4K and EC Family Newsletter
March 30, 2020
Welcome to Spring
We are beginning to adjust to our new reality and trying to see the rays of sunshine in such bleak news across our nation and world. I know that Spring Break had a different tone this year. Hopefully we were all able to get outside and take a few big breaths. We will get through this together.
The power of community is great. - Erin and Sara Jane
A message from SASD Superintendent Dr. Tim Onsager
Friday, March 27, 2020
Dear Stoughton Area School District students and families,
I want to share a video message with you to help us stay connected in a time in which things feel disconnected and uncertain. Please click to watch as I address our community.
If you prefer, click here to read the written version.
Read the video message in Albanian or Spanish.
Please continue taking care of yourselves. Please be smart. Please be safe. And never hesitate to reach out.
Sincerely,
Tim Onsager
District Administrator
Need Assistance?
Stoughton Food Pantry
520 S 4th Street, Stoughton
Hours: Monday-Wednesday 10am-2pm
Thursdays 10am-2pm and 4pm-6pm
Closed Friday
First Saturday of the month 9am-11am
Call for an appointment: 608-873-8103
United Methodist Food Pantry
525 Lincoln Avenue, Stoughton
Hours: Tuesdays 9am-11am and 5pm-7pm
Wednesdays 9am-11am
Call for an appointment: 608-873-3273
Personal Essentials Pantry
343 E. Main Street, Stoughton
Hours: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month: 1pm-5pm
Call 608-620-3250
PRIMAL Fitness Pantry
318 S. Forrest Street, Stoughton
Offering a variety of food and grab-and-go lunches all day M-F with the help of Stoughton community businesses. When available, hot sandwiches are available from 8:30am-10:30am.
Family Resource Update
Community Resources: Below are resources (in Stoughton and Madison). We strongly encourage you to call the organization first in case any have made changes or closed due to COVID-19.
Mental Health or Social/Emotional Support Resources:
Mental Health Support 249-7188 www.namidanecounty.org
SAMHSA disaster distress hotline 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor
Stoughton Neighborhood Free Health Clinic (services for 18 year old or older) offers phone consultations for health and wellness concerns and mental health services that can be requested for dial-in appointments
Social Distancing
Public Health Madison & Dane County- Social Distancing
Stay at home as much as possible, especially if you're sick.
Practice aggressive social distancing. What does aggressive social distancing look like? Here are some ideas from PHMDC:
Cancel events and avoid groups, gatherings, play dates, and nonessential appointments.
Shop less often.
Explore your doctor’s virtual visit options.
Avoid handshakes.
Try online ordering.
Try remote options.
Spread out at work.
Continue strong everyday preventive measures.
Avoid all nonessential travel.
You can view PHMDC's travel guidelines here under the headline "Travel".
Travel Reminders
At this time, Public Health Madison & Dane County is recommending that people avoid all nonessential travel.
PHMDC does not recommend any travel to areas with community transmission of coronavirus. This includes domestic travel to states with community transmission. If travel is essential, Public Health recommends a 14-day self-quarantine upon your return. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has more information about how to self-quarantine.
It is everyone’s responsibility to use common sense and exercise good judgment about travel.
4K OWL Curriculum
Definition of Play:
"Engage in an activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose".
Click on the link to learn about 16 Types of Play- Encourage Play. During this time of at home learning, remember that your child is learning through play!
Special Education and School Closure
Letter to families 3/27 from Keli Melcher, Director of Student Services
IEPs: The district will continue holding Annual IEPs during the closure as required by the Department of Education, the Office of Civil Rights, the Office of Special Education Programs, and the Department of Public Instruction. IEPs will be held either through video conference or phone conference during the school closure. When school resumes, we may hold review/revise meetings face-to-face as determined by IEP teams.
Service Delivery: Due to the Governor's order of school closure and no face-to-face instruction, we will continue to provide access to the general education curriculum and special education services to our students in a virtual format. These services may look very different than they do when school is in session. The district is currently working on a process. In the upcoming weeks, we will communicate with you either through your case manager, principal or more generally through the district's web page.
Creativity & Learning at Home from Crayola
Crayola at Home is geared towards all of the families across the nation with children home from schools, here you’ll find:
DIY Crafts for adults & kids
At-Home Learning Resources for families & teachers
Craft Kits & Supplies to keep little hands busy
Free pick & print coloring pages to keep the kids busy while you’re working from home
Adult Coloring 101
Fallin' in love with Zoom!
Students and Families, we are going to use a program called Zoom to host virtual meetings. Zoom allows users to connect online in order to video chat.
Strategies to Support Language Development and Learning
1. Build Relationships—Be an Empathic Language Partner
2. Respond & Take Turns—Be an Interactive Language Partner
3. Respond to Nonverbal Communication
4. Use Self-Talk and Parallel Talk
5. Talk Often with the Child, Using a Rich and Varied Vocabulary
6. Use Joint Attention Strategies
7. Use the Four E Approach-Encourage, Expand, Elaborate and Extend
8. Use Semantically Responsive Talk
9. Use Infant-Directed Speech
10. Use Questions and Control Carefully
11. Listen with Your Eyes
12. Read, Sing, Use Finger-Plays and Social Games
For more information click on the link.
Author: D. S. Wittmer|S.H. Petersen
Working Remotely
Also, for more information you can check out the Department of Public Instruction- Early Learning site, or Information on COVID-19.
Be well- Sara Jane
Contact Us
Erin Conrad, 4K Principal/Kegonsa Principal
erin.conrad@stoughton.k12.wi.us
Kate Ahlgren, Director of Curriculum and Instruction
kate.ahlgren@stoughton.k12.wi.us
Sara Jane Lee, 4K Inclusion Support Teacher
sarajane.lee@stoughton.k12.wi.us
Mindy Holverson, 4K Educational Assistant
mindy.holverson@stoughton.k12.wi.us