Janssen SCHOOL
September 2023 Newsletter
Janssen Families,
Happy first week of school to all of you! It has been so energizing to see staff and students back in the building and already working together to foster a sense of community and belonging.
Building a strong classroom community will serve as the foundation to creating an environment where students feel safe, valued, and heard. Our staff and students have been working together to establish what the expectations for their classroom community will look like this year. Together these communities of learners will have infinite opportunities to grow, learn, problem-solve, and reflect on their growth together this year.
Families play a critical role in helping children build connections as they make meaning of what they are learning in the classroom and how it fits into the world around them. I appreciate all that you do to help support their learning.
Wishing you and your family well as we settle into another school year and begin to anticipate all that is ahead for our students this year.
September 5, 2024
Dear Janssen Families,
The safety of our students and staff at Janssen Elementary is our top priority. It is important that everyone knows what to do if an emergency situation should arise at our school.
Over the next two weeks, we will conduct several safety drills, including drills for fire, evacuation, tornado, and lockdown. Each drill includes an opportunity for teachers to review and discuss with students. We will also assess procedures as a staff and discuss how we can improve and refine our practices.
If you have any questions or concerns about any of these drills, please reach out to me at any time. Thank you for your support as we continue to make Janssen Elementary a safe place to learn and work.
Are you interested in helping out at school, but just don't know how or when? Or do you know somebody (grandma, grandpa, etc.) who would like help? If so, we have a great opportunity for you. We are looking for lunchroom supervisors to help from 10:45-1:00. You pick your schedule and this is a paid position! If you are interested in learning more about this position, please contact Arianna in the office at 920-788-7915.
Students that need to be photographed:
If students have not been photographed this school year, please be prepared to have a photograph taken on October 4th. All students must be photographed. Portraits will be needed for our school's data base.
Students that would like re-take photos:
If you want a re-take of your student's original portrait, please return the original package in its entirety to the photographer on re-take day. A replacement package will be printed and delivered to the school with your student's new image. If you did not purchase photos from the original picture day and want a re-take, please have the student's picture taken.
Students who want to order school pictures for the first time:
If you would like to order school pictures for the first time, you can print and use the order form .pdf or obtain one from the school office. Just fill out the order form and bring it with you to re-take day.
Students who did not order school pictures and would like to order at a later time:
If you do not order your student's portrait on re-take day, you will still be able to order online for the entire school year. Approximately 3 weeks after the portrait is taken your student will bring home a proof form with their own secure private gallery password. Online orders get mailed directly to your home and will include a shipping charge of $5.25.
Delivery of re-take portraits:
Re-take photos will be delivered to the school approximately three weeks after the re-take day.
Fall MAP Testing Notification
This fall MAP tests will be administered to students in grades 5K - 4. MAP tests are administered during the year and measure student growth in the areas of reading, language arts, and mathematics. This information, along with other student data, provide our teachers with valuable information to inform instruction and monitor and set goals. Results of the MAP tests will be mailed to parents when they become available. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions.
Meet your School Counselor...how can I help your child?
Hello! My name is Katie Wells and I am very happy to be a part of the Janssen community and
to work with amazing students. I may meet with many of your children for school related issues
throughout the school year. However, some individuals I may meet with more often for individual
counseling, small groups or social/emotional skill-based counseling/teaching. Not all children
will receive individual counseling/small groups. These services are provided on an as needed
basis when school social/emotional supports are needed beyond the classroom. If you prefer
me not to meet with your child for repeated, scheduled individual counseling, please call or
email me. I still may meet with your child regarding issues or to help with regulation, problem
solving, etc. not on a weekly basis in order to help them through their school day. Thank you.
Feel free to contact me with any questions. Have a great 2024-2025 school year!
