Mrs. Gulrud, Principal
Our 3rd grade and 5th grade students have almost finished the Forward Exam. The 4th graders have more sections of testing and will also finish by the end of April. The Forward Exam is a summative assessment that gauges your child’s achievement in the content areas tested compared to other students in the state. Along with local measures such as report cards, i-Ready, school-wide assessments, and other information about your child’s progress in school, the results from the Forward Exam provide insight into how well your child is doing on a broad measure of achievement. The test is not timed, so we encourage students to take their time and do their very best.
Students will be taking a school perception survey within the upcoming month. We will email home a similar perception survey to parents. This feedback will be used to evaluate things in place and suggest improvements within the elementary schools district wide. Thank you for your feedback.
Thanks to the efforts and support of all our students and families in the recent Butter Braid Fundraiser. See exciting news below about a Lenz Trust Grant that was awarded to the Portage Elementary School PTO. We continue our fundraising efforts and are working toward earning more funds that the Lenz Trust Organization is likely to match. We appreciate your continued support.
Finally, our teams are planning end of year field trips for students. Reminder to parents who are chaperoning or parents coming in to volunteer in classrooms to make sure your volunteer background check information is up to date (it has to be updated yearly). https://www.portage.k12.wi.us/schools/johnmuir/families/volunteer.cfm
Thank you for supporting our students, staff, and school with your volunteerism.
Angie Gulrud
Principal
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
Calling with Changes to Transportation
Please send a note or email in the morning to the student's teacher or with your student or call the office with any changes by 1:30PM on a regular school day and by 11AM on an early release day. With almost 500 students in attendance, the office does the best we can with this last minute information and especially if students finish the day in a specials class or there is a fun activity in a different room, it takes time to get the message to the student. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation with letting us know these changes as soon as possible to give us ample time to communicate that to the student and classroom teacher.
Cereal Box Challenge
Wow! What a huge success the Cereal Box Challenge was this year! The students and their families contributed 1,180 boxes of cereal! Congratulations to our top collecting classrooms - Mike Hemming, 5th grade, Mrs. Field, 4th grade, Ms. Hemming, 3rd grade and Mrs. Busch, 2nd grade! We had a domino chain in the hall with all of the boxes. It was a loooooong chain! The students were so excited to see all of the boxes fall! A big thank you to all the families that participated. A special thank you to Craig's Popcorn Corner for donating a popcorn prize to the classrooms that collected the most boxes!
Warm Clothing Necessary
Winter isn't completely gone! Students are expected to wear a coat when it is 50 degrees or lower in temperature. Also have hats, gloves, and scarves to keep warm. We will go outside unless the temperature is below zero or there is extreme wind chill. Snow pants and boots are necessary for going in the snow and going sledding. Students without snow pants and boots will only be allowed to play on the blacktop. Thanks for making sure students have warm clothes daily.
PTO Update!
We want to hear from you! What do you want to see from the PTO? What's stopping you from stepping up?
Lost and Found
Parents/Guardians,
Please help us by labeling your children's gear - coats, bags, gloves, hats, scarves, etc. We no longer have space to store all the lost and found items and will be cleaning it out biweekly. We are teaching students the responsibility of having what they need with them and keeping track of their belongings. In order for coats left behind not to be lost, please label them and we'll get them back to the students if their name is on the item.
Thanks for your help,
Principal Gulrud
Fractions: Watch your language!
The first fractions students generally encounter are less than 1, with numerators that are less than the denominators (e.g. 1/2, 2/3, 3/4). However, we lead students astray when we tell them that with fractions, the small number goes on top and the large number goes on the bottom, because there are also fractions that are greater than 1. For Example, 6/4 or 3/2; in these cases the numerators are greater than the denominators. Avoiding phrases such as,"1 over 2," or "3 parts out of 4,"is also recommended.
- In the first case saying, "1 over 2 instead of 1/2," the word "over '' is a positional word. Where in reality the fraction bar (/) means divide. So instead, we should be reading this as a division problem and say, 1 divided by 2."
