Bridges Elementary
October 2017 Newsletter
District Website: www.saukprairieschools.org
Facebook: Bridges Elementary Facebook Page
24-Hour Attendance Line: 608-643-1847
Fax: 608-643-1849
Bridges' Office Staff
Chanda Kulow, Principal
608-643-1845 chanda.kulow@saukprairieschools.org
Stephanie Tarnutzer, Secretary
608-643-1844 stephanie.tarnutzer@saukprairieschools.org
Jody Kapp, Secretary
608-643-1843 jody.kapp@saukprairieschools.org
FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Happy fall! The weather feels like summer, but the date on the calendar tells us it is fall. Bridges Elementary has had a fabulous first month of school.
School safety is a priority with our 520 students and 85 staff members at our elementary school. The following are ways that we keep our children safe and our schools secure:
Our Bridge’s team members wear their Sauk Prairie School District name badges at all times during school days.
All exterior doors to Bridges Elementary automatically lock at 8:05 a.m. with the exception of the main entrance/office.
All visitors wishing to enter the building during the school day (after 8:05 a.m.) must enter through the office and are required to sign in/out and wear a “Visitor” lanyard while in the building. Our staff is trained to ask you to go back to the office and get a visitor lanyard/pass if you do not have one.
In addition, safe pickup and drop off procedures are in place. This is a critical piece and careful thought has been put into having our 520 students enter and leave the school premises, in an organized and safe manner, as well as keeping tabs on the adults students get dismissed to and how students get home. When Bridges was being designed 3 ½ years ago, the Village of Prairie du Sac, the School District, and our architect spent much time designing how to have 520 - four to eight year old students, enter and leave the school property.
Did you know?
According to Village Ordinance, Bridges can have only two entrances/exits on each street.
Due to the large amount of students in the building, we have two dismissal bells. The first bell is rung at 3:05. About half of the bus students (pink tags) and students who walk or are picked up with a car are dismissed. The second bell is run at 3:10. The other half of bus students (blue tags) and the After School Club children are dismissed with the second bell.
A practice that has been continued from Spruce Street and one that parents have surveyed that they prefer, is the valet system. This is where our staff meets adults picking up students, by their car and help students get into the car. This system has proven to be successful in keeping our students safe, and it also takes just minutes to dismiss the large amount of students. Please see the evidence and more safety precautions below:
Bridges’ students who are picked up by a vehicle, are in the vehicles and gone by approximately 3:12 p.m. This is seven minutes to get from the students’ classrooms/hallways to the last person being picked up in a vehicle.
Each individual student has a backpack tag listing their regular dismissal plan.
Only the parents in the household and the emergency contacts listed in Skyward are approved to pick up the child at dismissal time. These are also the only people who may request a change in the child’s dismissal plan.
Any dismissal change to the child’s regular dismissal plan requires the completion of a Dismissal Change / Bus Request Form. It can be found on the district website or is available at every school office.
Parents drive through the loop to drop off and pick up their children. The cars should never be parked and left in the drop off/pick up areas. If there is an emergency, call the office and we will accommodate to individual needs.
Some parents may prefer to park in the parking lot and walk into Bridges. We ask that all parents wait in the office area at the end of day until the bell rings. This keeps our halls safe, and also eliminates distractions for students at the end of the day.
I hope this helps to understand all of the measures that have been carefully thought out for a safe school year. It is our honor to continue to prepare and present learning opportunities for all of our students to help them grow.
Thank you for supporting our Bridge’s Team as we embrace another school year and please contact me if you have any feedback.
Sincerely,
Chanda Kulow
Principal of Bridges Elementary School
October Dates to Fall For
School Board Meetings
Monday, October 9, 7:00 PM
Location: Merrimac Community Charter School (MCCS)
Monday, October 23, 7:00 PM
Location: District Office
Picture Day
Bridges Elementary - Wednesday, October 4
Bridges' Picture Day ID: FS147332Q0.
SPNC K4 - Monday, October 9
SPNC Picture Day ID: FS147332Q1.
