Rasco Review- October 30, 2020
Lake Bluff Elementary School Family Newsletter
WHAT'S INSIDE?
-Important Dates
- A Message from Principal Rasco
-Safety Procedures
-Counselor Corner with Ms. Gahl-Sweeney
-Lake Bluff PTO Updates
-Community Happenings
IMPORTANT DATES NEXT WEEK
November 5: Parent Support Drop-In with Mrs. Gahl-Sweeney and Ms. Harrison
12:30-1:30, Come for a few minutes, Come for the whole time!
Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83398615418
Meeting ID: 833 9861 5418
A MESSSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL RASCO
Happy Friday Lake Bluff Families,
Thanks to all families who joined Tea Time w/Tammy yesterday. It was so wonderful to connect and enjoy conversation and hear your feedback and ideas. If you haven’t joined us yet, please watch for information on our next Tea Time w/Tammy happening in early December.
On Tuesday night, our School Board voted to continue with our current Virtual+ learning model through January 25, 2021. Our commitment at Lake Bluff remains to provide high-quality virtual instruction and to provide academic and social-emotional small group support for our students both remotely and in-person. We will continue as partners through the pandemic and beyond, doing whatever it takes for all of our kids. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with feedback or any questions you may have. I am happy to support all of our Lake Bluff families!
Today I joined Mrs. Walton’s 3rd Grade Crew and learned about flexibility. Her third graders wore costumes and gave themselves “Halloween screen names.” They discussed and shared some of their favorite traditions and things they love about this time of the year. Most rewarding for me was witnessing how Mrs. Walton and her third graders made lemonade from lemons by being flexible and making the best of what they had. Thank you, third graders, for the reminder that we are all in this together! Have a restful weekend and a Happy Halloween!
SAFETY PROCEDURES
School Entrance Procedures (Updated on 10/22):
As we start to increase the number of students coming into the building for small group meetings and other support, please review these health and safety measures that all students and parents/guardians are expected to follow when at Lake Bluff.
Masks:
Masks must be worn at all times when at Lake Bluff. This includes inside of the building and also outside when waiting for a staff member to greet your student.
If you are in need of a mask for you and/or your child please let their teacher know before arrival so that they can provide one for you at time of arrival.
Student Arrival/Pick-Up Process:
Prior to coming to school, families must complete the Covid Self-Screener. (This has been updated as of 10/19). Teachers/staff will be confirming completion of the screener before they take your child into the building.
Students who are coming to meet with a staff member will wait outside (of the main entrance). If you arrive early, please wait outside until the designated staff person comes out to meet your child. To ensure the safety of all, we ask that parents only enter the building for pick-up materials.
There are designated “spots” for staff who are regularly meeting with students. These spots are socially distanced and color coded. Some staff have already communicated with families about their meeting spots. Starting on Monday, 10/26 there will also be a “color code” sign on the front door to help guide you to the right place.
Please be prompt for drop-off and pick-up! In the event you are running late, please notify the main office at (414) 963-6972. If you arrive late for drop off/pick up, there will be a “Guide” (staff member) seated inside the main entryway who can assist you.
Dress for the weather - all transitions will happen outside (just think of it like beginning and end of school day)
Material Pick-Up
Classroom Material baskets/bins have been moved to the front entryway. There are two large tables that are labeled by grade level.
Everything you need to pick up will be located on the tables in the main entryway. If you are unable to find something, please ask the Guide for assistance.
There is a hand sanitizing station in the main entryway, which we encourage all individuals to use as they enter and exit the building.
To provide the safest situation for all students, staff, and families we ask that you enter and exit the building promptly.
COUNSELOR'S CORNER WITH MS. GAHL-SWEENEY
Over these past few weeks I’ve had the opportunity to meet more and more students and families and it has been wonderful! I’ve enjoyed getting to know the Lake Bluff community. One of the biggest topics that has come up recently is anxiety. There is a lot of tough stuff going on right now, which is causing some stress and anxiety in all of us, including our kids. I reached out to Dr. Maggie Altschaefl, who consults with Shorewood schools through our wonderful partnership with Children’s Wisconsin, to see if she could share some helpful information on working with our kids through some of the anxieties they have been experiencing. She has gathered some great information. You can find it here.
If you find that your student is struggling with anxiety please always feel free to reach out to me and we can work together to find the best way to support them.
Amy Gahl-Sweeney: School Counselor
agahl-sweeney@shorewood.k12.wi.us
414-963-6972 ext. 7810
Website: Ms. Gahl-Sweeney's Counseling Corner
BEAGLES ON THE MOVE - A FUN BEAGLE SEARCH | BEGINS SUNDAY!
Join the rest of the Lake Bluff community for our first ever Beagles on the Move...a fun beagle search!! During November, we will be “hiding” two beagle statues in front yards in the LB community! Beagles will move from yard to yard twice each week (Sunday and Thursday), and clues will be posted on the PTO FB page and on the PTO website to help in the search. Keep an eye out for clues and the beagles starting Sunday, November 1st!
Everyone can participate in this event! You don't need to host the beagle to participate in the search. PTO volunteers will sanitize and move the beagles when it's time for the beagles to visit another family. If you are interested in hosting the beagle in your yard for a few days, please sign up here.
Families who locate the beagle can enter a weekly raffle by emailing lakebluffbeaglesonthemove@gmail with the address at which the beagle was found and/or by sending a selfie photo with the beagle in the background. Photos may be included in the 2020-2021 yearbook or on social media. Please do not post addresses on social media!
While searching, we ask that families refrain from entering host families' yards, take any photos from the sidewalk, and practice social distancing from other beagle searching families.
Questions about Beagles on the Move? Please email lakeblufbeaglesonthemove@gmail.com
WAYS TO SHOP AND SUPPORT THE PTO
Don’t forget to submit your child’s Original Works artwork or photo online to create the perfect holiday gifts. Turn your child’s artwork or a family favorite photo into a mask, puzzle, magnet, lens cloth, mug and so much more. In November, we are offering other fundraisers that will make your life easier during the holidays. Our Anodyne Coffee sale begins next week. We also brought back the popular Milwaukee Makers (now known as Makery Maven) sale. Here you can purchase a variety of locally made gifts for everyone on your list including children and adults. Finally, Please consider using Minted.com when ordering cards and gifts this holiday season. Use fundraising code FUNDRAISELAKEBLUFF now thru December and take 20% off your purchase.
WHY SUPPORT THE PTO?
If you are asking why is the Lake Bluff PTO fundraising when school is virtual, it's because our mission stays the same, our community is the same. We are still actively fostering community through events like Beagles On The Move, the All School Read and community speakers. We support our amazing teachers and staff through mini-grants, conference meals and other spirit lifting activities. We continue to fundraise to support these endeavors and replace income lost by the cancellation of our largest fundraiser, the annual Rummage Sale.
More details about our fundraising including how to order, our next spirit days, how to order spirit wear and so much more can be found in our full newsletter. Please click the link -
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ErhCEAaGsjrhKZtuM91NLJmLT202Msx1cjEqNR_WszM/edit?usp=sharing.
COMMUNITY HAPPENING
Mountain Bike Team's Community Halloween (Saturday, Oct 31)
Maybe you'll be the lucky one to find the treat bag with the 'golden ticket'!
For a larger route map go to shorewoodmtb.org/halloween