Rocket Roundup

Network Health has been approved as the District’s new health insurance carrier following action from the Board of Education on Tuesday. Open Enrollment, the period to select coverage for next calendar year, will happen between November 4 and November 15. Details on this mandatory enrollment process will go to eligible employees individually via email in the days ahead.

To learn more about the new coverage choices, the District will host the following virtual meetings, on the following dates where employees and retirees can ask questions. The schedule of meetings and the topic of each are:

Tuesday, October 29 - 4:00 p.m.

Health Plan Choices with Network Health, for current employees.

• Google Meets Link

Tuesday, October 29 - 4:45 p.m.

Health Plan Choices with Network Health, for retirees.

• Google Meets link

Monday, November 4 - 4:00 p.m.

Wellness Program Q&A for current employees and retirees.

• Google Meets link

The sessions will be recorded and shared with all employees.

With the arrival of a new carrier, there are new premiums and new options from which to choose in terms of your health plan for next year. The 3200/6400 and the 5000/10000 plans will be eliminated. The remaining two plans (4000/8000 and 6000/12000) will continue to be offered under the same terms. In addition, the District will add two new plans with the same deductibles that offer in-network coverage only; this means that employees may only access medical care from Network Health providers.

The name of the plan indicates the deductible for which a person will be responsible. Thus, the 4000/8000 plan requires the employee to pay his/her own first $4,000 of medical expenses and his/her family to reach another $4,000 before co-insurance kicks in. The 4k/8k NNN choice also features a $4,000 deductible, but it is the one that offers no out-of-network coverage, except in the case of an emergency.

Moving to a different plan with different deductibles will allow participating employees to keep their premiums at almost the same level or actually save money. Numbers in a green front mean that your take-home pay for a given month will increase by that amount; numbers in red show choices that will make your take-home pay for a given month decrease.

An overview of these new costs, assuming a wellness premium are here:

Happy October! Although November 4th PLD is still a few weeks away we’re hoping to get you excited by sharing all of the offerings! After a focused district message from our district administrators on the Effectiveness Project (CESA 6 Model) — a key requirement for all certified staff— the day is all about YOU and your choice. You’ll have the opportunity to sign up for two sessions that spark your interest, with a wide range of engaging topics to explore. Missed a session you're curious about? No worries! The same offerings will be available at a future PLD.

Be sure to click the links in the elementary or secondary schedule to sign up, and check out the session descriptions to find what excites you the most. The sign-up closes on Monday, October 28th, so don’t wait to secure your spot! We’ve also built in processing time with an optional protocol to reflect on and apply what you’ve learned.

Wishing you a fantastic day of learning and growth! — Your Learning and Leadership Team

Any specific questions, email Ashley Kolb

Please note that our typically issued printing presets will not work; however, you can create your own presets. If you have any questions or need assistance, please create a Service Desk ticket though your ClassLink LaunchPad.

The Neenah Joint School District Board of Education approved Network Health as the District’s insurance provider for 2025 at its October 15 meeting. The plan includes a guaranteed renewal option for 2026 with a maximum 10 percent increase. Click here for the full recap

This week the Equity and Inclusion Department is focused on October 14, which is the observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day. On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor America’s first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations that continue to thrive today. Everyone is encouraged to celebrate and recognize the many Indigenous communities and cultures that make up our great country.

This infographic includes links to information, articles, and teaching materials related to this observance.

In August a brand new optional self-paced Tech PD program called “Choose Your Own Pathway” was introduced. This program is designed to provide incentives for staff who take advantage of the optional Tech PD opportunities offered in the district as well as the instructional resources provided in the NJSD Tech Hub.

Click here to view a link with all the details about the Choose Your Own Pathway program. In summary, there are four Pathways. Each Pathway offers a different route to earning tokens that can be used to enter to win prizes throughout the year. The prizes include four different bundles of goodies, and the grand prize is to attend the 2024 InstructureCon (Canvas) Conference in Spokane, Washington! Since August, the Certification Pathway is now available and a full list of free certifications that can be completed as a part of that Pathway can be found in the link above.

This information and more on the “Choose Your Own Pathway” PD program can be found in the NJSD Tech Hub. If you have any questions about the Choose Your Own Pathway program, please reach out to your Tech Coach.

Expedition Academy at Neenah Middle School is hosting its inaugural Winter Coat Drive. The group is collecting gently used or new winter coats, hats, mittens, and gloves for students of the Neenah Joint School District.

