Parkview Elementary
December 2023 Newsletter
December 4, 2023
Dear Parkview Families,
Welcome to December! I hope that this newsletter finds you and your family enjoying the activities and community events that the holiday season has to offer. The students and staff have been working hard to make academic gains during the first three months of school.
At Parkview Elementary School our mission is committed to excellence and to prepare all students for postsecondary success, but what does that mean? Post-secondary success is success beyond high school. The definition of success is personal to each one of us. For some it could mean joining the military, for others attending college, for others being prepared to enter the workforce, and for others living independently. The staff at Parkview are on a mission to help each child develop the skills he/she needs to be successful after graduation!
There are several ways that staff at Parkview work to prepare students for postsecondary success, focusing on academic, behavior, and social skills along the way. For example:
We closely monitor the reading and math levels of all of our students, watching both where a student’s current skills are as well as how much he/she has grown over time. Teachers focus on keeping all students on track to read and do math at or above grade level, and provide additional instruction to those who need a boost.
We teach behaviors that students will use at school and in the community such as how to wait in line, how to greet someone respectfully, patiently being part of a large group, and resolving conflict peacefully.
As parents you play a huge role in the mission, too! There are a couple characteristics of young learners that increase the likelihood of post-secondary success:
Regular Attendance: Reinforce the importance of attending school regularly. Regular attendance helps children to feel a part of the school community, to be engaged in learning, and to build the foundation for future success in school.
Reading Achievement: Read regularly with your child. Whether you are reading to your child or your child reads to you, your child will reap the benefits of time spent in a book. Did you know there is a strong relationship between how well a child reads in third grade and high school graduation rates?
As we continue into the school year, post-secondary success is on our mind. Thank you for allowing us to serve your family. We look forward to partnering with you to help your child succeed.
The holiday season is a wonderful time to reflect upon the year and all the good that we have encountered throughout the calendar year. I am thankful for our students, staff and families that call Parkview their neighborhood school. Thank you for your continued support given to our school throughout the year. Your support helps to make us who we are!
Yours in Parkview PRIDE,
Melissa Olson
Principal
Notes From The Office
If your child is going to be absent or tardy for any reason, please call the office by 8:30 a.m. School starts at 7:45 am. Any student who arrives after 7:50 am is considered tardy.
If you need to change your child's transportation for the end of the day, please send a note to your child's teacher. Phone calls are discouraged but if a change needs to be called in, PLEASE call the office by 1:30 pm to insure that the message gets delivered to the classroom.
If you need to pick your child up early or for an appointment, parents should use our sign out sheet located in the main office vestibule. We will then call your child down to the office. Students will not be waiting in the office so make sure to give yourself enough time prior to appointment.
MEDICAL NOTES FROM DOCTORS RECOMMENDED:
If your child(ren) miss school for a medical appointment, please ask for a doctor's note to excuse the absence. This way, it can be marked medical and will not go against attendance policies.
A fax from the doctor's office can be sent to (715)720-3755.
BUS TRANSPORTATION CHANGES:
All student rerouting requests will originate at Chippewa Yellow Bus Company. Student rerouting requests require a 24 hour notice and approval by the bus company. This includes one time and/or occasional rerouting requests. Please call 715-726-2454 if you have any questions or concerns. Please click here for more information regarding rerouting requests.
If a student's afternoon transportation plans vary week to week, please provide the teacher and the office with a monthly calendar to insure that your child gets to their intended location.
ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER OR CONTACT CHANGE:
Has your address, phone number or emergency contacts changed? If so, log into the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and make changes. Having this updated is important should an emergency arise.
Attendance Review
The principal reviews school attendance monthly and contacts families if there are issues.
