Blue Devil Bulletin

Email: jelinjo@lodischoolswi.org
Website: https://high.lodi.k12.wi.us/
Location: 1100 Sauk Street, Lodi, WI, USA
Phone: 608-592-3853
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LodiSchoolsWI/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lodischoolswi/?hl=en

Hello, Lodi High School Families!

I am extremely excited to begin my 21st year as an educator in the School District of Lodi. Over the years, I've had the privilege of teaching, coaching, advising, parenting, and now serving as your high school principal. For my family and me, this journey has been incredibly fulfilling, largely due to the countless positive relationships we've built and the endless opportunities that both the high school and the district have provided. I hope your experience at Lodi High School has been, and will continue to be, equally rewarding.

I’d like to extend a warm welcome to the Class of 2028 and their families as they join LHS! For those of you with a first-time high schooler, the road to graduation over the next four years may sometimes feel daunting and overwhelming. But remember, this journey is not one they have to take alone. The strong partnership between LHS staff and our families is designed to help your 9th grader navigate high school with the confidence needed for both academic and social success.

I look forward to being a meaningful part of your child’s experience at our school. Together, I am confident that our shared vision of success will lead to an incredible journey for them.

Thank you for your continued support, and Go Blue Devils!!

Mr. Jelinek

September Calendar

Parents of our incoming 9th graders are invited to attend our 9th Grade Parent Orientation Night. The evening will begin in the Performing Arts Center with brief introductions, followed by an opportunity to walk through your student’s schedule. This event is an excellent chance to learn about the day-to-day life of an LHS student. Below are some of the key topics that will be covered:

• Your Student’s Schedule
• Individual Class Expectations
• Attendance
• Co-curricular Opportunities and Sportsmanship
• Intervention and Advisory
• Grading at LHS
• Commons and Lunch Expectations
• Phone and Electronics Policy
• High School Communication

Agenda for the night

At Lodi High School we use a transition program called Link Crew which utilizes the expertise and compassion of our amazing juniors and seniors to mentor our incoming freshmen as they take the big leap into high school. Freshman Orientation will be facilitated almost entirely by LHS’s Link Crew Leaders. Our featured photo is of our two Link Crew advisors, Ms. Ashbeck and Mr. Radloff.

• Our goal is to support students and connect them with upper class students

• Morning will consist of link crew activities

• Facilitated by 2 high school staff. Led by student leaders

• Build connections

• Learn about LHS

• Tour the building

• Afternoon looks at prepping for September 2nd and beyond

• Opportunity to run through schedule

• Opportunity to meet teachers

• Run through building processes like snack and lunch

• Learn about LHS expectations

• Feel comfortable for the first day, and have connections if you have questions

• Our goal: We wan’t all students to feel welcome, supported, and know that they belong at Lodi High School from day 1 the building.

• Beyond orientation, Link Leaders will meet with students (virtually for now) to check in, provide support and mentorship, and lead the small groups in additional activities to help them build positive habits for success.

UW System Applications

The University of Wisconsin System Colleges are now accepting applications. Students are encouraged to apply early in their senior year. The UW System application is available online at apply.wisconsin.edu. Some UW System schools also accept the Common Application, which can be found at commonapp.org. More information about the UW System can be found on The UW-HELP website at uw help.wisconsin.edu.

Madison College

Seniors interested in applying to Madison College should submit an application as soon as possible. Please check Madison College’s website for specific program information: madisoncollege.edu.

Wisconsin Education Fair

Wisconsin Education Fairs occur throughout the state in September and October. These are a great opportunity for students to obtain information from public and private colleges and technical schools from throughout the Midwest. More information and registration can be found online at www.wefs.org.

Scholarships

Students are encouraged to check the websites of the colleges to which they are applying to look for scholarship information. There is also a link on the high school counseling website with information about the scholarships that are received in our office throughout the year. In addition, the local scholarship application will be available to seniors through the counseling office in January.

Financial Aid

Students apply for financial aid during the fall of their senior year. There will be a representative from Madison College’s Financial Aid Office at LHS’s Post-Secondary Night on Thursday, October 17th at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the financial aid application process. In addition, families can get help completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by attending a Free Wisconsin College Goal event (dates and locations for 2024-25 events to be determined). More information can be found at https://collegegoalwi.org/. Information about the FAFSA, including a link to the application, can be found at https://studentaid.gov/.

