The OIS Tribune
October 2023
Dear OIS Students and Families,
Happy October! I hope you find time to enjoy the beautiful fall season and everything it has to offer. From apple orchards, pumpkin patches and corn mazes, these activities aim to bring joy and create memorable moments for all. As the season unfolds, I want to share some important updates and reminders with you.
Fall Break
Please note that we will have a fall break from Oct. 20 - Oct. 23, returning to school on Tuesday, October 24th. It's the perfect time to recharge and spend quality time with family and friends!
Parent-Teacher Conferences
As partners in your child’s education, we invite you to participate in our upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences. This valuable opportunity allows us to connect, collaborate, and work together to support your child’s growth and development.
- Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, October 24 and Thursday, October 26 from 3:30 - 6:30 pm.
- Each conference will last approximately 10 minutes to ensure all families have the opportunity to collaborate with their child’s teachers.
- Please login to your family account and follow these instructions to select your preferred date and time slot.
- More information below in the newsletter
October Book Fair
Our annual Scholastic Book Fair is coming up! This is an excellent opportunity to foster a love for reading in your child!
- Our book fair is schedule for the week of October 24 - 28.
We appreciate your ongoing support and collaborating in creating a positive and engaging educational experience for everyone. If you ever have any questions, concerns, or ideas, please don't hesitate to reach out. We value your feedback and strive to continuously improve.
Here's to a wonderful October filled with learning, growing and FUN moments!
Julie Bender
OIS Principal
As we reflect on an incredible Homecoming Week at the Intermediate School, it is important to share our heartfelt appreciation for your support and express our joy in experiencing a truly memorable week alongside your children!
The spirt and enthusiasm displayed by our students throughout the week was nothing short of amazing. We all took part in a variety of activities, embraced school pride with dress-up days, and came together as a tight-knit community to celebrate being part of the Osceola School District!
The football team spent time at OIS on Friday during lunch, and embraced the opportunity to inspire our youngest athletes! Their willingness to devote time and energy to visit and interact with our aspiring athletes has left a lasting impact on their lives. Students at OIS listened to many words of encouragement, and absorbed advice from the high school athletes that once shared the same lunch tables 6 years ago!
A huge THANK YOU to our Chieftains for being exceptional role models for our community!
Each month, teachers at OIS nominate one student as 'Student of the Month." To be nominated, students must display a combination of academic effort, leadership qualities, positive character traits, and be involved in continually demonstrating the OIS expectations: Be Safe - Be Responsible - Be Respectful. Once all nominees are submitted, the entire Intermediate School staff vote for one winner per grade level. We announce each month's winner on the last Friday of the month.
OIS Winners for September
3rd Grade- Caiden Heidvogel
Our student of the month is Caiden Heidvogel. Caiden has left a great impression on our class in the first few weeks. He goes out of his way to help out friends, without seeking recognition. Caiden has recently taken a friend under his wing. At lunch, he memorized this student's lunch pin, to help them. He has helped them log into his computer, and given them reminders so he does not fall behind. Caiden's motives are truly inspiring, and I am so proud of who he is as not only a student, but a person too.
4th Grade- Emma Prochaska
Our student of the month nominee for September is Emma. In our class Emma acts as a leader. She is so kind, nice, and helpful to everyone around her. I know that I can count on her to lend an extra hand, offer support to another classmate, and follow OIS expectations. We are so happy to have Emma in our class this year!
5th Grade- Emily Lechman
Emily Lechman is Mrs. Busick's nomination for September Student of the Month. Emily is new to Osceola Intermediate School this year and we are SO lucky to have her in our class!! She is a positive and motivated learner who enjoys exploring new concepts. Emily is a great friend to others and is kind to all of her classmates.
As partners in your child’s education, we invite you to participate in our upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences. This valuable opportunity allows us to connect, collaborate, and work together to support your child’s growth and development as they continue their academic journey with us at OIS.
Osceola Intermediate School Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, October 24 and Thursday, October 26 from 3:30 - 6:30 pm. Each conference will last approximately 10 minutes to ensure all families have the opportunity to collaborate with their child’s teachers.
To schedule your conference times, we have set up an online booking system via Family Access. Please login to your family account and follow these instructions to select your preferred date and time slot. If you are unable to access your family account, you can contact the school office directly and schedule your conference over the phone.
NEW this year, we kindly request that you fill out this form before your scheduled meeting if you have specific questions or concerns that you want addressed. We hope this will help make the most of our upcoming parent-teacher conferences as each conference is only allotted 10 minutes in length.
We look forward to meeting with you and discussing your child’s progress!
