April 2016 Newsletter

NEWSLETTER
PRAIRIE VIEW ELEMENTARY
School District of Holmen
1201 Newport Lane, Holmen, WI 54636
Dr. Patrice Tronstad, Principal
E-MAIL [email protected]
VOICE (608) 526-1600 FAX (608) 526-1695
WEB SITE www.holmen.k12.wi.us
Follow us on
@SD_Holmen
PRINCIPAL PATRICE’S PONDERINGS…from Prairie View
Wow…it is hard to believe, but three fourths of the year is gone! The students have worked really hard as I know
you already know. We thank you for your continued involvement and support. Parent-Teacher conferences were
again a huge success. A very special THANK YOU to the PTO for organizing a meal for the staff before each
conference night. It was much appreciated.
National Tornado Awareness Week is April 11-15-We will have a practice tornado safety drill during the week.
As part of our efforts to insure the safety of all of our students, we practice different safety drills monthly.
Families should have an in-home plan in case a tornado watch or alert is given via TV or radio. Children need to
know where you, as the parent, want them to be in the event of such a storm warning. We would like to suggest
that you work out a family plan and make sure each member of the family understands it. It could be a lifesaver.
Reminder…a tornado watch means the conditions are favorable for a tornado to develop and a tornado warning
means a tornado has been sighted and you need to seek shelter immediately!
Family Picnic…You are invited to our sixth annual Prairie View family picnic lunch on May 20th. Our food
service staff will prepare a picnic lunch of bratwurst and cheeseburgers for all families that RSVP to attend. The
picnic will be held during your child’s lunch period.
Lunch time by grade levels are:
Second Grade 11:00 a.m.-11:25 a.m. First Grade
Fourth Grade 11:45 a.m. -12:10 p.m. Third Grade
11:15 a.m.-11:40 a.m.
12:00 p.m.-12:25 p.m.
Kindergarten
Fifth Grade
11:30 a.m.-11:55 a.m.
12:15 p.m.-12:40 p.m.
We are hoping for a nice day to enable families to bring blankets and eat outside. We will move our lunch tables
outside and we are attempting to secure picnic tables for additional seating.
We will send out family invitations with additional information during April. This should be a fun festive family
event so be sure to save the date…May 20th.
--
Dr. Tronstad
A.L.I.C.E. –LOCKDOWN PROCEDURES
The School District of Holmen is committed to providing the safest possible environment for our students, staff,
parents, and community. In 2013, the US Department of Education spent considerable resources researching
active shooting events. Their findings have resulted in a change in guidance to the response of a possible
unauthorized person on campus.
For years we have used the lockdown procedure when an unauthorized person entered the school buildings or
grounds. During this event a Lockdown alert is given and students and staff are instructed to lock their classroom
doors, turn out lights, hide in a far corner of the classroom, and remain calm and quiet. We now know that we
must provide students and staff with more options in case they are confronted with an unauthorized person .
The School District of Holmen is in the process of enhancing the lockdown procedures that we, as well as experts
across the country, believe will increase the chance of survival during an active shooter incident. The
enhancements we will teach our staff and students are known as A.L.I.C.E. What does A.L.I.C.E. mean?
Alert: We will get the word out using clear, concise language and describe the location
of the event.
Lockdown: We will teach students and staff how to lockdown in secure areas while
barricading entrances.
Inform: Keeping the staff and students informed continually allows for good decision
making.
Counter: Apply skills to barricade, and if necessary, distract, confuse and gain control.
Evacuate: Reduce the number of potential targets for the shooter, and reduce chances
of injuries resulting from friendly fire when help arrives.
A.L.I.C.E. will be implemented in the following phases:
Phase 1 – An informational meeting with a panel of school officials and the district’s school resource officer will
provide input into how these concepts will be implemented with staff and students.
Phase 2 – District staff will be trained. Currently the School District of Holmen has four staff members who are
certified A.L.I.C.E. trainers.
Phase 3 – When certified staff members have been trained and are ready, we will start working with students.
Before the training phase of students, specifics as to what these drills will look like will be provided.
If you have any questions about the A.L.I.C.E. program, contact Julie Krakow, Director of Pupil Services at 608526-1303 or [email protected].