Wisconsin Guarantee

The Wisconsin Guarantee Program is a new program that offers guaranteed admission to UW schools for certain students who qualify based on their class rank (or standardized test scores for homeschooled students). Because this program requires high schools to use class rank, we now need to list class rank on transcripts. This does not change anything about the laude system; we will continue to use the laude point system to determine the top students at Lodi High School.

Schedule Changes

Schedule changes must be completed before the school year begins. Feel free to email the counselors with schedule questions or stop in during the office hours listed below:

Mrs. Kinonen’s Office Hours:

Monday, August 26th: 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 27th: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, August 28th: 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Please feel free to reach out to the counselors with questions about any of this information.

Grant Lembcke - lembcgr@lodischoolswi.org - 608-592-3853 ext. 4413

Megan Kinonen - kinonme@lodischoolswi.org - 608-592-3853 ext. 4414

• Class T-Shirt Store opened - Sept. 3 to Sept. 8
• Class Banners Displayed Downtown - Sept. 13 - Sept. 19
• Powder-Puff Fundraiser Night - Sept 18 (7:00 - 9:00 pm)
• HS Career Fair/Service Day - Sept. 20
• Pep Rally - Sept. 20
• Parade on Sauk Street - Sept. 20 (4:00 - 5:00 pm)
• Football Game - Sept. 20 (7:00 - 9:00 pm)
• Homecoming Dance - Sept. 21 (8:30 - 11:00 pm)

First Day - Wednesday, Sept. 4 (B Day) - 1st day for all students!

• All seniors, regardless if you have a senior release first block on a B day or not, need to report to school by 7:55.

Thursday, Sept. 5 and Friday, Sept. 6 - PBIS Push!

• All seniors will need to report to HR at the end of the day from 2:34 - 3:13 on each of these days. If you have senior release 4th block, you will still be expected to return for HR on these days. If you fail to report to HR on these days, you will be marked unexcused and issued a detention.

Senior Release/Youth Apprenticeship meetings with Mr. Jelinek and Mr. Marshall

• All seniors that have senior release or Youth Apprenticeship on their schedule for 1st semester will be expected to attend a mandatory meeting regarding the school’s expectations for senior release and Youth Apprenticeship.

Here are the times:

A1 Senior Release - Monday, Sept. 9 - 9:00 - 9:30 am - in the LGI

A4 Senior Release - Monday, Sept. 9 - 1:00 - 1:30 pm - in the LGI

B1 Senior Release - Tuesday, Sept. 10 - 9:00 - 9:30 am - in the LGI

B2 Senior Release - Tuesday, Sept. 10 - 1:00 - 1:30 pm - in the LGI

LHS is excited to welcome four new staff members to our school! Joining our team are two new Math teachers, Mr. McCann and Mr. Pavlue; a new English teacher, Mr. Schmidt; and Ms. Gort, who will be working in the main office and the Career Resource Center (CRC).

My name is Dan Pavlue and I am so excited to join the Lodi School District and LHS! The 2024-25 school year will mark my 12th year as an educator. My wife, Jessica, who teaches at Lodi Primary School, and I, have an energetic and fun loving 2.5 year-old boy (Graydon). We have resided in Lodi since 2017, and are looking forward to giving back to the community that has given us so much already.

I began my teaching career as a high school Physical Education teacher and Head Baseball Coach at North Port High School in Southwest Florida. After four years, Jessica and I were excited to return home to Wisconsin to start a family of our own. Since our return to the midwest, I have served as a Middle School Physical Education & Health teacher and the Head Varsity Baseball Coach in Baraboo.In my spare time I enjoy watching, playing and coaching sports (especially baseball!), spending time outdoors with my family, and working on home improvement projects.

I am looking forward to joining the high achieving, dedicated and talented staff and students at Lodi High School to help build upon the impressive history of academic and co-curricular success.

Let’s go, Blue Devils!

