![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/u/backgrounds/custom_bg-661d6237affc730223dceba5-e33549da6356.jpg)
School District of Howards Grove
Parent & Guardian Newsletter April 2024
Update from the Superintendent
Greetings Parents & Guardians-
We are officially under construction in the School District of Howards Grove and the team has moved a ton of dirt! I am excited to report the construction team will begin digging the foundation the week of April 29th.
I attended a contractor meeting earlier this week with our general contractor, CD Smith. They reviewed all of the expectations with the other contractors to make sure everyone is on the same page. Since our site is an active school zone and students are nearby, here are some of the things that might be worth knowing:
- All onsite contractors will complete a background check prior to being able to work on site.
- Our school and construction sites are tobacco free zones, so no contractors will be smoking or vaping on site or in the parking lots and will be expected to leave the premises if a smoke break is granted.
- Contractors are expected to wear safety vests, hard hats, and safety glasses once the construction is underway.
- All language used on site should be school appropriate.
- For contractors that listen to music while working, it must be appropriate and at a reasonable volume.
- All construction traffic should enter off hwy 42 to Audubon Road. An access road is being established to allow deliveries to be made on the construction site without going through the subdivision.
- We hold bi-weekly meetings with the general construction team and architects to ensure we stay on budget and adhere to the timeline of opening the new school in the fall of 2025-2026.
This is a very exciting time in the district. Please stay tuned for additional updates. The photos posted below were taken this week.
Have a great day!
Sincerely,
Shannon Kilton
Superintendent
Welcome New Board Members
On Monday, April 22nd, our two new Board Members officially take office. Please welcome Courtney Athorp and Brandon Suemnicht to the School Board. Their first official meeting will be on May 20th. To ensure a smooth transition, I will be meeting with each of them to work through an onboarding process, which will include an in depth discussion on school finance and our district budget.
At the May meeting, the Board will hold a reorganization meeting, which will determine the new officers of the Board moving forward.
Thank you for your service!
We would like to thank Dave Loomis and Janina Siemers for their years of service to the School District of Howards Grove. Their commitment to the district does not go unnoticed.
School News
Summer School Update
The following courses are still available to sign up in the first session of summer school:
Creative Sewing- Grades 5-12, 8-9 AM
Bowling/WiiFit/Fun & Games- Grades 5-12, 7:25-10 AM
Games Your Parents Thought Were Cool- Grades 5-8, 8-9 AM
4th Grade Families- please also consider signing up your student for Gearing Up for 5th Grade! Dates are: August 12-15, 8-11 AM
Please see the district website for course descriptions. You may sign up online for Gearing Up for 5th Grade!
For all other courses please contact: Angie Houston, (920) 565-4452.
PTO News
Thank You!
- Family Food Night: Thank you to everyone who joined us at the April Family Food Night at Log Cabin! Funds raised through this monthly event are used to support our amazing students and teachers at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
- Wisconsin Herd Family Night: On Friday, March 15, dozens of families joined us for Family Night with the Wisconsin Herd. Approximately $185 was raised in support of our students and teachers. It was a fun time for a great cause – a true slam dunk!
Save the Date
- Tuesday, April 23, 2024: Family Food Night at Jersey Mike’s - Grab some friends and experience what it means to be “A Sub Above”! Last October, we raised a staggering $1,500 through our Jersey Mike’s Family Food Night…let’s see if we can beat that number this month!
- May 6 – 10, 2024: Teacher Appreciation Week! Help us come together and show our gratitude to the incredible teachers who make such a positive difference in our children’s lives. We invite you to join us in celebrating by getting involved in various activities and taking advantage of some opportunities to give back throughout the week. Your contributions, big or small, will make a meaningful difference. Keep an eye out for more details on the PTO Facebook page and from Skyward Blasts!
- May 6, 2024: Stop by our next Family Food Night at Log Cabin, where 10% of all sales will be donated back to the PTO for ongoing student programming. Join us for great food and another easy night of meal prep!
- Monday, May 13, 2024: Join us for our monthly PTO Meeting at 5:00pm in the Northview Library. Everyone is welcome! Free babysitting is provided if requested within 72 hours of the meeting. Please contact hgpto@yahoo.com for more information.
