Newsletters
Fall 2023
Washington Wavelength Fall 2023
FROM THE PRINCIPAL:
Dear Washington Families,
The 2023-24 school year is well under way and we’re off to a great start. Students and staff have been working hard, getting to know one another, and establishing those critical routines. It’s been an exciting first month and we're already impressed with the growth we have noticed from our young learners! When it comes to student learning, we have many goals for our students. In academics this year, our highest priority areas are focused on improving the reading and math skills of all students. We work diligently to plan and deliver high quality instruction and support students on their learning journey. We also realize the key role that you, as parents, play and we appreciate all you do to support their learning. As you read through this newsletter, you will notice several simple suggestions for supporting your child’s academic success from home as well. The partnership between schools and families is an essential element in student growth and achievement. We look forward to working with you this year and seeing you at parent teacher conferences on October 25th and 26th. With Regards, Matt Peerenboom, Principal
Important Dates
- October 5 - 4th Grade to JSOL
- October 19 - PTA Oktoberfest
- October 20 - No P4J 25 - Conferences - Book Fair
- October 26 - Conferences - No School - Book Fair
- October 27 - No School
- November 3 - No School
- November 16 - End of First Trimester
- November 17 - No School
- November 22-24 - No School/Thanksgiving Break
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Traffic and Safety Reminders
Stop Drop and Go Area: Parking is not allowed in this area. Please makesure to go as soon as you have dropped your child off. 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. The parking lot is not to be used for dropping off or picking up students before or after school. If you need to use the parking lot during school hours, please use the visitor parking stalls. Crosswalks: Please have your child use the designated crosswalks each time he/she is crossing the road. Please do not park within 10 feet of the crosswalks as this makes it difficult for crossing guards to see any oncoming traffic. Drive slowly around the school and be attentive.
Grade Level/Special Area News
P4J
We have been excited to begin to get to know the P4J students this year! P4J has been learning rules and routines at school and have been working on our fine motor skills to develop stronger fingers and hand muscles. As the colder weather approaches, we will be working on putting our coats on by ourselves and practice zipping our coats. These are great skills to be working on at home as well. I look forward to meeting with P4J families on October 25th and 26th at Parent-Teacher Conferences to share more about our goals for the year in P4J!
Kindergarten
Kindergarten is off to a great start! We have been learning our school routines and are continuing to work on alphabet, math, social, and digital skills. Please continue to practice letters, sounds, and numbers with your child at home. For the children’s safety, please send shoes that are easy for our kindergarteners to put on and take off themselves. Also make sure sweatshirts, jackets, backpacks, etc. are labeled with your child’s name. The Take Home Folder is a great communication tool between home and school. Please make sure to check it everyday for notes from your child’s teacher and/or the office. Also, make sure to check your child’s backpack. It may have some memorable things in there to show what we are learning in kindergarten!
First Grade
First grade is off to a great start to the year! We have been reviewing and practicing our rules, expectations and classroom procedures. We're diving into our reading program and the kids are doing great at reading and decoding words. Look for decodable stories that come home each day. Your child should practice reading these each night to help with fluency and accuracy. In Math we have been working on skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s. We'll be using number racks to help us add and subtract to 20. We are excited to start our new social studies curriculum! Our first unit will cover citizenship - getting along, sharing, listening, and talking. Fall is here and we have cool mornings and warm afternoons. It's a good idea to send your child in layers, so they are comfortable throughout the day. We're looking forward to a fantastic first grade year!
Second Grade
Welcome back to our returning and new Patriot Families! We are loving having everyone back with us after a hopefully relaxing summer break. Wehave been introducing and practicing second grade routines. Students have been learning what it means to be a good citizen in 2nd Grade. The children should be familiar with Seesaw and how to access assignments. You are able to see their completed work when you access your Seesaw account. Our math program uses lots of hands-on explorations and practices skills through our workplace games. In the weekly family newsletter we will include the link to these games if you would like to practice these skills at home as well. There will be math homework 2 - 3 times per week. We also encourage your child to read 20 minutes each day. They may partner-read more difficult text with a grown-up or read independently. In the family newsletter we will list the weekly phonics pattern and heart words. Encourage your child to sound out these words when they come across them in their text and practice the heart words so they know them “by heart”. Practice Makes Better! As a reminder, the weather is changing. Please make sure your child comes with a jacket/sweatshirt. Also please continue to send your child with a water bottle to school everyday.
Third Grade
3rd grade has been hard at work! We are busy getting into our reading, writing, and math routines. We have been reading a variety of fiction and nonfiction stories and focusing on retelling, citing textual evidence, and chronological order. In writing, we are focusing on personal narratives and will be moving onto writing opinions. Continue to look at the Reading, Writing, and Spelling Weekly Focus sheets that are sent home at the beginning of the week. As a reminder students should be practicing their reading for about 20 minutes each night and spelling words as well. In Math we will be finishing up our addition and subtraction patterns and moving into multiplication. Please look for a math homework sheet sent home once a week. In Science we are learning about life cycles and in Social Studies we are learning about civics and how being an active citizen can benefit others.