Please join us for an informational meeting on Monday, April 11th in the Holmen High School Fine Arts
Center at 7pm to learn more about A.L.I.C.E.
RODEO ON THE PRAIRIE APRIL 28TH!
This event is sponsored by the PTO.
Howdy partner! Plan on attending Prairie View Elementary School’s
seventh annual “Rodeo On The Prairie”, to be held on Thursday, April
28th from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Buckaroos will enjoy games in the gym,
crafts, face painting branding, and much, much, more. Don’t forget to
stop by the chuck wagon to enjoy some chow. Everyone is sure to have
a Rootin’ Tootin’ Good Time!
BRIGHTBYTES, AN EDUCATION RESEARCH ORGANIZATION
We are partnering with Brightbytes, an educational research organization, in order to learn more about our
students’ school and home technology use for learning.
We are reaching out to ask you to take part in our questionnaires. Your participation is essential in helping us
form a more complete picture of technology use for learning in our students’ lives. Please know that all of your
responses will remain anonymous to protect your privacy and they will help your child’s school choose the right
technology for their classrooms. It will take approximately 5 minutes to complete.
Each school does have a separate survey code; so, if you have children at multiple buildings, you will receive a
survey code for each school. Please feel free to take the survey for each school or just one.
The Brightbytes online survey will be open from Monday, April 18 - Friday, April 29.
Please go to BBYT.ES and enter in your 5-character code: LA6VP
Thank you for taking part in this important initiative!
Katie Krueger, Instructional Technology Coordinator, [email protected]
CYBER-BULLYING
The appropriate use of social networking like facebook…it is very important as adults and parents that we are a
positive role model for our child/ren and all students. When one parent posts negative comments on another
parent’s facebook page using profanity about a student, it creates a disruption to our educational environment.
Students are unable to focus on learning, instead they are trying to understand why an adult would call a child a
swear word. We talk repeatedly to our students about the respectful, responsible use of technology and would
appreciate that parents not only reinforce that message at home, but also following it themselves. Cyber-bullying
is part of the School Board Policy 443.7 in compliance with state law Senate Bill 154, 118.46. Because facebook is
intended for people over the age of 13 and at the elementary level our students age range is below that, we will be
reporting alleged cases of cyber-bullying that disrupt our education environment and that are directed at our
students, to the Holmen Police Department and the La Crosse County Internet Safety Task force for them to
investigate. Thank you, in advance for your cooperation and assistance. If someone is posting inappropriate
messages on your facebook, you should block the person by listing his or her name in on the "Block List" section
of the Privacy Settings page. If this does not resolve the problem, you can report the individual by clicking the
"Report/Block this Person" link that appears at the bottom of the user's profile. Reports are confidential and the user being
reported does not know that they have been reported.
For additional information on keeping safe while using facebook log onto the following website:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Parents-of-Children-Using-Social-Media-and-Keeping-it-SAFE/287601005138
TELEPHONE CALLS AND/OR CHANGE OF PLANS
Students are only allowed to use the school telephone if their teachers feel it is necessary. Arrangements for after
school activities should be made before the beginning of the school day. Please understand that we have your
child’s best interest in mind when enforcing a limited telephone use policy. If you and your child make plans
which would alter their after school transportation, please send a note to the homeroom teacher. Likewise, if you
need to have an emergency message delivered to your child during the school day, call the office and leave the
message. Except in emergency situations, students are not allowed to be withdrawn from school activities in
order to use the telephone.
PV STUDENT PICK UP PROCEDURES AND PARKING LOT
Just a reminder when picking up your Prairie View student(s) after school, please meet your student at the
flagpole and escort them to your vehicle. We have encountered situations recently in which students are running
across the road to meet their parents in the parking lot or are leaving their parents as they converse with other
parents or staff. Fortunately, there have not yet been any mishaps. We kindly ask for your support in this
initiative to help avert any accidents and to keep all our students safe. Please be sure when parking in the
parking lot that you park in a designated parking stall. We have had parents reporting being blocked in due to
parents parking illegally.
