October 1st Jefferson Journal
Thomas Jefferson Elementary
Email: bsjohnson@wausauschools.org
Website: http://www.wausauschools.org/
Location: 500 West Randolph Street, Wausau, WI, USA
Phone: 715-261-0175
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WausauSchDist/
Upcoming Events
October 5th: Bike to school day
October 8th: 5th Grade Neighborhood Clean up
October 11th: PTO meeting at 5:30pm in Library
October 12th: G2M Starts
October 13th: 4th Grade visit a Farm
October 26th: Conferences from 3:30-7:30pm
October 27th: Conferences from 12:00-8:00pm
November 18th: Hmong New Year Celebration 5:30-6:30
Kaum Hli 5: Caij lub luv tees tuaj kawm ntawv
Kaum Hli 11: Nam/txiv naikhu muaj saablaaj thaum 5:30 tsaus ntuj huv Library
Kaum Hli 13: Qaib 4 moog saib Farm
Kaum Hli 26: Nam Txiv tuaj ntsib Naikhu 3:30 - 7:30 tsaus ntuj
Kaum Hli 27: Nam Txiv tuaj ntsib Naikhu 12:00 - 8:00 tsaus ntuj
Save The Date October 5th Walk or Bike to School Day
G2M Grade 2nd- 5th
Watch for the yellow G2M Form to come home with your student and get it sent back to school once filled out
October 12th-November 18th-(six weeks)
Tuesday, Wednesday,and Thursday from 3:30 - 4:45
*NO CLASS ON WED OCT 26th, 27th, and 28th
*We look forward to offering in- person classes this school year!
*We strive to provide your child with classes that will be a break from their academic day, and engage them in super fun stress-free activities.
*We will also continue to offer Math Achievers and Study Zone for students who have been recommended by their teacher for extra assistance, or who could benefit from extra academic help.
*HEALTHY SNACK PROVIDED
PLEASE NOTE: CLASS SIZES ARE LIMITED SO RETURN YOUR FORM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IF CLASSES ARE FILLED YOUR CHILD MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE THIS SESSION.
Contact Lisa Carroll if you have questions: 715 261-0180
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
*FILL OUT ALL FORMS COMPLETELY AND RETURN TO SCHOOL
ADVENTURE CLASS: Grades 3-5 If you want to "travel" the world and explore new places, people, food, fashion, art, and culture then sign up for our Adventures Class in G2M. This class will include virtual "trips" around the world where we learn about culture, people, food (possibly try some even!) and make art inspired by that country or place. We will be displaying our "travels'' on the G2M bulletin board for others to "tour" along with us as they travel the hallways of Jefferson Elementary. So come along with Ms. Jenny as we explore our world! NOTE: Limited enrollment for this class so sign up early!
HMONG DANCE Grade 2-5 Mrs. Xiong is back to teach Hmong Dance! This class is for anyone who is interested in learning more about the rich Hmong culture through music and dance. Students will have fun learning with friends and get to perform at one of our upcoming family events.
SPORTS FOR 2ND AND 3RD GRADERS Students in this class will have opportunities to enjoy a variety of athletic games, and team sport activities in a non- competitive setting. The key word here is “FUN”! This class will surely fill up fast so return your form as soon as possible.
MATH ACHIEVERS: Grades 3-5 Students will work with Mrs. Borta and High School mentors to improve their math skills, by practicing math facts, playing math games, and completing math homework. Students who have a red referral slip on their form should sign up for this class for extra help.
STUDY ZONE: Grades 2-5 Students who have a red referral slip on their form can sign up for this class to receive extra help with any subject. High school mentors will be available to help students in small groups. If you need extra time on I-READY, have homework, or want to improve your reading and writing skills- this class is for you!Encore Updates
ART
This quarter students are using our new season, Autumn, as inspiration for artwork with the use of our art elements (Color, Space, Form, Value, Shape, Texture, Line). Autumn has unique colors, sounds, textures, and events that students take from personal experience to add their voice and vision to their artworks. Don’t forget to ask your students about their learnings in art and other encore subjects! Watch for images of their work via their Seesaw Art class posts.
K-1 students are using Autumn to create art using Color, Line, Shape, and Texture. Projects include icons of pumpkins, leaves, our school, and trees.
2-3 students are using Autumn to create art using Color, Line, Shape, Value, Space, Texture. Students will also be learning about Balance, Contrast, and Repetition from our Principles of Design (which add more interest to their artwork). Principles of Design are Emphasis, Balance, Contrast, Repetition, Proportion, Movement, and White Space. Projects include icons of rainbows, fall harvest items, leaves, and scarecrows.