Photographs will be taken during the school day. Parents can order online in advance at mylifetouch.com.
Bridges' Math Night
Tuesday, October 17
5:00 to 6:30 PM
Parents and students are invited to an evening of fun games and activities designed to spark a life-long interest in mathematics.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Week of October 23
Watch for messages coming home from your child's teacher to sign-up for a one-to-one meeting.
Early Dismissal
Wednesday, October 25
Elementary @ 1:30 PM
MS & HS @ 1:50 PM
No K4 or PM Early Childhood
NO SCHOOL
Thursday, October 26
Friday, October 27
Click here: http://www.saukprairieschools.org/district/HR/2017%2018%20calendar1.pdf to see all upcoming calendar events (early release, school start and dismissal times, etc).
Zones of Regulation
Hello families!
My name is Heather Reader and I am the new Behavior Program Coordinator at Bridges Elementary. This school year I will be working with Kari Back, our school’s Occupational Therapist, to bring the Zones of Regulation curriculum into all of our classrooms. The Zones of Regulation is taught through lessons and activities, and gives students and teachers alike, a common language to discuss emotions, states of alertness, insight into events that trigger behaviors, and strategies to stay or change the Zone one is in through the use of calming and alerting “tools.”
All students will bring home an informational letter and glossary of terms regarding the Zones of Regulation once Ms. Back and I begin working in their classroom. After you read through it, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at heather.reader@saukprairieschools.org. We look forward to working with your children and supporting their emotional health!
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Call us!
Attendance
1) Please call the Bridges Elementary Attendance Line
643-1847 by 8:00 AM any time your child will be absent or late to school. This is a 24-hour message line.
2) Or send an email. Please include both office secretaries (jody.kapp@saukprairieschools.org and stephanie.tarnutzer@saukprairieschools.org) when emailing your child’s teacher about absences, health concerns, or any issue that needs immediate attention. There are times when a teacher may be absent / unable to receive your message, and it will not be received in a timely manner unless both office staff are included as well.
3) In keeping with our safe arrival policy, the school will contact you if your child is absent and we have not received a call or note from you concerning your child’s absence.
Late Arrival
Students will be marked as TARDY if they arrive after 8:10 AM. If your child arrives after the bell has rung, please bring them to the main office, located at the front doors of the school. All other exterior doors to our building automatically lock when the first bell rings at 8:00 AM.
Dismissal/Early Pick-up
Please phone the school or send a note with your child if you will be picking them up early. If your child will be leaving before dismissal, it is necessary for you to come to the office to sign your child in/out for the day.
Excused Absence
If your student is absent due to a professional appointment, the absence can be excused so that it does not count against your child's attendance. To excuse these absences, please provide the school with an appointment card or note from your appointment. Professional appointments include doctor, dental, counseling or other similar appointments. See pages 22 and 23 of the Sauk Prairie School District handbook for more detailed information about what constitutes an excused absence.
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Daily Schedule
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
7:00 AM to 4:00 PM
School begins at 8:00 AM. Please arrive on time.
*Anyone arriving after 8:10 AM will be considered tardy.*
When students come late to school, even if it's only a few minutes late, they are missing important parts of the morning. We also would like to eliminate as many interruptions in the classroom as possible once school begins.
4-Year-Old Kindergarten:
Morning: 8:00 to 10:50 AM
Afternoon: 12:15 to 3:05 PM
K-2 Lunch:
Kindergarten
Lunch: 11:10 AM to 11:40 AM
Recess: 11:40 AM to 12:00 PM
First Grade
Lunch: 11:45 AM to 12:10 PM
Recess: 12:10 PM to 12:30 PM
Second Grade
Lunch: 12:15 PM to 12:40 PM
Recess: 12:40 PM to 1:00 PM
K-2 Daily Recess:
Kindergarten: 10:00 AM to 10:20 AM
1st Grade: 1:25 PM to 1:45 PM
2nd Grade: 1:50 PM to 2:10 PM
Dismissal:
3:05 PM for walkers/pick-ups and pink bus bell
3:08 PM for After School Club students and blue bus bell
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School Picture Day!