RECYCLING ALUMINUM CANS
The Prairie View Environmental Awareness Committee would like to remind everyone how important it
is to preserve our environment. Prairie View Environmental Day is April
29th. How about helping save the Earth and supporting Prairie View at the
same time? There is a bin for recycling aluminum cans in the front
parking lot. Your contribution of cans helps fund the Earth Day program
we provide for students. Thank you for your continual support!
Elijah Sievert, Hayden Englerth, Preston McHugh,
Jacob Shepard, Camryn Rand, Aiden Zamot, Anthony
Alesch, Aidan Wipf, Maximillian Moua, Keegan
McBride, Reagan Jessie, Lahna Bloyer, Calvin
Gilberston, Brielle Schmeling, Regan Moran, Harper
Tengblad, Liam Moldenhauer, Taj Hauser, Paige Barth,
Paula Barlow, Brianna Richardson, Weston Schott,
Asher Voves, Logan Kelm, Jase Fladhammer, Ethan
Fitzpatrick, Kendall Bassuener, Kollen McFarlane,
Noah Minneker, Rameses Anderson, Connor Harding,
Logan Parce, Sam Bachman, Taylor Longway, Oliver Klatt, Brooklyn Larson, Stella Fravel, Avery
Garrow, Delilah Heacox, Denver Howe, Jayse Hazelbower, Kyle Jackson, and Lauren Fiers.
SPRING CLEANING
When you are spring cleaning, please consider donating the following items to Prairie View School: snow pants,
mittens, hats, and boots that your children have outgrown, but remain in good condition.
These items will be dispersed to students in need next winter. Any contributions would be greatly appreciated!
STUDENT COUNCIL NEWS
We had so much fun this month with all of our Dr. Seuss activities! We are currently collecting gently used books
and DVD’S for a Book Sale on April 20th. All books will be 50 cents and DVD’s will be $1.00. If you are starting
your spring cleaning, please consider donating your gently used books to us!
Mark your calendars; we will be holding an All School Talent Show on May 31st at 2:00. All classrooms will be
performing some form of talent at this show, so get your cameras ready!
ENVIRONMENTAL DAY-APRIL 29, 2016
On Friday, April 29th, Prairie View will celebrate Mother Earth with our annual
Environmental Day activities and presentations. We will be bringing in several
guests from our community to inspire and educate our students on
environmental topics.
Terry Visger, a storyteller, will engage her listeners with environmental topics.
Barrett Klein, a professor from UWL, will educate our students on the topic of
insects through role-playing. A local farmer will be here to explain what
organic farming entails, and an employee from Organic Valley will be here to talk about what their
products are. Other activities are still in the planning stage for this year’s Environmental Day, including
outdoor cleanup, a recycling art activity, and possibly another speaker.
COUNSELOR’S CONNECTION-Mr. Eiken
Spring is in the air! It hardly seems possible that the end of the school year is around
the corner. The PVers are currently wrapping up a unit on careers and the qualities
and skills that lead to academic success such as self-discipline, communication skills,
and perseverance. In April, we will be discussing personal safety at all grade levels
to prepare the kids for being outdoors and active as they take advantage of the
change in the weather. If I can be of assistance to you and yours, please give me a call
(608-526-1610) or email ([email protected]).
SPRING BUS SAFETY EVACUATIONS
Spring Bus Safety Evacuations will be practiced April 25th– April 29th during morning bus routes. This may
delay bus arrival times by a few minutes. Evacuations are required by law two times each year and are an
important item of safety training for all students. Drivers are to announce in advance when they are completing
the evacuations. We will attempt to do the evacuations on nice weather days. Drivers will review with students
the proper procedures for exiting the bus through the emergency door, as well as additional safety information.
Please contact Transportation Services at 526-4752 if you have any questions.
The Holmen School District does not discriminate against pupils on the basis of sex, race, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or
parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability or handicap in its education programs or activities. Federal
law prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, sex, or handicap.
VOLUNTEERS: MAKING A DIFFERENCE…ONE PERSON AT A TIME
Prairie View volunteers play a vital role in the success of our school. Each day, parents, extended
family, community members, and/or high school students give of their skills, time, and energy to assist
Prairie View students. Their efforts are appreciated more than words can say. During the week of April
10th -April 16th, 2016, we will once again recognize our many wonderful volunteers, who are dedicated
to serving our learning community in this capacity.
