Newsletters

October/November 2019

Washington Wavelength

October / November 2019

From the Principal

Dear Washington Families,

It’s hard to believe that it’s already October! Students and staff have been working hard and we are off to a very promising start to the year. September was a busy month with students engaged in new learning, meeting new staff members and friends, and getting accustomed to new routines and procedures. We have also completed the STAR assessment, hosted exchange students from China, and practiced our safety drills and procedures. We look forward to continuing to provide high quality learning experiences for our students and are excited about the months ahead. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at 743-7205.

Sincerely,
Mr. Matt Peerenboom, Principal

Important Events

Oktoberfest October 17 5:30-7:30
Parent/Teacher Conferences October 23 (PM) & 24 (All Day) No School October 24, 25
Teacher Professional Development Day No School November 22
Thanksgiving Break No School on November 27, 28, 29

Reminders:

Please complete the online registration for your child if you have not done so yet this school year.
Remember to pay your child’s consumable fees ($32.00/child)
Supervision begins at 8:00 a.m. outside before school starts. For the safety of everyone, please arrive after 8:00 a.m.
Please remember…Janesville City ordinance forbids dogs, cats, horses or other animals from being on playgrounds or school grounds. Please keep your pets at home or in the car when you drop off or pick up your child.
Do not park and leave your vehicle in this area. After you Stop and Drop, please remember to GO…Many children are being dropped off and your child will join these children walking to the playground and doors.
- If you feel more comfortable you can park your car outside of the Stop-Drop & Go area and walk your child to the appropriate area.
- Also for safety reasons, please drop children off at the Street. DO NOT pull into the parking lot.

P4J

It has been wonderful getting to know our P4J students and families! In October and November, we look forward to many exciting events! P4J will go on their first field trip to Hinchley's Dairy Farm on Thursday, October 10th. I also look forward to meeting with families at Parent - Teacher Conferences at the end of the month. In November, P4J will celebrating with a Thanksgiving Feast. For this event, we ask a family member to join us and will be asking for donations to make the event a success. More details for the Thanksgiving Feast will be coming at Parent-Teacher conferences. P4J provides a family activity each month for all P4J students in Janesville. In September, we had a blast exploring Rotary Gardens. Please mark the dates of the future events that you received on your calendar. These events are FREE and a lot of fun for the family!

Kindergarten

Kindergarten is off to a great start! We are finishing up reviewing colors and learning our classmates’ names. We will soon begin our curriculum with Jolly Phonics, My Math, and the Journeys reading program.

For the children’s safety, please help them with learning to tie their shoes and also make sure sweatshirts, jackets, backpacks, etc. are labeled with your child’s name.

Watch for the fall family project to be coming home soon! They are always fun to see in the hallway. We are looking forward to seeing you at conferences at the end of October.

Grade 1

Our first graders are off to a fantastic start! We have been working on establishing classroom routines, expectations, and getting to know the students. We are now off and running with Reading groups and diving into Math. Writing is also a big focus in 1st grade. During Trimester 1, we will be focusing on Personal Narrative Writing.

There are some things you can do at home to help your child have a successful year. Please check your child's Home Folder every night and take out finished work. If there is any homework, please make sure it gets completed and returned to school. On Mondays, a set of flashcards will come home. We work on them everyday at school but your child may need some practice at home as well. The children should know how to read these words on sight (not sounding them out) and should be able to spell them. Math homework also will be coming home. These are workbook sheets and have "MY HOMEWORK" printed across the top. Finally, a few times a week, a small paper book comes home. Please encourage your child to read these books several times. This will help build fluency and confidence in your young reader.

We are really enjoying the firsties and look forward to a great year of learning!

Grade 2

Welcome back returning and new families to Washington School. We are so excited to get to know your child. It was great to see such an awesome turnout at Open House and your children certainly enjoy using all of their new supplies!

During the first few weeks of school, second graders were introduced to and practiced second grade routines. During the first trimester, second graders will be learning about their community, history, consumerism, interpersonal relationships, and geography. Math topics will include addition and subtraction through 18 (practice those facts nightly), number patterns, as well as double digit addition (Did we mention practice those math facts? J)

Students are encouraged to read at least 20 minutes nightly to build their fluency and comprehension. Encourage your child to return his/her library books weekly and to check out books they can read independently.

Grade 3

It’s been a fun and busy start to the school year. We are continuing to learn about each other and reviewing Growth Mindset. During the first week of school, we even had a chalk artist come visit! Math-we are reviewing Place Value and will get started with Multiplication soon. Reading- we are working on comprehension strategies and building our reading stamina. Social Studies-we are learning about government and map skills. Science-we are learning about life cycles and will be going to Rotary Gardens to learn more about pumpkins and take a tour.

Grade 4

Fourth grade is off to a great start! We have started reading in our Journeys book and taking a close look at grade level text. In math we are learning about place value and practicing our multiplication facts. Reading and understanding maps is our focus in Social Studies. Structures and functions of plants are being explored in science and as a part of that we will visit the Janesville Schools Outdoor Lab in October, so be looking for information to come home about that. Keep practicing your math facts and reading at home each night!

Grade 5

Fifth graders have enjoyed getting to know their teachers and classmates as they start up the year. For math they are tackling geometry and graphing as we continue mastering our math facts. For reading and Language arts, fiction is the focus and strengthening their personal narrative writing skills. In Science they are learning about the web of life, specifically ecosystems and the food chain. Social studies they are studying early explorers. Our theme this year as a fifth grade unit is work ethic and grit in striving for excellence. We are excited for what these students are going to achieve in their final year at Washington!

News from the Music Room

Save the date: This year the Washington performances will again be all in one day, and they will be held on Friday, March 20th, right before Spring Break. Times of the performances will be given at a later date!!

Kindergartners are working on steady beat, and we are learning fun songs, games, and stories to help us get the beat! We’ve also been talking about how rules help us and keep us safe!

First graders are also working on steady beat, and we have been ‘getting the beat in our feet’ as we march and use rhythm sticks and boomwhackers to play along. We are also learning to count beats in a meter of 4. We’ve been singing about using our ‘magic words’, or good manners, and we even learned some sign language for some of those magic words!

Second grade is working on beat and rhythm, and we have been so excited to use rhythm sticks, as well as many other kinds of rhythm instrument to plan along with beat and rhythm. We will be using Oreos soon to learn about rhythm and note values! How tasty!!

Third grade is learning how to read Treble Clef Staff pitches using the tools, Every Good Boy Does Fine, and FACE to help remember the pitch letters that the 5 lines and 4 spaces stand for. We wrote quarter notes on staff paper to practice writing notes on these lines and spaces. We will be playing melodies written on the Treble Clef Staff on xylophones, metallophones, and Glockenspiels!

Fourth graders have been reviewing how to read Treble Clef Staff pitches using Every Good Boy Does Fine and FACE, and we will be reviewing rhythm/notes so they can begin working on their recorder unit. I promise I will work hard to teach them to blow softly so that the recorder sounds nice, instead of squeaky so dogs in the neighborhood don’t run away!!

Fifth graders get to have three music classes this year, with one of those three classes getting them ready to make an educated choice when choosing their required music class for middle school. We are learning about instruments from the orchestra and band. We are also using one of the three music classes to learn more about singing in a choir and reading and singing two-part music along with the instrumental music. Our third music class of the week focuses on all the skills they’ll need to sing as well as play melody and rhythm instruments.

10/3/19

Dear Parents and Families,

Reading for pleasure unlocks the power of information and imagination and helps children discover who they are. Reading also increases knowledge and vocabulary, lowers stress, and supports your child’s emotional growth. Here’s what you can do to help children develop stronger reading skills and a love for reading:

Set the example. Let children see you read.

Have a collection of books in your home. Update this collection routinely to keep up with changing tastes and reading skills.

Support our school’s Book Fair. Allow your children to choose their own books to read.

