The Weekly aWESome
March 1, 2024
Celebrations
2nd Grade Musical: Martins, Curwick, Bridgeforth
2nd Grade Musical: Sughroue, Markgraf, Gartside, Anderson
Picnic Reading
3rd Grade Musical: Franks, Gartland, Berry
3rd Grade Musical: Turner, Slaby, Breunig
School-Home Connection
Problem Solving- Pick the Best Solution
The final step is P: Pick the best solution. After thinking about the positive and negative consequences of each solution you thought of, pick the one that is safe, respectful, and responsible.
Need to Know
Annual Family Engagement Survey
- The survey will be emailed to families on Tuesday, February 20
- Survey window is February 20 - March 20
- There will be Chromebooks available on Wednesday during conferences for families to complete the survey.
- Here is a pdf version of the survey should anyone request a printed copy for completion
State Forward Exam for 3rd Grade
3rd grade caregivers, please mark you calendars for the upcoming Forward Exam dates for your 3rd grader(s). If you can avoid appointments etc. on these dates or times it would be appreciated. If your 3rd grader does miss a test date there will be a make-up week April 22-26.
Test Dates:
Tuesday, March 19 -11:15-12:25
Wednesday, March 20- 11:15-12:25
Wednesday, April 10- 11:15-12:25
Thursday, April 11- 11:15-12:25
Tuesday, April 16- 11:15-12:25
Library News
March Book Madness
It's a special time of year! We are heading into March Book Madness! Students will vote for their favorite books and in April we will crown Windsor's Best Book of the Year! Check out this student created video to see what all the books are!
Introducing Mrs. Krueger
Ms. Marie is going on Maternity Leave this spring and will be missing everyone at Windsor starting February 19th!! Thank you for all of the well wishes!!!
Mrs. Krueger will be in the library for the rest of the year and is excited to spend the time with all of the students! Please feel free to reach out with any questions to: ckrueger@deforestschools.org
Class Placements for Next Year
We are so fortunate to have such amazing teachers at Windsor; it's a great problem to have! We use a collaborative process to form class lists for next year that starts with this year's teachers so if you have multiples, let your child's teacher(s) know if you want them to be placed in class together or separately. We are a large school and accommodating any other requests is not possible.
Clothes Needed for Health Room
The health room is running low on extra clothes. The need is for underwear in sizes 5-6x or any gently used pants.
Social-Emotional Learning
Life Skills Class
March Madness Coping Skills- We are doing a fun coping skills bracket as a school. Classrooms each got a bracket with various coping skills to pick from. During the month of March, we will discover the schools overall favorite tool to use to either feel better if in the Blue Zone, keep them in the Green Zone or calm them down if in the Yellow or Red Zone.
2nd grade is starting their unit on bullying after finishing up lessons about interoception .
K,1,3 are wrapping up their units on bullying and will be starting lessons on character traits the first one being respect.
Frustration Tolerance
Have you ever noticed that it seems like your child overreacts to a small problem? Click here to learn about frustration tolerance.
Calming Strategy Cards
Looking for some calming strategy cards to use at home or on the go?
Check out this resource from Big Life Journal
Skills for Learning
This month, our schoolwide theme is skills for learning: listening, focusing attention, using
self-talk to stay on-task, and being assertive when asking for help with a learning task. In
our morning announcements and school assembly, we’ll be reminding students of these
skills, which help students be successful learners.
Second Step lessons teach skills for learning. The following Home Links describe why
these skills are important and including fun activities to do with your child to practice them.
We hope you enjoy them!
Please tell your child’s teacher if you’d like more suggestions about supporting skills for
learning at home or have questions.
Character Trait of the Month
PTO
The Windsor Parent Teacher Organization (WPTO) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to partner with the teachers and staff at Windsor Elementary School to strengthen our school community, encourage parents to actively participate in their children’s educational experience, and inspire students to achieve their full potential to learn, socialize, and grow. You can find more information about how to get involved here.
The next WPTO meeting: Thursday, March 14th, 6:15-7:15 p.m.
Join us in person at Windsor Elementary or virtually.
Please help us spread thanks to all the generous 2023 Sponsors for their support! Enjoy Local!
A special thank you to WISCO Real Estate Services, the Signature Sponsor of the WE Run! Learn more about WISCO Real Estate Services here.
Flyers
Camp Invention 2024- ILLUMINATE
Register today and save! Use code SUM25 by March 27th and SUM15 between March 28-April 16th.
