End of the 1st Trimester

November 22 marked the end of the first trimester for kindergarten at WLC. Conferences are being held on December 1 and 8. Parents are able to view their child's report card in the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus, our student information system. WLC has a standards based reporting system.

Why Standards-Based Report Cards?

Communication with families of your student's progress toward grade-level learning expectation creates a partnership in learning between the school and families. Standards-based report cards are intended to provide families with information about learning success and areas for continued growth opportunities.

What am I seeing on the Standards-Based Report Card?

Your child will receive a score of 1-4 for their standards-based reading score. The score is an indication of your child's progress towards learning, similar to the bike-riding example.

Remember a “3” should be CELEBRATED as it indicates successful learning progress towards the learning goals!! Note that all learning activities and assessments have been carefully aligned with new learning targets that ensure an accurate measurement toward meeting state-level standards.

As families, you can feel confident that learner outcomes accurately measure progress toward the learning goals for standards-based reporting.

Standards-Based Report Cards in a Nutshell

• Your child’s score is an accurate reflection on the level at which they demonstrate proficiency of a standard, rather than how your child performed in comparison to other students.

• The focus is on evidence of learning, not on compliance (example: was the work completed on time) or the accumulation of points. Separate progress marks may be included for behavior, attendance, character, and other accountability measurements.

• The expectation for all learners will be to obtain a score of “3”. This demonstrates that your child has learned the required skills and concepts to meet grade-level expectations and standards. CELEBRATE every “3” with your student!

Standards-based reporting is just one of many ways we hope to communicate about your student’s learning. Please feel free to reach out to your building administration team or teachers at any time with questions about standards based-grading or your student’s progress.

• Friday, December 2 - 6pm - ECFE Gym Night at WLC
• Wednesday, December 7 - Early Childhood Screening - please call 507-233-8300 if you have an eligible child and would like to schedule a screening.
• Thursday, December 8 - 3:30pm-7:30pm - Eagles Preschool & Kindergarten Conferences + Scholastic Book Fair (at scheduled times. If you have not scheduled your time please click here to schedule a preschool conference or click here to schedule a kindergarten conference)
• Friday, December 9 - Eagles Preschool Conferences (at scheduled times)
• Thursday, December 22 - Kindergarten Gingerbread House Party & Pajama Day - we are asking for two parent volunteers from each class to help with this event. Information & sign up below. (*If you have previously volunteered for a field trip please wait until 12/12 to sign up to allow other parents/guardians the opportunity to partake in some of our kindergarten fun!)
• Friday, December 23 - Monday, January 2, 2023 - NO SCHOOL, WINTER BREAK
• Friday, January 6 - 6pm - ECFE Gym Night at WLC
• Saturday, January 7 - Little Kids Connection Registration opens - click here to register.
• Monday, January 9 - ECFE Registration Opens - click here to register
• Tuesday, January 10 - Eagles Preschool Registration Opens - click here to register
• Wednesday, January 11 - Early Childhood Screening - please call 507-233-8300 if you have an eligible child and would like to schedule a screening.
• Friday, January 13 & 16 - NO SCHOOL, STAFF INSERVICE
• Thursday, January 19 - Preschool Special Person Day/Boot Skate - AM Classes: 9:40am-10:40am, PM Classes: 1:40pm-2:40pm

Mrs. Gasow: 9:00 - 10:00

Ms. Boelter: 10:00 - 11:00

Mrs. Berkner: 1:30-2:30

Mrs. Niehoff: 1:30-2:30

Ms. Dahle: 1:45-2:45 pm

Ms. Dummer: 1:45-2:45

Mrs. Sasser: 1:45-2:45

Mrs. Syverson: 1:45-2:45

What is a Community School?

New Ulm Public Schools is embarking on a journey to become a full-service Community School. What is a Community School? A Community School is both a place and a set of partnerships between a school and other community resources. Its integrated focus on academics, services, supports and opportunities leads to improved student learning, stronger families and healthier communities. All children should have the opportunity to achieve their dreams and contribute to the well-being of society; that’s the central purpose of public education. However, not all children have access to the same resources.

Community Schools work with partners, like Brown County Human Services, and nonprofit organizations, to provide comprehensive supports that are carefully selected to meet the unique needs of students and families. Explicit attention to challenges students face - such as lack of stable housing, hunger, trauma, prejudice, and exposure to violence - helps students attend school and be ready to learn, setting them up for academic and school success. A Community School has four “pillars”: 1) integrated student supports, such as health care, behavioral health, and dental services; 2) expanded and enriched learning time and opportunities, including offering after-school and summer programs; 3) family and community engagement; and 4) collaborative leadership and practices, such as shared goal setting among students, families, teachers, school staff, school/district administrators, and staff from community-based partner organizations. When a school has all four pillars in place, it is referred to as a full-service Community School.

My position as Community School Director is a new one for New Ulm Public Schools. I began my role on July 1 and have spent my time getting to know school administrators, school counselors, and Brown County Human Services staff. I have just begun connecting with community organizations like NUMAS Haus and Ivy House. As New Ulm Public Schools embarks on building a full-service Community School, each implementation step will be based on the immediate needs of students and families in the district.

This 3-minute YouTube video will give you more insight into the Community School strategy:

English: https://youtu.be/5dTXujuJRc0

Spanish: https://youtu.be/-oxd3il_qL4

Seated Abdominal Strengtheners that Won’t Stress back or Neck Joints Online Class

Instructor:Janice Novak, M.S.

Monday, December 12th 6:00pm-7:30pm Fee $26.00

Abdominal muscles weaken and loose shape due to past pregnancies, surgeries, sitting at a desk all day, being sedentary and poor posture. Learn a series of extremely effective exercises to quickly strengthen all four layers of abdominal, WITHOUT stressing your back or neck joints and WITHOUT getting on the floor. Common abdominal exercise like crunches can place too much stress on back and neck joints.

Registrations can be received by:

• Online with a credit card at http://newulm.ce.eleyo.com

• Phone: 507-233-8307 (registration is complete only after payment has been received)

• Mail: Community Education, 910 14th St. North, New Ulm, MN 56073

• Stop in at our office at the Washington Learning Center, 910 14th St. North (door #1)