Bloomer Elementary School

It is hard to believe that the month of October is upon us, and that we are already a month into the school year. Everyone at Bloomer Elementary has settled in, and we are ready to embrace the fun and challenges that are ahead.

The start of a new school year can often be challenging for students. In particular, making new friends, learning new routines, getting to know teachers, and completing school work every day can be a bit overwhelming. Hopefully, by now, some of those new school year worries have subsided. During the first weeks of the school year our teachers take a great deal of pride in establishing a learning environment where students can feel safe and respected by their peers.

As I’ve mentioned before, we recognize the importance of establishing open lines of communication with parents. Communicating regularly about the progress of students is paramount to their success. That being said, we strongly encourage each of you to attend Parent-Teacher Conferences as scheduled on October 22-23. This is a great opportunity to have deep conversations about your child’s progress, set some goals for the rest of the school year, and to address any concerns you may have.

This year, we are lucky to have a familiar face back at Bloomer Elementary. Christy Langman, our former district reading specialist, has re-joined our team this year and will be serving our staff and students as our literacy coach. She will be working directly with 5K - 3rd grade teachers this year as a part of a state-funded literacy initiative. We are grateful to have Christy back as a part of our team!

Lastly, I want to take a moment to encourage you to spend time each day reading with your child. While I know each week can be busy, establishing a “Family Read Time” each night might be one for you to model reading and encourage your child to read regularly. Although it sounds simple, one of the best ways to grow your child as a reader is to make reading for pleasure a point of emphasis in your home!

All the best,

Josh Hartman - BES Principal

There will be no school on Thursday, October 22nd and Friday, October 23rd for parent teacher conferences.

If your child will not be in school on a particular day please make sure that you call the school number and leave a message on the automated elementary school attendance line (715) 568-2800 stating your child’s name, the date and the reason for absence. Students that do not have a phone call will be marked unexcused for the day.

You can excuse your child three ways:

1) A voicemail on the attendance line: 715-568-2800 press 4 for the elementary school and 1 for the attendance line. Please list the reason for your child's absence.

2) Email Mrs. Rubenzer excusing your child jami.rubenzer@bloomer.k12.wi.us.

3) Enter an absence request in Skyward. (Attendance, Absence Requests, Add Request-choose Start Date and End Date, Time-uncheck All Day to choose times absent, leave All Day checked for all day absence, Reason, Comment-provide any details needed for the office. Choose Copy Absence to an additional student, if needed) Save.

Online Registration needs to be completed each year in Skyward for all new and returning students to verify student information, and update phone numbers and emergency contacts to be able to attend field trips. Instructions are here https://5il.co/wgc0.

Material Fees need to be paid each year for students in grades 5K-4th. Payments can be made in Skyward with a credit card (small service fee). Instructions are here https://5il.co/i7qq. Payments can also be made in person with cash or check in the office.

Please take care of these as soon as possible if you haven't already.

Bloomer Elementary School: A School-Wide Title I School

Families + Students + Teachers = Success

How did Bloomer Elementary become a Title 1 School-wide School?

Bloomer Elementary became eligible to become a School-wide project when 40% of our students were eligible for free or reduced lunch. A committee studied the needs of our school and a parent survey was conducted in 2012. Then a plan was developed to address the needs of all students.

What are the advantages of becoming a Title 1 School-wide School?

Although Bloomer Elementary will not receive additional Title 1 funds, being a Title 1 school-wide school allows us to use our funds more flexibly.

What are our goals in our School-wide Title 1 plan?

• Providing research and evidence based curriculum and instruction.

• Providing ongoing professional development for the teachers.

• Involving families.

• Assisting students in the transition from elementary to middle school.

• Providing additional assistance to identified students.

What is a Title 1 Compact?

The Title 1 compact is an agreement among the student, teacher, and parents that outlines the role of each in a learning partnership. When we all work together, students can make the biggest gains.

How are students selected for extra support?