Lifetouch SCHOOL PHOTO DATES:
Bridges Elementary
Picture Day: Wednesday, October 4
Picture Day ID: FS147332Q0
Sauk Prairie Nursery Center K4
Picture Day: Monday, October 9
Picture Day ID: FS147332Q1
Grand Avenue, Merrimac, and Tower Rock will also have school pictures on Wednesday, October 4. Please contact these individual schools for their unique Picture Day IDs.
3 Ordering Options For Your School Portraits:
- Visit Lifetouch's mobile-friendly, online ordering site at www.myLifetouch.com. This is the recommended ordering option as it allows you to choose custom backgrounds and packages.
- Traditional paper flyer/order envelopes were sent home. If you have returned your paper forms to school, your student's teacher will present their photo order to the photographer at the time their picture is taken.
- Want to wait to see the picture before you order? Students who have not ordered on or prior to picture day, will receive a Personalized Order Sheet approximately 3 weeks after picture day which includes a sample picture along with ordering instructions. Orders placed in this manner are shipped directly to your home and accordingly have a $7.50 shipping & handling fee.
LIFETOUCH Fechas para las Fotos de la escuela:
Escuela Primaria Bridges:
Día para las fotos: 4 de octubre
Identificación para el día de las fotos (ID): FS147332Q0
Sauk Prairie Nursery Center 4K
Día para las fotos: 9 de octubre
Identificación para el día de las fotos (ID): FS147332Q1
Las escuelas de Grand Avenue, Merrimac y Tower Rock también se tendrán la sesión de fotos el miércoles, 4 de octubre. Por favor llame a estas escuelas de manera individual para conseguir el ID para el día de las fotos.
Tenemos 3 Opciones para Ordenar sus Fotos para la escuela este Otoño:
- Visitar el móvil amigable Lifetouch's, el sitio electrónico para ordenar en www.myLifetouch.com. (Los códigos específicos de la escuela para ordenar estarán disponibles mientras más cerca esté el día para tomarse las fotos en el otoño). Esta es una opción que se recomienda porque hay muchos diseños que puede realizar como el color del fondo para la foto, recortar la foto y Ud. también puede crear su propia página si quiere.
- Volantes de papel tradicionales/sobres de órdenes estarán disponibles una semana antes del día de sacar la foto para aquellos padres que deseen ordenar pagando con efectivo o cheque. Los estudiantes deben entregar el sobre con la orden al fotógrafo el día que se tomen la foto si están ordenando de esta manera.
- ¿Le gustaría esperar para ver la foto antes de ordenar? Los estudiantes que no han ordenado o no lo hacen el día de la foto, recibirán una Hoja de Orden Personalizada aproximadamente 3 semanas después del día de la foto que incluirá unas fotos de muestra con algunas instrucciones. Las órdenes solicitadas de esta manera serán enviadas directamente a su casa y por consiguiente tendrán un cargo de $7.50 por el envío y la manipulación.
Notes from the School Counselor....Anne Uphoff
I am now entering October and have finished my initial round of classroom life skills lessons. We learned the basics of the “Zones of Regulation,” a program to help children understand and balance their emotions. We also talked in 1st and 2nd grade about the “upstairs brain” (the thinking part of the brain) and the “downstairs brain” (the protecting part of the brain). We talked about how they work together to help us make choices. However, sometimes people “flip their lids” and the downstairs brain takes over. When this happens, they aren’t making their best decisions because the upstairs brain isn’t helping. If you would like to know more, please let me know.
I am now focusing on small group guidance. Every K5 student comes for a small group on friendship skills sometime this year. First and second grade students join small groups as parents, teachers or students are referred to them. Some subjects we might discuss include: managing impulses, getting along with friends, making new friends, dealing with a difficult situation (divorce/death), dealing with stress and making good choices. If you would like to know more, feel free to contact me at 643-1842 or anne.uphoff@saukprairieschools.org.