Fourth Grade
Fourth grade is hitting their stride in both Bridges and Wonders! In Bridges, we use various multiplication strategies and pictures to represent our thinking as we continue investigating math problems and the difference between prime and composite numbers. In Wonders, we recently wrapped up our first text set on natural disasters and shifted focus toward how our actions affect others. Through the text, we are developing various ideassuch as text evidence, plot, conflict, and the author's purpose. In social studies, the students are working in groups to research the first settlers of Wisconsin to create a poster that showcases all of their ideas! The fourth grade is excited about its upcoming field trip on Thursday, October 5th to JSOL! Information about the trip will be sent home with the students next week.
Fifth Grade
The start of the year has been great so far and we are very proud of the hard workers we have in 5th grade! In math we started the year off working with volume, in October we will transition to fractions, and then in November we will transition to decimals. In reading we will begin working with argumentative and expository text; then make a transition to folktales. This pairs with our writing where we are learning how to write argumentative essays, and then we will learn how to write an expository essay. Everyone has really done a great job adapting to all the new routines and we can't wait to see where the year takes us! Learning Commons Our online E-Fair starts 9/25 and runs until the physical book fair ends. I will have a more direct link on the 25th to share when it goes live but it can be reached at the address below. Please be sure to select our School. This is a great way to beat the crowd, a broader selection, ships directly to the school and will go home with students. There is also a way to gift teachers by purchasing an E-Gift card they can use online or at the fair for classroom books. https://efairs.literati.com/
Counselor Connections
Hello families! My name is Mrs. Morgan, and I am the School Counselor at Washington. I can not wait to continue working with our amazing students this year. As the counselor, I am here to help support your student’s social,emotional, and academic development. I collaborate with our students, educators, families and professionals in the community to provide your students the resources they need to be successful inside and outside of the classroom. We are finally starting our Connections classes in October! In these lessons we will continue our learning about our emotional brain and coping strategies we can use to work through challenges, conflict resolution, friendship skills, growth mindset, safety, and college and career readiness. If you have any questions or concerns that I may help with, please email me at morgancasey-schm@janesville.k12.wi.us, call me at (608)743 - 7225, or text me at (608) 561-1424.
English Learners
Hola. Hello. My name is Sara Nass and I am the new EL teacher for Washington school. I will be working with students that hear another language at home or speak another language. After being at Lincoln school for the last eight years I am happy to be coming back to Washington. For the past 20 years I have been teaching kindergarten and this is my first year as an EL teacher. Although I had EL students in my classroom while at Lincoln, this year I will be happy to translate and assist other teachers at all grade levels. The other part of my job will take me to community sites for P4J. I will be traveling to P4J sites on Mondays and Fridays and at Washington school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursday. I'm looking forward to meeting new students and family and looking for familiar faces.
Notes from the Music room
5th Graders: This year, 5th grade classes will be meeting 3 times a week instead of the usual 2. I explained that this 3rd music class in 5th grade is to introduce them to orchestra and band instruments and how they are played and sound, as well as to continue singing and discussing choir and what the Music Exploration classes in middle school could possibly offer. This is to help the 5th graders make the best choice for them individually when they need to choose a music class for 6th grade, which they will need to do by the middle of January when they fill out their schedule for 6th grade. The students have also been reviewing rhythm and various notes and rests in music. We reviewed the 3 eighth-note combination called a triplet and reviewed the prefix TRI and how it means 3. We learned about sixteenth notes and the combination of 4 of them to equal one beat. This reminded the students that there is a lot of math and fractions involved in music, like sixteenth notes equal ¼ of a beat, so we need 4 of them to equal a whole beat; eighth notes equal a ½ of a beat, so we need 2 of them to equal a whole beat, and a triplet equals 3 eighth notes to a whole beat, each equalling ⅓ of a beat in this case. We will be attempting working on fun October songs that incorporate triplets and sixteenth-note combinations and games with instruments and cups, as well as playing melodies on the Xylophones, Metallophones, and Glockenspiels, reviewing the Music Alphabet and Treble Clef Staff! We will be very busy!
4th Grade: The 4th graders started off the year reviewing the importance of a steady beat and reviewing and learning new notes and rhythms patterns. We played a steady beat game called Concentration using drumsticks and discovered just how difficult keeping a steady beat can be! This game also helped us to learn new things, and refresh our memories with classmates’ names. We learned about a new note combination called a triplet, and we discussed other words that start with the prefix TRI and discovered that that prefix meant 3. There are three eighth notes in a triplet instead of the usual 2. This led us to the fact that there is a lot of math in music, especially fractions. Two eighth notes to a beat each equal 1⁄2, while 3 eighth notes to a beat each equal ⅓. Now that it is October, we will be continuing to use triplets in a cup passing game to The Addams Family theme song, and we will also be using a grouping of sixteenth notes, which each equal ¼ of a beat, so we need 4 to equal a whole beat. There will be songs we will be playing melodies and rhythms with that include triplets and sixteenth notes, and we will be using Xylophones, Metallophones, and Glockenspiels to perform these melodies, reviewing the Music Alphabet and Treble Clef Staff, and rhythms.
3rd Grade: Third graders began reviewing steady beat and rhythm, and we worked on those two concepts playing a name game with Drum Sticks that incorporated these skills, called Concentration. They found out how difficult keeping a steady beat can be! The students have been learning about a new combination of eighth notes called a triplet, and we talked about how the prefix Tri means 3 and we talked about other words that start with tri and made connections with these words, also. The students are learning a cup passing game using triplets as well as other rhythm patterns that we play along with The Addams Family theme song. In October, we will continue to be filled with fun songs using these rhythms as well as melody exploration using Metallophones, Xylophones, and Glockenspiels, reviewing the Music Alphabet and the Music Staff.
