John Muir News
March 2024 - Volume 7
Calendar
Mar 1 - Early Release, 1:00 pm
Mar 8 - Early Release, 1:00 pm, Glow Dance 5:30-7:30 pm with parents accompanying children
Mar 10 - Daylight saving time begins! ("spring ahead" 1 hour!)
Mar 13 - Muir Reading Celebration, 2nd 9-9:40, 3rd - 1-1:30; 4th - 1:30-2:15; 5th - 2:00-2:30; Market Box Pick-up - 4:30-5:30
Mar 15 - Early Release, 1:00 pm
Spring Break - Mar 18-22 - No school!
Mar 26 - Muir/Woodridge PTO Meeting, 4:30, Woodridge Library
Mar 29 - No school!
Mrs. Gulrud, Principal
We are excited for our upcoming Reading Celebration on Wednesday, March 13 and hope parents and guardians can join us that day to see what students have been working on.
March brings warmer weather and a chance for students and families to enjoy a spring break. When students return, grades 3-5 will begin the Wisconsin FORWARD testing. Information will be sent home about the upcoming testing and there is a brochure of information linked in this newsletter. This is only for grades 3-5. Please support your student by making sure they are getting plenty of rest and eating breakfast at home or school that day.
Thank you for all you do to help your child(ren) be successful!
Angie Gulrud
Principal
608-742-5531, ext. 2001
Behavior Tips : Common Language at School and Home
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING -
The first month of school will be focused on helping students feel welcome, safe, and confident at school. Staff will run morning meeting activities in which students get to know each others' names, connect through common interests, and build community within their classroom and grade level. This year at Muir in addition to our Warrior Way that we pledge in announcements daily (We are respectful, responsible individuals on task, ready to learn, and safe.), we will be working on routines and procedures in all settings that follow these ideals - take care of yourself, take care of others, and take care of this place.
Sometimes words like responsible and respectful can be confusing for students as they aren't concrete terms, so breaking down what being responsible and respectful look like will help students understand.
Each grade level will use these rules and you can use the following rules at home as well so students have common language between home and school:
1. We listen to each other.
2. Hands are for helping, not hurting.
3. We use I-Care Language.
4. We care about each other's feelings.
5. We are responsible for what we say and do.
EMOTIONAL REGULATION-
Helping students identify and voice their feelings is really important to emotional regulation. We will work on this as well. When students identify or name their feeling, then they can use a strategy (if needed) to regulate that feeling. For example - I feel "angry" when you try to budge in line in front of me. Adult can prompt, what are your strategies when you feel angry? Student can share the strategies and adult can urge the student to use a strategy to cope with anger.
This takes patience and practice. It is also something all people (children and adults) need as a life skill. It is really great for adults to model for their children as well. Talk out loud about the thinking process going on within your mind (which teachers call a "think aloud") and this will provide modeling for your student.
"I am really angry that that car just pulled so close right in front of us. In the moment it really made me feel scared and worried for our safety. I am going to do some deep breathing right now and turn down the radio for a few miles to calm my body and keep driving safely."
Mrs. Jahn, Dean of Students
Did You Know?
Missing 10%, or about 2 days each month over the course of a school year, can make it harder to learn to read.
Students can still fall behind if they miss just 1 or 2 days every few weeks.
Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
Attending School regularly helps children feel better about school-and themselves. Building these habits early on so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is importance. Eventually good attendance will be a skills that will help them succeed in high school and college.
What You Can Do
Set a regular bedtime and morning routine
Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
Develop backup plans for getting to school it something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor or another parent.
Try to schedule medial appointments and extended trips when school isn’t in session.
If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors and other parents for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and exited about learning.
*Adapted from AttendanceWorks.org: Help Your Child Succeed in School: Build the Habit of Good Attendance Early
Contact information ~
Karissa Jahn
Email: jahnk@portage.k12.wi.us
Phone: 608-742-5531, Ext. 2002
Calling with Changes to Transportation
Please send a note or email in the morning to the student's teacher or with your student or call the office with any changes by 1:30PM on a regular school day and by 11AM on an early release day. With almost 500 students in attendance, the office does the best we can with this last minute information and especially if students finish the day in a specials class or there is a fun activity in a different room, it takes time to get the message to the student. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation with letting us know these changes as soon as possible to give us ample time to communicate that to the student and classroom teacher.
Warm Clothing Necessary
Winter isn't completely gone! Students are expected to wear a coat when it is 50 degrees or lower in temperature. Also have hats, gloves, and scarves to keep warm. We will go outside unless the temperature is below zero or there is extreme wind chill. Snow pants and boots are necessary for going in the snow and going sledding. Students without snow pants and boots will only be allowed to play on the blacktop. Thanks for making sure students have warm clothes daily.