October is recognized as National Bullying Prevention Month, and we would like to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of creating a safe and inclusive environment for all student in our OIS community. Bullying is a serious issue that can have a long-lasting impact on a child's well-being and education experience. By working together, we can create an environment where every child feels safe, valued and respected. We will use this month as an educational team to reinforce our commitment to preventing bullying and fostering a positive school experience for all
What we do at Osceola Intermediate School
The definitions taught to our students are pulled from Social and Emotional resources (Smart Guidance and the Bullying Prevention Curriculum designed for 3-5 grade). They read as following:
“Bullying is an imbalance of power where a person uses repeated physical or emotional actions to hurt another person’s belongings, feelings, or body on purpose.”
“Bullying is a pattern of hurtful behaviors that harm people physically, emotionally, or socially. Bullying usually involves an imbalance of power.”
When teaching the students the definition we also cover examples of unkind words, unpleasant exchanges, or behavior that causes hurt feelings as “mean moments,” as we all will make mistakes with our friends as we learn and grow socially and emotionally during our time at school.
Other resources and activities that have been incorporated into the learning experience are:
Act Now (Bullying Prevention Program) through the Wisconsin Children's Hospital
BrainPop
“Chrysanthemum” by Kevin Henkes
“My Secret Bully” by Tracy Ludwig
AntiBullying board game which assists in teaching empathy skills
AntiBullying posters where students use their creativity to make our school environment a pleasant place for all students.
“My Bully Busting Book,” which can be used to teach students appropriate ways to respond if bullying occurs.
Bullying/Harassment Policies at OIS
The following are general consequences. Consequences are under the discretion of the principal depending on the severity of the incident.
Incident one: (1)
Warning (depending on severity)
Conference with Principal
Perpetrator will complete an Accepting Responsibility Form #1
Written apology to victim
Parent/guardian letter sent home
Incident two: (2)
Lunch Detention or in-school suspension (depending on severity)
Conference with Principal
Completed citizenship contract
Perpetrator will complete an Accepting Responsibility Form #2
Parent/guardian called or emailed and letter sent home
Written apology to victim
Written paper addressing the following: Definition of bullying/harassment; The effects that bullying/harassment can have on victims; consequences received by offenders; and suggestions on how you will avoid a third incident. This paper is due 2 days after it is assigned. If it is not completed, in-school-suspension could result until it is completed.
Incident three: (3)
In or out of school suspension (depending on severity)
Conference with Principal
Completed citizenship contract
Perpetrator will complete an Accepting Responsibility Form #3
Parent conference
Written apology to victim
Incident may be reported to District Administrator and/or Law Enforcement
3rd Grade
ELA: This month we will continue learning about different cultures and their traditions. We will discuss concepts like the author's purpose, plural words, and finding central ideas. Along with this, students will continue to explore their love of reading by finding books that interest them.
Math: 3rd Graders will be finishing our first Unit and take the Unit 1 Assessment in the beginning of October. Students will then begin our second unit of the year working with word problems. Students will also continue working to improve their multiplication and division fact fluency.
4th Grade
ELA: In 4th grade, we will be finishing up our first unit in Wonders this month. We will read different texts in the genre of realistic fiction, discussing how the actions of one person can affect other people. We will also read texts in the argumentative genre, discussing how starting a business can help other people and why people start a business. In this unit, we have focused on plot and text structure applying those to the texts we have read. Students have been working hard as we began our first writing assignment creating argumentative essays this week.
Math: 4th graders are working on finishing up Unit 1-Place Value, Addition and Subtraction. The students have worked hard on rounding, adding large numbers, subtracting large numbers, estimating, 2-step story problems with adding and subtracting and ungrouping. They will be taking their final quiz this week and then the Unit 1 Assessment. Next, we will start Unit 2-Multiplication. They will learn many different strategies for Multiplication. Continue to practice Multiplication facts at home!
5th Grade
ELA: In ELA, 5th graders are finishing up our unit 1 and our current read aloud Home of the Brave. We have been identifying cause and effect relationships throughout our stories and noticing if primary and secondary sources are used. The month of October brings their first opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of what we have covered so far in ELA. Students will continue to work on writing opinion essays, improving our grammar skills, and learning spelling strategies.
Math: 5th graders will be wrapping up the addition and subtraction with decimals unit and starting a new unit focusing on multiplication. In this new unit, students will review and learn strategies for multiplying multi-digit whole numbers. They will then be able to apply those skills to multiplying with decimal numbers. Students are also spending time with fact fluency via the Reflex Math computer program, as well as getting supplemental and individualized learning through another online resource called Waggle.
Art Class
Heather Hanson is an American dancer and artist who creates kinetic art on large canvases. During the month of September, OIS students learned about her artwork and worked together to create their own symmetrical works of art.