Elementary school families will be contacted in the following ways (phone calls may also occur): If there are 3 unexcused absences in a semester, a 3 Day Truancy Letter may be sent. An unexcused absence is if the parent has not called in with a reason for the absence within 24 hours, or the reason for the absence does not meet the guidelines for acceptable absences as outlined by the district (see attendance policy). If a student receives 5 unexcused absences, tardies or left early marks in a semester, then a 5 Day Truancy Letter may be sent. If a student is absent more than part or all of 5+ days, a Habitual Truancy Notification Letter may be sent via certified mail. The school team will complete an assessment with the student and/or parent and develop a plan with all parties involved at a meeting. A truancy referral may be initiated by the team. If a student receives 8 excused absences, a Medical Concern Letter may be sent. Principal may meet with students after 5 days of absences (excused and/or unexcused) to better support the student and family with school attendance. . *THE STATE OF WISCONSIN ALLOWS ONLY 10 DAYS OF EXCUSED ABSENCES.* For more information about the attendance policy, please refer to the student handbook online or request a hard copy from our office. These procedures may be used differently on a case by case basis (as determined by the principal, school counselor and school social worker).
School Start/End Times
START OF DAY:
- Bus Drop Off 7:20
- Car Drop Off 7:20-7:30
Tardy Bell: 7:50
Students will go to their designated playground in the morning.
END OF DAY:
- Walkers/Car riders: 2:35
- Bus Riders: 2:40
Important Dates
December
- 6th - RCU
- 6th - PTO Club Choice pick up night 2:30-5:30
- 13th - RCU
- 14th - 1st & 2nd Grade Music Concert
- 14th - Parkview Singers Concert
- 15th - 5th Grade Volleyball @ Southview
- 18th - Topper's Pizza Fundraiser Night
- 19th - Topper's Pizza Fundraiser Night
- 20th - RCU
- 20th - PV Singers Concert
- 20th - PTO Holiday Store during the school day for students
- 21st - PTO Holiday Store during the school day for students
- 22nd - Kindergarten Field Trip
- 25th - 29th - No School
January
- 1st - 2nd - No School
- 3rd - RCU
- 9th - PTO Meeting 6-7:30/Library
- 10th - RCU
- 17th - RCU
- 18th - Jump Off
- 19th - No School (staff work day)
- 24th - RCU
- 31st - RCU
February
- 7th - RCU
- 13th - PTO Meeting 6-7:30/Library
- 14th - RCU
- 15th - PTO Popcorn & Paint
- 21st - RCU
- 23rd - No School (Professional Development)
- 27th - March 8 - PTO Read-a-thon Fundraiser
- 28th - RCU
- 29th - 3rd & 4th Grade Music Concerts
March
- 5th - Parent/Teacher Conferences
- 6th - RCU
- 7th - Parent/Teacher Conferences
- 11th - 15th - No School
- 20th - RCU
- 21st - 3rd grade Folk Dancing Night
- 27th - RCU
- 29th - No School
April
- 1st - No School (staff work day)
- 3rd - RCU
- 9th - PTO Meeting 6-7:30/Library
- 10th - RCU
- 17th - RCU
- 24th - RCU
- 24th - PTO Flower Fundraiser Begins
- 25th - PTO Bingo, Raffle & Book Fair
May
- 1st - RCU
- 6th - 10th - Teacher Appreciation Week
- 7th - PTO Meeting 6-7:30/Library
- 8th - PTO Flower sale fundraiser orders due
- 15th - RCU
- 17th - 5th Grade Music Concerts
- 21st - 5th Grade Track & Field Day
- 22nd - RCU
- 22nd - PTO Flower Fundraiser pick up 3:30-5:30
- 27th - No School
- 29th - RCU
- 30th - Last Day of School
June
- PTO Meeting 6-7:30
News From Nurse Caitlin
Health and Wellness Message:
Just a friendly reminder as it is that time of year where viral and bacterial illnesses are on the rise and we are in cold and flu season. Please help remind your children to cover their coughs/sneeze into an elbow, Kleenex, or sleeve. Wash hands often! If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer. Handwashing is always the preferred method, but if unable use hand sanitizer until you are able to wash with soap and water. Follow these steps:
Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
WINTER HEALTH TIPS
Exposure to cold can lead to injury or serious illness such as frostbite or hypothermia.