Our Scholastic Book Fair is a reading event that brings the books kids want to read right into our school. It’s a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level. Please make plans to visit our Book Fair and be involved in shaping your child’s reading habits.

Book Fair dates: 10/23/2019 and 10/24/2019
Shopping hours: Wednesday, October 23rd: 4pm - 6:30pm and
Thursday, October 24th: 8:30 am - Noon and 2:00pm - 6:30pm
Visit our Scholastic Book Fair with your child to discover new books together!

We hope to see you and your family at our Book Fair! Remember, all purchases benefit our school.

*Scholastic update: Due to new Wisconsin laws, there will be taxes added to your scholastic purchase. Plus you can choose to “round-up” at the cash register, which will provide extra dollars and cents for the school to purchase more books!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Biege /Mrs. Miller

Innovation Specialist

743-7236

Washington Elementary School

PE NEWS

The year has gotten off to a fantastic start! All of the grades have been learning the classroom procedures and expectations for physical education class. Our Physical Activity Rules are: Active eyes and ears, Helpful hands and words, Follow directions, and Move safely. This will ensure a great learning environment for all students that enter the gymnasium. We have also been discussing the importance of being active not only physically but what it does for us mentally as well. Being active at least one hour a day is our goal at this age!

Our younger students at Washington have been learning about several bones and muscles. The cardiac muscle (heart) is our most important muscle in our body. Without a strong, healthy heart our daily tasks would be very difficult and we would not feel our very best. Our gluteus maximus muscle, which the students love to say, is the second muscle that they have learned. In physical education class we try to stay off of that muscle as much as possible, the goal is to keep our feet moving as much as possible! Ask your students about their phalanges, patellas, and cranium. They will be able to fill you in on the location of those bones as well as some catchy sayings to help them remember where they are located on their body.

Kindergarten students through 2nd grade have been practicing their locomotor skills. These movements skills are so important for our students to know how to slide, gallop, skip, leap, hop, jump. They are the basis of all of our movements. The students have also been wearing and using a pedometer during class. They are learning how to use this tool to help increase physical activity throughout the thirty-minute class period. There is a great deal of information to be learning while wearing and using this device so this will continue using them throughout the school year. Various recess games have been introduced so that students may have many opportunities to increase their activity time plus socialize with their friends. Lastly, the students are working on a variety of motor skills such as overhand and underhand throwing skills, kicking and foot dribbling with a ball, catching, and basic invasion games.

Grades 3rd, 4th and 5th have completed various recess games, wearing and using pedometers, plus beginning to learn about nutrition and calories. The students are also learning how to convert calories into steps to find out how many steps they must take to burn off those calories. Motor skills such as overhand throwing, kicking, punting, guarding an opponent (defense strategies) and working cooperatively in teamwork situations are being practiced during the first few months of school. Various lead-up games that involve using a soccer ball, a football, and a unit in lacrosse will take us to the end of the month.

In late October, early November grades 3rd, 4th, and 5th will be focusing on where and how to take their pulse plus figuring out what their own personal target heart rate zone is for when they exercising in the gym. This will ensure that each student will be working their hearts out at the appropriate level to keep it healthy and strong. Each student will also be finding out what their resting heart rate zone is which is the very beginning step in finding out what their own target heart rate zone numbers are. Lastly, each student will be using the Heart-O-Meter on the gym wall plus using a hand held insta pulse wand to check periodically during class if they are working in their proper zone and on occasion the students will be wearing a heart rate monitor. Many technology devices will be used throughout the year for our older students to monitor themselves during our activities.

I look forward to a wonderful, active, and “learning many new concepts” year in physical education. If you should have any questions or concerns, please contact me using the information listed below.

“Every Child Stronger, Every Life Longer!”

Mrs. Sherry Hintz

Physical Education

Washington Elementary

608-743-7248 direct line

shintz@janesville.k12.wi.us

A Few Lines from Washington’s Art Studio

Within the first few weeks of school students had already created art with visiting chalk artist Leigh Alfredson, talked and viewed our migrating Chimney Swifts, set free a monarch butterfly that had transformed from a caterpillar, and created artwork inspired by The Dot.

Students are definitely ‘making their mark’ at Washington!

During the fall months students have the opportunity to create entries for PTA Reflections. The theme for 2019-2020 is “Look Within”. Projects will be due in early January 2020. Be looking for information to go home with your child. Information is also available at https://www.pta.org/home/programs/reflections.

Our annual Ishful Arts Event will happen on Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 (the first Tuesday evening after Spring Break). We will have activities throughout the lower level that evening from 5:30 - 7:30 PM.

Follow Washington’s Art Studio on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/washingtonscreativeartists. Please know that we do not use the names or grade levels of our students. It is always fun to share, but me must keep our students safe! Mrs. Gee Gee Jannene, Art teacher

STEAM Statements

Returning Coding Club students have been invited to participate in our First Lego League Robotics Club. Those that have accepted the invitation are currently working their way through the “City Shapers” missions.

Invitations will be offered at conferences for students to join our Art Themed Coding Club. The first session will be offered to our 4th and 5th Graders. Thank you to our Third Graders, as your invitations will be offered after that.

Mrs. Gee Gee Jannene and Ms. Valerie Griffith

Coats for Kids

September 23th – October 14th 2019

Please donate warm winter wear for needy families in Janesville and North Rock County,

Needed: Clean chlidrens & adults’ winter jackets & coats, snow pants, gloves, scarves, hats & boots – Please no adult dress coats. No broken zippers No sweatshirts or fleece jackets or summer clothing.

Thank you

Locations for donations:

Dan’s Creston Park Laundromat	IGA/Sentry East	Milton Piggly Wiggly	Shopko
1630 Randolph Rd	2822 E. Milwaukee St.	727 S. Janesville St.	Highway 14

Sentry West	Schnuck’s Super Market	1st Community Bank of Milton	Premier Bank
2501 West Court	1501 Creston Park Dr.	202 Merchants Row, Milton	1400 Blackbridge Dr.

Woodman’s Market

Festival Foods

Choice Cleaners

2819 N. Lexinton

2233 Humes Rd

610 E. Memorial

2919 N. Lexingtion

1926 E. Milwaukee

And ALL Janesville Elementary Schools

Distribution :

The Salvation Army on the corner of Glean & Southerland on Saturday, October 27, 2018 from 9 am – 3 pm. Children must be present to receive a coat. Proof of residence is necessary. All coats/items are free, clean and available to all ages. This is a community service project of The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary.

MOVING???

If you will be moving from your current home address, please contact the Washington school office at 608-743-7200 as soon as possible to determine what paperwork you will need to fill out for your child to continue attending his/her current school. Please note: if you are moving to an address outside the School District of Janesville in most cases your child is eligible to continue attending the School District of Janesville as long as you complete the appropriate paperwork within the required timeline.

If you have any questions about school placement for a particular address, please contact Open Enrollment Specialist Deen Hartley at 743-5152. The New Student Enrollment Office is open year round.

If you are the parent of an elementary student and will be moving over the summer months when the elementary schools are closed, please contact Open Enrollment Specialist Deen Hartley at 743-5152 or the New Student Enrollment Office at 743-5072 or 743-5153 to complete the appropriate paperwork.

Request for School Transfer/Placement (Intra District Transfers) within the School District of Janesville Attendance Areas

Due to Move:

If you move within the School District of Janesville during the school year and wish to remain at your current school, please ask the school office for a Request to Remain in Current School Following Move to New Attendance Area Form (blue). Complete the form and return it to the school office.

Due to Parent Choice:

If you wish to apply to have your student transferred/placed in another school within the district next school year (2020-2021), please ask the school office for a School Transfer/Placement Within the School District Form (yellow). Completed forms will be accepted from December 1 through December 15, 2019 only. Submit your Request for School Transfer/Placement Within the School District Form (yellow) to your home school attendance area office. Parents applying for a Request for School Transfer/ Placement Within the School District will be notified of approval or disapproval by January 15, 2020. Parents applying for a Request for School Transfer/Placement Within the School District for incoming Kindergarten students will be notified of approval or non-approval after they have enrolled their child during the Kindergarten Enrollment period with the New Student Enrollment Office. If you have questions, please contact the school office of your home school attendance area.

