GRAND AVENUE NEWSLETTER
December 2024
Grand Avenue Elementary
craig.trautsch@saukprairieschools.org
Dean of Students- Erin Smith
erin.smith@saukprairieschools.org
Email: contact@saukprairieschools.org
Website: www.saukprairieschools.org
Location: 225 Grand Ave, Prairie du Sac, WI 53578
Phone: (608) 643-1900
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From the Principal
Important Dates
December:
Monday, December 2- No School
Monday, December 9- School Board Meeting 7:00 PM
Thursday, December 12- Game Night 3:10-4:10 Grand Avenue Library
Wednesday, December 18- Above the Line Photo
December 23- January 1- Winter Break
Thursday, January 2- School resumes
HAT DAY
Grand Avenue Food Pantry Drive
Thank you to all who donated to our food drive for the Sauk Prairie Food Pantry. The food drive ran from November 11 through November 15, 2024. Pictured above are students who helped with loading the food and other collected items.
(L-R) Reagan Noltner, Madelyn Allaby, Andrew Ryan, Quinn Considine, and Brantley Dean.
& (Back)- Emily Patterson from the Sauk Prairie Food Pantry
Veterans Day
Fifth grade classes participated in a Veterans Day assembly. Thank you to all off the veterans who came to Grand Avenue School and to all veterans for their service; we appreciate you!
GAME CLUB- GRADES 4 & 5- After School
Holiday Gift Support
Believe it or not, the holiday season will be here before we know it! Our community and district offer different holiday assistance programs; these programs aim to help families in need provide holiday gifts to their SPSD student(s)/child(ren). If you would like to be considered for assistance (or would just like more information), please contact our school social worker, Amanda Boatwright. Please reach out as soon as possible!
Amanda Boatwright, Grand Avenue and Tower Rock School Social Worker
amanda.boatwright@saukprairieschools.org
(608)643-1968
Above the Line
The November Above The Line theme was “Respect.” The students listed below received awards on Friday, November 22nd from their classroom teacher or staff member who felt that they are an individual that is respectful of others. Congratulations to these students!
Bottom Row (L-R): Finn Rhode, Layla Taylor, Hattie Gerry & Roman Judd
2nd Row (L-R): Finn Slotty, Anastasia Wyman, Samuel Ramthun, Marryn Osgood, Gigi Jimenez, Joscelyn Arrieta, Elodie Mereau, Maxwell Eisele & Daphne Kunde
3rd Row (L-R): Julian Galvan, Grant Schmidt, Levi Castillo, Emma Slaney & Lucy Pickett
4th Row (L-R): Abigail Schmitt, Kallie McFarland, Kendall Koenig, Jennae Rios Rodriguez, Alison Colon Santos, Everett Schell, Sofia Stephan, Eloise Dobbert & Reagan Savage
Top Row (L-R): Nathaniel Larson, Eliana Greene, Mae Appleton, Lilly Schoepp, Maxx Ederer, Deklan Koenig, Maddie Allaby, Sadie Yngsdal, Aubrey Hellenbrand & Hank Hart
Not pictured: Mr. Ziegler’s Class
From our Library
From our Nurse
Winter Safety
The colder temperatures are here to stay and soon more snow will be on the way! All the fun activities of winter…sledding, skiing, snowballs and snowmen, are a great way to get outside and get our kids some exercise and have fun. Just be sure your child is dressed right—and know when it's time to come in and warm up.
Frostbite and Hypothermia are two conditions that can happen in winter if kids aren’t dressed properly or spend too much time out in the cold. Kids are more at risk from the cold than adults due to their smaller size, they lose heat more quickly. But with proper precautions and planning with warmth in mind, fun can still be had by all. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests the following:
Check the wind chill
In general, playing outside in temperatures or wind chills below -15° Fahrenheit should be avoided. At these temperatures, exposed skin begins to freeze within minutes.
What to wear
Several thin layers will help keep kids warm and dry. Insulated boots, mittens or gloves, and a hat are essential. Make sure children change out of any wet clothes right away.
Take breaks
Set reasonable limits on the amount of time spent playing outside to prevent hypothermia and frostbite. Make sure kids have a place to go for regular indoor breaks to warm up.
Counselor Connection
Third graders will complete their unit on friendship and will begin their teasing unit. So far we have practiced 4 main skills as we talk about what it means to be a good friend during our classroom guidance lessons. These skills are active listening, empathy, thinking before responding, and being supportive/loyal. Students have reviewed decisions that can be helpful or hurtful when making/keeping friends. They have reflected upon what qualities make them a good friend and make themselves into gifts of friendship. Students will be bringing home a “warm fuzzy” as a reminder to always try to make people feel good about themselves!
Students in 4th grade have been discussing ways to support their physical well-being. We have discussed nutrition, physical activity, and the importance of sleep for their quickly growing bodies. Student have had the opportunity to practice setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant & Timely) goals regarding their health. Students are also learning how to have empathy for themselves by making consistent daily choices that positively affect their physical, as well as their mental health.
In our 5th grade classroom guidance lessons, we are learning about the internal states of calm, alert, alarm, fear, and terror. We learned how those states and situations that feel threatening can impact our overall functioning. Therefore, our main focus this month is on self-regulation through our 5 senses (somatosensory), emotions/sensations, relationships with others, and the use of our cortex (thinking brain) and the power of self-talk.
