Every Child…..Every Class…..Every Day

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MESSAGE FROM THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR / JORDAN SINZ

Dear WHSD Families and Staff, Tuesday, September 1, we began the 2020-21 school year. Despite this year’s unique challenges, we are prepared and ready to greet our students on their first day of instruction. Although we have shared much of the following information previously, we are providing this summary to guide you and answer any questions you may have about the first day of learning in our enhanced online environment. A helpful overview of Schoology basics can be accessed at the following link - https://youtu.be/beeE9-6tVrw. Online Learning Expectations (click on links for applicable information)

• Elementary Student Expectations for Virtual Learning

• Middle/High School Student Virtual Learning Expectations What do I do to attend class on the first day of school? All families were sent login information for Schoology, our student learning management system (LMS), on Wednesday, August 19, 2020. The LMS system will be utilized by teachers district-wide to share lessons and communicate with students/families regularly.

• If you have not already done so, you are encouraged to practice logging into Schoology (Students: https://wisheights.schoology.com/ ). Parent and student resources can be accessed at our parent/guardian resource page.

• On the first day of school, all students participating in our online learning program should log in to Schoology to access learning resources and start Zoom sessions as needed.

• Students who participate in their learning through the on-site support hub system are expected to be at school by 8:25 AM on September 1 so that they are online and logged into their first-hour course at 8:30.

Technical Help Parents and students are encouraged to communicate with your teacher if questions arise. You can also contact our technology department staff members:

• Scott Wichser - IT Specialist - swichser@wisheights.k12.wi.us - 608.767.2586 ext. 3203

• Rachel Elliott - Tech Integration - relliott@wisheights.k12.wi.us - 608.767.2586 ext. 1052 Attendance Attendance will be taken. If your child is absent, please call their school by 8 AM to inform school officials.

• Black Earth Elementary Phone Number - 608.767.2251

• Mazomanie Elementary Phone Number - 608.767.2737

• Wisconsin Heights MS/HS Phone Number - 608.767.2586

Continued on the next page.

Child Nutrition 1. The meal distribution process will be similar to the process used in the spring. Through pre-order and

curbside pick-up, all students will have the opportunity to participate in the school meals programs. 2. Each week, parents, guardians, and/or students will pre-order meals using a Weekly Meal Pre-Order Form.

Place an order for up to 10 meals (i.e., 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches). Optional K-5 milk program and a la carte will also be available.

3. Pre-orders must be placed no later than 12 PM on the Friday before curbside pick-up. 4. Charges to foodservice accounts will be based on the number of meals and eligibility status - free, reduced

price, or paid. Please ensure there are sufficient funds in your foodservice account. No cash will be accepted at curbside pick-up.

5. Curbside pick-up will be available at Black Earth Elementary, Mazomanie Elementary, and the MS/HS on Mondays only between 2:30 PM and 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM. You do not need to pick up meals at the school where your students are enrolled.

6. Refer to the Food/Nutritional Services web page to access the Weekly Meal Pre-Order Form and more information. A copy of your order and curbside pick-up instructions will be emailed to you.

7. Students participating in their learning through the on-site support hub system will receive school lunch as requested.

Please call Rebekkah Plano, Food Service Director, at (608) 767-2595 extension 1008 with questions or concerns. We wish every student, family, and staff member a successful first day of school and a fantastic 2020-21 school year. Sincerely,

Jordan Sinz District Administrator Wisconsin Heights School District

MESSAGE FROM THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR / JORDAN SINZ

Lindsey Martin

Elementary School Counselor, District

Welcome Lindsey Martin! Lindsey is joining the district as an Elementary School Counselor! She has been a 4K-12 school counselor for the past 7 years in southwest & northern Wisconsin, but this Lodi native is happy to come "home. She has a husband and 2 girls, as well as a variety of pets including a dog named Gnarly. Lindsey loves kids and likes to sing, hike, garden, and learn about the world.

