The Lumberjack Log
December's Details 2023
Note from the Principal, Ms. Kolarik
I hope your Thanksgiving Break is full of gratitude for family, friends, and food.
I would like to take a moment to say how thankful and appreciative I am of the school community and the generous spirit in support of our students, staff, and families; Our Noon Hour Rotarians donated the materials, time, and talents in creating an outdoor whiteboard for our (in-process) outdoor classroom space, taking time out to call or send me a quick email about a positive aspect of Woodside, the volunteers helping our teachers and school, our well attended parent teacher conferences, our generous parent-teacher organization--it's all very kind, helpful, and heartwarming; thank you! I am also very grateful for our hardworking teachers and staff. Their effort to help all our students achieve--academically, emotionally, and socially--is outstanding. And thank you, parents and families, for your partnership in supporting all of our efforts to help your child achieve their very best.
Please review the pick up procedures with any new family members that are dropping off/picking up and know, if and when, those protocols aren't being followed our staff will make every attempt to remind you. Our safety protocols include; drop off/pick up in cone area only, pull forward to the furthest cone whenever possible, do not pull around cars, wait for the car in front of you to move, follow our staff directions upon entering/leaving the pick-up area; slow/stop signs, turning into the driveway, and turning right outside of the driveway--even if there is not a staff person there to indicate turn right. No doubt, the vast majority of our families are not just supportive of our efforts before, during, and after school, but offer our staff the patience, grace, and flexibility teaching and working in a school warrants....and that is appreciated.
Wishing you and yours the best and brightest this season has to offer.
Yours in Partnership,
Julie Kolarik
Woodside Elementary Principal
Woodside Updates
News from Nurse Mandy
Hello Lumberjack families,
Happy December! Please request a doctor’s excuse anytime your student has an appointment or is seen for illness. If your child has a fever of 100.4 or greater, vomiting or diarrhea please keep them home until 24 hours have passed with no medication use. It is recommended to follow up with a healthcare provider if your student has been ill for 3 or more days.
As the days grow shorter and the weather gets colder, any people feel sad or get into a slump at the end of the year. Sometimes when there is less natural light, we can feel down or in the dumps. This is called the winter blues. It can be caused by shortened daylight hours, increased stress, or even a drop in serotonin (a neurotransmitter) levels in the brain. Feeling stuck inside with nothing to do can increase our feelings of sadness. Opening your blinds or curtains to let in natural sunlight, when possible, increase Vitamin D, eating a balanced diet and staying active are all good ways to combat the winter blues. Staying busy, accomplishing a goal, and socializing with others can also help beat the winter blues.
I have put together a Winter Break Bingo sheet that the students can do during their winter break. Staying active and accomplishing a goal is a great way to prevent the winter blues. Finish at least one bingo (5 in a row) and turn it in to me, Nurse Mandy, after break by Wednesday, January 10, 2024, for a treat. I will be doing a drawing for a grand prize winner of 4 Wisconsin Rapids River King tickets. Children must attend Woodside to get a treat or win the prize. Feel free to do more than one bingo and stay active all winter break!
Good luck, stay healthy and happy!
Nurse Mandy
Oh the weather outside is....
Tis the season when the weather is a bit colder. Please be sure you are sending your child(ren) with hats, mittens, boots (for snow) and snow pants. Also, should we have any days called due to poor weather, the first three days will be "traditional" snow days, meaning there will be no work from school. We will send a packet home after the second snow day for families to have on hand for the fourth snow day--this is in case the third and fourth are back to back. Your teacher(s) will send more information on the work if/when those times occur.
December Woodside PTO Updates:
- Thanks to all who sold Kringles and Fun Pasta! Together we raised over $5000 that will go towards field trips, family fun nights, guest speakers, class prizes, school supplies and more!
- Thanks to all who attended our restaurant night fundraiser at La Taqueria on November 16!
- PTO is hosting our Woodside Winter Wonder Shop December 6 & 7; more information will be sent home with your student(s) soon.
- We are in need of volunteers Dec. 6 & 7; email us if you are available to help for a couple of hours.
- Follow WRPS Woodside PTO on Facebook!
Things to Complete for Woodside
Please complete our Safe Routes to School Survey! If you already did in November, no need to do again.
Woodside Elementary (Grades 4K-5)
Parent Survey; English Version
Encuesta para padres; Spanish Version
Niam Txiv Survey; Hmong Version
The Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools is partnering with North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and the City of Wisconsin Rapids to review walking and biking conditions around each school – and hopefully plan to make them better.
