Message from the Principal
October is safety month. As well as celebrating fire prevention, we will also be running a secure drill at school the month of October. This drill practices students hiding in place within the classroom and being quiet as they would in the extreme case that a threat would be present inside or outside the building. The drill takes around 5-6 minutes to complete. I will talk to the students on announcements but also reassure your student this is only a drill and we practice just like we practice fire drills. Students need to take this seriously by following directions and being quiet so adults within the building can communicate.
As we continue to practice routines and procedures, many students lack social skills. We are practicing those in the classroom and our guidance counselors will be working with groups of students and also individuals. Studies show that due to the amount of time students are on screens, the number one thing they lack is empathy which is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. When we use discipline at school, we take a restorative approach and use empathy in our understanding of how our actions impacted another individual. Students take responsibility and apologize for harm they have caused. This year we are working with students on conflict resolution. Each classroom has a peace table for students to talk to each other and solve conflicts. We have four Peace Walks set up throughout the building and at recess for students to fix their problems with each other and resolve their conflicts. Each square gives directions on what the child should do as they work toward each other and then high five after a resolution has been reached. Teaching them the steps is an ongoing process. Please help me in building empathy and practicing conflict resolution with your children by having them consider the opposite viewpoint or trying to understand what may have caused a person to think or act that way as much as possible.
Your Principal,
Angie Gulrud
Contact Information-
Email : gulruda@portage.k12.wi.us
Phone: 608-742-5531, ext. 2001
Behavior Tips : Common Language at School and Home
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING -
The first month of school will be focused on helping students feel welcome, safe, and confident at school. Staff will run morning meeting activities in which students get to know each others' names, connect through common interests, and build community within their classroom and grade level. This year at Muir in addition to our Warrior Way that we pledge in announcements daily (We are respectful, responsible individuals on task, ready to learn, and safe.), we will be working on routines and procedures in all settings that follow these ideals - take care of yourself, take care of others, and take care of this place.
Sometimes words like responsible and respectful can be confusing for students as they aren't concrete terms, so breaking down what being responsible and respectful look like will help students understand.
Each grade level will use these rules and you can use the following rules at home as well so students have common language between home and school:
1. We listen to each other.
2. Hands are for helping, not hurting.
3. We use I-Care Language.
4. We care about each other's feelings.
5. We are responsible for what we say and do.
EMOTIONAL REGULATION-
Helping students identify and voice their feelings is really important to emotional regulation. We will work on this as well. When students identify or name their feeling, then they can use a strategy (if needed) to regulate that feeling. For example - I feel "angry" when you try to budge in line in front of me. Adult can prompt, what are your strategies when you feel angry? Student can share the strategies and adult can urge the student to use a strategy to cope with anger.
This takes patience and practice. It is also something all people (children and adults) need as a life skill. It is really great for adults to model for their children as well. Talk out loud about the thinking process going on within your mind (which teachers call a "think aloud") and this will provide modeling for your student.
"I am really angry that that car just pulled so close right in front of us. In the moment it really made me feel scared and worried for our safety. I am going to do some deep breathing right now and turn down the radio for a few miles to calm my body and keep driving safely."
Mrs. Jahn, Dean of Students
Did You Know?
Missing 10%, or about 2 days each month over the course of a school year, can make it harder to learn to read.
Students can still fall behind if they miss just 1 or 2 days every few weeks.
Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
Attending School regularly helps children feel better about school-and themselves. Building these habits early on so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is importance. Eventually good attendance will be a skills that will help them succeed in high school and college.
What You Can Do
Set a regular bedtime and morning routine
Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
Develop backup plans for getting to school it something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor or another parent.
Try to schedule medial appointments and extended trips when school isn’t in session.
If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors and other parents for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and exited about learning.
*Adapted from AttendanceWorks.org: Help Your Child Succeed in School: Build the Habit of Good Attendance Early
Contact information ~
Karissa Jahn
Email: jahnk@portage.k12.wi.us
Phone: 608-742-5531, Ext. 2002
Math is cool!
Welcome Back!
The math department is excited to see our marvelous mathematical students back for another exciting school year. At the elementary schools, we will be in our second year of the Bridges Mathematics curriculum. Most of our students will be familiar with it as we used it in our 4K-5 classrooms last year. The Bridges curriculum contains three parts. The first part is called Number Corner which is a mathematical focus calendar time with specific routines and activities to practice and introduce new skills. The second part are the Bridges Lessons where students do hands-on activities that focus on grade level standards. The third part are Workplaces in which students do explorations and games to encourage them to build their math identity. At the beginning of each unit, your child's classroom teacher will be sending home a Unit overview letter with strategies to help support your child, plus frequently asked questions.
