Waubesa Weekly

School Principal: Corey Shefchik

Associate Principal: Kelly Vetter

Building Administrative Assistant: Angie TeBeest

Phone: (608) 838-7667

Website and McFarland Facebook Page
Phone: 608-838-7667

• December 8th- No School- Staff Development Day
• December 14th- 5th grade Orchestra Concert- 7:00 PM at the PAC
• December 25th- January 1st- No School Winter Break

Waubesa Intermediate School Families,

Before winter break your student(s) will have a lesson on Protective Behaviors, which is part of the McFarland School District Human Growth and Development (HGD) instruction guidelines. These lessons are taught by our school counselors in Lifeskills class. We will be sharing important information about things like welcome and unwelcome touches, trusted adults and safe adults, and No, Go, Tell. This is a topic that we are required to cover each year with all students. We will be using the Protect Yourself Rules to help facilitate our conversation. The Protect Yourself Rules are accessible at www.fightchildabuse.org.We are including a handout with "What If" questions for you to review at home with your student(s).

For 3rd grade families, the HGD content will be shared with your student(s) in science in December/January. The physical maturation portion for 4th and 5th grade HGD curriculum is taught in the spring in physical education class. Additionally, we offer an Optional Family Night. 4th and 5th grade families, please SAVE THE DATE for in-person Optional Family HGD Night on April 24 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the Waubesa Multipurpose Room.

By statute, no student is required to receive instruction in HGD instruction; you may choose to complete the Student Opt-Out Form and return it to the main office by Friday, December 8. We strongly recommend that you review the McFarland School District Health Education Human Growth and Development 4K-12 Curriculum Guide. If you are choosing to opt your child out of HGD instruction, please indicate what portions you’re choosing to opt them out. Students who opt-out will be provided a space for them to work when the HGD lesson is delivered.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,

Waubesa Administration and School Counselors

Administrative Contact for questions - Corey Shefchik shefchc@mcfsd.org

3rd Grade Counselor Contact- Casey Popowski popowsc@mcfsd.org

4th/5th Grade Counselor Contact- Casey Ruhland ruhlanc@mcfsd.org

• Mittens- water proof- new or gently used
• Gently used clothing for our students--leggings, sweatshirts, t-shirts, shorts and sweatpants.
• Extra clothing will be used in the health office for spills, etc.
• Bulk snacks for the office (nut free)
• Sleds for recess

If you are able to donate this item please drop them off at the office. Thank you!

As a reminder please make sure your students have proper gear for outside. This would include but not limited to a coat, boots, mittens, hat, etc. It is suggested to have a back up pair of socks and/or shoes in their cubby if needed. The office can not provide gear for students who occasionally forget the essential items. If you are in need of gear for winter please email Emily Gierl our School Social Worker at orabute@mcfsd.org.

An activity/field trip fee has been added to each students Infinite Campus account. The amount differs per grade. Please check your email for more information about the fees. If you need assistance or you are unable to pay please email Angie TeBeest at tebeesa1@mcfsd.org.

Directions on how to pay in IC:

• Fees section in IC
• student drop down menu
• pick your student (if you have more than one student in the district
• pick Activity Fee
• Go to Cart
• Pay activity fee

Second Steps is the universal social-emotional curriculum taught by classroom teachers and school counselors at Waubesa Intermediate School. Click on the Unit 2 home links below for more information about what your child is learning and for tips on how to continue their growth at home.

Grade 3 Unit 2 Homelink

Grade 4 Unit 2 Homelink

Grade 5 Unit 2 Homelink

We are looking forward to offering a Parenting with Love and Logic Session this upcoming Dec/Jan. Classes will be on Wednesday evenings from 6:15-7:30 p.m. Please fill out THIS form if you are interested in joining us! Please contact Jackie Guenther, School Counselor at MHS with any questions.

guenthj@mcfsd.org or 608-838-4531.

Updates to Attendance Reporting:

• 8:00-8:05 am- student is not marked absent or tardy, "free pass"
  
• 8:05-8:25 am- student is marked tardy excused or tardy unexcused
• 8:25 am- student will be marked according to their reason for absence, ex:) parent request, ill, medical, etc. Without parent/guardian communication the student will be marked unexcused.

