eCampus Academy Update

As the wintry days settle in, it's natural for us to seek warmth and comfort indoors. However, this season presents a fantastic opportunity to dive deeper into the realms of learning while embracing the cozy confines of home and community. Keeping our young scholars engaged and focused on learning throughout the year, especially during these longer winter months, is a collective endeavor—one that can be both enriching and delightful.

Exploration is the gateway to discovery! Encourage your child to explore the wonders of winter—from the science behind snowflakes to the stories hidden in historical events tied to this season. Dive into books that transport them to frosty landscapes or embark on virtual tours of museums and cultural sites from the comfort of home. Let's infuse curiosity into their days, igniting their quest for knowledge.

Inquiry-based learning can turn every moment into a classroom. Challenge your child to ask questions, investigate, and seek answers. Why does snow crunch underfoot? How do animals adapt to winter? Engage in experiments, create DIY projects, or simply observe the world outside your window. Encouraging their inquisitive nature nurtures critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for their growth.

Community involvement is a cornerstone of holistic education. Connect with fellow parents to organize study groups or themed learning circles. Encourage your child to interview elders about their winter experiences, promoting intergenerational bonding while tapping into valuable wisdom. Volunteering for local initiatives also fosters empathy and a sense of responsibility, instilling values that go beyond textbooks.

Remember, learning extends far beyond classroom walls. By infusing exploration, inquiry, and community into our winter activities, we nurture a love for learning that transcends seasons. Let's make this winter a time of discovery, growth, and shared experiences, creating lasting memories and fostering a passion for lifelong learning in our young scholars.

In Community -

Jason R. Bull

January 1st - No School - Holiday Break

January 2nd - No School - Holiday Break

January 9th - WHS Freshman Preview Night (current 8th graders)

January 15th - No School - Teacher Work Day

January 19th - End of Semester 1

February 16th - No School - Staff Development Day

Morning Meetings -

Please note the updated day and times for Mrs. Hail’s Morning Meetings.

Every Tuesday - Lunch Bunch Buddies at 12:00pm (noon) Link Here

Every Tuesday - 4K and Kindergarten Morning Meeting at 12:30pm Link Here

Every Tuesday - 1st through 2nd Morning Meeting at 1:00pm Link Here

Every Wednesday- 3rd and Up Morning Meeting at 10am Link Here

February Academic Groups! (prior sign up required)

Jolly Phonics Part 2 Group- During this group, Mrs. Hail will be focusing instruction on blending letter sounds to form words using the strategy of Elkonin Boxes. In order to participate in this group, it is beneficial if you participated in Part 1 of Jolly Phonics (hosted in Fall 2023), but not necessary. Exposure to sight words will begin. Main focus will be on CVC and CVCe words. More information is coming soon!

February Events

January 31st- Last day to pick up the book, The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind (prior participation needed)

February- ALL MONTH Reading The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind

February 5- Start following reading schedule for The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind

February 9- Trivia Question #1 Link

February 15- Trivia Question #2 Link

February 16- NO SCHOOL

February 23- Trivia Question #3 Link

February 26- Reading Logs due to Pizza Hut Coupon and Dockhounds Ticket

February 29- Trivia Question #4 Link

March 1- Movie Premier of The Boy who Harnessed The Wind at 11am (stay tuned for more information)

March 4- Artifacts for Timberdoodle Families due!

Mrs. Houchin offers a variety of different opportunities that can be found here. Use the link at the bottom of her schedule to access all of these free activities!

Upcoming Information

STAR Testing- Thank you to all of those learners who participated in STAR testing in January. If you are needing additional information regarding testing results, please contact your teacher.

Report Cards- Just a reminder that report cards are accessible on your learners Skyward account as of February 1, 2024. If you are unable to access the report card, or want to receive a paper copy please contact your learners teacher.

⭐⭐Mrs. Retzlaff is back from maternity leave starting on January 16, 2024.⭐⭐

eCampus Academy is starting an exciting new club in affiliation with Girls Who Code! We are gauging interest in the club, please see the link to the form below for more information about the who, what, and when details for the club. Please also provide your feedback and student interest in participating. We appreciate your input and time!

The Girls Who Code club plans to start in February with a date TBD. If you have filled out your preferences on the Girls Who Code Club form and would like an invitation to join the club and receive instructions on how to sign up for a Scratch account, please fill out the following form and our club facilitator will be in touch with you! Thank you for your interest in our club 👩‍💻

Are you interested in hosting an AFS student? We are looking for a loving family to host an eCampus International student from Portugal during the fall of 2024. For more information, please contact AFS at the number below.