Adams, Ben
Adams, Jennifer
Anibas, Megan
Bachman, Jackie
Barth, Melissa
Bassuener, Kristy
Bellacero, Natalie
Benningfield, Jackie
Brown, Gloria
Brown, Samantha
Cain, Kathleen
Collins, Liza
Collins, Shane
Connely, Angela
DeLong, Ryan
Downing, Denise
DuCharme, Peggy
Edwardson, Janelle
Englerth, Jodi
Fay, Kristen
Filter, Amanda
Flury, Mike
Grinsteiner, Natalie
Gunderson, Erin
Gyllander, Sandra
Hart, George
Hendrickson, Angie
Hoehn, Megan
Hottenstein, Kim
Hubbard, Maggie
Johnson, Karla
Kinsman, Angela
Kolek, Jennie
Kolpitcke, Adrian
Larson, Tosha
Leffel, Jennifer
Leis, Carissa
Lyga, Stacia
Mackeben, Brenda
Mayer, Kristin
Mayer, Scott
McHugh, Amy
Meeter, Leanne
Mihm, Joanne
Moran, Corri
Mumah-Flury, Sarah
Nicolai, Mary
Osgood, Jessica
Palm, Andrew
Palm, Lisa
Powell, Jaime
Prim, Peggy
Prinz, Peggy
Schliebe, Kim
Schmidt, Denise
Schoh-Marson, Meghan
Smith, Angela
Teff, Stephanie
Tengblad, Andrea
Toso, Lori
Wegner, Lynn
Weiss, Shannon
Westlie, Jennifer
Winkler, Suzanne
Wipf, Jennifer
Withers, Summer
Wright, Jennifer
FROM THE ART DEPARTMENT-Mrs. Wink
Thank you to all who stopped by the Art room for parent teacher conferences. It is always nice to visit with
everyone and see the art get home safely. Hopefully you can display your student’s work at home and
save it in a safe place. The kids work so hard and do such a nice job!
Also, a big thank you to all who are placing orders for the Original Works Art Fundraiser too! First orders
are due Tuesday, April 5th, and then I will be sending in one late batch of orders and those will be due
Monday, April 19th. Thank you, the profit from this fundraiser helps provide funding for art materials and
resources for next year.
PTO NEWS
April already? Happy Spring!! When the PTO thinks spring, we think RODEO!!!
This year's Rodeo will take place on Thursday, April 28 from 4:30-7:30 p.m..
This event is a night that we look forward to every year! Buckaroos will enjoy games in
the gym, Bingo, crafts, face painting branding, horse rides (weather permitting), basket
raffles, silent auction, and so much fun to be had! Don’t forget to stop by the chuck
wagon to enjoy some chow. Everyone is sure to have a Rootin’ Tootin’ Good Time! Of
course, along with an event of this magnitude, we need your help to make it all possible.
Here are a few ways you can help out:
Please make sure that you donate to your child(ren)'s classroom theme basket. If you
did not receive the paper with your theme, contact us and we will get you that
information. All basket raffle donations are due by April 19.
We are also seeking your help with donations for the silent auction. If you or someone you know has
something(s) they would be willing to donate, please fill out the form that was sent home or contact Leanne
Meeter (68-461-4559) or [email protected].
Consider volunteering at the actual Rodeo. There are several ways you can assist us in making this night a
success. Visit the link below to find out how you can help:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050D45ABA82AA02-prairie
We hope you will all join us for this fun filled family night!!
SCRIP
February scrip winners were drawn at the last PTO meeting. Congratulations to our three winners: Bree
Lawrence, Christine Ruud, and Dr. Tronstad. Each month we randomly draw three names from everyone who
purchased scrip during the previous month. It doesn’t matter how much you spend, if you purchase as little as $5
or as much as $1000, your name will be entered for a chance at one of three $25 scrip gift cards.
BARNES & NOBLE BOOK FAIR
Thank you to everyone who came out to Barnes & Noble for the Prairie View Book Fair. We earned $713.43 in
Barnes & Noble gift cards. This money will be used for the staff to purchase books for the school's book room.
Thank you to everyone who made purchases at the book fair and/or online.
