East School Panther Press #4

December 4th, 2024

Message from the Principal

November was an eventful month filled with opportunities for learning, reflection, and community. From honoring our veterans on Veterans Day to spreading kindness on World Kindness Day, we’ve come together as a school to celebrate what matters most. We also celebrated High Attendance Days, acknowledging the importance of showing up and engaging in learning every day.

The highlight of the month was a memorable presentation by Native American dancers and drummers, who shared their cultural heritage and traditions with our students. It was an educational experience that helped enrich our understanding of history and community.

As we turn the page to December, there are many exciting things to look forward to!

Looking Ahead: December Updates

Wednesday, December 11th: No School - Staff PD Day
COLD WEATHER - Please send warm clothes to school with students (coats, mitten/gloves, hats, etc.) We enjoy the outside time unless the temperature is zero or below!

Inclement Weather Protocol

As winter approaches, we may experience inclement weather that could result in school closures. To ensure you stay informed, please make sure your contact information is up to date in Infinite Campus. This will allow you to receive timely notifications about whether school will be canceled or if students will participate in virtual learning on those days.

Winter Break Schedule

Our last day of school before winter break will be Friday, December 20th. Students will return to school on Thursday, January 2nd. We hope your family enjoys a restful and joyful winter break!

Thank You for Sharing Your Children with Us

As always, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our families for your continued support. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with your children and help them grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Together, we are building a strong, vibrant learning community.

Wishing you all a wonderful and peaceful season!

Warm regards,

Jori Ruff, East Elementary Principal

Ask Your Child...

What skills did you work on in PE this month?
What was your favorite art creation?
What was the hardest thing you worked on in math this month?
What book are you reading in Wit and Wisdom this week?

Contacts

Jori Ruff

Principal

608-355-3920 ext. 4010

jruff@barabooschools.net

Andrea Schroeder

Administrative Assistant

608-355-3920

aschroeder@barabooschools.net

815 6th Street

Baraboo, WI 53913

Attendance

Please call the office to report an absence or if your student will be late to school

or leave early.

Call 608-355-3920

and leave a voicemail

or send an email to aschroeder@barabooschools.net

Rebecca Christensen

School Nurse

(608)355-3920, Ext. 4160

rchristensen@barabooschools.net

Fax: 608-355-3975

Pat Gavin

Kidstop

(608)355-3925, ext. 7150

pgavin@barabooschools.net

Important East Elementary Routines including drop off and pick up information

Click Here!

ELECTRONIC ONLINE PAYMENTS

Parents/guardians can pay fees and add funds to the child's lunch account from a phone or computer without having to send cash or check. If parents/guardians wish to make payments in person, each school has a credit/debit card reader available.

Pay with a checking account online to avoid service fees.

East Elementary Staff

Click here for our staff list and their contact information

Reaching the Office

The school office can ge be busy at times. If you're unable to reach someone by phone, please leave a voicemail. All voicemails are forwarded directly to our email and are checked promptly. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Vacations

It's important that you inform your child's teacher and and the office in regards to vacations.

From the Student Handbook: Parent requests for their child to be absent for more than two days in a row must be made in writing at least one week in advance to the building principal. Please email Ms. Andrea in the office with any vacation plans.

Field Trip Chaperones and Classroom Volunteers

Please complete a Raptor Background Check if you plan to chaperone this year. Don't wait until the last minute, sometimes they can take anywhere from 1 day to 2 weeks to be returned. They are good for 2 years and if you are unsure if you have one on file, you can login here to check.

Updated East School Website and App

At East School we have been working to update our website with current events and important information. Stay up-to-date with access to events, documents, emergency notifications, and lunch menus.

You can download the app for free on Google Play or Apple App Store.

Download for Android https://bit.ly/3qihQnJ
Download for iPhone https://apple.co/3qnlv3y

School Safety Protocol Updates

Please check out this section of our website to review our NEW Standard Response Protocol for school safety this year. This information has been shared previously, but it is important to review.

