TIGER-RIFIC NEWS
Douglas Elementary School Newsletter - January 2022
In This Edition:
- Principal's Message
- Skyward Online Enrollment for 4K and 5K
- Parent / Teacher Conferences
- Douglas Kindness Week (Feb. 7-11)
- Online Yearbook Order
- Junior Coach Info and Trainings
- Douglas Volunteer Opportunities
- DESSA Parent Portal
- Social Media Awareness and Parent Resources
- Douglas Calendar
Principal's Message
We are officially halfway through the 2021-2022 school year! We have been hard at work at Douglas Elementary School, our days packed full of engaging instruction, relationship-building, and social-emotional skill development. This time of year is a busy one, as we have just wrapped up our assessment window - gathering all kinds of student learning data - as well as completing report cards for the first semester. We know that the past two school years have presented very unique, ongoing challenges, and we are so proud of the growth and perseverance our Douglas Tigers have shown.
Again, this year, our school report card, as reported by the WI Department of Public Instruction, Douglas Elementary School SIGNIFICANTLY exceeded expectations, with an overall score of 85.9 (out of 100)...with particularly high student growth scores! Our Douglas learners, in all subgroups and demographics, demonstrated growth during their time at Douglas that exceeded most peers across the state - with our ELA (English Language Arts) growth coming in at a score of 100/100! Douglas is a school where all learners grow and develop.
We look forward to seeing all of our Kindergarten-5th Grade families at Parent-Teacher conferences coming up via Zoom in mid-February. We also can't wait to welcome your younger children in either our 4K or Kindergarten classes. If you have children who will be 4 or 5 as of September 1st, please don't delay in enrolling them for school. Your support in enrolling early in the process helps us to adequately plan for the upcoming school year.
This newsletter contains a lot of valuable information for families, as well as information about upcoming volunteer opportunities and events. We appreciate the support of our Douglas families, and look forward to the coming semester!
Mrs. Emily Lessner
Skyward Online Enrollment for 4K & 5K
Watertown Unified School District will begin online enrollment for our 2022-2023 four-year-old and five-year-old kindergarten programs on Tuesday, February 1st at 10:00a.m.
If you, or someone you know, has a child who will be turning four or five on or before September 1st, 2022, please enroll online. You can find more information on our district webpage, www.watertown.k12.wi.us
If you do not have online access, you can go to the ESC at 111 Dodge Street from 7:45a.m.-4:30p.m. Monday-Friday by appointment.
If you have any questions about our four-year-old or five-year-old kindergarten program, please call the district office at (920) 262-1460. If you have questions specific to Douglas Elementary's 4K or 5K programs, you are welcome to reach out to our office at (920) 262-1495 as well.
Don't forget - we have FULL and 1/2 Day programming available for 4K learners!
Parent / Teacher Conferences
Conferences are now OPEN for Scheduling on Skyward.
Tuesday, February 1st - Conference Scheduling CLOSES on Skyward.
Conference Nights: 4:00pm to 7:35pm - Thursday, February 10th, & Tuesday, February 15th. Conferences will be 15 minutes in length. Based on positive feedback and high attendance last winter, Conferences will be held via Zoom. If you would prefer an in-person conference, please reach out to your child's teacher.
*Sign-Up via Skyward!
- Step One: Parent will log in to Skyward Student Family Access from the District homepage
- Step Two: Click on "Conferences" link on the left hand side.
- Step Three: Make sure the correct student is listed at the top of the screen before going to the next step.
- Step Four: In the middle of your screen, you will see your student's name (Douglas Elementary), "view Scheduled Times" and "All Conferences". Click the "All Conferences" link to schedule your conferences.
- Step Five: Click on the "Select a Time" link.
- Step Six: A pop-up window will appear with a schedule of available appointments. Click "Select" next to the appointment that works for you.
- Step Seven: You will need to confirm your selection in a pop-up window and then hit "Save".
- Duplicate this process for each student.
If you are in need of your Skyward login information, please contact Kelly or Dawn (920-262-1495, kwapilk@watertown.k12.wi.us, or mcbrided@watertown.k12.wi.us). Your children's teachers do not have this information.
Kindness Week at Douglas Elementary - February 7-11
If you would like more information for how you can promote kindness at home, as well as information about the assembly and making kindness "cool", please check out the parent resources on Think Kindness' website here: https://thinkkindness.org/virtual-assembly-parent-resources/
Online Yearbook Order Form
Please click on the link below and place your order before March 11, 2022. You will be placing your order directly through the Network Photography website.
The link will close March 11th.
Junior Coach Training Meetings
Attendance at each of these training sessions is mandatory for junior coaches to continue with the program. Please contact Miss Steuerwald or Mrs. Lessner with any questions.
Junior Coach Training Dates:
Wednesday, January 26th - 2:15-3:30 PM
Wednesday, March 9th - 2:15-3:30 PM
Wednesday, April 13th - 2:15-3:30 PM
Wednesday, May 25th - 2:15-3:30 PM
Current 3rd & 4th Grade Students will have an opportunity to apply for the Junior Coach program (2022-2023) this spring!