2nd Grade: 2nd Graders are reviewing the Beat and how beats are like bananas because they like to be in bunches. They know these bunches or groups of beats are called measures in music, and we have been exploring with measures of 2, 3, and 4, and performing rhythms using these groupings of beats. We used our drumsticks to perform the different rhythms and patterns of beats, as well as other percussion instruments we have available to us in the music room. The students are also exploring how fractions play into music and have been talking about eighths, quarters, halves, and wholes. We will be having some spooky October fun playing a cup passing game with the Addams Family Theme song and introducing a new combination of eighth notes called triplets. There will be other great October songs using melody instruments such as Xylophones, Metallophones, and Glockenspiels, reviewing the Music Alphabet and the Music Staff!
1st Grade: The first graders are reviewing how important a steady beat is to the music while singing and marching and playing name games. We refreshed our memories regarding using ‘good manners’ words with “The Magic Words” song, and we also used some sign language for these special words. We have been playing beat and rhythm with Drum Sticks, and using bean bags with a beat that changes Tempos. As October progresses we will be playing melodies along with some spooky fun songs on the Xylophones, Metallophones, and Glockenspiels, reviewing the Music Alphabet and the Music Staff! We will be using many other instruments during this month as we continue to work on beats, rhythm, and melody.
Kindergarten: The music room is an exciting place for these new faces, and I am working hard to learn all of the kindergartner’s names!! Since the Beat is the glue that keeps all music together, that is our focus for the first month or so. We have also been incorporating name games that combine melody and beat so we can learn each other’s names, and we have been moving and marching, too! Since using good manners is an important part of being a good human, we will be learning a song with Magic Words that are ‘good manners’ words, and we will learn the sign language for these special words. We are gaining confidence in using our singing voices, and we are playing games with bean bags and keeping a steady beat. The month of October is one of my favorite months of the school year, so we will be working with some great October songs while we learn about the Music Alphabet and begin learning about Xylophones, Metallophones, and Glockenspiels and play melodies on those instruments as we sing. The kindergartners will also be introduced to some of our awesome percussion instruments in the music room. It’ll be spooky, good fun!!
A Few Lines from Washington’s Art Studio
Dear Families, My name is Lynn Hopfauf, and this is my second year as the Art Teacher at Washington. I grew up in Mandan, North Dakota and live in Roscoe, IL. I am a graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. My past experiences include teaching kindergarten, first grade, and third grade. I was a traveling art teacher in the Janesville School District for five years. I have over 20 years of teaching experience. My husband, Dwight, is the General Manager at the Hotel Julien Dubuque. My son, Jacob, is quite the outdoorsman and is exploring career options. My daughter, Mackenzie, is starting her third year in the film industry in Los Angeles. I love hiking, fishing, biking, kayaking, painting, and traveling. I am very excited to have your child in my art class and I am looking forward to a creative year in the art studio. Students will be investigating artmaking while developing creativity and innovation through drawing, painting, printmaking, using mixed media, collage, creating sculptures, weaving, sewing, learning aboupast and present artists, learning about art history, and using clay. Why Art? Art is everywhere! Art helps you form connections in Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, and Math. Art enhances and enriches all learning experiences. Create is the highest level of Bloom’s Taxonomy. Art teaches problem solving skills. It helps us learn about history and many cultures. Art helps us express ourselves. It is a great outlet for stress. Art develops 21st Century Skills including: curiosity, imagination, creativity, flexible thinking, independence, responsibility, problem solving, evaluative skills, experimentation, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. These core skills developed through art help empower students to meet the challenges of the global marketplace. I am committed to helping each student feel successful and welcome. Your support is incredibly valuable as students progress through the year. If ever I can do more to support your child, please let me know. I cherish the opportunity in helping your child cultivate his/her creative, imaginative abilities and art skills. Artfully Yours, Lynn Hopfauf lynn.hopfauf@janesville.k12.wi.us 608-743-7243
PE News
Hello Washington Families, It has been a good start to the year in the gym. For those of you that are new to the school my name is Mr. Hutson and I am the PE teacher here at Washington Elementary. We started off the year playing some cooperation games and getting to practice working well with classmates. After finishing with cooperation games we started working on our throwing and catching skills by reviewing and learning about overhand and underhand throwing. Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades will continue working on throwing and catching skills while we switch over to football with 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. After finishing with our throwing and catching units we will move on to kicking skills with soccer. More units we will be getting into include talking about fitness, floor hockey, balancing by using BOSU balls, and jump rope. I am looking forward to another fun year. As always if you have any questions or need to contact me my email is zachary.hutson@janesville.k12.wi.us and my office phone number is 608- 743-7248
Child Find Notice
Upon request, the School District of Janesville is required to evaluate a child foor eligibility for special education services. A request for evaluation is known as a referral. When the district receives a referral, the district will appoint an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team to determine if the child has a disability, and if the child needs special education services. The district locates, identifies, and evaluates all children with disabilities who are enrolled by their parents in private (including religious) schools, elementary schools and secondary schools located in the school district. A student with a medically diagnosed disability is not automatically eligible for special education. An outside medical diagnosis is insufficient of special education eligibility. A student must be found eligible as a “child with a disability” under state and federal special education law. A student with a disability is one who requires specially designed instruction as a result of meeting the criteria for at least one of the identified disability categories under state and federal special education law.
