Junior High Journal

I want to thank all our JH students and families for a terrific first semester. It is hard to believe that we are in January already. As we move into semester two of the 2025-2026 school year, there are some upcoming events that I want to make sure everyone is aware of.

During the months of March and April, our assessment windows will open for both the Wisconsin Forward (grade 8) and PreACT Secure Exams (grade 9). These tests are designed to monitor the progress of our eighth and ninth grade students. As we get closer to the administration of these two assessments, more information will be sent out for your review.

The spring also has several very special opportunities for students. On May 6, we will celebrate Adventure Day for this school year. This is a day dedicated to the exploration of college and career opportunities or is used to foster a potential lifelong hobby or activity. Then, on May 13, our 8th grade students will participate in Civil War Day. This provides a look at the Civil War Era through various presentations and simulations. Finally, our 8th graders will conclude the school year with the Rivers Trip in conjunction with their science classes. This allows 8th graders to explore some of the fantastic natural resources that our community has to offer.

The goal of the JH is to provide our students with opportunities for academic growth as well as experiential activities that create lasting memories. As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns! I wish you and your family a great semester two!

Our schools have implemented a new visitor management system called VisitorAware as part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring a safe and secure learning environment for all students and staff.

VisitorAware will help us efficiently monitor and manage all visitors entering our campuses. All visitors including parents and guardians, will be required to check in at the front office using a valid photo ID when they go beyond the front office during the school day. The system will quickly scan the ID and log the visitor's information, helping us keep an accurate record of everyone on campus.

How it works:

• Visitors will take photos of their ID the first time they arrive at a building.
• The system will register their visit. Visitors will receive a badge sticker or lanyard as they have in the past.
• Upon leaving, visitors will check out through the system to ensure accurate records.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the front office at your child's school. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our schools safe and welcoming for everyone.

We have a lot of students coming to school without warm clothing. Please remind them to dress appropriately for the weather including sweatshirts, coats, hats, gloves or other warm clothing. Contact your students counselor if they need free warm clothing from the Giving Tree.

As we continue into the winter season, we would like to remind you of the snow day procedures we have in place in the event of inclement weather.

The D.C. Everest School District allotted four "built in" snow days for the 2025-26 school year. If we exceed the four built in snow days, and students cannot attend school in person due to inclement weather, students will learn from home as a virtual learning day (snow days number 5 & 6). If we were to reach a 7th snow day, our team will work to identify a solution to ensure we meet the required minutes set forth by the WI Department of Public Instruction.

A summary of at-home learning plans for snow days 5 and 6 is included below. Additional details would be shared by your student's teacher(s) in the event we exceed four snow days.

DCE Middle School, Junior High, and Senior High:

• Teachers will post the day's lesson plan to their Canvas page by 9:00am.
• Teachers will be available via WebEx during listed open office hours that will take place between 9:00am and 2:00pm. Students are encouraged to meet with their teacher virtually to ask questions and get support.
• If a teacher's identified office hours do not work for a student, students should send a request to their teacher to meet virtually at another time.
• Attendance will be taken based on the completion of assigned tasks. If a student is unable to complete assigned work due to extenuating circumstances, the student should inform their teacher upon returning to school.
  
  

For more information, please visit the district's weather-related closure webpage.

To report an absence or late arrival, call 715-359-0511 (Option 1) or email JRH-Attendance@dce.k12.wi.us. The office will then give them a “Permit to Leave School” pass on paper and the teacher will release them from class at the time designated on the pass. Your student will check out in the office and meet you outside. If the absence will be more than 5 days, a pre-approved absence request form will be given to the student when they bring in the note, for each of their teachers to sign. The student is then responsible for the homework that the teacher gives them on the form when they return. If they are absent more than 10 days in a year, a doctor’s note will be required for any further absences.

If your student becomes ill during the school day, they MUST first check in the health room. The health nurse will then determine if the child should be sent home. The health nurse will notify the parent for pick-up. Please discourage students from calling or texting you directly for pickup. Encourage them to first check in the health room before release.

There will be a Spring Sports Meeting on Monday, March 2 at the Senior High for parents of athletes in grades 9-12. More information will be sent via email closer to the date of the meeting. For more information regarding sports (schedules, registration, forms):

Sports Information Grades 6-12

DCE Junior High is offering a homework help program after school on Mondays and Wednesdays. To sign up, a parent or student should talk with their students's teachers or school counselors. The program is offered from 3:10pm-4:10pm in the IMC.

Conferences will be held on February 18 from 3:30-7:00pm and March 5 from 3:30-7:00pm. Please watch for an email to schedule conferences on February 2.

Conference Scheduling Process:

1. Be aware that conference times fill up rapidly, normally in the first couple of days.
2. Each teacher you select meets individually with your family for 7 minutes in-person.
3. The access URL Code for conference scheduling will be given to the primary parent household. Please work with any partnering parent to schedule conference times that would work for both of you.
4. Phone calls and virtual meetings are not options for JRH PT conference nights.
5. One day before your conferences, you will receive a reminder email with your schedule.
6. The online scheduling program allows you to know your conference times immediately and change conferences if necessary.
   
   

The Parent/Teacher Conference is an opportunity for you to share information about your child with teachers to help them better understand your child and provide an appropriate educational plan.