Thinking of joining Girl Scouts?
Muir/Woodridge PTO Minutes
Woodridge/Muir PTO Spring Events
BUTTER BRAIDS FUNDRAISER:
Pickup will be on March 15, the Friday before spring break starts. They will be dropping off the product around 3pm and we need volunteers to help put all the boxes in order by teacher or last name. We will start sorting immediately after delivery and pickup is 5:30-7:00pm. We will need help from 3-7 organizing and distributing the orders, if you can help at all during that time please email us at muirwoodridgepto@gmail.com
SPRING DANCE:
Thanks to the amazing turnout from the Halloween dance, we’re doing another dance this year!! This one will be neon themed and we’re hoping to get black lights for glow fun too!
We will need another large set of volunteers. I’ve updated the sign up genius to be more specific but please let me know if you have any questions. Please sign up below.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080844A8A92EA4FF2-47293461-spring
The Dance is on!!
Mark your calendar!! The Muir Woodridge PTO Spring Dance is set for March 8, 5:30-7:30 at John Muir. Be sure to wear your most comfortable dancing shoes! Parents MUST be attendance with their students. Thanks!
Lost and Found
Parents/Guardians,
Please help us by labeling your children's gear - coats, bags, gloves, hats, scarves, etc. We no longer have space to store all the lost and found items and will be cleaning it out biweekly. We are teaching students the responsibility of having what they need with them and keeping track of their belongings. In order for coats left behind not to be lost, please label them and we'll get them back to the students if their name is on the item.
Thanks for your help,
Principal Gulrud
Math Intervention
Matt Dietzenbach, District Math Specialist
Kathy Tofson, Elementary Math Coach
Market Box Sign Up
We are excited to offer this great opportunity to our PCSD families and need to see how many families would like to participate!
The MARKET BOX will contain both perishable & non-perishable food. There is NO COST to participate and this program is open to all PCSD families. Here's the link: 2023-24 Market Day Box Sign-Up.
MARKET BOXES may include:
Eggs
Bread
Fresh Fruit
Fresh Vegetables
Frozen Meat
Boxed dry goods (Breakfast items/snacks/lunch options)
MARKET BOXES will normally be available for pick up on the THIRD WEDNESDAY of each month. The March MARKET BOX pick up is scheduled for March 13 from 4:30-5:30, a little earlier due to spring break
Families will need to pick them up from JOHN MUIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
If there is a change in the day or time for pick-up, we will notify families of the change.
Please fill out this form. Only submit ONE response per family/household per school year, even if you have multiple children attending the district.
Happy Spring!
March 19th is the first day of Spring this month, so it is on the way! Easter will fall on March 31st this year so below is a link for information on a couple of Easter Egg Hunts that are being held in the area. They are both being held on Saturday March 30th.
2nd & 3rd Grade SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Update:
During the month of March your child will be receiving guidance lessons on a weekly basis covering the topics of Teamwork (Resolving Differences and Conflict) and the importance of having a Growth Mindset. We will be discussing positive ways to resolve your differences with others, while also learning the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.
Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns!
Jennifer Shier is designated Grades 2 & 3
Contact Information
Email: shierj@portage.k12.wi.us
Phone: 608-742-5531, ext. 2454
4-5 Grade Counselor Corner!
Kindness Chain Challenge: And the winner is…
This year we introduced the theme of kindness for the month of February and kicked it off with a school-wide Kindness Chain Challenge. The idea was that within each classroom students would aim to do three acts of kindness per day, whether at school, at home, or out in the community, and each day write each of these kind acts onto a slip of paper that would be linked into a growing paper chain. We are now at the end of February and it’s been wonderful to see how long these chains have grown among the classrooms that participated!
With only two days remaining before the end of February, there have been 758 acts of kindness from your students in participating classrooms! That’s great for our very first Kindness Chain Challenge! So who were the winners? Who had the longest chains of kindness? Fifth grade was the clear winner, hands down. Congratulations, fifth grade! Of those fifth grade classes there was a continual and head-to-head battle of kindness right from the start between two of them, but the winner of our first Kindness Chain Challenge by only 3 more acts of kindness is… Mr. Kilde’s 5th Grade Class! Fantastic job, everyone!!! Congratulations also to our 2nd graders who came in second! And let's congratulate our 3rd and 4th graders, too!
Exploring Careers
The 4th and 5th grade classes have just started an exploration of careers, which started with a True Colors Personality Test to find our dominant personality traits, and from there to see how our personalities might fit with the careers we think we would like. We will also be doing an online ‘Reality Check’ in which students indicate the kinds of things they want to have in life, including location, type of home, entertainment, etc., see what they will need to earn in order to afford the lifestyle they want. We will finally look into the career areas we may be interested in and learn what kind of training and education is needed in that field, job growth outlook, and salary ranges.
