Message from the Principal

Dear Families,

As we move into the month of October, we have several exciting and important events planned for our school community.

National Bullying Prevention Month

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and we are committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment for all students. Throughout the month, we will be sharing resources and activities that focus on kindness, inclusion, and standing up to bullying. Together, we can create a positive and caring atmosphere for everyone.

Fire Safety Week 

October 6th - 12th is Fire Safety Week! The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) announced “Smoke alarms: make them work for you!™” as the official theme for Fire Prevention Week™. Key messages for this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme, “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!” include the following:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement) of the home.
• Make sure smoke alarms meet the needs of all family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or don’t respond when tested.

National School Bus Safety Week

School Bus Safety week is Oct. 21 -25. When you see a school bus slowing down or stopping, it’s not just the bus that you need to have your eyes on – but the surrounding area too. Children wait at least several feet away from a bus and often cross the street when they’re boarding or getting off the bus. This is why you must stop for school buses, and don’t attempt to pass! Let’s make sure we all do our part to practice bus safety! 

Pumpkin Walk

Mark your calendars for our annual Pumpkin Walk on Friday, October 25th! It will be a fun-filled evening where families can enjoy a festive walk around the school playground and admire creative pumpkin displays. 

Family Conferences and Scholastic Book Fair 

We are looking forward to connecting with you during Family Conferences on Thursday, October 24th. This is a great opportunity to discuss your child's progress and set goals for the rest of the school year. More information on scheduling your conference will be sent out soon, so keep an eye out for information in Friday folders. We will also have the Scholastic Book Fair in the library during conferences! 



Asynchronous Learning Day

Please note that we will have an Asynchronous Learning Day on Thursday, October 24th. On this day, students will work independently from home, following instructions provided by their teachers. More details will be shared to ensure everyone is prepared for a successful day of learning.

We are excited for all that October has in store and look forward to continuing to work together to support our students’ growth and well-being.

Warm regards,

Jori Ruff, East Elementary Principal 

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.

East School Recess Handbook

Hey East School Families! We have updated some of the guidelines and expectations in our East School Recess Handbook. Our staff are all using the same handbook to make it easier for our students to remember and follow the expectations so we can all have fun and stay safe during recess.

To review the handbook, click here!

We need volunteers!

For Pumpkin Carving: Sign Up Here! We need at least 4 adult volunteers from each class (more welcome!) to help with carving after school on Wednesday 10/23, 1:30pm-Dark. Adults only for safety. We will have some tools but feel free to bring your own if you'd like. Because this is after school and outside, no background check is needed.  Feel free to invite other adult family members or friends, too! The more hands we have helping, the faster this will go!

For the Book Fair: Sign Up Here! We’re looking for help to ensure it runs smoothly.

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.

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.

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