Howards Grove School District
October Parent & Guardian Newsletter
Greetings!
Thank you for sharing your amazing children with our dedicated staff. Each day is a pleasure serving this school district and community. Whether it's the kindergarten writing parade at Northview, the first dance at the Middle School, or the amazing Homecoming Events at the high school, we are learning and growing together each day.
Personally, I am still learning new things everyday about our school district. Many things show so much potential for greatness when given a little love and attention. The things that need changing are always a work in progress. The things are working amazingly need to be celebrated.
I see our teachers and staff members putting their heart and soul into their work and are committed to your children. They take their jobs seriously, but also laugh and enjoy magic that happens in our classrooms, hallways, and lunchrooms.
Thank you for being a partner with us for the good of all students in the Howards Grove School District.
Sincerely,
Shannon L. Kilton
Superintendent
School Board Meetings
Our School Board meets twice per month to best meet the needs of our district. The meetings are scheduled for the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month. Each meeting has a specific purpose.
The 1st Monday meeting of each month is a committee meeting of the full board which starts at 6:00 PM. This meeting is designed for board training, information sharing, and discussion items. Most often there is NO ACTION or decisions made at this meeting.
The 3rd Monday meeting of each month is the regular board meeting which starts at 7:00 PM. This meeting will have action items, school showcase presentations, updates from the student council, and other presentations that are scheduled. Sometimes a closed session of the board is needed. In this case, we may schedule a special board meeting to convene in closed session. In the event closed session is needed, we will start at 6:00 PM.
To help involve our parents, staff, and community in our meetings, all open meetings allow for in-person attendance and will also have a Zoom Link so you can listen in from home. Starting this coming Monday, October 18th, we will be posting the agenda and all supporting documents for the public to view on an online platform called BoardDocs. Click on this link BoardDocs (soon) to see the agenda for Monday night's meeting. The agendas for each meeting will typically be posted on BoardDocs by the Friday prior to the meeting. Since this is new, there will be an explanation on how to use this platform throughout the meeting on Monday night.
If you'd like to join us on Monday, October 18th at 7:00 PM, here is the Zoom Link:
Join Zoom Meeting
COVID Dashboard
I am very happy to report that things are going well with our case counts and quarantines. Thank you for your ongoing support by keeping your children home if they are showing any symptoms.
Health & Safety Needs of our Students
Our school district is committed to supporting the academic, social-emotional, and health and safety needs of our students. The Wisconsin Department of Instruction offers many resources for districts in these areas. To support the health and safety needs of our students, DPI offers a state-wide survey (YRBS) to collect data to show us what supports our students need to stay safe and healthy.
The Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is conducted as part of a national effort by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor health-risk behaviors of the nation's high school and middle school (grades 7-8 only) students. These behaviors, in turn, result in the most significant causes of both mortality and morbidity during youth and adulthood. The behaviors monitored by the Wisconsin YRBS include traffic safety; weapons and violence; suicide; tobacco use; alcohol and other drug use; sexual behavior; and diet, nutrition, and exercise.
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has administered the YRBS every two years beginning with 1993. The YRBS is administered to students in Wisconsin's public high schools and middle schools. Survey procedures are designed to protect the privacy of students by allowing anonymous and voluntary participation.
The Howards Grove School District will be administering the YRBS Survey to students in grades 7-12 on Monday, November 15th. Here is a link to the DPI website with more information.
Here are some of the sample questions at each level:
If you have questions or concerns regarding this survey or would like to opt out your child from taking the survey, please contact the school counselors at each school.
Jessica Luecke- Middle School
Krista Neave- High School
School Updates
Simply click on the school links below to read updates from each school
Substitute Teachers NEEDED
The Howards Grove School District is currently accepting applications for substitute teaching assignments. Opportunities may be available at all grade levels and subject areas district wide. Applicants must possess or be able to obtain a Substitute Teacher license from the Department of Public Instruction or currently hold a teaching license. Acceptable Background Check required.
A substitute license can be obtained for anyone who holds an associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university and who have successfully completed an approved substitute training program , but have not completed a state-approved educator preparation program.
The initial starting pay for substitutes is $120/day.
The Howards Grove School District does not discriminate in the employment of professional or support staff on the basis of any characteristic protected under State or Federal law, including but not limited to race, color, age, sex, creed or religion, handicap or disability, marital status, genetic information, citizenship status, veteran status, military service (as defined in 111.32 Wis. Stats.), sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, arrest record, conviction record, use or non-use of lawful products off the District's premises during non-working hours, or any other characteristic protected by law in its employment practices. (Board Policies 3122 & 4122). The employee shall remain free of any alcohol or illegal substance in the workplace in compliance with Policies 3122 & 4122 throughout his/her employment in the District.
Contact Me!
FIRST, Reach out directly to your child's teacher/team/coach.
In the event your concerns are not addressed or you need further support, NEXT reach out to the building principal or activities director.
Jon Hess- High School Principal: jhess@hgsd.k12.wi.us
Angie Houston- Middle School Principal: ahouston@hgsd.k12.wi.us
Sarah Ellinger- Northview Principal: sellinger@hgsd.k12.wi.us
Tracy Mueller- Athletic/Activities Director & Special Education Director: tmueller@hgsd.k12.wi.us
FINALLY, if you still need additional support, please reach out directly to me, Shannon Kilton, Superintendent: skilton@hgsd.k12.wi.us
In the event, we have all failed to help you navigate your questions & concerns, your last stop would be to reach out to the school board. Here is the actual board policy on navigating this process.
I am personally asking for this communication chain to help us all develop positive and trusting relationships, which are always grounded in open and honest conversations. Most often, concerns can be easily solved when we all talk directly to the person involved with the question or problem.
Thanks in advance for the support and understanding of this process.
Howards Grove School District
Superintendent of Schools
Email: skilton@hgsd.k12.wi.us
Website: https://www.hgsd.k12.wi.us
Location: 403 Audubon Road, Howards Grove, WI, USA
Phone: (920) 565-5462