We would like to gather your thoughts about children walking and biking to school, and have developed the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) survey for this purpose. The survey will take about 5 -10 minutes to complete, and it will be open through November 21, 2023 for you to provide feedback. We ask that each family complete only one survey per school that your children attend. If your family has more than one child at the same school, then please fill out the survey for the child with the next birthday from today’s date.
Safe Routes To School programs are an opportunity to make walking and bicycling to school safer for children in grades K-8, and to increase the number of families who encourage their children to walk and bike. On a broader level, SRTS programs can enhance children’s health and well-being, ease traffic congestion near the school, and improve community members’ overall quality of life.You can learn more about SRTS by going to: https://www.saferoutesinfo.org/
Thank you for taking the time to complete the SRTS survey! (linked above)
Things to Know About Woodside
Helpful Phone Numbers
- Woodside Absence/Attendance Line; 715-424-6765, press 2, then press 7
- Early Pick-ups (call the Woodside Office before 2:30), etc.; 715-424-6793
- Nurse Mandy; 715-424-6793, option 8
- Bus Questions/Concerns? Contact Safe-way; 715-423-1117
- Non-Safeway District Transportation Questions? 715-424-6700.
What's Up, Woodside?
- ALL of December; Please consider donating hats and mittens to Woodside for students to use at recess. (We will also take gently used and in good condition snow pants and boots.)
- Friday, December 1: No School for students--staff professional development day.
- Friday, December 8: Progress Reports available on line; Progress reports sent home at a later date.
- Friday, December 8: Last day to drop off an unwrapped gift at Woodside to donate towards Toys for Tots (Please consider--we don't have a lot!)
- Wednesday, December 6 & Thursday, December 7; Winter Wonderland School Store-- there will be items students can choose to purchase for themselves and/or others in time for any events they may be having over the next few weeks. Many of the items will be under $2, but some will be up to $10. Most of the items are meant to be gifts and are not Woodside specific. This is the second year we will be doing this and it was received well! Teachers will take their classes to the event during one of the days and will let you know when that is.
- Friday, December 15: Popcorn Friday
- Monday, December 18: Woodside PTO Meeting--CANCELLED
- Tuesday, December 19-Friday, December 22, : Safety Patrol Candy Cane Sale ($ .50) Limit of two candy canes purchased per day. Please see picture below on days candy canes can be purchased per grade level. Proceeds benefit safety patrol end of year trip.
- Friday, December 22: Dress Up Day- Woodside Pride! Wear your Woodside apparel and or our school colors (red and black)
- Monday, December 25-Monday, January 1: Winter Break - No School! (Students return on Tuesday, January 2) See you next year.
District News and Beyond
News from our District Director of Pupil Services; Mental Health Supports
Dear WRPS Families,
Supporting students, their families, and our staff members’ mental health continues to be a priority for Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools. WRPS has several available resources to meet these needs.
The District has continued our partnership which we began last year with Care Solace to provide students, their families, and staff access to mental health care coordination services at no cost. WRPS and Care Solace continue to focus on removing barriers in accessing mental health care. Care Solace streamlines communication and coordination to connect individuals with the right resources and appropriate level of care. Individuals seeking mental health care now have a trusted companion to rely on. With a team of more than 500 dedicated Care Companions, Care Solace connects stakeholders within WRPS to licensed mental health and substance use treatment providers. Through a human-centered and technology supported approach, these Care Companions navigate the mental health care system on behalf of individuals, helping them find the perfect fit for
their unique needs and insurance requirements. These multilingual Care Companions are available 24/7/365 ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for the entire school community. It is important to note that this service is an optional resource, available at your discretion, and is not mandatory. Care Solace is not an emergency response service or a direct mental health service provider. In the case of a life-threatening emergency, please call 9-1-1 or the National Suicide Hotline at 9-8-8. To learn more about Care Solace and its services, visit caresolace.org.
Students, staff, and families may access Care Solace services in two ways:
1) Call (888) 515-0595 at any time. Support is available in 200+ languages. A dedicated Care Companion will help you every step of the way to research options, secure appointments, and follow up to make sure it is a good fit.
2) For an anonymous search, answer a few questions to get matched with an extensive list of care providers at caresolace.org.
Another resource available is Gaggle Therapy. Since the start of the 2021-2022 school year, WRPS has contracted with Gaggle Therapy to provide therapy services to students as a way to address the local counselor shortage. Gaggle Therapy provides secure video platform-based mental health and support services to students, facilitated by licensed therapists and counselors who are experienced in working with children and teenagers. With parental consent, students participate in 45-minute weekly video therapy sessions. All FERPA and HIPAA guidelines are adhered to, and there are no costs for families or parents. For more information, please reach out to your child’s school counselor.