Follow these tips to keep your children safe in cold weather:
Dress your children appropriately before coming to school. The air temperature does not have to be below freezing for your child to experience cold emergencies such as hypothermia or frostbite. Wind speed can create dangerously cold conditions even when the temperature is not that low.
Dress your child in layers so they can adjust to changing conditions from indoors to outdoors.
Most of your child’s body heat is lost through their head, so they should wear a hat, preferably one that covers their ears.
Mittens provide more warmth to a child’s hands than gloves.
Your child should wear waterproof, insulated boots to help avoid hypothermia or frostbite by keeping their feet warm and dry and to maintain their footing in ice and snow.
Sick Procedure:
Keep your student home if any of the following apply:
Temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher in the last 24 hours before medication (Tylenol/Ibuprofen)
Vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours
They have been diagnosed with a contagious illness (e.g.; strep throat, pink eye) and have been on medication for less than 24 hours if medication is required
They have an unexplained rash
PTO News
RCU
Title 1
Potential School Closure Days
The District will be moving to a remote model of learning for students when inclement weather or other emergencies force school closures. This means that students will be able to continue their learning from home on days when school buildings are closed.
We believe that in-person instruction is the best way to deliver education, but we also know that there will be times when school closures are necessary and appropriate. By implementing a remote learning model, we should be able to avoid having to make up days for these school-day closures and the focus will be on continuing learning and connecting with teachers through modern means in these modern times.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
The elementary schools will develop consistent independent study packets for each grade level to send home when potential school closures occur, except on the two designated inclement weather/emergency closure days. Packets will include reading, math practice, writing prompts, and activities from our specialists.
Teachers will be remotely available those days to aid students with their assignments during the regular school day hours; however, school electronic devices will not be sent home with the independent study packets.
Winter Weather
Weather can change quickly in the Chippewa Valley. When inclement weather strikes, there are three options for adjusting our days:
Cancellation: If the weather is too severe, school and other activities may be canceled altogether.
Two-hour delay: If the weather is bad but not severe enough to cancel school for the day, classes may be delayed by two hours.
Early release: If the weather worsens during the school day, school may be dismissed early.
Cancellation -- If we cancel school due to inclement weather, we will make the decision by 6:00 AM. All schools, Head Start, Early Childhood, 4K Cardinal programs, after-school programs, and public use of buildings will be closed.
Two Hour Delay -- If we delay school due to inclement weather, the school day will start two hours later than normal. Buses will also run two hours behind schedule. Breakfast will not be served, but lunch will be served near normal time. 4K Cardinal, Early Childhood, and Head Start will be canceled for the day. After-school programs and public use of buildings may still occur. If the delay is later changed to a cancellation, the decision will be made by 8:00 AM.
Early Release -- If we dismiss school early due to inclement weather, the decision will be made by 10:00 AM. Elementary schools will dismiss at 12:00 PM, and secondary schools will dismiss at 1:00 PM. Lunch will be served at the normal time. High school students with open campus lunch may leave at 12:00 PM. Afternoon 4K Cardinal, Head Start, and Early Childhood are canceled. After-school programming and public use of buildings are canceled.
When there is inclement weather in the Chippewa Valley, we may have to change the school schedule. We will let you know by 6 AM if we are canceling school or starting school two hours late; by 10 AM for letting students out early.
We will tell you via radio, TV, our website, social media, and by email or text message. We want to keep our students safe, so we may have to make last-minute changes. We will try to make the best decision we can based upon the weather and/or other information available to us.
School Meals
Lunch Accounts
Please add money to your student's lunch account or complete a free and reduced meal application prior to the start of the school year.
