Bridges Elementary
December 2017 Newsletter
District Website: www.saukprairieschools.org
Facebook: Bridges Elementary Facebook Page
24-Hour Attendance Line: 608-643-1847
Fax: 608-643-1849
Bridges' Office Staff
Chanda Kulow, Principal
608-643-1845 chanda.kulow@saukprairieschools.org
Stephanie Tarnutzer, Secretary
608-643-1844 stephanie.tarnutzer@saukprairieschools.org
Jody Kapp, Secretary
608-643-1843 jody.kapp@saukprairieschools.org
FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK
Happy December Bridges’ Families!
This week wraps up the first trimester of the school year. Your child's first report card will be coming home in their Take-Home folder on December 8th. The grades on the report cards are built upon a number of ways that your child shows proficiency of the skills at his/her grade level. For instance, your child is showing what he/she knows and understands through tasks. For each grading period, teachers collect and review evidence of student learning to determine how well the student is progressing to end-of-year expectations. Evidence may include student work samples, observations made in the class, common assessments, and other activities which help teachers monitor and report on your child’s understanding of the grade-level standard.
Please refer to the following link to see the specifics of what your child is learning each trimester:
http://www.saukprairieschools.org/district/elementary-curriculum.cfm
If you have any questions about the report cards (or anything else related to learning) please don’t hesitate to ask your child’s teacher. The communication between the classroom teacher and you is incredibly important. Together we can do great things for your son or daughter.
As always, if you have any questions please let me know.
Thanks for ALL you do!
Sincerely,
Chanda Kulow, Ed.D
Principal of Bridges Elementary
December Calendar
NO SCHOOL
Friday, December 1
End of Trimester
Professional Development Day
School Board Meeting
Monday, December 11, 7:00 PM
Location: Middle School
Early Dismissal
Wednesday December 13
Elementary @ 1:30 PM
MS & HS 1:50 PM
No K4 or PM Early Childhood
School-wide Pajama Day
Friday, December 22
Wear your jammies to school--with your tennis shoes!
Winter Break
NO SCHOOL
Monday, December 25, through Tuesday, January 2
Students return to school on Wednesday, January 3
Click here: http://www.saukprairieschools.org/district/HR/2017%2018%20calendar1.pdf to see all upcoming calendar events (early release, school start and dismissal times, etc).
Mark Your Calendars
for the 2nd Grade Musical!
What: 2nd Grade Musical (ALL 2nd GRADERS)
When: Tuesday | January 23, 2018 | 6:00 P.M.
Where: Bridges Elementary Gym
What to bring: A winter scarf to wear
**This replaces the 2nd Grade Concert on the school calendar for April 17th**
If cold weather makes you shiver to and fro, you’ll love our COOL show about friendship and SNOW! Learn how real warmth starts from within and can spread like a blizzard when shared with a song!
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Notes From the School Counselor . . . Anne Uphoff
During December, I will be finishing conflict resolution lessons and turning toward small groups. Together, some of our students have been building new skills through breakout sessions such as: “Personal Space Camp – being safe in your personal space,” “Sailing Through Family Changes,” “Dealing with Feelings” and “Recipe for Friendship.”
We know that loving others—a family member, a friend or simply your neighbor—is more often an exercise in self-sacrifice and putting others first. Gary Chapman says knowing your child’s love language can make all of the difference in your relationship. You can “fill up your child’s emotional bank account” with love. Then, when you make requests or have to discipline your child, those “withdrawals” from their emotional bank account don’t leave them feeling insecure about your love. Here, Dr. Chapman shares descriptions of the FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES:
1. Physical Touch. Hugs and kisses are the most common way of speaking this love language, but there are other ways, too. A dad spins his seven-year-old daughter round and round, and she laughs wildly. A mom reads a story with her three-year-old on her lap.
2. Words of Affirmation. In communicating love, words are powerful. Words of affection and endearment, words of praise and encouragement, words that give positive guidance all say, “I care about you.”
3. Quality Time. Quality time is focused attention. It means giving a child your undivided attention. Quality time is a parent’s gift presence to a child. It conveys this message: “You are important. I like being with you.” It makes the child feel that he is the most important person in the world to the parent. (When you spend quality time with children, you need to go to their physical/emotional level of development.)
4. Gifts. The giving and receiving of gifts can be a powerful expression of love. The most meaningful gifts become symbols of love, and those that truly convey love are part of a love language. You might think that this is a primary love language for all children, judging from the way they beg for things. But those whose language of love is receiving gifts will respond differently when they get their gift. They see the gift as an extension of you and your love.
5. Acts of Service. Some people speak acts of service as their primary love language. If service is your child’s primary love language, your acts of service will communicate most deeply that you love Johnny or Julie. When that child asks you to fix a bicycle or mend a doll’s dress, he or she does not merely want to get a task done; your child is crying for emotional love.