Open Enrollment or Public School Choice

If during the school year, you move outside the School District of Janesville and you wish to remain at your current school please contact the Open Enrollment Specialist at 743-5152 and request a tuition waiver form within two weeks of your move. This will allow you to be eligible to attend your current school for the remainder of the current year tuition free. To continue attending the School District of Janesville after the 2019-2020 school year, you will also need to complete an open enrollment application. Application instructions are provided to the School District of Janesville by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and should be available by late January 2020. This year applications will be accepted February 3 – April 30, 2019.

If you have questions regarding Open Enrollment or Public School Choice, please contact the Open Enrollment Specialist at 743-5152.

Public School Open Enrollment Timelines

The open enrollment application period for the 2020-2021 school year is from February 3, 2020 – April 30, 2020. Parents are encouraged to apply on-line at dpi.wi.gov/open-enrollment. Although on-line application is recommended, paper applications may be obtained from the Department of Public Instruction or any school district after February 3, 2020 and must be delivered (hand-delivery is recommended) to the nonresident school district during the application period. Paper applications to attend Janesville must be submitted to the Open Enrollment Specialist in the New Student Enrollment Office no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 30th (a postmark does not constitute timely submission). Applications turned in prior to February 3rd will be returned as not valid and must be resubmitted after February 3rd but before April 30th at 4:00 p.m.

Enrollment in a requested school or program is subject to space and other limitations and is not guaranteed. Transportation is the responsibility of the parent. Habitual truancy may result in recommendation for the student to return to their home district.

Under School District of Janesville board policy, students who attended the district under open enrollment the previous year are not required to reapply for the following school year.

An application is required for each sibling in the family. For example, if a family has one child in elementary school that has been approved for open enrollment and a new student entering kindergarten next year, the student entering kindergarten must apply for open enrollment in order to attend the School District of Janesville.

Parents will be informed in June whether their open enrollment applications have been approved or denied. The student’s school or program placement will be provided in June.

If you have questions, please contact the Open Enrollment Specialist at 743-5152.

Kindergarten Enrollment

2020-2021 School Year

School District Residents

Weeks of December 2–6 and December 9-13
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. M/W/F both weeks
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m Tuesday, December 3, 2019
8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Thursday, December 5, 2019
8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 10, 2019
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m Thursday, December 12, 2019

Requests for School Transfer/Placement within the School District (yellow forms) for incoming kindergarten students should be submitted through the enrollment process. Forms are available at all schools, as well as at the Educational Services Center. If you have questions regarding this process contact Deen Hartley at 743-5152. The status of requests will be determined by January 15, 2020 if they are turned in by December 13th. If you have a student currently attending a school under a School Transfer/Placement within the School District, it does not automatically qualify your kindergarten student for attendance at the same school; however, siblings are generally assigned to the same school. In order for your kindergarten student to attend the same school as a sibling, you must submit a request during the Kindergarten Enrollment time frame.

If you know of a child in your neighborhood or from community activities that would be entering kindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year, please pass this enrollment information on.

Non-District Residents

If you are a non-resident of the School District of Janesville and have a child turning 5 (five) years old prior to September 1, 2020 and would like your child to attend the School District of Janesville you must also apply for OPEN ENROLLMENT. The timeline for Open Enrollment is February 3 to April 30, 2020. Currently open enrolled non-residents in a P4J or EC program do not need to re-apply. If you have questions regarding the Open Enrollment process, please contact Deen Hartley at 743-5152.

School District of Janesville
CONFIDENTIALITY OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION OBTAINED THROUGH CHILD FIND ACTIVITIES

The School District of Janesville is required to locate, identify, and evaluate all children, with disabilities, including children with disabilities attending private schools in the school district, and homeless children. The process of locating, identifying, and evaluating children with disabilities is known as child find. This agency conducts the following child find activities each year in the form of Early Childhood and Speech and Language Developmental Screenings. This notice informs parents of the records the school district will develop and maintain as part of its child find activities. This notice also informs parents of their rights regarding any records developed.

The school district gathers personally identifiable information on any child who participates in child find activities. Parents, teachers, and other professionals provide information to the school related to the child’s academic performance, behavior, and health. This information is used to determine whether the child needs special education services. Personally identifiable information directly related to a child and maintained by the school is a pupil record. Pupil records include records maintained in any way including, but not limited to, computer storage media, video and audiotape, film, microfilm, and microfiche. Records maintained for personal use by a teacher and not available to others and records available only to persons involved in the psychological treatment of a child are not pupil records.

The school district maintains several classes of pupil records.

"Progress records" include grades, courses the child has taken, the child's attendance record, immunization records, required lead screening records, and records of school extra-curricular activities. Progress records must be maintained for at least five years after the child ceases to be enrolled.

"Behavioral records" include such records as psychological tests, personality evaluations, records of conversations, written statements relating specifically to the pupil's behavior, tests relating specifically to achievement or measurement of ability, physical health records other than immunization and lead screening records, law enforcement officers' records, and other pupil records that are not "progress records." Law enforcement officers' records are maintained separately from other pupil records. Behavioral records may be maintained for no longer than one year after the child graduates or otherwise ceases to be enrolled, unless the parent specifies in writing that the records may be maintained for a longer period of time. The school district informs parents when pupil records are no longer needed to provide special education. At the request of the child's parents, the school district destroys the information that is no longer needed.

"Directory data" includes the student's name, address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, photographs, degrees and awards received, and the name of the school most recently previously attended by the student.

"Pupil physical health records" include basic health information about a pupil, including the pupil's immunization records, an emergency medical card, a log of first aid and medicine administered to the pupil, an athletic permit card, a record concerning the pupil's ability to participate in an education program, any required lead screening records, the results of any routine screening test, such as for hearing, vision or scoliosis, and any follow-up to the test, and any other basic health information, as determined by the state superintendent. Any pupil record relating to a pupil's physical health that is not a pupil physical health record is treated as a patient health care record under sections 146.81 to 146.84, Wisconsin Statutes. Any pupil record concerning HIV testing is treated as provided under section 252.15, Wisconsin Statutes.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and section 118.125, Wisconsin Statutes, afford parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") the following rights with respect to education records:

The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of receipt of the request. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal [or appropriate school official] a written request that identifies the records(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. The school district will comply with the request without unnecessary delay and before any meeting about an individualized education program, or any due process hearing, and in no case more than 45 days after the request has been made. If any record includes information on more than one child, the parents of those children have the right to inspect and review only the information about their child or to be informed of that specific information. Upon request, the school district will give a parent or eligible student a copy of the progress records and a copy of the behavioral records. Upon request, the school district will give the parent or eligible student a list of the types and locations of education records collected, maintained, or used by the district for special education. The school district will respond to reasonable requests for explanations and interpretations of the records. A representative of the parent may inspect and review the records.

The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the parent or eligible student believes is inaccurate or misleading. Parents or eligible students may ask [Name of] School District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the district decides not to amend the record, the district will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and the right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information in the student's education records, except to the extent that federal and state law authorize disclosure without consent. The exceptions are stated in 34 CFR 99.31, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act regulations; Sec. 9528, PL107-110, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001; and section 118.125(2)(a) to (m) and sub. (2m), Wisconsin Statutes. One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosures to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the district as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the school board; a person or company with whom the district has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the district discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. Also the district discloses "directory data" without consent, unless the parent notifies the district that it may not be released without prior parental consent.

The right to file a complaint with the U. S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202-4605.

