Woodridge in November
Wonder & Think . Think & Wonder
Mrs Thistles thoughts
We are moving right along into our winter months. Perhaps I am being redundant but, I am so proud of our kids, parents, and staff. Your kids are making great choices at school! They are being respectful, responsible and safe. Thank you, parents, for helping to reinforce safety in our school and participating in your child's education during our Parent-Teacher conferences. Teachers are making great connections with your child and together they are moving through our academic curriculum in a safe, nurturing environment. Nice job!
Volunteers welcome: If you would like to come in and support our school regularly, but haven't been contacted yet, please feel free to contact me directly. There are a few areas where we could use extra support. (Shelving books, organize box-tops, listening to students reading or practice math skills.)
I wish you and your family a happy, healthy November. All the best to you!
Salina Thistle
608.742.3494 ext. 3002
P.S. Our Woodridge Parent Club rocks! Thanks for providing our students and staff with water bottles!
Mark your calendars
1st PTO @ 4:30
3rd Fun Friday
10th END OF 1ST 9 WEEKS
15th Fundraiser Kick Off
17th School Assembly in the Gym
20th Seal A Smile
22nd-24th No School
27th End of Fundraiser
27th No School - Full Day In-service
Secretary
Just a reminder
School starts at 8:00 a.m if students arrive after 8:00 a.m then the adult needs to walk the child into the office to sign them in, the student will then receive a pass to give to their teacher.
Reporting an absence
Please contact Ashley Gumz in the Woodridge office before 8:15 a.m. if your child will be absent. 608.742.3494Changes in Bus/Pick-up
Please send a note with your child in their folder or call before 2:30pm if there is a change in the way they normally go home.
Change of clothes
Kids will be kids and accidents happen. Whether it be sliding down a wet slide or spilling their water/milk/juice. If possible please can you send your children with a change of clothes everyday just incase.
POPPIN FOR POP TOPS..!
Thank you to everyone who helped collect pop tops for our Poppin' for Pop Tops competition. As of October 30th, the Woodridge students and staff donated 533,419!
The winners of our competition were Mrs. Krugers (KG) and Ms. Apfelbecks (1st Grade.)
Both classrooms were rewarded with a popcorn and movie party.
Mercedes is going to be collecting pop tops until the end of January so, feel free to continue bringing in your pop tabs so she can meet her goal of 6 MILLION..!
Art Warriors
In October, the kindergarten and first-grade students experienced creating with clay. Using the texture of their shoes they created ceramic medallions that will be incorporated into a mosaic mural to be displayed in the hallway at Woodridge.
For the month of November, the students will be working on their winter-themed masterpieces to be displayed at the Holiday Program in December. We will also be learning about color mixing through edible art!
*Volunteers Needed* The students are creating such wonderful art and I would LOVE for you to be able to see it. I am looking for some volunteers to help me get our students’ art uploaded (no prior experience necessary). Please contact the Woodridge office or your child’s classroom teacher if you would like to be a volunteer for the art room.
Ms. Adams
Physical Education
In the gym, we have been playing some new tag games I found online and some old ones I learned years ago at a physical education convention. New or old, kids love tag games! As much as they love tag games, they love scooters as well.
My wife, a physical education teacher at St. Mary's in Portage, taught me some scooter activities we will be using in the coming weeks. They sound awesome and I'm sure the students will love them! Fun is the goal of a lot of our activities, but we are also working on teamwork, cooperation, and respect for each other every day!
Mr. Due
Music Notes
The music students have started working on their songs for our holiday program which is Dec. 19 at the Portage High School.
All of the students have been playing instruments to the beat of their October song. The first graders are not only playing the instruments but also learning to identify the instruments by their written names. The First graders are continuing to work on their solo singing voice and most of them are able to match my singing voice.
The Kindergarten students are learning to play instruments and to be able to name those instruments when I point to them. Ask your child, what instruments they have been playing in music class. They are starting to do some solo singing by using my owl puppet. This is a great way for them to hear their voice and try to match it to my singing voice.
Ms. Yerke
Reading, Snacks and Snuggles
https://www.scholastic.com/.../amazing-turkey-rescue-the-by-steve-...