Hooked on Fishing at Tuck-A-Way:
2nd Graders get Hooked on Healthy Choices
All of the 2nd grade students recently spent a day at Tuck-A-Way Campground, just north of Sauk City. Besides having a chance to try out their fishing skills, Hooked on Fishing (HOF) is a day when our 2nd graders experience several outdoor activities that develop their knowledge of being healthy and making good choices. They spent some time with Susan Baumann-Duren, our district social worker, about not smoking. They also learned about the dangers of energy drinks to young children and several new smokeless tobacco products that can sometimes look like candy. Take time to ask your student what they learned at HOF.
**The Sauk Prairie School District would like to thank Shelly Hooper for helping to provide this wonderful field trip opportunity for our students. Shelly has graciously opened Tuck-A-Way for Hooked on Fishing for almost 20 years! We would also like to thank the Linda Block family for sponsoring the buses this year.**
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Holiday Assistance Programs
In other news . . . The Holiday Season is coming! It may seem early to be thinking about it, but with the holidays comes many extra stressors and expenses. Planning ahead can ease the pressures this time can bring. With this in mind, I would like to present you with some things to keep in mind.
- Local Health, Heating and Nutrition Program information may be seen at www.access.wi.gov. Access is an easy and private way to see if there are health and nutrition programs to help you and your family. You can check eligibility, apply for benefits, check benefits or report changes.
- St. Vincent de Paul Caring Tree: If a family is struggling financially, Holiday gifts (from the parents for their children) can be difficult to afford. The Caring Tree may be able to help in such a situation. Parents can start signing up in later October - the deadline is early November. Go in person to the St. Vincent de Paul Community Resource Center, 1906 North Street, Prairie du Sac.
- KOPS FOR KIDS and ”Christmas Elf” are local programs that helps certain families needing assistance to provide gifts for their children. If you would like to be considered for participation in either of these programs, please see below.
- Meals over school breaks: Local individuals with big hearts sometimes have donated money for meals for families needing assistance during school break times, such as Thanksgiving and Holiday Break. (This is separate from the snack backpacks provided by the G.S.P.I.E. It is more like main dish items in a grocery bag. The G.S.P.I.E. snack backpacks are a separate letter.)
If you would like to be considered* to receive a "meals over school break" bag of food for your family or to be included in the KOPS FOR KIDS or "Christmas Elf" programs, please call Anne Uphoff at (608) 643-1842, email anne.uphoff@saukprairieschools.org
or complete the form below:
Bridges Photo Gallery
September's Bee Lunch students were chosen for showing their greatness!
In the month of September these leaders were "above the line" for being unique.
"I show my greatness by knowing there is only one me and celebrating that by being the best me I can be."
Spirit Week: Celebrating our Uniquness
Aloha! From Brings/Larson
Go Eagles!
Special Guests
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School Colors!
What's your super power?
Who is your hero?
OOPS! DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE AN EXTRA SET OF CLOTHES AT SCHOOL?
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DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION/DISMISSAL PROCEDURE
Please go to http://www.saukprairieschools.org/families/transportation.cfm for all general information regarding transportation to and from school. At Bridges Elementary, it is vital that we have your child's dismissal plan in Skyward and if there are any changes that it is updated there and we are made aware of it at Bridges. We follow the dismissal plan that is in Skyward. Students will have tags on their backpacks showing their dismissal plan so the aides can easily check if there is any question. This year, the district is requiring a form that parents need to complete if there are any changes in a student's dismissal plan. This is to eliminate hand written notes and call in changes. Here are some examples of when a form is required:
If Jane is invited to a birthday party on Wednesday and she needs to ride a different bus than what she usually does, a form needs to be sent in to the office.
- If Jane is being picked up on Thursday instead of riding the bus like her dismissal plan states, the form needs to be sent in to the office.
- If Aunt Kathy is picking Jane up on Friday instead of her normal dismissal plan a form needs to be sent in to the office.
