The ELC/PC Viking View
Responsible, Respectful & Ready
Principal's Post - Behavior & Bullying
Dear Families,
The safety and success of each student is our ultimate focus. The ELC and PC are PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports) schools. This program clearly aligns with the district’s student behavior standards and is designed to provide students with a clear set of positive expectations for their behavior in every school setting. (PBIS) is a proactive system that provides behavioral support for all students to achieve social, emotional, and academic success. We will use three “R’s” as the backbone to our student behavior expectations; Respectful, Responsible and Ready. As a school and within each individual classroom we will be constantly reviewing the meaning of these words and how these character traits look and sound in each school setting. All school staff will use the three “R’s” as the base for student expectations in all areas of the school.
We have spent significant time during the first month of school establishing and practicing expected choices in all school areas. When students demonstrate an unexpected behavior, we are reteaching and sharing replacement behavior ideas. We know that some students need additional practice and we shouldn't expect all 5-7 year olds to know all of the rules from the moment they walk in our door.
Each week, the Dean of Students and myself share a Monday video with all students and staff. One of these messages was about behavior and bullying. Please view our Monday Message to see one way we are supporting a safe and successful school year for each K-2 Viking.
Bullying, harassment, or intimidation in any fashion is unacceptable behavior and is prohibited at school. The ELC and PC strive to create a school community where all people are welcome and students learn to be respectful, responsible, and ready when working with others. To learn more about our proactive efforts, please visit our Social Emotional Learning page.
Despite our best efforts, peer conflict will happen. When it does, it is important to know when it reaches the level of bullying.
According to stopbullying.gov, “Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:
An Imbalance of Power: Individuals who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or social status—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.”
Bullying is not perceptions of rudeness, criticism, “not getting your way,” healthy peer conflict, isolated and unintentional physical contact, or lack of consideration. These are examples of conduct that is unlikely to constitute bullying, harassment, and/or intimidation.
Regardless if the problem is bullying or not, we want to know about it so we can address it. Please notify the Dean of Students, Katie Hardyman, if your student is struggling with a peer conflict.
If you believe the concern does constitute bullying, we need you to document your concern by completing this form and submit it to the Dean of Students or the Principal, Rachael Johnson. When this form is submitted, an investigation into the issue will begin and will be completed within 10 school days.
To learn more about our Anti-Bullying/Harassment/Intimidation Procedures, read administrative regulations here to learn more.
See something? Say something!
One of the best ways to improve school safety is for students, families, and staff to share concerning behavior with school administrators when they see it. If you have traveled by airplane, you are familiar with the regular announcements to report any suspicious activity to the Department of Homeland Security. “If you see something, say something” also applies at school.
When students hear of situations where someone might get hurt or they see someone harming another person, they are taught to report the issue to the supervising adult. This could be the classroom teacher or the supervising adult at lunch or recess. If students hear something outside of school or on the bus, they can still come to the office to report the issue directly to Mrs. Johnson, the ELC/PC principal, or share what they heard or saw to office staff.
Parents or community members can also report issues of safety or concern to the school. This could be via phone at 437-7506 or 437-7606, via email to Mrs. Johnson or another staff person, or stopping into the office in person.
With Viking Pride,
Rachael Johnson, Principal
A Note From the Health Office
Dear Families,
It has been reported from the Department of Health Services Bureau of Communicable Diseases that pertussis (whooping cough) is increasing nationwide and has been reported in 49 Wisconsin Counties as of September 20, 2024. It is likely that the Mount Horeb School District will see cases of pertussis. This is in addition to other respiratory infections such as influenza, COVID, RSV and the common cold.
Schools, parents, and caregivers often do not know what specific illness a child may have; rather, children present with symptoms. If someone has the following symptoms, they should stay home because their illness could affect their ability to participate in school and there is concern that they might spread an infection to other students and staff.
Fever (100.4 or greater), including a fever with a new rash.
Vomiting more than twice in the preceding 24 hours.
Diarrhea that causes ‘accidents’, is bloody, or results in greater than two bowel movements above what the child normally experiences in a 24-hour period.
