WIS Express
April 2020
Waubesa Intermediate School Information
School Principal:
Corey Shefchik
Associate Principal:
Al Northouse
Building Administrative Assistant:
Arlene Bast (608) 838-7667
Email: shefchc@mcfsd.org
Website: http://www.mcfarland.k12.wi.us/schools/intermediate/
Phone: 608-838-7667
A Note From Our Principals...
WIS Families,
We hope you’ve had a great weekend and Spring Break with your family. We’re excited to welcome you and your child back to the second week of online learning in what’s being called “Distance Learning 2.0.” We’ve captured all of the pieces you need to know for Distance Learning 2.0 in this April Newsletter. Some of the information in the newsletter you’ve reviewed in previous communication from us on March 27.
Please take a moment to view the following items in the newsletter:
WIS Distance Learning Website - Bookmark for easy access
For technology issues: please use the resources on this page
For instructional issues, please contact your child’s teachers via email. Teachers will be actively responsive during their office hours and may be available other times as well.
Gmail is new for your student - Please check out the video created by Mrs. Wolf (Computers Teacher) and monitor your child’s email. The District uses Securly to monitor all school email 24/7.
Please review with your student the “Home Technology Student Use Guidelines."
When participating in Zoom and other conference calls, your child should be in a public space in your house and NOT in private locations like bedrooms or bathrooms. School rules apply during these calls, including dress code.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher or either of us. We’d also ask that you encourage your child to contact their teacher through Gmail or Google Classroom when they have questions. This fosters independence in your child and empowers them as learners.
We’ll be providing a mid-April newsletter that will include important information as we plan and prepare for our 2020-2021 school year. This information will include what would have been our regular communication at this time of year and will assume the 2020-2021 begins as scheduled.
Warm wishes for good health and happiness to all.
WIS and Spartan Strong,
Corey Shefchik - Principal
Al Northourse - Associate Principal
April Calendar Updates
April 6 - WIS Distance Learning 2.0 Begins
April 7 - Human Growth and Development Night for Parents - POSTPONED - Stay Tuned for New Date!April 10 - Originally a day off for students and staff, now a day of distance learning, although teachers may reschedule office hours
April 13 - Originally a "Staff Development Day," now a day of distance learning
April 15 - Summer School Registration - POSTPONED - Summer School Details TBD
April 24 - PTO-Sponsored Social Event at WIS - POSTPONED - New Date TBD
WIS Distance Learning Website
To access the website, please visit the Waubesa Intermediate School website. From there, click on the WIS DISTANCE LEARNING SITE link.
Mr. Shefchik and Mr. Northouse will have daily announcements each day. Check it out!
WIS Distance Learning Video
WIS Distance Learning 2.0
Note: The following information was sent to families in an email communication on March 27th.
In Distance Learning 1.0, the focus was on providing learning options for students to explore. These activities were entirely optional.
Beginning April 6, we’ll be scaling teaching and learning up to Distance Learning 2.0.
Transitioning from Distance Learning 1.0 to 2.0
- Required Classwork:
There will be one required lesson for one core class and one Related Arts class each day.
This will be considered new learning for your student and teachers will provide instruction using various electronic methods to teach your child (i.e. video, slideshow, etc.)
-Learning from a Distance
Students will receive the week’s lesson on Monday.
Teachers will provide timely feedback (electronic comments), and report your child’s progress on the report card at the end of the school year.
Attendance will be collected based on what is turned in with a plan to reach out to families if assignments are not turned in at the start of the next week.
The emphasis during distance learning is on giving formative feedback to students on their learning, not on "grading" work. That said, we will be completing year-end report cards. When that time come, reports cards will use a scale of 3/2/Not Assessed at the end of the year.
-Student, Teacher, and Family Support:
Students will turn in work using Google Classroom and teachers will be able to provide feedback on student work.
There will be opportunities to interact with your child’s teachers for support through office hours to be posted on our Distance Learning Website. These are times teachers will be responsive to email and phone calls. They may be available at other times as well.
There may be opportunities for teachers and students to connect as a class using Zoom to connect the classroom. Think of this as similar to their “Circles” or “Morning Meeting” talks they have in the classroom.
Students with Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs) will receive their special education services to the extent possible which will include their accommodations, modifications, specially designed instruction and related services. Specially designed instruction and related services minutes will be scheduled with parents and case managers.
Students with Section 504 plans will receive their accommodations to the extent possible in a virtual setting.
Student Services (School Counselor, School Psychologist, School Social Worker) are available to students and families during office hours and by appointment.