Jami Steffen

Science Teacher, Middle School

Welcome Jami Steffen! Jami is joining the district as a Middle School Science Teacher! She graduated from UW-Whitewater with a bachelors degree in Biology in December 2018 and went back for teaching licensure and finished in May 2020! Jami recently moved from Twin Lakes, WI. While in school, she participated in many activities such as cheerleading, softball, track, and musical theater. Jami also coached cheerleading at a variety of levels from youth-collegiate! Jami is a first year teacher and is looking forward to being a part of this district and the upcoming school year!

Welcome Mackenzie Deese! Mackenzie is joining the district as an English Teacher! Mackenzie completed her student teaching at Wisconsin Heights as a long term substitute for Ms. Haig in 2015. For the past five years she has been working at Janesville Parker. Mackenzie is super excited to be back with her Wisconsin Heights family! Last September, Mackenzie and her husband welcomed a little girl into their family and they love watching her grow and learn everyday. Mackenzie loves hanging out with her friends and family, watching sports, being outside, and traveling.

Mackenzie Deese

English Teacher, Middle/High School

D’Anne LasSavage

Business Education Teacher, FBLA Advisor, High School

Welcome D'Anne LaSavage! D'Anne is joining the district as the Business Education Teacher and FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) Advisor! As D'Anne starts her 6th year of teaching she is excited to become part of the Wisconsin Heights community. Prior to becoming an educator, D'Anne spent over 15 years in the business community as a marketing professional, business owner, and more. She looks forward to providing Heights students with opportunities to apply their newly acquired skills and knowledge in the local business community. If your student is interested in learning more about FBLA please email D'Anne at dlasavage@wisheights.k12.wi.us.

Sydney Clark

1st Grade Teacher, Black Earth Elementary

Welcome Sydney Clark! Sydney is joining the district as a 1st grade teacher! Sydney graduated from Hope College in Holland, Michigan with a degree in Elementary Education and an endorsement in Early Childhood. She recently moved from the Lansing, Michigan area where she was a 1st grade teacher for the past 2 years. Sydney is now living in Middleton with her husband and enjoying getting to know the area. She is excited to be a part of the Wisconsin Heights School District!

Ciara Baier

5th Grade Teacher, Mazomanie Elementary

Welcome Ciara Baier! Ciara is joining the district as a 5th grade teacher! Ciara graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the spring and this will be her first year teaching! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family. She also loves to be outside. Some of her favorite outdoor activities include running, biking and hiking. Ciara is excited to begin her teaching career at Mazomanie Elementary and with the Wisconsin Heights School District!

Julie Horner

School Psychologist, District

Welcome Julie Horner, as an official Vanguardian! Julie has been in our district for 5 years as the district school psychologist, but now officially wears a Vanguardian hat! Julie has several roles within the district and is always willing to lend a hand to help staff, parents and students! Be sure to check out her school homepage: https://psychology.wisheights.org/. Julie loves spending time with her dog, Charlie, and husband, as well as helping kids smile, being a part of activism, painting, gardening, interior decorating, learning, trying new things, doing scholarly research, and graphic designing.

Debra Schmidt

Mental Health Student Support Specialist, District

Welcome Debra Schmidt! Debra is joining the district as a mental health student support specialist! Debbie will be joining the Wisconsin Heights School District as a Mental Health Student Support Specialist! Her primary location will be at the Middle/High School. For more than 20 years, Debbie has enjoyed connecting with students as a school counselor. She invested most of this time with high school students as well as a few years with middle school, elementary, and virtual school students. Additionally, Debbie's journey has included work as a Career Consultant at UW-Madison, an Adolescent Health Consultant with the Department of Health Services, and a Youth Career Planner with the Dane County School Consortium. Fifteen years ago she bought a house in Madison which provided her the opportunity to learn interior and landscape design and a host of related skills. When Debbie can break away, she likes to visit state and national parks, museums, art events, and places to find cast off treasures.

