School Hours: 

8:45 am - 3:45 pm

Drop Off: starting at 8:30 am

8:45 am - students should be in their seats ready to learn

School Year Office Hours:

7:30 am - 4:30 pm



In recent weeks, your child may have come home with a blue WOW! ticket. These pieces of paper come with positive words of reinforcement and celebration for students when they are caught following our school behavior expectations. We have included our CenDen Behavior Matrix below. Please take a look and find a few minutes here and there to help us reinforce our expectations while your child participates in other aspects of our community.

Each month, our schools are required to practice safety drills. The three drills that we practice include fire drills, tornado drills, and lockdown drills.

Please know that our teachers demonstrate and talk about the safe locations and appropriate behaviors that are required prior to these drills. Because of the age of our students, we will always try to frontload a drill as the chance to practice what we need to do, just like they would practice for a soccer game. We would never want to cause a panic or a level of fear. We talk about keeping our bodies safe and our voices quiet so that we can follow the directions that are given by our adults.

MAKE UP PHOTOS ONLY: October 23, 2024 The online Prepay ordering is officially open for 2024-2025 School Pictures. Click the link to find your school picture date and gather additional information: https://bit.ly/45VymuI 

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We are excited to partner with you in your child's education journey using the Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) curriculum. CKLA is designed to build students' reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills, while also providing knowledge about important topics in history, science, and literature.  

We understand that learning happens not only in the classroom but also at home. Here are some ways you can help support your child's success with CKLA:

1. Encourage Reading at Home

CKLA places a strong emphasis on building background knowledge and vocabulary. You can help by:

• Reading with your child: Set aside time to read together. This could include books from the CKLA curriculum or any other reading materials that interest your child.
• Ask questions: Discuss the stories they’re reading. Ask questions like, “What was your favorite part?” or “What did you learn from the story?”

2. Practice Vocabulary

CKLA exposes students to rich and diverse vocabulary. You can:

• Review new words: Ask your child to explain new words they’ve learned. Practice using these words in daily conversations.
• Word games: Play word games like Scrabble, or simply ask your child to describe things around them using creative vocabulary.

3. Discuss the Content

CKLA covers a variety of fascinating topics in history, science, and culture. Encourage your child to:

• Share what they’ve learned: Have your child explain a concept or event they’ve learned in school, such as ancient civilizations, important historical figures, or scientific discoveries.
• Explore further: If they are interested in a particular topic, explore it further with books, documentaries, or visits to museums.

If you want to learn more about the topics your child is learning about, please visit: https://amplify.com/caregiver-hub/amplify-ckla/

Once there, go to the Units overview tab, select your grade level, and then click on the knowledge and skills curriculum tabs.  Below is a screenshot of the Units overview links for 5K.

By working together, we can help your child develop a strong foundation in language arts and knowledge across various subjects. Your involvement makes a big difference in your child’s learning experience, and we appreciate your support!

If you have any questions or would like more resources on how to support CKLA learning at home, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for being a part of your child’s educational journey.

Sincerely,

Erin Zigler

Director of Curriculum and Instruction

We love that our students are able to ride their bikes to school. We have recently relocated the bike racks to the space in front of school near the office door. It is more centrally located and a bit safer.

Monthly meeting reminder: October 1st at 6:00 pm in the Cen-Den library.

We hope to see you there!

Please sign up for parking! We are in need of a few volunteers still to work Oktoberfest Parking on October 12th and October 13th.

Sign up here for a two (2) hour time slot.

Save the date for Bootiful Night! This event will be Wednesday, October 23rd at 4:30 pm. Look for more information to come home soon. 

The Central-Denison PTO is so excited to be partnering with 1st place spiritwear again this year. There are so many styles and options to pick from including hats, shorts, jackets, sweatshirts, blankets and more.

You can order and pay online and everything gets shipped directly to your home. Best of all, the online store is open all year long.



Superintendent Dr. Peter Wilson will host a series of “Coffee with the Superintendent” events throughout the upcoming months. These informal gatherings provide an opportunity for parents and community members to engage in open discussions about Lake Geneva Schools.