- In the second case saying "3 parts out of 4 instead of 3/4," students often imagine that they've been presented with 4 objects and are taking 3 of them. The 4 things aren't thought of as "fourths," but as 4 "wholes. " In this situation,the student never really understood a fraction to be a single quantity. This eventually leads to confusion when students in older grades begin learning operations with fractions. Since the numerator and the denominator are conceived as whole numbers (2 parts out of 3), it's easier to understand why they conclude (2/3 + 2/6 = 4/9).
Other difficulties created by this language include:
- The understanding that fractions have to be equal parts (1 part out of 6) when all 6 parts are different sizes.
- The notion of improper fractions (3/2) does not make sense if you state it as, "Taking 3 parts out of 2."
Fractions have this stigma of,"Being hard," or "Impossible to work with." But,if we use proper vocabulary and present them in proper terms; I think all students have the ability to be proficient in all uses of fractions.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions about your child(ren)'s mathematical development.
Matt Dietzenbach, District Math Specialist
Kathy Tofson, Elementary Math Coach
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 normally be available for pick up on the THIRD WEDNESDAY of each month. The March MARKET BOX pick up is scheduled for April 17 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.
2nd & 3rd Grade SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Update
During the month of April, your child will be receiving guidance lessons on a weekly basis covering the topics of Career Interests/Occupations and the importance of having a Growth Mindset. We will be discussing various occupations/student interests, while also learning the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.
Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns!
Jennifer Shier is designated Grades 2 & 3
Contact Information
Email: shierj@portage.k12.wi.us
Phone: 608-742-5531, ext. 2454
Mike Meyers is designated Grades 4 & 5
Contact Information
Email: meyersm@portage.k12.wi.us
Phone: 608-742-5531, ext. 2454
Spring is Around the Corner!
Community Events in April…
Portage Area United Way Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser at Northwoods Inc
Saturday April 13th 5pm-7pm
All you can eat spaghetti dinner for $15 a person.
Contact a board member for tickets, call (608) 742 6816 or purchase tickets at the door.
Northwoods Inc N6510 Hwy 51 Portage
Shelby Glasgow, Social Worker
Contact Information
Email: glasgows@portage.k12.wi.us
Phone: 608-742-5531, ext. 2107
Food Inclusion
Throughout our schools, there are people with food related conditions. These conditions may range from food intolerances to chronic diseases (diabetes, celiac disease, etc.), and the reactions vary as well, from indigestion to diabetes crisis to anaphylaxis. That is why it is so vital to the safety of our students that we practice careful consideration and planning regarding food in the classroom.
The students in a classroom are social creatures and as such any sort of inclusion, exclusion, participation, and/or ostracization, whether intentional or not, may directly impact how the students view themselves in relation to their peers.
“Why am I not allowed to eat this treat my friend brought in for his birthday? Now everyone is eating a cupcake and I am just sitting here…”
“Can I have this snack? What’s my blood sugar? How many carbs is in this? It will be fine…”
“Why does he get a special snack? I would like that better than what I have…”
We need to be inclusive with the foods brought into the classroom. We need to consider the needs of every student and tailor the plan to meet all their needs without exclusion or exceptions. The students can all participate in special snacks and food parties as equals with proper planning and collaboration. Based on the student needs in the classroom, families should be notified that purchased treats to share need to come with nutritional labels and that homemade treats require a list of ingredients and how many treats the list made.
Any class food components (parties, treats, etc.) should be appropriate for all students and the best way to achieve this goal would be to collaborate with families, food services and/or the school nurse. These resource people have knowledge about the students’ food restrictions/accommodations and can help with the planning process to ensure all students can fully participate.
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 and approved in December, 2023, it will be good until December, 2024! It can be completed at any time during the school year.
We hope to see you at school!
Bus ID's
Effective March 4, students that ride the bus will be required to scan his/her bus pass before riding. The pass is scanned and allows the system to track who is on the bus. Bus ID's are given to each student in a pocket holder with lanyard. If your student loses his/her bus pass, there is a cost of $5.00 for a replacement.
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.
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.
