Rocket Roundup

There will be an optional all-staff meeting on Thursday, September 26 at 4 p.m. to provide an update on the 2025 health insurance proposal that will be presented to the Board of Education at its Oct. 1 meeting. The meeting will be held via Google Meet at the link below. The meeting will be recorded and sent out the following day as well. The meeting may be accessed at this link at the time of the meeting: https://meet.google.com/rfx-otgr-xxs

Please take a moment to review the Professional Learning Day Schedule for September 27. The day will focus on site-specific initiatives, medical training, and grade-level and department collaboration.

Construction will take place on a new parking lot at Neenah High School from September 23-27, resulting in a partial closure of Rocket Way. The new lot is positioned on the far south side of the property, just west of the softball field. Access from Larsen Road will be limited due to construction traffic. Staff, students and visitors are encouraged to access the school from Winchester Road.

Rocket Way will be closed to southbound traffic just past Lot 2 in front of the school (near the practice football field) to the three-way stop intersection near the soccer field. Please plan accordingly for these traffic changes that begin Monday.

When submitting forms ensure that you are using the most up-to-date form. All forms have been updated on the district website. Outdated forms will be returned and will delay your reimbursement or request.

When filling out reimbursement forms be aware of the following:

• The person requesting reimbursement needs to fill out and sign the form.

• Itemized receipts are required.

• Tax will not be reimbursed. Use the district's tax exempt form for all purchases.

• Reimbursements are processed on the 15th and last day of the month.

Conference and Workshop Attendance

• At least three weeks prior to attending a conference or workshop, a “Request to Attend Meetings, Workshops, or Conferences” form needs to be completed in order for any expenses to be reimbursed.

• After attendance a “Request for Reimbursement” form should be submitted for any expenses incurred

• Refer to the Travel-Related Expenses Guidelines posted on the district website

• Per diems for meals have been updated.

Meals will be reimbursed, only as part of an overnight stay, at a rate in accordance with district practices, not to exceed $50 per day with allowance for separate meals as follows:

• Breakfast $10.00 Allowable when departing prior to 6:00 a.m.
• Lunch $15.00 Allowable when departing prior to 10:30 a.m. and returning after 2:30 p.m.
• Dinner $25.00 Allowable when departing prior to 4:30 p.m. and returning after 7:00 p.m.

All meal allowance may include a tip, not to exceed twenty percent (20%). If meals are included in the conference registration fee or free with stay, the $50/day allowance is reduced by the designated meal allowance amount. All receipts must be itemized; no exceptions. Anything exceeding this amount would be the responsibility of the employee. This includes meals purchased with a district credit card.

Independent Contractors

If you are employing the service of an individual that is not paid as a NJSD employee for that service (accompanists, non-district instructors, pit instrumentalists, solo/ensemble judges, choreographers, debate/forensics judges, consultants, etc.) please note the following:

• All individuals need to have the following before providing services to the district:

• Independent Provider Agreement or contract on file with the district

• W9

• ACH information

• Completed background check

• All hours that they are billing to the district need to be documented for payment. That tracking document needs to be signed by whomever has contracted with them to provide the service.

• To be reimbursed for their hours they need to fill out an Independent Provider Payment Request Form and attach their time tracking document.

Neenah High School’s Rocket Players will perform five shows of its fall musical, Guys and Dolls, from October 16-20 at the high school Performing Arts Center. Shows are at 7 p.m. each night with a matinee on Sunday, October 20 at 2 p.m.

The opening night on Wednesday, October 16 will feature the annual Senior Citizens Dinner Theatre. Tickets for the dinner theatre are $10 and include dinner with a performance from the Touch of Class orchestra at 5:30 p.m. followed by the show at 7 p.m. Dinner theatre tickets must be purchased in person at the high school office during school hours from Monday, September 23 until Monday, October 7 (or until sold out).

Tickets for all shows will be sold online at rocketplayers.com beginning on Monday, September 23. Reserved seat tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and students (online fee applies).

Staff members are admitted free by showing their staff ID on the night of the show. However, staff who wish to assure themselves of a ticket and a reserved seat will need to purchase tickets in advance.

The Neenah Joint School District at-risk plan was approved by the Board of Education at its September 17 meeting.

The plan is an annual review of how the school district will address the needs of students who are not on track to graduate high school. The approved plan may be viewed by clicking here.