Stay tuned for a spring fundraiser that we will be doing coming up in May!
Have questions about the PTO or for the PTO? Check out our new bulletin board located in the front entrance of
the school!!
Please consider joining us at our next meeting on April 14, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. at Prairie View. Childcare
will be provided.
The PTO is planning a dining night out at Culver's on Oak Ave in Onalaska (the newer location) for
Tuesday, May 10, 2016 from 5-8 p.m. A portion of the sales during that time will be donated to our PTO.
LIBRARY LINKS-MRS. PRAIRIE
Rick Chrustowski will be coming to our school on Monday, April 4th for our annual
author visit. He writes and illustrates nonfiction books about animals. All students
will attend one of his presentations to hear about writing nonfiction and to see him
demonstrate his illustration style. A huge thank you goes to all Prairie View families
for shopping at our Scholastic book fairs. We used book fair profits to pay for this
year’s author visit.
Our Read 60 Ways in 60 Days program ended on March 31. If you haven’t already
turned in your completed sheets, please do so as soon as possible. Thank you for encouraging your child’s love
of reading.
Students in kindergarten-fifth grade participated in the public library’s annual bookmark decorating contest.
Student bookmarks will be on display at the Holmen branch of the library through April 30. Winners will be
announced later this month.
SPRING CONCERT SEASON IS UPON US. BELOW ARE THE DETAILS!-MRS. ROBINSON
First grade students will warm your heart with a beautiful program, called “Arf!” This show
features kind, caring, canines looking to find a winner in the Wurchester Dog Show! Woof!
This program will be performed on Friday, April 8 at 2:15 p.m.
Fourth grade musicians have been preparing “Get in the Game” for Thursday, April 21 at 6:00
p.m. We are featuring some very talented actors, singers, and athletes! Move those feet!
Fifth grade students are working on the musical Summer Camp, which will be performed at
7:00 p.m on April 21. They will have a great adventure at “Camp Runamok” if they can
handle the camp director! She’s tough!
The Singsations filled the Bluffview Memory Care Center with beautiful music on March 14.
The students received many compliments and words of thanks from residents and staff.
Great job, choir!
Fourth and fifth grade students will be learning to play the ukuleles in music class this spring, thanks to a
generous donation from the Sarah Mullenbach Foundation. We have a classroom set of ukes, and will learn
some tunes and chords. Sounds like fun!
Kindergarten students will learn to read rhythms this spring. It’s their first step in the journey of music literacy.
Second grade students will complete a variety of activities to read note names. Reading music promotes
independence, and the ability to play music as a hobby. It’s a wonderful skill to achieve!
FROM THE HEALTH ROOM-MRS. HELGET-WEDUL, Prairie View Nurse
Vaccine Requirement for Students entering 6th grade in 2016-2017
Tdap
The Wisconsin Student Immunization law requires one vaccine for middle school students. Parents
are required to have their children vaccinated or claim a waiver. For the 2016-2017 school year,
the following is required:
Students entering
Grade 6
Vaccines Required
Tdap (1 dose)
Tdap is the adolescent combination vaccine that protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis
(whooping cough). Only one dose is required.
Meningococcal (bacterial meningitis) vaccine is available for students over 11 years of age. 2
doses are recommended. This is not a required vaccination. More information can be obtained from
the health office, your clinic, or the following link:
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/invasive-bacteria/meningococcaldisease.htm
Your primary care provider can provide these immunizations. The La Crosse County Public Health Department also offers
these vaccines. The La Crosse County Public Health Department’s phone number is 608-785-9723. Call the Prairie View
Health Office at 608-526-1605 with any questions. Inform the health office of any immunizations received so records
can be updated.
Bicycle Safety
Your child needs to wear a helmet on every bike ride, no matter how short or how close to
home. Many accidents happen in driveways, on sidewalks, and on bike paths, not just on streets.
In fact, the majority of bike crashes happen near home. A helmet protects your child from serious
injury, and should always be worn. And remember, wearing a helmet at all times helps children
develop the helmet habit.
A bicycle helmet is made specifically to protect the head from any fall that may occur while
biking. Other helmets or hard hats are made to protect the head from other types of injury. Never
allow your child to wear another type of helmet when riding a bike.