Child Find Notice

“The school district must locate, identify and evaluate all resident children with disabilities, including children with disabilities attending private schools, regardless of the severity of their disabilities.” The school district has a special education program to locate and screen all children with suspected disabilities who are residents of the district and who have not graduated from high school. Upon request the school district will screen any resident child who has not graduated high school to determine whether a special education referral is appropriate. A request may be made by contacting Kimberli Peerenboom, Director of Pupil Services for the School District of Janesville at 743-5061, or by writing her at 527 S. Franklin St., Janesville WI 53548.

A physician, nurse, psychologist, social worker or administrator of a social agency who reasonably believes a child brought to him or her for services is a child with a disability has a legal duty to report the child to the school district in which the child resides. Before referring the child, the person making the referral must inform the child's parents that the referral will be made. The referral must be in writing and include the reason why the person believes the child is a child with a disability. Others who reasonably believe a child is a child with a disability may also refer the child to the school district in which the child resides. A referral of a child residing in the School District of Janesville may be sent to Kimberli Peerenboom at the school district address above."

December/January 2020

WASHINGTON WAVELENGTH
December/January 2020

From the Principal,

Dear Washington Families,

Happy new year! The Washington staff are excited about welcoming students back after the winter break and are looking forward to the busy months ahead. I have been tremendously impressed by the work of the students and staff at Washington this year and am excited about the progress of our students moving forward. The months following winter break always provide a great opportunity to accelerate learning for all students. Staff have put much time and effort into planning and preparing to provide students high quality experiences that will ensure this learning takes place. We look forward to our continued service to the Washington students and families. As we approach the halfway point of the year there are a few reminders I wanted to share with you. Please remember that students are not to be dropped off or picked up in the parking lot behind the school.

If the temperature is below zero (combined with the wind-chill) students will be allowed in the building at 8:00 a.m. If it is above zero, students remain outside until 8:15.
The same temperature threshold is used for outside recesses as well.
There is no school on Monday, January 20th.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call the school at 743-7205. Sincerely, Matt Peerenboom, Principal

Important Dates

Dec. 9-13-Holiday Shop - 8:15 AM-3:30 PM
Dec. 11-4th - 5th Grade Field Trip, A Christmas Carol”
Dec. 13-No P4J Classes
Dec. 20-Cozy Pajama Day
Dec. 23-Jan. 1-Winter Break -No School
Jan. 3-Color Wars
Jan. 10-Family Movie Night 5:30-7:30 PM
Jan. 13-PTA mtg. @ 5
Jan. 14-DQ Night 4-7 PM
Jan. 17-No P4J Classes
Jan. 20-MLK Jr. Day No School
Jan. 31-Popcorn Sale

P4J

P4J enjoyed playing counting and number games at their Thanksgiving Celebration! Thank you to everyone who joined us and provided items for the celebration! In December and January, we will be continuing to work on our fine motor skills of cutting, holding a pencil/crayon, picking up small items, and writing our names. Families can work on these skills at home as well by: lacing beads, making beaded or cheerio/fruit loop necklaces, playing with playdough, cutting, and writing names. We will also continue working on our counting and 1 to 1 correspondence. Playing board games at home can help with these skills and helps students practice taking turns. P4J has been practicing problem solving skills by using "solutions" when students have a problem. Some of our "solutions" are: share, take turns, trade, say "please stop", say "please", ask nicely, and play together. If you hear students using these terms at home, please encourage them by recognizing the "solutions" they were using. We wish you a happy holiday season!

Kindergarten

Please make time during this busy month of December to complete your family project of the Polar Express train. The students and staff love to see all the different trains hanging in our kindergarten hallway! Please send your child every day with proper outdoor clothing for recess. This includes a winter coat, hat, gloves, boots and snow pants when the snow arrives. Kindergarteners should be working hard to be independent with dressing themselves in their winter gear and tying shoes as they are transferring from boots to shoes many times a day at school. Warm up to a good book this winter with your child! Reading to your child is a perfect opportunity to spend time together while practicing letter names and sounds and sight words!

Grade 1

First graders have been busy writing their own autobiographies. They created and narrated digital books about themselves. They have been posted to their Seesaw journals. If you haven't had a chance to see your child's, take some time to check it out. We are currently working on writing informational books about ocean animals of their own choosing. Look for them to come home before the winter break. Throughout the second trimester, we will be focused on informational writing. Continue to look for paper booklets to come home a few times each week. Having your child read these booklets a few times goes a long way towards developing a fluent and confident reader. Spending just 3 minutes a day on the weekly sight words will also increase your child's fluency and accuracy. We are completing addition and subtraction strategies in Math. Our next emphasis will be on place value and adding 2-digit numbers. Look for the homework sheets to come home and give your child whatever support they need to complete accurately. During winter weather, please help your child remember to bring all the necessary winter gear. They also need a DRY pair of shoes to wear in the classroom. An extra pair of socks kept in the backpack is helpful as well.

Grade 2

During the month of December, our second graders will be taking part in a gingerbread man unit. We will be comparing and contrasting different versions of the story, as well as working on other English language arts skills. Your child will be bringing home a gingerbread person that as a family you will want to disguise so it won’t get eaten. Be as creative as you wish. We have had many clever disguises over the years. As part of our unit, we will be sending home a note requesting a food item to create gingerbread houses. We have other surprises planned too!!! The children will be starting double digit addition before the break. Please work with your child on math facts. Following break, we will begin double digit subtraction. Please continue to work on those math facts. Are you ready for some cool weather?? The winter season is here and it is important that our students have proper winter attire. You may want to leave an extra pair of shoes here once we get to boot weather.

Grade 3

The third-graders are already off to a busy start for the new trimester! We are into multiplication and division strategies and working hard to know our facts. We will begin understanding fractions as parts of whole in January. In science we will begin our simple machines unit and magnets. Our social studies unit this trimester is Economics, so we will be learning how money works in our world. It’s very fun and exciting. All three classes are doing a fun holiday project the week before winter break on Holidays Around the World. Ask your child to share what they’ve learned about how different cultures celebrate!

Grade 4

In our upcoming unit in social studies we will be learning all about our great state of Wisconsin. Our science unit will focus on electricity, where students will be designing their own electrical circuit. Daily practice of multiplication, and division will greatly benefit your child with his/her math in fourth grade. We are working diligently on our double digit multiplication, and will soon begin long division. Students are excited to add stars to their reading motivation charts. Keep up the great work with reading and sharing about your books! Please continue to have your child wear appropriate winter clothing to school for outdoor recesses.

Grade 5

Fifth graders are showing a lot of grit while learning math concepts like adding and subtracting unlike denominator fractions and order of operations. As we continue to focus on fractions and mixed numbers we are also introducing and digging deeper in finding volume, area and perimeter in geometric shapes. For reading and language arts, we are focusing in on learning the six signpost of fiction and the five for nonfiction. Students are continuing to read through the 25 book challenge and are excited when they are picked to do the book trailer. For science, we are learning about our watery planet, specifically the water cycle and earth’s systems. In writing we are wrapping up personal narrative and continuing to work on persuasive or opinion writing. We have been tackling colonization in America and we will soon be studying the Revolutionary War for Social Studies. We appreciate parental support with the 20 minutes of reading and 20 minutes of math at home. We have seen an improvement already. Keep it up, students!

News from the Music Room

Kindergarten and 1st Graders are working on dynamics in music, which means volume. They have been learning the Italian words for Loud, Soft, Very Loud, Very Soft, soft to loud, and loud to soft. Ask them to share the words they remember with you! Then the students have been using these different dynamics in singing games and applying them to songs using Boomwhackers.

Second, third and fifth Graders began an ukulele unit (it's so exciting because Washington School now has their own set of 30 ukuleles for the students to play, thanks to the district!!), and are learning to play on the individual strings, then will graduate to simple chords and strumming!

Fourth Grade continues to put several of the musical concepts they have been working on while they are playing the recorder. They have started Recorder Karate where they practice the 9 belt songs one at a time until they are ready to test for their belt. Then they move onto the next song, which is a little more challenging. This is a great program since each student can work at their own level and feel successful!

