East Elementary

January at East Elementary ❄️

Happy New Year! We hope you and your family had a restful and joyful winter break. We are excited to welcome our students back and begin a fresh start in January. As we return to our routines, here are some important updates and upcoming events to share:

PBIS Cool Tool Review Week | January 5–9
During the first full week back, students have been reviewing our PBIS Cool Tools. This has been a great opportunity to revisit school-wide expectations and set positive goals for the new year.

Attendance Challenge and Dress Up Days | January 5–9
We have also been hosting a school-wide attendance challenge this week! Being at school every day helps students stay connected, learn consistently, and build strong habits. To make the week even more fun, we have themed dress-up days. Participation is optional but encouraged!

Family Fun BINGO Night | Friday, January 16
Join us for a fun evening of Family BINGO! This is always a favorite event, and we hope to see many of our families there.

i-Ready Benchmark Assessments and Report Cards
Students will be completing their winter i-Ready benchmark assessments this month. These assessments help us monitor student progress and guide instruction moving forward. Report cards will be sent home on January 30th.

Birthday Treat Reminder 🎂
As a reminder, we do not allow birthday treats at school. Any treats that are sent in will be returned home at the end of the day. Absolutely no homemade treats are permitted. Please refer to the Elementary Handbook for a list of acceptable snacks. Your cooperation in following these guidelines helps us ensure that all students can enjoy safe and healthy treats at school.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of East Elementary. We are grateful to work alongside such a caring school community and look forward to a wonderful month of learning and growth.

Warmly,

Jori Ruff
Principal, East Elementary

Monday, January 19, 2026 - No School - MLK Day

Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - Full Day of School

Friday, January 23, 2026 - No School - End of the Semester

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 - No School - Staff PD Day

Tuesday, March 24, 2026 - Asynchronous Day for Students- Parent/Teacher Conferences

March 30 - April 3, 2026 - No School - Spring Break

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 - No School - Staff Professional Development Day

Monday, May 25, 2026 - No School - Memorial Day

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 - Full Day of School

Friday, June 5, 2026 - Last day of School for 4K students

Tuesday, June 9, 2026 - Last Day of School Kindergarten - 5th Grade

You can purchase yearbooks online! Yearbooks will be delivered directly to students during the last week of the school year. Click Here to order today.

5th Grader Students will receive a yearbook as a graduation gift.

We are excited to offer all 3rd-5th grade students a chance to participate in a terrific writing contest through the Baraboo School District. We hope that it will provide new opportunities for many of our talented students.

The Baraboo Young Authors (BYA) is a writing competition that includes four separate categories:

• Poetry: Write a poem about anything. Must be at least 8 lines long
• Creative Writing: Choose one of the pictures and write a story. Your story HAS to be about the picture in some way, don’t just choose a random topic!
• Personal Narratives: A story about an event in YOUR life!
• Argumentative Writing: Choose a prompt and write an essay to support your side of the argument.

Unfortunately, there will not be time available at school to type the entries. Students are required to write and edit their own work. Completed writing is due by Friday, January 30th.

Click here for more information!

Please remember that it is important to report an absence or if your student will be late to school or leave early.

Andrea Schroeder, Administrative Assistant

Email: aschroeder@barabooschools.net

Text: (608) 621-2248

Voicemail: (608) 355-3920

💛 A Quick Guide for East Parents 🐾

Regular attendance is key to your child's success at East Elementary. When students are present, they are engaged and learning! To help keep our whole community healthy and ensure a smooth process for all absences, please keep the following guidelines in mind:

🤒 When to Keep Your Child Home (Too Sick for School)

Please keep your child home if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms. They should remain home until they have been symptom-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.

• Fever: A temperature of 100.4°F or higher.

• Vomiting or Diarrhea: Keep your child home if they have had two or more episodes in the previous 24 hours.

🤧 When They Can Still Come (Mild Symptoms)

A simple runny nose, mild congestion, or an occasional cough are usually fine for school, provided your child is fever-free, without medication. We ask that you teach them good hygiene habits like coughing into their elbow and regular handwashing to prevent the spread of germs.

✈️ Planned Absences & Family Vacations

We understand that family time is important. If you plan an extended absence for a family vacation or other reason:

• Action Required: For absences of three or more days, such as a family vacation, please notify the office a week in advance.

Thank you!

If you have questions regarding current illness guidelines or have a positive test to report, please email or call the East Health Office.

rchristensen@barabooschools.net

bhelton@barabooschools.net

Direct Line to the East Health Office: (608) 893-6262

Nurse Fax: (608) 355-3975

What is ESPG?

ESPG is the East School Parent Group. ESPG acts upon the belief that parent involvement in the schools enhances the education that our children receive. In monthly meetings we learn about current topics and discuss ways we can have a positive impact on our schools. Meetings are on the first Monday of the month at 6pm in the school library. All are welcome!

Top 5 Reasons To Join ESPG

1. Your child benefits - When parents get connected to the school, children do better. Research shows children whose parents are involved get better grades, do better on tests, and have fewer discipline problems at school.

2. We make a difference - Our mission is to create the kind of school community where teachers and staff can do their best work - and so can our children. We provide support for teachers in and out of the classroom. We provide resources they need. We help create learning opportunities for our children.

3. We make school fun - With school fun nights, all school programs, and field trips, we add a little something extra special for kids and families to look forward to during the school year.

4. There's a lot to be done - These days, schools are asked to do more with less. Our help is needed more than ever to fill the gaps. We rely solely on fundraisers and donations. All so that we can continue to enrich our children's educational experience.

5. It's rewarding! - It's seeing the bright light of learning sparkle in a child's eye. It's seeing the smile that shows we're making school a little more fun - and a child feel a little more comfortable in a learning environment. It's learning that test scores have risen and knowing we played a role. There are lots of rewards, both big and small, for those that get involved.

WINTER WEATHER: 2-HOUR DELAY/EARLY DISMISSALS/CANCELLATIONS

• Kid Stop is not available on mornings when there is a two-hour delay.
• If students are dismissed early from their usual school day, Kid Stop will close at 3:00 PM. Any children picked up after the 3:00 PM closing time will be subject to late pick up fees.
• If Baraboo Schools are closed prior to school starting, Kid Stop will also be closed.
• Please consider sending a change of clothes for your child to keep in their backpack in case of an emergency. Please read the Kid Stop policy below.

All Kid Stop sites are still taking enrollments. Please call the Kid Stop Coordinator, Pat Gavin,

at 608-393-6872 with any questions.

Students should have their bus pass everyday. The Boys and Girls Club shuttle bus students must have their pass or they will not be able to ride.

If they need a replacement pass, a new one can be purchased for $5.00 through the school store located in your Infinite Campus Parent Portal. If you need assistance ordering a replacement or getting logged in, please contact our Tech Department at (608)355-3940 Option #3.

Download the MyRide K12 bus app to see your student's location once they have scanned onto the bus.