A student cannot start receiving special education services without a full and individual comprehensive special education evaluation completed by the student’s district. Outside evaluations and other information shared by the parent, such as medical diagnoses,are considered during the evaluation and may provide supporting or new information about the student’s academic and functional skills important for determining the nature and extent of the student’s disability and education needs. 34 CFR §§ 300.8 and 300.301. Wis. Stat. § 115.76(5).
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 refer the child, including a homeless child, to the school district in which the child resides. Before referring the child, the person making the referral must inform the child's parent that the referral will be made. Others, including parents, who reasonably believe a child is a child with a disability may also refer the child, including a homeless child, to the school district in which the child resides. Referrals must be in writing and include the reason why the person believes the child is a child with a disability. A referral may be made by contacting Mrs. Kimberli Peerenboom, Director of Pupil Services, School Districtof Janesville, at 608-743-5061, or by writing her at 527 S. Franklin Street, Janesville, WI, 53548.
Winter 2023
Winter 2023
Washington Wavelength
Winter 2023
FROM THE PRINCIPAL:
Dear Washington Families,
I hope that this letter finds you well. The school year certainly seems to be going by fast and it’s hard to believe that we’re already into December. As we enter the winter months, I wanted to share a few safety reminders with you. When there is snow on the ground and snow banks near the roads, visibility becomes more difficult. Therefore, it is especially important to drive with caution during drop off and pick up times. Please be sure that you are parking only in the designated areas and at least 10 feet from crosswalks. Another thing to be aware of, when it comes to the winter weather, is that we regularly go outside for recess. We stay in for recess only when the temperature is below 0 degrees (including the wind chill). This also applies to letting students into the building before school. If the temperature is below zero, students are allowed in, but prior to 8:05. Please consider this when dropping students off in the morning. Thank you for your ongoing support and your efforts to help keep students safe. We hope all of our students have a happy and safe winter break.
With Regards, Matt Peerenboom, Principal
Important Dates
Dec. 7 - FRC Cookie Decorating 3:15 pm-6:00 pm
Dec. 13 - Scoopie Night 4:00 pm-8:00 pm
Dec. 15 - No P4J
Dec. 16 - Bags of Hope
Dec. 19 - PTA Meeting
Dec. 22 - Winter Break Begins
Jan. 2 - School Resumes
Jan. 5 - Spirit Day - Wear your Washington spirit gear
Jan. 15 - MLK Jr. Day – No School
Jan. 16 - PTA Meeting
Jan. 17 - Friday Schedule - No Early Childhood
Jan. 18 - End of 1st Semester
Jan. 19 - No School
Jan. 26 - No P4J
Jan. 31 - No Early Childhood
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Traffic and Safety Reminders
Stop Drop and Go Area: Parking is not allowed in this area. Please make sure to go as soon as you have dropped your child off. 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. The parking lot is not to be used for dropping off or picking up students before or after school. If you need to use the parking lot during school hours, please use the visitor parking stalls. Crosswalks: Please have your child use the designated crosswalks each time he/she is crossing the road. Please do not park within 10 feet of the crosswalks as this makes it difficult for crossing guards to see any oncoming traffic. Drive slowly around the school and be attentive.
Grade Level/Special Area News
P4J
P4J enjoyed playing counting and number games at their Thanksgiving Celebration! Thank you to everyone who joined us!
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 as well as work on taking turns.
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 recesses. This includes a winter coat, hat, gloves, boots and snow pants when the snow arrives. Kindergarteners should be working hard to be independent by 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, sounds, and high frequency words!
First Grade
First grade is finishing 2023 strong! In ELA we will be learning and reading about maps, folktales, and changes over time. Science and Social Studies concepts integrate well with our essential questions in the upcoming weeks. Continue practicing high frequency words and reading decodable stories daily for fluency. In Math we will continue practicing our fact fluency, solving number stories, learning about place value, telling time, and 3D shapes. We will be taking the mid-year STAR test in January after our winter break. Please remember to send your child with proper winter gear for outside play. Don't forget to send shoes for the classroom if your child wears boots to school.
Second Grade
The second graders have been working so hard on finding text evidence and comprehending our second grade texts. We are very proud of how they are growing as readers. At the end of the month of December we 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. We will be working on writing a personal narrative. The children will be writing about a time that they have helped someone. They did a great job learning about finding relevant details when researching, and were very excited about their writing. As second graders are beginning to do double digit addition and subtraction, it is essential that they have mastered and are fluent with their basic addition and subtraction facts through the sum of 20. Just reviewing a few minutes each night at home can help your child’s success. 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 use a second bag to bring their winter gear to and from school. It can be difficult to put snow pants as well as home folders in the backpacks.
Third Grade
It’s hard to believe that we are finished with the first trimester! In math we are working on our 3-digit addition, subtraction, and rounding unit. Please continue to complete the math homework sheets. It’s a great way for your child to practice skills and show you the new strategies we are learning or practice previously learned skills. In reading we are continuing to read stories from our Wonders reading series. Upcoming genres include expository text and folktale. This next trimester we will be focusing on many reading skills such as summarizing, personification, visualizing, theme, and character perspective, just to name a few. Please continue to have your child read each night. In writing we will be focusing on opinion writing. In social studies we will be learning about economics and citizenship. In science we will be learning about simple machines and magnets. Be sure to send your child with a hat and gloves each day as the weather gets colder. Also, remember to check take home folders each night.
