GRAND AVENUE NEWSLETTER
February 2025
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
February:
Thursday, February 6- Grade 5 Concert- Grand Avenue Commons- 6:00 PM
Monday, February 10-School Board Mtg.- 7:00 PM-District Office
Wednesday, February 12- DPI Observance Day- President Lincoln's Birthday
Thursday, February 13- Game Club 3:10-4:10 Grand Avenue-IMC
Thursday, February 13-Sauer, Markley, & Backeberg- classes-Visit buddies @ Bridges
Friday, February 14- DPI Observance Day- Susan B. Anthony's Birthday
Monday, February 17- Presidents' Day- NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, February 19- Early Release @ 1:30
Thursday, February 20- Backeberg, Sauer, & Markley- Buddies visit Grand
Friday, February 21- DPI Observance Day- George Washington's Birthday
Friday, February 21- Above the Line- Empathy- awards given
Monday, February 24-School Board Mtg. 7:00 PM-District Office
Monday, February 24- Ruhland & Trachsler- Field Trip- Capitol & Geology Museum
Tuesday, February 25- Coy & Schell- Field Trip- Capitol & Geology Museum
Tuesday, February 25- Grade 3- Field Trip- RAC- Light Show
Wednesday, February 26- Markley, Sauer, & Backeberg-Field Trip- Capitol & Geology Museum
March:
Monday, March 3- Pre-registration for summer school begins at noon
Tuesday, March 4- DPI Observance Day- Casimir Pulaski Day
Tuesday, March 4- Ruhland & Trachsler - Mackenzie Center Field Trip
Wednesday, March 5- Coy & Schell - Mackenzie Center Field Trip
Thursday, March 6- Backeberg, Sauer, & Markley- Mackenzie Center Field Trip
Monday, March 10- NO SCHOOL
Monday, March 10- School Board Mtg. 7:00 PM- District Office
Thursday, March 13-Markley, Sauer, & Backeberg- visit Buddies at Bridges
Thursday, March 13- Choralpalooza-7:00 PM at SPHS
Thursday March 13- Game Club 3:10-4:10 Grand Avenue- IMC
Friday, March 14- Summer School Pre-register closes at noon
Friday, March 14- Above the Line- Cooperation
Monday, March 17- DPI Observance Day-"The Great Hunger" in Ireland
Monday, March 17- Summer School course selection opens at 6:00 PM
Thursday, March 20- First Day of Spring
Monday, March 24- School Board Mtg. 7:00 PM-District Office
Monday, March 24-28- NO SCHOOL- Spring Break
Rock the Gym is Friday, February 7th!
Games begin at 4:15 ending with girls varsity at 7:15 pm. One admission allows you to attend all games! It is a fun night with raffles and silent auctions to benefit Sauk Prairie Activities!
GAME CLUB- GRADES 4 & 5- After School
Above the Line
January
The January Above the Line theme was “Trustworthiness.” The students listed below received awards on Wednesday, January 22nd, from their classroom teacher or staff member who felt that they are an individual that is trustworthy. Congratulations to these students!
Top Row (L-R): Madden Bourland, Scarlett Breunig, Taylor Ruhland, June White, Callan Cody, James Wruck, Genevicia Hellenbrand, Dustin Metz, Nolan Darrow, Clara Kruse & Emily Luedtke
Middle Row (L-R): George Zeman, Henry Maly, Grayson Adair, Tommie Neadeau, Mia Leaf, Paige Williams, Eva Boda, Jason Wilke, Azi Lehan, Zoey Goetz, Ethan Vega-Cruz, Jameson Haugh & Lydia Desso
Bottom Row (L-R): Giselle Arrieta, Jacob Velazquez-Martinez, Addy Nies, Ellen Krueger, Jack Wruck, Lincoln Volp, Sienna Sievert, Elin Alderman, Joshua Seebecker, Max Eisele, Daphne Kunde, Vivian Sadek, Madi Thomas, Soleil Lamberty & Evelyn Studnicka
Not Pictured: Jamesynn Walls & Hank Lochner
From our Library
Library Tid-bit - 8,965….that is the number of library books that have been checked out so far this year! 635 is how many books students have placed on Hold, so they can read their next favorite book. Grand Avenue students love to read! Here is a link to the elementary library webpage where your student(s) can access many great resources such as: Destiny Library Catalog, Sora (ebooks), PebbleGo/PebbleNext (research database), and much more!
Counselor Connection
In February, third grade classes will be working through the Healthy Minds curriculum from the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. This program teaches students what having a healthy mind means. We also discuss ways to keep our minds healthy. Here are some examples that are emphasized in the program:
Get 60 minutes of physical activity daily
Eat three healthy meals and two healthy snacks daily
Get 10-12 hours of sleep each night
Limit screen (electronics) time to 2 hours each day
Spend time connecting with others, doing things we enjoy, especially outside
Throughout this unit, we will continue to discuss how having a healthy mind can help us be successful in many ways, such as controlling our thoughts and feelings, problem solving with others, and making safe/healthy decisions throughout our life. We also practice making a healthy goal, sort of like a new year's resolution. Please look for their Healthy Minds packet of important information to come home soon!
Our 4th grade classes have been participating in an online program from the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin called Act Now!, that discusses different types of bullying, how to recognize it, and how to deal with bullying situations. To find out more about these programs, visit their website at https://childrenswi.org/elearningcenter.
The 5th grade classes began their Child Protection (Personal Safety) Unit through Second Step, our school-wide social-emotional learning curriculum. We are focusing on 6 R’s: 1) Regulate (pay attention to your body’s dysregulated clues); 2) Recognize (look for details about why you are feeling unsafe); 3) Relate (use the people or things around you to problem solve); 4) Refuse (use your words to make safe choices); 5) Reason (think about what other options are available and what to do to prevent it from happening again, or plan what to do if it happens again); and 6) Report (find a trusted adult to help).
To support student well-being, we will administer the mySAEBRS social-emotional and behavioral screener to students in grades 2-5 from March 10-21. This 20-question, computer-based assessment helps us understand students' perspectives and enhance universal supports. Participation is voluntary. To opt your child out, please contact your school administrator or social worker/counselor by March 5, 2025. Learn more at
https://www.illuminateed.com/products/fastbridge/social-emotional-behavior-assessment/saebrs. Contact me with any questions.
Miss Sadie
School Counselor
(608) 643-1969
sadie.sutter@saukprairieschools.org
GSPie
GSPie
(GSPie, said “G - S - Pie”)
Your Parent/Caregiver TeacherStaff Organization (PTO)
THANK YOU to all the families who donated as part of our January New Year Drive!
Your generosity was so greatly appreciated, by both the GSPie Staff Appreciation Team and the teachers and staff at both Bridges and Grand Ave. We were so impressed with how our families showed up to shower our teachers and staff with some extra love and goodies. Thank you for being a part of our school communities!
Join the Team
The next GSPie meeting is Tuesday, April 15 at 6:30pm at Bridges. 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!
Your Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
Thank you for continuing to support your children and our schools!
GSPie (said G - S - Pie)
The PTO/PTA - Bridges and Grand Ave
From our Nurse
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