Team Building
Team Building is a new fun and interactive specials rotation at the Intermediate School! All 3rd-5th graders have the opportunity to learn and practice skills that foster teamwork and togetherness during this time. Cultivated teamwork allows students to openly share their thoughts & ideas, stretch their strengths & grow their gaps, and rely on each other to look for better solutions to problems, both big and small. Currently in Team Building, students are practicing strategies based on the phrase “find a solution together to move forward together”. Some questions you could ask your student at home to reinforce this concept as they solve problems are:
- How does that solution affect the others involved?
- What can you be okay with so we all can move forward?
- How was everyone included in this solution?
Phyiscal Education
In physical education class, we are focusing on promoting physical activity through recess games. The importance of cooperation among students at recess is our top priority to ensure a fun, enjoyable experience for everyone. Here is an overview of some popular recess games have reviewed or are about to review:
- Tag Games- examples: classic tag games, freeze tag, blob tag, partner tag, etc.
- Capture the Flag or Invasion: these games involve two teams, each with their own 'flag' or equpiment to protect.
- Kickball: one of the students' favorites!
- Four Square or Nine Square: this is a popular recess game at OIS. Players hit a ball using the hands into another players quardrant, aiming to keep the ball from hitting the ground in the own quadrant.
- GaGa Ball: Newly added to the OIS playground (thank you PTA!), gaga ball is played daily by students. This popular recess game takes elements from dodgeball and handball. The goal of this game is to be the last player standing while avoid being tagged by the ball.
Music
We are having so much fun in music this year already! In October we will begin to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by learning about Hispanic musicians and music. A culture deeply rooted in artistic expression, the students will be able to experience the high energy music filled with meaning and positivity! We have also started learning about classic and contemporary composers and took a dive into the world of acapella and making music with just our voices - no instruments allowed! However, ready or not...it's almost time to start preparing for our Holiday Concert! The students will be introduced to the concert songs in just a few weeks, and we will be hard at work creating an incredible concert for our community.
4th Grade
Forts Folle Avoine Historical Park
Fourth graders had a great time on their first field trip of the 2023-2024 school year! Students learned about the fur trade era, lifestyle and culture of many Native American nations living in Wisconsin during that time period. Everyone had the opportunity to rotate through a number stations and were able to listen to a handful of dedicated, passionate speakers!
5th Grade
Crystal Cave & The Acreage
Two exciting field trips for all 5th graders are right around the corner! Both Crystal Cave in Spring Valley and The Acreage here in Osceola, are two very educational adventures that our 5th graders will have the opportunity to experience. To access more information (5th grade families), please click here.
- Crystal Cave- October 10 & 11
- The Acreage- October 17
3rd Grade
Afton Apple Orchard
All 3rd graders will be visiting the Afton Apple Orchard at the end of the month! A family owned and operated orchard of over 250 acres in the heart of the St. Croix Valley, our 3rd graders will experience the delicious taste of fresh apples, raspberries, strawberries, pumpkins and more, picked right at the peak of perfection! Also a corn maze, hayrides, playground, petting farm and other adventures will for sure create lasting memories for our youngest learners! More information and permission forms will be sent to all 3rd grade families this week!
- October 31
Join the PTA for a Monster Mash!!
The Intermediate School is thrilled to announce we will be hosting a Veterans Day Tribute Program this year on Friday, November 10th at 9:00 am. We will come together to honor and express our deepest gratitude to the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our great nation. As we begin this new tradition within our community, the program will no longer be held at the middle school, but instead passed along to continue the amazing traditions and honoring of our veterans on this important day.
We have planned an array of activities to commemorate this day. The program will include featured speakers who will share their personal experiences, allowing us to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by our veterans. We will also display exhibits that showcase the history and significance of Veterans Day, creating an atmosphere of appreciation and reverence.
Join us as we come together to honor, remember and express our deepest gratitude to our veterans. We encourage you to invite your friends, family and neighbors to join us as well. We will stand united in honoring those who have served, recognizing their bravery, and expressing our heartfelt appreciation for their sacrifices.
Furthermore, we encourage veterans to consider speaking at our program, sharing personal experiences, or simply participating in the audience as we recognize you on this special day. We invite you to honor a veteran in your life by filling out this form so that their name, picture, and years of service can be recognized at our program and serve as an inspiration for others.
Together, we can ensure that the spirit of Veterans Day lives on throughout the entire year as we inspire future generations to carry out the legacy of our veterans.
From all of us here at OIS, we look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Veterans Day Tribute Program.
It is School Board Recognition Week!
This is a dedicated time to express our gratitude and appreciation for the incredible work our School Board members do to support our mission.
Committee Meeting
Osceola District Office Conference Room
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
5:00 P.M.
Regular School Board of Education Meeting
Osceola District Office Conference Room
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
6:30 P.M.
Regular School Board of Education Meeting
Osceola District Office Conference Room
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
6:30 P.M.