Please note you may contact your student's teachers at any time throughout the school year. Discuss progress made at school with your child and prepare a list of questions, concerns, or comments you would like to discuss. Reach out to the teacher via email.

Canvas is the tool where students find all of their lessons and homework. Canvas can show when work is completed or missing. Teachers are teaching their students where they can find their assignments in case they are gone. If your student is unable to show you where their homework is located, the student should talk with their teachers immediately. All students know how to upload their assignments to the system as well. If they are absent, the students need to go into Canvas to get their homework and hand it in.

Parents: A Canvas account allows you to monitor your students' progress, view detailed assignment information, view feedback and communication with the teacher. If you have already created an account, but forgot your password, please click forgot password. If you have never created an account or you need to add a student, please visit our Canvas Help Webpage. This site contains information to help you.

Infinite Campus (IC) is where you will find your household information, attendance and report cards. Please update your contact information. All of our systems will use this information. If you do not have an Infinite Campus Parent Portal Account or have forgotten your login information, please send an email to PortalAccount@dce.kk12.wi.us with the details to get help, or call 715-359-4221. While you are in the Parent Portal, please make sure to update your Household Information and Family Members and verify all the information is correct. The District ID for the mobile app is PRXNJY.

The semester 1 report cards will be available soon after semester 1 ends in the Infinite Campus Portal. Once you are logged in the Portal, you can choose documents, then S1 report card. All report cards will be posted here. We will not be mailing report cards home.

8TH GRADES will be taking the Wisconsin Forward Exam on March 16-25 & April 7.

Forward Exam Information for Families Brochure

Spanish Translation

Hmong Translation

Additional Resources for Families

9TH GRADERS will be taking the the PreACT Secure on April 8.

ACT (includes PreACT Secure) H.S. Assessment Information for Families Brochure

Spanish Translation

Hmong Translation

It is very important for your student to attend school on these days. These state assessments measure the knowledge and skills your student(s) should have acquired by the time they reach each grade level. Their performance on the assessments will not affect any of their current grades. Please encourage your son/daughter to take the test seriously and do their best. The results of these tests will be used to help school staff make determinations for placement in classes to best support your child(ren).

If you have any questions regarding these state assessments, please contact us.

Registration will open the first week of February. 8th graders will get registration information on Wednesday, February 4 during advisory. Junior High Counselors will give information to 7th graders on Tuesday, February 3 at the middle school. Senior High Counselors will be in classrooms to give information to 9th graders on Friday, February 6 and then will check back in with students on Tuesday, February 17. More information will be provided soon.

D.C. Everest recognizes the mental and physical well being of our students is critical to their success in the classroom, within their family and social circles, as an academic and athletic competitor and with the broader community.

To assist our students with their educational, career, personal/social and health issues and needs, we integrate school and community services to ensure they have access to a range of resources. Please click on the link below link for DCE Wellness Support Programs.

If you are living in a temporary or transitional living situation, or if you have been evicted or are in the process of being evicted from your home, you have the right for additional assistance and support for your youth and your family. This includes information and help connecting with local resources, assistance with enrollment, school fees waived, transportation assistance, and other supports while a family or student is in transition. Please contact Lisa Morgan, School Social Worker for assistance 715-359-0511 ext. 5610.

JANUARY

30 Winterfest

FEBRUARY

11 History Day

18 Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:30-7:00

19 Independent Learning Day

20 NO SCHOOL - Teacher Professional Development

MARCH

5 Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:30-7:00

6-8 Evercon Convention

13 Pi Assembly

27 End of Quarter 3

30-31 NO SCHOOL - Spring Break

APRIL

1-3 NO SCHOOL - Spring Break

7 8th Grade State Testing - 9th Grade Independent Learning

8 9th Grade State Testing - 8th Grade Independent Learning

MAY

6 Adventure Day

13 Civil War Day - 8th grade

25 NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

26-28 Rivers Trip - 8th grade

JUNE

5 Last day of school

PHONE 715-359-0511

OFFICE STAFF

Jason McFarlane - Principal - ext. 3022

Scott Gremminger - Assistant Principal - ext. 3401

Erin Lauersdorf - Dean of Students - ext. 3403

Cory Heckel - Athletic Director - ext. 3402

Lisa Becker - Principal's Secretary - ext. 3021

Stacey Paradowski - Attendance Secretary - ext. 3404

Jennifer Clark - Athletic Secretary - ext. 3048

STUDENT SERVICES STAFF

Alicia Reimann - School Psychologist - ext. 3025

Lisa Morgan - School Social Worker - ext. 5610

Teresa Pederson - Counselor grade 9 - ext. 3506

Leah Wipperfurth - Counselor grade 8 - ext. 3507

Greg Schremp - Police Liaison Officer - ext. 3333

Brenda Geier - Health Assistant - ext. 3023

Peg Piepenburg - Student Services Secretary - ext. 3505

The D.C. Everest Area School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, sex, (including pregnancy, gender status, change of sex or gender identity), or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability or any basis protected by state or federal laws. The following staff are designated to receive inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Gina Lehman, Director of Student Services, gilehman@dce.k12.wi.us, or Sarah Trimner, Director of Talent and Culture, strimner@dce.k12.wi.us, both are located at 6100 Alderson Street, Weston, WI 54476 and (715) 359-4221.