Hawk Happenings

Hello Hawk Families,

I can’t believe we are already in November! October flew by! This past month was a month full of learning for both students and staff. Our students have much less review work and a lot more new content in October. I love seeing the students’ writing and art projects hanging in the hall and listening to the wonderful discussions they are having in class.

Our teachers have been learning to teach with an updated math curriculum and new intervention materials. They also are receiving training on the science of reading in order to comply with new laws Wisconsin has passed. I’m proud to work with a staff that never stops learning!

November brings us a lot of big events. This month we . . .

• adjust to the time change! Make sure to turn those clocks back!

• have parent/teacher conferences on the 7th and 12th.

• Enjoy the Thanksgiving break! If your family hunts please stay safe.

Lastly, I want to give my deepest thanks to Heidi Olson. Mrs. Olson has been the face of our school for several years now. She has worked with hundreds of students and families in her time at Halmstad, and has come to know the community very well. She has been invaluable to me as a new principal. Let’s wish her well in her future endeavors! Thank you Mrs. Olson! You will be dearly missed.

November 1, No School for Students-Staff Work Day

November 7, 3pm-7pm Parent Teacher Conferences

November 12, 3pm-7pm Parent Teacher Conference

November 21, 9am 1st/2nd Grade Concert

November 25-26- No School for Students-Staff Work Day

November 27-29-No School-Thanksgiving Break

December 23-January 1-No School-Holiday Break

January 20-No School for Students-Staff Work Day

The principal reviews school attendance monthly and contacts families if there are issues. Elementary school families will be contacted in the following ways (phone calls may also occur):

1. If there are 3 unexcused absences in a semester, a Start Time Notification Letter may be sent. An unexcused absence occurs if the parent does not call in with a reason for the absence within 24 hours or the reason for the absence does not meet the guidelines for acceptable absences as outlined by the district (see attendance policy).

2. If a student receives 5 unexcused absences, tardies, or left early marks in a semester, a 5-Day Truancy Letter may be sent.

3. If a student is absent for more than part or all of 5+ days unexcused, a Habitual Truancy Notification Letter may be sent via certified mail. The school team will complete an assessment with the student and/or family and develop a plan with all parties involved at a meeting. A truancy referral may be initiated by the team.

4. If a student receives 8 excused absences, a Medical Concern Letter may be sent.

5. Principal may meet with the student and/or family after 5 days of absences (excused and/or unexcused) to better support the student and family with school attendance.

*THE STATE OF WISCONSIN ALLOWS ONLY 10 DAYS OF EXCUSED ABSENCES.*

For more information about the attendance policy, please refer to the student handbook online or request a hard copy from our office. These procedures may be used differently on a case-by-case basis (as determined by the principal, school counselor, and school social worker).

The Awesome Hawk Awards are given to students who are safe, respectful and responsible! Each week staff nominates students to receive the award.

We have a latex allergy at Halmstad. Please do not send latex balloons to school for birthdays, etc. Thank you for your consideration.

PLEASE remember to call ahead (by 2:00 p.m.) if you have a transportation change for the day. For the safety of your child, unless it's an emergency, we ask that you do not make changes after 2: p.m.

Remember to contact Chippewa Yellow Bus more than 24 hours in advance at 715-726-2454 if you have any bus changes or requests. The school can't authorize bus changes.

ALL changes need to be called in to the Main Office and not to the teacher in case there is a sub in the room that day. That number is 715-726-2415.

To find out what activities are available for your child, please visit our Cardinal Community Learning Center website by going to the link included here. If you are connected to an organization not listed, please contact Ann Zenner at zennerak@chipfalls.org to get information included.

The earliest students should be dropped off or exit buses is 7:20. Students should then report directly to the playground. If you plan to drop off your child(ren) please say your good byes on the sidewalk. Staff will assist students with finding their classmates and lines for entering school. This drop off plan helps students with the transition.

The recess bell will ring at 7:30.

Students will enter at 7:35.

Morning meeting and breakfast will begin as soon as students settle in to class.

Our school day ends at 2:35.

Parents and/or guardians are asked to promptly enter any address, and any work, cell, home and emergency contact phone number changes in the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus.

This will prove extremely important should an emergency arise.

Please keep phone number(s) and email address(es) current. Parents and/or guardians are able to do this via the Parent Portal.

Temperatures 50 degrees or higher

• No jacket required

• If the temperatures are close, send your students outside with their long sleeves and pants; if the temperature rises to 50 degrees, the students can put their items in the classroom line just like they do with their backpacks in the mornings.