Dates:

• Wednesday, October 23, 2024 | 9:00 am - 10:00 am | The Porch, 832 Geneva St Unit 2, Lake Geneva, WI 53147
• Wednesday, November 20, 2024 | 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm | Lake Geneva Schools District Office, 208 E. South Street, Lake Geneva, WI 53147
• No December Event
• Wednesday, January 29, 2025 | 9:00 am - 10:00 am | Inspired Coffee Shop, 883 W Main St, Lake Geneva, WI 53147
• Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | 9:00 am - 10:00 am | The Porch, 832 Geneva St Unit 2, Lake Geneva, WI 53147
• Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm | Lake Geneva Schools District Office, 208 E. South Street, Lake Geneva, WI 53147
• Wednesday, April 23, 2025 | 9:00 am - 10:00 am | Inspired Coffee Shop, 883 W Main St, Lake Geneva, WI 53147
• Wednesday, May 28, 2025 | 9:00 am - 10:00 am | The Porch, 832 Geneva St Unit 2, Lake Geneva, WI 53147
• Wednesday, June 25, 2025 | 9:00 am - 10:00 am | Inspired Coffee Shop, 883 W Main St, Lake Geneva, WI 53147
• Wednesday, July 23, 2025 | 9:00 am - 10:00 am | The Porch, 832 Geneva St Unit 2, Lake Geneva, WI 53147
• Wednesday, August 20, 2025 | 9:00 am - 10:00 am | Inspired Coffee Shop, 883 W Main St, Lake Geneva, WI 53147

Please call to RSVP prior to each event (limited space available) at 262-348-1005.

The YMCA YBASE program is for students in 4K-5th grade who need care before school, after school, or both. Morning care (AM) is offered beginning at 6:30 a.m. until school starts. Afternoon care (PM) is offered after school until 6:00 p.m. Flexible days, hours, and drop-in options are available. This program is available at Central-Denison and Star Center Elementary Schools in Lake Geneva. Students attending Eastview School would be shuttled to Central-Denison.

For more details, hours of care, options, and pricing, please click below:

Lake Geneva Schools (Badger and Joint #1) is excited to continue offering students FREE Breakfast for the 2024 - 2025 School Year! We are extremely happy to provide this service to our community and encourage all students to participate!

Elementary Pricing

Breakfast: FREE

Lunch: $2.75

Milk Pricing - All Grades - $0.50 per carton

Snack Milk: $55 per year

We encourage you to complete the Application for Free

and Reduced Lunch. The application will also be available at our Open House event 

Food Service Questions? Contact:

Jaclyn Sanders

jaclyn.sanders@badger.k12.wi.us

Phone: 262-348-1015

We are once again asking that children bring their own individual snacks and water bottles. Students are welcome to bring store-bought birthday treats and special event snacks. We do have fill stations at the drinking fountains throughout the building so students can refill their water bottles. No worries if your child does not have a water bottle, as the drinking fountains will be accessible as needed.

One of the biggest ways you can help your child succeed this school year is to make sure your child gets to school on time (between 8:30-8:45 a.m.) each and every day. The evidence is clear: children with good attendance are more likely to be successful in school. High attendance rates are linked to high student achievement. Every day counts, and missing school even 10% of the time has a significant negative impact on reading and math achievement as children progress through school. We want to ask for your commitment to making sure your child attends school every day possible this year.

When your child does have to be absent from school, we ask that you communicate with us about the absence. When your child will be absent, you have two communication options:

Call or email Mrs. Draper in the main office at 262-348-4000 to speak with her and/or leave a message by 9:30 AM each day.

You may log in to PowerSchool to record the reason for your child’s absence. Please see the directions linked here.

We also ask that you let us know about pre-planned absences, including vacations and doctor appointments, ahead of time. When missing school for an appointment, it is always encouraged that you get documentation of your visit to provide to the school as verification. When leaving for an extended vacation (3 or more days), we also ask that you complete the Planned Absence Request Form. This form can be obtained from Mrs. Draper in the office.