Attending school regularly and consistently is one of the most essential factors in a student having a successful school year. Research shows that missing just 10 percent of the school year has a negative effect on academic performance. Even as children grow older and become more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important to success in school and life.

September represents a critical time for students and parents since it sets the tone for the school year. Half of all students that miss more than two days of school in September go on to miss nearly a month of school throughout the year. The following practical tips can help establish a routine that supports regular school attendance:

• Make sure your children keep a regular bedtime and establish a morning routine.

• Turn off all electronic devices, including TV, phones, and tablets at bedtime. Have children keep their phone outside of their bedroom.

• Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.

• Ensure your students go to school every day unless they are truly sick.

• Avoid scheduling vacations and doctor’s appointments when school is in session.

• Talk to teachers and counselors for advice if your children feel anxious about going to school.

• Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your child to school.

Per Wisconsin State Statutes and District Policy, students may be excused by a parent for up to 10 days per school year for reasons such as illness, death in the family, family health emergency, approved religious holidays and school-sponsored trips, or for pre-excused reasons such as medical appointments, college visits, or family vacations. If your child will be absent, please call the high school attendance line at (608) 592-1046, fill out the online attendance form or email hsoffice@lodischoolswi.org. For pre-arranged absences please have your child stop by the main office for a pre-approved absence form.

If your child is struggling with school attendance, please do not hesitate to reach out to our guidance counselors or administration for support and assistance.

Thanks for your continued support in getting our students to school to connect with our staff and their peers. For more information regarding the importance of attendance, see this information from Attendance Works.

Anytime you wish to contact a member of the high school staff, there are a couple of possible ways of doing so.

You may call the high school office at 592-3853 and listen for the options offered by the automated voicemail attendant or dial extension 4400 to speak to an administrative assistant, who would connect you with the person you are trying to reach.

You can also utilize the District Staff Directory on the high school web page, which will give you the specific email address and phone extension for any member of the high school staff. For phone contact, you would first dial the base number of 592-3853 and then the extension listed. The email address is generally the first five letters of the staff member’s last name, followed by the first two letters of the first name, followed by “@lodischoolswi.org” (you can find the specific address on the website listed above).

Student schedules for the first quarter were finalized and ready for your viewing on August 8.

You can access your schedule using the Infinite Campus portal.

*Please have your schedule ready to go on September 3.

The following is a link to the grading schedule for the 2024-25 School year.

Cell phone use during the school day distracts students from learning and from socializing with their peers. It also negatively affects students' mental health in a variety of ways.

To curtail the use of cell phones during instructional time, LHS is implementing a new policy that gives students a choice:

• Leave their cell phone in their locker during instructional time
• Turn in their cell phone to the teacher at the beginning of class

The following article from the National Library of Medicine explains how cell phones and social media negatively impact students' mental health.

Smartphones, Social Media Use and Youth Mental Health

• Students may not store items on top of their lockers.

• All students must use a locker and keep it locked.

• Students may not carry backpacks to class.

• Students may wear hats, but they may not cover their ears.

• Students may not wear hoods.

Similar to many high schools in the state of Wisconsin and high schools across the nation, Lodi High School students are not immune to the dangers of vaping.

The following article, "Teen Vaping - What You Need to Know" from the Child Mind Institute, highlights the increasing popularity of vaping amongst teens, what parents should be concerned about, and how to talk to your kids about vaping.

LHS has implemented several strategies to combat the rise of vaping in our school, including the In-Depth Program through the Lodi Community Action Team (LCAT), education and awareness initiatives led by student groups such as FACT, and the use of appropriate consequences when students use or are in the possession of vape products. Also, as many other high schools have done to help deter teens from vaping in school, we have installed vape detectors in all of our bathrooms and locker rooms.

We take the shared responsibility of educating our kids about the dangers of vaping very seriously. Our hope is that families will have conversations about the ill effects it has on student's minds and bodies and ultimately our Lodi High School climate.

In an effort to maintain a safe and orderly environment at the home soccer & football games, so that ALL fans can enjoy the games, the School District of Lodi is asking parents to please help in this effort by reviewing these expectations prior to attending a game.

• All K-5 students must come to the game with a parent and sit with them during the game.

• All 6-8 grade students must enter the stadium with an adult.