- If Jane's normal dismissal plan is that she rides the Grasshopper Bus home, but today she is riding Cherry Bus to Grand Ave, the form needs to be completed and sent to the office.
- Jack's normal dismissal plan is that he rides the Snail Bus to his home. Today he is to ride the Snail Bus to his Aunt's house down the road. Jack would need a form completed and sent in to the office.
- If your child is scheduled to be a Pick Up and someone other than you is going to be picking them up, the form needs to be sent with your child ONLY If that person IS NOT listed as an emergency contact. Please update your emergency contacts in Skyward to eliminate any confusion.
The form is accessible on the link above or below as well as in the office at Bridges. The bus driver will collect the form and will not allow transportation without one. If it is a last minute change at the end of the day you can certainly call the office and we can fill out the form for you. If you have a rotating schedule please let the office know in advance what the plan is for your child. For instance, if every month or week is different, please send in a calendar with the correct dismissal plan. Remember to mark your calendars for early dismissal dates as well. The dismissal plan for those days in addition to emergency release days, can be marked in Skyward.
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MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL
According to the Sauk Prairie School board, certain criteria must be met in order for any medication to be dispensed at school. Before any medication can be dispensed, an Authorization for Medication Administration (AMA) must be completed and returned to the school office. This form is necessary for both over-the-counter and prescription medications and requires both a parent and physician signature.
For example, if your child suffers from migraine headaches, we will NOT be able to
distribute medication to him/her without an AMA on file. Many parents picked up the AMA form at district registration. Additional forms are available at the Grand Avenue
office or online.
In order for medication to be distributed, pills must be in a prescription bottle with proper labeling. Students may carry inhalers with them, however, an AMA form must be on file in the office.
If you have any questions regarding medication distribution, please contact Laura Cody, District Nurse, 643-5509.
VOLUNTEERING AND APPLICATIONS
SKYWARD UPDATES
If your child has two households or even if you would like multiple people in your own household to receive general email notifications from the school, such as the monthly newsletter and lunch menu, please log in to Skyward and click on the Skylert link on the left hand side. On that page, you can now add other phone numbers, emails or text message numbers for those who would like to receive emergency messages. If you have additional questions about how to manage your Skylert notifications or need to change your log in and password, please contact Stephanie Tarnutzer at 643-1844 or stephanie.tarnutzer@saukprairieschools.org .
Each guardian has their own Family Access Skylert account. Skylert is used for:
- Emergency: bomb scares, gas leaks, etc.
- General: School schedule changes such as late start, closing early, snow day, etc.
- Low Balance: Food Service account balance is $15 or below
- Negative Balance: Food Service account balance is below $0
How do you edit your Skylert contacts?
1. Log in to www.saukprairieschools.org
2. Click on For Parents/Students
3. Click on Skyward Student/Family Access Link
4. Enter your guardian login and password
5. Click on Skylert
6. Make the appropriate changes
7. Click on Save
8. Click on Exit
Note: Each guardian will need to change their Skylert .If you need assistance, contact Jane Wood at 643-5984 or at susan.oneil@saukprairieschools.org
FAMILY/PERSONAL INFORMATION CHANGES
FAMILY MOVES - TO OUTSIDE THE SAUK PRAIRIE SCHOOL DISTRICT
When a family moves from within the Sauk Prairie School District to outside the district, students may continue to attend the school where they are currently enrolled if they qualify for a Tuition Waiver (obtain from District Office). Students who qualify for a Tuition Waiver (remainder of Current School year, Additional year, Current Year/Additional Year, or Current Year Permissive) are entitled to continue their enrollment through the waiver period. However, they are required to apply for open enrollment at the next possible time (February-April application period) that the application process is available to remain in the District for the present school year and beyond. See our website at www.saukprairieschools.org for more information or call Susan O'Neil, (608) 643-5984 or susan.oneil@saukprairieschools.org. Transportation is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
FAMILY MOVES - WITHIN SAUK PRAIRIE SCHOOL DISTRICT
When a family move occurs within the Sauk Prairie School District please notify your school office or contact Susan O'Neil, Student Records Secretary at (608) 643-5984 or susan.oneil@saukprairieschools.org with your new address. Parents may request that their elementary child attend a school other than the one in their attendance area in writing to the District Administrator. When families relocate from one attendance area to another within the District during the school year, the children affected may continue their education at their original school if approval is granted by the District Administrator. Transportation can be provided through existing bus routes or parents will provide transportation to/from school.
