Rusch December 2017
A GREAT PLACE TO BE: EVERY STUDENT, EVERY CHANCE, EVERY DAY
NOTES FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Boy has the weather been playing tricks on us. One week the kids are outside in just sweatshirts and the next they need hats, mittens and warm winter jackets. Although it is getting colder out, we still have so much to be thankful for; so much that warms our hearts. We are so lucky to get to work with your child(ren) every day. Each and every Ruschie truly brings a smile to our face and we are honored to get to be a part of their lives.
Throughout the month of December we will focus on Caring, Showing Compassion, and Celebrating Diversity. I encourage you to share with me ways your family does these things at home. We would love to share them at our Rusch Rally on Wednesdays.
This year we also have a newly formed Rusch Family Pride Organization for which we are very grateful. This group is looking to bring great things to our Rusch families. Please watch for future emails from them. If you are interested in being a part of this organization or know of anyone that would like to volunteer in our schools, please let us know. It truly does "Take a Village."
Here is hoping that this Winter Season brings a smile to your face and a warmth in your heart. Thank you for all you do!
CARES,
Mrs. Schoenborn
DATES TO REMEMBER
- Dec. 4- Kindergarten, 1st, 4th & 5th Grade Field Trip to Holiday Train
- Dec. 21- Winter Concert at 5:30 PM
- Dec. 23-Jan. 1- No School
- Jan. 2- School Resumes
Office News
Please send a note in your student's folder to school:
- if the way your child goes home changes
- if your child will be picked up early
Please call 608-742-7376 by 7:45 AM if your child will be absent.
Please send back Parent/Student Handbook Verification Page.
Cafeteria
Reminder about lunch accounts:
Please maintain a positive balance.
Pre-payment is needed for breakfast, lunch, and a la carte (milk only) items.
Please ask the office for Free and Reduced applications at any time during the school year. November lunch menu: http://www.portage.k12.wi.us/district/lunch.cfm?memberid=15&month=12&year=2017&view=cal_view&categoryid=306&submit_button=View+Menu#d268378
Physical Education
Art Club
Art Class
Hello Parents!
It has been a fun month in the art room! Kids have been...
Preparing artwork for the Art Show at the December Music Concert.
Attending the Creative Arts Festival (3rd-4th graders)
Please check out the photos below of some talented Portage student artists you may recognize.
Also, go to www.artsonia.com and click on your child’s school to view more student artwork. If you are interested in volunteering, I could use a hand taking pictures of artwork for this. There is just never enough time in the day to sit and do this! Please e-mail me if interested!
Jen Martens
K-5 Art Teacher
Rusch, Lewiston and Endeavor Elementary Schools
Katlynn French & Myself at the Creative Arts Festival...Check out my dress! Students drew patterns and designs all over it!
4th grade has been busy working on double digit multiplication and have started learning about plants. We are looking forward to our trip to the Holiday train on December 4th. Please remember to send a nonperishable food item with your student as "payment" for the trip!
The 5th graders have been very busy this month learning how to multiply decimals by powers of 10 and by a whole number in math. In reading they have been learning how to understand the characters in their stories better by visualizing in their mind what they have read about them. Students are also busy writing about a disappointing experience they had and what they learned from it.
Archery~ 4th & 5th Grade
Veteran's Day Rally
Music
Hello from the music room!
We have recovered from the Veterans Day performance and are all extremely busy right now working on the music for the Winter Program. Just another reminder that the Winter Program is Thursday, December 21st starting at 5:30 pm in the Rusch gymnasium. A letter with more information concerning the concert will be sent out at the beginning of the month. Looking forward to the performance!
Nursing
Handwashing
Germs are commonly spread through direct contact or by sprays from coughs or sneezes. Washing our hands at key times throughout the day is very important to stop the spread of germs. Please work with your child to practice good handwashing skills that includes the use of soap. Be sure you focus on both the fronts and backs of hands, between the fingers and fingertips. Keep nails trimmed and clean. Fingernails longer
than ¼ inch are known to harbor more dirt and bacteria, so a nail brush may be needed.
Key times students are encouraged to wash hands at school include:
after using the restroom
before eating lunch or snack
when dirty, such as after recess or art
after coughing, sneezing or blowing the nose
any time a child wants to
before preparing food
Handwashing helps to keep our fellow students healthy. Many students have chronic health concerns causing a lowered immune system. These students are no different than others, but are challenged with staying healthy on a daily basis. Let’s all step up the hand washing, for ourselves and others!
Here is a poster that sums up handwashing as a family activity. http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/pdf/hygiene/hwfamily.pdf
Vision Screening
Students in kindergarten, 2nd and 4th grades have completed vision screening. Those students who needed a recheck have also had that completed. Referrals to have an eye doctor exam have been sent home for all children who, at this point, need one.