Fourth Grade
Fourth grade is continuing to work hard during the final stretch of 2023! In math, we finished up our unit on multiplication strategies and are now moving onto early division with remainders. In writing we have been working on expository texts as well as practicing how to properly research/
gather information for our topics. In grammar we just finished up learning about irregular plural nouns and possessive nouns. In reading, we ended the trimester with our drama genre. We worked on elements of a play, theme, and asking/answering questions while reading. They had
a great time playing different roles and acting out the plays. We are now beginning trimester two learning about poetry and focusing on key elements of poems that include imagery, figurative language, and rhyme. In social studies we ended trimester one learning about the Midwest. We
had fun learning interesting facts about the different states. We are now focusing on Wisconsin and the different industries of our state. Lastly, in science we have been learning about animal adaptations. Students have been working hard researching a specific animal that is native to
Wisconsin. They are finishing up making booklets about their animals and their adaptations. They are excited to share the end result once they are finished!
Fifth Grade
Fifth grade finished strong with Trimester 1 and is off to a good start for trimester 2! In math we just started a unit on adding and subtracting decimals. In Reading we are finishing up our second reading unit and will be moving on to our third unit which focuses on theme and author's claim. In writing, we are working on an expository essay and will be starting verbs in grammar. In social studies we are working our way through America's history during the colonial times and will be hitting the revolutionary war soon. Last but not least, in science we will begin units on matter. Fifth grade has been working so hard and we can't wait to continue all the good work!
English Learners
We are busy in English Learning classes with writing, talking more in English, and reading. Vocabulary is such an important part of learning for all students but especially someone who also speaks another language. Using games is a fun way to use more vocabulary but not really feel like it is learning.
Our ACCESS tests will be starting in December and will be completed by January. This is a series of tests that all EL students take to see how much English learning has happened since last year. The results of this test help to direct learning toward each individual's needs.
Learning Commons
It has certainly been a busy fall. A special thank you to families for supporting the library program through book fair purchases this fall. In November students had the opportunity to receive 3 free books of their choice to add to their home library through the Reading is Fundamental Grant. Upper elementary students participated in a "Book Tasting" to sample highlighted novels from various genres. 1st graders had a great time exploring construction, and structures through various STEM materials and manipulatives. Looking ahead we are anticipating big changes with Pumpkin Jack as we continue our decomposition experiment. 5th graders will be doing some engaging work around archeology and anthropology in through STEM. So many more high-interest and relevant fun to be had in the coming months in the library and in the MakerLab.
Notes from the Music room
Kindergarten and 1st Graders will continue to work on reading and playing pitches G and E on the Music Staff using various melody instruments such as Boomwhackers and Xylophones, Metallophones, and Glockenspiels. We will be adding Pitch A as well. They will also continue to work on reading and playing rhythms and Ostinatos, which are music patterns that keep repeating over and over. They will use Tubano drums and other percussion instruments to play these rhythmic ostinatos. The students will also get to try their hands at composing or writing their very own melodies which they will perform for the class. It’s all very exciting!
2nd, 3rd and 4th Graders will be beginning, or building on, their ukulele playing skills, moving from getting to know, and playing simple melodies on the 4 strings to learning and playing chords to accompany some really fun songs, including some songs we hear on the radio! While we learn these ukulele skills we are continuing to develop our rhythm and pitch reading skills on the Treble Clef Staff, as well as learn more about harmony and Ostinatos and further developing our singing skills. It’s going to be Uke-a-riffic!!
5th Grade continues to work on completing their packet for middle school music choice selection, where they are learning about instruments from band and orchestra, as well as singing and working on vocal skills. The students will be choosing which music class they will be taking in middle school by the middle of January, so watch for the official form for scheduling your child’s middle school classes. The students are reviewing and developing their recorder skills, focusing on B, A, and G pitches, and building a repertoire of songs they can play using those pitches. The recorder is a beginning Woodwind instrument similar to the clarinet, so this is helpful for students who are considering playing a woodwind instrument in band in 6th grade. They are also working on their sight reading skills using Solfege, or Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, and high DO.