It is gearing up to be another great year at Black Earth Elementary School! The staff has been hard at work preparing rooms and getting everything ready for our amazing students on September 1st! We are excited to have our students with us again, even though it is in an online environment! Black Earth has a few new faces in our building this year. Welcome to Brian Ripp, who will be working as our day custodian. He brings many years of maintenance experience and has been hard at work since June. We also welcome Sydney Clark to our staff as a 1st grade teacher! Sydney taught 1st grade for the past two years in Grand Ledge, Michigan prior to coming to Wisconsin Heights. Lindsey Martin joins both the Black Earth and Mazomanie staff as the Elementary Guidance Counselor. Lindsey has counseling experience from White Lake, WI, Antigo, WI, and Cassville, WI. We are very fortunate to have these three individuals as part of our school! There has been a lot of information shared regarding our enhanced online environment but if you have any questions or concerns about it, please reach out to the school! We are always ready to help. Together, we can make this the best, and most unique, year ever! If you ever need to reach me you can email me at smoore@wisheights.k12.wi.us or call at 608-767-2251 x 4104.

Black Earth Elementary News SCOTT MOORE, Black Earth Principal

Mazomanie Elementary News DALE GREEN, Mazomanie Principal

Welcome to the 2020-21 school year! We appreciate the great turnout that we had for our Meet & Greet on August 26th! We hope you had a wonderful summer and while the start of this year will be virtual, we are anticipating a great school year! We know that this year, may be more than typical, the start of the school year is also the start of new routines for your family. It will be important to establish an online/school routine in which your student can be successful.

There are many resources and tips out there for parents for virtual learning at home. I highlighted a few that are consistently suggested for families. 1. Create a learning space for your child 2. Make a schedule and stick to it 3. Reduce distractions 4. Plan breaks and exercise into the day 5. Reach out to your child’s teacher for support and suggestions 6. Connect with other parents 7. Connect with school friends through video chats, etc. (with parent supervision)

The first week of school will be focused on learning Schoology and the new technology as well as getting to know each other and building relationships with peers and the teachers.

We know that communication between school and home will be an essential part of the success of our digital learning activities and schedule. If your student or family needs assistance with the online platform or how to access and complete activities, please reach out to your child’s teacher.

Elementary Dates to Remember—September

Tuesday, September 1st | First Day of Classes for Students (enhanced online) Wednesday, September 16th | Early Release Day | Students done at 11:20 AM (no EC or 4K classes)

Middle/High School News ELIZABETH DOSTAL, MS/HS Principal

The Middle/High School portion of this month’s newsletter is a little longer. We want to make sure that students and parents have necessary information and forms to help everybody have a great start to the 2020-21 school year.

• This fall, all teachers will be teaching students how to take notes using the Cornell Note method. One of the observations made last spring was students struggled to take notes when reading and/or watching informational videos. Having a universal approach which all students learn and all teachers require will accelerate students’ acquisition of the method. Note taking also helps build students’ knowledge and retention of information. The template for Cornell Notes follows on the next page.

• Additionally, we wanted to remind students (and parents) that we are following a class schedule during online learning. The schedule is as follows:

This was also sent to all parents through Skyward Messenger.

• Attendance will be taken during online learning as students will be zooming in to meet with their teachers. If your student is ill and unable to attend classes or has an appointment, please call or email Jenny Brown to report your student’s absence.

• Food Service is available and convenient. This fall we return to the National School Lunch program which means that students are either paying regular prices for lunch or if they qualify, paying a reduced rate or receiving free meals. Students will be able to choose meals for pick up and two pick up times are scheduled for your convenience. If your economic circumstances have changed or if they change during the school year, we encourage you to fill out the free/reduced lunch application. It is hard to learn when you are hungry. Help us help you keep kids healthy and learning!

Period 1: 8:30 to 9:00

Period 2: 9:10 to 9:40

Period 3: 9:50 to 10:20

Period 4: 10:30 to 11:00

Period 5/6: 11:10 to 11:40

LUNCH: 11:40 to 12:10

Period 7: 12:10 to 12:40

Period 8: 12:50 to 1:20

Period 9: 1:30 to 2:00

Open Zoom: 2:00 to 2:30

On August 24th, the school board approved the decision to move fall sports to the spring season. Please see the new alternate calendar with tentative dates for all seasons. *Schedule is subject to change.

