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Halmstad Hawk Happenings
May 2024
Message from the Principal
May
Hello Halmstad Families,
I can't believe we have already come to May. We have summer in our sights and it can be easy to tune out this last month. I know the staff here want to finish the year out strong as there is still Fastbridge Testing and end of the year projects to complete. I want to thank the students who are working so hard to stay focused these last few weeks. I know it can be a challenge!
May is jam packed with field trips, all-school celebrations, Teacher Appreciation Week, reward ceremonies, talent shows, the end of the year picnic, and those bitter sweet times when we say goodbye to our 5th graders and those teachers who are moving onto other placements and retiring. There is a lot to keep track of this month! Please continue to read emails and go on Classdojo to keep informed of all of these events.
I want to say thank you to all of the families who send their children to our school. My first year in the role of principal was a full one and I appreciate the help that students, staff (especially Mrs. Olson) and you have given me this year. When I was teaching I always spoke to my students about how important is is to keep learning throughout life, and I certainly learned a lot this year! Thanks for the opportunity. I'm excited to continue with this new knowledge and keep improving next year.
Finally I would like to give a shout out to two wonderful people who helped make Halmstad great this year, but are moving on for different circumstances. Ms. Hubbard will continue to teach in Chippewa Falls, but will be a member of the Southview team next year. Thank you to Ms. Hubbard for the wonderful teaching you did this year. I'm glad you got to start your career at Halmstad. You will be one of the greats. And speaking of one of the greats, we sadly say goodbye to Mrs. Julie Dahlke. As one student put it, "Mrs. Dahlke just has a way of making things easier. How she explains things makes me understand them better." That's what teaching is all about and she has been doing it for 31 years! Take a moment to pause and think of all of the students Mrs. Dahlke has taught over the years! Enjoy your retirement Mrs. Dahlke. You will be missed. Once a Hawk, always a Hawk!
Title I School-Wide Family Engagement Survey
We are looking for your feedback to help plan for Title 1 family engagement for the 2024-25 school year. Please complete the survey link by Friday, May 10th. One survey is needed per child. Thank you for your help!
Important information regarding the last day of school for Elementary Schools.
We hope this message finds you well. We wanted to inform you of a change in the last day of school for elementary students. The new last day will be on May 29, 2024, instead of the previously scheduled May 30, 2024. Please note that this change is only for our K-5 students. 4K, MS, and HS students will still have school on May 30th.
This adjustment is necessary to provide teachers with dedicated time to begin training as mandated by the state under Act 20 for all public schools. Act 20 initiates a statewide adherence to science-based early literacy instruction to address low reading proficiency across the state.
Your partnership and support in allowing this time for our educators to focus on enhancing their skills in the area of literacy are highly appreciated. We know that the benefits of this training will contribute positively to the learning experience of our students.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.
Dates to Remember
May 21- 5th Grade Track and Field Meet
May 27- Memorial Day, No School
May 29- will be the last day for Elementary Students
Kindergarten Registration
The public elementary schools in Chippewa Falls are beginning to plan for kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year.
Students who presently attend one of the Chippewa Falls School District’s 4-year-old Kindergarten programs do not need to re-enroll. Students are automatically enrolled in Kindergarten. More information will be provided from your child’s elementary school about Kindergarten registration and how to update information into Infinite Campus.
Children who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2024, and who will be entering Kindergarten in the Chippewa Falls School District for the 2024-2025 school year, and are not enrolled in the Chippewa Falls 4-year old Kindergarten program, need to enroll. Those students who attended a 4K program in the 2022-23 school year, but were not in school this past year will need to enroll as well.
To enroll your child, please visit the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District website. If you do not have internet access, please contact Tami at (715) 720-1850 or visit the Administration Office located at 1130 Miles Street, Chippewa Falls, WI. You may also visit your child’s elementary school for assistance in registering.
Collect those Pop Tabs
Halmstad is always collecting pop tabs for The Ronald McDonald Houses. We typically deliver them once a year to our local McDonalds. There is a collection can in the entryway at Halmstad but most students simply turn their baggies of pop can tabs into their classroom teachers.
Mentor Chippewa is a local non-profit, founded right here in Chippewa Falls, 35 years ago! We work closely with local school systems to bring our school-based mentoring programs to their students and offer the opportunity for adults to connect with youth in a safe setting.
We value all kids, right where they are, while recognizing that school can be tough, and mentors can help tough days go better! Everyone can benefit from having a caring adult in their lives to help them realize that when days go better, years go better.
If your student could benefit from a mentoring relationship, please contact us and we will make the connection between the student, the school, and one of our amazing volunteer mentors.
Thank you!
From the Health Office
Dear Parents/Guardians,
If your child takes a daily medication at school, please send
only enough doses to get your child through the day on
May 29th, 2024. Any extra medication will need to be picked
up on or before the last day of school by a parent or it will be
disposed of.
If your child has an emergency medication at school (ex. EpiPen, Diazepam),
arrangements will need to be made for pick up. Reminders to get them will be sent
home before the end of the year. Inhalers will be sent home in your child’s
backpack if they are not picked up before the last day of school.
If your child has any medication at school that is not taken on a regular basis,
(ex. Tylenol, Ibuprofen, cough drops, cough syrup), please make arrangements to
pick up this medication before the end of the school year. Any medication left
in the health office at the end of the last day of school will be disposed of.
Wisconsin Immunization Requirements for the
2024-2025 School Year
FOR INCOMING KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS:
Wisconsin state law requires students to be immunized within 30 days from the start
of school. Below are Wisconsin immunization requirements:
● 4 doses of DTaP, DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis/whooping cough) or
DT(diphtheria, tetanus) vaccine. A dose may be needed for children entering
kindergarten if one of the DTaP doses was not given after the fourth birthday.