Story: The Amazing Turkey Rescue
Snack: Nutter Butter Turkey
Snuggles: Grab a blanket and curl up with your child, enjoy a story and make memories
Use a Nutter Butter for the turkey body.
Use candy eyes or mini chocolate chips for eyes.
Use frosting to attach candy corn for both feathers and beak.
Nurses Notes
*When your child is ill*
Students who present to the school office with symptoms during the school day will have our district guidelines taken into consideration for the action plan. For example, a student who comes to the office complaining of not feeling well will be asked to identify what is not feeling well. Is it a headache, stomachache, fever, cough. Temperature checks are made frequently. Sometimes a few minutes of rest and a drink of water is all that is needed. But we will call you if your child meets a guideline and ask you to take action.
Please remember that students who need medication during the school day must have the medication delivered to the school office by an adult in the original pharmacy labeled container or original package with directions for over the counter meds, and one medication consent/request form per medication shall be completed and submitted to the office for the nurse to review before giving. Medication forms are online for your convenience. Go to Nursing Services, Medication. Ask the pharmacist to provide a second bottle for school when ordering or picking up the medication from the pharmacy.
The school nurse is available to you as a resource, please do not hesitate to call for support and guidance. Mrs. Hon covers all elementary buildings and may be reached at 608/742-4867, ext 4131, 608/697-4912, or honv@portage.k12.wi.us
Handwashing
Germs are commonly spread through direct contact or by sprays from coughs or sneezes. Washing our hands at key times throughout the day is very important to stop the spread of germs. Please work with your child to practice good handwashing skills that includes the use of soap. Be sure you focus on both the fronts and backs of hands, between the fingers and fingertips. Keep nails trimmed and clean. Fingernails longer than ¼ inch are known to harbor more dirt and bacteria, so a nail brush may be needed.
Key times students are encouraged to wash hands at school include:
after using the restroom
before eating lunch or snack
when dirty, such as after recess or art
after coughing, sneezing or blowing the nose
any time a child wants to
before preparing food
Handwashing helps to keep our fellow students healthy. Many students have chronic health concerns causing a lowered immune system. These students are no different than others but are challenged with staying healthy on a daily basis. Let’s all step up the hand washing, for ourselves and others!
Counselors Corner
DAILY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE!!
Kids who have good daily attendance that begins in Primary/Elementary School, are more likely to master reading skills by 3rd grade, have positive social interaction with their peers, graduate and find success in their jobs/careers.
Some absences are unavoidable, we can’t control when our kids get a fever! Yet we can do a few things to help our kids (and us!) have a smooth start to our mornings;
-Make sure our little ones are getting 10-11 hours of sleep.
-Lay out clothes the night before.
-Sign any papers or agendas the night before.
-Pack backpacks the night before.
It is also important to have a backup plan for getting the kids to school, just in case they miss the bus, or the neighbor or relative that usually picks them up cancels at the last minute.
We want your kids at school every day! They are missed by their teachers and their classmates when they are absent!
Denise Brown
Woodridge Counselor
Portage Weekend Snack Pack Program
The Portage Weekend Snack Pack Program, a Portage Child Hunger Committee project, provides a weekend supply of nutritious food for children when school lunch and breakfast is unavailable on a weekend. Each food bag will contain some food for breakfasts, lunches, and snacks, for each weekend for your child(ren). All food is nonperishable and provided to children free of charge. It is our hope these resources will support the health, behavior, and achievement of every student that participates. All children are eligible for this program. The program is run completely by wonderful volunteers who help pack the food bags, shop, recruit etc. The program is funded through the generous gifts from The Rotary Club of Portage, Society of St. Vincent de Paul Portage, Columbia County UW-Extension and the community at large. Please note, that the program is always looking for more sponsors and volunteers! We look forward to working with staff, teachers, and you for your children!
For more information or questions, please contact Caitlin Richardson, Columbia County UW-Extension FoodWIse Coordinator at 608-742-9693. To sign up for the program, please contact John Muir Elementary front office at 608-742-5531 or Woodridge Elementary front office at 608-742-3494.
