Hillcrest Newsletter

Greetings Mini Cardinal Families! It is hard to believe the month of September has come to an end and the Fall season is upon us. It has been a fantastic first month of school.

Our Hillcrest students have adjusted very well to the start of the school year. Transition is always difficult, but so many of our students have embraced the beginning of their journey and show their excitement every day. One thing I have noticed is the number of older students who are so willing to assist with our younger students. Whether this is before or after school or out on the playground, this display of care and connectedness truly represents the character and values we work to instill in our students daily.

Our Hillcrest PTO has been working very hard to kick off a huge endeavor of raising $200,000 for a new playground for next school year. The timeline is short, but we are confident that the families and community of Hillcrest will “answer the call” for our students. I encourage you all to connect with our PTO and find a way to help provide a space for all our students to play. Flyers were sent home with each student with information on how you can support and get involved. This is a great thing for our school community!

Lastly, I have enjoyed my morning and afternoon time seeing the students enter the building and depart for the day. I have been trying to be very visible in the classrooms and out on the playground getting to know our students and staff. I am very impressed with the work our adults and students are doing. I am confident that your students are being challenged to learn what it takes to be a respectful, responsible and safe learner. Have a wonderful October!

Go Cardinals!

Doug Dieckman

Principal, Hillcrest Elementary

dieckmdd@chipfalls.org

October

• 1st - Fluoride with Bright Smiles (if signed up)
• 1st - 5th grade field trip
• 4th - Vision Screenings
• 11th - Boys & Girls Club closed
• 16th - Kindergarten field trip
• 18th - Picture Retakes during the school day
• 18th - Hearing screenings (Kindergarten & 2nd grade only)
• 18th - PTO Halloween Dance 6-7:30
• 22nd - RCU
• 22nd - 1st grade field trip
• 24th - No School for KG-5th grades (Professional development)
• 25th - No School (Professional Development)
• 26th - PTO Fall Market Fundraiser
• 29th - RCU
• 29th - Flu shot clinic

November

• 1st - No school (staff work day)
• 5th - RCU
• 7th - Parent/Teacher conferences
• 12th - RCU
• 12th - Parent/Teacher conferences
• 19th - RCU
• 25th - 29th - No School

School Calendar Update- Elementary Students Only

Kindergarten through 5th grade students will NOT have school on Thursday, October 24th.

This change has been made to provide the time necessary for Elementary Level teachers to complete training necessary for implementing the state mandated Early Literacy Benchmark system beginning this January. The Wisconsin Department of Education made districts aware on July 15 of the mandated system, after our 2024-25 calendar had been set. Professional Development dates that were already set have been committed to other required training that we are not able to change.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.

Susan Kern, Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Katie Coppenbarger, Director of Curriculum and 4K

OFFICE PROCEDURES:

If your child is going to be absent or tardy for any reason, please call the office by 8:30 a.m. (715) 726-2405) Any student who arrives after 7:45 am is considered tardy.

If you need to change your child's transportation for the end of the day, please send a note to your child's teacher. Phone calls are discouraged but if a change needs to be called in, PLEASE call the office by 1:30 pm to insure that the message gets delivered to the classroom.

If you need to pick your child up early or for an appointment, parents should use our sign out sheet located in the main office. We will then call your child down to the office. Students will not be waiting in the office so make sure to give yourself enough time prior to appointment.

MEDICAL NOTES FROM DOCTORS RECOMMENDED:

If your child(ren) miss school for a medical appointment, please ask for a doctor's note to excuse the absence. This way, it can be marked medical and will not go against attendance policies.

A fax from the doctor's office can be sent to (715)720-3754

BUS TRANSPORTATION CHANGES:

All student rerouting requests will originate at Chippewa Yellow Bus Company. A rerouting request is a form that allows a student to ride a bus to a location other than their home. (daycare, grandparents house, etc) Student rerouting requests require a 24 hour notice and approval by the bus company. This includes one time and/or occasional rerouting requests. Please call 715-726-2454 if you have any questions or concerns. Please click here for more information regarding rerouting requests.

If a student's afternoon transportation plans vary week to week, please provide the teacher and the office with a monthly calendar to insure that your child gets to their intended location.

ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER OR CONTACT CHANGE:

Has your address, phone number or emergency contacts changed? If so, log into the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and make changes. Having this updated is important should an emergency arise.

As it starts to get colder, please send your child with appropriate clothing, (boots, hats, and mittens)!

Hillcrest does NOT have extra sweatshirts or coats anymore as we do not have the space.

On Thursday October 31, classrooms will have Halloween Celebrations.

Reminders:

• Students should come to school in their costume
• Costume masks, blood, gore and violence are not allowed
• Weapons or imitation weapons will not be allowed
• Teachers will not be assisting with face make up for students, this should be applied at home
• Be sure that students are able to stand and sit easily in their costumes.

Watch for more celebration information from your child's teacher.