Lastly, please also note that, as a school, we are required to track student attendance and support families with any attendance issues or concerns. Our highest priority is to have students at school, and we are willing to help in any way we can. As a parent, it is important to understand the current State of Wisconsin attendance laws stated below:  

A parent or guardian may only excuse their child/children for 10 days during the school year, including doctor visits. After these 10 days, an absence can only be excused if the school is provided with a note from a doctor, dentist, court, etc. The same guidelines apply to excessive tardies.

Once a student has been absent for 7 days (excused or unexcused), parents/guardians will receive a letter noting the absences as well as procedures for the next steps to improve attendance.

Thank you in advance for your commitment and support to your child’s attendance this school year.



We are always looking for ways to make the pick-up on Cook Street easier and more importantly, safer. There are a lot of people waiting on the sidewalk to pick-up their children after school. To avoid the crowding and close proximity to the road, I would like to ask our families to wait on the ends of the sidewalks until your child comes out of the building. Then, by all means, move up to get them if you need to. Once you have picked up your children, please move away from the pick-up area. Feel free to move over to the grassy area to visit with other families or cross over to the playground for a bit. We love that you have the chance to socialize, but we really need to keep that pick-up area clear.



Also…please do not cross to the other side of the road by cutting between the cars. Our student are very small and often hard to see. I can’t think of anything more tragic than if one of them were to get hit by a car or pinched between two cars in the pick-up line. There is a crosswalk at the stop sign for your convenience and our crossing guard is very attentive in stopping traffic for those crossing the road.

We would like to share a few reminders about our pick-up and drop-off procedures. While we know that these beginning and end of the day scenarios can be frustrating, after many years of trying to work

out the kinks, we have also learned that when everyone is patient and follows the guidelines, it really does work like a well-oiled machine.

Whether on Cook or Madison Street, please approach the pick-up/drop-off area slowly, but keep the line moving. DO NOT PARK IN THE LINE AND WALK YOUR CHILD TO THE DOOR. This blocks the traffic

and causes the entire line to wait for you. It is easiest to have your child positioned to exit or enter your car on the passenger side of the vehicle. We do have staff members who will assist your child when getting in and out of the car. Please, if possible, do not walk between the vehicles. Everyone is moving slowly, but they are moving and we would not want anyone to be accidently pinched between the vehicles.

Please remember how narrow those side streets are and how much traffic is moving through at these times. Be sure to check your mirrors and look before moving out into traffic. If you choose to park and need to cross the road, please be a safety role model and use the crosswalk. I know it is a few more

steps out of the way, but it goes a long way in setting an example for our students and really is a safety factor.

Whether it is waiting for a parent to buckle their little ones into a car seat or following the guidelines given by our staff, patience and respect are key. Everyone is doing their best to keep our children safe. Use of foul language and gestures does not get the job done faster. It only adds to the frustration. Please stay in your car, be alert to moving bodies and vehicles, and be appreciative of the safe delivery of your child to your vehicle. We know that with time, things will settle, but in the meantime, please be

observant of the process and respectful to those who are taking part in its success.

CAR RIDERS –Pick-up and Drop-Off Procedures 

We do have a large number of families who choose to pick up and drop off at school each day. As you enter the lines on Cook Street and Madison Street, please DO NOT cut into the line, and be alert as you move up through the lines. Please be patient, as the lines may be long, and our littlest learners may struggle a bit getting in and out of the cars. If everyone follows the line, moves up as far as possible behind the next car, and is patient, it really does flow smoothly. An important side note: please be kind to our staff as they are working hard to help all of our students arrive and depart safely.

MORNING DROP-OFF 

8:30 am - 8:45 am | As always, our 4K-1st grade car riders should be dropped off on Cook Street. The second and third graders can be dropped off on Madison Street. PLEASE HAVE YOUR CHILD POSITIONED TO EXIT THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. This allows your child to safely exit the car without crossing through the traffic pathways. Also, if you choose to park your car and walk your child to the door, PLEASE CROSS AT THE CROSSWALKS. This is a safety must! The streets are narrow, the traffic is heavy, and our children are little and often hard to see. We spend a lot of time teaching our students these safety rules. We really appreciate it when our parents can model them. Please DO NOT drop off your student before 8:30, as there is no supervision available until then.

