Whittier Weekly
September 25
Principal's Note
Families:
Thank you for thoughtfully monitoring the health of your child and family. Working together will keep our students and staff safe and our doors open. Below is a COVID update from the district. We will continue sharing updates with families as they come.
We are here to be your partner in eduction and we are honored to work with YOU and your children everyday!
Brandy Hart
Whittier Principal
COVID Update for Families
September 21, 2020
Dear School District of Waukesha Families,
We are writing to provide you with an update on the current status of COVID19 in our schools and to provide some guiding information as we progress into the fall. Our numbers this morning show that the district has had 312 students that have been placed on quarantine or isolation due to a positive covid result or being identified as a close contact to a person who tested positive for COVID19. Additionally, we have had 99 staff that have required the same. We understand that quarantine is inconvenient to families and disruptive to learning. We find ourselves in the fortunate position to have not had to close schools due to outbreaks, a situation that is occurring around Southeastern Wisconsin two weeks into the school year.
We believe that we are in a good position to keep our schools open for several reasons. First, the models that have been employed for our return to school have reduced the number of students in school on a daily basis, allowing for greater physical distancing and few students possibly impacted on a daily basis. Second, we have a number of mitigation strategies in place to reduce the possible spread of infection in our schools. Mask wearing, plexiglass barriers, additional cleaning and disinfecting and screening procedures have decreased the spread in our schools. In a meeting with doctors from Children’s Hospital on Tuesday, September 15, school districts who have opened face to face who have implemented these mitigation procedures were commended by the doctors for their efforts to reduce the spread of COVID19. The School District of Waukesha will continue the use of these measures for the foreseeable future, regardless of State or County mandates for masks.
We would like to take this opportunity to remind you that masks are required for all persons on our property. This expectation applies for students, staff and visitors to our schools for all purposes of business including dropping students off in the morning, picking students up in the afternoon and dropping off forgotten student materials at our school buildings. We do have a process for accommodations for individuals who qualify for them and have utilized this process several times this year. We are extremely grateful for the partnership we have with our families. We have observed families monitoring their children and keeping sick or symptomatic students home in the morning. As of Wednesday, September 16, we had 116 students utilize the Covid Isolation Rooms in our schools. This number is much lower than anticipated by members of our reopening committee and we appreciate the cooperation from our families.
The School District of Waukesha staff and administration will continue to monitor the virus in our system and will communicate with you as cases arise.
Thank you.
Spiders!
4th grade writing
Active Research!
COVID Testing - Waukesha Expo Center
WHO CAN BE TESTED
Wisconsin residents, ages 5 years or older, individuals who work in Wisconsin, and who are either experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or for those who have been in close contact with a positive case and who wish to be tested. Proof of insurance not needed or have a primary care physician.
PRE-REGISTER TO REDUCE WAIT TIMES
No appointment is needed, but individuals should pre-register online in order to reduce wait times at: https://register.covidconnect.wi.gov/ . Pre-registered individuals will receive a QR code via email which should be brought to the test site in order to check in. Individuals who do not pre-register will be required to register with testing site staff once they arrive. PRE-REGISTRATION DOES NOT GUARANTEE A TEST.
TESTING Waukesha County Expo Center 1000 Northview Rd, Waukesha, 53188, 11:00 AM— 7:00 PM SEPTEMBER Mondays 14, 21, 28 and Tuesdays 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
WAUKESHA COUNTY, NATIONAL GUARD RAMP UP COVID-19 TESTING WITH START OF SCHOOL YEAR
Waukesha County Public Health and the Waukesha County Office of Emergency Management are part- nering with the Wisconsin National Guard to increase COVID-19 community testing as the 2020/2021 school year begins. Eight drive-thru community test dates will be available in September. Nasal swab tests will be administered to the first 600 individuals to arrive each day
Author's Share
Author's Share
Hispanic Heritage Month
Monthly Characteristic!
Respect can be many different things. Some examples:
- respectful words to others
- respect to ourselves
- respect to our family members
- respect when someone needs space
- respect to our friends
- respect to property
The picture above shows a book on the easel. We will be reading this book in all classrooms sometime this month. It's called, "We're All Wonders". This story celebrates differences. We are all different and it is our job to respect each and every difference we see and also those differences that we can't see! I encourage you to continue this discussion at home as well!
Next week is OCTOBER!! In October we will incorporate a new skill and a new book too! We will share in next week's newsletter!
Gr. 3 Science!
Grade 5 earns popsicles!
Recess Fun!
Self Care Tip - Box Breathing
Square breathing – or the box breath – is a simple but very effective way of managing stress. Here are some benefits practicing box breathing:
- Reduction of performance anxiety.
- Control of the arousal response
- Increased brain elasticity, or added flexibility through enhanced blood flow and reduced mental stimulation.
- Enhanced learning and skill development.
- Increased capacity for focused attention and long-term concentration.
It takes time to get the hang of it, so be patient and keep practicing.
PS- This isn't just for kids! Grown-ups - it works for you too! :)
Waukesha Public Library
WHITTIER WILDCAT MASKS
Birthday Treats
If you are planning to send a birthday treat with your son or daughter, please consider this as we will be unable to serve anything that is not so packaged by a store and individually wrapped. Please ask if you have questions or concerns.
Christmas Clearing Council Application is OPEN!
The 2020 Christmas Clearing Council Client Application is available online! Though you will not be distributing paper applications on our behalf this year, we are still relying heavily on your staff to spread the word that applications are now being accepted through our website. Our online application can be found at:
http://www.christmasclearingcouncil.org/get-help.html
Deadline to apply is Monday, Nov. 16, 2020
Whittier Mission Statement
Whittier School Hours: 8:30am-3:40pm
Email: bmhart@waukesha.k12.wi.us
Website: https://sdw.waukesha.k12.wi.us/WhittierES
Location: 1103 South East Avenue, Waukesha, WI, USA
Phone: 262-970-2800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhittierElementarySchoolPto/
Twitter: @WhittierWire