VASD Newsletter

Nota: Puede acceder a este Boletín Informativo en diferentes idiomas haciendo clic en el botón "Translate"

As part of our the Verona Area School District's (VASD's) continued efforts to understand the experiences of students, families, and staff, we invited everyone to complete an Experience Survey. Based on previous feedback, this year’s survey was shorter with more opportunities for open-ended responses. Families and students took the survey in December and staff completed it in January.

We are happy to report that over 3,200 students, or 75%, of our 3rd - 12th grade students took the survey, while over 400 families participated. The video below provides a summary of the student and family results -- including bright spots and areas for growth -- along with our action steps in response to your input.

The Experience Survey is one of the multiple feedback loops we use to ensure that we know what things we're doing right that we want to celebrate in our system and what things we could improve. Every opportunity for feedback is a gift, and we're going to use that gift to take action to increase VASD's greatness. Thank you for taking the time to provide your crucial input as VASD continues our journey to be the national model of excellence grounded in equity.

Google has recently updated its Education Workspace policy, requiring parental consent for student accounts to access certain apps and websites classified as Additional Google Services. These services include commonly used applications such as Google Earth, Google Maps/MyMaps, Google News, Google Photos, Google Translate, and YouTube. Opting out of services like YouTube may limit access to valuable educational resources. Many classrooms use YouTube for instructional videos and tutorials that cater to various learning styles. By opting out, students risk missing engaging content that supports classroom material and interactive experiences essential for collaboration and deeper understanding.

Parent/Guardian Action Needed Only If You Wish to Opt-Out:

If you wish to opt-out and disable these Additional Google Services for your child’s VASD account, please fill out the form linked here. If you have multiple children, please submit a separate form for each child.

If you do not complete this form, you are giving consent for these services to remain active for your child’s account within the district.

February is Career & Technical (CTE) Education Month. Verona Area School District offers a wide variety of CTE classes. Today we're highlighting two of our Woods classes, and we'll be highlighting more CTE classes throughout the month on the VASD's Facebook and Instagram accounts!

Woods Processes 2 provides students with a review of technical woodworking information and operation of traditional woodworking equipment used in the woodworking industry. Students perform numerous exercises to gain familiarity with portable power tools and industrial woodworking equipment while expanding their woodworking skills. Units include layout, cabinetmaking, sawing, surfacing, boring, and sanding. Students build a night stand and an instructor-approved individual project of their choice. This course gives students the opportunity to earn an industry recognized Sawblade Certificate from the Woodworking Career Alliance.

Advanced Wood Processes is designed for students with a passion for the woodworking trade. The course presents the opportunity for the self-motivated student to advance their woodworking skills. Students plan and create instructor-approved projects. Students are required to complete their own projects and also assist Wood Processes 1 and Wood Processes 2 students. This course gives students the opportunity to earn an industry recognized Sawblade Certificate from the Woodworking Career Alliance if they did not earn it in Wood Processes 2. In addition, juniors and seniors who successfully complete Advanced Wood Processes can earn college credit through Madison College.

Does your family have a child who will be five years of age on or before September 1, 2025? They are eligible to start Kindergarten on September 2, 2025. Families have educational options about where and how their child learns. VASD Kindergarten students will attend one of the following:

• Your neighborhood school based on the location of your home. You can locate your neighborhood school by entering your address into the SchoolSearch tool (or load this into your browser: https://www.verona.k12.wi.us/families/district-school-boundaries )

• A Two-Way Immersion (TWI) program

• A tuition-free, public charter school: Core Knowledge Charter School, New Century, or Verona Area International School.

Two-Way Immersion Program applications are being accepted January 6 - March 10

Placements are determined by a lottery.

Information on the registration process is available on the VASD website here.

Country View Elementary, where Ms. Rachel Reshower is the school counselor, is one of seven school counseling programs in Wisconsin to receive the prestigious Program of Promise award from the Wisconsin School Counselor Association (WSCA). The Program of Promise award is the highest recognition a data-driven comprehensive school counseling program can receive from the WSCA. This award is granted to a small number of Wisconsin schools each year. To be considered, the school counselor must submit an accountability report fulfilling stringent data expectations set forth by the WSCA. This peer-reviewed report illustrates the school counseling program's impact on students' academic, social-emotional, and career development.

Country View addressed the equity gap related to attendance. Students who miss multiple days of school lose access to instructional time, and by the end of the 2023 school year, a small group of students had missed an average of 45% of school days. The school counselor and school social worker used the Check and Connect program to meet with these students every morning for the first 42 days of the 2024 school year, helping them develop the skills needed to be successful at school. Through the support of the school counseling program, students increased their attendance rates by an average of 21%.

Join Dr. Clardy as he shares updates and interviews guests from around the district. In the Loop with the Sup will be posted about every two weeks on Wednesdays. Listen here!

Now Live

Episode 12: Special Education and Multi-Level Systems of Support in the Verona Area School District

Coming Soon

Episode 13: Mentoring New Teachers in the Verona Area School District

Episode 14: Community Collaboration: Facilities Rentals

Harvest of the Month: Cabbage