BREAKFAST - If your child is planning to eat breakfast this year, they should go directly to the lunchroom upon entering the school. They should NOT go to their classroom first. All breakfast items will be served in a “Grab and Go” fashion. Kindergarten and 1st grade students will eat in the cafeteria. The 2nd and 3rd grade students will follow the guidelines of their teacher. Some will eat in the lunchroom, while others will be asked to bring it to their classrooms for a soft start to the school day. 4K teachers will share their daily schedules with you. Please check with your classroom teacher for clarification.

MORNING HALLWAY EXPECTATIONS – As students enter the building, they will either go to breakfast in the cafeteria or go directly to their classrooms. The expectation is that they will unpack and hang up their backpacks, use the bathroom, fill their water bottles, and talk quietly with their friends while they prepare to meet their teacher at the classroom door. This is a chance for them to develop and model responsible and respectful behavior expectations. It is also a great way for them to start their day!

END OF THE DAY PICK-UP 

Our walkers and car riders will be dismissed at 3:45 each day. Students who ride the bus will be dismissed once all of the buses have arrived so they may walk safely through the parking lot. If you have students who ride the transfer bus from Eastview, you are welcome to wait and pick them up at CenDen, but it may be quicker for you to pick them up at Eastview and then join the pickup line at CenDen. Again, PLEASE CROSS AT THE CROSSWALKS to help keep everyone safe. If early pick-up is needed, please send a note to your child's teacher.

CAR RIDERS –Pick-up and Drop-Off Procedures 

We do have a large number of families who choose to pick up and drop off at school each day. As you enter the lines on Cook Street and Madison Street, please DO NOT cut into the line, and be alert as you move up through the lines. Please be patient, as the lines may be long, and our littlest learners may struggle a bit getting in and out of the cars. If everyone follows the line, moves up as far as possible behind the next car, and is patient, it really does flow smoothly. An important side note: please be kind to our staff as they are working hard to help all of our students arrive and depart safely.

MORNING DROP-OFF 

8:30 am - 8:45 am | As always, our 4K-1st grade car riders should be dropped off on Cook Street. The second and third graders can be dropped off on Madison Street. PLEASE HAVE YOUR CHILD POSITIONED TO EXIT THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. This allows your child to safely exit the car without crossing through the traffic pathways. Also, if you choose to park your car and walk your child to the door, PLEASE CROSS AT THE CROSSWALKS. This is a safety must! The streets are narrow, the traffic is heavy, and our children are little and often hard to see. We spend a lot of time teaching our students these safety rules. We really appreciate it when our parents can model them. Please DO NOT drop off your student before 8:30, as there is no supervision available until then.

BREAKFAST - If your child is planning to eat breakfast this year, they should go directly to the lunchroom upon entering the school. They should NOT go to their classroom first. All breakfast items will be served in a “Grab and Go” fashion. Kindergarten and 1st grade students will eat in the cafeteria. The 2nd and 3rd grade students will follow the guidelines of their teacher. Some will eat in the lunchroom, while others will be asked to bring it to their classrooms for a soft start to the school day. 4K teachers will share their daily schedules with you. Please check with your classroom teacher for clarification.

MORNING HALLWAY EXPECTATIONS – As students enter the building, they will either go to breakfast in the cafeteria or go directly to their classrooms. The expectation is that they will unpack and hang up their backpacks, use the bathroom, fill their water bottles, and talk quietly with their friends while they prepare to meet their teacher at the classroom door. This is a chance for them to develop and model responsible and respectful behavior expectations. It is also a great way for them to start their day!

