Happy greetings! Do we have a few more snowflakes ahead of us? Or, is spring really just around the corner? It is hard to believe that the second semester is in full swing, and I continue to be impressed by those who are digging in, doing the hard work and rising to the occasion.

As we say hello to February and goodbye to January, we welcome some wonderful opportunities that are happening at the end of this month and next. Our annual Wisconsin Chili Lunch is on Thursday, February 27. FFA Week is celebrated the week of February 17, and middle school production of The Sound of Music is February 14-16. Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for Thursday, March 6 and Friday, March 7. In addition, the ACT is scheduled for March 26, and as a reminder, there will be no school for 9th, 10th and 12th graders that day.

As we look to March, please note that month will also represent a time of learning for our teaching staff. We will make a decision on our new 9-12 social studies curriculum, continue to build on our new mathematics program and start reviewing K-5 science curricula. Also, state testing will begin in March with the window for the Wisconsin Forward Exam and PreACT Secure starting on Monday, March 17.

Finally, here are some additional upcoming dates to keep in mind:

• February 10: No school
• March 7: No school
• March 10-14: Spring break
• March 24: No school

As always, we welcome your participation, comments, and feedback. For more up-to-date information about the latest events, celebrations, and news, please check out our website and district Facebook page.

Best,

Liz Calnin

We appreciate the feedback, thoughts and comments shared on the calendar survey.

Our summer school programming weeks have been set. Summer school 2025, upon Board approval, will run Monday through Thursday from 8:00am to 1:00pm starting on June 9 through June 26 and July 7 through July 24. There is more information coming but wanted to share the dates with families as summer planning gets underway.

Similar to most school districts in the state of Wisconsin, we need additional substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians and more! I encourage individuals who have interest in becoming a substitute to reach out to the District office or school office to learn more about the process and the requirements.

The open enrollment application period for the 2025-26 school year is February 3, 2025 - April 30, 2025 at 4:00pm. The best way to apply is online (a link to the online application will be available on the DPI website during the application period). Any Wisconsin resident in 4K to grade 12 may apply to attend a nonresident school district under the open enrollment program. However, a child may transfer to a nonresident school district for early childhood education or 4K only if the child’s resident school district offers the same type of program and only if the child is eligible for that program in the resident school district.

February 3 - April 30: Parents must submit applications online (recommended) or directly to the nonresident district.

June 6: Nonresident school districts must send notices of approval or denial via US mail or email. If the application is approved, the school district must notify the parents of the specific school or program to which the pupil assigned. If the application is denied, parents have 30 days to file an appeal.

June 13: Resident districts must notify applicants if the application is denied. If the application is denied, parents have 30 days to file an appeal.

June 27: Parents of accepted applicants must notify the nonresident district if the student will attend the nonresident school district in the 24-25 school year.

For more information about open enrollment, call Ms. Smith at the District Office at 608-297-7617.

February 10: No School (Professional learning day)

March 6-7: Parent Teacher Conferences

March 7: No School

March 10-14: Spring Break

March 24: No School (Professional learning day)

The district school year calendar, as well as individual building events and athletic events can all be found on our district website. Go to www.montelloschools.org and navigate to the top right corner and click on the calendar icon. From here, you can view the school year calendar and others.

February: February 10

March: March 10

Any parents/relatives of MSD students who wish to chaperone field trips, attend class parties or volunteer on site must complete and pass a background check. For more information, please call the District office at 297-7617.

Online registration for next year will open on Monday, March 17, 2025. Stay tuned for more updates as the date draws closer.

As we embrace the chilly season, it's crucial to keep our students warm and safe during their daily commute to school. With temperatures dropping, we kindly remind all parents and guardians to make sure your student is well-prepared to face the cold. Here's a checklist of essential items to consider:

• Hat: A warm hat is essential to protect against cold winds and frosty mornings.
• Gloves: Keep those little hands toasty with a good pair of gloves.
• Boots: Sturdy, waterproof boots will keep their feet dry and warm in the snow.
• Snowpants: For added insulation and protection during snowy playtime.
• Coat: A heavy, insulated coat is a must to shield against the winter chill.

If you find that you need assistance in acquiring cold-weather gear for your child, don't hesitate to reach out to your student's school. We're here to support you and ensure every child has a comfortable and safe winter experience. Stay warm and enjoy the season!