- Friday, May 17: Spring Carnival: On Friday, May 17, the PTO will be hosting its annual Spring Carnival with the kitchen opening at 5:00pm for an easy and affordable night of dinner for the whole family. The Carnival will be open from 5:00-8:00pm and will have activities for the entire family, including a 50/50 Raffle, Silent Auction, Dunk Tank, Face Painting, Balloon Animals, Carnival Games, Bake Sale, and a chance to win a highly coveted classroom basket! All district families are welcome to attend! Check out our Facebook page often for updates and more detailed event information.
Get Involved!
· Buy Your Tickets Early! Stop by Piggly Wiggly the week of May 13 to purchase a 50/50 Raffle Ticket as well as a ticket for our highly coveted classroom baskets! This is a great way to support your local PTO as we work to give back to our wonderful students and teachers.
· Silent Auction: The PTO is looking for silent auction items for the upcoming Spring Carnival. If you or a local business you are affiliated with would like to provide a silent auction item, please sign up by clicking here. Items must be received no later than May 10. Questions regarding the Silent Auction? Email Sara Dassow, PTO President, at saradassow@gmail.com.
· Howie's Tent: Not only will you have an opportunity to get a tiger tattoo to show your school spirit, you can also pick up some Tiger Apparel. All apparel will be available for a free-will offering. If you have Tiger Apparel hanging out in your closet that you no longer wear, please drop off your donation at any of our three schools. A collection bin is available in all three school offices until Monday, May 13.
· Volunteer! Take advantage of the opportunity to give back and support your school community by serving as a volunteer. There are a variety of ways to get involved, including assisting with advanced ticket sales, setup, admissions, food and beverage sales, and clean-up, in addition to helping ensure a successful silent action, raffle, and bake sale. Click here to sign up today!
Get Active in PTO – Open Officer Positions
We are seeking interest in Executive Officer positions for the next fiscal year (starting July 1, 2024 and ending June 30th, 2025). Each position requires a one-year term commitment (with the exception of Treasurer, which serves a two-year term) with the opportunity to serve an additional term, if interested. Executive Officers will be elected by the members of the PTO at the last regular meeting of the year (June 10th, 2024). Candidacy is available to anyone employed by, residing within or with children enrolled in the Howards Grove School District. For more information on roles and responsibilities, please reach out to hgpto@yahoo.com. If you have an interest in a position, please submit your interest form no later than Friday, May 10th, 2024 by clicking here.
Learn More About the PTO!
- Email: Reach out to Sara Dassow, PTO President, at hgpto@yahoo.com for any questions you may have.
- Facebook: Follow us on Facebook (Howards Grove PTO) for all of the latest information!
A Message from the Student & Family Assistance Program
Research shows that good sleep is vital for maintaining our health and wellbeing. In fact, insufficient sleep can impact brain development in children. Despite this, children of all ages are not getting the sleep they need.
Dr. Ze Wang from the University of Maryland used data collected by NIH’s ongoing Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study and found that children who got insufficient sleep – less than 9 hours a night – over a 2-year period showed differences in brain structure and function. The children studied developed more mental health and behavioral health challenges, including impulsivity, stress, depression, anxiety, aggressive behavior and thinking problems. They also had impaired cognitive functions such as decision making, conflict solving, memory and learning. These changes persisted over time.
How much sleep does my child need?
CDC: Are You Getting Enough Sleep? (cdc.gov)
Tips for Better Sleep:
• Keep bedtime and wake time consistent.
• Develop bedtime rituals (snuggle time, reading books or saying nightly prayers).
• Avoid late or long naps.
• Keep bedrooms dark, cool, and quiet.
• Remove phone and computer screens one hour before bedtime.
• Avoid large meals, snacks, or caffeine before bed.
• Avoid rigorous exercise before bed but encourage exercise and physical activity during the day.
• Model good sleep routines.
Making changes in sleep routines, especially for older children can be challenging. Engaging the whole family in the changes you make can set you up for success. Prioritize good sleep as important for health and start with some small goals. Small steps can lead to big changes over time.
To access SFAP services, contact Aurora SFAP at 800.236.3231 or visit us online at aurora.org/sfap
The School District of Howards Grove does not discriminate in the employment of staff on the basis of any characteristic protected under State or Federal law including, but not limited to, race, color, age, sex, creed or religion, handicap or disability, marital status, genetic information, citizenship status, veteran status, military service (as defined in 111.32, Wis. Stats.), sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, arrest record, conviction record, use or non-use of lawful products off the District’s premises during non-working hours, or any other characteristic protected by law in its employment practices. (Board Policy 4122)