The athletics team at Wisconsin Heights Middle/High School are happy to announce a new online athletics registration. Within this site, parents can register all student athletes in middle and high school by completing all the necessary paperwork required for participation. We hope with this site it will save time for parents and students. Registration site will be open year round and paperwork will be sent directly to the athletic department. Go to the following link: https://wisconsinheights-ar.rschooltoday.com/. Or find it on our website and simply click on Online Athletic Registration. Although this year will look very different, we encourage everyone to use this time to turn in required paperwork prior to play. All paperwork and fees are required before an athlete can participate in practice. If you are unsure if your student needs a physical this year, please contact Jamie Van Den Bergh at the MS/HS office or email jvandenbergh@wisheights.k12.wi.us

September Athletic Events ANDREW PICKETT, MS/HS Assistant Principal/Athletic Director

For current up to date information go to http://www.capitolconferencesouth.org/public/genie/487/school/1/

The first day of school is finally here! I know it doesn’t look the way many had hoped it would but I am excited for another school year. Each year, we ask parents to keep their kids home if they are sick but this year it is more important than ever. As students start coming back to school in person, we want to do everything we can to make sure we can keep students in the buildings. Please do not send your student to school sick. If your student has been exposed to COVID-19 or is being tested for COVID-19, they need to stay home. If you question whether your child should come to school, please keep them home and contact me at khowe@wisheights.k12.wi.us or 607-767-2595 x 3001. Although many students are starting virtually, annual forms still need to be completed. I will be contacting parents soon to update health plans for the students that need them. If your student has needed a health plan or medication permission form in the past, please work with your child’s doctor to get these forms completed. Getting the medication paperwork and health plans updated now, will help us be prepared when students are back in the buildings. The immunization laws have not changed. Students need to be up to date on their immunizations at the beginning of the school year. There are required immunizations for student going into Kindergarten and 6th grade. If you do not plan to get your child’s immunizations up to date, please fill out the waiver form so they can be in compliance with the school requirements. Parents of students at Black Earth Elementary and Mazomanie Elementary We were chosen to participate in the FLUency program again this year. If you choose to participate you will be given a free KINSA smart thermometer. This thermometer connects with an app that allows you to track your student’s illness. You can also join our school community which brings in the data, anonymously, and you are able to see what is going around your student's school. I am excited for the program again this year and I think it will be really useful for all of us. ALL families with an elementary student are welcome to sign up and participate in the FLUency program this year. The sign up window has not opened yet but they are allowing people to join a waitlist by texting FLUENCYSCHOOL to 900900. You will then receive a text in early September when it is time to officially sign up. If you join the waitlist you won’t have to wait for me to send out more information and will be one of the first ones to get a thermometer. I will send out information on the official sign up date and when thermometers will be sent out once I hear more. This is our 3rd year in the FLUency program and I am excited to participate again this year! I believe it will be a valuable tool in helping us fight COVID-19 and stay in school.

Notes from the Nurse KATY HOWE

Wisconsin Heights FFA Blood Drive

The Wisconsin Heights FFA will be hosting a Blood Drive on Wednesday, October 7th from 9:00-2:00 in the High School Gym. We are asking all people interested in donating blood to sign up online (https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive and enter Mazomanie/53560 in the search bar) or call the high school at 608-767-2585 ext. 3303 (walk-in appointments are very limited). Not able to donate blood but still want to help? We would love to have food/drink donations for our donors. If you are interested, please feel free to bake (or purchase) baked goods, orange juice, granola bars and bring them to the High School on Tuesday, October 6th. If you are baking items, we ask that you individually pack them before dropping them off.

