eCampus Academy Update

As we step into the month of March, we find ourselves in the heart of the school year, facing various challenges that may impact our children's focus and motivation. March often brings winter blues, assessments, and the longing for warmer days. However, it's crucial for us to support our children and help them stay committed to their learning journey. In this newsletter, we'll explore some common challenges and offer ideas to keep the flame of curiosity burning bright.

1. Winter Blues: The winter season can sometimes cast a shadow on our mood and energy levels. It's essential to acknowledge and address these feelings. Encourage your child to get some fresh air and natural sunlight, even if it means a short walk or spending time in the backyard. A change in scenery can do wonders for lifting spirits and recharging mental energy.

2. Mid Year Stress: Break down large tasks into smaller, manageable chunks, and emphasize the importance of regular breaks for relaxation. Remind them that it's okay to ask for help when needed, whether from teachers, classmates, or you.

3. Maintaining Routine: As the winter weather persists, it becomes increasingly tempting to deviate from established routines. Consistency is key, so encourage your child to maintain a healthy balance between schoolwork, activities, and downtime. Having a consistent routine can provide a sense of stability and make it easier for them to manage their responsibilities.

4. Virtual Fatigue: For those engaged in virtual learning, screen fatigue can be a significant challenge. Encourage short breaks between activities for stretching or quick exercises. Remind your child to follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away to reduce eye strain.

5. Goal Setting: Help your child set realistic and achievable goals for the month. Whether it's completing a challenging assignment, improving a particular skill, or staying organized, having clear objectives can provide a sense of purpose and motivation.

6. Celebrate Achievements: Take the time to celebrate your child's achievements, big or small. Positive reinforcement goes a long way in boosting morale and encouraging continued effort. Whether it's a good grade on a test, completing a challenging project, or showing resilience in the face of difficulty, acknowledgement and praise can be powerful motivators.
   
   

As we navigate the challenges of March together, let's foster a supportive environment that promotes learning, resilience, and a positive mindset. Your partnership is invaluable in ensuring the success and well-being of our students.

Wishing you a wonderful March filled with growth, achievement, and joy.

In Community -

Jason R. Bull

Spring Break!

March 25th, 2024 - No School

March 26th, 2024 - No School

March 27th, 2024 - No School

March 28th, 2024 - No School

March 29th, 2024 - No School

Our very own Cathy Houchin was cruising Antarctica and hosting live science classes and a Q&A session for eCampus students. Cathy provided us with beautiful views of icebergs and explained how the coloring of the icebergs pertained to whether that iceberg had flipped. Antarctica was experiencing a temperature of 33 degrees, while it was only 10 degrees here! Cathy also pointed out a darkened trail against the white of the island that was travelled well by penguins. Thank you Cathy for sharing your journey and bringing us to the Southern Hemisphere! 🌎

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

March Academic Groups! (prior sign up required)

Jolly Phonics Part 2 Group- We will continue to be meeting on March 7, 14, 21 at 1pm Link Here

Book Club and Writing Group - Our groups are underway! Thank you to those participating. Our groups will run till the week of March 18th.

March Events

March 1- Movie Premier of The Boy who Harnessed The Wind at 11am at eCampus office

March 1- Reading logs due for DockHounds tickets! (reference email sent on February 15)

March 4- Artifacts for Timberdoodle Families due!

March 14- STEM stations from 10am-noon (reference email sent on March 4)

March 21- Final Book Club and Writing Workshop Meeting

March 22- Reading logs for Pizza Hut due!

March 25 through March 31- Spring Break NO SCHOOL

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!

🌷Spring Break- eCampus Academy follows the Watertown Unified School District academic calendar. Therefore, we will be off of school from March 25th through March 31st with school restarting on April 1, 2024. During this time, Mrs. Retzlaff and Mrs. Hail will not be responding to emails or hosting any academic groups via ZOOM. However, if you would like to continue working during this time to get caught up on content or work ahead, you are welcome to do so.

Have you ever carried a lucky charm? Or have one that you take with you? Please share what that lucky charm was, or is.

Jason Bull - I carry a small metal medallion in my pocket everyday. The medallion was owned by my mother at one time.

Mary Barr - My family has turtles (not real) that ride on the dashboard. Mine is a sea turtle that my friend found while we were camping; my husband's is our first turtle, a realistic bobble-head that has been repaired multiple times.

Alexis Hail - My grandfather always carried around a chestnut in his pocket. He was told to rub it for good luck and it prevents arthritis. When he passed, we all got one of his chestnuts for good luck.

Angel Vander Steeg - When I was a child, I carried a rabbit's foot. They used to have them in different colors and was usually a fair prize.

The Girls Who Code club plans to start in February with a first meeting date of February 29th, 2024. It's not too late to sign up, if you 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! If you have any questions or want more information, please email vandersteega@mywusd.org
Thank you for your interest in our club 👩‍💻

The 2024 K12 Art Competition is here! Students across the country in grades K–12 can unleash their creativity, unveil their artistic talent, and explore new mediums for a share of $20,000 worth of prizes!

This year, in addition to traditional 2D physical art, we’ve added two new categories—digital and AI art. Students in each category will compete against peers in their grade bands (K–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12).

The three categories are: Physical Art, Digital Art, and AI Art

The deadline to enter is March 25, 2024

Does your student have an interest in Chess? Sign up to participate in the 2024 Wisconsin State Scholastic Chess Championship, held March 23 at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. There are team and individual events. Click the button below for more information and how to sign up.

In each of the K-12, K-8 and K-5 sections, the top ten individuals and the top six teams will be awarded trophies. The state championship title and traveling trophies will be presented to the K-8 and K-5 team champions. Every participant is eligible for an additional award (medal, chocolate or fruit leather), especially if they castle.

The Global Health Leaders Conference at Johns Hopkins University is a leading global health education program open to students of any nationality in grades 9-12 (high school / secondary school). Through our international conference, students learn about issues in global health, public health, and medicine directly from world leaders in these fields through engaging lectures, forge connections with like-minded exceptional students from around the world, and share their own work and ideas on global health topics by having the opportunity to present in our Student Speaker Series.

The application for the 2024 GHLC is LIVE. Please click “Apply” to be directed to the 2024 GHLC at JHU application!

The final application deadline is March 1st, 2024 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

Check out the career experience choices available for students: Job Shadow, Company Tours, Bus Tours and Virtual Career Chats. Take a look at the Events calendar that students can register for.

Girls Who Code offers two free programs in the summer: the virtual Summer Immersion Program and the Self-Paced Program. Students can apply for BOTH programs, if eligible, using this application. However, students can only participate in one summer program.

Students can also apply for the SIP Student Grant. The Summer Immersion Program (SIP) Student Grant, formally known as the Stipend Award, offers financial support of $300 for qualified US-based students. We created this award to support students who might otherwise earn a summer income. All students interested in SIP are encouraged to apply for the Grant, regardless of immigration status.

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.

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

Do you want to visit Ireland for St. Patrick's Day? Check out these virtual Ireland tours.

• Dublin Ireland virtual tour

• St. Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin

• Blarney Castle virtual tour

• 360° Cliffs of Moher 360° immersive Ireland tour

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.