Additionally, WRPS has partnered with several local agencies to provide in person individual and/or small group support. These supports are available in many of our schools. Please reach out to your child’s school counselor to learn more about what is offered at school. If you or a family member is seeking counseling-related services, please consider reaching out to Care Solace assistance or to your child’s school counselor. These resources are provided to you by the District, and I am available to answer any questions you may have. You can contact me via email at steven.hepp@wrps.net or by phone at 715-424-6724.
Sincerely,
Steven Hepp
Director of Pupil Services
More news from our Director of Pupil Services; Children's Resource Network
Dear WRPS Staff and Families,
The Department of Health Services (DHS) has officially launched the Wisconsin Wayfinder:
Children's Resource Network, a service designed to connect families with essential support and
resources. This service could greatly benefit families, especially those with children who have
delays, disabilities, special health care needs, or mental health conditions.
Wisconsin Wayfinder: Children's Resource Network aims to provide families with a simple and
effective way to connect with real people. The staff are dedicated children's resource guides who
are ready to assist in navigating through the crucial services and supports necessary for a child's
well-being and development. The goal of the service is to improve the way families with special
health care needs access and connect with vital resources. Families will be able to get the help
they need, regardless of how they reach out. Contact information can be found below.
Wisconsin Wayfinder: Children's Resource Network
Website: dhs.wi.gov/wiscway
Toll-free helpline: 877-WiscWay or 877-947-2929
It is important to note that Wisconsin Wayfinder: Children's Resource Network is funded by the
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), demonstrating a commitment to supporting families during
these challenging times. We wanted to ensure that all of our school district staff and families were aware of this invaluable resource. Wisconsin Wayfinder is meant to provide the support you need, ensuring that students receive the best care and assistance possible.
Sincerely,
Steven Hepp
Director of Pupil Services
Woodside Elementary is a school community made up of a skilled staff of professionals, educational assistants, and support staff who enjoy working with elementary students. Check out our Facebook page to see some of the amazing educational opportunities our team is providing our students! Go Lumberjacks!
Thank You for Sharing Your Child with Us!
WRPS is committed to ensuring that all students and parents have access to school district information, policies, procedures, and programs. If you need assistance with interpreter or translation services, or other special accommodations that would be helpful to you, please contact either your child’s school office or call the Pupil Services Department at 715-424-6724 so that we can assist you.
Spanish
WRPS está comprometido/a a garantizar que todos los estudiantes y padres tengan acceso a la información del distrito escolar, pólizas, procedimientos y programas. Si necesita ayuda con servicios de intérpretes o traducción, o cualquier otra adaptación especial que le sea útil, por favor, póngase en contacto con la oficina de la escuela de su hijo/a o llame al Departamento de Servicios para Alumnos al 715-424-6724 para que podamos ayudarle.
Hmong
WRPS xav kom txhua tus menyuam thiab niam txiv sawsdaws tau kev pab ntawd lawv lus tsev kawm ntawv txog peb cov ntaub ntawv, kev cai, thiab lub hom phiaj. Yog koj xav tau kev pab txhais lus lossis lwm yam, thov hu rau koj tu menyuam lub tsev kawm ntawv lossis hu rau Pupil Services Department ntawd tu xov tooj 715-424-6724. Peb zoo siab pab koj.
Special Statement Regarding Sex Discrimination Under Title IX In compliance with the federal title IX statues and regulations set forth in Chapter 106 of Title 34 of the code of Federal Regulations, the District does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of sex in any education program or activity that the District operates. Title IX's requirement not to discriminate in any education program or activity extends to cover, but is not limited to, District students, certain admissions processes, and District employment. Inquiries regarding how Title IX and the federal Title IX regulations apply to the District may be referred to the DIstrict's Title IX Coordinator (as designated below), to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the US Department of Education, or to both. Please refer to Board Policy 411.11 for additional information. WRPS Title IX Coordinators Brian Oswall, DIrector of Human Resources 510 Peach St Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494 P: 715-424-6710 E: brian.osall@wrps.net Pupil Non-Discrimination Statement The School District of Wisconsin Rapids is committed to equal education opportunity for all District students. The District will not deny any person admission to, participation in, or the benefits of any curricular, extracurricular, pupil services, recreational or other program or activity because of a person's gender, race, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity, or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability, or any other characteristic protected under State or Federal civil rights laws. Please review board Policy 411 for additional information. Incidents of discrimination or harassment should be reported to a teacher, administrator, supervisor, or other District employee to be addressed or forwarded on to District Compliance Office Brian Oswall.