Arrival times:

• We have made the decision to keep the main doors of the school closed until 7:20 am. Prior to this we opened them at 7:00 am. This change is being made due to behavior issues in the vestibule. Breakfast will continue to be served at 7:25. Please contact the office if you have any concerns. Thank you for understanding.

Departure:

• Supervision for students will end at 3:15pm. If a student is still on school grounds without transportation home the office staff will begin calling the student's emergency contacts.

ATTENDANCE

BEVERAGES AT SCHOOL

BIRTHDAY/CLASSROOM TREATS

DELIVERIES

Phone use and Personal Communication Devices

SNACKS

VISITOR INFORMATION

Hello McFarland Families,

As part of our commitment as a district to not only gather your feedback, but to collaborate and make positive change in response to this feedback, we are pleased to share an update on the actions that have been taken so far in response to the areas of growth identified from the parent/guardian satisfaction survey you completed in March of 2023.

As we stated when the results were initially shared with you in June (see results here), these survey results are used for:

• Accountability: To set benchmarks and goals, and to monitor our progress in relation to the strategic plan

• Action: To determine action steps in relation to the strategic plan including the allocation of resources

As a reminder, we plan to administer the parent/guardian satisfaction survey and staff check-in survey annually. This winter we will also administer our first annual formal student surveys for students in grades 4-12.

Thank you for taking time to review the highlighted updates below.

I welcome your questions and comments!

Thank you,

Aaron Tarnutzer, District Administrator

838-4550, tarnuta@mcfsd.org

Watch for Health Services information here.

With the cold and flu season in full swing, please review our Guidelines for sending your child to school and MSD Health Services Handbook. Remember, if your child is sick please keep them home and seek medical evaluation as needed. Students will be sent home with the following symptoms:

• Temperature above 100.4°F

• Vomiting or diarrhea

• Frequent uncontrollable cough

Your child should remain at home until fever, vomiting/diarrhea has stopped for 24 hours without the use of medication. Students who are prescribed antibiotics for infectious conditions such as strep throat or impetigo must complete treatment for 24 hours before returning to school. As well, please notify the School/Health Office if your student has tested positive for a communicable disease such as: Influenza/Flu, Covid 19, Strep Throat, Hand Foot & Mouth, Chicken Pox, Pertussis.

Thank you for your partnership as we work to keep our students and staff healthy and safe each day!

December 3 International Day for Persons with Disabilities

• International Day of Persons With Disabilities, is an annual observance to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
  

December 7 - 15 Hanukkah

• Also known as the festival of lights, is time for Jewish people to come together and reflect on their story of resistance. The celebration lasts eight days and nights and is observed with foods, games, and the most symbolic tradition of lighting the menorah.

• Today marks the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Humans Rights by the United Nations General Assembly. This document lays out the fundamental and entitled human rights of all human beings. Together we must work to build a better future.

* Wisconsin Public School Observance Days

Get ready for the McFarland Made Craft and Vendor Fair, where creativity meets community! This incredible event is brought to you by none other than our amazing Spartan Headquarters students!

Date: Saturday, December 2nd

Time: 9am-2pm

Location: McFarland High School--A and B Gym

With over 75 vendors, there's something for everyone! From handmade crafts to unique finds, fashion, jewelry, and more, our Spartan entrepreneurs have curated an event you won't want to miss.

Make sure to let us know you are attending by sharing our facebook event: https://fb.me/e/4IOMEnRTx

This fair isn't just about shopping; it's a celebration of our talented community! Every purchase supports local artisans and small businesses, making a direct impact on our Spartan family.

Let's show our support and attend this fantastic event organized entirely by our dedicated students! Spread the word, bring your friends and family, and join us for a day of fun, shopping, and community spirit!

See you there, Spartans! #McFarlandMade #CraftAndVendorFair #SupportLocal #SpartanPride #CommunityEvent #HandmadeTreasures #ShopLocal