Parkview Elementary
March 2024 Newsletter
March 1, 2024
Dear Parkview Families,
Welcome to March! It is always nice to know that the month of March will bring us a balance of sunshine, longer days, and warmer temperatures. February was a busy month especially with celebrating 100 Days of School, Valentine’s Day, and our PTO Paint & Popcorn Night!
March should also prove to be a busy month as we have Parent/Teacher Conferences. Spring break will take place March 11th-15th. It always amazes me during this time of year how things really seem to kick up into high speed!
As the days start to get longer and the spring season officially begins, I would like to share a few reminders about student attendance. Students arrive by bus starting at 7:20 AM. Car rider and walker drop off is from 7:20-7:40. If you know that your child will be late due to an appointment or absent for part or the full day, please be sure to call our attendance line and report the absence. Our phone number is 715-720-3750. In the afternoon, if your child’s schedule needs to change, please call the office before 1:30 PM to report the change, as this helps greatly in getting the information out to the classrooms in a timely manner. School dismissal is at 2:35. These proactive steps greatly help with supervision, accountability and safety! We thank you for your continued support at the beginning and the end of the school day.
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
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
- 27th - One School, One Read Pajama Day
- 28th - Yearbook Orders Due
- 29th - No School
April
- 1st - No School (staff work day)
- 2nd - 5th 5th Grade Forward Exam Testing
- 3rd - RCU
- 8th - 12th - 4th Grade Forward Exam Testing
- 9th - PTO Meeting 6-7:30/Library
- 10th - RCU
- 15th - 19th - 3rd Grade Forward Exam Testing
- 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
- 29th - **Last Day of School for Elementary (this is a change)
June
- PTO Meeting 6-7:30
Change in Last Day of School for Elementary Students
Dear Families,
We hope this message finds you well. We wanted to inform you of a change in the last day of school for elementary students. The new last day will be on May 29, 2024, instead of the previously scheduled May 30, 2024. Please note that this change is only for our K-5 students. 4K, MS, and HS students will still have school on May 30th.
This adjustment is necessary to provide teachers with dedicated time to begin training as mandated by the state under Act 20 for all public schools. Act 20 initiates a statewide adherence to science-based early literacy instruction to address low reading proficiency across the state.
Your partnership and support in allowing this time for our educators to focus on enhancing their skills in the area of literacy are highly appreciated. We know that the benefits of this training will contribute positively to the learning experience of our students.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.
Spring Forward
Don't forget to set your clocks one hour ahead before you go to bed on Saturday, March 9th.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Academic Conferences will be held on March 5 and March 7 from 3:00-7:00 pm. Please schedule with your child('s) teachers if you haven't done so already.
Yearbook Orders
YEARBOOK ORDERS DUE 03/28/24
Parkview Yearbooks
$12.00
1) Paper order forms were sent home. Fill out the envelope and send it back to school with payment by Thursday March 28th. Please make checks payable to Strawbridge.
2) To Order Online
- Go to www.strawbridge.net
- Click on "Order Pictures and Yearbooks"
- Enter Code: YB29468
News From Nurse Caitlin
Dear Parents/Guardians,
As we enter the peak season for illnesses, I wanted to take a moment to remind you of
some important steps you can take to help prevent the spread of illness among our
students. As the school nurse, ensuring the health and well-being of our students is my
top priority, and your partnership in this effort is invaluable.
1. Hand Hygiene: Encourage your child to wash their hands frequently with soap
and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating, after using the
restroom, and after coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not available,
alcohol-based hand sanitizers are a good alternative.
2. Respiratory Hygiene: Teach your child to cover their mouth and nose with a
tissue or their elbow when they cough or sneeze. Discourage them from using
their hands, as this can spread germs. Proper disposal of used tissues is also
essential.
3. Stay Home When Sick: If your child is experiencing symptoms such as fever,
cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, fatigue, or vomiting, please
keep them home from school. Returning to school too soon can prolong illness
and increase the risk of spreading it to others.
4. Rest and Hydration: Ensure your child gets plenty of rest and stays hydrated, as
these are crucial for supporting the immune system and aiding in recovery from
illness.
5. Healthy Habits: Encourage your child to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating
nutritious foods, getting regular exercise, and managing stress. A healthy body is
better equipped to fight off infections.
6. Vaccinations: Ensure your child is up to date on all recommended vaccinations.
Vaccines are one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infectious
diseases.