Mike Meyers is designated Grades 4 & 5
Contact Information
Email: meyersm@portage.k12.wi.us
Phone: 608-742-5531, ext. 2454
Spring is Around the Corner!
Community Events in March and April…
March 30th Portage Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt
On the grounds of Woodridge and Muir Elementary Schools, 10am-1030am.
Age groups will be 1-3 years old, 4-6 years, 7-8 and 9-11.
The Easter Bunny and Leo the Lion will be on site for photo opportunities
Please arrive early enough to park and walk to the starting area. The hunt will start promptly at 10am. Bring a basket or bag to carry the eggs home in.
In case of inclement weather, the Lions will pass out the eggs curbside.
Free!
March 30th Portage Rod and Gun Club Easter Egg Hunt
Over 1000 eggs to find 1pm-3pm
Three separate fields set up; K-2nd grade, 3rd-5th, 6th grade and up.
W10450 Hwy 16
Free!
Portage Area United Way Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser at Northwoods Inc
Saturday April 13th 5pm-7pm
All you can eat spaghetti dinner for $15 a person.
Contact a board member for tickets, call (608) 742 6816 or purchase tickets at the door.
Northwoods Inc N6510 Hwy 51 Portage
Shelby Glasgow, Social Worker
Contact Information
Email: glasgows@portage.k12.wi.us
Phone: 608-742-5531, ext. 2107
Children and sleep: Routines are important!
Sleep is critical for everyone's health, no matter how old you are. The age of a person determines the amount of sleep needed. This can vary based upon other factors like a person's health status. Sleep hygiene is a term used to describe a practice of going to bed about the same time and rising about the same time each day. The routine is supported by activities to calm the body before going to bed. The brain needs time to unwind. Try these steps to build your and your child's sleep hygiene routine:
Turn off all screens about 30 minutes before getting into bed for the night
Avoid large meals and caffeine before bed
Consider a small healthy snack
Have a drink of water
Brush your teeth for two minutes
Set out clothes, boots/shoes and load the backpack for the next day
Read a story or listen to the highlights of your child’s day
Set your alarm for morning
Remove all electronic devices from bedrooms
This routine will become useful in helping your child’s body adjust to the ‘spring ahead’ time change on March 10. A routine will help transition the children to this new sleep wake cycle.
The Sleep Foundation has ideas to help create a sleepy bedroom, dealing with bedtime worries, and other sleep strategies for kids. Ask you child about some of the mindfulness activities they have learned at school.
Valerie Hon, MSN, RN, LSN, NCSN
Pronouns (she/her)
District Nurse & Safety Committee Chairperson
Portage Community School District
305 E. Slifer Street
Portage, WI 53901
608/742-4867, extension 4022 or
PHS 608/742-8545, extension 1156
Fax 608/742-3989
Volunteering at John Muir!
Volunteering to help at the school or go on field trips is a wonderful way parents can stay connected to their student's school activities. To become a volunteer, the district asks that a background check be completed prior to participating. Here's the link to the district web page. It will take about five working days to process. Please keep in mind, this process must be completed prior to getting involved in your student's school activities. It cannot be completed the day of the activity as we will not yet have the approved results. The background checks are required to be done annually, i.e. if one is done and approved in December, 2023, it will be good until December, 2024! It can be completed at any time during the school year.
We hope to see you at school!
Bus ID's
Effective March 4, students that ride the bus will be required to scan his/her bus pass before riding. The pass is scanned and allows the system to track who is on the bus. Bus ID's are given to each student in a pocket holder with lanyard. If your student loses his/her bus pass, there is a cost of $5.00 for a replacement.
The Here Comes the Bus App is a free app that enables the user to see the location of your child’s school bus on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. The app allows families to see real-time updates of where a bus is along its route, to create a custom notification for when the bus reaches a certain point in its route and to receive notifications if there has been a schedule change. If you wish to sign up for scanning notifications of when your child scanned on and off the bus, the district code is 29776.
The app is available from the App Store or Google Play. Download instructions and additional information can be found at www.herecomesthebus.com.
School Lunch and Breakfast 2023-24
The meal prices for students and adult visitors are as follows:
Milk: $.50/carton
Breakfast: $2.00
Lunch: $3.10
Reduced Breakfast: $0.30
Reduced Lunch: $0.40
Adult Breakfast: $2.75
Adult Lunch: $4.50
Please visit the PCSD Food Services webpage for additional information. Click the image below for the Free and Reduced Lunch Application.
Can't remember your lunch pin? Sign in to your Infinite Campus account, your lunch pin is the 5-digit number under your picture. Monthly breakfast/lunch menus are sent home with your student at the beginning of each month. You can also access the menu through our website by clicking on the lunch bag in the upper right corner.