A Few Lines from Washington’s Art Studio
Dear Families, I am very excited to announce that the Square 1 Art Fundraiser is back this year! The money raised goes back to your child in the form of purchased art supplies for Washington students. Students are creating a very special art masterpiece that you may purchase on unique gifts and keepsakes to enjoy for a lifetime. Every order made will help you preserve the special memories of your child’s creative growth in a fun and inspiring way! You may want to share your child’s awesome art with family or friends for fun or for special occasions such as birthdays, Mother’s Day, or Father’s Day. Square 1 Art should arrive around the 8th of January for students to start working on their projects. Student artwork will be shipped to the Square 1 Art Company February 6th and be returned back to us by February 23rd. Order catalogs will be sent home February 24th along with a free sticker page with their artwork on it. Families place all orders online by scanning the code on the catalog. All items will be shipped directly to your house. Orders should arrive approximately 2-3 weeks from the order date. All orders must be placed online by March 11th. Our Washington community looks forward to an amazing fundraiser with Square 1 Art! Artfully Yours, Lynn Hopfauf Washington Art Educator
PE News
We have started off December learning or remembering how to jump rope and learning more challenging skills with it. After that, we will be switching over to gymnastics, learning different skills on the floor including jumping/landing safely, different types of rolls, handstands, and cartwheels for the older students. After a week of that we will switch over to different gymnastics equipment including the balance beam. Before winter break we always do the obstacle course which includes climbing and swinging ropes, a cargo net, a ladder to climb and our climbing wall. When we come back from break we will have our bowling unit to learn rolling and then we will end off January with another fitness unit
Kick-Off to P4J Enrollment 2024-2025 School Year
School District Residents
If you have a child turning 5 (five) years old prior to September 1, 2024, and they are not currently enrolled in a School District of Janesville Preschool for Janesville (P4J) or Early Childhood (EC) program it is time to enroll in the Janesville Public School District. Enrollment will take place from December 1, 2023, through December 15, 2023, at the Educational Services Center located at 527 S. Franklin St. (administration building) in the New Student Enrollment office by appointment only. Please call (608) 743-5011. If you cannot attend during the enrollment period please make an appointment as soon as possible to enroll after December 15, 2023.
When you enroll, you will need your photo identification, proof of residency (Utility bill, current term lease, or government issued statement), your child’s birth certificate, and immunization records. Transfer Requests for 2024-2025 School Year. The window for Requests for School Transfer/Placement within the School District (yellow forms) for incoming kindergarten students are available from December 1, 2023, through December 15, 2023, and should be submitted during the enrollment process. Current proof of residence and a photo ID are required when submitting a transfer request. If you have questions regarding the transfer process contact Deen Hartley at 608-743-5152. The status of requests will be determined by January 15, 2024 if they are turned in by December 15, 2023. 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. You must submit a transfer 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 2024-2025 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, 2024, 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 5, 2024, to April 30, 2024. 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 608-743-5152.
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.
Feb / Mar 2024
Washington Wavelength
February/March 2024
FROM THE PRINCIPAL:
Dear Washington Families,
I hope this newsletter finds you well. The year is certainly moving along quickly and it’s hard to believe that it’s already two-thirds of the way through. Students and staff have been working hard all year and we are noticing impressive growth from students in many areas. Most recently, students completed their mid-year STAR assessment, and the results indicated substantial growth in both reading and math. We are proud of their efforts and are confident they will continue making progress. As we are approaching spring, there are several important dates to take note of in this newsletter. In March alone, we have parent/teacher conferences, the spring sing, and spring break. Recently, a notice was sent home with students, informing you of the spring sing times. As a reminder, I would like to provide these times again.
Spring Sing Performance Times: Friday, March 15, 2024
Kindergarten 8:45
Grade 1: 9:45
Grade 2: 10:45
Grade 4: 12:15
Grade 3: 1:15
Grade 5: 2:15
Regards, Matt Peerenboom, Principal
Important Dates
February
Feb. 1-28 - Read-A-Thon Feb. 2 - Spirit Day - wear your Washington spirit gear Feb. 9 - PTA Movie Night Feb. 13 - No Early Childhood Feb. 16 - No P4J Feb. 22 - No Early Childhood and No Talk & Learn Feb. 23 - No School
March
March 1 - Spirit Day - wear your Washington spirit gear March 5 - No Early Childhood and No Talk & Learn March 6 and 7 - Conferences March 8 - No School March 15 - Spring Sing! Save the date March 18-22 - Spring Break March 25 - School Resumes March 28 - 1st Grade Field Trip - No Early Childhood March 29 - No School
page Washington Elementary School - Home
Traffic and Safety Reminders
Safety Patrol
Our school safety patrol is now on duty before and after school. The students have been trained in crossing students safely and wear bright yellow safety belts for easy visibility. Please help all of our students stay safe by following the drop off and pick up procedures below.
Please avoid parking on the corners of intersections to ease the flow of Traffic. Please avoid parking too close to the crosswalks. This can cause congestion and make it difficult for cars to pass through these areas safely, and it can also make it difficult for crossing guards to see around the vehicles to look for oncoming traffic. Please ALWAYS have your child use the available crosswalks rather than crossing in the middle of the street. Children are safest when crossing at patrolled crosswalks. Thank you for all of your help and support in keeping our students safe!
Grade Level/Special Area News
P4J
P4J Students have been working on recognizing letters and practicing letter sounds. We have been naming the letters in our names and writing our names. In February and March, we will focus on Valentines, Dental Health, Dr. Suess stories and rhymes, and St. Patrick's Day. 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 also helps students practice taking turns.
Kindergarten
February is a busy month celebrating Groundhog’s Day, the 100th Day of School, Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, and 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. 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.
First Grade
First graders are working hard! Our upcoming reading themes include folktales, how life was long ago, and how we get our food. Decodable stories continue to come home each week. Please remember to listen to your child read these stories to help them practice their word knowledge and fluency. Rereading these really helps improve your child's fluency and confidence. In Math we are working on place value, and continuing to focus on addition and subtraction strategies. Kids are also working to tell time on digital and analog clocks to the hour and half hour. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately each day for the weather with their winter gear. It is important to remember to bring regular shoes to wear in the classroom.