7. Clean and Disinfect: Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
at home, such as doorknobs, light switches, countertops, and electronic devices.
By following these simple steps, we can work together to create a healthier environment
for our students and reduce the risk of illness spreading throughout our school
community. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.
Sincerely,
Nurse Caitlin
POISON PREVENTION AND TREATMENT TIPS
March 17 – 23 is Poison Prevention Week. Over 2 million potential poisonings are reported in the U.S. every year, with over 90% of these occurring in the home and the majority of them being young children. The majority of poisonings that occur in the home are accidental. Among children, these things often can cause poisonings:
Medicines
Pain killers
Household cleaners
Hydrocarbons (such as lamp oil, kerosene, gasoline, lighter fluid)
Plants
While children younger than 6 years old make up a larger percentage of cases, poisoning can affect all age groups-infants to seniors.
Ways to prevent accidental poisoning:
Store medicine, cleaners, paints/varnishes and pesticides in their original packaging in locked cabinets or containers, out of sight and reach of children
Install a safety latch that locks when you close the door on child accessible cabinets containing harmful products
Purchase and keep all medicines in containers with safety caps. Discard unused or expired medication
Check the label each time you give a child medicine to ensure proper dose
Never tell a child that medicine tastes like candy
Never place poisonous products in food or drink containers
Keep coal, wood, or kerosene stoves in safe working order
Maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Treatment
If your child is unconscious, not breathing or having seizures due to poison contact or ingestion, call 911. If your child has come in contact with poison and has mild or no symptoms, call your poison control center at 1-800-222-1222
Immediate treatment tips:
Swallowed poison: Remove anything remaining in the child’s mouth. If the suspected poison is a household cleaner or other chemical, read the container’s label and follow instructions for accidental poisoning.
Poison on the skin: Remove any contaminated clothing using gloves. Rinse the skin for 15-20 minutes in a shower or with a hose.
Poison in the eye: Gently flush the eye with cool or lukewarm water for 20 minutes or until help arrives.
Inhaled Poison: Take the child outside into fresh air immediately. If the child has stopped breathing, start CPR and do not stop until the child breathes or help arrives.
**If the child vomits, turn their head to the side to prevent choking**
Music News
Library News
PTO News
RCU
Title 1
One School, One Read is back!
One School, One Read!
Continue to enjoy our One School, One Read book The World According To Humphrey. For more information about the event or to listen to chapter recordings visit the website linked here:
All activities need to be handed in by Thursday, March 28th. Final prizes will be handed out the week of April 1st. Thank you for participating in our 2023-24 One School, One Read event!
Dress Up Days!
Help us celebrate our One School, One Read event by participating in Reading Wednesdays! One Wednesday of each month will be a special dress up day.
Our next dress up day is:
Wednesday, March 27th- Pajama Day
Thank you to all that participated in our One School, One Read dress up days!
Family Engagement Website
Visit our Title 1 Family Engagement website for educational resources, parenting resources, Title 1 information and more. Find the website linked here:
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.
On Site Chiropractic
**We have luckily had a very mild winter so far this year, but we still may have spent more time indoors than we do in the warmer months.
Being outside in the fresh air is SO GOOD for everybody! It energizes our bodies, boosts our mood, improves our immune system, increases vitamin D levels, improves sleep, and reduces stress.
Paired with outdoor time, healthy food and restful sleep, chiropractic may be the piece you’re missing in your child’s health care. Email us at onsitechiroinfo@gmail.com for more information.
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.
4K Enrollment Information
Kindergarten Registration
The public elementary schools in Chippewa Falls are beginning to plan for kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year.
Students who presently attend one of the Chippewa Falls School District’s 4-year-old Kindergarten programs do not need to re-enroll. Students are automatically enrolled in Kindergarten. More information will be provided from your child’s elementary school about Kindergarten registration and how to update information into Infinite Campus.
Children who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2024, and who will be entering Kindergarten in the Chippewa Falls School District for the 2024-2025 school year, and are not enrolled in the Chippewa Falls 4-year old Kindergarten program, need to enroll. Those students who attended a 4K program in the 2022-23 school year, but were not in school this past year will need to enroll as well.
To enroll your child, please visit the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District website. If you do not have internet access, please contact Tami at (715) 720-1850 or visit the Administration Office located at 1130 Miles Street, Chippewa Falls, WI. You may also visit your child’s elementary school for assistance in registering.
Attention 5th Grade Families
See attached Middle School Newsletter for upcoming registration.
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