Would you Like to Find your Sweater?
School Safety: A Shared Responsibility
Thank you for using these "Safety First!" techniques to keep all people and cars safe and sound at pick-up and dismissal:
Always use the crosswalks when picking up your child and/or walking to the school parking lots.
It is difficult for cars and impossible for buses to see adults and children who may be cutting in between vehicles. Additionally, your child may see you as you cut across the driveway and run towards you. Adults can model safe choices by using only the crosswalks. Thank you for your help!
Obey all traffic signs and directional arrows.
Thank you for your patience while waiting in the pick-up and drop-off lines. Per village ordinance, businesses are allowed only two entrances per streetside. We have maximized the use of our two entrances to create the most efficient flow possible. With the ring of the dismissal bell, the entire process of loading both walkers and riders takes no longer than ten minutes thanks to dedicated staff, helpful students, and alert parents.
Keep up the great flow!
P.S. Please remember...no left turns from Broadway into Bridges from 7:30 to 8:15 AM and 2:00 to 3:30 PM.
Por favor ayúdenos a mantener la Escuela Primaria de Bridges segura. Siempre use el paso para los peatones al recoger a su hijo(a) y/o camine a la escuela desede el estacionamiento.
Es difícil para los carros e imposible para los autobuses ver a los adultos y niños que están caminando entre los vehículos. Además, su niño lo verá mientras está cruzando por la entrada para los carros y él/ella correrá hacia Ud. Los adultos deben demonstrar al os niños la manera segura al siempre usar el paso para los peatones. Gracias por su ayuda.
Bridges Photo Gallery
Field TRIPP
In the photos below, Ms. Kapp, Bridges' secretary and Tripp volunteer, shows students an early photography technique known as the "hidden mother." With long exposure times in early photography, mothers would often need to hold squirmy young children to keep them from becoming blurry in the final product. To keep the mothers out of the picture, photographers would try and hide them in any way possible--by covering them with sheets, curtains, or even posing them as furniture! After the photo was finished, the mother was often cropped out of the frame. Today, if you visit an antique store, look for hidden mothers among boxes of unidentified photos.
Old School
It's all in the Details
Click Clack Cool
Students explored the differences between a typewriter and a modern computer keyboard. The keys are much harder to press...and, wait! Where is the enter key?
Roleplay
Hand/Eye Coordination
Good Vibrations
Student Perspective
So Much to Say
History Detectives
Helping Hands
Throughout the month of November, students have developed their greatness trait of being helpful. One way to be helpful is by showing kindness. As a way to grow, Action for Happiness shares a Kindness Calendar for the month of December with a different option each day to be helpful to others and yourself. Check it out here: http://www.actionforhappiness.org/kindness-calendar
For next month, we look forward to working together on the trait of self control.
Teamwork
Two Heads are Better Than One
A Little Bit of Help
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Call us!
Attendance
1) Please call the Bridges Elementary Attendance Line
643-1847 by 8:00 AM any time your child will be absent or late to school. This is a 24-hour message line.
2) Or send an email. Please include both office secretaries (jody.kapp@saukprairieschools.org and stephanie.tarnutzer@saukprairieschools.org) when emailing your child’s teacher about absences, health concerns, or any issue that needs immediate attention. There are times when a teacher may be absent / unable to receive your message, and it will not be received in a timely manner unless both office staff are included as well.
3) In keeping with our safe arrival policy, the school will contact you if your child is absent and we have not received a call or note from you concerning your child’s absence.
Late Arrival
Students will be marked as TARDY if they arrive after 8:10 AM. If your child arrives after the bell has rung, please bring them to the main office, located at the front doors of the school. All other exterior doors to our building automatically lock when the first bell rings at 8:00 AM.
Dismissal/Early Pick-up
Please phone the school or send a note with your child if you will be picking them up early. If your child will be leaving before dismissal, it is necessary for you to come to the office to sign your child in/out for the day.
Excused Absence
If your student is absent due to a professional appointment, the absence can be excused so that it does not count against your child's attendance. To excuse these absences, please provide the school with an appointment card or note from your appointment. Professional appointments include doctor, dental, counseling or other similar appointments. See pages 22 and 23 of the Sauk Prairie School District handbook for more detailed information about what constitutes an excused absence.
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Daily Schedule
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
7:00 AM to 4:00 PM
School begins at 8:00 AM. Please arrive on time.
*Anyone arriving after 8:10 AM will be considered tardy.*
When students come late to school, even if it's only a few minutes late, they are missing important parts of the morning. We also would like to eliminate as many interruptions in the classroom as possible once school begins.
