Columbus School District
April Newsletter
Building Together One Cardinal At A Time
Columbus School District
Website: https://www.columbus.k12.wi.us/
Location: 200 West School Street, Columbus, WI, USA
Phone: (920) 623-5950
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColumbusWisconsin/
Upcoming Events
April 4th
April 6th
Early Release @ 1:15 p.m.
April 7th & 10th
April 10th & 24th
24- Board Meeting
April 19th
Message From The Superintendent
We hope that all of you had a great spring break. Each year I am fooled into thinking that the weather will change at a snap of a finger in spring. Consequently, every year I am left reminding myself that we live in Wisconsin, and I should have reasonable expectations for the weather. Spring break is my reminder that we are coming around the corner and heading into the homestretch of the school year. It is a time of the year that we focus a little extra to be sure that we are sprinting through the finish line versus coasting (or fading). In addition to preparing for the homestretch sprint, there are other actions prompted by spring break. I am hoping to touch on them a little more below.
1. Thank You- Spring break always reminds me that it is a good time to show appreciation. The period between winter break and spring break is usually the most difficult time of the school year. That stretch of the year brings the coldest weather and fewest hours of daylight. I want to thank our students, staff, and families for persevering during that stretch. As I walked through the buildings, I continued to see great learning experiences and positive attitudes.
2. Reflection- Spring break is a chance to reflect on the work from the last 9 months. I admit that it feels good to reflect on the successes. Also, the reflection reveals to me the tasks and projects that didn’t go exactly as planned. We know that the most important part of reflection, though, is using it as guidance for future planning. As part of the reflection/feedback process, we would like to hear from parents. We will be sending out a parent survey via Infinite Campus before May 1. We hope that you will take the time to submit a response.
Furthermore, I want to share more about what I learned through my reflection this year. My motivation continues to be to ensure that Columbus is an exceptional place to learn and work. If you know me well, this is probably a phrase that you have heard come out of my mouth. In my spring break reflection, I recognize that we have made major steps in that direction. I am confident that we will continue to unlock more opportunities in the years to come. Below are the two biggest themes that emerged from my reflection.
Theme 1: New District Facility Spaces = New Learning- We were fortunate to move into
our new learning spaces to start this school year. The building projects provided us with many new opportunities. The team worked hard to be sure that the buildings were completed on time and within budget. Our teaching and support staff worked hard to learn how to most effectively utilize and maintain all of the areas. I was fascinated to see the impact of the new spaces.
At the high school, it is great to see students use the equipment in the Tech Ed. area. Furthermore, our students and staff continued to adapt to best utilize the renovated classrooms, library, cafeteria, and weight/fitness areas.
Columbus Middle School experienced the fewest upgrades from the referendum project. The staff has done a great job to make it home to 6-8 grade students, though. CMS has wisely used additional space that became available with grades 3-5 moving to CES. It might seem small; however, it is important for the success of our middle school students.
The renovations to Columbus Elementary School/DCS made it look like a brand new school. The cafeteria and gym serves as a valuable large gathering space for us as a district and community groups. Also, students and staff have been innovative when using the collaboration areas and Maker Space. I have been told that these areas brought “a new and more modern approach to school”.
Theme 2: 3 Cs (Community, Care, Communication)- For a district our size, it most definitely takes a community. It didn't take me long to learn that our community is super-supportive of CSD. The community shows their care through supportive words and non-stop partnerships. We have tried to utilize communication as a method to build that community trust. The reason we find communication important is because in the absence of communication, people expect the worst. We continue to utilize forums like the district and school newsletters. Also, this year we started a PR/Social Media Team. That team has done a wonderful job of communicating on our Facebook and Instagram page. Additionally, we have worked to update our website to provide accurate and updated information. This summer we are planning for printed information to be distributed via mail.
We have the philosophy that providing information and receiving feedback from parents, students, and community is good! We hope that we can continue to expand ways to access information about CSD. Finally, we hope that the communication continues to encourage a caring community.
3. Planning- Spring break is a time of the year that the planning for next school year intensifies. This includes staffing, budgeting, planning for new courses, and other major projects or initiatives. We don’t view each school year in isolation; instead, each school year is part of a continuous journey. We believe that we have a team that is rowing in the same direction.
One of the key components to my job is to be sure that we are planning beyond 2023-2024, too. A couple of years ago, members of the community and CSD collaborated to form priority areas. They can best be thought of as long-term focus areas. The following priority areas were identified:
Create a community campus by building needed facilities and amenities.
Expand hands-on STEAM opportunities for all students.
Address students’ social needs (i.e. poverty, mental health) with community collaboration.
Offer a wide variety of course offerings and co-curricular activities to address students’ needs.
Develop and expand community partnerships.
Implement and sustain up-to-date technology within the schools.
We continue to use these priorities as a compass for our most important work. In the upcoming year, we will begin to work with stakeholders to see if these
continue to be most relevant.
This update has probably a different tone than my typical Superintendent’s Message. I
thought this might be information of interest for you as stakeholders. At CSD we are preparing for the marathon, while sprinting down the homestretch of the 2022-2023 school year. Go Cards!