Each day you should:
Check your daily assignments and plan the day.
Look at the possible daily schedule
Complete the Social/Emotional Task (Link)
Complete Required Lessons: (Highlighted Yellow)
Homeroom and Related Arts
Need Help: Check the optional portion at the bottom of the lesson, or Email your teacher
Want an Extra Challenge: Complete Extension Activity at the bottom of the lesson.
Access materials in Google Classroom.
Click “Turn In” When Completed
Complete Optional Activities
Required Core and Related Arts Lesson: the lesson for the day will rotate as follows
-Monday: Reading and Computers/STEAM
-Tuesday: Math and Library
-Wednesday: Writing and Music
-Thursday: Science/Social Studies and Art
-Friday: Word Study (3rd and 4th)/Science or SS (5th) and Phy-Ed
Gmail for students
All 3-5 students will have access to Gmail starting April 6th.
Students will receive lessons to help support this tool appropriately.
The Gmail App will be pushed to student iPads.
The McFarland School District uses Secur.ly to monitor Gmail 24/7.
Google Classroom:
The purpose of Google Classroom is to hand out and turn in required assignments and for teachers to provide feedback to students.
All students have used Google Classroom in their Social Skills class and many others have in their homerooms.
Parent tips are provided in the WIS Distance Learning page, including ways to get connected to your child’s Google Classroom.
Supporting your child
Meals Available For Children During School Closure
As we are sure you are experiencing in your own life, changes are happening rapidly here! In an effort to reduce exposure to everyone, we will be moving to a 2 day pick-up starting Monday, March 30.
- The new pick up days are Mondays and Thursdays.
- Pick up is still at MHS from 11:30-12:30.
- On Mondays, you will receive 3 lunches and 3 breakfasts for each child.
- On Thursdays, you will receive 2 lunches and 2 breakfasts for each child.
In order to accommodate this change, the sandwich in all lunches will now be PBJ Uncrustables. PBJ Uncrustables should be kept frozen until about 1 hour before your child is ready to eat them. The quality of the sandwich drops if they are left out of the freezer for more than 1 day.
Please fill out the food service survey so we know how many to prepare.
Remember - pickups are now on Mondays & Thursdays only.
Thank you for rolling with our changes!
Call or email with questions.
Barb Waara waarab@mcfsd.org 838-4549
Jacki Ribble ribblej1@mcfsd.org 838-4521
Message from WIS Student Services
Hello families,
Our student services staff want you to know we are thinking of all of you during this unexpected closure. We want to provide you all with some resources and ways to connect with us “virtually” should you need or want to during this time.
(1) Medical/Mental Health Emergencies: First and foremost, if you, your child, or someone you know are in a medical/mental health emergency, please call 911. Examples of emergencies include: you or someone you know needs help right away, suicidal thoughts or actions, a need for immediate medical attention
Additionally, here are some mental health resources and toll-free numbers:
Dane County Emergency Services: 608-280-2600
National Suicide 24/7 Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Spanish 24/7 Lifeline: 1-888-628-9454
To connect to the Crisis Text Line text HELLO to 741741
TrevorLifeline: 1-866-488-7386; Trevor text 678678
Briarpatch: https://youthsos.org/resources
Journey Mental Health: 1-608-280-2600
(2) General safety concerns- See Something Say Something
Fill out a Sprigeo report
(Examples include: bullying/harassment, general concerns about physical or mental safety of yourself or someone else)
(3) Check-In: If you would like to make an appointment with one of us (Ms. Ruhland, Mrs. Gauwitz, Ms. Lily), please fill out the google form to request an appointment. We will respond to your request within 24 hours and will confirm your appointment (either on Zoom or by phone call) with a google calendar invitation. Appointments will be made within our regular office hours (8am-3pm, Monday-Friday).
Remember that appointments are for non-emergencies. We are happy to help and eager to connect with you if and when you need us during this time.
Ms. Ruhland, Mrs. Gauwitz, and Ms. Lily
Paint the Tile Night at WIS
Thanking Our Health Heroes
Let’s show our support for our Health Care Heroes! We are so fortunate to have so many health care professionals working the front lines right now. Their dedication, bravery, and compassion is amazing.
If you would like to write a note or make a poster to thank these wonderful people, we will be sure that our local Health Heroes receive your love and support.
Starting Monday, April 6 there will be a box sitting outside the Waubesa front doors. Place your notes, cards, and posters in the box, and staff and community members will pick up items every day. Let’s show our gratitude for all that they do!
SHOW YOUR WAUBESA POWER!