4-Year-Old Kindergarten:
Morning: 8:00 to 10:50 AM
Afternoon: 12:15 to 3:05 PM
K-2 Lunch:
Kindergarten
Lunch: 11:10 AM to 11:40 AM
Recess: 11:40 AM to 12:00 PM
First Grade
Lunch: 11:45 AM to 12:10 PM
Recess: 12:10 PM to 12:30 PM
Second Grade
Lunch: 12:15 PM to 12:40 PM
Recess: 12:40 PM to 1:00 PM
K-2 Daily Recess:
Kindergarten: 10:00 AM to 10:20 AM
1st Grade: 1:25 PM to 1:45 PM
2nd Grade: 1:50 PM to 2:10 PM
Dismissal:
3:05 PM for walkers/pick-ups and pink bus bell
3:08 PM for After School Club students and blue bus bell
GUIDELINES FOR RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER ILLNESS
- Fever- Temperature should be less than 100 degrees for at least 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication) before returning to school.
- Vomiting/diarrhea- Please keep your child home if he/she has vomited or had diarrhea within the last 24 hours.
- Strep throat- Student should be on prescribed medication for 24 hours before returning to school.
- Pink eye- If your child has red eye(s) and has discharge, he/she will be sent home and asked to be evaluated by a healthcare provider. Student should not return to school for 24 hours or after having used three sets of prescribed eye drops.
- Head lice- We monitor students for itching of the scalp and will check for them if we are concerned. Please notify your child’s school office if you have discovered lice and treated your child.
- Pertussis (whooping cough)- Student will be isolated from school for 5 days if confirmed case while on prescribed antibiotics.
**These are general guidelines to help promote the health and safety of our students. Please follow the recommendations of your child’s healthcare provider.
District nurses are on call for health concerns. We routinely visit each school and will visit as needed for consult. If you have concerns regarding your child’s health or changes in their health, please contact Laura Cody 643-5509 or Martha Allan 643-5628.
Be Prepared with Extra Clothing
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DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION/DISMISSAL PROCEDURE
Please go to http://www.saukprairieschools.org/families/transportation.cfm for all general information regarding transportation to and from school. At Bridges Elementary, it is vital that we have your child's dismissal plan in Skyward and if there are any changes that it is updated there and we are made aware of it at Bridges. We follow the dismissal plan that is in Skyward. Students will have tags on their backpacks showing their dismissal plan so the aides can easily check if there is any question. This year, the district is requiring a form that parents need to complete if there are any changes in a student's dismissal plan. This is to eliminate hand written notes and call in changes. Here are some examples of when a form is required:
If Jane is invited to a birthday party on Wednesday and she needs to ride a different bus than what she usually does, a form needs to be sent in to the office.
- If Jane is being picked up on Thursday instead of riding the bus like her dismissal plan states, the form needs to be sent in to the office.
- If Aunt Kathy is picking Jane up on Friday instead of her normal dismissal plan a form needs to be sent in to the office.
- If Jane's normal dismissal plan is that she rides the Grasshopper Bus home, but today she is riding Cherry Bus to Grand Ave, the form needs to be completed and sent to the office.
- Jack's normal dismissal plan is that he rides the Snail Bus to his home. Today he is to ride the Snail Bus to his Aunt's house down the road. Jack would need a form completed and sent in to the office.
- If your child is scheduled to be a Pick Up and someone other than you is going to be picking them up, the form needs to be sent with your child ONLY If that person IS NOT listed as an emergency contact. Please update your emergency contacts in Skyward to eliminate any confusion.
The form is accessible on the link above or below as well as in the office at Bridges. The bus driver will collect the form and will not allow transportation without one. If it is a last minute change at the end of the day you can certainly call the office and we can fill out the form for you. If you have a rotating schedule please let the office know in advance what the plan is for your child. For instance, if every month or week is different, please send in a calendar with the correct dismissal plan. Remember to mark your calendars for early dismissal dates as well. The dismissal plan for those days in addition to emergency release days, can be marked in Skyward.
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MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL
According to the Sauk Prairie School board, certain criteria must be met in order for any medication to be dispensed at school. Before any medication can be dispensed, an Authorization for Medication Administration (AMA) must be completed and returned to the school office. This form is necessary for both over-the-counter and prescription medications and requires both a parent and physician signature.
For example, if your child suffers from migraine headaches, we will NOT be able to
distribute medication to him/her without an AMA on file. Many parents picked up the AMA form at district registration. Additional forms are available at the Grand Avenue
office or online.
In order for medication to be distributed, pills must be in a prescription bottle with proper labeling. Students may carry inhalers with them, however, an AMA form must be on file in the office.
If you have any questions regarding medication distribution, please contact Laura Cody, District Nurse, 643-5509.