• All 6-8 grade students must sit in the designated seating section which will be located on the south end of the bleachers.

• On Youth Night (Sept. 6), players should sit with their team and coaches.

• All students should be seated during the game and not wander around the stadium. Remember, students should be coming to the stadium to watch the game.

• Concessions are available. Students should return to the seating section immediately after going to the concession stand. Also, please dispose of garbage in the garbage cans.

• No footballs, soccer balls, kick balls, etc. are allowed in the stadium. They will be confiscated by event supervisors. There is no ball playing, tag games, etc. allowed in the stadium or on fields behind the stadium.

• At the conclusion of the game, all students and other fans should stay off the field unless you are affiliated with the Varsity football or soccer team.

• Pets are not allowed on school grounds.

• Noisemakers, laser pointers, banners, confetti, body paint (other than face) is prohibited.

• All signs must be hand held and cannot obstruct the view of others.

• Always exhibit good sportsmanship:

• Be respectful during the National Anthem, school songs, and player introductions.

• Never boo or yell negative comments at the officials or opposing players.

• Cheer for the Lodi players in a positive manner.

• Represent Lodi in a positive manner.

Picking up the 2024 Yearbook

Students who were unable to pick up their yearbook on district picture day can pick them up in the high school main office, open 7:30-4:00. Any remaining yearbooks will be given to the student’s homeroom teacher.

• Note: If you ordered a 2024 yearbook and the personalization does not look right, please reach out to Mr. Schmidt as soon as possible.

Ordering the 2025 Yearbook

Basic yearbooks cost $50. Your name can be engraved on the front cover for an additional $8.

• Special Offer from Jostens until Friday, September 27th: You can choose up to 4 FREE icons when you purchase personalization

• To pay by debit or credit card, click here: Jostens Online Orders Payment plans are available online.

• To pay by cash or check, send your payment with the student's name to the high school, c/o Garit Schmidt. Please make out checks to Lodi High School. If you want to order personalization, icons, etc., please fill out the 2025 Back-to-School Special Order Form (good through 9/27/24).

Don’t remember if you ordered a yearbook this year? Check the 2024 Sales List (updated monthly).

Submitting Class of 2024 Senior Portraits

DEADLINE: Friday, November 8th, 2024

Pose

• Head and shoulders photo, please. The focus of the photo should be on your student's face.

• No uniforms, action shots, props, pets, etc.

• Please do not print anything extra on the picture, such as name, graduation year, etc.

Format

• One VERTICAL portrait

• JPEG file (no png or HEIC files), at least 1 MB

• If friends/family are using a phone to take the senior photo, set the resolution at the highest setting.

How to Submit: Three Options

1. Upload photo via Google Form: Senior Portraits Submission Form

2. Email photo to the yearbook adviser, Garit Schmidt, schmiga@lodischoolswi.org Please include the student’s name.

• The school district's email filter can sometimes block unfamiliar email addresses or very large files. Always expect an email confirmation when submitting electronically.

3. Send a printed photo to Garit Schmidt via postal mail or have your child drop it off. The photo will be scanned and returned to your student. Please make sure the student’s first and last name is written lightly on the back.

Want to Save Money?

• We know that hiring a professional photographer can get expensive. But we know experienced photographers who can provide assistance! Please contact Whitney Robarge for options: robarwh@lodischoolswi.org or 608-592-3853 ext. 4438.

Are You Missing a Yearbook

We have a few extra yearbooks from previous years. First come, first served!

• 2024 - cost $55

• 2023 - cost $55

• 2022 - cost $55

• 2021 - cost $55

• 2020 - cost $50

• 2019 - cost $10 (lots of extra copies available!)

• 2018 - cost $50

Questions?

Contact Garit Schmidt schmiga@lodischoolswi.org

LHS Yearbook Website Link

Nurse's Notes:

I hope that your families were able to enjoy the summer.

I am excited to announce that Nisha Rai will be joining

the team as a health assistant. Nisha had done an outstanding

job in helping during the pandemic for the district.

I am grateful that she has returned and she will be a tremendous

asset to the team. She will be working in the health offices throughout

the district and will work Monday thru Friday 8:45am-3:00pm. Please

give her a warm welcome!

