District Family Newsletter
Fall 2020
Dear Evansville Community School District Families;
On behalf of the Evansville Community School District (ECSD) Faculty, Staff, Administration and School Board, welcome to the start of the 2020-2021 school year! We are excited to begin a new school year and we look forward to teaching our students in new and innovative ways. We fully understand that this school year may look and feel different than most years due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Whether you have chosen traditional school, a hybrid approach or virtual learning, we have taken necessary safety precautions, planned for a variety of learning opportunities and prepared our schools and online learning options to welcome our students back for another year of learning.
As a reminder, the ECSD, Bray Architects and J.P Cullen Construction have been busy completing upgrades to our facilities. The elementary and intermediate schools will have new exterior doors, windows, remodeled bathrooms and air conditioning in classrooms. New roof sections were completed at the high school. The new J.C. McKenna Middle School is complete and ready to welcome a new era of learning. We appreciate the support we received from the Evansville Community for all the improvements throughout the district! For more information and details about the referendum construction projects and other events around the school district, please visit our website at www.ecsdnet.org.
As our teachers and staff prepare curriculum, adapt learning spaces and clean our facilities, I ask you for patience, understanding and grace as we all navigate a new normal for the coming school year. I am confident that we will do our best for our students and families. We are ready and eager to have our students back on campus and online for another great year of learning.
Jerry Roth
ECSD District Administrator
Open House Dates:
Middle School: August 25 - 5-7 PM - Virtual
TRIS: August 26 from 5:30-7pm - Virtual
LEVI: Wednesday, August 26 from 5:00-7:00 Drive-Thru Supply Drop off
We are accepting face mask donations!
They can be dropped off at our District Office - 340 Fair St, Evansville.
Daily Home Screener for Students
ECSD Mobile App!
We are excited to announce...
Catch the latest news by building, view upcoming events, staff directory, documents, lunch menu links and more!
Middle School Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - RESCHEDULED!
FOOD SERVICE
Meals available for our online learners
Blended Learning Meal Pack Order form:
If you are interested in meal packs for the days that you child is learning virtually from the blended learning model. Click the link below to order meals for the days that your child is virtually learning.
https://forms.gle/S3uwatuUHi2UtHKf9
All meals ordered will be charged to Skyward Family accounts.
Meals will be made available to pick up starting at 2:55pm until 4pm on the last day your child is at school. Your child can pick these meals up in the Middle or High School cafeteria. These meals are to be consumed at home for the days of virtual learning.
Virtual Learner Meal Order Form:
Meals will be available to students that are utilizing our virtual learning platform. This multi day pack of meals will include 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches that adhere to National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program requirements. Click here to order: https://forms.gle/n6GvziZjmCbrfULE7
Meals will be packed and available to be picked up on Mondays between 3:30 and 4:30pm at the Evansville Community High School circle Main Entrance. A table will be set up outside (weather permitting). Meals can be picked up by student or parent.
You are not required to complete this form, but highly encourage to ensure that we have enough meals prepared and ready for all families. Family Skyward accounts will be charged for meals that are ordered.
Free & Reduced Meals:
Children need healthy meals to learn and Evansville Community Schools offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $1.40 at the Grove Campus and $2.00 at the Middle School and High School. Lunch costs $2.60 at the Grove Campus and $2.95 at the Middle School & High School. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals. Reduced price is free for breakfast and $.40 for lunch at all buildings. Below are some common questions and answers to help you with the application process.
Who can get free OR REDUCED PRICE meals?
· All children in households receiving benefits from FoodShare, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or W-2 cash benefits are eligible for free meals, when listed on the application.
· Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.
· Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals.
· Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.
· Children may qualify to receive free or reduced price meals if your household’s income is at or below the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines.
To apply:
1. Log into your Skyward Family Access
2. Select One of your students
3. Click Food Service along the left side of options
4. Click Applications at the top in Blue
5. Click Add Application and follow prompts
If you need assistance with the online application process please call Jodi McIntyre at 608-882-3381.
Lunch Payment Options
Families are offered three options to pay for their lunch account.
1. Students are able to drop off money at their school’s main office
2. Money can be dropped off at the District Office
3. Families can use E-Funds to electronically submit a payment. Please follow the link for this option. https://payments.efundsforschools.com/v3/districts/55572
4. Each family will be required to enter a family and student number to complete registration. If you are in need of these numbers, please contact Kristin Howlett at howlettk@evansville.k12.wi.us
School Supply Lists!
Has your contact information changed?
You can email any changes to howlettk@evansville.k12.wi.us
Evansville High School
Greetings from Evansville High School!
Here at EHS, we make a commitment to the Evansville Community that your children will have the opportunity to learn, challenge themselves, and grow in a safe, respectful, and engaging environment. We are committed to bringing all students an unforgettable and enlightening experience as they progress through their high school years. Building positive relationships with kids is essential to their growth and progress, and here in the Evansville School District, it’s what we do best!