Oversized bikes are dangerous. Your child does not have the skills and coordination needed to handle a bigger bike and
may lose control. Your child should be able to sit on the seat, with hands on the handlebars, and place the balls of both feet
on the ground. Your child's first bike should also be equipped with footbrakes, since your children's hand muscles and
coordination are not mature enough to control hand brakes.
Your child should always ride on the right, with traffic. Riding against traffic confuses or surprises drivers. Almost one
fourth of bicycle-car collisions result from bicyclists riding against traffic.
Hand signals are an important part of the rules of the road and should be taught to all children before they begin to ride in
the street. They are an important communication link between cyclists and motorists. Any child who does not have the skills
necessary to use hand signals without falling or swerving shouldn't be riding in the street to begin with. Many accidents
involving older children occur when they fail to signal motorists as to their intended actions.
It's never safe for your child to ride a bike at night. Night riding requires special skills and special equipment. Few
youngsters are equipped with either. Never allow your child to ride at dusk or after dark.
Riding a bike is fun – if it's done safely. Unfortunately, most people don't realize hundreds of thousands of children are
seriously injured each year in bicycle falls. Worse still, more than 600 children die from them each year. While you may
have been lucky enough to survive childhood without a serious bicycle-related injury, you shouldn't count on luck to protect
your child.
Teach your child these basic safety rules:
1. Wear a helmet.
2. Ride on the right side, with traffic.
3. Use appropriate hand signals.
4. Respect traffic signals.
Basic safety measures like these can keep bicycle riding enjoyable and safe for your child. Source: http://www.healthychildren.org
SNEAKER NEWS-MRS. BRUDOS
Is your family getting too much???
Screen time includes not only TV but computer usage, video games, iPod, SMARTPHONE, and
watching DVDs. Below are the experts’ recommendations:
Experts suggest the following screen time guidelines based on age:
 Children under 3 years of age: 0 hours of screen time/day
 Children 3-12 years of age: 1 hour or less/day
 Teens & adults: 2 hours or less/day
Rather than come home from school or work and plunking down in front of the TV or computer, we’re
encouraging you to enjoy free time by doing something active with friends or family. The possibilities are only
limited by their imagination! Turning off the screens in our lives frees up time to spend with friends, family or
enjoying favorite physical activities. Hopefully the weather starts looking and feeling a lot more like Spring
soon!
Make a difference in your Community: Become a Substitute for your local school district!
Teachers On Call is the substitute staffing service that partners with the Holmen School District to staff
substitutes in your area. Teachers On Call isn’t just hiring; we are building community connections between
talented education staff and the students of the Coulee Region.
Being a Teachers On Call Employee Provides:




A chance to support your local school district
An opportunity to further the education of the children in your community
Weekly Pay – get paid every Friday for the hours you worked the previous week
Bonus opportunities and Holiday Pay when you work regularly
Required Skills to Substitute in Holmen


Teachers: Must have a valid Wisconsin Teaching License, a 5 Year Substitute License or a 3 Year Substitute Permit
Special Ed Aides & Regular Ed Aides: Must have at least a high school diploma
Apply today to begin making a difference in the lives of children in your community!


Apply online at www.teachersoncall.com
After you have submitted the application, a staffing coordinator from Teachers On Call will contact you regarding
next steps.
2016 Summer School FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Beginning April 1st, please refer to the district website for elementary summer school
information (www.holmen.k12.wi.us – Parents – Summer School).
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the dates and times for the Summer School session?
 July 18 – August 4, 2016; Classes are from 8:45 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Where will Summer School be held?
 Prairie View Elementary School (1201 Newport Lane;)
Which classes will be offered for students to take?
 Classes will be listed in the Summer School Course book, which
will be available on the district website, beginning April 1st.

Summer School Schedule
8:15 a.m. ~ Last Bus Arrival
8:10 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. ~
Breakfast Offered
Holmen, WI)
8:45 a.m. - 11:25 a.m. ~
Two Instructional Blocks and
a 25 min. snack/break time
11:30 a.m. ~ Load Buses
www.holmen.k12.wi.us); Parents – Summer School – Elementary
Paper copies of the Summer School Course Book are available upon request. 11:35 a.m. ~ Buses Depart
*NOTE: STUDENTS ARE ASSIGNED TO THE GRADE LEVEL/PROGRAM IN WHICH THEY
ENROLLED DURING THE 2015-16 SCHOOL YEAR.
FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS, THERE WILL BE TWO
INSTRUCTIONAL BLOCKS
 If a student IS recommended for Reading Adventures OR Math Adventures by the classroom teacher, then
this is one of his/her instructional blocks. The other block would be an enrichment class selected from the
Summer School Course book.
 If a student is NOT recommended for Reading Adventures or Math Adventures by the classroom teacher,
then she/he would have two enrichment classes.
How much does Summer School cost?
 The class fees for materials will have the amount listed in the 2016 Summer School Course Book, which will
be on the School District of Holmen website on April 1st.
 If a fee is not listed, there is no fee.
How can we get a registration form?
 Parents of students who were recommended for the ESL program; a special education class; or Reading
Adventures/Math Adventures were given an envelope containing the registration forms during
Parent/Teacher Conferences.
 Registration forms were sent home with all other students on March 23rd.
 Forms will also be available on the School District of Holmen website on April 1st, along with a Transportation
Form and a course book, which lists class offerings.
When do registration forms need to be returned?
Between April 1 and the final deadline of April 29, 2016 – NO EXCEPTIONS
 Please complete the registration form and save it as the student’s Last Name; First Name; Grade child is in
during CURRENT (2015-16) school year (i.e. Eitland Sue Gr 2)
 Then, e-mail the form to [email protected]. A letter confirming class enrollment in specific
courses will be sent home at the end of the school year.
 Since class sizes are limited, the sooner the forms are returned, the more likely families are to get their top
choices for classes.
Who should we contact regarding Transportation; Breakfast; and other Summer School Questions?
 Transportation - Call 608.526.4752 or e-mail [email protected]
 Breakfast program – Call 608.526.1324 or e-mail [email protected]
 Other SS Questions – Call 608.526.1381 or e-mail [email protected]
School District of Holmen ~ Educating every student to achieve global success
Special Education: A Basic Guide For Parents
Part Two
BY LAURIE MCGARRY KLOSE, PHD, Texas State University–San Marcos
http://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/families-and-educators
WHAT DO I DO IF INTERVENTIONS DON’T SEEM TO WORK?
Many times, the interventions that are available to all students (such as a district math curriculum) or more specific
interventions in the regular education classroom (such as peer tutoring or modified assignments) will be successful.
When the child’s progress is less than expected despite these interventions, an evaluation for special education
eligibility may be the next step. Most often, classroom teachers or other school personnel suggest a special
education evaluation; however, a parent may make this request.
An evaluation for special education eligibility is conducted to determine if (a) the child has a disability as defined by
federal law, and (b) the child’s educational needs related to the disability require specialized intervention that can
only be provided through special education services. Children ages 3–21 may be served through special education
programs, and in some states children as young as newborns may receive early childhood special education services.
Parents must agree to an evaluation—this can’t take place without your consent. Before giving consent, it is
important that you understand the procedures involved, how the information will be used, and who will have access to
the information. Parents must be provided a statement of procedural safeguards—the rights and responsibilities of
all parties involved in the special education process—prior to the start of the evaluation. This is a very important
document that parents should review carefully (and ask questions about) before consenting to the evaluation or any
recommended special education services.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE EVALUATION?
The child must be evaluated in all areas of suspected disability. There are 11 categories of disability that are
defined by federal law, including autism, cognitive disability, emotional behavior disability, hearing impairment,
specific learning disability, orthopedically impaired, other health impairment, speech or language impairment,
traumatic brain injury, visual impairment, and significant developmental delay. In addition to addressing areas of
disability, the evaluation must also address needs for ‘‘transition’’ services for older students (by age 16 and in some
states as young as 14)—supports to help students move from school to work or postsecondary education settings
when they leave high school.