Referrals are sent out to parents/guardians in writing so you may take the results to your eye doctor. If your insurance does not cover an eye doctor exam, or the insurance does not cover the cost of glasses, our school nurse can connect you to resources so your child will have what s/he needs. This also applies if you do not have insurance. Please contact the school nurse to discuss the referrals, or if you need assistance with obtaining services or glasses for your child.
Anyone may refer their son/daughter for a screening by the school nurse.
Remember, children learn so much through what they see. An eye exam is the only way to know for sure if your child needs glasses or not.
Mrs. Hon may be reached at 742-4867, extension 4131.
BackPack Program
Staff at Rusch Elementary are teaming up to provide food to children for the 2017-2018 school year. The Backpack Program is a free program that provides kid-friendly, non-perishable food, for students most in need, to eat over the weekends. It is our hope these resources will support the health, behavior, and achievement of every student that participates.
Items distributed in the program could include: cereal, peanut butter, juice, fruit cups, soup, vegetables, and granola bars to name a few. Bags will be distributed to student participants on the last school day before the weekend or break. Any child who is in need is eligible to receive these weekly bags of food.
Please carefully consider your family’s economic status to determine if food assistance is needed by your child(ren). The goal of the program is to provide food to children who are hungry on a regular basis.
This program has been funded this year through donations, grants, and a private donation. It is staffed by Rusch teachers and volunteers.
If you feel your child(ren) could benefit from this program at any time during the school year, please email Mrs. Schoenborn at schoenbornn@portage.k12.wi.us. We will do our best to ensure that this program is confidential as students will not be identified as participating. Our staff will put a bag filled with food in your child(ren)’s backpack before school is let out for the weekend.
Columbia County Resources
Columbia County Health and Human Services
Food Pantries
2nd Harvest Mobile Food Pantries (open to all Columbia County residents)
2nd Monday of every month at 11:00am at the Columbia Co. Fairgrounds, Wauona Tr/Griffith St. Everyone welcome. No ID’s needed. Bring your own carts/baskets to carry your food.
St Vincent De Paul Food Pantry
Located at 1311 West Wisconsin Street in Portage
Monday–Thursday 9am–5pm, Friday 9am–8pm and Saturday 9am–5pm
*You will need to bring photo ID, proof of residency and your own bags. Applicants are eligible every 30 days.
Park and Recreation
806 Silver Lake Dr, Portage, Wi, 53901 (608) 742-2178
Family Resource Center
2946 Red Fox Run, Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-8482
Provides a variety of family services, including scheduled playgroups, parenting support and information series, workshops, and family visiting program. Staff are available to answer questions or provide resources to help families. All services are free.
Dental – Free or Low Cost Services - Seal-A-Smile
Susan Lorenz R.N. M.S. Columbia County Health Officer at 608-742-9227 susan.lorenz@co.columbia.wi.us
The Columbia County Seal-A-Smile dental sealant program is available at no charge whether or not your child is covered by dental insurance. The program will bill Medical Assistance or BadgerCare if your child is covered by these programs.
Free Immunization Clinic
2:30pm-5:30pm (10/10, 11/14, 12/12 - 2016) No appointment is necessary – Birth parent or legal guardian signature required. Bring immunization records.
Library Programs
Contact the library in your community to inquire about special programs for children and families, such as story hour or summer reading programs.
Portage Public Library 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage 53901 (608) 742-4959 Hours: Mon-Thurs 9-8:30; Fri 9-6; Sat 10-4 Sat hours between Memorial Day & Labor Day are 10-1 Contact: info@portagelibrary.us Website: http://www.portagelibrary.us/
There are many more resources available to our community, feel free to check out the Columbia County Health and Human Services Website: http://www.co.columbia.wi.us/columbiacounty/Portals/7/Resource%20Guide.pdf
Helping our Portage Friend reach a Goal
PULLIN’ for Pop Tabs at Woodridge Primary School!
We’re looking for help collecting Pop Tabs for Mercedes Alves, a 5 year old Woodridge Primary student. She is collecting tabs for the Ronald McDonald House in memory of her late brother and has been collecting since February 1st. The Guinness Book of World Records lists the record at 2,782,000 tabs collected in a year and has stood for 12 years. Mercedes has currently collected over 2,400,000 tabs and has until January 31st to beat that record.
She is so close and we’re so excited for her! What’s even more exciting is that Mercedes would be the very first Portage resident in the World Record book!
If you’d like to help, please send your pop tabs into your school by January 12th and Woodridge will send them to Mercedes’ family.
Let’s all help Mercedes beat that World Record in memory of her late brother and have his memory forever remembered in their hearts and the book!
~Please send pop tabs to Rusch with your child. We have a bin set up in the office for collection. Thank you!
Halloween Parade
Rusch Elementary School
Website: portage.k12.wi.us/rusch
Location: 117 W Franklin St, Portage, WI, United States
Phone: 608-742-7376