● 4 doses of polio vaccine
● 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine - at least one dose must be after 6 months old
● 2 doses of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine
● 2 doses of Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine
ATTENTION SOON TO BE 7
TH GRADERS: The Wisconsin Student
Immunization law requires a Tdap, the adolescent combination vaccine that
protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). Please get
these immunizations updated during the summer and turn in your immunization
record to the health office at the Middle School. Immunizations must be completed
within 30 days of the start of school.
Important Information Regarding Drop Off in the Morning
I’d like to take a moment to speak plainly about our drop off situation in the morning. There have been some near accidents and upset drivers. I tried to get the buses to drop off where you currently do and was informed by the bus company and the district that the buses need to use the area in front of the school. We are going to have to continue with our current drop off system. This area is school property and is where all drop offs should take place unless you’re late. Below are some tips to make drop off improve.
Use your turn signal to enter the dropoff area. This lets the vehicles that are already parked know that you’re entering.
Whenever possible have your child sit on the passenger side of the vehicle. That way your child never has to walk behind or on the side of your vehicle where traffic is moving.
Use your turn signal to exit the dropoff area. It lets the vehicles behind you know you need the space to leave and lets them know more space is opening.
Have your child’s clothing and backpack ready. Coats, hats, mittens, even shoes can be on and ready to make the line faster and keep the traffic moving.
Pull down further. If your child isn’t ready or you plan on walking your child to the playground, we ask that you pull down toward the end of the drop off area. This allows more cars to pull in and is only a few more steps for you.
If you do pull down further, have your child use the second gate door by the two orange cones. Again it is a little farther away from the school, but still opens directly to the playground. There is less traffic there, making it easier for you to leave. I will make sure the gate is open for you.
Set your alarm for five minutes earlier. When we are in a rush we make mistakes or get more irritable. This can lead to accidents.
If you're going to be late, you can drop off at the front door after 7:40. This way Heidi can see your child and make sure they are checked in properly.
End of the Day Pick-Up
PLEASE remember to call ahead (by 2:00 p.m.) if you have a transportation change for the day. For the safety of your child, unless it's an emergency, we ask that you do not make changes after 2: p.m.
Remember to contact Chippewa Yellow Bus more than 24 hours in advance at 715-726-2454 if you have any bus changes or requests. The school can't authorize bus changes.
ALL changes need to be called in to the Main Office and not to the teacher in case there is a sub in the room that day. That number is 715-726-2415.
Recess Dress Protocol
Temperatures 50 degrees or higher
- No jacket required
If the temperatures are close, send your students outside with their long sleeves and pants; if the temperature rises to 50 degrees, the students can put their items in the classroom line just like they do with their backpacks in the mornings.
Temps 32 - 50 degrees
- Outerwear required (Outerwear is defined aS a hoodie, sweatshirt, 1/4 zip, fleece, windbreaker, jacket, etc) Just cannot be the student's base layer. Students should also be wearing pants.
Students may wear shorts in the building during the colder months. They should put pants on when they go to recess if temperatures are below 50 degrees
Temps below 32 degrees
- Winter jacket required
If snow is on the ground students are to wear snow pants and boots at all times in order to play in areas other than the blacktop. If students do not wear snow pants and boots with snow on the ground they will be required to stay on the blacktop.
Temps below -6 degrees
- Indoor recess
Amazing Hawk Award
The Amazing Hawk Awards are given to students who are safe, respectful and responsible! Each week staff nominates students to receive the award. Let's keep encouraging the great effort and behavior our students are showing here each week!
Latex Allergy
We have a latex allergy at Halmstad. Please do not send latex balloons to school for birthdays, etc. Thank you for your consideration.
Cardinal Learning Center
To find out what activities are available for your child, please visit our Cardinal Community Learning Center website by going to the link included here. If you are connected to an organization not listed, please contact Ann Zenner at zennerak@chipfalls.org to get information included.
On Site Chiropractic Care
Wrapping up the school year can cause extra stress. Neck pain, muscle tightness, headaches and fatigue are all symptoms of stress, even in children. Chiropractic adjustments help the spine release the tension held in muscles, which relaxes the body, reducing stress.
Contact us at onsitechiroinfo@gmail.com if you’d like us to help your child wrap up the school year with chiropractic care.
Did you know that we offer care to students during the summer months as well? Our team of doctors have specific hours over the summer to continue care for all our school chiropractic students. Let us know if you have any questions by emailing or call 715-382-6864.
PTO Update
Your participation in the organization is welcome and encouraged! There are opportunities for everyone - small roles and bigger roles. PTO members and its officers meet every third Thursday each month during the school year.
PTO President - Casey Levrich halmstadptopresident@gmail.com
PTO Vice President - Alicia Bowe halmstadptovicepres@gmail.com
PTO Secretary - Liz Tice halmstadptosecretary@gmail.com
PTO Co-Treasurer - Kyrah Klika and Jerrica Richel halmstadptotreasurer@gmail.com
Social Media Coordinator - Jerrica Richel
Fundraising Coordinator - Amber Vetch
Events Coordinator - Jamie Chavez
Halmstad Elementary
Email: lowerj@chipfalls.org
Website: https://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/halmstad/
Location: 565 East South Avenue, Chippewa Falls, WI, USA
Phone: (715)726-2415
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chippewafallsschool/
Twitter: @ChippewaFallsSD