A reminder if your student may be interested in the Innovation Challenge, the registration deadline is 11:59 PM (ET) on January 16, 2024. Do you have a creative way to help protect our environment? Maybe you came up with an invention that helped clean our oceans/waterways or help endangered species. If so, feel free to take a peek at this wonderful opportunity.

Open to students in grades K-12. Students can work as a team or individually to win various prizes.

Register for K12's new game development competition. Students have the opportunity to show off their creativity and win big prizes. Students will be split into divisions based on their grade level (K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12 grade) and judged against students in the same division. The deadline to register for round 1 is January 31, 2024.

Prizes that can be won:

• Sony PlayStation®5

• Microsoft Xbox Series X

• Nintendo Switch™

• Valve Steam Deck™

Additionally, one People’s Choice winner from each grade band will receive a $100 Amazon gift card.

This week's staff question is a Would You Rather in relation to Valentine's Day.

We polled our staff and asked the following question.

Would you RATHER...

Receive 100 roses OR Receive 100 pieces of chocolate?

At this time, students should be applying to the college(s) of their choice. Pay special attention to any due dates and required documents specific to the process.

If you are seeking assistance with any question in regards to the application process, please contact the eCampus office.

Specifically if you need help with the University of Wisconsin System, please use this site as a resource: https://uwhelp.wisconsin.edu/

Are you looking to tour a campus? See: https://uwhelp.wisconsin.edu/find-your-uws/campus-tours/ Book a virtual, in-person, or find more information on self-guided tours on each campus site. See their events calendar for more details.

Want to see an application demo or UW Journey demo, check out the calendar of events: https://uwhelp.wisconsin.edu/resources/calendar-of-events/11/2023/

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is the form that is used to initiate the financial aid process regardless of where you plan to pursue a postsecondary education. The student and family information included on the FAFSA will be sent to colleges/universities you have identified on the form in order for a financial aid package to be prepared for you.

Completing the FAFSA is the first and most important step in qualifying for aid to help pay for college. Several events will be held virtually as well as in-person if you are seeking assistance with completing this form.

https://collegegoalwi.org/

You can request a transcript through Parchment: Click Here for Parchment

If you are seeking an unofficial copy, please contact the eCampus Academy Registrar at vandersteega@watertown.k12.wi.us

Attention high school-aged eCampus students and families! Did you know that eCampus Academy offers a Career and Accelerated Degree Pathways Program? Students in Grades 10-12 can pursue a Technical Diploma or Associate Degree while enrolled in high school in one of 10 high-demand career areas. These online courses, in cooperation with Wisconsin technical colleges, will also count as high school credit in eCampus. Students in Grades 9-12 who plan to attend a four-year institution may complete up to 30 transferable college credits, putting them on a path to potentially graduate with a Bachelor's degree in three years from a University of Wisconsin System School.

The eCampus Academy Pathways Program saves students time and money while accessing high quality, future-ready learning experiences and professional programs. We're really excited about this opportunity for students.

Since we continue to have new families each month, we'll continue to share videos and information that might be useful at anytime throughout the year. Returning students are familiar with the SchoolsPLP learning platform, but we encourage everyone to watch these short videos created by our own lead teacher, Tracy Poches, as a refresher. Who knows, you might learn something new.

Welcome to eCampus

Logging in to SchoolsPLP

Understanding SchoolsPLP Overview

Navigating an online course in SchoolsPLP

Parents are able to login to SchoolsPLP to check grades and see if their student is on pace. The short video below will show you how to do this. You will need your student's ID and school password to login. If you need login information, please call or email Keisha Logan.

Parent Log-in

In our ongoing effort to assess our efforts as a school, we're offering our families an opportunity to share their feedback so that we may reflect on what's working and on those areas where we can grow and learn in eCampus. If you would, please take a moment to complete the brief feedback questionnaire that's linked below. We definitely value your input as partners in the teaching and learning of our eCampus students! Thank you!

eCampus Academy - Feedback Questionnaire

The WUSD is looking for individuals who would be interested in substitute teaching. A substitute teaching license or regular teaching license is required from the Dept. of Public Instruction. Substitute teachers are paid $140 per day. Please apply on WECAN at https://wecan.waspa.org/ and find vacancy #192089. For additional assistance, contact Sarah Miller, Executive Assistant in Human Resources at millers@watertown.k12.wi.us or by phone at 920-262-1460 ext. 3223.