Woodridge in March
Throw kindness around like confetti
Portage Community School District Goals
District Curriculum Goal: Each student will make at least one year of growth in each curriculum area.
District Behavior Goal: As a school community, we will increase behaviors that promote learning and respectful interactions.
District Professional Development Goal: We will provide Professional Development for staff that increases learning for all students.
Mrs. Thistle's Thoughts...
Greetings!
Thanks to the Woodridge Parent Club, and for the Woodridge parent support of our fundraiser this year, two students each month will win an adult and child movie ticket from the Portage Theater. Every time a child reads a book at home, they can write their name on a paper movie ticket and turn them into school. The more books they read at home the more chances they will have to win! More tickets are available in our office.
Beginning on March 2nd, we will celebrate Read Across America at our school. We have fun dress up days planned all week long. Attached is an article about how we as parents can Raise Ready Readers. Also, I’ve attached an article that helps to explain reading strategies, which we can use when we read with our kids Reading Strategies. Thank you for working with us.
We have our annual Breakfast with a Buddy celebration, as well. Listed below are the dates/classrooms schedule. Our celebration will be from 8-8:45. Parking may be limited. Please feel free to park at the Gerstenkorn building or along Slifer Street. If you need another form, please contact your child’s teacher or the Woodridge office.
Monday, March 2nd, Breakfast with a Buddy: Lainberger, Hanson, Kruger
Tuesday, March 3rd, Breakfast with a Buddy: Klafke, Hinze
Wednesday, March 4th, Breakfast with a Buddy: Kane, Apfelbeck
Thursday, March 5th, Breakfast with a Buddy: Fenske, Calkins
Thank you for your support of our awesome school, go team Woodridge!
Mrs. Thistle
Woodridge/Endeavor Principal
4k Coordinator
Mark Your Calendars
10th: Parent/Teacher Conferences and Scholastic Book Fair 4-7pm
12th: Parent/Teacher Conferences and Scholastic Book Fair 4-7pm
16th-20th: Spring Break
27th: Assembly in the gym
30th: Read Across America Week begins
read across america week
Dress Up Days ALL Week
Monday, March 30th: I Am NOT Going to Get Up Today!
Wear your pajamas! But don’t forget shoes for recess.
Tuesday, March 31st: We Love The Cat in the Hat!
Wear your favorite hat.
Wednesday, April 1st: Wacky Wednesday!
Get wacky! Wear your clothes backwards, inside out and mismatched! Don’t forget the crazy hair!
Thursday, April 2nd: The Lorax! (Reading & Math Night! 5-7pm)
Wear a funny mustache!
Friday, April 3rd: Fox in Socks!
Wear silly socks!
Secretary Notes
Reporting an Absence
Illness
The Portage School District has a 24 hour fever, vomit and diarrhea policy. If your child is sent home for any of these reasons, they may not return to school until 24 hours has passed since the last episode. This is the best way to keep the illness from spreading and reduce the possibility of prolonged absences. All of our policies are listed in the Woodridge Primary handbook as well as on our district website. Thank you for your cooperation.
Outdoor Recess Attire
Although the weather outside may be getting warmer, students still need to bring their winter gear. The weather changes quite a bit from day to day this time of year so please check that your child is prepared every day! Coats, snow pants, boots, hats, and gloves are all necessary to keep them happy and warm. When there is still snow on the ground, things can get a bit wet. Without snowpants and boots, students must stay on the blacktop during recess. The school has a very limited supply of extra snow pants and gloves. Thank you for your help in trying to keep recess as fun as possible during the seasonal change!
breakfast
Did you know March 2nd is Dr. Suess's birthday? March 2nd also starts the first day of National School Breakfast Week. We will be starting the week off with raffles for Dr. Suess books. Help celebrate NSBW by joining your friends for breakfast and don't forget to check the breakfast menu for March to see new items and giveaways.
Lunch
When sending lunch money with your child, please make sure to put their first and last name on the envelope. This will help make sure that the money ends up in the correct place. You can check your child's lunch account balance on their Infinite Campus account.
Parents and other family members are more than welcome join their student for lunch and/or breakfast. If you decide you would like to join them please make sure to call ahead so we can add you to the lunch count and check in with the office upon arrival to get your pass.
Adult Breakfast cost is $2.40
Adult Lunch cost is $4.25
*This must be paid in cash as unfortunately we cannot take this out of the student's lunch account.