February is Career and Technical Education Month! The Montello School District will be celebrating the month in classrooms and through social media. Please watch for resources and stories that celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs in our learning communities.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs prepare individuals for a wide range of careers that reflect the contemporary workplace by focusing on the key areas of:

• Academic & Technical Skills
• Leadership and 21st Century Skills through Career and Technical Student Organizations
• Work-Based Learning

It is through this comprehensive approach, students in CTE build an abundant portfolio of knowledge and skills to achieve their personal, educational, and career goals. CTE is split into 16 career clusters that apply to different high-demand careers including: Health science, business, finance, agriculture, and manufacturing.

The state of Wisconsin requires all students to be evaluated using state or nationally normed assessments. The assessments will be given this spring. The following provides some information about these assessments. More information will be sent home as the time for the assessments draws near.

The Wisconsin Forward Exam was developed to assess English language arts and mathematics skills for students in grades 3-8, science knowledge and skills for students in grades 4 and 8 and social studies knowledge and skills for students in grades 4, 8 and 10 The testing window for all students in Wisconsin to be evaluated using the Wisconsin Forward Exam is March 17 through April 25. We will establish an assessment schedule for students based on several factors, such as optimal testing times of the day, comfortable settings for testing, adequate breaks between assessments, minimal impact on instruction, and individual student needs. Once the schedule is set, we will send information home, so that you can help prepare your child to do their best.

The PreACT Secure replaces the former ACT Aspire assessment and is given to ninth and tenth grade students to assess their knowledge and skills in the areas of English, reading, math, science, and writing. A student’s performance on this assessment will help predict how they will perform on the ACT when the student reaches 11th grade. These early high school assessments will help identify students who need extra help to learn skills they will need for the ACT and, more importantly, for career and college experiences after graduating. The PreACT Secure test will be given to MSD Freshmen and Sophomores on April 8.

The ACT Plus Writing exam is given to all eleventh grade students in Wisconsin to assess reading, math, English, science, and writing. The ACT can be used by students for a variety of purposes including college admission, scholarships, course placement, and more. The online ACT Plus Writing will be given to MSD Juniors on March 26.

As soon as we confirm additional dates and times for assessments we will let you know, so that you may plan appointments, events, etc. around those days. It is very important that students are in attendance on the days of assessment so that they do not need to miss other days for make-up testing. Please reach out with any questions you may have.

This month, we have two classrooms piloting various resources for US History and Psychology: TCI, Savvas, Pearson and MHE. If you would like to learn more about our potential new resource for our social studies courses, we encourage you to call and ask questions. Stay tuned as more details are shared in the future.

Please visit www.montelloschools.org or more information or contact Bernie VanRossum, Montello Athletic Director, bvanrossum@montelloschools.org or 608-297-7617.

Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball and Boys Wrestling- we wish you all the best of luck in the second half of your season and into the post-season!

Season athletic passes for students & adults may be purchased at the High School office. Investing in a pass is both convenient and economical for those sports fans who regularly attend high school games. Passes are only valid for the name listed on the pass. For more information, contact Bernie VanRossum, ext. 281

We want to provide accurate sports information, but many times there are last minute cancellations or rescheduled games. You can now access and print all up-to-date high school athletic schedules through our school website at www.montelloschools.org.

Our breakfast and lunch menus are posted to our website, school newsletters and Facebook. You can also request a hard copy to be sent home.

Winter is here and so is RSV, Influenza, Covid-19, and along with many other winter-related illnesses. It is strongly encouraged to test when having symptoms to rule out which illness your child has and see if there are any treatments available.

Please encourage all family members to take these actions to fight the spread of our winter illnesses both at school/daycare and at home:

• Wash your hands. Encourage everyone to wash their hands with warm, soapy water after toileting and after any coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose. Hand sanitizer can be used if hand-washing is not readily available.
• Encourage everyone to cover their cough with a tissue or cough into their elbow and, of course, wash their hands.
• Stay home if ill to reduce the spread.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces at home.

Children with suspected disabilities can be referred for a comprehensive evaluation by contacting the school psychologist, Ms. Mikayla Mlsna. For more information, please contact your child's building principal and/or school psychologist by calling 608-297-7617. Additional written information is available upon request.

If you or a family member are looking for help with mental health or substance use, Care Solace can help you quickly find treatment options matched to your needs regardless of the circumstance. Care Solace is a complementary and confidential service provided to students, staff, and their families by Montello School District. Care Solace's team is available 24/7/365 and can support you in your language. If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a provider:

• Call 1 888-515-0595 available 24/7/365
• Visit www.caresolace.com/montello and either search on your own OR click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.

The next meeting will be Monday, February 3, at 6:00 PM. Join us in the IMC if possible.

Website: www.montelloschools.org
Location: 222 Forest Lane, Montello, WI, USA
Phone: 608-297-7617