END OF THE DAY PICK-UP 

Our walkers and car riders will be dismissed at 3:45 each day. Students who ride the bus will be dismissed once all of the buses have arrived so they may walk safely through the parking lot. If you have students who ride the transfer bus from Eastview, you are welcome to wait and pick them up at CenDen, but it may be quicker for you to pick them up at Eastview and then join the pickup line at CenDen. Again, PLEASE CROSS AT THE CROSSWALKS to help keep everyone safe. If early pick-up is needed, please send a note to your child's teacher.

Dear Parent/Guardian, 

Vision & Hearing Screenings for Central Denison Students will be held: November 4th-8th, 2024.

It is important to have vision screenings done, as young children do not realize that the way they see the world may not be the way they should be seeing it! Without early detection and treatment, children’s vision problems can lead to permanent vision loss and learning difficulties. 

Vision screening will be completed using the Welch Allyn Spot screener. The Spot Vision Screener enables fast and objective detection of six amblyopic risk factors: myopia (nearsighted), hyperopia (farsighted), astigmatism (blurry vision), anisometropia (unequal power), strabismus (misalignment)  and anisocoria (unequal pupil size). 

Hearing is important for speech, language development, reading and learning. A hearing screening can detect if your child needs further testing. Even if your child has passed a hearing screening previously, their hearing can change. Hearing problems can also be related to medical problems. Hearing loss is invisible and the child could appear to be not paying attention. 

Hearing screenings will consist of: Audiometry-Screening of hearing acuity. 

If your child passes the above screenings, you will not be contacted. However, you are welcome to contact the school nurse to learn about the screening findings.

If your child fails any part of these screenings, a rescreen and/or referral will be made. A referral is a letter sent to the parent/guardian recommending further evaluation by your physician or eye care specialist.   

Screenings are just a snapshot of how your child performs on the day the screening is administered and is not a substitute for a complete hearing or eye exam. 

If you have any questions about the school vision and hearing screening program, please contact the school nurse. 

**If you DO NOT want your child to participate in this year's hearing and vision screening, please notify your child's school nurse prior to the screening date listed above

Sincerely,

Stefanie Keisler, RN

District Nurse

Lake Geneva Schools

Whom do I contact with a question or suggestion? 

Lake Geneva Schools’ communication protocols help promote direct, open, and respectful interactions so that we quickly and efficiently resolve problems and concerns. The communication protocol starts with the staff member closest to the situation, as that person usually has the most information. However, at times, additional personnel are required to resolve specific concerns.

Click here for more information and to view the Lake Geneva Schools Communication Matrix.



If you have information regarding bullying, harassment, or other non-emergency school safety concerns and would like to report this information, please click here to learn more, fill out a school-specific reporting form to the best of your knowledge, and submit it.



We love seeing our families at school, but it is important to keep our focus on a happy and successful school day. During the first week of school, parents are welcome to walk their child to their classroom if necessary. We understand that coming to school after the summer or as a first-time student can bring some emotional challenges for both children and adults.

After the first week of school, we will use a “Kiss and Go” model. Please leave your child at the door with a kiss and some happy words of encouragement and pride as they start their day. If you need help with separation, Mrs. Buhler, Mr. Nugent, or any of the CenDen staff will be happy to gently guide your child to their classroom.

If you need to bring something to school, please bring it directly to the office, and we will happily deliver it to your child.

Parental support is very important to ALL of the students and staff at Central-Denison. We welcome you to volunteer in whatever ways you can. If you are interested in helping at school or want to volunteer for school events, please complete the VOLUNTEER APPLICATION AND CONSENT FORM. It is available on the district website or from the school office. 



Click here to check out the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar.



Main Office: (262) 348-4000

Community Backpack

The Lake Geneva Schools Community Backpack is your online bulletin for youth-related community activities and educational opportunities. 

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Share News With Us

Share your news, event summaries, photos and/or give us a "head's up" on your upcoming events so we can promote your successes. 

Email photos@badger.k12.wi.us

Our Website

Please visit our website frequently for district-wide

and school specific announcements, and important information. 

lakegenevaschools.com

Central-Denison Elementary School

(262) 348-4000

www.lakegenevaschools.com

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