East Calendar - Upcoming Events

Dec 11:

No School- Staff Professional Development Day

Dec 23 - Jan 1:

No School - Winter Break

Jan 20:

No School - Martin Luther King Jr Day

Jan 24:

No School - Teacher Work Day

Feb 12:

No School- Staff Professional Development Day

Mar 18:

Asynchronous Day - Parent Teacher Conferences

Mar 24-29:

No School- Spring Break

Apr 9:

No School- Staff Professional Development Day

Apr 18:

No School- Easter Friday

May 26:

No School- Memorial Day

May 28:

Full Day of School

June 4:

Full Day of School

Jun 6:

4K Last Day of School

Jun 10:

K-5th Last Day of School

EAST SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Native American Ho-Chunk Dancers

On November 26th, East Elementary School was honored to welcome the Ho-Chunk Singers and Dancers for a vibrant and educational presentation to honor National Native American Heritage Month. Students and staff were captivated by the music, dance, and traditions shared—an inspiring reminder of the rich cultural heritage within our community

World Kindness Day Activity

East Elementary students celebrated World Kindness Day in the most heartwarming way! They wore their YOU MATTER shirts and joined hands to form a circle around the school. It was a beautiful reminder of the power of kindness and unity in our community.

Wit and Wisdom

Flashlight Friday in the library and Mrs. Klahn's class working on their Wit and Wisdom.

Mr. Mohr's 4th grade

Classroom Buddies

Mrs. Peterson's first graders met with their 4th grade buddies to work on a fall activity about gratitude.

High Attendance Day Celebrations

High attendance days are when 96%+ students are present for the day. We celebrated two high attendance days in November with "Drop Everything and Read" in the hallway and a recess dance party with Mrs. Ruff.

A NOTE FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE

Illness Management

We continue to require that students and staff who are ill stay home if they have a fever (100.4 or higher), are vomiting, or have diarrhea.
Students will need a medical note to return to school after five (5) consecutive illness absences, per the Student Handbook.
We will also continue to follow the District’s Communicable Disease Policy 453.3

If you have questions regarding current illness guidelines or have a positive test to report, please email or call the East Health Office.

rchristensen@barabooschools.net

bhelton@barabooschools.net

or 608-355-3920 x4160

Seal A Smile Visits at East

Seal a Smile visits were in November and they will return in February to re-vist students who have signed up.

Contact Seal-A-Smile Coordinator Katie if you have questions katie.homar@saukcountywi.gov or (608) 963-925.

Calling All Volunteers

The Baraboo School District will use Raptor Background Check moving forward to streamline the process and provide further protection to volunteer information. All applications will be completed online no longer requiring volunteers to bring information into the buildings for application. Click the link above to access the form.

This is needed if you plan to volunteer for any upcoming field trips with your child.

EAST SCHOOL PARENT GROUP

The East School Parent Group (ESPG) has many plans underway for ways to support the students and staff at East. The funds we raise throughout the year are used by classroom teachers and to support special school projects and events, such as the Pumpkin Walk and school Carnival!

There are a couple of easy ways to support the ESPG with things you're probably already doing. Follow our facebook page for volunteer opportunities, donate to our Venmo account for special events, and you can even earn money for the school by scanning eligible receipts with the Box Tops for Education app.

We would love to see you at our meetings, held the first Tuesday of each month in the Library at East from 6pm-7pm. Can’t attend? No problem! Visit our Facebook page to just learn more about ways you can help out. If you have any questions about ESPG, send us an email espgbaraboo@gmail.com or a Facebook message.

Future meetings:

Dec 3rd

Feb 4th

Mar 4th

CLASSROOM SNACKS

CLICK HERE FOR THE APPROVED SNACK LIST

Home baked community/classroom treats are no longer allowed to be distributed in classrooms. This would include shareable items such as cupcakes, cake, brownies, fruit, vegetables, etc. Only pre- packaged, factory sealed, individual snack items are allowed to be shared in a classroom. Please make sure the ingredients list is on the box or package as well.

A NOTE ABOUT ATTENDANCE

Families with students entering All-Day 4K-Grade 5 may enroll their students in the Fall 2024-2025 Kid Stop Program. Enrollment forms and information may be viewed on the district website or paper copies will be available at all elementary school offices and the East and GLW Kid Stop sites. Online registration is not an option. You may complete the registration form and schedule and either turn in to Gordon L. Willson Elementary School office or scan to the coordinator’s email at pgavin@barabooschools.net Once your enrollment form has been processed you will receive an email from the coordinator regarding whether your child is enrolled or on the waitlist.

Registration is on a first come first serve basis.

With questions, please contact Pat Gavin, Kid Stop Coordinator, at pgavin@barabooschools.net or phone (608) 355-3925 ext. 7150.