Miss Sadie
School Counselor
GSPie
GSPie
(GSPie, said “G - S - Pie”)
Your Parent/Caregiver TeacherStaff Organization (PTO)
Staff Appreciation: Cookies & Cocoa on Wednesday, December 11
Our staff appreciation team has been hard at work this year, organizing lunch, dropping off treat bags and delivering mini pies to show our thanks.
Next up, GSPie is hosting a hot cocoa bar in the staff lounges on Wednesday, December 11. Although it is short notice, we are asking if parents and caregivers can help by sending in cookies, bars or marshmallows to boost the holiday cheer! Homemade AND store-bought are welcome! If you can contribute, please sign up here - and don't forget to send in those treats on Wednesday!
Staff Appreciation: New Year's Essentials
We'd like to welcome our teachers and staff back in 2025 with a New Year Essentials "Shop" in the staff lounges. Help us stock the shop by purchasing from our Amazon wishlists. Items will be shipped directly to the schools and we will set up in mid-January. Thanks for helping us show our appreciation for our wonderful staff! (Wishlists may be updated throughout the month).
Bridges New Year Amazon Wishlist
Grand Ave New Year Amazon Wishlist
If you are interested in joining the Staff Appreciation Team, we will be hosting a meeting in January to plan the second half of the year. Look for that date in the January newsletter. If you have already expressed your interest in joining the team, we will be reaching out in January!
Great Wolf Discounted Day Passes
Friday, December 20 - Thursday, January 2
Looking for an exciting escape for the day? Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells is offering an incredible deal in partnership with GSPie. Not only will your family enjoy a fun day of adventure, but every pass sold will support our schools. $5 from each pass goes to Sauk Prairie Grade School Partners in Education (GSPie). These would make great experience gifts for families looking to escape during winter break! Only $25 per person for a full-day pass and parking fee waived. Visit the GSPie website for the QR code to purchase!
Winter Fun Day
Monday, January 20 from 1-3pm at Culver Park, Prairie Landing building
No school means time for some winter fun! Meet up with friends at Culver Park for ice skating, sledding, indoor games and a movie (showing indoors and out!). GSPie will be sponsoring a free hot cocoa bar and the concession stand will be open for snack purchases. Bring your own skates or rent for $5.
Join the Team
The next GSPie meeting is Tuesday, January 21 at 6:30pm at Grand Ave. Everyone in the Bridges and Grand Avenue communities are welcome to attend - to hear what’s new or get involved and make new connections (and friends!) within our grade school community. We would love to see you there!
Happy Holidays!
GSPie (said G - S - Pie)
Your Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) for Bridges and Grand Ave
Thank you for continuing to support your children and our schools!
Attendance Information
If you call your child in with an illness, we would like you to, please let us know the symptoms, i.e., a fever, sore throat, headache, cough, etc., that your child may have.
In addition, if your child usually rides the bus, please call Lamers to let them know if your child will not be riding the bus. They can be contacted at 608-460-7050.
Dismissal Changes
Temporary Dismissal Changes
To ensure the safety of students and allow for adjustments in bus routes, a parent/guardian must complete this form prior to their child riding a bus route that is different from the child's regular dismissal plan documented in Skyward.
The district strongly encourages all requests to be submitted prior to 11:00 AM on the day the change is needed. This form applies to all students in all grades (4K - Grade 12).
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE FORM
Food Service
Eligibility for free and reduced-price meals is based on Federal income eligibility guidelines
or participation in other programs including Food Share, W-2 Cash Benefits, Food
Distribution on Indian Reservations, and some Medicaid programs. Households are
encouraged to apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits before the start of the school
year.
Free & Reduced Food Service Applications
To apply for free or reduced meals, the Food Service application must be completed every
year. Applications may be completed at any point during the school year as income may
change. You can choose to print the forms and complete or complete the forms online.
For the 2023-24 school year, the price of reduced and paid lunches are as follows:
If you have questions, are unsure of your child(ren)s eligibility for free or reduced-price
meals, or would like to request an application, please contact Tammy Smith at 608-643-
SPSD Future Student Form
The Sauk Prairie School District wants to make sure your child/family is included in mailing lists and communications once your child is old enough to register for 4K or Kindergarten classes. If you have a child who is age 5 or under and have not previously completed a SPSD Future Student Form, please complete one today! Use the link below to access the form or pick up a form at the SPSD District Office (440 13th Street, Prairie du Sac, WI). If you have any questions, please email the District Registrar or call 608-643-5984. Thank you!
Future SPSD Student Form - English
Community Center Info
Looking for summer activities for your children to keep them active and engaged learners! Sauk Prairie Schools Community Education and the Sauk Prairie Recreation Department offer enrichment and lifelong learning opportunities for all ages. Some of our programs are just good old fun while others offer the opportunity to improve a skill, discover a new hobby or improve wellness.
If you have questions about Community Ed and Recreation programs, please use the link below to contact us at the Sauk Prairie Community Center.
https://cc.saukprairieschools.org/o/cc/page/contact-community-center
Sporting Events
Safety First
secretary at Grand Ave. Elementary