrangements now for the end of school year medication pick-up by a parent, legal guardian, or designated adult. Medications not picked up by June 7, 2022 will be disposed of properly through the Portage Police Department’s Medication Disposal bin. The beginning of each school year is really busy for families, clinics, and schools alike. Children entering kindergarten and 6th grade in the fall of 2022 will need to have immunizations. Kindergarten students should also have an eye exam by an eye doctor prior to December 31, 2022. Scheduling appointments for medication renewals, sports physicals and well child exams should take place now for the most flexibility. Remember that Portage has the St. Vincent de Paul Free Medical Clinic on Wednesday mornings if you do not have health insurance. Be sure to include eye examinations and dental check ups while you have your calendar out. Health plans and medication forms for the fall will be mailed to families in July. The blank medication form is always available on the district’s website under Nursing Services, Medication or http://www.portage.k12.wi.us/district/medication.cfm. Read the form to see if your child may be eligible for the Self Carry, Self Administer option. This webpage includes a short video about completing a medication form. Contact your school nurse for assistance with clinic locations, phone numbers, assistance programs, community resources for care or questions you have. The main school office staff can connect you with the correct school nurse. Stay well!
Valerie Hon, MSN, RN, NCSN, LSN
District Nurse, Safety Committee Chairperson & WASN District 5 Director
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
APPOINTMENTS
SPRING MUSIC PROGRAM INFO
Thanks!
-Emily
--Emily Janes
Music Teacher
Rusch, Lewiston, and Endeavor Elementary Schools
(608)-742-7376 ext. 6402
VIRTUAL SCHOOL OPTIONS FOR 2022-2023 ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR
The Portage Community School District will offer a virtual school option for our students for the 2022-2023 academic school year, thanks to a continued partnership with Kiel's Between The Lakes Virtual Academy (grades K-8) and Kiel's eSchool (grades 9-12).
If this is something that your family might be interested in for your child(ren), please note that an application and interview will be required before online registration can begin.
Please visit our Virtual School webpage on the district's website for additional information, the applications, and the application deadline: PCSD Virtual School webpage.
The application deadline is June 24, 2022.
Friendly Reminder
LOST AND FOUND ITEMS
We find ourselves with an excess of LOST & FOUND items that need to find their way home. Please check our LOST & FOUND area right outside the Rusch Office when you drop/pick up your student(s). We have jackets, sweatshirts, snow pants, clothing, hats, swimsuits, etc.
Anything not claimed by Friday, May 13th, 2022 will be donated to a local charity.
Thank you!
FREE PORTAGE SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM
The Free Portage Summer Lunch Program is returning to the community again this summer from June 13th through August 31st! Lunches will be served Monday through Friday. Meals are free for youth 18 and younger and must be eaten onsite. Meals can NOT be taken off site and eaten, they need to be eaten at the site in which they were dispersed (this is different from the last 2 summers). Weekend meal packs will be offered with lunches on Fridays--these packs can be eaten off site.
This year, there will be four meal sites including:
Splash pad/ Goodyear Park: 11:10-11:35 a.m.
Portage Public Library: 11:15-11:45 a.m.
Lincoln Park: 11:45-12:05 p.m.
Sanborn Park: 12:15-12:35 p.m.
___________________________________
Caitlin Richardson
Columbia/Dodge/Sauk County FoodWIse Coordinator
University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
112 E. Edgewater St.
Portage, WI 53901
Phone: (608)742-9693
711 for Relay
FoodWIse is supported by the USDA Food Stamp Program, UW-Extension, FoodShare Wisconsin, and local partners. In Wisconsin, FoodShare can help provide a healthy diet. To find out more about FoodShare, visit access.wisconsin.gov .
An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title VI, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements.
Portage Library Fun!
For the month of May, we are having a bookmark design contest! The three winning designs will be printed into bookmarks for the summer.
They will be available for patrons to take home. ALL bookmarks will be displayed in the library to highlight the creativity of our community!
Please share this with your students/families. This contest is for ages up to 5th grade. Entries are due by May 27th.
Angie Tomlinson
Children's Library Assistant
Portage Public Library
Children's Department
THE MARKET...food is good!
The Market is open from 2 - 4 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. on early release Fridays and 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. all other Fridays beginning September 2, 2021.
The Market currently has access to infant formula. Please contact the Market if you are in need of any.