Second Grade
During the next several weeks, our second graders will be reading a variety of genres. Through this literature, we will integrate our social studies program into our reading. The students will become more adept at using the variety of text features to improve their understanding of non-fiction material. In writing, the children will be comparing and contrasting two different places they have visited. In math, the children have enjoyed our measuring unit and are getting quite good at estimating distances. Our next focus will be on place values. We will be exploring values to 1,000 as well as place value with money. Continue to be on the lookout for math home connections that are sent home two to three times a week. Please check with your child that they have all the necessary tools to do their work in the classroom. We are about halfway through the school year and many students are in need of working headphones, crayons and dry erase markers. Continue to encourage your child to come to school with the proper winter attire. We have found it helps when they bring their winter gear to and from school in a separate bag. It can be difficult to put snow pants as well as home folders in the backpacks.
Third Grade
In math we are busy learning about fractions, division, and our geometry unit is coming up. Please continue to complete the weekly math homework sheets. In reading we will be reading realistic fiction, expository texts and poetry (narrative, free verse and haiku.) Our reading skills are focusing on finding text evidence, explaining different characters’ perspectives and how one or more characters develop throughout the plot, figurative language, theme and text features. In writing we will be finishing up our persuasive writing and getting into writing expository texts while doing some research to support our central idea. In Science we are just finishing up our simple machines and magnets unit and will have some STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) lessons in the library area, with Mrs. Miller, to further understand the Engineering Design Process. In trimester 3 we will be learning more about ecosystems. In Social Studies, we will be learning about geography and the way we live, Native Americans and their environment and settling in the United States. We are also getting started with our preparation for the Forward Wisconsin state testing. More information will be shared at conferences. In the meantime, continue to read 15 -20 minutes each night. We look forward to seeing you at conferences and sharing more about your child’s successes!
Fourth Grade
Fourth grade is working hard in trimester two and looking forward to what is coming in trimester three! In math, we are digging into fractions. We have added, subtracted, compared, and even changed improper fractions. In reading, we are studying realistic fiction texts. These texts help us find different points of view, problems, and their solutions, as well as flashbacks. In social studies, we just wrapped up studying various industries of Wisconsin. We will now be shifting toward the Wisconsin government with a trip to the state capital on the horizon. In science, we are starting to learn about energy and have some fun activities to help. Fourth grade continues to grow and is ready to keep up the great work!
Fifth Grade
Crazy to think this year is halfway over! We just finished up a unit on adding/subtracting decimals and are moving to multiplying and dividing decimals. In reading we are starting our third unit which will include expository and argumentative texts which connect to our writing of an argumentative piece. In February we will do unit 4 which has dramas and poetry. In social studies we are learning about the Revolutionary war, and in science we are starting a unit on matter. We have seen good growth in fifth grade this year and are excited to see what the rest of the year brings!
Counselor Connections
Hello families!
In our Connection lessons we have been learning all about our amazing brain.You may be hearing your children say new words like amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. I wanted to give you all a glimpse as to what we are learning so that you continue using and learning about these words outside of school as well. Amygdala: The amygdala reacts to fear, danger, and threat. Its job is to regulate our emotional state by acting as the brain’s security dog, alerting us to things that might make us feel unsafe and protecting us from threats. When a child is in a negative emotional state the amygdala prevents the brain from being able to do higher-level thinking and being able to make reasonable judgments. When the amygdala is incharge and we “flip our lid” we often respond with fight, flight, or freeze. Hippocampus: The hippocampus plays an important role in our learning, as this is the part of our brain that is a storage vault of our memories. Prefrontal Cortex: The prefrontal cortex is responsible for the learning, reasoning, and thinking in our brain, and it is really important in helping us make good choices. In our lessons, we often refer to this part of our brain as the lid. Learning about these important areas of our brain helps our children to understand how their brains respond to stress (flipping our lid) and how they can calm their minds and use their prefrontal cortex for thoughtful decision-making (putting our lid back on). We can help our children learn to put their lids back on by practicing mindful breathing, or what we call “breathing on purpose”.
I have attached a quick youtube video that can briefly explain this process further. It is a video that we use in class as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRmnVmELMn8
If you have any questions or concerns that I may help with, please email me at morgancasey-schm@janesville.k12.wi.us, call me at (608)743-7225, or via text at (608)561-1424.
English Learners
Testing season is upon us. All English Learners have just finished taking the four-part ACCESS test. This is a state test that shows how much English they have learned in the last year. The students have worked really hard to show everything that they have learned. Once ACCESS was finished we started with the next round of STAR testing. Since this test is taken three times a year students are not as stressed over this and it does not take nearly as long to complete. Great job on all of the testing! We are now finally back to small groups for learning and having fun along the way!
Notes from the Music room
Rhythm and melody have been the focus for all of the grades. Rhythm can be a confusing part of music, so we are working on reviewing the note and rest names and their values, and how these relate to math and fractions. We have played Rhythm Bingo at different levels, and now we are beginning our composition unit where the Kindergarten and 1st Grade students compose a class rhythm composition using the notes we have been reviewing. These students will then compose their own melody using Treble Clef pitches we are learning and/or reviewing how to read from the music staff to go along with the class rhythm we composed together. The students will then perform their composition for the rest of their class on instruments of their choice, such as ukuleles, xylophones, recorders, metallophones, or glockenspiels. They are so excited to compose their own music and then get to share their creation on instruments with their peers!!