Temps 32 - 50 degrees

• Outerwear required (Outerwear is defined aS a hoodie, sweatshirt, 1/4 zip, fleece, windbreaker, jacket, etc) Just cannot be the student's base layer. Students should also be wearing pants.

• Students may wear shorts in the building during the colder months. They should put pants on when they go to recess if temperatures are below 50 degrees

Temps below 32 degrees

• Winter jacket required

• If snow is on the ground students are to wear snow pants and boots at all times in order to play in areas other than the blacktop. If students do not wear snow pants and boots with snow on the ground they will be required to stay on the blacktop.

Temps below -6 degrees

• Indoor recess

We are back to paying for breakfast and lunch.

You can find the menus by going to the link included here. Be sure to choose the level that the child is in to see the correct menu.

Breakfast cost: 0.35

Lunch cost: $2.25

To see if you qualify for free/reduced breakfast/lunch, go to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and look for "Applications/Forms" or call the office and we can send the appropriate form home in your child's folder.

Tips on preventing and controlling the spread of Head Lice:

• Avoid head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact during play and other activities at home, school, and elsewhere (sports activities, playground, slumber parties, camp).

• Do not share clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair ribbons, or barrettes.

• Do not share combs, brushes, or towels. Disinfect combs and brushes used by an affected person by soaking them in hot water for 5–10 minutes.

• Do not lie on beds, couches, pillows, carpets, or stuffed animals that have recently been in contact with an affected person.

• Machine wash and dry clothing, bed linens, and other items that an affected person wore or used during the 2 days before treatment using the hot water laundry cycle and the high heat drying cycle. Clothing and items that are not washable can be dry-cleaned OR sealed in a plastic bag and stored for 2 weeks.

• Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the affected person sat or lay. However, spending much time and money on house cleaning activities is not necessary to avoid reinfestation by lice or nits that may have fallen off the head or crawled onto furniture or clothing.

• Check your child's hair at home for head lice and nits regularly. If crawling lice or nits are found on your child, all household members should be examined for crawling lice and nits every 2–3 days.

• You should examine your child’s head, especially behind the ears and at the nape of the neck, for crawling lice and nits if your child exhibits any symptoms of a head lice infestation.

• Persons with live (crawling) lice or nits within ¼ inch or less of the scalp should be treated.

• Your health care provider will likely recommend a medication available without a prescription that kills lice and some of the nits. These medications may not kill recently laid eggs. Therefore, an appropriately timed second treatment is usually necessary to kill nymphs after they hatch but before they become adult lice.

• Some studies suggest that re-treating 7 to 9 days after the first treatment is the ideal time for a second treatment, but other re-treatment schedules exist. Ask your health care provider for written instructions for a recommended treatment schedule.

Head Lice: What Parents Need to Know

Head Lice Treatment: Myth and Realities

WINTER HEALTH TIPS

Exposure to cold can lead to injury or serious illness such as frostbite or hypothermia.

Follow these tips to keep your children safe in cold weather:

Dress your children appropriately before coming to school. The air temperature does not have to be below freezing for your child to experience cold emergencies such as hypothermia or frostbite. Wind speed can create dangerously cold conditions even when the temperature is not that low.

• Dress your child in layers so they can adjust to changing conditions from indoors to outdoors.

• Most of your child’s body heat is lost through their head, so they should wear a hat, preferably one that covers their ears.

• Mittens provide more warmth to a child’s hands than gloves.

• Your child should wear waterproof, insulated boots to help avoid hypothermia or frostbite by keeping their feet warm and dry and to maintain their footing in ice and snow.

CFSD Illness Protocol:

Keep your student home if any of the following apply:

• Temperature over 100.4 degrees in the last 24 hours before medication (Tylenol/Ibuprofen)

• Vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours

• They have been diagnosed with a contagious illness (e.g.; strep throat, pink eye) and have been on medication for less than 24 hours if medication is required

• Have an unexplained rash of unknown origin

Caitlin Maranell BSN, RN

Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District

District Wide Registered Nurse

715-738-2660 ext. 3543

maranecr@chipfalls.org

For all things bus related, be sure to contact Chippewa Yellow Bus directly at 715-726-2454.

Our school district has partnered with Realiving to provide families with counseling and parent coaching support. Each family can receive four free counseling appointments as well as four free parent coaching appointments at no charge. Please contact Realiving by calling 855-233-1048 or by visiting their website at realiving.com

Email: lowerj@chipfalls.org
Website: https://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/halmstad/
Location: 565 East South Avenue, Chippewa Falls, WI, USA
Phone: (715)726-2415
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chippewafallsschool/
Twitter: @ChippewaFallsSD