Rasco Review June 10, 2021
Lake Bluff Elementary School Family Newsletter
A Message from Principal Rasco
Hello Lake Bluff Families!
I want to express my sincerest gratitude for the kindness, support, and generosity shown during my first year at Lake Bluff Elementary School. There are truly no words to describe the joy your children bring to my heart. It has been a tough year for everyone. But my hope is restored by the resilience I have seen in our young people. Their tenacity, flexibility, and grace have taught me that anything is possible. Thank you for sharing your children with us.
6th Grade Graduation: Please enjoy the Graduation Slideshow featuring the 6th Grade Class of 2021. We wish our 6th graders all the best as they journey to SIS next year.
Who is our new teacher?: Here is our Letter on Class Placements shared in April with all elementary families. Historically, information about teachers and grade-level assignments has been shared with families by this juncture of the school year. This year, we will not be sharing this information until late this summer, when class placements and assignments are finalized. Because teaching assignments are based on student needs which likely change over the course of summer, it will be most accurate for us to share who your child’s teachers will be in late summer when this and other beginning of the year information is finalized. All students will have access to high-quality, loving Lake Bluff teachers in every single classroom, as they always have. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact me directly.
Construction Update: Construction on our upper playground and faculty parking lot will begin Monday, June 14th, and last through mid-August. To our families who live in close proximity to our building; please pardon our dust! The upper playground will be inaccessible during this time.
I ask that you allow your children to rest, relax, and reflect on this unprecedented school year. They are resilient. They are kind. They are loved. They are awesome!
My Dearest Lake Bluff Students,
You have made my first year as principal at Lake Bluff the best year I have ever had, thank you. I will think fondly of you all summer long. It is important to me that you read, write and get outside to move and explore every single day. Take good care of yourselves and of those you love. Play safely and use kind words when speaking up for what you believe. I love you all with my whole entire heart. Be kind. Work hard. Have FUN!
Happy Summer!
Mrs. Rasco
Free Lunch and Breakfast This Summer
Who: ALL children 18 and under
Where: Shorewood Intermediate School (SIS), 3830 N Morris Blvd, in front of the school
When: Monday - Thursday, 7:30-9:00am, (closed July 5)
ALL CHILDREN 18 and under can recieve free breakfast and lunch. Only one person from your family needs to come and pick up.
If you have questions, contact Beth Klebbe, bklebbe@shorewood.k12.wi.us, phone number 331-210-8989.
QUACK, QUACK, QUACK!
End of Year Report Cards
Your student's report card is available online. Go to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal to view. If you need help finding your child's report card, watch this short video.
LOST AND FOUND
After school- Thursday, June 9
Friday, June 11 from 8:00am-12:30pm
If you would like to come on Monday, June 14, please call the office to arrange a time 414-963-6972. All remaining items will be donated on June 15. Thank you!
An Important message from the Tech department
All district devices and chargers that are checked out to students must be returned to the school for inventory, damage assessment, and refreshing. If your student attended in-person their device should have already been returned this week. All virtual students are required to return their devices and chargers to their school's main office no later than this Monday, June 14th. Any devices not returned by Monday will be disabled and a fee will be assessed to your student's account. Thank you for your patience and flexibility during this challenging school year, have a great summer!
Fees for unreturned or broken devices
iPad - $400
broken ipad screen $100
missing charger $15 (both iPad and Chromebook)
Chromebook - $250
broken chromebook screen $35
YEARBOOK ERROR!!!!
Still want a Yearbook?
COUNSELOR'S CORNER WITH MS. GAHL-SWEENEY
This has been quite a school year! In so many different ways it’s been tough and complicated and we’ve had to handle challenges unlike any school year before. I’ve noticed and am proud of the resilience Lake Bluff students have shown. I’m also honored to have joined the Lake Bluff crew this year and am looking forward to the next school year!
As we head into summer break, I wanted to share a resource with you from Dr. Maggie Altschaefl, our consulting psychologist from Children’s Wisconsin. A few weeks ago she joined me and Atwater’s school counselor to share some strategies with families focused on emotional wellness this summer. You can find a recording of the virtual event here at this link.
If you are looking for additional resources this summer, please feel free to take a look at my website, Ms. Gahl-Sweeney's Counseling Corner, which is updated regularly as I become familiar with more resources available. I plan on spending time away from my computer and with my family this summer but will be checking my email periodically.
Amy Gahl-Sweeney: LB School Counselor
agahl-sweeney@shorewood.k12.wi.us
414-963-6972 ext. 7810
Updates from the Advanced Learning Department
Wow! What a unique year it has been. Thank you for all the support, flexibility and involvement in Advanced Learning opportunities this year as we’ve made adjustments to these programs throughout the year.
Please see our Advanced Learning Virtual Classroom for additional resources and details about each club/activity listed below.
A note from Jennifer Cosgrove, Advanced Learning Coordinator
Hello Shorewood Families,
It is with mixed emotions that I share with you that I’ll be making a job change next school year. It has been my absolute privilege to work with the students, families, and staff here at Shorewood, and I’m sad to say goodbye. I have accepted a position in another school district, and the position fits better with the needs of my family at this time. This year has been challenging, but I’m so proud of all the learning that has occurred! So many students took advantage of Advanced Learning opportunities throughout the year and our department is grateful for the support of families and teachers. The Advanced Learning Department remains in extremely competent hands with Mrs. Damm, Mrs. Gorman, and Mrs. Kersting, and we are in the process of hiring someone to step into the role of Advanced Learning Coordinator.
Thank you again for all your support. I hope you have a wonderful, fun-filled summer!