Current Douglas Junior Coach Squad - Please plan to attend this week's training session!
5th Grade: Zeeq V., Ben K., Alex H., Emma H., Peyton S., Kacie H., Josh W., Emma G., Evalee H., Zoey K., Kellen M., Cameron S.
4th Grade: Malaina S., Charlie B., Ben Y., Zoey H., Braylynn B., Lilli M., Kynleigh W., Kylie K., Elliana K., Adrian B., Wyatt G., Annalissa W., Analise C., Gracie H., Greta A., Joyce L., Lexie S., Brynley C., Val S., Wayne S.
Volunteer Opportunities - Douglas Elementary School
Please see the info below about some exciting, upcoming events and volunteer opportunities at Douglas! If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the form below. We also welcome grandparents...parents, you are welcome to sign them up as well!
Spring Scholastic Book Fair
(March 14-17th - Volunteers needed March 16-17)
**Daytime and evening volunteer hours available
**Check students, staff and families at the register
**Volunteer-friendly systems
**Volunteers receive discounted books!
Douglas Dash
(Friday, May 13th)
**Daytime event - Grade levels assigned 45 minute timeslot
**Volunteers needed for set-up, snack station, lap counters, and data entry
**Volunteers needed for the Douglas Dash subcommittee of the PTO
**Help ensure our biggest, and most festive fundraiser of the year is a success!
Douglas Field Day
(Friday, June 3rd - midday-afternoon)
**Daytime event - Students assigned to rotating groups
**Volunteers needed for set-up, running stations (relays, snowcones, inflatables)
Volunteer Form - Click to Complete!
Aperture Education - DESSA Parent Portal
Social Media - Parent Awareness & Resources
At school, we work hard to help our students grow in empathy and kindness, through our Second Step curriculum, Morning Meetings, Read Alouds, and the upcoming Great Kindness Challenge. Our school counselor also teaches students about bullying, and strategies to stand up for themselves and others when peer conflict or a tricky situation arises - now or in the future.
As we talk with students, and help mediate peer conflicts, one thing that often comes up is use of social media (Tik Tok, Snapchat, etc.) and online gaming platforms with chat features (Fortnite, Minecraft, etc.) outside of school, which then impacts students during the school day. Things that seem as innocent as posting a picture of yourself with a friend having a sleepover, and sharing it with your "followers" can really have a large impact on others. Further, we have also heard of students sharing messages or comments directed toward or about other students. We as adults are more able to navigate this social scene, and even we have hurt feelings and find social media challenging, at times.
If your child is active on social media, I would encourage you to check out the resources below, with information about the age recommendations for various apps, as well as parent tips. Please do know that the opportunity and potential for cyberbullying and impulsive decisions are literally at our children's fingertips - and many of the apps are recommended for use no earlier than the teen years.
Douglas Calendar 2021-22
2022
January 24: Teacher Work Day - NO SCHOOL
January 26: Junior Coach Training (2:15-3:30)
January 27: Art Club 3:05 to 4pm
February 3: Art Club 3:05 to 4pm
February 4: 1st Semester Report Cards sent home
February 7-11: Great Kindness Challenge Week at Douglas
February 7: Virtual Kindness Assembly (Think Kindness)
February 7-11: School Counselor Appreciation Week
February 10: Parent-Teacher Conferences (4:00-7:35)
February 14: PTO Meeting 5:30pm
February 15: Parent-Teacher Conferences (4:00-7:35)
February 18: Staff Development Day - NO SCHOOL
February 21: Staff Planning Day - NO SCHOOL
February 24: Art Club 3:05 to 4pm
March 9: Junior Coach Training (2:15-3:30)
March 10: Art Club 3:05 to 4pm
March 14: PTO Meeting 5:30pm
March 14-17: Spring Book Fair
March 17: Pizza with Picasso
March 21: 4/5 Choir Student Concert
March 25: Staff Planning Day - NO SCHOOL
March 28-April 1: Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
April 4: Classes Resume
April 7: Art Club 3:05 to 4pm
April 11: PTO Meeting 5:30pm
April 13: Junior Coach Training (2:15-3:30)
April 15: Non School Day - NO SCHOOL
April 20: Volunteer Recognition Day
April 21: Art Club 3:05 to 4pm
May 12: Spring Learning Showcase (Details TBA)
May 13: Douglas Dash
May 25: Junior Coach Training & Celebration (2:15-3:30)
May 30: Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL
June 3: Field Day
June 7: Awards Assembly – Gr 3-5 12:30-2:00pm
June 8: End of Semester/Last Day of School (EARLY RELEASE - 11:30 Dismissal)
June 9: Teacher Work Day - NO SCHOOL
More information on above dates will be sent home as dates get closer. Dates and times may be subject to change.
Douglas Elementary School
1101 Prospect St., Watertown, WI 53098
Phone: 920-262-1495, Fax: 920-262-7596