Students are identified for support throughout the year using multiple grade level assessments, universal screeners, and diagnostic assessments. Groups are flexible and may change throughout the school year. Students may receive extra support from an intervention teacher and/or classroom teacher during class time or Hawk Time.

How can I be involved?

• Listen to your child read. Read to or with your child.

• Make learning fun by playing educational games, visiting the public library, and listening and talking to your child.

• Show interest in your child’s school day by asking specific questions about their day at school.

• Praise your child’s effort and improvement.

• Communicate with classroom teachers and interventionists.

• Participate in family nights and parent-teacher conferences.

• Read the Bloomer Elementary School Newsletters, home/school folder communication, and/or assignment notebooks.

What does School-wide Title 1 mean for my student and our family?

Your child may see one of our interventionists or a classroom teacher throughout the year during Hawk Time for some small group instruction in reading and/or math for extra help. This usually means 30 minutes of small group instruction working on specific skills your child needs.

When would my child receive services?

This may be during Hawk Time (Intervention/Enrichment Time), or may be at another time during the day. They will not miss whole group math or reading in their classroom. Typically students will come during Hawk Time. Classroom teachers will be working with other groups of students during this time to intervene or enrich skills.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher or Erin Rothbauer, Reading Specialist at 715-568-2800 ext. 1102

Families + Students + Teachers = Success

The 4Kers visited Family Roots Orchard! They had an amazing time!

The 1st graders had the best time at Ferguson’s Orchard in Eau Claire. Thank you PIE for sponsoring such a fun field trip!

The first graders enjoyed participating in the Mini Hawk Hustle! Thank you PIE for putting on such a fun event! Thank you to all that fundraised! The donations raised are greatly appreciated!

As I am sure you have already heard, there has been a positive case of Measles identified in Chippewa County. Measles is a highly contagious illness that spreads easily through the air via respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. To complicate matters, the infected person can spread disease about 4 days before they even know they are ill!

Given current measles activity in our area, this is a good time to review the immunization records for all of your family members to assure you have documentation of two MMR doses.

Here are answers from the Chippewa County Health Department to a couple of great questions you may also be wondering about:

1. If an unimmunized student is exposed to a confirmed measles case at school, do they need to go home for 21 days?

Generally, yes, if they have no documented immunity and do not receive MMR within 72 hours of their first exposure. For students ages 5–18 with zero documented MMR doses, DHS recommends quarantine at home and exclusion from school.

2. What about students who are immunized?

If you are unsure of your vaccine status and don't have a copy of your immunization record and you received your vaccines in the state of Wisconsin, my first recommendation is to follow this link to the Wisconsin Immunization Registry to see if your information is there. Another spot to try is your physician's office. When in doubt - check to see if your parents still have a copy! As a last resort, speak with your doctor about having them run a blood test (Titer) to see if you show immunity to Measles!

If we end up with a case of measles in one of our schools, it will be easier to manage the situation if everyone has easy access to their records!

Trisha Neuser, BSN, RN, School Nurse

School District of Bloomer

trisha.neuser@bloomer.k12.wi.us

Jenny Tarnowski, School Counselor

Bloomer Elementary School, Room 005

715-568-2800 ext. 1005

jenny.tarnowski@bloomer.k12.wi.us

Website https://sites.google.com/view/bes-student-service-page/home

“Savor the moments…your child will travel this path just once…”