Health Services play an important role to help promote wellness and remove or reduce health related barriers to learning.

Here are a few reminders to make sure your student is ready for the school year.

• Medication

• Any prescribed medication for school we will need your doctor to complete a medication form with their signature along with parent signature. Medication must be in the original container for the school to accept.

• Prescription Medication Form

• Any over the counter medication will need the parent to complete the over the counter medication form. Medication must be in the original container for the school to accept. The school must follow the directions on the container. If the dosage is out of the therapeutic range then we would need a physician order.

• Over-the-counter/Non-Prescription Medication Forms

• Parents may allow their student to carry a small amount of over-the-counter medication with them during the day. Please see instructions and the self-carry form

• Permission To Self Carry Form (MS/HS, Transition Program Only)

• Immunizations

• As of May 2024 the State of Wisconsin has implemented new vaccine requirements which include:

• Varicella (Chickenpox)

• Any new enterer in early childhood, 4K, or students K-12 (including out from out of state) who are claiming an exemption to the varicella vaccination requirement because they had chickenpox disease will have a verification requirement of such disease from the student’s healthcare provider.

• MenACWY (Protect against Meningitis and Septicaemia)

• Students entering 7th grade will need one dose of MenACWY vaccine.

• Students entering 12th grade will need two doses of MenACWY vaccine. Those 12th graders who received their first dose of a MenACWY containing vaccine at age 16 or older are not required to have booster-only the first MenACWY containing vaccine. Families are able to sign a medical, religious, or personal conviction waiver for this requirement.

• Please update the immunization form if your student has received any vaccines over the summer and turn it in to your student’s school office at the start of the school year.

• Student Immunization Record - English

• Student Immunization Record - Spanish

• Illness/Injury at School

• Healthroom staff will assist with taking care of students who report to the office with injuries. Students will be encouraged to take care of minor scratches or bumps themselves. For more significant health issues a phone call will be made. A few examples are a significant head injury, contagious disease, possible ear infection, fever (temperature over 100 degrees), or the student being unable to participate in class effectively due to illness.

Please reach out to any changes in your students' health or if you have any questions or concerns.

Janelle Sivam RN, BSN

District Nurse

High School: 608-592-3853 ext: 4484

Middle School: 608-592-3854 ext: 3484

ES/OSC: 608-592-3842 ext: 2103

Primary School: 608-592-3855 ext:1004

Cell: 608-573-1851

Fax: 608-592-1045

Welcome Back Everyone!

Summer sure went by fast!

Here is an update of the foodservice program. A reminder for returning students and information for new students. We will offer cheese pizza and one other kind every day. We will offer a Classic Café option every day. We will also have a fresh Grab N Go deli sandwich or salad every day as well as a diner option. We will also have our fruit and vegetable salad bar available every day. We will be offering some new things for you to try such as hot honey chicken pizza, Italian stromboli,

country fried chicken and gravy, turkey piegga, homemade chicken taquitos, a hot chicken breakfast biscuit and lots more. Please come down and try some new food and make sure you let us know what you think!

We will continue to offer our HOM which is harvest of the month and we will feature a vegetable, fruit and spice each month. Watch for our Healthy to a “T” newsletter each month from our dieticians with tips and suggestions on how to eat healthy. Last but not least please download our Food4Life app. There you will find our menus and all the nutritionals and more information. Our campaign this year will coincide with our elections and we are calling our campaign UNITED TASTES OF AMERICA! September will feature our pizzas, October will be different styles of Chicken Legs! Each month we will have a featured food item. Stay Tuned! We will post flyers in our food service areas so you can check out the rest of the year.

I missed everyone and will be happy to see all those smiling faces!

Taher and Diane Lueck FSD

This summer, the Lodi High School weight room received a complete makeover, including new flooring, lighting, painting, and training equipment. This transformation wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the school board; our superintendent, Mr. Breunig; district and high school administration; our athletic director, Ms. Meffert; and the Booster Club.

A special thank you to Coach Sheldon, Coach Mack, Coach Endres, Coach Murray, and Coach Dailey for their invaluable input on the training equipment needed as well as the student/athletes that helped move equipment during the installation of the new flooring. We also extend our gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Puls for their guidance and support throughout the process.