Money can be
1. Deposited through the IC parent portal, under the food service tab (preferred method)
2. Dropped off or mailed to 1130 Miles St., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729.
3. Dropped off at each school.
You can also set up automatic payments under my accounts, recurring payments. This will automatically deposit money when the balance gets low or on a set basis (monthly, weekly).
Apply for meal benefits online through IC parent portal or complete a paper application. If you have already received a letter indicating you qualify for free or reduced price meals no further steps are needed.
Menus, meal prices, links to the application and other information about our food service program can be found here.
NOTE: AN ADDITIONAL MILK (MORE THAN ONE) WILL CHARGE EACH ACCOUNT, REGARDLESS OF MEAL/PAY STATUS, WHICH IS 35 CENTS.
Music News
On Site Chiropractic
December - the month of gifts, but some of the best gifts can’t be wrapped or put under the tree. One of the best gifts you can give someone is not a physical gift, but the gift of your time, your attention, and a listening ear. We all know how great we feel when we are truly seen and heard. Probably everyone on your Christmas list would love receiving this type of gift!
Chiropractic care can help with attention and focus by “turning on” the nervous system. When spinal bones are misaligned it puts pressure on the nerves running along the spine (the central nervous system). A chiropractic adjustment helps to remove the interference, allowing the nerves to carry messages to the brain as they are supposed to.
Did you know that you can sign your child up for chiropractic care at any point during the school year? They didn’t need to start back in September - any day is a good day to start taking care of their nervous system. If you have any questions contact us at onsitechiroinfo@gmail.com and have a wonderful holiday season!
Kindness Rocks!
In honor of World Kindness Day in November, student created a beautiful Kindness Rock Rainbow.
This colorful creation is a reminder that small acts of kindness can make a big impact. Keep spreading those positive vibes!
Chi Hi Spectator Policy
The Chippewa Falls High School would like to remind you of our game attendance rule.
In order to enter any high school game/event, all middle school and elementary students must be accompanied by an adult chaperone.
Thank you for helping all of our fans stay safe at our home sporting events!
Classroom Treats
The health office requests that any treats brought in to school for birthdays, parties, or any other special occasions should be store bought with a clear nutrition label. There are certain students and staff with health conditions that may require dietary accommodations and it's important that they are able to review a food's nutrition label before choosing to omit or consume certain foods.
Please also be mindful about choosing treats that may contain tree nuts and/or peanuts for your student's classroom. There may be other students in your child's classroom who may have a severe nut allergy. If you are wondering whether your child is in a nut free classroom, please inquire with your student's classroom teacher or the health office.
Board of Education
Cardinal Care Mental Health Supports
Cardinal Learning Center
Cardinal Community Learning Center has programming opportunities to meet the needs of our students, families, and community!
Family Connections Winter Newsletter: This contains school and community event links.
Free/Reduced Meal Application
The Free and Reduced Meal Application is now available online! To apply for meal benefits for the 2023-2024 school year, log into your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account and click on the More option in the left hand menu and then Meal Benefits.
If you received a letter this school year saying that your children are already approved for free meals, then you do not need to complete an application.
All families are encouraged to complete the online application if possible. Paper applications are available and may be picked up at your child's school or at the Central Board Office at 1130 Miles Street, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729. If none of these options work for you please contact Kirsten Nesja to have one mailed to you at (715) 726-2581 or email nesjakj@chipfalls.org.
School Report Card
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is required by state statute (Wis. Stat. 115.385) to generate a school report card and district report card for every publicly funded school and district in the state. The report cards are intended to help schools and districts use performance data to celebrate successes and improve their efforts to prepare students for their futures.
Please click here for more information.
SCHOOL AND SCHOOL DISTRICT PERFORMANCE REPORT
Pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 115.38(2) You may request a school and school district performance report by contacting the Office of the Superintendent at (715) 726-2417.
Parkview Elementary
Website: https://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/parkview/
Location: 501 Jefferson Ave, Chippewa Falls, WI, USA
Phone: 715-720-3750