Over the next few weeks, classroom Guidance lessons will again be built around the Wisconsin Social Emotional Learning Competencies, specifically focusing on the areas of Emotional Development (understand and manage one’s emotions), Self-Concept (develop positive self-identity and recognize self as a learner) and Social Competence (establish and maintain positive relationships). In alignment with October being National Bullying Prevention Month, students will learn relationship skills, social awareness and decision-making (choices when responding to situations). We will read stories, participate in various activities and play some games to help us model kindness, acceptance and inclusion, define bullying, prevent bullying, how to report bullying and more! 😊 Our Wayfinder lessons will help teach these concepts and emphasize: 🌟purpose (your decisions and interactions with the world are guided by a deep connection to your values), 🌟self-awareness (you understand yourself on many levels, from how you function to what nourishes and sustains you), 🌟adaptability (you are willing to try again when you make mistakes and are comfortable navigating uncertain situations with flexibility and openness), 🌟empathy (you are in tune with the feelings and needs of others and willing to act for a common good), 🌟collaboration (you are a relationship-builder who actively partners with others and facilitates belonging efforts across communities), and 🌟agency (you understand the value of your voice and seek opportunities to support and advance your communities).

Families are an important ally when discussing this topic with children. Please encourage your children to be respectful, kind, accepting and including of others. Please familiarize yourself with the definition of bullying and support your child(ren) in reporting when they or someone else is being bullied. Together, please review the attached pledge and S.T.A.N.D. strategies regarding bullying. 🫶

As we recognize National Bullying Prevention Month, we will acknowledge UNITY DAY on Friday, October 9, across our district to promote acceptance, inclusion and kindness. That day is also BLACKHAWK SPIRIT day as we celebrate Homecoming across our district. Please encourage your kiddo(s) to wear ORANGE that day to celebrate UNITY and our BLACKHAWK FAMILY! In the words of Paddington Bear, “It doesn’t cost me anything to be kind!” 😊🧡 Remember, it’s ALWAYS a GREAT day to BE A BlackH.A.W.K (Help All With Kindness)! Be BlackHAWK proud! Be BlackHAWK strong! 🤩🖤🧡 TOGETHER, WE SOAR! 🦅

The Counseling department offers many terrific resources for parents, covering a wide range of topics. Some of these resources are available for parents to keep and others are available for checkout. Featured resources this month include: UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed In Our All-About-Me World by Michele Borba, Ed.D., Good Friends Are Hard To Find-Help Your Child Find, Make & Keep Friends by Fred Frankel, PhD, Bully Blocking: 6 Secrets To Help Children Deal With Teasing & Bullying by Evelyn M. Field. Creating A Mindset That Our Digital Actions Are Public & Permanent by Richard Guerry and Don’t Pick On Me-Help Kids Stand Up To & Deal With Bullies by Susan Eikov Green. Please stop in and take a look or reach out for more information!

BE RESPECTFUL BE RESPONSIBLE BE SAFE

IT’S THE BLACKHAWK WAY

Bloomer Elementary School STAND Against Bullying Pledge

We, the students and staff of Bloomer Elementary School, agree to join TOGETHER to STAND AGAINST BULLYING at our school. We believe that everybody should enjoy our school equally and feel SAFE, SECURE and ACCEPTED regardless of race, gender, ability, etc.

Bullying is defined as: REPEATED, INTENTION, HURTFUL behavior and an IMBALANCE OF POWER/CONTROL is occurring. Bullying can be physical, verbal or nonverbal/cyber acts against another person. BULLYING CAUSES PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL PAIN AND STRESS TO VICTIMS AND IS NEVER JUSTIFIED OR EXCUSABLE!

By signing this pledge, we agree to BE RESPECTFUL, BE RESPONSIBLE AND BE SAFE and STAND AGAINST BULLYING! We WILL:

1. Value differences and treat others with respect.

2. Not become involved in bullying or be a bully ourselves.

3. Be aware of our school’s rules and support system regarding bullying.

4. Honestly and immediately report bullying to a staff member.

5. Be alert in places around school where there may be less supervision.

6. Support students who are victims of bullying.

7. Talk to teachers, parents and other students about bullying concerns and what to do as a bystander.

8. Be a good role model of The Blackhawk Way.

9. STAND AGAINST BULLYING:

Website: bloomer.k12.wi.us
Location: 401 8th Avenue, Bloomer, WI, USA
Phone: 715-568-2800