RASCO REVIEW January 13, 2022
Lake Bluff Elementary School Family Newsletter
A MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL RASCO
Hello Lake Bluff Families!
Excused Absences extended
Earlier this afternoon Dr. Sternke sent this Family Update. In addition to this communication, our District will adopt the revised CDC isolation and quarantine guidelines beginning Monday, January 17th. Please click here for that information.
Masks
Consistently wearing properly fitting masks remains one of our best safety practices against COVID-19. With the cold weather, many of our students return from recess with masks that are wet and/or soiled. If possible, please send your child to school with a spare mask in case their mask breaks or gets wet or soiled.
Lunch, snacks, other mitigation
Cardboard dividers are provided during lunch to all students who would like them. Lunch room staff circulates and monitors students to ensure that when masks are down for eating, there is no talking. You can support us at home by reminding your child/ren that when masks are off, voices are off. As has been our policy, all snacks are eaten outdoors unless extenuating circumstances such as inclement weather prevent this.
Families who choose to pick their children up or give their older children (5th and 6th grade only) permission to walk home may choose to do so. We recognize that these are less than ideal options for many of our families. As the Omicron variant continues to create this pandemic surge, we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work very hard while trying to stay healthy and safe, ourselves. We are navigating staffing challenges while still doing everything we can to safely remain open for in person learning.
Vaccinations
Has your child been vaccinated? Please SUBMIT COVID VACCINATION RECORDS HERE Completing this form assists us with faster and more efficient communication and contact tracing in the event that it is needed.
Other COVID-19 Resources
COVID-19 Shorewood School District Weekly Data Dashboard
COVID-19 Multilingual Family Information
COVID-19 Vaccine/Testing Resources
Attention: MAC 1 Oak Families
Please click here for an important message.
Next week we have the opportunity to pause and reflect on the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The impact of Dr. King’s work and sacrifice are enjoyed by all of us here at Lake Bluff. My hope for your family is that you have the opportunity to reflect on how you can best have a lasting impact on the world around you. From virtual, to in person, here are 5 ways to do good for MLK Day
In Service,
Principal Rasco
Early Release Sack Lunch - Thursday, January 20
MENU: Pretzel, Cheese, and Yogurt with Celery and Fresh Oranges
COUNSELOR'S CORNER WITH MS. GAHL-SWEENEY
This week, I’d like reshare a resource from Dr. Maggie Altschaefl, who consulted with Shorewood schools the past few years through our wonderful partnership with Children’s Wisconsin. She offered some suggestions for working with our kids through some of the anxieties they have been experiencing. She has gathered some great information. You can find it here.
I know these can feel like complicated and tough times and it can be helpful to have some strategies in place to help guide our students and ourselves.
Amy Gahl-Sweeney: School Counselor
agahl-sweeney@shorewood.k12.wi.us
414-963-6972 ext. 7810
Website: Ms. Gahl-Sweeney's Counseling Corner
UPDATES FROM THE ADVANCED LEARNING DEPARTMENT
Advanced Learning News 1/18-1/20/22
Battle of the Books (BOB)
Grade level: 4th-6th graders
Dates: Monthly Check-ins during Guided Study
Our last Check-in for the Month happened last week and our teams are making good progress. We only have one more meeting at the end of this month before the battles start up in February. Our last meeting will be a practice battle with our teams so that they can prepare for what the Battles will entail when we have them. A schedule link will be available in the next Rasco review (awaiting changes for the band lunch schedules! :), and will be handed out to the teams next week.
Our book list is up on Quizlet.com with the titles and authors, and there is still plenty of time to start memorizing the titles and authors on the list. Go to Quizlet.com and search “ADVLEARNING”. The Battle of the Books List A for 2021/22 should show up. We also have a sample list of questions for each book in the style of the questions that are asked during the In-School Battles. Look under “ADVLEANING” on Quizlet.com, and you will find “Battle of the Books Question Set #1, List A” . More sets will be coming this month
Duration: Teams begin reading books over the summer, and the program culminates with in-school battles (competitions) occurring in February and a Regional Battle during the week of April 4th-6th. The regional Battle this year will be Virtual.
Description: Teams consist of 3 students (all from the same grade level) and each team is given a list of 45 books to read. Teams meet regularly to discuss the books they’ve read, compare notes, etc. We will meet with the students once per week to check in and offer additional enrichment related to BOB and general reading comprehension skills.
WordMasters
Grade level: 3rd-6th graders
This week, WordMasters received a practice test for their second list of the year during Guided Study this week. The new list’s words will can found on Quizlet.com. Search “ADVLEARNING” for the List #2 2021/22. Students should continue to use the practice packets to get to know their word definitions and to practice bridge sentences.
Dates: Twice Monthly during Guided Study, dates to be announced. This month’s meetings will be on January 13th and 14th. The next Test is the week of February 7th.
Duration: All year; Quiz #1 in November, Quiz #1 in February, Quiz #3 in April
Description: A few weeks before each quiz, students are given a list of 25 vocabulary words. Each quiz requires students to know and understand the definitions of these words and use them correctly in an analogy format. We will meet with the students twice before each test to check in and offer additional enrichment related to specific WordMasters practice as well as general analogy/vocabulary enrichment.
Math Olympiad Practice
Grade level: 4th-6th graders
Dates: Every Monday/Tuesday at Guided Study times.
Our third Math Olympiad test happened last week. Tests continue to get harder as the year goes along, so please encourage your child to persevere! Our next test will be next week on February 7th and 8th. The Math Olympiads are learning techniques that they can use to solve the problems on the test in a more efficient manner.
Duration: October-April
Description: Students will work on a variety of problem-solving skills focused on preparing for the Math Olympiad competitions. There will be 5 tests throughout the course of the year.
We continue to think about and plan for how we can serve and challenge students, so check our resource website for additional information as well as ideas for enrichment at home.
Sincerely,
The Advanced Learning Department
Jennifer Damm (jdamm@shorewood.k12.wi.us)
Mary Gorman (mgorman@shorewood.k12.wi.us)
Creative Writing Contest
Are you a storyteller or a poet? The General Federation of Women's Clubs sponsors creative writing contests for members and community youth to foster community spirit, talents, and growth. Students in grades 1-12 are invited to participate. Student work must be written in the year 2021. Entries are du no later than February 1, 2022 and can be turned into the school office. They will be collected by a representative of the Woman's Club. Questions? Email shorewoodwc@gmail.com. See waiver and contest details included here.
Shorewood's Boutique Blowout
Returning on Saturday, February 5th is the bargain hunter’s paradise known as “Boutique Blowout.” Many of Milwaukee's chicest boutiques will be there to sell clothing and accessories at deeply discounted prices. This year’s event will again be held at the Atwater Cafeteria from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. The $5 admission fee is donated to the Shorewood Recreation Department’s “Donation for Recreation” program, which provides financial support for anyone unable to afford the department’s activity fees. Attendees are asked to please mask up for the event. Hope to see you there!