There’s a bright future ahead for Blue Devil Athletics!

Members of the Lodi High School Girls and Boys Track (Zach Nyquist, Bennett Nyquist, Isaiah Groskopf, Aiden Groskopf, Izzy Bahe, Gavin Sargeant, Ben Skellenger, Noah Houdek, Mason Lane, Jack Bozacki, Sawyer Baron, Walter Beld, Brody Ripp) competed in the WIAA Division 2 State Track Meet on Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1st at the University of LaCrosse, and they performed extremely well. Here are the highlights:

• Senior, Zach Nyquist , placed 3rd in the 300 hurdles.

• Senior, Isaiah Groskopf, placed 8th in the shot put

• Freshmen, Bennett Nyquist, placed 4th in the long jump

• Sophomore, Izzy Bahe, placed 7th in the discuss.

• The boys 4x100 took 7th and set a new school record (Noah Houdek, Mason Lane, Jack Bozacki, Aiden Groskopf).

The most impressive performance was by Senior, Gavin Sargent, who placed 2nd in the Long Jump and was once again the State Champion in the Triple Jump!! While doing so he set a Division 2 state record on his first jump and then broke his own record on another jump. Congratulations to Gavin!

The boys team respectfully placed 5th and was the only team this season to beat the Division 2 team state champions, Lakeside Lutheran, in head-to-head competition.

Senior, Kogen Baron, qualified for the WIAA State Golf Tournament that was played at Blackwolf Run - Meadows Course in Kohler, Wisconsin.

Kogan respectfully placed tied for 6th out of 52 golfers. Congratulations to Kogan, his parents, and his coaches.

17 students and 3 HS staff members traveled to Asturias and Madrid, Spain for three weeks this summer. Thank you to Lylia Schoepp, Mason Kittleson and Jim McKellar for their time and effort towards providing this opportunity for our students.

Appreciate a Staff Member!

We have so many amazing educators here at Lodi High School! Mr. Jelinek and Mr. Marshall sat down with each staff member, and one of the common themes that came up was how much our staff love to be appreciated by the families that they serve. When you experience a staff member who is going above and beyond or deserves some recognition, please consider giving them a shout-out through our staff appreciation google form. Your appreciation will be put on a staff appreciation poster and shared with that staff member.

Below is a list of resources available to families here in Lodi.

Blessings in a Backpack

Students in this program receive a bag of non-perishable, kid-friendly food every Friday that is intended for them to be able to eat over the weekend. Bags will be dispensed in a discreet and confidential manner. If we don’t have school on Fridays, the bags will be placed in backpacks on Thursdays. This program began a few years back and continues to grow each school year adding more families. If you are interested in this program contact Val Bilkey, Primary School Counselor at 592-3855 ext 1216 or bilkeva@lodischoolswi.org.

Bridging Brighter Smiles

Professional Dental Services Provided Right at School

http://enrollment.bbsmiles.org/

Not sure if your child is enrolled, or due for care? Call Bridging Brighter Smiles at 262-896-9891, or email coordinator@bbsmiles.org.

Four Winds to Freedom
Certified Equine Gestalt Coach-partnering with horses to help teenagers and adolescents find self-love, joy, connection, and freedom while navigating their life’s challenges. For more information, see their websites: Four Winds to Freedom

Free and Reduced Lunch

The Free and Reduced Lunch program is income based. The application can be found on the school district website under ‘Our Families’ and then ‘Food Service’.

If you have any questions about this program reach out to Ariel Andrews 608.592.3855 ext. 1017 or andrear@lodischoolswi.org

Psychotherapy Center of Waunakee

This is a new partnership between the Psychotherapy Center and the school district of Lodi to offer integrated services in our buildings. Here is their flier in Spanish and English.

If you would like to get your child signed up for this service email Ceanna Caelwaerts.

Reach Out Lodi

A not-for-profit organization that has food, clothing, school supplies, and other basic essentials available for families. Calling ahead to set up an appointment and check on available resources can be helpful.

Address: 601 Clark St, Lodi, WI 53555

Phone: (608) 592-4592