Wellness
Classrooms/School and Celebrations:
Snacks served during the school day or in after-school care or enrichment programs will meet the District Nutrition Standards (Healthy Snacks for Children).
During occasional celebrations (i.e. birthdays, holidays) items that do not meet the District Nutrition Standards may be acceptable for student consumption within moderation. However, the District will encourage a healthy snack item to be offered in conjunction with other offerings.
Strong consideration should be given to nonfood items (see Non-Food Rewards for Children Guide) as part of any Teacher-to-Student Incentive programs. If a teacher feels compelled to utilize food items as an incentive, they are encouraged to adhere to the District Nutritional Standards.
- The School District is concerned with the dietary and lifestyle practices of its staff, as well as its students. In order to promote wellness among its staff, the district will continue to provide opportunities for staff to become physically active. Staff is also encouraged to model ideal behavior for students by making food and beverage choices that align with the District Nutrition Standards outlined in this policy.The
Board Policy 537 is the official wellness policy of our school district.
http://www.portage.k12.wi.us/district/wellness2.cfm
Resources for you..!
2nd Harvest Mobile Food Pantries (open to all Columbia County residents)
2nd Monday of every month at 11:00am at the Columbia Co. Fairgrounds, Wauona Tr/Griffith St. Everyone welcome. No ID’s needed. Bring your own carts/baskets to carry your food.
St Vincent De Paul Food Pantry
Located at 1311 West Wisconsin Street in Portage
Monday–Thursday 9am–5pm, Friday 9am–8pm and Saturday 9am–5pm
*You will need to bring photo ID, proof of residency and your own bags. Applicants are eligible every 30 days.
806 Silver Lake Dr, Portage, Wi, 53901 (608) 742-2178
2946 Red Fox Run, Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-8482
Provides a variety of family services, including scheduled playgroups, parenting support and information series, workshops, and family visiting program. Staff are available to answer questions or provide resources to help families. All services are free.
Dental – Free or Low Cost Services - Seal-A-Smile
Susan Lorenz R.N. M.S. Columbia County Health Officer at 608-742-9227 susan.lorenz@co.columbia.wi.us
The Columbia County Seal-A-Smile dental sealant program is available at no charge whether or not your child is covered by dental insurance. The program will bill Medical Assistance or BadgerCare if your child is covered by these programs.
Free Immunization Clinic
2:30pm-5:30pm (10/10, 11/14, 12/12 - 2016) No appointment is necessary – Birth parent or legal guardian signature required. Bring immunization records.
Library Programs
Contact the library in your community to inquire about special programs for children and families, such as story hour or summer reading programs.
Portage Public Library 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage 53901 (608) 742-4959 Hours: Mon-Thurs 9-8:30; Fri 9-6; Sat 10-4 Sat hours between Memorial Day & Labor Day are 10-1 Contact: info@portagelibrary.us Website: http://www.portagelibrary.us/
There are many more resources available to our community, feel free to check out the Columbia County Health and Human Services Website: http://www.co.columbia.wi.us/columbiacounty/Portals/7/Resource%20Guide.pdf
Portage Community School District
1) Create a great climate for parents, students and staff. (Action steps in italics)
Parents: We added a digital newsletter in hopes of reaching more parents.
Students: We are looking at our school environment and asking- where and how do students learn best? We are creating a lego wall, "Maker space" area and dry erase wall for students in the library.
Staff: Celebrate staff members at our weekly assemblies, discuss things that we can take off of teachers plates and planning monthly potlucks.
2) Reduce the number of students that are absent from school. "10 days or less is success." Students who are present at school are much more likely to be successful academically.
*We have classroom incentives for when all students are at school (extra recess, game day, free choice.)
*Students are celebrated at the end of each quarter when they have perfect attendance.
*Please let us know if there is anything that we can do to help your child get to school in the morning.
3) Increase student achievement.
*Teachers collaborate each week looking at our assessments and helping each other to meet student needs.
*We are using our district programs, pacing guides and our observations to ensure that all students are learning and growing.
Attendance Update
Did you know…..
75% of the students at Woodridge Primary School have missed less than 3 days of school. Good attendance helps your child be successful. Keep up the good work!