Woodridge in December
Think & Wonder. Wonder & Think
Mrs. Thistle's Thoughts...
Greetings!
Here comes the wintery weather, yeah! Please make sure your kids come to school with their hat, gloves, boots, snow pants, and a winter coat (labelled with their name on all items.) At this age especially students have a tendency to lose their belongings. The Woodridge lost and found is located in our conference room.
Thank you to everyone who brought in pop tabs for Mercedes Alves and her family. They have relayed to me that they are now looking for help counting the pop tabs. Chief Manthey offered to assist with the count at either the police conference room or in the basement of city hall. If you are interested in helping please contact Joe Alves at 608.477.2215.
Everyone at Woodridge Primary School would like to wish you and your family a happy, healthy and safe winter break. We look forward to seeing all of your smiling faces in 2018!
All the best to you!
Salina Thistle
Woodridge/Endeavor Elementary Principal
608.742.3494 ext. 3002
Mark Your Calendars
6th - PTO @ 4:30 PM
15th - Chip Shoppe Fundraiser Pick Up~Pick up is in the Woodridge Gym 3-8pm
19th - Holiday Concert at the H.S. Auditorium
- Kindergarten arrives at 5:45 p.m. and performs at 6:00 p.m.
- First grade arrives at 6:45 p.m. and performs at 7:00 p.m.
22nd - First Grade Polar Express Party
25th- Jan. 1st - Winter Break-No school
January 2nd - Students return to school
Secretary Notes
Just a friendly reminder
School starts at 8:00 a.m if students arrive after 8:00 a.m then the adult needs to walk the child into the office to sign them in, the student will then receive a pass to give to their teacher.
Reporting an absence
Please contact Ashley Gumz in the Woodridge office before 8:15 a.m. if your child will be absent. 608.742.3494
Changes in Bus/Pick-up
Please send a note with your child in their folder or call before 2:30pm if there is a change in the way they normally go home.
Cherrydale Fundraiser
Change In Fundraiser Pick Up Date
There has been a change of date for the fundraiser pick up due to a conflict in building usage. Instead of Wednesday December 13th, all items will be available for pick up on Friday December 15th from 3-8pm in the Woodridge Gym. Please plan to pick up your items at this time. Any fragile items will not be allowed to be sent home with students.
We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation.
Thank you.
Art Warriors
Our Art Warriors have been working so hard on their artwork. It will be displayed at the Holiday Program on Dec 19th. Some of the skills that we have been practicing include gluing, cutting, and tracing/stenciling.
Our Artsonia portfolios are getting started, please check your child’s Artsonia account for updates to their portfolio. If you haven’t accessed your child’s account yet and need the login information, please send me an email at: adamsc@portage.k12.wi.us
*Volunteers Needed* The students are creating such wonderful art and I would LOVE for you to be able to see it. I am looking for some volunteers to help me get our students’ art uploaded (no prior experience necessary). Please contact the Woodridge office or your child’s classroom teacher if you would like to be a volunteer for the art room. I will continue to need assistance getting each student’s work uploaded in time for the holiday gift-giving season.
Thank you
Ms. Adams
Music Notes
Wow! Where has the first quarter of the year gone? We are already in the month of December. I want to remind everyone about our Holiday Program which will be on Dec. 19 at the Portage High School. The Kindergarteners will perform at 6pm and the 1st graders will perform at 7pm. You will be receiving a note with further details soon. All of our K-1 students have been busy preparing for their program. They know where they will stand for the concert and what I expect when they perform on the risers.
The Kindergarten students have been learning to play melody bells. They are not only learning how to play the melody bells but also how to follow along on the Smartboard so they play their bell at the right time.
The first graders learned to play the triangle and continue to play the Wood Block, the drum, and the tambourine. They are playing their instruments to the beat of our November song and chant. Students will also be learning to play the jingle bells as we work on our Jingle Bells song.
Thank you
Ms. Yerke
Physical Education
We were very active in the gym last month.
In honor of the World Series, we did a number of base running games. My favorite was "Rock, Paper, Scissors, Baseball" in which you have to win at Rock, Paper, Scissors in order to advance to the next base. Everyone had a blast with that one!
