Merrimac Memo - Family Newsletter

November 2024

A Fall Full of Fun and Outdoor Learning!

Mark Your Calendars

Thursday, November 7

Vision Screening at MCS by Nurse Shea Grades: 5K, 1, 2, 3, 5

Friday, November 8

Grades 4/5 to Finding Nemo at RAC, 9:45-11:30

Tuesday, November 12

Home and School Association (HSA) Meeting, Virtual 6:00 - 7:00pm
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/hkq-juie-wjg
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 971-770-1912‬ PIN: ‪420 083 344‬#

Wednesday, November 20

Early Release, 1:30

Tuesday, November 26

Veterans Presentation Grades 4 & 5, 1:30-2:30

Wednesday, November 27

No School

Thursday, November 28 - Happy Thanksgiving!

No School

Friday, November 29

No School

Monday, December 2

No School : Teacher Work Day

Update From The Principal

Greetings Merrimac Families,

Merrimac Annual Report

It was a pleasure to host the school board for their annual visit and meeting on October 14th. Principals are asked to report on the previous school years events, celebrations and growth. This is the presentation that I shared with the attendees. We have lots to celebrate with our increased student achievement across the board! Later this month we will get the full release of the State Report Card that I will share with you in December's newsletter.

Thank You!

Thanks for your help supporting safety and efficiency with drop off and pick up. The great reduction in U-Turns in front of the school and having the corner of Darwin and School Street open for the bus has been greatly appreciated!

Don't Miss a Pic

The MCS Facebook page is the place to see photos and updates from the school as well as reminders of upcoming events. Be sure to follow us here!

Please see the School Social Worker Corner (below) from Miss Erica for lots of information, including many holiday resources available to our MCS families.

Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter!

Amy Brehm, Principal

We Have a Few Extra MCS Shirts - Contact the Office!

Future 4K Student Information Sign-Up

The Sauk Prairie School District wants to make sure your child/family is included in mailing lists and communications once your child is old enough to register for 4K or Kindergarten classes. If you have a child who is age 5 or under and have not previously completed a SPSD Future Student Form, please complete one today! Use the link below to access the form or pick up a form at the SPSD District Office (440 13th Street, Prairie du Sac, WI). If you have any questions, please email the District Registrar or call 608-643-5984. Thank you!

Future SPSD Student Form - English

Future SPSD Student Form - Spanish

High Energy Music Making!

School Social Worker Corner

How exciting it is to be settled into the school year, building relationships and strengthening social emotional skills with your students. As we head into November, a month filled with gratitude and community spirit, I’m excited to share some upcoming events and resources at our school.

Classroom Guidance: Students have been busy learning about “Skills for Learning” from the Second Step curriculum. These skills will help them be successful at school, at home and in the community. Topics covered thus far include: Listening to Learn, Focusing Attention, Empathy & Respect, Being Assertive and Self-Talk. Ask your K-2nd student about being assertive and their “attent-o-scope” and 3rd-5th graders about empathy, being assertive and the three types of communication styles.

Upcoming Events:

SAEBRS Screening: In our continuing efforts to support the well-being of our elementary students, we will be administering the Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screening (SAEBRS) or mySAEBRS November 4-15.

Thanksgiving School Break Meal Program (SBMP): If you signed up for this program, pick-up will take place at MCS on Monday, November 16 from 3:00-3:30.

Lunch Bunch: Back by popular demand LUNCH BUNCH. Weekly, students have the opportunity to have lunch with me and 4-5 other peers from their classroom. While eating lunch, time is spent developing social skills through socializing, playing games or doing a craft. All students have the opportunity to participate.

Resources:

Brrr It’s Getting Cold Outside: MCS is fortunate to have a supply of kids' winter gear on site; This includes winter jackets/coats, snow pants, boots, gloves, and hats. Please complete this Winter Gear Form to receive this support.
Winter SBMP: In coordination with the Sauk Prairie Area Food Pantry, the School Break Meal Program aims to help families who may experience a shortage of food over school breaks, such as Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring Breaks. The SBMP food boxes include shelf-safe food, produce, and frozen food options. Please complete this Winter SBMP survey by Tuesday, December 3 if you are interested in participating in this program.
Holiday Assistance Programs: If you are in need of holiday assistance please contact me.

We hope you and your family have a wonderful November filled with gratitude & joy.

Email : erica.lehrreuber@saukprairieschools.org

Phone Number: 608-643-1995 X1302

National School Lunch Week

MCS Borrow Bags

Borrow Bags are now available at MCS. What is a Borrow Bag? It is a backpack your child may take home that has activities they can do independently or with family members. It may contain books, games, toys, coloring, etc. There are 12 Borrow Bags and each one is different. Students may borrow the backpacks for as long as you like and return it when done. The backpacks are located in cubbies across from the 4K room for students to take and are tagged with numbers so you can keep track of which one you have borrowed. No need to let Mrs. Gagnon know you are taking one. Please return all pieces to the puzzles and games and let Mrs. Gagnon know if something needs attention.

Home and School Association (HSA) Updates

Thank you for coming out to support the Culver's Share Night! We are waiting to hear what we earned and will report that on our FB page as soon as we know. It was so much fun to fill the restaurant with our MCS students and families. Thank you also to the many parent volunteers!

Our next HSA meeting is virtually on 11/12. We welcome any parent or caregiver to join us! Here is the link information.

HSA Virtual Meeting

Tuesday, November 12 · 6:00 – 7:00pm

Time zone: America/Chicago

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/hkq-juie-wjg

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 971-770-1912‬ PIN: ‪420 083 344‬#

Many thanks for the overwhelming support of the MCS Amazon Wish List! If you want to make a teachers' day this is the place!

Any questions about the HSA can be directed to Mellissa Benson, President at presidentmerrimachsa@gmail.com

We Thank You for the Learning and Teaching Supplies!

Follow MCS on Social Media!

We post a lot on social media at Merrimac, most frequently on Facebook. Make sure to follow us!

Follow MCS on Facebook ⇒ Merrimac Community School
Sauk Prairie School District website ⇒ saukprairieschools.org
MCS website ⇒ melm.saukpraireschools.org
Follow MCS on Instagram ⇒ sauk.prairie.mcs

Monster Mash at All School Sing

MCS Google Calendar

We are rolling out a way for you to see our MCS events to your personal digital calendar. Mrs. Kerri Lintl our Grade 3 teacher has created these links.

Here is the link to view the MCS calendar https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=Y19mcjd1cjZkbm5icXF1bzJmbmNwNTAyajAzY0Bncm91cC5jYWxlbmRhci5nb29nbGUuY29t

Use this link to integrate it in to other calendars -

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/c_fr7ur6dnnbqquo2fncp502j03c%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics - this one you need to copy and paste into your own personal calendars

If you have issues email Mrs. Lintl at kerri.lintl@saukprairieschools.org and she will assist you.