Thank you for your continuing support of Wisconsin Heights’ school meals programs! During the unanticipated school closures (March through June), USDA allowed flexibilities through nationwide waivers of program regulations. However, with the start of the 2020-21 school year, schools and districts are back to operating the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP), the school meals program you are familiar with.Through the NSLP and SBP, student meals are counted and claimed for reimbursement based on student eligibility status for free, reduced price, or paid meals. Therefore, meals are no longer free to all, except for those students that qualify. Please note, you may apply for free or reduced price school meals at any time during the school year. For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed or experiences financial hardship may become eligible for free or reduced price meals if the household income drops below the income limit. Food Service Application Forms and FAQs are posted to the Annual Student Registration webpage.

Through pre-order and curbside pick up, all enrolled students will have the opportunity to participate in the school meals programs, beginning Tuesday, September 1. Each week, parents, guardians, and/or students will pre-order meals using a Weekly Meal Pre-Order Form. Place an order for up to 10 meals (i.e. 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches). Optional PK-5 milk program and a la carte will also be available. Pre-orders must be placed no later than 12 PM on the Friday before curbside pick up, and you are strongly encouraged to pre-order as early as possible.

Refer to the Food/Nutritional Services webpage to access the Weekly Meal Pre-Order Form and for more information. A copy of your order and curbside pick up instructions will be emailed to you. Please call Rebekkah Plano, Food Service Director, at (608) 767-2595 extension 1008 with questions or concerns.

Welcome back!

Food Service REBEKKAH PLANO, Food Service Director

Psychologist DR. JULIE HORNER, School Psychologist

COVID-19: Stressors, Self-Care and Resources As we continue to be socially distant for our physical health, it can take its toll on our mental health. As the school year begins remotely we recognize families are balancing work or the stress of being out of work, supervising remote schoolwork, and without the typical outlet of activities. Information and resources are available to students and families noted below. During this unusual time we can feel our energy and joy depleted. Self-care can restore our energy and does not need to be time consuming. When we replenish ourselves we have the energy we need to care for and give to others. It is also important to model for our children and their mental health. Being aware of small moments can make a big difference. Be aware of your senses to savor a moment. Notice and enjoy the:

• Taste of sweet corn, fresh garden produce, or pumpkin spice - everywhere

• Sight of the sun set, stars at night, or fall colors starting to appear

• Sound of the crickets, tree frogs, and cicadas

• Smell of cooking on the grill or splurge on a pleasantly scented hand sanitizer

• Feeling of the warm sun, cool lake, or grass on bare feet

• Before bed recall at least 3 positive things about your day. The sun rose on a new day; a kind, positive or humorous comment you made to your child

Taking Care of Yourself: Fact sheet from National Child Traumatic Stress Network that outlines ideas for self-care by promoting awareness, balance, & connection. https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/fact-sheet/taking_care_of_yourself.pdf Child Mind Institute - Parent Resources During COVID-19: Click on the following link to learn about our telehealth evaluations and treatment for ADHD, mood, anxiety, autism spectrum and learning disorders. https://childmind.org/our-care/clinical-care/ COVID-19: Resilient Wisconsin: Tips to feel stronger and more connected, resources for recognizing and managing mental health, resources for disrupted families and a list of apps for mindfulness and well-being. https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/resilient.htm Resources for the Stresses Resulting from COVID-19: Links to managing stress and anxiety, financial support, tools for connecting, crisis response and hotlines, resources for parents, caregivers, older adults, and LGBTQ+ specific resources compiled by Mental Health America. https://mhanational.org/covid19

A wealth of mental health resources during COVID-19 can be found at https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/sspw/pdf/Focus_on_Mental_Health_and_Wellness_During_School_Closure.pdf

If you have any questions regarding this information please contact me at deschmidt@wisheights.k12.wi.us.

Mental Health Student Support DEBRA SCHMIDT, Mental Health Student Support Specialist

Seniors Seniors should be working on their college applications. Admissions officials look at:

• High school rank in class and GPA (grade point average) and the strength of a student’s courses over all four high school years

• ACT and/or SAT scores

• School and community activities

• Teacher recommendations, if required

• Student essays, if required

• Overall quality of student effort in preparing the application – following directions, proper spelling, typing or neat handwriting, etc.