We are moving on to Basketball next and will continue with that for a couple weeks. In addition, we are learning the names of more bones and muscles every week!
Thank you
Mr Due
Reading Activity- Story, Snacks, and Snuggles
Story: The Naughtiest Reindeer
Snack: Celery Reindeer Sticks
Snuggles: Grab a blanket and curl up with your child, enjoy a story and make memories
Celery Reindeer Sticks
Step 1. Use a piece of celery for the reindeer for the body.
Step 2. Spread peanut butter onto celery.
Step 3. Break a pretzel in half for ears, use candy eyes, and a red M&M for nose.
Mathtastic Activity
Counselor's Corner
Kids who have good daily attendance beginning in Primary School, are more likely to master reading skills by 3rd grade, have positive social interaction with their peers, graduate and find success in their jobs/careers.
Some absences are unavoidable, we can’t control when our kids get a fever! Yet we can do a few things to help our kids (and us!) have a smooth start to our mornings;
-Make sure our little ones are getting 10-11 hours of sleep.
-Lay out clothes the night before.
-Sign any papers or agendas the night before.
-Pack backpacks the night before.
It is also important to have a backup plan for getting the kids to school, just in case they miss the bus, or the neighbor or relative that usually picks them up cancels at the last minute.
We want your kids at school every day! They are missed by their teachers and their classmates when they are absent!
*attendanceworks.org
From the Nurse's Station
When your child is ill
The Student Health Guidelines are published in the student handbook. Please review these for expectations of the district. The district medical advisor has participated in the development of the guidelines.
Students who present to the school office with symptoms during the school day will have these guidelines taken into consideration for the action plan. For example, a student who comes to the office complaining of not feeling well will be asked to identify what is not feeling well. Is it a headache, stomachache, fever, cough. Temperature checks are made frequently. Sometimes a few minutes of rest and a drink of water is all that is needed. But we will call you if your child meets a guideline and ask you to take action.
Please remember that students who need medication during the school day must have the medication delivered to the school office by an adult in the original pharmacy labeled container or original package with directions for over the counter meds, and one medication consent/request form per medication shall be completed and submitted to the office for the nurse to review before giving. Medication forms are online for your convenience. Go to Nursing Services, Medication. Ask the pharmacist to provide a second bottle for school when ordering or picking up the medication from the pharmacy.
The school nurse is available to you as a resource, please do not hesitate to call for support and guidance. Mrs. Hon covers all elementary buildings and may be reached at 608/742-4867, ext 4131, 608/697-4912, or honv@portage.k12.wi.us
Vision Screening
Students in kindergarten, 2nd and 4th grades have completed vision screening. Those students who needed a recheck have also had that completed. Referrals to have an eye doctor exam have been sent home for all children who, at this point, need one.
Referrals are sent out to parents/guardians in writing so you may take the results to your eye doctor. If your insurance does not cover an eye doctor exam, or the insurance does not cover the cost of glasses, our school nurse can connect you to resources so your child will have what s/he needs. This also applies if you do not have insurance. Please contact the school nurse to discuss the referrals, or if you need assistance with obtaining services or glasses for your child.
Anyone may refer their son/daughter for a screening by the school nurse. An eye exam is the only way to know for sure if your child needs glasses or not.
Mrs. Hon may be reached at 742-4867, extension 4131.
Portage Weekend Snack Pack Program
The Portage Weekend Snack Pack Program, a Portage Child Hunger Committee project, provides a weekend supply of nutritious food for children when school lunch and breakfast is unavailable on a weekend. Each food bag will contain some food for breakfasts, lunches, and snacks, for each weekend for your child(ren). All food is nonperishable and provided to children free of charge. It is our hope these resources will support the health, behavior, and achievement of every student that participates. All children are eligible for this program. The program is run completely by wonderful volunteers who help pack the food bags, shop, recruit etc. The program is funded through the generous gifts from The Rotary Club of Portage, Society of St. Vincent de Paul Portage, Columbia County UW-Extension and the community at large. Please note, that the program is always looking for more sponsors and volunteers! We look forward to working with staff, teachers, and you for your children!