PE NEWS

Please mark on your calendar the upcoming events:
March 19, 2020 4th Grade Bowling Trip/ March 20, 2020 5th Grade Bowling Trip
May 19, 2020 5th Grade Elementary Track Meet 8:15-11:30
May 20, 2020 4th Grade Elementary Track Meet 8:15-11:30
May 21, 2020 Rain Date Elementary Track Meet 8:15-11:30
What We Are Learning in PE
P- “Pedometers” measure your steps.
H- “Heart” is a muscle that needs to be worked! “Healthy Habits” are essential for a long and happy life!
Y- “Your Approach” the steps that you take prior to delivering/rolling the bowling ball at the foul line.
S- “Success” comes from hard work and practice not luck! “Sensory” Hallways now at Washington. “Snowshoes” when the snow shall fall!
I- “Identify” the bones and muscles in your body.
C- “Components of Fitness” Aerobic Endurance, Body Composition, Muscular Strength, Muscular Endurance, and Flexibility - All Bodies Should Exercise Forever.
A- “Average” Resting Heart Rate of a child is between 80 to 100 beats per minute.
L- “Locomotor Skills” walk, run, jump, hop, skip, gallop, leap, and side slide. The basics of all movement!
E- “Exercise” is required for a minimum of one hour every day! “Exercise” improves your mood.
D- “Drop” the ball on your shoelaces when you are going to punt. “Dance” like nobody's watching!
U- “Understand” what your Target Heart Rate is and why it is important.
C- “Create” A Jump Rope Routine. “Catch” A Chest Pass. “Calculate” Your Healthy Heart Rate Zone. “Cooperate” With A Partner.
A- “Always” try your best. It’s not about if you are first or last but the effort you put in!
T- “Trap” A Soccer Ball. “T-Stop” Inline Skating. “Tuck Jump” Gymnastics. “Twirl” A Jump Rope.
I- “Inactivity” is a risk factor for heart disease.
O- “Opposition” opposite foot forward in relation to your throwing hand.
N- “Nutrition” Avoid food products containing ingredients that a third grader cannot pronounce.

Every child stronger, every life longer!
Mrs. Hintz

A Few Lines from Washington’s Art Studio

We will once again be creating original artworks that can be printed and published through Square 1 Art. We will ‘start with the art’ in January.
Our annual Ishful Arts Event will happen on Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 (the first Tuesday evening after Spring Break). We will have activities throughout the lower level that evening from 5:30 - 7:30 PM.
Feel free to follow Washington’s Art Studio on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/washingtonscreativeartists. Please know that we do not use the names or grade levels of any of our students. It is always fun to share, but we must keep our students safe!
Mrs. Gee Gee Jannene, Art teacher

STEAM Statements

Our First Lego League Robotics team did a great job representing Washington Elementary at the Regional competition at Parker High School on Saturday, November 2nd. Their hard work paid off and our FLL Robotics team has advanced to the Sectional Competition on Sunday, December 15th at Waukesha North High School in Waukesha, Wisconsin. (At the time of this newsletter, we do not know the results of their continued hard work).
Mrs. Gee Gee Jannene and Ms. Valerie Griffith
Our Art-Themed Coding Club is up and running. We started with a few weeks of our returning coding members. The first session has been offered to our 4th and 5th Graders. That session started on Tuesday, December 10th. We are meeting after school on Tuesdays until 4:00 PM. (We DO NOT meet on the first Tuesday of each month as there are building meetings on that day). Thank you to our Third Graders that are patiently waiting, as your session will start in March.
Mrs. Jannene, Art teacher and Mrs. Miller, Innovation Specialist

BULLYING PREVENTION

The School District of Janesville Board of Education strives to provide an educational environment where every student feels safe, respected and welcomed. The Board also strives to provide an educational environment where every staff member can serve students in a atmosphere that is free from significant disruptions and obstacles that impede learning and performance. Bullying can have harmful social, physical, psychological and/or academic effects for those who engage in these behaviors, victims of such behaviors, and bystanders who observe acts of bullying. The District prohibits any form of bullying behavior by students towards other students, school employees, volunteers, or any other person(s).

Bullying includes aggressive or hostile behavior that is intentional and involves an imbalance of power between the bully and the bullied. Bullying is a form of victimization and is not necessarily a result of or part of an on-going conflict. Bullying is defined as any conscious, willful, or deliberate acts, or attempted acts, through the use of words, images, gestures or other physical actions, including electronically transmitted acts, that are intended to cause physical injury, emotional distress or property damage. Bullying includes, but is not limited to, behaviors motivated by an actual or perceived distinguishing characteristic or factor including sex, race, national origin, ancestry, religion, color, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability. Bullying may also be motivated by any other distinguishing factor such as gender identity, physical appearance, or social, economic or family status.

Examples of acts of bullying include physical intimidation, force or assault, humiliation, sexual or racist remarks, extortion, verbal or written threats, taunting, put downs, name calling, threatening or menacing looks or gestures, spreading cruel rumors, and social exclusion. This includes acts of cyber-bullying that involve sending or posting inappropriate, insulting or threatening messages or images through electronic communication systems such as the Internet, e-mail, cell phones or other personal devices.

Bullying is prohibited on District grounds, at District-related activities, or on transportation to and from school or District-sponsored activities. Harassing bullying behavior is prohibited in all educational environments, regardless of whether the facility or location is owned, leased, or otherwise used or provided by the District.

Acts of bullying that originate off school premises and outside of the school’s control may be subject to the provisions of this policy and related procedures if the conduct is determined to be substantially disruptive to the educational process and the day-to-day operations of a school. This includes, but is not limited to, threats made outside of school hours that communicate intent to be carried out during any school-related or school-sponsored program or activity, or on any vehicles used for transportation to and from school and school-sponsored activities.

All complaints about bullying shall be promptly investigated. The District shall respect the privacy of the complainant, the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed, and the witnesses as much as practicable and in a manner consistent with the Board’s legal obligations to investigate, take appropriate action, and conform to discovery or disclosure requirements. Disclosure of information related to the complaint shall be made only to those with a legitimate need to know. All records generated as a result of the complaint and appeal processes shall be maintained as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

If the investigations finds bullying has occurred, school officials shall take prompt and necessary action up to and including behavioral interventions and support, disciplinary action, and/or referral to law enforcement officials or social services. Consequences shall be unique to the nature of the behavior, the developmental level of the student, and the history of problem behaviors. Remedial measures shall be designed to correct the problem behavior, prevent other occurrences, and protect the victim.

The District shall also take appropriate action against any student or District employee who retaliates against any person who makes a good-faith report of alleged bullying or against any person who testifies, assists, or participates in an investigation or hearing related to such behavior.

Employees found to have facilitated or participated in bullying behavior against students or to have been aware that bullying was taking place and failed to report the behavior are considered to be in violation of the prohibition expressed by this policy and may be subject to disciplinary action.

This policy shall be distributed annually to all students enrolled in the School District, parents/guardians, and all District employees. It shall also be distributed to organizations in the community having cooperative agreements with the schools. The District shall provide a copy of the policy to any person upon request.

Records shall be maintained on the number and types of reports made, and sanctions imposed for violations of this policy in accordance with established procedures.

REF: State Statute 111.31
State Statute 115.28(31)
State Statute 118.01(2)(d)8
State Statute 118.02(9t)
State Statute 118.13
State Statute 118.155
State Statute 118.195
State Statute 118.20
State Statute 120.13(1)
State Administrative Code PI 9
State Administrative Code PI 41
State Criminal Statutes 947.0125
State Criminal Statutes 947.013
State Criminal Statutes 948.51(2)
Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972
Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Civil Rights Act of 1991
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

CROSS REF:
Board Policy 5020, Student Nondiscrimination
Administrative Regulation 5020.1, Public Notification of Student Nondiscrimination Policy
Administrative Regulation 5020.2, Student Discrimination Complaint Procedure
Administrative Regulation 5020.3, Student Discrimination Incident Report
Board Policy 5021, Sexual Harassment
Administrative Regulation 5021.1, Complaint Procedures Relative to Sexual Harassment
Administrative Regulation 6724.1, Guidelines/Use of Technology by Students and Staff
Administrative Regulation 6724.2, Student Internet Access and Safe Use

Board of Education
Janesville, Wisconsin
2009; 2011, August 2014

MOVING???

