ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS Page 1 TOMAHAWK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2020 Principally Speaking walks. their classroom teachers in the Parents/Guardians, We started the school year with following order: a long-term substitute teacher in Door 10-Grades 4K-1 @ 3:05 p.m. The school year is Kindergarten and a long-term Door 9-Grades 2 & 3 @ 3:08 p.m. off to a good start at substitute teacher in 4th Door 8-Grades 4 & 5 @ 3:10 p.m. TES. It has been grade. Mrs. Elizabeth Hurrell is great to see the stu- the new Kindergarten teacher, Students being picked up are re- dents in the building again and I replacing Mrs. Peissig who is our leased from their respective doors really appreciate how they are new elementary guidance coun- at the grade level times above. following the new guidelines that selor. Mrs. Tollefson is returning we put in place over the sum- to TES as a 4th grade teach- Thank you for cooperating with mer. I was a little worried that er. We feel fortunate to have this change. It has greatly im- with the amount of time off stu- Mrs. Tollefson and Mrs. Hurrell proved the safety and efficiency dents had with COVID and sum- joining us at TES! of our before-school and after- mer, that it would take them a school procedures. longer time this fall to get back I hope that your students have into the structure of being at enjoyed getting back to Nurse Trina’s Notes school. The students have ad- school. If you have any ques- Just a quick justed more quickly than I would tions/concerns please contact reminder: if have anticipated, so thanks for staff whenever needed. If I can your stu- preparing them for the transition be of any assistance, please let dent has back to school. me know. any symp- We have looked at the new pro- Mr. Steckbauer toms outside of their "normal" cedures we have put in place this they should remain home until school year and have given spe- Drop-Off / Pick-Up they are feeling well. If your stu- cial attention to the drop off and dent has symptoms of COVID-19, Reminders pick up procedures in the parking we also recommend getting a lot. We have moved our staff Arrival: We ask that parents and COVID-19 test and communi- parking over, further away from buses drop off students at the cating with your provider. Please the building in the hopes that we following doors at 7:55 a.m. and see the "Coronavirus Screening can provide a safer experience that the students report to their Video" located on the District for all. We made both a drop off classrooms. Webpage for more information. lane and a pedestrian lane. We Remember; the health of our ask that people please pull into Door 10-Grade levels 4K & 1 community directly impacts the and up further in the drop off Door 9-Grade levels 2 & 3 health of our school. Wishing you lane to improve safety and traffic Door 8-Grade level 4 & 5 all a happy and healthy fall sea- flow in the morning. You will see son! Dismissal: Bus students are re- staff in the pedestrian lane to di- rect students safely to the cross- leased and taken to their bus by Trina Armstrong RN Page 2 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS Tomahawk Drive-Thru Elementary School Meal Service Guidance Dear Families, Hello! My name is We have some great news to Denise Peissig and I share! We have recently learned am the new Ele- that the USDA has given school mentary Guidance districts the ability to provide Counselor. I have FREE meals to all of their stu- been a teacher in dents through December 31, Tomahawk Elementary School for 2020. the past 22 years. I am excited to help our students in a new way Effective September 8, The this year. I will be teaching our School District of Tomahawk students social and academic suc- started offering free meals, in- cess skills in each classroom cluding breakfast and lunch, to through the Second Step Pro- any children residing in the dis- gram. Please check out the pro- trict area, to help ease the bur- gram at www.secondstep.org us- den during these difficult times. ing the following grade level acti- vation codes. All “In School” students are re- ceive a free lunch and breakfast 4K - SSPE FAMI LY68 daily. There is still a charge of K - SSP2 FAMI LY70 $0.40 in elementary school for 1 - SSP2 FAMI LY71 milk break. 2 - SSP2 FAMI LY72 3 - SSP3 FAMI LY73 Enrolled students of virtual 4 - SSP2 FAMI LY74 learning, MS/HS students on re- 5 - SSP5 FAMI LY75 mote learning days including Fri- days, and other community chil- Please let me know if you or your dren ages 18 years and younger child need anything this year. I can utilize our drive-thru service can be reached at 715-453-2126 from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. daily ext. 143 or at [email protected]. Please contact me with any questions or concerns Sincerely, Dustin Tessmer Food Service Director School District of Tomahawk Lifetouch Photography will be Taher Food Service here on October 12th and 13th to 715-453-2106 Ext. 310 take school pictures. Please [email protected] watch your student’s Monday Folder for more details. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS Page 3 Just a Note from the go home with them, as well. The music kit may contain A Message from the Music Room a wood sound, a metal sound, a Art Room comb guiro, a scraper, a move- ment scarf, and possible other manipulatives. As I continue to make manipula- tives for TES music kits, I am still in need of some 3/4 inch or 1 inch craft jingle bells, 3/4 inch or 1 inch ribbon. and empty pre- Please note that during these un- scription bottles for shakes. With the beginning of this unusu- predictable times, under the al year there have been some changes brought about by the Performances this school year: procedural changes in the art COVID-19 pandemic, the need for Music, by nature, is a perform- room to keep our students safe! and purpose of music in the lives ing art. Public performances are of children is unchanged! on hold for this coming school • Students sanitize hands upon year (2020/2021) due to the entering and leaving class. Being involved in musical activi- COVID-19 pandemic and public • Student have been socially- ties remains and is crucial to health recommendations. Per- distanced as much as possible your child's heart and brain. formances will not be occurring, at their assigned seats. but plans for some class-only vir- • Materials that must be In these times - safety first in mu- tual sharing opportunities are shared are sanitized between sic: being developed. classes. • students will sit 6 feet • Tables and chairs are sani- apart as much as possible Remember your kids need music tized between classes. • shared instruments will for their emotional and aca- not be used unless they are demic development. Thank you Art kits have been ordered for cleaned between users. for your ongoing support of grades 2-5. Kits have been made • classroom instruments them and their music making possible through STAR Founda- will not be used often. tion, and private donation. They • recorder playing will occur Viva la musica (long live music) will be distributed soon. In the mostly at home. Mrs. Anderson event that TES goes to remote • students will sing for lim- learning, the kits will go home ited time and with face masks with the students and will be on. used for online art lessons. NEW in TES Music this school The arts are important for the year are music kits. These kits development of a well-rounded have been made possible by TES, child. Anything you do to en- STAR Foundation, and other do- courage your children to keep nations. The kits have been given creating is greatly appreciated. to students to use at school, and in the event kids have to go home Artfully yours, for remote learning, the kits will Mrs. Kernan Page 4 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS Looking for an Make Math Fun important learning opportunities Academic Challenge? Welcome back! We are off to a for them. Have your child explain wonderful start in all of our clas- to you what the problem is about It’s never too early to start think- ses. To keep our enthusiasm and allow them time to begin the ing about the Spelling and Geog- alive, I am sharing ideas from Jo problem on their own. raphy Bees. Classroom bees will Boaler's article, "Make Math 6. Encourage drawing whenever be held in January, but you can Fun", which could help bring the you can. Math is visual, if stu- start preparing now! There will fun to you when math is com- dents sketch out the problem, it be virtual platforms for the bees pleted at home. Everyone can be may help them understand what this year. successful at math. Let's stop the problem is about. saying, "I was never good at 7. Encourage students to make Here are a couple of great re- math" and think it's okay to sense of math at all times. We sources to check out: make statements like that. We need to stop guessing about need to be positive math models math and use our mathematical For students preparing for the for our children.