Jake Flood
Superintendent
Columbus School District
Battle of the Books - 2023
Columbus School District students participated in the 2nd Annual Battle of the Books, a program ran through the Wisconsin Educational Media & Technology Association. At Columbus Elementary School, we had 26 participants on eight teams. Two of the teams advanced on to the state battle.
The Battle of the Books has 3 divisions - Elementary, Middle, and Senior - each with 20 books selected by school librarians around the state. The program begins in October and culminates in February with the statewide battle competition. The battle list for next year is released on June 1, 2023, and the books will be available in eBook and Audiobook format. The books will be available at the public library so that interested students can get a head start on reading the battle books this summer!
This year’s CES state delegate (highest scoring team) was The 4 Fishies. They scored the highest in the battle competition representing our school on February 21, 2022, and our runner up was The Zucchini’s.
At Columbus Middle School, we had 11 participants on three teams. One team moved on to the state competition.
This year’s CMS state delegate (highest scoring team) was our only 7th grade team. They scored the highest in the battle competition representing our school on February 15, 2022. Please give all of our battle teams big kudos for reading all the books!
Summer School
Summer School registration is officially open through April 17th. After April 17th, the district will finalize summer school staffing. Families wishing to enroll in summer school after the registration deadline should contact their child’s principal directly; the district will allow enrollment for students as long as we still have open spots in the sections.
All Columbus School District residents and students who attend Columbus School District under Open Enrollment (must have been enrolled full-time the previous school year). This includes Columbus School District residents who attend Zion Luthern, St. Jerome’s Petersen Elementary, Wisconsin Academy or are home-schooled during the regular school year.
If a student resides in Columbus School District but does not currently attend Columbus School District (ex: private school or homeschooled student), please contact Stacy Post at spost@columbus.k12.wi.us or call at (920) 623-5950 ext. 3152.
To register for summer school, submit the Summer School Registration form for each student attending.
For more details please click Summer School Catalog.
Care Solace Supporting Columbus Schools
If you or a family member are looking for help with mental health or substance use, Care Solace can help you quickly find treatment options matched to your needs regardless of the circumstance. Care Solace is a complementary and confidential service provided to students, staff, and their families by Columbus School District. Care Solace's team is available 24/7/365 and can support you in your language. If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a provider:
- Call 1 888-515-0595 available 24/7/365
- Visit www.caresolace.com/columbus and either search on your own OR click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
See attached flyer English
See Family letter English
See attached flyer Spanish
See Family letter Spanish
Inclement Weather Make Up Days - Update
With the amount of canceled school this year, please plan for June 5 (Monday) and June 6 (Tuesday) being a regular school day for students.
District Office sometimes receives questions about the number of make-up days compared to other districts. The difference is because make-up days are typically a calculation based on total instructional minutes. In simplest terms, we have a very long school day (number of minutes that we run school each day) compared to most districts. This is why neighboring districts and us may vary on the number of necessary make-up days.
OPEN ENROLLMENT APPLICATION PERIOD February 6 through April 28, 2023
Existing Open-Enrolled students attending Columbus School District will not need to Open-Enroll for the 23-24 school year. The previous approval continues from year to year, including the upcoming school year, as our policy does not require annual Open Enrollment applications.
Non-Resident students that would like to attend Columbus School District in the 23-24 school year, please proceed with the Open Enrollment process.
Applications may be obtained from the Department of Public Instruction; or apply on-line.
If you have any questions about the Open Enrollment Process, please contact Stacey at 920-623-5950 ext 3152 or contact WI DPI Open Enrollment Consultant at 888-245-2732, option 2
Student Account Balances
Student accounts can be blocked for meals at parent's request by contacting the Food Service Director.
Pay By Check or Cash
Envelopes are available in each school office or place payments in a sealed envelope with the student(s) full name, student ID#, and amount enclosed.
Payments received are processed and updated within 24 hours with the exception of holidays and vacations.
Pay Online
Using your parent portal, you can track your student's account balance and spending habits.
Angel Fund Donations
Are you looking for ways to help in our community? Consider donating to the Columbus School Nutrition Angel Fund.
The funds will be used to help families receive nutritious meals through the School Nutrition Program.
It’s easy to do. You can send or drop-off your donation to the District Office or any school office. Make checks payable to Columbus School District. In the Memo write Angel Funds.
Columbus School District Office, 200 W School Street, Columbus, WI 53925
If you wish to donate electronically please click the link.
For more information, please contact the district office 920-623-5950
Social Media
Facebook: Columbus Wisconsin School District
Instagram: columbusschoooldistrict
Honor Roll-Columbus Middle School
Honor Roll-Columbus High School
Spring Election
2022-2023 School Calendar
2023-2024 School Calendar
Board Business
MISSION OF THE DISTRICT
Columbus School District empowers students to be community, career, and college ready.
Vision of the District:
Columbus School District will create a global learning experience in rural Wisconsin.
We Believe All Students and Staff:
- are valued.
- are engaged in learning.
- are responsive to unique learning needs.
- have a place to belong.
- appreciate diversity.
- interacting with community will benefit all.
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
Certified Staff Positions Available - WECAN
Support Staff Positions Available -WECAN
Support Staff Positions Available - Indeed