For more information or questions, please contact Caitlin Richardson, Columbia County UW-Extension FoodWIse Coordinator at 608-742-9693. To sign up for the program, please contact John Muir Elementary front office at 608-742-5531 or Woodridge Elementary front office at 608-742-3494.
Wellness
The Portage Community School District believes that nutrition and physical activity influence a child’s development, well-being, and readiness to learn. The District will promote healthy schools by supporting wellness, good nutrition and regular physical activity as a part of the total learning environment. The District supports a healthy environment where students and staff members learn and participate in positive dietary and lifestyle practices. By facilitating learning through the support and promotion of good nutrition and physical activity, our schools contribute to the basic health status of students and staff. Improved health optimizes student performance potential and contributes to the success of all students.
Resources available to you
Columbia County Health and Human Services
Food Pantries
2nd Harvest Mobile Food Pantries (open to all Columbia County residents)
2nd Monday of every month at 11:00am at the Columbia Co. Fairgrounds, Wauona Tr/Griffith St. Everyone welcome. No ID’s needed. Bring your own carts/baskets to carry your food.
St Vincent De Paul Food Pantry
Located at 1311 West Wisconsin Street in Portage
Monday–Thursday 9am–5pm, Friday 9am–8pm and Saturday 9am–5pm
*You will need to bring photo ID, proof of residency and your own bags. Applicants are eligible every 30 days.
Park and Recreation
806 Silver Lake Dr, Portage, Wi, 53901 (608) 742-2178
Family Resource Center
2946 Red Fox Run, Portage, WI 53901 (608) 742-8482
Provides a variety of family services, including scheduled playgroups, parenting support and information series, workshops, and family visiting program. Staff are available to answer questions or provide resources to help families. All services are free.
Dental – Free or Low Cost Services - Seal-A-Smile
Susan Lorenz R.N. M.S. Columbia County Health Officer at 608-742-9227 susan.lorenz@co.columbia.wi.us
The Columbia County Seal-A-Smile dental sealant program is available at no charge whether or not your child is covered by dental insurance. The program will bill Medical Assistance or BadgerCare if your child is covered by these programs.
Free Immunization Clinic
2:30pm-5:30pm (10/10, 11/14, 12/12 - 2016) No appointment is necessary – Birth parent or legal guardian signature required. Bring immunization records.
Library Programs
Contact the library in your community to inquire about special programs for children and families, such as story hour or summer reading programs.
Portage Public Library 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage 53901 (608) 742-4959 Hours: Mon-Thurs 9-8:30; Fri 9-6; Sat 10-4 Sat hours between Memorial Day & Labor Day are 10-1 Contact: info@portagelibrary.us Website: http://www.portagelibrary.us/
There are many more resources available to our community, feel free to check out the Columbia County Health and Human Services Website: http://www.co.columbia.wi.us/columbiacounty/Portals/7/Resource%20Guide.pdf
Portage Community School District Goals
1) Create a great climate for parents, students and staff. (Action steps in italics)
Parents: We added a digital newsletter in hopes of reaching more parents.
Students: We are looking at our school environment and asking- where and how do students learn best? We are creating a lego wall, "Maker space" area and dry erase wall for students in the library.
Staff: Celebrate staff members at our weekly assemblies, discuss things that we can take off of teachers plates and planning monthly potlucks.
2) Reduce the number of students that are absent from school. "10 days or less is success." Students who are present at school are much more likely to be successful academically.
*We have classroom incentives for when all students are at school (extra recess, game day, free choice.)
*Students are celebrated at the end of each quarter when they have perfect attendance.
*Please let us know if there is anything that we can do to help your child get to school in the morning.
3) Increase student achievement.
*Teachers collaborate for one hour each week looking at our assessments and helping each other to meet student needs.
*We are using our district programs, pacing guides and our observations to ensure that all students are learning and growing.
*We have incorporated the social-emotional curriculum, Second Steps to help us explicitly teach social skills.