If you have any questions about school placement for a particular address, please contact Open Enrollment Specialist Deen Hartley at 743-5152. The New Student Enrollment Office is open year round.

Due to Move:

Due to Parent Choice:

Open Enrollment or Public School Choice

Public School Open Enrollment Timelines

The State of Wisconsin has announced the application period for open enrollment (also known as public school choice) begins in February for the following school year. Open Enrollment laws permit children to attend a public school in a school district other than the one in which they live. The open enrollment application period for the 2020-2021 school year is from February 3, 2020 – April 30, 2020. Parents are encouraged to apply on-line at dpi.wi.gov/open-enrollment. Although on-line application is recommended, paper applications may be obtained from the Department of Public Instruction or any school district after February 3, 2020 and must be delivered (hand-delivery is recommended) to the nonresident school district during the application period. Paper applications to attend Janesville must be submitted to the Open Enrollment Specialist in the New Student Enrollment Office no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 30th (a postmark does not constitute timely submission). Applications turned in prior to February 3rd will be returned as not valid and must be resubmitted after February 3rd but before April 30th at 4:00 p.m.

Under School District of Janesville board policy, students who attended the district under open enrollment the previous year are not required to reapply for the following school year.

Parents will be informed in June whether their open enrollment applications have been approved or denied. The student’s school or program placement will be provided in June.

If you have questions, please contact the Open Enrollment Specialist at 743-5152.

School District Residents

If you have a child turning 5 (five) years old prior to September 1, 2020 and they are not currently enrolled in a School District of Janesville Pre-school for Janesville (P4J) or Early Childhood (EC) program it is time to enroll in the Janesville Public School District. Enrollment will take place at the Educational Services Center located at 527 S. Franklin St. (administration building) in the New Student Enrollment office. You may enroll anytime during the two-week period.
Weeks of December 2–6 and December 9-13
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. M/W/F both weeks
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.mTuesday, December 3, 2019
8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 5, 2019
8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 10, 2019
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.mThursday, December 12, 2019

If you cannot attend the enrollment period please come in as soon as possible to enroll after December 13, 2019. Enrollment in the district is required for participation in orientation. When you enroll, you will need your child’s birth certificate for proof of age, proof of residency (top portion of a utility bill, or current lease) to determine school assignment, immunization records and photo identification. If you have questions on general enrollment, please contact the New Student Enrollment office at 743-5072 or 743-5153 during regular office hours, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Requests for School Transfer/Placement within the School District (yellow forms) for incoming kindergarten students should be submitted through the enrollment process. Forms are available at all schools, as well as at the Educational Services Center. If you have questions regarding this process contact Deen Hartley at 743-5152. The status of requests will be determined by January 15, 2020 if they are turned in by December 13th. If you have a student currently attending a school under a School Transfer/Placement within the School District, it does not automatically qualify your kindergarten student for attendance at the same school; however, siblings are generally assigned to the same school. In order for your kindergarten student to attend the same school as a sibling, you must submit a request during the Kindergarten Enrollment time frame. If you know of a child in your neighborhood or from community activities that would be entering kindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year, please pass this enrollment information on.

Non-District Residents

School District of Janesville

CONFIDENTIALITY OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION OBTAINED THROUGH CHILD FIND ACTIVITIES

The school district maintains several classes of pupil records.

"Progress records" include grades, courses the child has taken, the child's attendance record, immunization records, required lead screening records, and records of school extra-curricular activities. Progress records must be maintained for at least five years after the child ceases to be enrolled.
"Behavioral records" include such records as psychological tests, personality evaluations, records of conversations, written statements relating specifically to the pupil's behavior, tests relating specifically to achievement or measurement of ability, physical health records other than immunization and lead screening records, law enforcement officers' records, and other pupil records that are not "progress records." Law enforcement officers' records are maintained separately from other pupil records. Behavioral records may be maintained for no longer than one year after the child graduates or otherwise ceases to be enrolled, unless the parent specifies in writing that the records may be maintained for a longer period of time. The school district informs parents when pupil records are no longer needed to provide special education. At the request of the child's parents, the school district destroys the information that is no longer needed.
"Directory data" includes the student's name, address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, photographs, degrees and awards received, and the name of the school most recently previously attended by the student.
"Pupil physical health records" include basic health information about a pupil, including the pupil's immunization records, an emergency medical card, a log of first aid and medicine administered to the pupil, an athletic permit card, a record concerning the pupil's ability to participate in an education program, any required lead screening records, the results of any routine screening test, such as for hearing, vision or scoliosis, and any follow-up to the test, and any other basic health information, as determined by the state superintendent. Any pupil record relating to a pupil's physical health that is not a pupil physical health record is treated as a patient health care record under sections 146.81 to 146.84, Wisconsin Statutes. Any pupil record concerning HIV testing is treated as provided under section 252.15, Wisconsin Statutes.

The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of receipt of the request. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal [or appropriate school official] a written request that identifies the records(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. The school district will comply with the request without unnecessary delay and before any meeting about an individualized education program, or any due process hearing, and in no case more than 45 days after the request has been made. If any record includes information on more than one child, the parents of those children have the right to inspect and review only the information about their child or to be informed of that specific information. Upon request, the school district will give a parent or eligible student a copy of the progress records and a copy of the behavioral records. Upon request, the school district will give the parent or eligible student a list of the types and locations of education records collected, maintained, or used by the district for special education. The school district will respond to reasonable requests for explanations and interpretations of the records. A representative of the parent may inspect and review the records.
The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the parent or eligible student believes is inaccurate or misleading. Parents or eligible students may ask [Name of] School District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the district decides not to amend the record, the district will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and the right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information in the student's education records, except to the extent that federal and state law authorize disclosure without consent. The exceptions are stated in 34 CFR 99.31, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act regulations; Sec. 9528, PL107-110, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001; and section 118.125(2)(a) to (m) and sub. (2m), Wisconsin Statutes. One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosures to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the district as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the school board; a person or company with whom the district has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the district discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. Also the district discloses "directory data" without consent, unless the parent notifies the district that it may not be released without prior parental consent.
The right to file a complaint with the U. S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202-4605.

Child Find Notice

Annually the district conducts developmental screening of preschool children. Each child's motor, communication and social skills are observed at various play areas. Each child is weighed and measured, and the child's hearing and vision is checked. The information is used to provide the parent with a profile of their child's current development and to provide suggestions for follow up activities. Parents learn about community services available to them and speak with representatives of agencies serving families. The information from screening is also used to determine whether a child should be evaluated for a suspected disability. When school staff reasonably believe a child is a child with a disability, they refer the child for evaluation by a school district Individualized Education Program (IEP) team. Developmental screening will be a part of the kindergarten screening this Spring. Watch for dates at your local school.
A physician, nurse, psychologist, social worker or administrator of a social agency who reasonably believes a child brought to him or her for services is a child with a disability has a legal duty to report the child to the school district in which the child resides. Before referring the child, the person making the referral must inform the child's parents that the referral will be made. The referral must be in writing and include the reason why the person believes the child is a child with a disability. Others who reasonably believe a child is a child with a disability may also refer the child to the school district in which the child resides. A referral of a child residing in the School District of Janesville may be sent to Kimberli Peerenboom at the school district address above."