Physical Education
Kane: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Apfelbeck: Monday, Tuesday, Friday
Calkins: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
Fenske: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
Hinze: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
Klafke: Monday, Thursday, Friday
Hanson: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
Kruger: Monday, Tuesday, Friday
Lainberger: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Music
The Kindergarteners have been working hard on their solo singing voices. More and more of my friends are starting to find their singing voice. We will continue to work on our singing voices by doing voice exploration exercises like making sirens or roller coasters with our voices, and adding to stories with up and down sighs like Oooooh noooooo, oooooh yes. And following an object with our voice as it is thrown up in the air and then falls down-using our sirens. We will be echo clapping and tapping quarter note, and eighth notes and working on our Fine Arts Night songs. Our Fine Arts night is April 23.
The First Graders will continue to tap and clap from notation quarter rest and then will be learning about eighth note patterns which we call Ti-Ti. They are also working on writing the rhythms they hear in music notation. Our first graders will again be singing one of our songs using sign language so please help your child work on their signs for Old Macdonald if they remember how to do them.
Art
Stories, Snacks and Snuggles
Story: Little Pip and the Rainbow Wish
Snack: Fruity Pebbles Marshmallow Treats
Snuggles: Grab a blanket and curl up with your child, enjoy a story and make memories
Make rice krispie treats, substitute with fruity pebbles.
Counselor's Corner
LET’S TALK SCREENS!
Our kids exposure to screens/media is everywhere; TV, movies, tablets, video games, cell phones, Ipads, Ipods, and computers. There is a lot of wonderful uses for media that provide education and entertainment for all of us and our families. Yet media is not always a positive thing. There are dangers in media use that as parents and educators, we must protect our children from. We, as the adults in our children’s lives, must keep on top of the advances in media and protect our kids from non age appropriate materials.
Children’s brains are not fully developed, specifically the part of the brain, the pre-frontal cortex, responsible for critical thinking, judgement, problem solving and impulse control. When children or teenagers view media showing violence, or harmful stereotypes, their own ideas, feelings and behaviors are impacted. Without guidance from a trusted grownup, repeated exposure to these types of media may lead to an increase in aggression and a decrease in empathy.
Screen-based devices are also making kids more stationary, and stationary behavior is tied to being overweight and even obesity in young people.
Nothing takes the place of the things that are proven to be best for little kid’s bodies and minds like talking, playing, growing bored, and learning how to do stuff.
Here are some helpful tips for setting guidelines on media and screen time;
Preview media that your child is interested in before you allow them to view/play it.
Stick to rating recommendations. They exist for a reason.
Limit screen time to no more than 1-2 hours per day. Let them earn an extra ½ hour on weekends or summer days by doing an extra chore or reading a book. Stick to these limits.
Keep your kids bedrooms free of screens: no TV, game systems, laptops, tablets or cell phones.
Use your parental judgement. Your kids are counting on you to set their limits!
From the Nurse's Station
Keeping our Children Lead-Safe
Was your home built before 1978? If so, your children could be exposed to lead in the dust from lead-based paint. Just a small amount of lead dust can cause learning disabilities, developmental delays, and other behavior and health problems for your child. Fortunately, you can prevent exposure to lead by making sure your home is lead-safe.
Get your young children tested for lead.
Get more information about how to protect your children and prevent lead poisoning.
Wellness
The Portage Community School District believes that nutrition and physical activity influence a child’s development, well-being, and readiness to learn. The District will promote healthy schools by supporting wellness, good nutrition and regular physical activity as a part of the total learning environment. The District supports a healthy environment where students and staff members learn and participate in positive dietary and lifestyle practices. By facilitating learning through the support and promotion of good nutrition and physical activity, our schools contribute to the basic health status of students and staff. Improved health optimizes student performance potential and contributes to the success of all students.
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.
Please feel free to visit the website to read our wellness policy
Math Activity
lost and found
Resources available to you...
Columbia County Health and Human Services
111 E. MULLETT STREET,
PORTAGE, WI, 53901
608-742-9227
- ADOPTION SERVICES
- AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
- CHILD CARE PROVIDERS
- COUNSELING
- CRISIS PROGRAMS
- DENTAL–FREE OR LOW COST SERVICES
- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
- EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
- FAMILY RESOURCES AND SERVICES
- FOOD PANTRIES
- GOVERNMENT OFFICES
- HEALTH CARE-FREE OR LOW COST SERVICES
- HEALTH CARE-GENERAL
- HOUSING
- LEGAL SERVICES
- LIBRARIES
- PARENTING EDUCATION AND SUPPORT
- PEER SUPPORT SERVICES
- PREGNANCY RESOURCES
- RECREATION
- SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS
- SEXUAL ASSAULT
- SOBER LIVING
- SUBSTANCE ABUSE RESOURCES
- THRIFT STORES/RESALE STORES
- TRANSPORTATION
- UTILITIES
- VETERANS
Go to this link to learn more:
http://www.co.columbia.wi.us/columbiacounty/Portals/7/Resource%20Guide.pdf?ver=2019-04-10-153102-620