Below is a list of some key changes and dates to keep in mind as we enter the start of the school year:
· Freshman and New Student Orientation will be Tuesday, August 25 from 6-8 PM.
· EHS Students will not be using lockers for the 2020-21 School Year due to safety precautions. Students will be allowed to have backpacks in the classrooms with them this year. They should carry only essential instructional items with them.
· Cell phones will continue to not be allowed during instructional time. Due to not having lockers and the suspension of the use of the cell phone pockets, students may store their phones in their backpacks while in classrooms. The phones must be secured in the backpacks and turned off.
· Breakfast will be in a grab-and-go format and students wishing to eat breakfast will be able to take it into their TRIE room with them upon arrival in the morning. Breakfast will be charged to student accounts in the same manner as lunch.
· Please be aware that student arrival should be between 7:45 and 8:00 AM
· Our first day back to school will be Tuesday, September 1st for those students in the Blue Cohort and Thursday, September 3rd for those students in the White Cohort and the ECSD Virtual Synchronous Option. JEDI and Edgenuity Students will be contacted by our Advanced Learning Coordinator for start dates.
· Our normal school day will begin at 8:00 AM and end at 3:05/10 PM. These times are a change from the past schedule due to bus drop offs related to COVID safety restrictions.
We are excited to have several new staff members joining the EHS ranks this school year:
· Jeff Crandall-Associate Principal
· Stacy Neal-Administrative Assistant
· Scott Anderson-Math
· Carmen Rick-Art
Please give them all a warm welcome when you see them!
It is an honor to serve as the principal of Evansville High School!
Please contact me at 882-3508 or via email at knottj@evansville.k12.wi.us or Associate Principal Jeff Crandall at 882-3506 or via email at crandallj@evansville.k12.wi.us if you have any questions or concerns.
Jason Knott
Evansville High School Principal
2020-2021 High School Daily Schedule
September 1st & 3rd High School Schedule
Blue/White Cohort Calendar
Parking Permit
A parking tag is necessary and will be issued to all students who have a completed an approved Student Driving and Parking Permit application form. The parking tag must be affixed in the manner designated. Parking permit applications will be handed out during ACP the first week of school. Once the completed form is returned to the office a parking tag will be issued. There is no fee for parking permits. Parking permits can be requested throughout the school year, forms can be found outside the front office. Students who are found to be in violation of the rules and regulations will face disciplinary action which can include detention, suspension, expulsion, revocation of driving or parking privileges, towing of vehicle, or referral to the Evansville Police Department.
Class Dues
Students will be assessed class dues, which are a modest amount collected for conducting class activities. It is expected that students will pay this yearly. Failure to pay class dues will result in failure to take part in the graduation ceremony and may prevent participation in other class activities.
EHS Athletics Updates:
Evansville High School decided to upgrade the gym scoreboards for volleyball, basketball, and wrestling. These will be a great addition to the new paint job by our Building and Grounds. They did an amazing job and we are grateful!
JC McKenna Middle School
JC McKenna's Return to Learn!
Middle School Building Progress
Bus Lane to Parking Lot
Bus Lane out of Parking Lot
Resource Area on Each Floor
Library
Servery
Gym Floor
Theodore Robinson Intermediate School
TRIS Playground
You may have noticed a lot of commotion on the TRIS playground. Do you know what is missing in these pictures? The old tennis courts and fences are gone and we have a newly paved playground. We are so happy to have a safe place for our kids to play for years to come!
TRIS Updates!
The construction at TRIS is wrapping up just in time for the start of school! We have new windows, doors, bathrooms, air conditioning, bottle fillers and a new Art Room. It is amazing to see the old spaces transformed from a high school of years past to the present Theodore Robinson Intermediate School.
Levi Leonard Elementary School
Welcome Back!
Levi Leonard Families,
Welcome to Levi Leonard and the 2020-2021 school year.
I hope this email finds you well. It has certainly been a challenging stretch over the past several months. The Levi staff are prepared to offer safe, flexible and engaging learning options for the 2020-2021 school year.
Classroom placements are now accessible through Family Access where you will find your child's teacher based upon the in-person or virtual setting option you chose during the August 1-9 registration process. You will soon be receiving an email from your child's teacher explaining classroom expectations, procedures, paperwork and plans to begin the year. You will also receive a few brief video links with your child's teachers introducing themselves. Although many families have chosen the in-person learning option, videos and other links will continue to be made available to all families to access information throughout the year.
A great deal of safety measures have been put in place for the upcoming school year. Students and staff will be required to wear face coverings, appropriate social distancing measures will be made possible by smaller class sizes and unique scheduling will allow for frequent sanitization of classrooms, hallways, bathrooms, lunchroom spaces and the playground. Students will travel in classroom cohorts to minimize exposure to larger numbers of peers and will receive consistent instruction on appropriate hygiene and social/physical distancing practices. Signage will be posted throughout the campus creating safe traffic flow and other safety reminders.
Visitors, including family members, will be asked to not enter the building. As disappointing as it is, this requirement has been put in place for the safety of all students, staff and families. For this reason, Levi Leonard's open house this year will take on a new look.
