Rusch November 2018
A GREAT PLACE TO BE: EVERY STUDENT, EVERY CHANCE, EVERY DAY
Mr. Meyer's Message
Based on the calendar, we are already to the end of the first 9 weeks of school! Can you believe it? It has been one of the quickest, most rewarding school years in my time as an educational leader thus far. I want to use my message to give you some things to reflect on this month that may help your child be even more successful at school this year!
There is a poster that is hung up near the front entrance of our school. I walk passed each day and today I thought I would share what it says with you. The title of the poster is "Reading Matters". It states that a child who reads 20 minutes per day is exposed to 1.8 MILLION words per year and scores in the 90th percentile on standardized tests. A child who reads 5 minutes per day is exposed to 282,000 words per year and scores in the 50th percentile on standardized tests. A child who reads 1 minute per day is exposed to 8,000 words per year and scores in the 10th percentile on standardized tests.
I am not suggesting that the only reason to read at least 20 minutes per day is to perform on standardized tests, but I am saying that students are going to be at a clear advantage in life if they are someone who reads each and every day consistently for an amount of time that impacts their learning and comprehension. We read each and every day with your child at school. Each student is a unique individual with unique needs and parents know these needs the best! If your child has struggled to perform on our district assessments or the Forward Exam, it may be that they need more time in the act of reading outside of the classroom. Please help your child by giving them a quiet place to read each day, a book to read each day, and feedback on the books they read each day! Together we will help your child succeed here at school and in the world outside of school!
Have a great Month!
Mr. Meyer
DATES TO REMEMBER
November 13th~Rusch Family Pride Organization Meeting 5:30 PM in Room 106
November 21-26th~ No School
Office News
Our School Day is 8:00-2:55. Students are considered late/tardy after 8:00 AM.
All tardy students must be walked into the main office and signed in by a parent/guardian.
Students need to wear coats/sweatshirts below 50 degrees. If you need assistance with cold weather clothing, please call the office.
For planned absences, please contact our office for pre-authorization forms.
If your child will be absent please contact the main office by 8:00 AM. 608-742-7376
Please refrain from parking in the front of the school during arrival and dismissal times.
Chaperones or volunteers need to complete an annual background check online at least two weeks prior to volunteering. Please use this link to locate the form. http://www.portage.k12.wi.us/district/volunteer-opportunities.cfm
If you need help with this process, please call Rusch office at 742-7376.
Veterans Day Program
When: November 13th at 8:30 AM
Where: Rusch Gymnasium
Why: Honoring our Veterans
Please send the form back to school by November 6th if you will have a Veteran attending our Program.
Rusch Family Pride Organization
Advanced Learners Opportunities/Events
December 7 - Creative Arts Festival Grades 3/4
January 11 - Math 24 tournament - Grade 4
January 18 - Math 24 tournament - Grade 5
24 Tournament Rules
February 5 - Regional Spelling Bee
February 8 - Writing due for the Young Author's Contest
February (end) - Math Matters Competition
March 5 - Regional Math 24 Tournament
April 3 - Youth Art Madison
April 25 - Creative Arts Festival Grades 5/6
May 28 - Young Authors Conference
LEGO Club application forms can be picked up by your child in the office. Adults are always needed to facilitate groups of students. Your child is automatically placed in a club (yours!) if you volunteer.
Holly Kobza
K-5 Learning Coach (GT & Tech)
2600 Woodcrest Drive
Portage, WI 53901
608-742-5531
1st Grade
The first graders just completed a unit on maps and globes. They built a "birds-eye" view of their bedroom using blocks and other manipulatives. They also made a map book that showed their home, school, city, state, country and planet. These concepts helped them understand the size difference of all of these special places.
Cafeteria
Please click on the link for November Lunch Menu.
Please ask the office for Free and Reduced applications any time throughout the year.
Please remember in order to purchase any a la carte items (e.g. milk) there must be enough money in your child's account to cover that item.
Library
Counselor's Corner
OCTOBER; BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH
In an effort to promote awareness of school bullying, the month of October is designated as Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying can cause school absenteeism, mental and physical stress, poor school performance, and poor self-esteem.