Click here for the full meeting recap

You can expect an email from Adobe Express with a subject of "Get started with Adobe Express for K-12". This is an expected email. We are issuing this tool to our staff for use in Magic School AI. Adobe Express is the "engine" behind their Image Generator tool.

Here is an AI picture Rocco Marchionda created for all of you of some happy pets and a guitar. Have a great week, everyone!

By Prevea Nurse Practitioner Sarah Bleier, APNP, FNP-C

Let’s talk about a common occurrence for children and adolescents. Syncope is the medical term for fainting, and refers to a “sudden, brief loss of consciousness associated with loss of postural tone from which recovery is spontaneous.” This means that fainting comes on quickly, the patient loses muscle tone, and the patient recovers (regains consciousness) without specific medical intervention. Fainting can be a scary thing, but the important thing to remember is that in most cases, the child or adolescent is going to recover without incident. Click here to read more

Applications for PBnJs Mental Health Fund grants are due by October 9.

The Patrick Began Neenah Joint School District (PBnJs) Mental Health Fund has received over 200 applications and approved over $110,000 worth of grants since 2017. The PBnJs grant has supported SEL programs, presenters, fidgets, registration fees for mental health related training, safe space supplies, and too many other ideas to mention. If you feel you need something for your students or colleagues related to mental health, please apply!

If you or a colleague has an idea to address the mental health needs here at NJSD, fill out a PBnJs Application. It is a brief application process. All you need to do is know how your grant request would benefit our students or staff socially, emotionally, or behaviorally and how much it costs.

Just note that the PBnJs grant is for mental health needs. If your request is for something within the budget of your school, through Special Ed monies, or from your department and is only marginally related to mental health, we will not be able to approve the grant. Also, note that any requests for furniture, such as chairs, will need to be approved by Facilities, so please check with Angela Zanto in the facilities office before applying.

We have had grants supported that are over $10,000 and we have had grants supported for less than $100. If you are unsure if your grant fits the criteria, feel free to contact Dr. Mike at maltekruse@neenah.k12.wi.us. If you are interested in giving to the PBnJs fund, you may do so through the Oshkosh Community Foundation by clicking on the link here.

Thank you for all you do!!!

Neenah Middle School will host a Trick or Treat Community Event on Sunday, October 20 from 2-4 p.m. to gather to celebrate Halloween in a fun and engaging way for our students and families.

We invite you to participate by either hosting a table for your club or sports team, where you can provide an activity, a mini craft, or delicious treats for "trick or treaters." This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your group's talents and connect with families in a festive atmosphere. Please fill out this form to secure your table.

Alternatively, we encourage you to bring your children in their costumes to visit the different booths and enjoy the various activities we’ll have set up throughout the event.

Contact Hannah Brown at NMS if you have any questions about signing up to host a table. Thank you for your support in making this event a memorable experience for our community!

The Educational Foundation of Neenah (EFN) is now accepting grant requests for new and innovative programming for NJSD classrooms. Grant requests should use the EFN Grant Request Form and may be sent directly to Dan Goggin at gogginlaw@msn.com by October 4.

The newly-formed Neenah Dance team has apparel for sale through an online store. Click here to browse and order dance team apparel.

Happy Birthday to one of NJSD's biggest supporters over the past century as Arline Dabill turns 100 years old today. Students at Alliance Charter School returned to their former Doty Island neighborhood to sing Happy Birthday and present birthday cards to Arline, who has lived across from the Roosevelt/Alliance School site since 1960.

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

Thursday, September 19

Girls Tennis - Home vs. Appleton West, 4 p.m. (NHS Courts)

Girls Volleyball - Home vs. Appleton East, 7 p.m. (NHS Competition Gym)
Boys Soccer - Home vs. Kaukauna, 7 p.m. (NHS Soccer Field)

Friday, September 20
Girls Tennis - Home, Neenah Invite, 1 p.m.
Football - Home vs. Oshkosh West, 7 p.m.

Saturday, September 21

Girls Tennis - Home, Neenah Invite, 9 a.m.

Monday, September 23
Girls Golf - Home vs. Appleton West, 3:30 p.m. (Ridgeway C.C.)

Tuesday, September 24
Girls Golf - Home vs. Kimberly, 3:30 p.m. (Ridgeway C.C.)