We encourage you to explore mathematics at home with your child so your child has a positive experience with it. Games, cooking, building, shopping are all great ways to engage your child in math.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions about your child's mathematical development.
Have a great school year!
Matt Dietzenbach, District Math Specialist, Ext. 2250
Kathy Tofson, Elementary Math Coach, Ext. 2250
Thunderbird Youth Hockey Sign Up
Market Box Sign Up
We are excited to offer this great opportunity to our PCSD families and need to see how many families would like to participate!
The MARKET BOX will contain both perishable & non-perishable food. There is NO COST to participate and this program is open to all PCSD families. Here's the link: 2023-24 Market Day Box Sign-Up.
MARKET BOXES may include:
Eggs
Bread
Fresh Fruit
Fresh Vegetables
Frozen Meat
Boxed dry goods (Breakfast items/snacks/lunch options)
MARKET BOXES will be available for pick up on the THIRD WEDNESDAY of each month. The first MARKET BOX pick up is scheduled for October 18 from 4:30-5:30.
Families will need to pick them up from JOHN MUIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
If there is a change in the day or time for pick-up, we will notify families of the change.
Please fill out this form. Only submit ONE response per family/household per school year, even if you have multiple children attending the district by September 18th, 2023.
School Counselor
Happy Fall!
This is my favorite time of the year; leaves are turning colors, the temperature is cooling down, baking cookies on a rainy overcast day…it’s the best. It’s also the time of year where many parents will soon be hearing their child ask “When can we get my Halloween costume?”. I have many fond memories of trick-or-treating from my childhood, but it is important to be safe while having fun collecting all those goodies.
Top tips for Halloween Safety:
Carry glow sticks or flashlights, use reflective tape or stickers on costumes and bags
Join kids under age 12 for trick-or-treating
Remind kids to cross the street at corners and crosswalks and to be alert
When selecting a costume make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
Choose face paint over masks when possible, for masks can limit children’s vision.
And finally, inspect all candy before eating
**For more Halloween tips/resources like those listed above, you can check out Safe Kids Worldwide by clicking on the below link:
https://www.safekids.org/halloween
2nd & 3rd Grade SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Update:
For the past few weeks your child has been receiving guidance lessons on a weekly basis covering topics such as community building and regulating their emotions through using the Zones of Regulation. As your child’s 2nd & 3rd grade counselor I also offer one-on-one short term counseling and will be looking into forming group counseling sessions for students that are in need. If you are interested in your child meeting with me for either of these options, please utilize the QR code listed below that will bring you to my referral form.
Jennifer Shier is designated Grades 2 & 3
Contact Information
Email: shierj@portage.k12.wi.us
Phone: 608-742-5531, ext. 2454
School Counselor
In order to be successful in and out of school, students need to learn a set of social and emotional competencies (cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, empathy, and self-control) and a set of academic competencies (academic mindset, perseverance, learning strategies, and academic behaviors). This is a core belief in the Responsive Classroom approach, which aims to foster and support student success through a set of guiding principles and successful practices.
One goal of each individual classroom teacher at the start of the year is to establish a set of expectations and norms for a safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment for each of our students. And one goal of these beginning guidance lessons in both 4th and 5th grade is to bolster each teacher's set of classroom expectations by going deeper and including our students in the process of 1) identifying the behaviors they personally find disrupting, 2) reflecting on what a classroom without those behaviors would look and feel like, and 3) deciding which environment they would feel the most safe, welcome, and comfortable in, and in which they feel they could best learn.
From the classrooms that have already worked together on this part of the process, the most common behaviors mentioned that our students find disrupting include: talking, making noise, humming, loudness, "tapping" of objects on desks, people being distracting, yelling. When asked to imagine what a classroom without these behaviors would look like or feel like, students said it would feel or be: calm, relaxing, focused, kinder, more welcoming, boring, quieter, unusual. I thought "unusual" was an interesting answer, so I asked about why a classroom without those distracting behaviors would feel "unusual", and the student replied, "because I have never been in a room [without those distracting behaviors]." I had to agree with the student; it would be unusual.
The next step for each of our students, alongside our SEL guidance lessons, is to create the classrooms our students indicated they want, i.e. "creating a calm, orderly environment that promotes autonomy and allows students to focus on learning."
Mike Meyers is designated Grades 4 & 5
Contact Information
Email: meyersm@portage.k12.wi.us
Phone: 608-742-5531, ext. 2454
Make Up Picture Day is coming!
If your student missed getting his/her school picture taken, you still have an opportunity! Galley will be at the school for picture retakes October 18. If your student had his/her picture taken but you want a retake, just send the pictures you received back with your student to return to Galley Studios.