- Jennifer Cosgrove
Battle of the Books
If you are interested in participating in Battle of the Books next year (and will be in 4th, 5th, or 6th grade), the book list is out! You can find it on our virtual classroom page and also in this newsletter. The Shorewood Public Library has copies of the Battle of the Books books for check out over the summer months if students want to get a start on reading. Teams will be finalized in the fall, but students can start thinking now about forming teams of three (by grade level). This is a great reading enrichment opportunity and a chance to read some books you might not otherwise select.
Math Club
Check out our virtual classroom page to find some fun resources and opportunities to practice what we’ve discussed in Math Club this year.
Summer Math Club
If you are a 4th, 5th, or 6th grader and would like to continue to challenge yourself over the summer, this Summer Math Club is for you! It is being taught by Mr. Nadolsky and offered through the Recreation Department.
WordMasters
WordMasters is officially done for the year! Certificates and awards were distributed to participants. Thank you for being a part of WordMasters this year and we hope to see any interested 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students participating next year!
Newspaper Club
Thanks to everyone who submitted stories, poems, pictures, and articles to The Beagle Times this year. Despite the unusual year, the newspaper lived on. We’d like to especially thank the editing team of 4th-6th graders as well as MR. PETERKA for the many hours spent making sure The Beagle Times continued. Check out the most recent edition of the school newspaper here!
Questions? Please contact Jennifer Cosgrove (jcosgrove@shorewood.k12.wi.us) or Jennifer Damm (jdamm@shorewood.k12.wi.us), Advanced Learning Department teachers.
It's here, the last day of the 2020-2021 school year! We wish everyone in the Lake Bluff community a great summer. We thank all of you for your participation in school and community spirit building programs like Fall Fun Fridays, Beagles on the Move, All School Read, Blizzard, Yearbook and more this year. Thank you for participating in our fundraising events. They help support beginning of the year teacher grants, Artist in Residence program, Wishing Well, and so much more. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Also a big thanks for your contributions of time and funds that supported our teacher and staff appreciation events. A special thank you to the numerous community businesses that generously donated items for our Staff Appreciation Week giveaways. Every staff member received something. It was very important that all staff members were acknowledged during this challenging year.
To the Lake Buff teachers and staff, the phrase ‘thank you’ can't fully acknowledge how much we appreciated your efforts this year. Our students are better for the experiences they had with you.
Looking forward to the next school year....
All parents and guardians are members of the PTO. We ask that you consider joining us with a small (or larger) investment of time. There are many ways that you can contribute:
Become A Room Parent (look for sign-up in August)
Join a Committee (you can choose your time commitment), examples include:
Yearbook
Beautification
Staff Appreciation Week
Conference Meals
Summer Camp
Movie Night
Hot Dog Day
4th, 5th & 6th Grade Dance
Volunteer as a floater - someone who volunteers as time and interest allows
Suggest a new fundraiser
Attend a meeting
Donate
Check our website for updates or our facebook page.
There is still time to order from our virtual Scholastic Book Fair. Summer break is right around the corner! Stock up on books, puzzles, workbooks and other items sure to keep your children engaged during the summer months at our Scholastic Book Fair. Over 6,000 items are available. The best part of a virtual fair - you can shop on your own time. The Fair runs now through June 16. You can access the online fair here. All proceeds will benefit next year’s All School Read.
If your family is interested in representing Lake Bluff in this year's 4th of July parade please email PTO President, Sarah Keefe. Details about the parade can be found in the body of the newsletter.
Please feel free to contact PTO President Sarah Keefe with any questions, comments or suggestions. Remember that all parents and guardians are PTO members. Please read our full newsletter for more information on Recreation Department's Bike Safety Rodeo, year end gift, School Supply kits for next year, Scholastic Book Sale and more. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B-6VCUotE1Ecbm-RwDlmTwh7ZniFhHSG0-1IAfw9aV0/edit?usp=sharing
Welcome and thank you for viewing the Shorewood Bands’ 10th annual “Band-O-Rama” performance, which virtually features band students in grades 4-12. (link below) “Band-O-Rama” was conceived as a performance opportunity to display the scope of the band program in Shorewood and for families, friends, and community members to hear the progress the students make over their nine years in band.
- - - Virtual Concert Link - - -
2021 Shorewood Summer Band Programs
Please consider enrolling your child in the Shorewood Summer Band Program, which provides students with an opportunity to perform fun and exciting music while improving on their instrument!
CONCERT BAND:
Shorewood Summer Concert Band is open to band students, with one or more years of experience, who are entering grades 5-9. The Summer Concert Band rehearses from 9-10:30am (8/2 - 8/13) outside in the “Band Tent”, located on the north side of Shorewood Intermediate School next to the football field.
There will be a final public performance (outside) on Friday, August 13th (date/time/location TBD)
Summer Concert Band Registration link
PRIVATE BAND LESSONS (Beginning & Experienced):
Band students are encouraged to enroll in Summer Band Private 30-minute (virtual) Lessons, taught by local professional musicians, specialized in each instrument. Each student’s background, learning style, and musical interests are considered in order to create an individualized course of private lessons. All classes will be scheduled with instructors directly. Lessons begin the week of June 14th.
Registration Links & Teacher Biographies:
Clarinet: Laura McLaughlin (teacher bio)
Percussion: Ryan Kahlbaugh (teacher bio)
Saxophone: Mike Miller (teacher bio)
Flute: Emma Koi (teacher bio)
Brass: Matthew Bragstad (teacher bio)
Questions on registration process or to register by phone, please call: Rec. Dep. @ 414-963-6913 x4