Donations may be dropped off at Door 1, Door 3, Door 6, or Door 7 before school 7:30-8 a.m. from Monday, October 21 through Friday, October 25.

All sizes are welcome! Donations will be used at Neenah Middle School, Neenah Joint School District Elementary Schools, and area donation centers such as the Community Clothes Closet in Menasha and Salvation Army in Neenah. Let's keep our community warm this winter!

The Neenah United Educational Association will host a social for all certified and non-certified new hires as well as anyone else interested in learning more about the association and its membership. The event is set for Monday, November 4 (after the PLD) from 4:15-5:30 p.m. at Willie Beamon's. A presentation begins at 4:40 p.m. Light beverages will be served and all attendees receive one free beverage ticket. Please RSVP by clicking here.

The NJSD social committee is hosting a social gathering for all district staff and a guest on Saturday, November 9 from 5-8 p.m. at the Fox Club at the Timber Rattlers Stadium. There is no agenda as this is simply a time to gather, mingle, and enjoy each other's company. Free hors d'oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available. RSVP here for data purposes.

Additionally, mark your calendars for the district golf outing on May 3, 2025. More info to come.

November 11 is Veterans Day. The American Studies classes are beginning preparations for the annual Veterans Day ceremony at Neenah High School. The theme this year is "Celebrating Hometown Heroes". We would like to honor NJSD employees who are or were a member of the Armed Forces and we would also like to honor other local heroes.

Please email Deb Gauthier at dgauthier@neenah.k12.wi.us if you would like to be recognized and if you have a family or community member to be honored. Thank you!

• Online delivery provides access to the W-2 statement on the average 14 days earlier than the traditional mail process
• No need to come to the District Office to pick up your W-2
• Online delivery eliminates the chance that your W-2 Statement will get lost, misdirected or delayed during delivery or after receipt
• More secure delivery than U.S. mail, protecting your sensitive information from loss, theft or delay
• Access is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week, including weekends
• Access is available via the same easy-to-use, secure web site employees use to access their pay information
• Green and Convenient: print only what you need, when you need it

Flu shots will be offered at sites throughout the District on a variety of dates over the next several weeks. Individuals on District insurance may receive the shots free of charge with proof of insurance. Those not on District insurance can request their insurance carrier be billed when scheduling. Signup links are currently in the document attached to the clinic dates. Please note, the links to sign up don't go live until 10 days before the clinic date, so there is a note attached when registration for each event opens.

A complete schedule of flu shot clinics with sign up links and other details is available by clicking here.

Families are invited to trick or treat in a festive environment with Neenah's middle school and high school clubs and athletics teams on Sunday, October 20 from 2-4 p.m. at the Neenah Middle School football stadium. The event will feature crafts, games and contests and is free to the public.

The 16th annual Helping Hands Art and Craft Fair is set for Saturday, November 2 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Neenah Middle School. Previous years' events have raised over $18,000 for needy families within our District.

Volunteers are needed for a variety of jobs and shifts on both November 1 and 2. If you, or a group of students you advise or coach, are interested in helping, please click here for the sign up link.

(NJSD staff members admitted free to all regular season events by showing staff ID)

Wednesday, October 16

Fall Musical - "Guys and Dolls," 7 p.m. (NHS Performing Arts Center)

Thursday, October 17

Girls Tennis - WIAA Individual State, 10:30 a.m. (at Madison)
Cross Country - FVA Meet, Girls at 3 p.m., Boys at 3:35 p.m. (at Countryside G.C., Kaukauna)

Fall Musical - "Guys and Dolls," 7 p.m. (NHS Performing Arts Center)

Friday, October 18
Girls Tennis - WIAA Individual State, 9 a.m. (at Madison)
Football - Home vs. Hortonville, 7 p.m. (NHS Rocket Stadium)

Fall Musical - "Guys and Dolls," 7 p.m. (NHS Performing Arts Center)

Saturday, October 19
Girls Tennis - WIAA Individual State, 8:30 a.m. (at Madison)
Boys Volleyball - Home, Neenah Invite, 9 a.m. (NHS Competiton and Practice Gyms)

Fall Musical - "Guys and Dolls," 7 p.m. (NHS Performing Arts Center)

Sunday, October 20

Fall Musical - "Guys and Dolls," 2 p.m. (NHS Performing Arts Center)

Tuesday, October 22
Girls Swimming and Diving - Home vs. Oshkosh West, 5:30 p.m. (NMS Pool)
Boys Soccer - Home, WIAA Regional Semifinal vs. Oconomowoc, 7 p.m. (NHS Soccer Field)