Individual counseling: As the School Counselor, I can provide your child individual counseling to
help them be ready for the classroom. Research shows that students will do better academically
when their social/emotional needs are met first. School counseling is different from mental
health counseling. It is not long-term counseling and is used to help students solve problems so
they may focus at school. If the issue is not effecting school and/or is long-term, a mental health
counselor or marriage and family counselor may be more suitable.
If your child could use extra support in any of these areas, call or email me-emotional
management, social skills tips, friendship support, self-management, classroom skills, etc.
Small Group: Sometimes, a child may be recommended by their teacher for a small group as a
role model or to help them with a skill. Opt-out letters will be sent home either in the child’s
folder or via mail in these cases. If your child is invited to a small group and you would not like
them to participate, please contact me at that time.
In Life Skills: I teach social emotional, career, safety and other curriculum
In your child’s classroom usually bi-weekly starting in October for 30 minutes about emotions,
empathy, learning, managing emotions, friendship, problem solving, safety, career planning and
more.
School Wide: My goal is for all of our students to be kind, respectful, honest
and responsible here in Bulldog Nation! Therefore, I work to teach all students the social &
emotional skills necessary to be good citizens and lifelong learners.
Katie Wells
Janssen School Counselor
M.S. School Counseling
920-788-7915 ext. 24150
Buddy Goes To Work
Hello Janssen Elementary Parents and Guardians,
Students at Janssen are learning about Career Clusters. We are looking for volunteers to help with our Buddy Goes to Work Project. This project will help students learn about different careers from you! If you are interested, email Katie Wells, the Janssen Elementary School Counselor at kwells@kimberly.k12.wi.us.
Those who sign up will get a laminated picture of Buddy to bring to their work and take pictures of Buddy working. You will receive instructions in your child's backpack with Buddy and a return date for Buddy; as well as, a short report to fill out about your career. These reports and pictures will be displayed at Janssen for Janssen students to learn more about your careers. Thank you so much for your participation.
Medication consent forms are required for all over-the-counter and prescription medications. This includes cough drops, ointments, creams, etc. These forms are conveniently available for you here. Prescription medications do require a physician’s signature. Forms are available for asthma, bee sting allergy, diabetes, food allergy, seizure medications and general medications. If you have any questions, regarding these forms, feel free to call the school office. Thank you!
If your child will be receiving a prescription medication at school and you would like consent to apply to summer school, please have physician extend “end” date through completion of summer learning sessions (e.g. 8-30-24).
Please welcome the following new staff members to Janssen Elementary School:
Emma Hall - Second Grade Support Teacher
Hannah Hietpas - Third Grade Literacy Teacher
Olivia Engman - Special Education Teacher
Sara Grinde - Special Education Teacher
Ellen Van Groll - Educational Interpreter
Jericho Van Gompel - Educational Interpreter
Katherine Zurzolo - Student Teacher with Mrs. Jodi Hacker
Trace Anderson - Student Teacher with Mr. Colin Englebert
Paige Stevenson - Intern with Mrs. Jen Iverson
Student & Parent Handbook
Bus Handbook
If your child(ren) will be riding the bus at any time during the school year, please review the Pupil Transportation Handbook with them. The last page of the handbook is a form that must be completed and signed by a parent/guardian for each pupil that will ride the bus. The completed form should be returned to the child's school secretary by September 22, 2023.
Janssen Families,
Welcome to another year of awesome music learning here at Janssen! I am so excited to work with your students this year - we are going to have so much fun! :)
i wanted to share some very important dates with you early this year, as we have some adjustments from past years as it pertains to concerts.
This year, the 2nd & 3rd grade students will be performing in the Winter. That date for the concert is Tuesday, December 3rd.
The 1st & 4th grade students will be performing in the Spring. Their date is Tuesday, March 4th.
The 5K will be performing the day after, Wednesday, March 5th. This will be a daytime performance , starting at 2:00 pm.
I will have more details regarding times of performance of older students within the next month. Thank you for your patience as we get these concerts scheduled. I cannot wait to showcase your students' lovely talents!
Miss St. Arnold