2nd-5th graders have been focusing on good singing and learning Solfege, a musical scale using syllables (Think “The Sound of Music” movie/musical and the part where Maria teaches the children how to sing for the first time). They have been singing harmony using Partner Songs or Rounds, as well as 2-part music to further develop their listening, vocal, and proper breathing skills. These skills are preparing us for our upcoming musical performances in March!
On Friday, March 15th, each of the grades will be putting on a performance for their families. The times will be listed on the Washington Website for each grade level. The students will be working diligently from now until then to learn all of their music, solos, instrument parts, and narrator parts to perform for you. There will be singing and instrument playing and stories told! It will be such an exciting time, and we can’t wait to see you all on Friday, March 15th!!
A Few Lines from Washington’s Art Studio
Dear Families,
Exciting news! This year all items ordered for the Square 1 Art Fundraiser will have FREE SHIPPING! The money raised goes back to your child in the form of purchased art supplies. Last year Washington raised about $1,500!
Students have been busy creating a very special art masterpiece that you may purchase on unique gifts and keepsakes to enjoy for a lifetime. Every order made will help you preserve the special memories of your child’s creative growth in a fun and inspiring way! You may want to share your child’s awesome art with family or friends for fun or for special occasions such as birthdays, Mother’s Day, or Father’s Day. Student artwork will be shipped to the Square 1 Art Company February 6th and be returned back to us by February 23rd. Order catalogs will be sent home February 24th along with a free sticker page with their artwork on it.
Families place all orders online by scanning the code on the catalog. All items will be shipped directly to your house. Orders should arrive approximately 2-3 weeks from the order date. All orders must be placed online by March 11th.
Our Washington community looks forward to an amazing fundraiser with Square 1 Art! Artfully Yours, Lynn Hopfauf Washington Art Educator
PE News
Hello Washington Families,
Coming up in PE we will be working on our volleying skills with grades 2-5 using volleyballs and the other grades will be using different equipment in varying difficulty levels. After volleyball we will start using rackets and playing tennis. We will also be working on our hand dribbling skills with basketball, which I try to do at the same time as the March Madness tournament. I will also be trying to get grades 3-5 outside and do some snowshoeing so be on the lookout for a seesaw message about having warm clothes to go outside and do that during PE class. As always if you have any questions you can email me at zachary.hutson@janesville.k12.wi.us or give me a call.
Kindergarten Enrollment
2024-2025 School Year
School District Residents
If you have a child turning 5 (five) years old prior to September 1, 2024, and they are not currently enrolled in a School District of Janesville Preschool for Janesville (P4J) or Early Childhood (EC) program it is time to enroll in the Janesville Public School District. Enrollment will take place from December 1, 2023, through December 15, 2023, at the Educational Services Center located at 527 S. Franklin St. (administration building) in the New Student Enrollment office by appointment only. Please call (608) 743-5011. If you cannot attend during the enrollment period please make an appointment as soon as possible to enroll after December 15, 2023.
When you enroll, you will need your photo identification, proof of residency (Utility bill, current term lease, or government issued statement), your child’s birth certificate, and immunization records.
Transfer Requests for 2024-2025 School Year
The window for Requests for School Transfer/Placement within the School District (yellow forms) for incoming kindergarten students are available from December 1, 2023, through December 15, 2023, and should be submitted during the enrollment process. Current proof of residence and a photo ID are required when submitting a transfer request.
If you have questions regarding the transfer process contact Deen Hartley at 608-743-5152. The status of requests will be determined by January 15, 2024 if they are turned in by December 15, 2023. 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. You must submit a transfer 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 2024-2025 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, 2024, 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 5, 2024, to April 30, 2024. 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 608-743-5152.
Child Find Notice
Upon request, the School District of Janesville is required to evaluate a child for eligibility for special education services. A request for evaluation is known as a referral. When the district receives a referral, the district will appoint an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team to determine if the child has a disability, and if the child needs special education services. The district locates, identifies, and evaluates all children with disabilities who are enrolled by their parents in private (including religious) schools, elementary schools and secondary schools located in the school district. A student with a medically diagnosed disability is not automatically eligible for special education. An outside medical diagnosis is insufficient of special education eligibility. A student must be found eligible as a “child with a disability” under state and federal special education law. A student with a disability is one who requires specially designed instruction as a result of meeting the criteria for at least one of the identified disability categories under state and federal special education law. A student cannot start receiving special education services without a full and individual comprehensive special education evaluation completed by the student’s district. Outside evaluations and other information shared by the parent, such as medical diagnoses, are considered during the evaluation and may provide supporting or new information about the student’s academic and functional skills important for determining the nature and extent of the student’s disability and education needs. 34 CFR §§ 300.8 and 300.301. Wis. Stat. § 115.76(5). 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 refer the child, including a homeless child, to the school district in which the child resides. Before referring the child, the person making the referral must inform the child's parent that the referral will be made. Others, including parents, who reasonably believe a child is a child with a disability may also refer the child, including a homeless child, to the school district in which the child resides. Referrals must be in writing and include the reason why the person believes the child is a child with a disability. A referral may be made by contacting Mrs. Kimberli Peerenboom, Director of Pupil Services, School District of Janesville, at
608-743-5061, or by writing her at 527 S. Franklin Street, Janesville, WI, 53548