Kegonsa Family Newsletter
November 26, 2019
Happy Tuesday!
Is it too soon to give my kid a tablet?
Veteran's Day
Why Handwriting Is Important
From Reading Rockets -
"Contrary to the view that handwriting is a trivial skill, handwriting actually is important for a number of reasons.
One involves the concept of mental resources to which I have alluded in several other columns, in relation to reading and mathematics as well as writing. Just as effortful word decoding may impair reading comprehension, or lack of automatic recall may reduce the mental resources available for learning advanced computational algorithms in math, labored handwriting creates a drain on mental resources needed for higher-level aspects of writing, such as attention to content, elaboration of details, and organization of ideas.
Because handwriting is a basic tool used in many subjects — taking notes, taking tests, and doing classroom work and homework for almost every content area as well as in language arts classes — poor handwriting can have a pervasive effect on school performance.
Moreover, when handwriting is perceived as arduous and time-consuming, motivation to write may be greatly reduced, leading to a lack of practice that may further compound difficulties with writing.
Finally, handwriting in the earliest grades is linked to basic reading and spelling achievement; for example, when children learn how to form the letter m, they can also be learning its sound. Attention to the linkages among handwriting, reading, and spelling skills can help to reinforce early achievement across these areas. Read more here
Student of the Month
Bus Rules - Riding to a Friend’s House
Students that need to ride to an alternate location on a one-time basis, for example to a friend’s house, must have a signed note from their parent/guardian and the friends parent and MUST HAVE IT APPROVED IN THE SCHOOL OFFICE.
Help Make the Holiday's Bright
Pick up a tag from our holiday tree and help make the holidays a little brighter for Kegonsa children and their families.
Unwrapped gifts need to be turned in to Kegonsa Elementary by Friday, December 13th, 3:05p.
If you can't make it to The Chorus House in December 7th but want to contribute, please contact Working for Kids at kegonsawfk@gmail.com or sign up to purchase a gift on our sign up genius form, coming soon, Be on the lookout for the link to that!
2 new episodes
This week we talk about how important positive self talk is when using realistic talk. It's not just, "This is hard," it's "This is hard and I can do it!" This episode comes in at 1 minute and 52 seconds, making it perfect to share with classes, families, and friends!
https://rosenbergreads.podbean.com/e/november-8-2019-1573237717/
The latest episode of the podcast can be found here: https://rosenbergreads.podbean.com/e/november-22-2019-1574454836/ This week we are discussing how being grateful can be beneficial for our health - and it's backed up with science! If you share it with your class, I'd love to hear how it goes!
SASD snow/cold weather cancellation protocols
School district staff take decisions to delay, close, or dismiss school due to inclement weather conditions very seriously. As with most decisions that affect literally thousands of people, it will impact individuals differently. You may be interested in knowing what goes into the decision.
The most important consideration in the decision is children's safety. Can we safely transport children to and from school – and at what point in time is it the safest?
Many people and factors are involved. The process begins as early as 4 a.m. when Karen Johnson, Stoughton Area School District Coordinator of Transportation, and myself confer about weather conditions with information from national and local weather services. County and municipal road crews are contacted to assess road conditions and the extent to which they will be safe to travel at the time students are to be transported. A driver travels a rural route and is consulted for his/her input as to the safety of travel on the road. If plows are able to have snow removed from the majority of bus routes, and there is no concern for high winds or a rate of snowfall that would prohibit keeping the roads clear, busses can operate safely. Few vehicles are safer than busses in winter driving conditions. If it is determined we cannot safely transport children to school, or cannot safely transport children home from school, then schools will be delayed, dismissed early, or closed. Our intention is that the final decision to close or delay school will be made by 6 a.m. at the latest. The district will use its Emergency Notification system, as well as local news outlets, to spread the word about school closings.
For cold weather, the main indicator is wind chill factor. If the wind chill factor generates a Wind Chill Warning (-35 sustained wind chill) we will close for the day, or consider a delayed start if the warning will be lifted in the mid-morning hours. We will consider closing schools with a Wind Chill Advisory at negative 25 degrees.