VOLUNTEERING AND APPLICATIONS
SKYWARD UPDATES
If your child has two households or even if you would like multiple people in your own household to receive general email notifications from the school, such as the monthly newsletter and lunch menu, please log in to Skyward and click on the Skylert link on the left hand side. On that page, you can now add other phone numbers, emails or text message numbers for those who would like to receive emergency messages. If you have additional questions about how to manage your Skylert notifications or need to change your log in and password, please contact Stephanie Tarnutzer at 643-1844 or stephanie.tarnutzer@saukprairieschools.org .
Each guardian has their own Family Access Skylert account. Skylert is used for:
- Emergency: bomb scares, gas leaks, etc.
- General: School schedule changes such as late start, closing early, snow day, etc.
- Low Balance: Food Service account balance is $15 or below
- Negative Balance: Food Service account balance is below $0
How do you edit your Skylert contacts?
1. Log in to www.saukprairieschools.org
2. Click on For Parents/Students
3. Click on Skyward Student/Family Access Link
4. Enter your guardian login and password
5. Click on Skylert
6. Make the appropriate changes
7. Click on Save
8. Click on Exit
Note: Each guardian will need to change their Skylert .If you need assistance, contact Jane Wood at 643-5984 or at susan.oneil@saukprairieschools.org
FAMILY/PERSONAL INFORMATION CHANGES
FAMILY MOVES - TO OUTSIDE THE SAUK PRAIRIE SCHOOL DISTRICT
When a family moves from within the Sauk Prairie School District to outside the district, students may continue to attend the school where they are currently enrolled if they qualify for a Tuition Waiver (obtain from District Office). Students who qualify for a Tuition Waiver (remainder of Current School year, Additional year, Current Year/Additional Year, or Current Year Permissive) are entitled to continue their enrollment through the waiver period. However, they are required to apply for open enrollment at the next possible time (February-April application period) that the application process is available to remain in the District for the present school year and beyond. See our website at www.saukprairieschools.org for more information or call Susan O'Neil, (608) 643-5984 or susan.oneil@saukprairieschools.org. Transportation is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
FAMILY MOVES - WITHIN SAUK PRAIRIE SCHOOL DISTRICT
When a family move occurs within the Sauk Prairie School District please notify your school office or contact Susan O'Neil, Student Records Secretary at (608) 643-5984 or susan.oneil@saukprairieschools.org with your new address. Parents may request that their elementary child attend a school other than the one in their attendance area in writing to the District Administrator. When families relocate from one attendance area to another within the District during the school year, the children affected may continue their education at their original school if approval is granted by the District Administrator. Transportation can be provided through existing bus routes or parents will provide transportation to/from school.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS/EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
School closings will be announced as early as possible via Skylert to families and staff members, posted on the District’s webpage, and on local television and radio stations. Information will also be available by calling the school closing line at 643-5990 #2 for a recorded announcement.
WISC Channel 3
WKOW Channel 27
WMTV Channel 15
- 1400 AM; 104.9 FM; 102.9 FM
The local police department and bus contractor may be involved in the decision to close. Principals will also be involved in decisions to dismiss school early for emergency reasons. In the absence of the Superintendent, the decision to close school will be made by the Superintendent’s designee.
HEAD LICE
Lice are small insects about the size of a sesame seed. They are usually light brown but can vary in color. They move quickly and shy away from light, making them difficult to see. It helps to use a magnifying glass and natural light when looking for lice. Nits (eggs) are tiny, yellowish-white oval droplets attached to hair shafts; they do not come off easily and have to be combed out with a special comb or manually removed. Nits can be found throughout the hair, but are most often located at the nape of the neck, behind the ears, and frequently on the top of the head.
The CDC states, “Head lice can be a nuisance but they have not been shown to spread disease. Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice.” Additionally, lice are not likely to be spread in a classroom setting as usually they are spread by direct head-to-head contact. Regular screenings at home can help prevent the spread of head lice. Please check your child weekly for head lice. When lice are discovered, please contact your child’s physician or a pharmacist regarding treatment. Following a treatment, it is important to comb through the hair for 7-10 days. During this time, lice can be removed manually or with a special comb. A second treatment may be necessary if nits or live lice are still found.
Please contact Laura Cody, District Nurse, at 643-5509 if you have any questions regarding head lice.
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Current nondiscrimination language (Policy 2260):
Sauk Prairie School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, sex, (including transgender status, gender expression, gender identity, and gender nonconformity), or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability ("Protected Classes") in any of its student program and activities.
Lenguaje Actual sobre la No Discriminación (Política 2260):
El Distrito Escolar de Sauk Prairie no discrimina en base a la raza, al color, la religión, la nacionalidad de origen, los ancestros, el credo, el embarazo, el estado marital, el estado de los padres, la orientación sexual, el sexo (incluyendo el estado transgénero, la expresión del género, y el género de no conformidad), o por una discapacidad física, mental, emocional o de aprendizaje (“Las Clases Protegidas”) en cualquiera de las actividades y programas del estudiante.