4K-4 Newsletter

We committed to creating a safe, positive school environment that ensures academic, social and emotional growth for all learners through collaboration, respect and compassion.

Happy New Year!!!

Many hopes that everyone is filled with excitement and anticipation for the opportunities and experiences that await us in 2025!! The start of a new year is a time for reflection, renewal, and the joy of new beginnings. As always, we are positive and cheery with shining spirits and aspirations for the future.

I want to extend my warmest welcome to both new and returning families, as we embark on this shared journey of education and growth as a 4K-4 system. Your partnership with us is at the heart of our school's success, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work together to support the holistic development of your children.

The new year holds the promise of exciting events, meaningful learning experiences, and opportunities for us to celebrate the achievements and milestones of our students. I am confident that together, we will create a school year filled with memories, growth, and the joy of shared accomplishments.

Wishing you 12 months of success, 52 weeks of laughter, 365 days of fun, 8,760 hours of joy, 525,600 minutes of good luck, and 31,536,000 seconds of happiness.

Warm regards,

Julie

It is an absolute joy to share the magic that the Elf on the Shelf brought to OES and OIS this holiday season!

Throughout the month, the elf made surprise visits in the morning, spreading cheer and delight among students and staff alike. From swings, pillars and trophy cases, the elf created a sense of wonder and excitement, reminding us all of the spirit of giving and togetherness.

We hope your children enjoyed each special moment as much as we did! A big thank you to everyone for embracing this festive tradition and helping to make our school communities even brighter.

Physical activity plays a crucial role in promoting health, well-being, and academic success. Regular movement helps improve focus, mood, and overall cognitive function. Encouraging our kids to move during the school day can lead to better learning outcomes and a positive attitude towards school.

NEW to OES is the Wiggle Pathway where we will be incorporating opportunities for movement into our daily routines.

We look forward to having your child(ren) at school everyday!!! If your child is healthy enough to be at school, please make sure that they are attending! Regular attendance is crucial to your child’s social, emotional, and academic well-being!

As a district we will assist you with tracking your child’s attendance by sending notifications when your child has an excessive number of absences. Again in the next month or so, the OES & OIS office team will be working to gather attendance numbers and begin to notify families. We understand that illness, family vacations, personal days, funerals, etc account for many of these absences; however, per district policy, it is important that we update you when excessive absences have occurred.

Please know we are compassionate people and will work with families. Alongside communication, Osceola students have at least one day off per month due to in-services or holidays in addition to longer breaks throughout the year. Because no instruction is done on these days, a student can take advantage of using these days as a break. However, if a student does not attend school while instruction is occurring, they miss valuable learning opportunities. Every day counts!

BENEFITS of regular school attendance:

• Academic Achievement- Regular school attendance ensures that students receive continuous instruction, engage in classroom discussions, and participate in hands-on learning experiences. This consistent academic engagement enhances their comprehension of subjects and contributes to improved academic performance.

• Social and Emotional Development- Regular school attendance fosters the development of social skills, collaboration, and peer interactions. Students benefit from the sense of belonging, build friendships, and develop emotional resilience by engaging with their peers and educators in a consistent learning environment.

• Establishing Routine and Responsibility- Attending school on a regular basis instills a sense of routine and responsibility in students. This helps them cultivate essential life skills such as time management, organization, and commitment.

• Access to Support Services- Regular school attendance enables students to access a wide range of support services provided by schools, including counseling, special education resources, academic interventions and specialist classes (PE, Art, Music, Library, etc).

The letter pictured below shares information about how we will learn about your child's reading skills from the information gathered during the early reading screener. In Wisconsin, each child in grades 4K-3 will take this assessment.

*** A screener is an assessment that quickly checks your child’s reading skills. ***

The letter pictured below is a resource to help families understand the basics of the MAP Growth assessment: what it is, what it measures, how it works, and what a RIT score is.

As partners in your child's education, we invite you to engage in conversations about the upcoming assessment process and its role in supporting your child's learning journey. We are here to address any questions or concerns you may have and to collaborate with you in ensuring that your child's educational experience is enriching and meaningful.

If you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to reach out to us. Your active involvement in your child's education is invaluable, and we are committed to fostering a strong partnership in support of your child's academic growth and success.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we navigate the winter assessment period.

We are thrilled to announce that our Physical Education (PE) classes at OES and OIS will be starting their swimming unit as part of our overall PE program/curriculum for the 2024-2025 school year!! This unit provides an opportunity for our students to develop essential water safety skills and enhance their overall physical fitness in an aquatic setting- right down the road at the pool located in the middle school.

The swimming unit will provide students with a structured and supportive environment in which they will learn fundamental swimming techniques, improve their confidence in the water, and gain an appreciation for aquatic recreation. Under the supervision of Mr. Lauridsen, Mrs. Miller and trained, certified lifeguards, students will engage in a series of structured activities/lessons aimed at developing their swimming abilities and water safety knowledge.

In preparation for the swimming unit, we encourage all students to come to class with their swimsuits, (towels are provided) and any necessary pool accessories they may need. Additionally, the safety and well-being of our students remain our top priority; in preparation, all necessary precautions/safety rules will be reviewed and modeled to ensure a safe and enjoyable learning experience.

We kindly ask for your support and cooperation in helping your child prepare for the upcoming swimming unit. If your child has any specific requirements or concerns related to swimming, please communicate with either Mr. Lauridsen or Mrs. Miller (4K-4 Physical Education teachers).

If you are uncomfortable with your child participating in the swimming unit this year, please fill out the OPT OUT form located above.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our PE program, and we look forward to providing an enriching and engaging swimming experience for all of our students.

Please reach out if you have any questions.

Friday, January 24th from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at OES!!!

WINTER IS HERE!!! We encourage students to dress appropriately with coats, mittens/gloves, hats, boots, etc. to stay comfortable, safe, and ready to make the most of their time outside.

Recess plays a crucial role in your child’s day as it provides an opportunity for additional physical activity, social interaction, and a break from the academic classroom. Although the temperatures have dropped, it is important that students are provided the opportunity to be outside for 30 minutes. However, as the winter months bring freezing temperatures, wind chills, snow, and all that Wisconsin offers, we make day by day decisions to ensure the safety of all students if outside for 30 minutes. Please know, we watch the weather with much caution during the months of December through February for all the reasons listed above.

Precipitation: snow and icy conditions should be evaluated for student safety and attire.

Student Preparedness: students should have appropriate outdoor attire to stay warm and dry during recess.

Playground Safety: the playground equipment and surface (i.e., icy conditions) should be evaluated to determine whether students can safely play outdoors.

"With or Without Wind Chill" means how cold it feels, whether it is caused by wind chill or not. For example, if the straight temperature reading is 8 degrees or if it's 15 degrees with a wind chill of 3 degrees, recess should be held indoors.

We’re excited to announce some upcoming events for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year!!

However, please keep in mind that while we are looking forward to these activities, things could change due to unforeseen circumstances. We will keep you updated if any adjustments are necessary.

If your family is experiencing a decrease in household income, unemployment and/or qualify for Food stamps, we encourage you to apply for the Free and Reduced Meal program. This can be done at any time during the school year.

• Here is the link to the application.
• OR, Applications can be picked-up at any school office or the District Office.

Committee Meeting

Osceola District Office Conference Room

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

5:00 PM

Regular School Board of Education Meeting

Osceola District Office Conference Room

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

6:30 PM

Osceola District Office Conference Room

Wednesday, January 28, 2025

6:30 PM