A decision to dismiss school early depends on additional criteria. This decision requires that notice go out to the public at approximately 11 a.m. in order to provide reasonable notice to parents. This is an important matter in our community as the employment rate among our families is high and literally hundreds of young children have no one at home in the afternoon to accommodate an early dismissal. Their safety from early dismissal to the point at which parental supervision is available is considered. In addition, we have excellent county and municipal road crews. Normal dismissal schedules allow more time for them to do their work clearing all roads in our 100-square-mile district and improving conditions for safe travel.
While district staff have the responsibility to alter the school day due to weather, no decision of ours overrides your judgment as a parent. If parents have sincere concern for the safety of their child, they can certainly keep their child home or pick them up from school early.
In the end, please rest assured that the ability to safely move our nearly 3,000 students to and from school is the primary determinant for closing, delaying, or dismissing school early. That safety is determined with input from many professionals who are committed to the safety of children – a responsibility that is not taken lightly.
How can you help as a Parent and Community Member?
- Please take a moment now to make sure we have the most up to date contact information for you and caregivers who wish to receive school closing announcements through your Infinite Campus Portal account
- Talk with your family about emergency weather procedures in the rare event that schools are closed early
- With wintry weather approaching, remember to slow down and drive safely, especially in school zones. Our custodial and maintenance crews work hard to remove snow from parking lots and sidewalks as quickly as possible
- Please help our students to remember to dress for the weather
Thank you for your cooperation and help.
Dr. Tim Onsager
District Administrator
Stoughton Area School District
Seasonal Flu
Seasonal flu (influenza) typically peaks between December and February but can start as early as October. Influenza or the flu is an infection of the nose, throat and lungs caused by influenza viruses. Flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with the flu cough, sneeze or talk and the droplets land in the mouth or nose of another person. A person may get the flu by touching an object that has flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes but this type of spread occurs less often. Symptoms of the flu may include fever (some will not have a fever), cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and feeling very tired. Some people may experience diarrhea and vomiting.
Here are some ways to prevent the flu and other respiratory illness:
- Remind your child:
- Wash hands with soap and water frequently. Alcohol-based hand rubs can be used if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching eyes, mouth and nose.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue.
- That he/she shouldn’t share drinks or eating utensils.
- If your child is sick, he/she should stay home from school for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medication.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces that may have flu germs.
- Consider and consult with your health care provider about getting the flu vaccine.
Here is additional information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding the flu:
Managing Life Threatening Allergies
The Stoughton Area School District is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all of our students. As part of that commitment, our District has a policy in place to help protect students who suffer from allergies that may lead to a serious life-threatening medical condition (anaphylaxis).
This policy (1022 Managing Life Threatening Allergies) was developed using guidelines from the Wisconsin Association of School Nurses and CDC and after reviewing similar policies in place in other school districts. Although our policy does not ban certain allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, for examples) from District facilities, it does ask our students, staff and visitors to be aware of the medical needs of our students and to comply with the safety measures our staff put in place to reduce our students’ risk of exposure to these allergens.
We have included a link to the policy and the policy guidelines in this communication if you would like more information about the specific types of allergens that could affect some of our students and the protocols we have instituted to address those issues. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we try to maintain allergy-aware facilities. If you have any questions about this policy and/or these guidelines, please do not hesitate to contact Laurel Gretebeck, our District Nurse, at Laurel.Gretebeck@Stoughton.K12.WI.US or 608-877-5405.
Staff bios
Recess Lunch Schedules
Drop off/Pick Up
Donations for our Food Pantry
Next meeting December 10th
Upcoming Meetings: 6:15-7:15 in the Kegonsa Library/Free Childcare December 10th, January 14th, February 11th, March 10th, April 14th, May 12th
Past Newsletters
Kegonsa Elementary School
Ms. Conrad, Principal (877-5201)
Mrs. Sannes, Dean of Students (208-3468)
Mrs. Moe, Admin Assistant (877-5202)
Mr. Schultz, School Counselor (877-5229)
Mrs. McDermot, School Social Worker (440-0270)
Mrs. Wirag, Health Assistant (877-5204)
Email: erin.conrad@stoughton.k12.wi.us
Website: http://www.stoughton.k12.wi.us/page.cfm?p=619
Location: Kegonsa Elementary School, Vernon Street, Stoughton, WI, United States
Phone: 608-877-5202
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stoughtonschools/
Twitter: @WeAreStoughton