4-5 students are using Autumn to create art using Color, Line, Shape, Value, Texture, and Space. Students will also be learning about Repetition, Balance, Contrast, Proportion, and Movement from our Principles of Design (which add more interest to their artwork). Principles of Design are Emphasis, Balance, Contrast, Repetition, Proportion, Movement, and White Space. Projects include icons of skulls, leaves, bones, and items reflecting oneself.
Science
5th grade is learning about the human body and has started learning about bones
4th grade is learning about space. This week we learned about the solar system and Astronomical Units
3rd grade is learning about Earth Materials. We are currently in the process of working with evaporation
2nd grade - Air and weather. We made parachutes this week and have discussed how air can be captured and moved
1st grade - Pebbles sand and silt - we worked on separating rocks by size and learning their names (pebbles, gravel, sand)
Kindergarten - We are working with our 5 senses. We learned about sight today and how even though our eyes are different colors, they are all used to see the same things.
Link to WSD Covid Dashboard, Elementary and Secondary Matrices
As we enter the 2021-22 school year, the Wausau School District is offering the highest quality educational experience for students. We are taking several steps to monitor and mitigate the spread of COVID. We are also taking steps to minimize the time lost to quarantines.
We are working with the Marathon County Health Department to monitor and mitigate the spread of the virus in our community and our schools and will revisit our protocols as necessary at any point during the school year. Public health is a whole community effort and the District can not be successful on our own. Below are some practices that families can take, as well as, the school district.
Leader in Me
Ipad Insurance K-5 Grades
If you have not paid your $10 iPad insurance fee, please do this as soon as possible. Here are the ways you can get this to the office.
- Mail a check to Thomas Jefferson at 500 W Randolph St. Wausau, WI 54401.
- Log in to the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus and pay with a credit card online.
- Drop off the payment (in an envelope with your child's name on it) at school, entrance #1.
Your coverage after paying the insurance is as follows:
The first repair due to accidental damage will be fully covered. The second repair due to accidental damage will be fully covered. All remaining repairs will be billed to the family at 50% of actual cost. Fully replaced iPads will be billed at 50% of actual replacement cost. (District retains replaced device.)
If you decline to pay the insurance, you take full financial responsibility for any loss or damage to the device issued to your child.
District Technology Help Line:
715-261-0833
Parent Reminders
Visitor / Volunteers
Anytime that visitors are in the building between 8:15 and 3:45, you must use the main entrance and check in with Mrs. Steckling in the office. While there, you will be asked for your driver's license as part of our security protocols to ensure we have safe and trusted adults in the building. You will then receive a visitor badge to enter the rest of the building.
If you are volunteering in a classroom, you need to apply to the O.N.E. program to complete a background check by clicking on the following website:
Attendance Information
Please call the Thomas Jefferson office to report any absences. Even if you have notified your child’s teacher(s), please still notify the office of any absences or appointments. Please remember to call before 9:00 am. If calling the school before the office is open please leave a voice message for us with your child's name, reason for the absent (if ill what the symptoms are please see below) who is calling and a phone number where you can be reached if there are any questions.
If you have a student in K-5th please contact :
715-261-0175 or you may also email Mrs. Tranchita at ctranchita@wausauschools.org
If you have a student in 4K please contact:
715-261-0185 or email Mrs. Channel at achannel@wausauschools.org
WSD COVID GUIDELINES 21-22
Students must stay home from school if they have the following symptoms.
One of these symptoms:
❏ New or worsening cough
❏ Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
❏ New loss of smell or taste
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Two or more of these symptoms:
❏ Fever over 100.4/Chills
❏ Diarrhea
❏ Sore throat
❏ Runny nose/congestion
❏ Headache
❏ Fatigue
❏ Nausea/vomiting
❏ Muscle/body aches
___________________________________________________________________________________________
If a student has symptoms, it is recommended that they immediately be tested for COVID, regardless of vaccine status.
The student may return to school with proof of a negative PCR COVID test or an alternate diagnosis from a medical practitioner.
If parents choose not to have their child tested, the student is presumed positive and must stay home for 10 days, be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, and have improvement of symptoms before returning to school.
If a student or anyone else living in the home tests positive, all students in the home (unless vaccinated and not showing symptoms) must quarantine for the 10 days of the positive person’s isolation PLUS an additional 10 days quarantine, a total of 20 days. If the positive person can isolate away from the students, the other students in the home must quarantine for 10 days from the last contact with the positive person.