For those of you that were a part of Levi Leonard's end-of-the-year drive through session last spring, this year's open house will take on a similar approach. On Wednesday, August 26, from 5:00-7:00, teachers will be stationed outside Levi Leonard to greet students and their families. Families are encouraged to drive through, wave to teachers and drop off school supplies as they prepare for the start of a new school year. This is also a great opportunity to drop off library books from last year.
Open house drive through traffic flow:
- Kindergarten families will use the TRIS car circle on Third Street to drive by and see their teachers. This approach is being put in place as families will be asked to drop students off from this spot on the Kindergarten playground each morning before school. Students riding buses in the morning will move to these spots when they arrive at school each morning as well. Teachers will work with students to assemble safe lines as they enter the building to begin each school day. Open house is a great opportunity for students and their families to begin practicing this routine.
- First grade families will enter and exit the second/south St. John's driveway on Fourth Street to greet the first grade teachers.
- Second grade families will use the Levi Leonard car circle to find and greet the second grade staff.
These different stations will allow for safe and efficient traffic flow. Teachers will be wearing face coverings and modeling appropriate social distancing measures throughout the drive through session.
Additional information regarding the first days of school, morning drop off, afternoon pick up and general logistical details will be forthcoming. In the meantime, don't hesitate to reach out with any clarifying questions along the way.
We look forward to seeing you next Wednesday.
Thank you,
Mark Schwartz
Levi Leonard Elementary School Principal
LEVI Updates
The blacktop on our playground has a fresh, new and smooth surface. Bright new paint and basketball hoops will create opportunities for fun and engaging activities at recess.
ECSD Athletics & Activities
High School Athletics
As a Rock Valley Conference we have postponed our fall sports to the early spring season. WIAA provided a structured schedule (see attached) that will be discussed at the Rock Valley Conference Level. I have recently met with all head coaches to discuss open gym/run/field opportunities for our students this fall/winter. We worked together and formed a schedule for each program to have an open gym/run/field time. These open gyms will be following WIAA and Rock County Guidelines, every student will be wearing a mask and have them on their person throughout the entire open gym/run/field.
Another important aspect of the WIAA meeting is the Board of Control passed the extension of summer contact days to the school year. This means that is a program was not able to use their 5 contact days in the summer, they may use them now during the school year as long as there is a week break from the start of that sport.
WHAT CAN HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS DO NOW: open gyms and contact days (only if they did not use them in the summer)
High School Activities/Co-Curriculars
I have had a couple conversations with the activity advisors at the high school, and we have our first meeting next week Thursday to discuss what this year will look like. We are going to brainstorm meeting times, locations, and figuring out a schedule that will allow our students to be involved in a variety of co-curriculars. We will be meeting in person and virtually for those students that are interested in the activities. We are also looking forward to our teachers working together and thinking creatively to provide in-house competitions or virtual competitions.
I will have more information after meeting with the advisors this next week. I will then send another update with our plan moving forward. On another note, we have also taken our Activity/Co-Curricular registration online (very similar to athletic registration). This is going to be great tool. Check it out here: https://evansville-ar.rschooltoday.com/
J.C McKenna Middle School Athletics
As a Rock Valley Conference we have cancelled our fall Middle School Athletics. Since the season is cancelled we are able to practice and have coaching contact with the participants. Joanie and I have met with our J.C McKenna coaches this past week and we have decided to do the following:
- Practices will be held starting September 8th - open to all participants Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
- Fundamentals, mental training, and developing a relationship with the participants will be the focus for the first 2 weeks of practice
- There will be competitions within each program developed by our coaches
- All programs will be following WIAA sport specific guidance and Rock County Guidelines
WHAT CAN J.C MCKENNA MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS DO NOW: practice with the coaches and compete against other ECSD students.
J.C McKenna Middle School Activities/Co-Curriculars
Andie Varsho Alexander
New ECSD Staff!
Pictured left to right:
- Brooke Schwartz - Middle School Math
- Brodie Engel - Middle School Social Studies
- Casey DeRemer - K-2 Reading Interventionist
- Carmen Rick- .5 High School Art
- Hannah Kindstrom - Kindergarten
- Amy Connors - Special Education Teacher
- Scott Anderson - High School Math
- Allison Putnam - Middle School English Language Arts.
- Not pictured: Matthias James - 3rd Grade
Career Opportunities
Come join the ECSD Family!
We currently have job openings for the following positions:
High School Special Education Teacher
JV2 Boys Basketball Coach
1 Year High School Spanish Teacher
Substitute Crossing Guard
Visit: https://wecan.education.wisc.edu/#/ to search for ECSD Career Opportunities
Now, more than ever, we are looking for Substitute Teachers!
Want to see more upcoming events?!
Evansville Community School District
Email: krulll@evansville.k12.wi.us
Website: www.ecsdnet.org
Location: 340 Fair Street, Evansville, WI, USA
Phone: 608-882-5224
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ECSDNet/?ref=bookmarks