Secrets to staying healthy!
“Students must be healthy to be educated and educated to be healthy.”
~ Author unknown
Greetings from the school nurses! As we settle into the 2023-24 school year, the school nurses would like to share some basic school health information:
Research shows that students are better learners when they are healthy. Once school starts, it’s not uncommon to see an uptick in illness across the student population. If your student is not feeling well, it’s likely they will struggle to participate in their school day. We ask for you to review Portage Community School District’s Student Health Exclusion Guidelines. If your student meets criteria to stay home from school, please keep them home and contact your student’s school to report the absence. If your student has COVID 19 or they are showing symptoms of COVID 19, please see our COVID 19 protocol.
You might wonder, “What are some ways to keep my student healthy and ready for school?” The school nurses have a few recommendations to encourage healthy habits for your student(s):
Sleep/rest: Ensure your student gets plenty of rest each night. Adequate amounts of sleep will help your student remain focused at school, improve their performance in class, and lead to lifelong health benefits. The CDC recommends that students ages 6-12 years old get 9-12 hours of sleep per night and students ages 13-18 years old get 8-10 hours of sleep per night.
Breakfast: Good nutrition is important for a growing mind! This is why it’s important for your student(s) to start their day off right by eating breakfast. Many studies show that students who have eaten breakfast have higher energy levels, are able to concentrate better, have better standardized test scores, and miss less time out of the classroom. Breakfast is offered at school daily. Please visit our Food Services website for additional information.
Handwashing! Handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of illness. Encourage your student(s) to wash their hands frequently throughout the day, especially after using the restroom and before and after eating. More information about hand washing and key times to wash hands can be found on the CDC website.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to the school nurse if you have questions about your student’s health.
Valerie Hon, MSN, RN, LSN, NCSN
Pronouns (she/her)
District Nurse & Safety Committee Chairperson
Portage Community School District
305 E. Slifer Street
Portage, WI 53901
608/742-4867, extension 4022 or
PHS 608/742-8545, extension 1156
Fax 608/742-3989
Volunteering at John Muir!
Volunteering to help at the school or go on field trips is a wonderful way parents can stay connected to their student's school activities. To become a volunteer, the district asks that a background check be completed prior to participating. Here's the link to the district web page. It will take about five working days to process. Please keep in mind, this process must be completed prior to getting involved in your student's school activities. It cannot be completed the day of the activity as we will not yet have the approved results. The background checks are required to be done annually, i.e. if one is done in October, 2023, it will be good until October, 2024! It can be completed at any time during the school year.
We hope to see you at school!
Boys and Girls Club is Open and Ready for you and your family!
The Boys and Girls Club of Portage opened May 1, 2023! They are occupying a portion of the old Rusch Elementary School on Franklin St. in Portage. We are so excited to have this organization supporting our community. Please check out their web page at bgcwcw.org for available opportunities during the school year or their Facebook page, Boys & Girls Club - Columbia County/Portage.
Bus ID's
We are in the process of getting students their bus passes. Students will be using their bus pass to ride the bus again this year (even students who normally don't ride a bus as we use these for field trips, too). The pass is scanned and allows the system to track who is on the bus.
The Here Comes the Bus App is a free app that enables the user to see the location of your child’s school bus on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. The app allows families to see real-time updates of where a bus is along its route, to create a custom notification for when the bus reaches a certain point in its route and to receive notifications if there has been a schedule change. If you wish to sign up for scanning notifications of when your child scanned on and off the bus, the district code is 29776.
The app is available from the App Store or Google Play. Download instructions and additional information can be found at www.herecomesthebus.com.
Lost and Found
School hasn't even gotten into full swing and here's an article about lost and found! The lost and found will be located in the office space across from the school office. Items either lost in or around the school or left on the bus can be hopefully found here. While Riteway does it's best to ensure lost items from the bus are returned to the right school, if your lost item is not at John Muir, you might want to check with one of the other schools. They might have what you're looking for!
School Lunch and Breakfast 2023-24
The meal prices for students and adult visitors are as follows:
Milk: $.50/carton
Breakfast: $2.00
Lunch: $3.10
Reduced Breakfast: $0.30
Reduced Lunch: $0.40
Adult Breakfast: $2.75
Adult Lunch: $4.50
Please visit the PCSD Food Services webpage for additional information. Click the image below for the Free and Reduced Lunch Application.
Can't remember your lunch pin? Sign in to your Infinite Campus account, your lunch pin is the 5-digit number under your picture. Monthly breakfast/lunch menus are sent home with your student at the beginning of each month. You can also access the menu through our website by clicking on the lunch bag in the upper right corner.