Skin sores that are draining fluid on an uncovered part of the body and are unable to be covered with a bandage.
Respiratory virus symptoms that are worsening or not improving and not better explained by another cause such as seasonal allergies.
Please take a look at the signs and symptoms of Pertussis. Not every child with a cough has pertussis but if the cough becomes severe and is followed by a deep breath that makes a “whoop” sound or vomiting or coughing that makes it difficult to breath, please follow up with a medical provider. Pertussis generally requires antibiotics for treatment.
Thank you,
The Mount Horeb Nursing Team
C.J. Goodwin and Christy Staats
Halloween Dress-Up Opportunity - October 31
We are excited to announce that the ELC/PC will continue allowing Halloween costumes and other alternative dress-up ideas to be worn to school this year on Thursday, October 31, 2024. As we celebrate the fall season, it’s important that we continue to follow the 3 Rs (Responsible, Respectful, and Ready), so we can maintain a safe and positive school environment during this fun time. The following ELC/PC Dress-Up Requirements MUST be followed when sending your child to school wearing their costume/dress-up attire.
COSTUME/DRESS-UP REQUIREMENTS
- Students should arrive to school dressed in their costume/dress-up clothing for the day. Please make sure your child brings weather/temperature-appropriate outerwear, as students will be going out for recess. Students must also wear shoes that they can safely play and participate in if they have physical education class.
- Costumes/Dress-ups need to be school appropriate. No clothing involving violence, gore, or horror. If your child’s teacher feels a part of your child’s outfit is not appropriate, he/she will keep that item until the end of the school day.
- Weapons, props, and capes should be left at home. We want to ensure the safety and comfort of all of our students. Capes are a tripping hazard, and weapons/props can cause bodily injury and create worry/discomfort. Any of these items brought to school will be brought to the office. Parents will be contacted to pick them up at their convenience.
- Students need to avoid having their faces completely covered with face paint and/or masks. Staff need to be able to easily identify students and some students are anxious or fearful of people wearing masks. If students do have some minimal makeup as a part of their costume, this should be applied at home, not at school.
- For the safety of those with allergies, costumes and accessories may not contain latex.
- If your child's costume is a one-piece and they have a difficult time getting out of it independently for bathrooming, please keep this in mind when determining what they will wear to school on the dress-up day.
If your child’s costume is unable to meet the above requirements, do not fret! Your child could dress up wearing any of the following: sportswear, pajamas, Mt. Horeb Viking gear or superhero clothing. We want all students to be included in this fun day. Many adults will be opting to wear one of these options, so students who come in this attire will not be alone!
Thank you for your help and cooperation! We are looking forward to a safe and fun dress-up day!
With Viking Pride,
The ELC/PC Staff
Supports Available
Need social-emotional support for your child? Need to problem-solve or check-in with our Student Services team members? We have a team of highly qualified staff who stand on the ready to support you and your student. You can call the PC main office at 437-7506 or ELC main office 437-7606 to be connected to our team, or you can send them an email directly.
Dean of Students: Katie Hardyman, hardymankatie@mounthorebschools.org
School Counselor: Brooke Running, runningbrooke@mounthorebschools.org
School Social Worker: Sophia Langkamp, langkampsophia@mounthorebschools.org
School Psychologist/4K Coordinator: Nicole Tepe, tepenicole@mounthorebschools.org
School Nurse: Christy Staats, staatschristy@mounthorebschools.org
RESOURCES
Volunteer Background Check form
Blue Note Form for temporary bus riding changes
Bullying, Harrassment & Intimidation - How to Report It
Primary Center
Secretary: Lyndsay Evans-Eder, evansederlyndsay@mounthorebschools.org
Website: https://www.mounthorebschools.org/schools/primary/
Location: 207 Academy Street, Mount Horeb, WI, USA
Phone: 608-437-7506
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elcpc.mounthoreb.7/
Early Learning Center
Secretary: Colleen Kittleson, kittlesoncolleen@mounthorebschools.org
Website: https://www.mounthorebschools.org/schools/elc/
Location: 300 Spellman Street, Mount Horeb, WI, USA
Phone: 608-437-7606
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elcpc.mounthoreb.7/