A definition of bullying to use for younger, elementary age children:
Bullying is when you keep picking on someone because you think you’re
cooler, smarter, stronger or somehow better than them.
It is important to distinguish bullying from other unkind, mean and harmful behavior. Calling someone a name or pushing someone once, being rude or having an argument with someone is not bullying. Of course, these behaviors should be addressed but may have different consequences and interventions, which is why the distinction is critical. To be defined as bullying, all three components must be present: (1) repeated actions or threats, (2) a power imbalance and (3) intention to cause harm.
Students at Rusch have been learning about the difference between being mean, being rude and being a bully in third and fourth grade while the primary grades have been focusing on kindness and accepting of differences and fifth grade is covering what circumstances may prompt an individual to become a bully.
Tips for Parents: What to Do If Your Child Is Being Bullied
If your child is being bullied at school, this can be a very painful experience for your child and your family. Here are some things you can do to support your child if he or she is being bullied:
Never tell your child to ignore the bullying.
Allow your child to talk about his or her bullying experiences.
Write down what is shared.
Empathize with your child. Tell him or her that bullying is wrong, that it is not his or her fault, and that you are glad he or she had the courage to tell you about it.
If you disagree with how your child handled the bullying situation, don’t criticize him or her. It is often very difficult for children to know how best to respond.
Do not encourage physical retaliation.
Check your emotions. A parent’s protective instincts stir strong emotions. Although it is difficult, step back and consider the next steps carefully.
Contact a teacher, principal or school counselor at your school immediately and share your concerns about the bullying that your child has experienced. Work closely with school personnel to help solve the problem.
For more information regarding bullying prevention, visit: https://www.stopbullying.gov/
https://www.verywellfamily.com/bullying-4157339
Family Resources
Nursing
Head lice
Everyone dreads these two words, “head lice”. Head lice are a nuisance and do not spread disease. Portage Schools protocol is when students are found to have live head lice and or nits, parent or legal guardian contact will be made to notify you of the finding and to come pick your child up from school. A handout about how to get rid of head lice will be given to you at the time of pick up. A child must be treated before returning to school. Upon return to school, the child must have a head lice check in the main office. If live lice are found, the child will again be sent home. Please call the office or send a note with the type and date of treatment used. Follow all directions on the package of the head lice treatment product each time you treat.
All people in the household should have their heads checked for lice. Often, it is the adults in the house who also have head lice but are overlooked in the treatment process. Cleaning of the environment is critical. Vacuuming and washing fabric items should be done for areas the person with lice has been in the past 2 days.
The custodians have cleaning schedules for each area in our district. This process includes washing hard surfaces and vacuuming floors.
Please talk with your children about your expectations not to share hats, combs, brushes, hair items, and to be considerate of personal space. A high five is a great alternative to a hug. For students with long hair, consider a braid or holder to keep the hair pulled back. Parents should develop a routine for checking their child’s head for lice daily or at least every few days.
The school nurse is available to you as a resource, please do not hesitate to call for support and guidance. Mrs. Hon covers elementary buildings and may be reached at 608/742-4867, ext 4131, 608/697-4912, or honv@portage.k12.wi.us
Music
Hello Rusch Families!!
In music right now we are starting to get music ready for the Veterans Day celebration and the Winter Program. The students are working very hard on the singing and instrument parts! Just another reminder that the Winter Program is on Tuesday, December 18th at 5:30pm. More details will be sent out as the program gets closer.
-Miss Janes
Stitch Club
The first session of Stitch Club is coming to a close with students making their own initial travel pillow. They are pictured with their pillowcases that were completed in the previous lesson.
Backpack Program
The goal of the program is to provide nonperishable food items for students to take home on the weekends and long breaks during the school year.
The Backpack Program hopes to reduce food anxiety so that students can have more positive social, emotional, and academic outcomes in school.
For more information about this program please visit https://sites.google.com/portage.k12.wi.us/portage-community-schools-back/home
Rusch Elementary School
Website: portage.k12.wi.us/rusch
Location: 117 W Franklin St, Portage, WI, United States
Phone: 608-742-7376