Primary Press

• 1/15 - NO SCHOOL

Check out our Wonders (English-Language Arts curriculum) grade-level newsletters by clicking the buttons below, to keep up-to-date on what your child is learning, along with tips on how to support literacy at home!

CLICK HERE for some Family Tech Tips!

With the cold and flu season in full swing, please review our Guidelines for sending your child to school and MSD Health Services Handbook. Remember, if your child is sick please keep them home and seek medical evaluation as needed. Students will be sent home with the following symptoms:

• Temperature above 100.4°F

• Vomiting or diarrhea

• Frequent uncontrollable cough

Your child should remain at home until fever, vomiting/diarrhea has stopped for 24 hours without the use of medication. Students who are prescribed antibiotics for infectious conditions such as strep throat or impetigo must complete treatment for 24 hours before returning to school. As well, please notify the School/Health Office if your student has tested positive for a communicable disease such as: Influenza/Flu, Covid 19, Strep Throat, Hand Foot & Mouth, Chicken Pox, Pertussis.

Thank you for your partnership as we work to keep our students and staff healthy and safe each day!

December 2023 marked 1 year since the District 5 year strategic plan was approved by the school board. We were able to accomplish so much together over the past year and have a significant amount of important work ahead of us. To learn about the progress so far you can:

• Read this document

• Watch this board presentation from December 18

Thank you for your partnership as we continue to improve and better serve our students, families, and community!

We appreciate everyone’s efforts to avoid taking extra time off before and after the winter break. As long as your child is healthy, please encourage their attendance in all classes when school is in session.

Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as to connect to their peers and teachers.

• Missing school even 10% of the time has a significant impact on reading and math achievement as children progress through school.

• Students with good attendance performed better in math and reading. Children who had good attendance in Kindergarten through Grade 2 were more than twice as likely to score proficient on state math tests by the time they reached Grade 8 as their peers who missed more school. In reading, there were similar results.

• Good attendance starts early. Research has shown that the attendance habits established Kindergarten through Grade 2 have lasting effects on students throughout their education: children with high attendance in the early grades continue to have good attendance; and students with low attendance in the early grades are more likely to have low attendance—and lower academic performance—throughout their elementary and middle school years.

If your family or your child needs support, please reach out to the social worker at your child’s school

CEPS Grades PK-2: Lily Hlavacek (608)-838-4610 or hlavacl@mcfsd.org

WIS Grades 3-5: Emily Gierl (608)-838-4646 or gierle@mcfsd.org

IMMS Grades 6-8: Lauren Noriega 608-838-4578 or noriegl@mcfsd.org

MHS Grades 9-12: Zak Sprenger (608)-838-4541 or sprengz@mcfsd.org

The community is invited to join the McFarland Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Coordinator (DEIB), Brittany Brazzel, for a learning session about the District’s Speak Up tool and commitments to addressing and interrupting harmful language and hate speech. Come learn what we are doing as a district and how you can contribute. Students in grades 5-12 are welcome to join.

January 24, 2024

6:30 - 7:30 pm

High School PAC

Summary from the 12/18/23 School Board Meeting:

In addition to their regular duties of approving minutes, staffing, and expenses, here are some highlights from the meeting:

• MHS students Joey Lewis and Valery Vayserberg from the MHS Connect Club provided a report from the MHS student body.

• Superintendent Aaron Tarnutzer and MHS Student Ryli Brown provided a historical presentation on Conrad Elvehjem as part of the process for considering renaming CEPS.

• Superintendent Aaron Tarnutzer gave an update on the strategic planning process.

• Director of Business, Jeff Mahoney reviewed the 2023-23 District audit.

• Action items that were acted upon included:

• The Board approved requests for early graduation at MHS.

• The Board approved a resolution calling for a referendum question to appear on the April 2, 2024 Spring Election ballot. More information can be found HERE.

COMING UP:

The next School District of McFarland School Board meeting is scheduled for January 8, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.

Click HERE for a link to the McFarland School Board agendas and minutes.

Click HERE for a link to the McFarland School Board meeting recordings and upcoming YouTube live streams.

* Wisconsin Public School Observance Days

The following flyers are not necessarily school-sponsored activities, and the McFarland School District does not provide support or endorsement of the program/flyer. It has neither reviewed nor approved the program, personnel, or activities announced in the brochure/flyer. Permission to distribute this material must not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by the School District.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL CALENDAR OF CHILDREN'S EVENTS AT THE LIBRARY

Each third Thursday of the month we will have a PJ Storytime featuring a special theme and activities.

This winter/spring we are offering zoom options for Toddler Monday Storytime, Zumbini, Little Bodies Big Feelings, and PJ Storytime. To attend these programs virtually, email youthservices@mcfarlandlibrary.org by 9am the day of the program you wish to attend. For PJ Storytime, please email by 5:30pm the day of the program.

Free Vaccine Clinics! see flyer for details and how to schedule an appointment!