TMS Hatchet Highlights
December 2020/January 2021
Principal's Update
As we near the end of the first semester, I find myself reflecting more and more on what has gone well and what has not regarding our current hybrid model. I am excited about our current levels of student and family engagement! I want to commend those that have made the best out of this situation and continue to build on that momentum! I recall reading an article a while back that outlined the following formula for student success: Family + School + Student + Policy makers/Voters = Student Success. The article very clearly articulated how important each part in this equation is. Each variable is codependent, none being more important than the others. This article was written prior to our current COVID reality, but was as true then as it is today.
I continue to see examples of students becoming more resilient and capable academically. This is promising, because growing student resilience has always been a high priority at TMS. With that said, we still have our challenges that we need to work through. We still have families and students struggling to adapt to the remote learning component of our model. Each student may learn differently, but every student can learn and be successful in school! This is a foundational belief in our school, and we never give up on our students. Learning and completing work independently, while outside of the school setting, (asynchronous learning) is incredibly challenging for many middle aged students because it requires skills that they have not previously needed or been taught. These executive skills require our students to independently manage and organize their remote days in order to stay current in their studies. This is a huge challenge with middle schoolers in a normal year while enjoying the consistency that our school structure provides. Students at home experience temptations that typically are not present in the school structure increasing this challenge! I cannot stress enough, the importance of helping your student focus on organization skills and developing a routine schedule for remote days. These days don’t demand the same rigor that our in-person days do, however they do require some focus and attention. If you notice your child spending 3 or 4 hours on school work for a particular class, contact the teacher. There is probably some confusion about expectations. On the other hand, students who avoid school work on remote days, and treat them as ‘days off’ have drastically fallen behind, typically because they are not prepared for their next in person lesson. Please know, due dates are flexible, extra help is available, and one-on-one assistance in learning labs are available on Fridays. We will never expect our families to carry the load of educating students, but we do need your help.
As we begin to plan for the second semester, please discuss with your student how they feel the first semester has gone. If you identify areas of struggle and are having difficulty planning strategies and/or workarounds, please let their teachers or myself know, and we will help troubleshoot. Remember the first three variables in the equation above: Family + School + Student working together, we will always find success!
Thank you for reading this.
Wishing You All A Very Merry Christmas and Holiday Season!
Mr. Quesinberry
TMS Principal
Counselor's Corner
Helpful learning from home tips from Dr. Charles Fay from the Love and Logic Institute
• Help only as long as there is no frustration or anger.
When homework becomes associated with negative emotions, it’s no surprise that kids start to view learning as a real drag.
• Help only as long as your child is working harder than you are.
Say, “I’ll be happy to help you as long as you’re working harder than I am.”
• Avoid sitting with your child when they are about to “get it.”
Many kids come to believe that they can only learn new things, or “get it,” if an adult is guiding them every step of the way. Explain this by saying, “Part of my job as your Mom is to help you see that you can learn without me. That’s why there will be times when I let you work by yourself.”
By using these tips, you can avoid stress as well as help kids learn how to do homework on their own.
In my new webinar, Schooling at Home, I teach a variety of strategies for helping parents keep homework positive and productive.
Thanks for reading! Our goal is to help as many families as possible.
Dr. Charles Fay
Nurse News
"With the Holidays fast approaching, the Tomahawk School District Health Staff want to make sure parents/guardians have all the resources necessary to make decisions regarding travel, COVID 19 testing and school protocol. For the Tomahawk School District COVID19 Protocol please see the link below.
https://www.tomahawk.k12.wi.us/district/safety-protocols.cfm
You may also find the Lincoln County Health Dept COVID19 Resource Page helpful during this time. Here you will find: recurring free community testing sites, COVID19 hotline numbers, coping resources, quarantine guidance and much more.
https://co.lincoln.wi.us/health/page/novel-coronavirus-covid-19
As always, we thank you for your assistance in keeping our school safe and healthy during this challenging time. Amidst the cold, flu and allergy season...COVID19 has thrown an extra layer of caution on all decisions made.
Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season,
Trina Armstrong RN & Kari Krueger RN
From Inside the Gym
The TMS Physical Education department would like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! As we continue to work through this crazy time it is our hope that 2021 will bring more happiness, joy and good will to all. We want to remind everyone that one of the most important things to continue to do is find things to stay active. Doing things together as a family is even more important. Take time to rest, relax, and reflect on all of the blessings in your life. See you in 2021!
50 Outdoor Things to Do with Your Kids in Winter
BY DYAN ROBSON
JAN 3, 2018
https://www.cbc.ca/parents/play/view/50-outdoor-things-to-do-with-your-kids-in-winter
Middle School Wrestling
Middle School Girls Basketball
Garth Gerstenberger is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Middle School GBB and Wrestling Parent Meeting
Time: Dec 16, 2020 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89855647124?pwd=OXZUZVdESENGRUNDV0JIQ0FCQTEyUT09
Meeting ID: 898 5564 7124
Passcode: wYJ15V
Winter Sports Physicals
Students of the Month
November 6th grade:
Novalyne Jashinsky: The Student of the Month for November is Novalyne Jashinsky. Novalyne is a very hard worker and comes to class with an excellent attitude. She is willing to help her classmates and is excited to learn. Keep up the great work Novalyne!
Dane Dekiep: Dane puts 100% into every assignment and project in class. He works hard and loves to learn with his classmates. He is always very pleasant and has a great attitude. He sets a good example for others and is a pleasure to have in class. Congratulations Dane!
Peyton Rigney: Peyton is an all around role model for her peers. She works hard, completes all of her work, listens to directions and participates in class. Additionally, she did an amazing job with keeping up with her work when learning virtually and jumped right back into in person learning as if she was never gone. Awesome work, Peyton!
Caroline Klesmith: Caroline’s enthusiasm for learning and positive personality bring so much joy to the classroom. She always gives 100% effort, both in-person and on her virtual days. Her kind, caring, polite, and respectful attitude set an example for others to follow. Keep up the great work, Caroline!
November 7th grade:
Logan Norman: Logan always goes above and beyond in his academics. The time and effort he puts in always shines through with his outstanding work. His personality is just as fantastic as his academic drive. He has a great sense of humor, is willing to go out of his way to help others, and keeps a positive attitude.
Nickolas Esselman: Nick is new to the school and has been able to make friends and find his way around in a very strange year. He works so hard and pushes himself to do his best. He is willing to put the time and effort into his school work. He is always kind and respectful.
Brody Hilgendorf: Brody is a kind student. He asks questions when he doesn't understand concepts in class and gets his work done.
Kylie Slivicke: Kylie is a quiet student who always comes to class prepared with her work complete. She is starting to come out of her shell in class and participate in class discussions. She works hard and stays on task in class. She is kind to all. It is a joy to have her in class.
November 8th grade:
Sawyer Hanna: Sawyer participates in class discussions and adds insight into the problems we work on. He is active and engaged on his virtual days as well and communicates well when he has a question or needs clarification. Sawyer respects his learning by being responsible, conscientious and hard working. Congratulations and keep up the great work Sawyer!
Brayden Larson: Brayden has done an excellent job on his written assessments throughout the entire school year. He also does a great job participating in person and on the discussion slides. Keep up the clear articulation of your thoughts and ideas. Way to go Brayden!
Meadow Selissen: Meadow is a fun student to have in the classroom. She always has something pleasant to say about all her classmates, she creates wonderful detailed notes, participates in daily discussions, and is not afraid to ask questions. She actively participates in partnerships and encourages others to also do their best. Congratulations Meadow, keep up the great work.
Cedar Hoffman: She does a great job on class assignments and encourages her group to make good decisions and work together on their colony project. Cedar is a patient leader and leads by example. Keep up the hard work and dedication.
Tomahawk Middle School
Email: pfarrs@tomahawk.k12.wi.us
Website: https://www.tomahawk.k12.wi.us/
Location: 1048 East King Road, Tomahawk, WI, USA
Phone: 715-453-5371
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TomahawkSchools/?scrlybrkr=aa6db02a
Twitter: @tomahawkschools
CHRISTMAS VACATION/ JANUARY TEACHER IN-SERVICE DAY
No school on Wednesday, January 20th (Teacher In-Service Day).