February/March 2020

WASHINGTON WAVELENGTH

February/March 2020

From the Principal,

Dear Washington Families,

As the year progresses, I continue to be impressed with the students, staff, and families here at Washington. On a daily basis, I notice the type of instruction that engages students in higher level thinking and empowers them to become independent thinkers. The determination and hard work of our students are on frequent display. Reflective of this quality teaching and learning are the results of the recently completed, winter STAR assessment. We are looking forward to sharing student progress and the positive things going on at Washington during the upcoming parent/teacher conferences. If you have not signed and returned your child’s conference note, please do so as soon as possible or contact his or her teacher. As always, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact the school at 743-7205.

Sincerely,

Matt Peerenboom, Principal

Important Dates

Feb. 7-Color Wars
Feb. 10-PTA mtg. @ 5
Feb. 20-4^th & 5^th Grade MASH Program 1:00
Feb. 21-No School for Elementary Students (Teacher Professional Development)
Feb. 28-No P4J Classes, Popcorn Sale
Mar. 2-Dr. Seuss’s Birthday Dress Up Day
Mar. 4- Parent Teacher Conferences & Book Fair 4-8 PM
Mar. 5-No School Parent Teacher Conferences & Book Fair 8 AM-7 PM
Mar. 6-No School
Mar. 8-Daylight Savings Begins
Mar. 9-PTA mtg. @ 5
Mar. 11-Scoopie Night Culver’s Ct. St. 4-8 PM
Mar. 13-Family Bingo Night 5:30-7:30 PM
Mar. 20-No P4J, Spring Sings
Mar. 23-27-No School Spring Break
Mar. 31-Ishful Art Event 5:30-7:30 PM

P4J

P4J students have been working hard on letter recognition and letter sounds. We have also been practicing writing our letters and making sure we start the letter at the top. You may hear your child singing, "Where do you start your letters? At the top!" We will be finishing up our Child Protection Unit and return to focusing on specific Social-Emotional skills. Please remember to fill out the book log in your child's library folder with how many times you read their library book. Reading to your child is the best thing that you can do to help their academics now and in the future. I look forward to Parent-Teacher conferences in March to share all the growth your children have made so far throughout the year!

Kindergarten

February is a busy month with celebrating Groundhog’s Day, the 100th Day of School, and Valentine’s Day! We will also have a visit from a local dentist to share information because February is National Children’s Dental Health month. Also, in February we will be completing assessments for trimester 2. Please continue to practice and review – counting, number recognition, shapes, letters, sounds, words, and tying shoes. For Valentine’s Day, please have your child write ONLY his/her name on the cards. Do not address cards to other students. That makes handing out Valentines much easier! Thanks! :)

Please be sure your child is dressed for winter. Snow pants and boots are a MUST in order to play in the snow. All students go outside unless it is below zero.

Grade 1

We want to welcome Mr. Troy Nicols to the Washington Staff. He will be working with the first graders during reading, writing, and math daily. He also will be with them during their lunch and recess times each day. He has replaced Mrs. Jessica Severance, who is completing her student teaching experience this semester. She will be doing her student teaching in Mrs. Murphy's room until mid-April. She will then be completing the Special Education portion of her student teaching at Jackson School through the end of the school year. Mark your calendars for Friday, March 20. This is the date for Washington School's Spring Concerts. The first graders will be performing at 9:45 on this day. Watch your child's Home Folder for a note coming home soon regarding our February 14^th field trip. The first graders will be attending a theater production at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater entitled "Yao Yao." In Math we are working on Place Value. Adding and subtracting 2-digit numbers comes next. We will be reading, writing, and learning about animal groups, special animal features, moon and space, transportation, and where does food come from over the course of the next couple of months.

Grade 2

How can we be over half-way done with the school year? Second graders have been very busy!

In Math, children have been adding and subtracting two and three digit numbers, and are now learning how to add and subtract with regrouping. One way you can assist your child is to work with them nightly so their basic addition and subtraction are memorized. Also encourage your child to practice counting loose change and telling time using an analog clock (if you still have one around ☺).
Science has been focusing on matter. Children got to observe oobleck’s properties…is it a solid? Is it a liquid? Studies will include the properties of matter and how they might change.
In Social Studies, children are learning about their family histories and that can help us learn about the past. They will be asked to either interview an adult or make a storyboard as part of their final project.
The focus in writing has been opinion writing. Students have been discussing “Would You Rathers” and working on forming an opinion. We are concentrating on sentence structure and making sure we include good facts and details that support their opinion.
Continue to read with your child every night for 20 minutes.

Weather in Wisconsin is fickle and we would like children dressed warmly for their recess. Remind your child to have mittens and a hat here. Students also need to have boots so that they can change into dry shoes for gym and in the classroom. Please mark your calendars for Parent-Teacher conferences, March 4^th and 5^th. Our goal is to meet with ALL families. It is a great opportunity for you to hear about your child’s growth and their school day successes. We will be sending home your confirmation slips in the middle of February. Second and third grade will be taking a trip to Milton to watch Dr. Seuss’s Seussical the Musical Jr. performed by Spotlight on Kids on March 3^rd. More information will be coming about this. The Spring Sing will be held on Friday, March 20^th.

Grade 3

We have been busy in third grade! In writing we have been working on informational writing. The students have been able to choose a topic they know a lot about and are writing a nonfiction piece. The students are really doing well with this type of writing. In math, we are continuing to work on our multiplication and division and have started our fractions unit. We will be moving on to our measurement and data and geometry unit coming up. 2^nd and 3^rd grade will be taking a trip to Milton to watch Dr. Seuss’s Seussical the Musical Jr. performed by the Children Theater on March 3^rd.Please remember to send your child in warm winter clothing and feel free to send extra socks in your child’s backpack because their feet get wet at recess.

Grade 4

The fourth graders have been working hard over the winter months in all subject areas. We are looking forward to our annual trip to the Capitol and the Wisconsin Historical Museum on February 25^th. To prepare for this trip we have been studying the history of our state in social studies. In science we are continuing to explore electrical engineering and electric circuits. We have been reading several different genres in reading including nonfiction, fiction, biographies, and poetry. During math we are learning about fractions, geometry, and measurement. Please continue to read daily at home and practice your multiplications facts. Also, remember to check to the weather to ensure that your child has proper gear for outside.

Grade 5

February brings fifth grade MASH where they will learn about hygiene and their changing anatomy. For science, we will be exploring space, specifically with the earth’s rotation and revolution, gravity, the stars and planets. In social studies the next big event in US history we will be studying: The Revolutionary War, and its causes and effects. The students are writing an opinion and persuasive paper on states. This includes research, citing evidence, make a decision on what state they would want to live in and persuading the reader to move there. For reading, we are beginning nonfiction signposts and continuing with spelling, vocabulary, comprehension. In math we are continuing to focus on adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing fractions with unlike denominators, mixed numbers, and decimals. For both math and reading students are on the homestretch with preparing for the big Forward test in April. Please continue to have students practice at home math facts, dreambox, RAZ kids or reading for 20 min, etc. Thank you for your support in this, as it helps the students a lot!

News from the Music Room

The kindergartners have been working on melody, exploring with high, low, and medium pitches and the letters from the music alphabet. They have been singing and playing these pitches on instruments, and they are now exploring how music helps to tell stories. They are reading one of my favorite stories, called “Mortimer”, the students have come up with ways to use stair bells and rhythm instruments to help bring the story to life!

First graders have been busy working with simple melodies and beginning to read the pitches on an abbreviated music staff. They have been performing these simple melodies on Orff Instruments, and they are now in the middle of composing their own two-measure melodies that they will perform for each other in class.

In second grade, the students have been experimenting with, and learning more about, Dynamics in music, which means how loud or soft you sing or play. They are also learning more about how to read pitches on the Treble Clef Staff, and they learned a simple, 3-pitch song with which they play a game. In this game, which is very much like the Hot and Cold Game, the students have to sing the song using Dynamics to help the person who is searching for an item that has been hidden. It’s one of our favorite activities in 2nd grade!