UW Universities/colleges Application priority dates and deadlines vary from campus to campus and sometimes among different programs at one campus. It is to your advantage to apply early! UW-Madison has the earliest priority acceptance deadline which is November 1. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Wong or the institution to which you are applying. The UW System has an enrollment management policy that limits the number of students each campus can accommodate. Specific programs may also have enrollment limits. Even applicants who meet minimum admission requirements may not be admitted. Visit https://apply.wisconsin.edu and use the UW System online application for admission. Features of the online eApplication include easy ability to apply to multiple campuses and optional Visa or MasterCard payment of the application fee. The Admission Decision – High school seniors notified of admission before finishing their senior year are expected to graduate, successfully complete course work in progress at the time they applied and maintain the class rank required for admission. UW System institutions reserve the right to rescind admission if a student fails to meet conditions on which admission was based. MATC will start processing applications as soon as they receive them. You will need to look up the specific programs you are applying to because prerequisites vary. You will also be able to find out if there is a waiting list or not. From the Madison College homepage http://madisoncollege.edu/ click on Apply for Admission button.

• Madison College’s online application is secure and easy to use:

• Save your work and come back to it later.

• Receive immediate notification of receipt via e-mail.

• No delay – application processing starts right away. Some programs may have unique admission requirements or early such as assessment test scores, course requirements, or early admission deadlines. From the Madison College homepage, click on the link to “Programs of Study” and find your program to check for any additional requirements. College Applications Students should email Ms. Shaffer in order to have a transcript sent to any school they are applying to. At the present time there is no charge to have a transcript sent. Once the request is received, the Guidance Department will mail the transcript out. Get applications in as soon as possible. Upcoming College Education Fairs/Events A Wisconsin Education Fair will be held virtually. Attached is the link to general information as well as how to register. https://www.wefs.org/

MS/HS Counseling Department KURT WONG, School Counselor

The Elementary PTO met via Zoom and it was decided:

• No further meetings, fundraising, or activities until further notice.

• Holding off on teacher reimbursement until winter. Please continue scanning receipts for Box Top earnings towards WHPTO as well as selecting Wisconsin Heights PTO in Amazon Smile!

Welcome back to school everyone! The 2020-2021 school year is going to be a year to remember. WHPTO has our kids front and center during this transition to Enhanced Online Learning. That being our driving force, we have decided to put all WHPTO meetings and functions/ fundraising on hold at this time. As the world around us changes, and we move forward from the recent pandemic, we will begin to resume activities and be sure to keep families informed. If you would like to contact the WHPTO organization, feel free to email us at whptotreasurer@gmail.com or visit us on our Facebook page Be safe, Stay Health, and Go Vanguards!

News

WHHS Band Members provide a little “Pomp and Circumstance for graduation Check it out! Members of the WHHS Brass Ensemble practiced, then pre-recorded “Pomp and Circumstance” for the drive-in graduation last month. Aniela Haas used WeVideo and BandLab audio/video software to mesh the audio recordings with the video to create one performance from five separate recordings. Thank you to the students involved for providing music in a new way for this special event! (left top to right): Jack Haugen-tuba, Tanner Gee-trombone, Maisey Gullickson-trumpet, Riley Lynch-trumpet, Alex Orth-trumpet. Noteworthy quote: “The study of music stimulates the creative mind and is a valuable part of every child’s education. By helping build essential skills, imagination, and self-esteem, music and the arts fuel achievement in all academic areas leading to infinite possibilities for our students as future leaders and innovators.”

• Wisconsin State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor – 2019 Wisconsin State Music Conference, Madison, WI

Notes from the Music Department ANIELA HAAS, GINA ADEMINO & EMAILE STERNBERG

WISCONSIN HEIGHTS SCHOOL DISTRICT

10173 US Highway 14 Mazomanie, WI 53560 Phone: (608) 767-2595 Fax: (608) 767-3579 Email: jsinz@wisheights.k12.wi.us

“Every Child...Every Class...Every Day”