Parents are asked to notify the school if a student later develops symptoms or tests positive for COVID.
If your child is identified as a close contact to someone outside the home, follow the directions from the health department.
Contact the Marathon County Health Department with questions. 715-261-1900
Bussing Questions??
First Student Contact Information:
715-842-2268 Phone
715-845-5155 Fax
First Student policy required ALL bus riders to wear a face mask. If your student is a bus rider, please make sure they have a mask for the before and after school bus ride.
Field Trips require all riders to wear a mask. Please remember to have a couple masks in your students backpack so they are prepared when attending field trips.
Nutrition Services Information
Wausau School District is participating in the USDA Seamless Summer Option (SSO) for the entirety of the 2021-2022 school year. This means that our school is providing free meal (breakfast and lunch) to all students! This program provides additional support and flexibility for our district to continue serving meals to children while maintaining safety measures and managing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We still ask that you complete the free and reduced application online if you have not done so already. Our school receives extra funding from the free and reduced applications and is very important to have them filled out. Here is a link to complete the free and reduced application online by clicking here
PTO Information
Wausau West Elementary School Basketball League
Staff Directory
Principal Mr. Johnson bsjohnson@wausauschools.org
Secretary Mrs. Tammy Steckling tsteckling@wausauschools.org
Building/ Office para Mrs. Colette Tranchita ctranchita@wausauschools.org
Health Aid:
Ms. Megan Bach- mbach@wausauschools.org
Pupil Services
Counselor: Ms. Sue Doerr sdoerr@waususchools.org
Social worker: Mrs. Morgan Knetter mknetter@wausauschools.org
Psychologist: Mrs. Amanda Melville amelvill@wausauschools.org
Bridge Room Coordinator: Ms. Amber Sparby asparby@wausauschools.org
4K Staff
Mrs. Amber Channel achannel@wausauschools.org
Ms. Samantha Kniess skniess@wausauschools.org
Mrs. BreAnne Wais bwais@wausauschools.org
Mrs. Renee Krautkramer rkrautkr@wausauschools.org
Mrs. May Xiong maxiong@wausauschools.org
Kindergarten Teachers
Mrs. April Voigt avoigt@wausauschools.org
Mrs. Kelly Hummel khummel@wausauschools.org
Mrs. Katelyn Veith. kveith@wausauschools.org
1st Grade Teachers
Mrs. Diana Gartzke dgartzke@wausauschools.org
Mrs Deb Treager dtreager@wausauschools.org
Mr. Matt Schilling mschilling@wausauschools.org
2nd Grade Teachers
Mrs. Diane Eder deder@wausauschools.org
Mrs. Carrie Helke cahelke@wausauschools.org
Mrs. Taylor Frank tfrank@wausauschools.org
3rd Grade Teachers
Mrs. Jill Ebersold jebersol@wausauschools.org
Mrs. Sandy Knoll sknoll@wausauschools.org
Mrs. Heather Trollop htrollop@wausauschools.org
4th Grade Teachers
Mrs. Leslie Ninnemann lninnema@wausauschools.org
Mrs. Kary Riggs kriggs@wausauschools.org
5the Grade Teachers
Mrs. Jen Davidson jdavidso@wausauschools.org
Ms. Emily Fritz efritz@wausauschools.org
Encore Team
Art- Jennifer Lingford jlingford@wausauschools.org
Gym- Christin Sullivan csulliv@wausauschools.org
Science- Tori Dienger vdienger@wausauschools.org
Music- Sana Wressell swressel@wausauschools.org
Library- Jennifer Moore jmoore@wausauschools.org
Special Education
Mrs. Justine Callahan jcallahan@wausauschools.org
Mrs. Kim Ickert kickert@wausauschools.org
Mrs. Jennifer Faust jfaust@wausauschools.org
Gifted & Talented
Mrs. Cheryl Borta- cborta@wausauschools.org
EL
Mrs. Paokee Xiong. paxiong@wausauschools.org
Mrs. Lisa Alexander lalexand@wausauschools.org
Mrs. Halle Veenstra- hveenstr@wausauschools.org
Title I
Mrs. Amy Akey- aabitzak@wausauschools.org
Mrs. Trenny Frahm- tfrahm@wausauschools.org
Speech
Mrs. Michelle Debot mdebot@wausauschools.org
Translation support
Mrs. Eileen Thao ethao@wausauschools.org