This year’s brand-new program will illuminate imaginations, inspire curiosity and help kids build essential STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skills through collaboration and problem solving. Campers explore hands-on challenges and open-ended adventures designed to unlock creativity and help them shine their brightest!
Who: K-6 (fall of 2024)
Where: DeForest Area Middle School
When: June 10th-14th | 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Cost: $270 (before discount)
Extended Day Hours Available: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM | Additional $100
Please email the director, Sarah Shagam, at sshagam@deforestschools.org with any questions.
Worth Repeating
Morning Drop Off
Do not drop students off in the parking lot by pulling up to the median and letting them out. This is not safe and has potential to cause huge traffic problems. Students can be dropped off by parking and walking to the crosswalk or going through the drop off line.
After School Supervision
School dismissal is at 2:40 with the expectation that your student will either take the bus home or will be picked up. We do not have supervision if you are running late. Staff may have meetings or prepping for the next day, as well as want to get home to their own families. We ask that if you are running late you make other arrangements for your student.
No Dropoff in Bus Lane
It has come to our attention that there has been several cars that are dropping off students in the bus lane (south parking lot). This lot is reserved for buses only. For safety, please drop off your students at the front of the building (where the flag pole is located).
School Directory through Skyward Family Access
Please click here for directions on how to access the School Directory through Skyward Family Access, as well as how to opt your student(s) into the directory.
DeForest Area School District- There's an app for that!
You can now keep up with the who, what, when, and where through the DeForest Area School District app on all mobile devices!
Scan the QR code or download the DeForest Area School District app from your app store. With our new app, you can:
- Keep up with all of our latest news, information and announcements
- Subscribe and receive push notifications right on your phone to announcements, calendars, and news
- Contact teachers, staff, and administration
- Access school menus, Skyward, and more
- Receive daily and weekly updates and reminders
- Help promote school safety through the SpeakUp-SpeakOut TipLine
Extra Clothes and Weather Appropriate Outerwear Reminder
Students of all grades may need to change into extra clothes/shoes for a variety of reasons during the school day (lunch/milk spill, accidents, mud or snow on the playground depending on the season). If you could keep a change of extra clothes in your child's cubby or backpack, that would be great, as we have a limited supply of extra clothes in the health office.
Also, it's already getting to be that time of year when the temperature drops in the mornings but warms up throughout the day. Please send weather appropriate outerwear (jackets, hats, gloves, etc) to keep your child warm for outdoor recess. We go outside unless it's raining or the wind chill is below zero. Thank you!
Reporting Attendance
To report attendance, please use one of these options: Text (608) 501-2485, Call (608) 842-6313, or email wesattendance@deforestschools.org. All attendance lines are available 24 hours a day. Please text, call, or email before the start of the school day if your child will not be attending school, will be late, will be picked up early, or will have a change in transportation home. Please indicate the reason why your student will be absent or late. Thank you!
Contacting Kobussen
If you need to contact the bus company, it's generally best to call during non-route times which are from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Raptor
Raptor is our school safety software that enables schools to screen visitors and volunteers. You will need to bring in your driver's license the first time you come into the school, and the office will scan your license. They will print out a visitor badge that you will wear while in school. Once the office scans your driver's license the first time, the next time you come in, the office just needs your name to print off your badge. Thank you!
Volunteers
District policy requires that a criminal background check be completed prior to volunteering. This includes parents who plan to attend field trips with their child. The background check is good for 3 years. The volunteer background check can be completed by filling out the following form: Background Check.
Substitutes Needed!
DeForest Area School District is excited to partner with Edustaff to provide substitute staffing for the district’s schools and we are looking forward to a great school year!
Edustaff will provide substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, recess aides, nurses, and secretaries to DeForest schools. We are looking for passionate subs who enjoy working with youth and want to give back to their community. Anyone interested in becoming a substitute in DeForest Area School District can apply online at Edustaff.org.
For more information regarding becoming a substitute with Edustaff, please email Riley Huebsch at rhuebsch@edustaff.org, visit www.edustaff.org, or give us a call at 877-974-6338.
DATES
LINKS
Por favor, contáctame si tiene alguna pregunta sobre esta información. Puede comunicarse en español al tel 1-833-611-1664.
Thov hu rau kuv yog koj muaj lus nug. Hu 1-833-611-1664 tuaj tiv tauj kuv rau lwm hom lus.
Please contact me if you have any questions. Call 1-833-611-1664 to contact me in another language.