Monthly Messenger
Jefferson and Fox River Academy - November, 2023
Important Dates and Upcoming Events
Mark your calendar!
November 3: No Boys and Girls Club (JEF and FOX)
November 4: Artisan Fair 9:00 - 2:00 in the Gym / Cafeteria (JEF and FOX)
November 6: Fox Governance Meeting 5:00 - 6:00 (in the GTB)
November 7: 4th Gr. Field Trip to Bubolz Nature Preserve (JEF)
November 8: 5th Gr. Field Trip to Heckrodt Wetland Preserve (JEF)
November 16: 2nd Gr. Field Trip to Bubolz Nature Preserve (JEF)
November 22 - 24: No School (JEF and FOX)
November 27: No School (JEF ONLY)
Artisan Fair
On Saturday, November 4th, we are hosting an Artisan Fair! We're currently looking for artisans who would like to have a booth at our craft fair. For more information or if you are interested in being a vendor, please fill out the application form
Student Attendance
Each year students are bound to be absent or late to school. Students are allowed 10 excused absences per school year. An excused absence is when the parent/guardian has contacted the school verbally or in written communication stating the child will be absent or late. We can work together to ensure your child has consistent attendance at school.
- Establish and stick to the basic routines (going to bed early, waking up on time, etc.) that will help your child develop the habit of on-time attendance.
- Talk to your child about why going to school every day is critical and important unless they are sick. If your child seems reluctant to go to school, find out why and work with the teacher, administrator or after school provider to get them excited about going to school.
- Come up with back-up plans for who to turn to(another family member, neighbor or a fellow parent) to help you get your child to school if something comes up (e.g. another child get sick, your car breaks down, etc.)
- Reach our for help if you are experiencing a tough time (e.g. transportation, unstable housing. loss of a job, health problems) that make it difficult to get your child to school. Other parents, your child's teacher, principal, social worker, school nurse, after school providers or community agencies can help you problem solve or connect you to a needed resource.
- If your child is absent, work with the teacher to make sure they have an opportunity to learn to learn and make up for the academics missed.
Late and Absence Reminders
1. School begins at 8:05 for Fox River and 8:22 for Jefferson. If your child arrives after that time, please have them enter through the main office so they can be checked in.
2. If you child will be late, a parent or guardian must notify the office. You can notify the office via email, phone call or walking in with them. If the office is not notified, the absence will be unexcused.
3. If you child will be absent, a parent or guardian must notify the office.
4. If your child will be late or absent for an appointment, it is recommended that you request a note from your provider and bring it to the office.
If you have any questions regarding attendance policies, please contact the school office.
From the Nurse...
If a student misses 10 days per year for the lifetime of their school career, that adds up to 140 days… almost a full school year. Research and experience teach us that students with poor attendance are at greater risk for school difficulty. Making up missed schoolwork is very helpful, but missed classroom instruction cannot be made up.
We try to impress upon students that there is a difference between “not feeling well” and being truly sick. We all know there are times when we do not feel 100%, but still try to make it through the day. Students understand that parents do this in order to keep their jobs. This is a real “life skill” that employers look for when hiring. They want employees they can count on to come to work. For students, school is their job.
Common sense can guide parents in deciding when a child is sick enough to be at home. If you are uncertain about sending your child to school, please reference Is Your Child Well Enough to Go to School from our district website or please call us. Sometimes a second opinion can be of help! Not only is school attendance a legal requirement, it encourages behavior that will help your child be successful in life. So while the goal of “perfect attendance” may not be realistic for all, great school attendance is something to work towards!
Here are some helpful tips:
Schedule appointments outside of school hours
Request beginning or end of day appointments
If appropriate, consider having child return for ½ day if feeling better.
Ask your provider to write a letter for the time they missed from school
Parent's Right to Receive Teacher Information
Dear Families:
Federal law requires that we share with you the qualifications of teachers within the Appleton Area School District but specifically those schools receiving Title 1 funding. In addition, all instructional paraprofessionals working in Title 1 schools have completed a "highly qualified" status which requires they have specialized training or hold a two-year degree.
There are questions you may ask, including:
• Is my child's teacher licensed to teach the grades or subjects assigned?
• Has the state waived any requirements for my child's teacher?
• What was the college major of my child's teacher?
• What degrees does my child's teacher hold?
• Are there instructional paraprofessionals working with my child? If so, what are their qualifications?
All teachers in the Appleton Area School District have at least a bachelor's degree and many have advanced degrees. The District has a very small number of teachers who are not fully licensed for their assignment. The teachers who hold a one-year license "with stipulations" have been hired for positions where there is a shortage of qualified teachers.
The District makes every effort to secure fully certified candidates prior to hiring an educator under a one-year license "with stipulations." In some specific areas, we have teachers who do not currently hold the license.
When the District does hire a teacher with a one-year license "with stipulations" a requirement for the licensure is for the educator to demonstrate content knowledge, be enrolled in an approved program leading to the required license within three years, and receives intense supervision/mentoring from the district while teaching. The following teachers/staff are currently working towards specific licensure:
• Allison Mueller ~ SLD (1811)
• Brianna Gretzinger ~ SLD (1811)
If you have questions or would like more information, please feel free to contact us at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Melissa Chrisman
Principal ~ Jefferson Elementary
Contact Us!
Jefferson Elementary and Fox River Academy
1000 S. Mason St. Appleton, WI 54914
Office: (920)-852-5500
Fax: (920) 852-5501