GUIDELINES FOR RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER ILLNESS
- Fever- Temperature should be less than 100 degrees for at least 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication) before returning to school.
- Vomiting/diarrhea- Please keep your child home if he/she has vomited or had diarrhea within the last 24 hours.
- Strep throat- Student should be on prescribed medication for 24 hours before returning to school.
- Pink eye- If your child has red eye(s) and has discharge, he/she will be sent home and asked to be evaluated by a healthcare provider. Student should not return to school for 24 hours or after having used three sets of prescribed eye drops.
- Head lice- We monitor students for itching of the scalp and will check for them if we are concerned. Please notify your child’s school office if you have discovered lice and treated your child.
- Pertussis (whooping cough)- Student will be isolated from school for 5 days if confirmed case while on prescribed antibiotics.
**These are general guidelines to help promote the health and safety of our students. Please follow the recommendations of your child’s healthcare provider.
District nurses are on call for health concerns. We routinely visit each school and will visit as needed for consult. If you have concerns regarding your child’s health or changes in their health, please contact Laura Cody 643-5509 or Martha Allan 643-5628.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS/EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
School closings will be announced as early as possible via Skylert to families and staff members, posted on the District’s webpage, and on local television and radio stations. Information will also be available by calling the school closing line at 643-5990 #2 for a recorded announcement.
WISC Channel 3
WKOW Channel 27
WMTV Channel 15
- 1400 AM; 104.9 FM; 102.9 FM
The local police department and bus contractor may be involved in the decision to close. Principals will also be involved in decisions to dismiss school early for emergency reasons. In the absence of the Superintendent, the decision to close school will be made by the Superintendent’s designee.
HEAD LICE
Lice are small insects about the size of a sesame seed. They are usually light brown but can vary in color. They move quickly and shy away from light, making them difficult to see. It helps to use a magnifying glass and natural light when looking for lice. Nits (eggs) are tiny, yellowish-white oval droplets attached to hair shafts; they do not come off easily and have to be combed out with a special comb or manually removed. Nits can be found throughout the hair, but are most often located at the nape of the neck, behind the ears, and frequently on the top of the head.
The CDC states, “Head lice can be a nuisance but they have not been shown to spread disease. Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice.” Additionally, lice are not likely to be spread in a classroom setting as usually they are spread by direct head-to-head contact. Regular screenings at home can help prevent the spread of head lice. Please check your child weekly for head lice. When lice are discovered, please contact your child’s physician or a pharmacist regarding treatment. Following a treatment, it is important to comb through the hair for 7-10 days. During this time, lice can be removed manually or with a special comb. A second treatment may be necessary if nits or live lice are still found.
Please contact Laura Cody, District Nurse, at 643-5509 if you have any questions regarding head lice.
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Current nondiscrimination language (Policy 2260):
Sauk Prairie School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, sex, (including transgender status, gender expression, gender identity, and gender nonconformity), or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability ("Protected Classes") in any of its student program and activities.
Lenguaje Actual sobre la No Discriminación (Política 2260):
El Distrito Escolar de Sauk Prairie no discrimina en base a la raza, al color, la religión, la nacionalidad de origen, los ancestros, el credo, el embarazo, el estado marital, el estado de los padres, la orientación sexual, el sexo (incluyendo el estado transgénero, la expresión del género, y el género de no conformidad), o por una discapacidad física, mental, emocional o de aprendizaje (“Las Clases Protegidas”) en cualquiera de las actividades y programas del estudiante.