Our lost and found is filling up. We have lots of sweatshirts, a lunch box, shoes and a water bottle. If your child is missing something, remind them to stop at the lost and found to take a peek.

Picture retake day is Friday October 18.

Any student who wants to retake their picture, students who did not make it to Open House or new students who didn’t get a picture taken yet should get their picture taken that day.

If you want a picture retake, simply return your original package on Picture Retake Day to the photographer (if you have one).

For online ordering go to www.strawbridge.net. Enter code: FM442621

If you want to order pictures of the retake picture, you may do so for FREE shipping by going to Strawbridge.net and using the school ordering code FM442621 in the “order now” box. This option is pre-pay ordering, so you will not be able to view your child’s image and is valid for free shipping until 10/24. If you wish to wait to view the image first, you will need to wait until your child’s personalized ordering code is issued, and a $7 shipping fee will incur. (After 10/24, you will have to wait until the personalized codes are issued)

Pictures don't need to be purchased but all students will need to get their photos taken for school records and yearbooks.

The PTO meeting is set for Tuesday October 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the Hillcrest library.

For all Hillcrest parents, caregivers, and Hillcrest staff to work together in supporting Hillcrest Elementary.

On the agenda: Halloween DJ Dance, Playground Team Recruiting, December Holiday Shop and Spring Readathon Planning.

Here are the September minutes.

Friday, October 18th from 6-7:30 pm

Put on your costume and dancing shoes! Join Hillcrest families October 18th 6-7:30 pm for a dj dance. Please follow Hillcrest costume guidelines when selecting your costume. Parent's will need to stay at the dance with their child/ren.

Saturday, October 26 from 8am-1pm

Join us for shopping, food, and fun. Enjoy shopping booths with a variety of artists, crafters, food vendors, thrift and antique sellars, and small businesses. Rain or shine! The market will be moved into the Hillcrest Gymnasium if there is poor weather. Donations during this event will benefit the Hillcrest Playground Project.

Hillcrest Elementary needs your help to build a safe, engaging, and inclusive playground for all students and families. We are fundraising $200,000 for a matching grant (that's $400,000!). Donations of any size will make this dream a reality!

Donate online or by check. Click here to donate and for complete details.

If you already completed this, you can skip this part!

The Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District has opened the annual online registration process found on the Infinite Campus parent portal. This process helps us gather the latest family contact information along with your permission for important questions concerning your student(s).

The online registration process is required for each student. Completion of the process allows your student access to a number of privileges including field trips, access to the internet, and use of district chromebooks/ipads.

To make the review and entry process simpler, please consider using a laptop or computer.

Log onto the Campus parent portal and click on the More menu item, Online Registration, and then 24-25 Next Year EXISTING Student Registration to begin the process.

If you need help logging in, click on the "Problems logging in?" link on the login screen. For help with the online process, email our help desk at helpdesk@chipfalls.org and include your phone number.

If your student is a member of more than one household, please understand that only one household can complete the online process.

Meal prices for 2024/2025

Elementary Breakfast: $0.35

Elementary Lunch: $2.25

**If you qualify for free or reduced lunches there is no charge for breakfast or lunch.

The Free and Reduced Meal Application is now available online! To apply for meal benefits for the 2024-2025 school year, log into your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account and click on the More option in the left hand menu and then Meal Benefits.

If you received a letter this school year saying that your children are already approved for free meals, then you do not need to complete an application.

All families are encouraged to complete the online application if possible. Paper applications are available and may be picked up at your child's school or at the Central Board Office at 1130 Miles Street, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729. If none of these options work for you please contact Kirsten Nesja to have one mailed to you at (715) 726-2581 or email nesjakj@chipfalls.org.

If you have questions on completing the application please call Kirsten Nesja (715) 726-2581 or email nesjakj@chipfalls.org.

**You can use the Infinite Campus Parent Portal to put money onto your child's lunch account or you can send cash/check to the School Office.

Here are some important guidelines to consider when you hear those words, “I feel sick; I don’t want to go to school today.” These guidelines are the standards of practice that the CFSD nursing services staff follow for the comfort and safety of all of our students and staff.

Keep your student home if any of the following apply:

• Temperature over 100.4 degrees in the last 24 hours. If you suspect that they may be sick, please check their temperature with a thermometer before sending them to school. If they have a fever, it is not appropriate to send them to school, even if you give them acetaminophen or ibuprofen and their fever breaks. Your child will still be contagious to other children and will also not be feeling well enough to learn. Coming to school sick (and possibly contagious) not only exposes other children to the illness, but also delays your child’s healing time. Once the medicine wears off and the fever returns, your child must be picked up anyway, and valuable healing time has been lost. Children must be fever-free for 24 hours, without the use of medication, before returning to school.

• Vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours. If vomiting or diarrhea occur, you must keep your child home. Even if these things happen only one time before school starts and your child feels better immediately afterwards, it is still wise to watch for a few hours to see if it happens again before sending him or her on to class. Your child may not return to school until they have not had an episode of vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours. If your child is spending all his or her time at school feeling sick, then not much learning is taking place!

• An unexplained rash - Anytime a rash is associated with fever, the child may not come to school until that fever is gone for 24 hours without medication. Sometimes a rash is a sign of a contagious disease such as chickenpox. Sometimes, rashes are not contagious, but are uncomfortable and itchy from contact with something the child is allergic to.

It is recommended that your student stays home if the following apply:

• Headache, cough, sore throat, or congestion severe enough to interfere with attention to school work.
• Flare ups from asthma that would make it difficult to work in school.

DOCTOR NOTES FOR LIMITATIONS/RESTRICTIONS IN SCHOOL:

If your child has an injury or a health issue that requires limitations or restrictions while in school, the district requires a note from the doctor with the listed restrictions. If the note does not have a date when normal activities can be restarted, a note will also be required that specifies when the student may return to normal participation in activities.

IMMUNIZATION REMINDER:

State Law requires that all immunizations be up-to-date within 30 days of entering the school system. New students will be asked to complete the immunization card at registration, all others are requested to notify the school nurse when your child receives additional immunizations. Waivers for personal, religious, or health reasons remain an option for parents.

Immunization Requirements 24/25

Immunization Waiver

TREATS IN THE CLASSROOM:

The health office requests that any treats brought in to school for birthdays, parties, or any other special occasions should be store bought with a clear nutrition label. There are certain students and staff with health conditions that may require dietary accommodations and it's important that they are able to review a food's nutrition label before choosing to omit or consume certain foods.

Please also be mindful about choosing treats that may contain tree nuts and/or peanuts for your student's classroom. There may be other students in your child's classroom who may have a severe nut allergy. If you are wondering whether your child is in a nut free classroom, please inquire with your student's classroom teacher or the health office.

Bright Smiles Dental Sealant and Fluoride Oral Health Program

Once again, our district is working alongside the Bright Smiles Oral Health Program to provide dental care to our students in Kindergarten-5th Grade. Each student will receive an oral screening by a registered dental hygienist, teeth cleaned, and application of dental sealants, if necessary, to protect their teeth from cavities. This year, the program will be back for 2 visits of fluoride and 1 visit of sealants and fluoride. This is offered at NO CHARGE to you

Please see the link below for the Bright Smiles Oral Health Program . If you are NOT interested in having your student participate in this program, simply click on the 'No Thanks" on the form as you complete it. In answering this questions, it helps us with our grants that we receive. Otherwise, fully complete the form to have your child eligible for the program.

https://sealasmile.wisconsin.gov/Consent

The consent will be good for the 2024-25 school year. We will need to have enough responses from students wanting this service in order to run the program so please take advantage of this great service.

If you have any questions, please Carol at 715-933-0065

The 2024-25 school year is off to a great start and On-Site Chiropractic is excited to be part of so many kids’ school days. It’s been fun getting to see our returning students and hear about their summers, and we look forward to getting to know this year's new students that have started chiropractic care.

Fall brings the changing of the seasons and cooler weather. Sometimes it also brings on seasonal allergies. The sneezing, stuffy nose and congestion are all uncomfortable but did you know that chiropractic can help with those symptoms? An adjustment can ease congestion & relieve sinus pressure. Chiropractic care also helps strengthen the immune system by correcting misalignments in the spine, especially the neck. It allows the spinal nerves and brain to communicate better, meaning the body has a better chance against allergens.

Enjoy the beautiful Fall weather and if you are interested in your child receiving chiropractic care at school, please contact onsitechiroinfo@gmail.com for more information.

If you would like to volunteer to help out in the classroom or go on any field trips, you must fill out the proper online form. Please click HERE to be taken to our Volunteer Information webpage. Please note that once the online form is submitted, it could take up to 2 weeks to fully process so please please allow ample time before you volunteer for the first time. The link is always open so feel free to fill it out at your earliest convenience.

The district adopted a new volunteer management system last spring so many parents are already on file and approved to volunteer for the 2024-25 school year. That approval is good for 1 year so for those parents that are already in the new system, you will get an email 30 days prior to its expiration date, reminding you to reapply. The email will come from RAPTOR TECHNOLOGIES and will go to the email address that they have on file for you.

Upon request to the building administrator, submitted twenty-four (24) hours in advance, the District shall make reasonable accommodation including the provision of informational material in an alternative format as necessary for a disabled person to be able to participate select activities.

MISSION STATEMENT: Hillcrest Elementary School, in partnership with the community, is committed to excellence in a safe, respectful, and child-centered environment in which all students are empowered and challenged to be life-long learners.

Email: piersonm@chipfalls.org
Website: https://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/hillcrest/
Location: 1200 Miles Street, Chippewa Falls, WI, USA
Phone: 715-726-2405