An individual child is rarely evaluated for all disability areas. Typically, a team of educational professionals and the
parent will plan the assessment based on concerns raised by those involved with the child’s education. The evaluation
is conducted by a multidisciplinary team with each individual concentrating on his or her area of expertise. This team
then compiles and analyzes the results. This process must occur in a timely fashion (usually within 30–60 days) and
results must be shared with the parents.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE EVALUATION IS COMPLETED?
After the evaluation is completed, a meeting is scheduled to review the results and determine eligibility for special
education. The educational professionals involved in the evaluation and the parents review the results and the team
(including parents) determines whether the child is a ‘‘child with a disability’’ and, if so, what disability category is
most appropriate. If the parent does not agree with the findings of the evaluation, he or she may request an
Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) be conducted at the school district’s expense or seek a second opinion at
their own expense. Note that a school district might disagree with the need for an Independent Educational
Evaluation, and may seek a hearing to determine if in fact the district must pay for an IEE.
Next month we will take a look at what special education services look like.
There’s Still Time to Participate in
Holmen’s Early Childhood Screening
*It’s FREE!
Who should participate?
3 – 5 year old children, who are not yet enrolled
in the School District of Holmen
*Parents attend and remain with their child throughout the screening process.
When does the screening take place?
Each child only does the screening one time. We have two Wednesdays each
month from which you may select a date/time that will work best for your family.
April: 20th and 27th
May: 18th and 25th
Parents should contact us to make an appointment time for their child from one of two timeframes:
8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
*If neither timeframes work, we will attempt to have a few evening times available in the spring.
Where will the screening take place?
In the Early Childhood classrooms at:
Prairie View Elementary (1201 Newport Lane) and/or
Viking Elementary (500 E. Wall St.)
Purpose of the Early Childhood Screening:
Specialists in the early childhood field will provide families with information regarding:
 Children’s typical growth and development
 Their own child’s level of development
 Services and resources available in the community for
families and young children
 Any questions or concerns parents may have pertaining to
their 3 to 5 year old child
Contact Information for Questions or to schedule an appointment:
Ms. Sue Eitland, Administrator
Holmen Public Preschool Program
School District of Holmen
Call: 608.526.1381
E-mail: [email protected]
School District of Holmen Educating every student to achieve global success
Volume Eight
April 2016
ESL Extra
School District of Holmen
Resources
The CAN DO Descriptors offer teachers and administrators working with ELs a range of
expectations for student performance within a designated English language proficiency
level of the WIDA standards.
Complete matrix of descriptors found at https://www.wida.us/standards/CAN_DOs/
Student CAN DO Descriptors
Language
Domain
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Level 1Entering
Level 2Beginning
Level 3Developing
Level 4Expanding
Level 5Bridging
~Point to stated
pictures, words,
phrases
~Follow one step
directions
~Answer wh(who, what,
when) or choice
questions
~Sort pictures,
objects according
to oral instructions
~Categorize or
sequence oral
information
using pictures,
objects
~Retell stories
or events
~Describe
procedures
~Identify cause
and effect from
oral discourse
~Make
connections
between ideas
based on oral
discourse
~Express and
defend points of
view
~Match icons and
symbols to
words, phrases,
or environmental
print
~Locate and
classify information
~Use context
clues to
determine
meanings of
words
~Find details
that support
main ideas
~Draw
conclusions or
infer from
explicit and
implicit text
~Produce icons,
symbols, words,
to convey
messages
~Give information
requested from
oral or written
directions
~Make lists
~Compare/
contrast
information
~Edit and revise
writing
~Summarize
information from
text
~Apply
information to
new contexts
~Author multiple
forms of writing
~Describe
pictures, events,
objects, people
~Give speeches,
oral reports
Strategy of the Month
Total Physical Response (TPR)
In TPR the teacher gradually introduces commands, acting them out as he says them. The students respond
to the actions as the teacher demonstrates them. Gradually, the demonstrations are removed and the
students respond to verbal commands only.
Step 1: Introduce commands (3 or 4 commands with a movement)
Step 2: Students practice movement as you give the commands.
Step 3: Add additional commands (no more than three at a time)
Step 4: Take away movements and add additional responses (new ways for students to show their understandingpoint to pictures, draw pictures)
Step 5: Play games for additional practice (after students gain confidence)
Step 6: Assess student progress and understanding