Harmony and Texture are the elements of music 3rd Graders are talking about right now. We are singing partner songs to create harmony, which means we take two different songs with two different melodies and sing them together at the same time. This creates harmony. Both songs need to have the same Meter or Time Signature, as well as be in the same key for this to work and sound good. We are also talking about Folk Songs and how they are passed down from generation to generation, bringing pieces of history along with them.

4th Graders are exploring triplets in music, which are groups of 3 eight notes performed on one beat, creating a fun rhythm to play on drums and other percussion instruments. We discussed fractions and how the prefix Tri means three. The students will be creating their own rhythms incorporating triplets which they will perform for the class. They will also be playing on ukuleles.

In 5th grade, the students have been using chromebooks and our online Quaver curriculum resource to create short, 4-measure melodies to be performed for the class on Orff Instruments. They create the melodies on QComposer Lite in Quaver, and they must use patterns and create melodies in a Meter of 4. The students need to be able to read pitches from a Treble Clef Staff, as well as read quarter note rhythms.

PE NEWS

Important Dates
3/19 4^th Grade EL RA Bowling Trip
3/20 5^th Grade EL RA Bowling Trip
5/19 Grade 5 Track Meet-8:30 Start Time
5/20 Grade 4 Track Meet-8:30 Start Time
5/21 Elementary Track Meet Rain Date
Winter Activities That Begin With The Letter “S” To Help Keep Us Active:
Sledding, Snowshoeing, Skating, Skiing, Shoveling Snow, and Building Snowmen!

Grades 3-5

The first two weeks of February the classes will be inline skating. This means that the wheels on our skates are all in a straight line. You are probably familiar with the company Rollerblade. The Rollerblade Company makes inline skates. The older students will be helping the younger students out with their inline skating for the first two days that they will be skating. This ensures that our younger students have safe and positive start to skating if it is brand new to them. Washington School has their own inline skates so that every student will inline skate. Our skating unit begins February 3rd-February 13th. Students will be asked to bring in two pairs of fresh, clean, dry socks to be used only for skating. One pair for the first week of skating and one pair for the second week of skating. Also, any protective gear that you as parent or guardian feels that is necessary (helmet, elbow or knee pads). This unit is one of their favorites!

After skating we go right into the Bowling Unit in which the 4th and 5th grade students begin preparing for their culminating activity, a field trip to the EL RA Bowling Center in Janesville. We have established, over the years, such a great community partner with Chris Brose at EL RA Bowling. Our morning or afternoon of bowling is such a wonderful trip for our students to demonstrate their bowling skills and knowledge in the sport of bowling. More information will be coming home with your 4th and 5th grade student as our trip approaches. Lastly, if our weather cooperates with us, we will be snowshoeing out on our playground. If the temps are right, and the snow is coming down, it can be quite fun and a great form of exercise! Units to follow are the Fitness Rebounders from Jump Sport plus BOSU’s, scarf juggling, speed stakes, plus another favorite the parachute.

Grades K-2

Inline skating will be taking place in class the first two weeks of February. Two pairs of socks will be needed for the students in grades K-2. One pair for each week used only for skating. If your student has never skated in grades K and 1, the older students will be giving your student help the first two days that your student will be skating. This helps to ensure a positive, safe, mentoring situation for your student. Our older students have been skating since Kindergarten so they have become quite knowledgeable, plus skilled, in the procedures and practices, needed for inline skating. I am constantly amazed at how quick our younger students catch on. By day three they are skating by themselves! Parents and guardians you will be really helping me out if you would practice with your student the art of tying their shoes. My two hands have great difficulty getting to the entire class in a 30 minute PE class period! The younger students will also be using the Fitness Rebounders and BOSU’s, participating in scarf juggling, speed stacking and using the colorful parachute.

Looking for a place to inline or roller skate? Edgerton Tri-community Center by the post office in Edgerton has Friday night skates for kids and the public. They have a $5.00 charge for skates which includes entrance fees too. You can also bring your own personal skates, they sell pizza and have concession stands. Some evenings the skating is totally free! Community Center Information: 112 Sweft Street, Edgerton, WI 53534 / 608-884-9601*Some of my 5th graders from last year attended a free skate and I stopped by to see how much fun they were having. I loved their disco ball and the giant dice for the numbers game! Mrs. Hintz

A Few Lines from Washington’s Art Studio

This year Washington Elementary has eleven student’s entries for PTA Reflections. The theme for the 2019-2020 year is “Look Within”. These students have worked hard to complete the artwork and the entry process for this PTA sponsored contest. By March we should find out how our students placed. All of our School District of Janesville students will be recognized for their work at an event on May 7th at JPAC. During the month of January all students at Washington Elementary worked to create original artworks that can be printed and published through Square 1 Art. This is a PTA fundraiser for our school, so we encourage everyone to order some of your student’s artwork. Your support helps our entire school. Thank you!

Our annual Ishful Arts Event will happen on Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 (the first Tuesday evening after Spring Break). We will have activities throughout the lower level that evening from 5:30 - 7:30 PM.

Feel free to follow Washington’s Art Studio on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/washingtonscreativeartists. Please know that we do not use the names or grade levels of any of our students. It is always fun to share, but me must keep our students safe!

Mrs. Gee Gee Jannene, Art teacher

STEAM Statements

Our First Lego League Robotics team did a great job representing Washington Elementary and the School District of Janesville at the Sectional Competition on Sunday, December 15th at Waukesha North High School in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Unfortunately, none of the Janesville teams advanced to the state competition in early February. All of our students have learned so much. Please feel free to talk with them about their experience. First Lego League is open to students in grades 4 - 8. Students that participate in our Art Coding Club here at Washington are invited to apply to our school team in the fall.

Mrs. Gee Gee Jannene and Ms. Valerie Griffith

Our Art-Themed Coding Club is up and running. We started with a few weeks of our returning coding members. The first session was offered to our 4th and 5th Graders. That session started on Tuesday, December 10th. We are meeting after school on Tuesdays until 4:00 PM. (We DO NOT meet on the first Tuesday of each month as there are building meetings on that day). Thank you to our Third Graders that are patiently waiting, as your session will start in March. Mark your calendars for our annual Technology Fair on Wednesday, May 27th from 4:30-5:30. There is something for everyone as our Coding Club students serve as ‘the experts’ during this family-friendly event.

Mrs. Jannene, Art teacher and Mrs. Miller, Innovation Specialist

MOVING???

If you have any questions about school placement for a particular address, please contact Open Enrollment Specialist Deen Hartley at 743-5152. The New Student Enrollment Office is open year round.

Request for School Transfer/Placement (Intra District Transfers) within the School District of Janesville Attendance Areas

Due to Move:

Public School Open Enrollment Timelines

The State of Wisconsin has announced the application period for open enrollment (also known as public school choice) begins in February for the following school year. Open Enrollment laws permit children to attend a public school in a school district other than the one in which they live. The open enrollment application period for the 2020-2021 school year is from February 3, 2020 – April 30, 2020. Parents are encouraged to apply on-line at dpi.wi.gov/open-enrollment. Although on-line application is recommended, paper applications may be obtained from the Department of Public Instruction or any school district after February 3, 2020 and must be delivered (hand-delivery is recommended) to the nonresident school district during the application period. Paper applications to attend Janesville must be submitted to the Open Enrollment Specialist in the New Student Enrollment Office no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 30th(a postmark does not constitute timely submission). Applications turned in prior to February 3rdwill be returned as not valid and must be resubmitted after February 3rd but before April 30^th at 4:00 p.m.

Under School District of Janesville board policy, students who attended the district under open enrollment the previous year are not required to reapply for the following school year.

Parents will be informed in June whether their open enrollment applications have been approved or denied. The student’s school or program placement will be provided in June.

If you have questions, please contact the Open Enrollment Specialist at 743-5152.