Sand Lake Elementary May Newsletter
Sand Lake Families:
As we prepare to embark on the close of the school
year, we are filled with gratitude. Gratitude for our students for all of their
work this year. Gratitude to our staff for their tireless efforts in supporting
student learning. Finally, gratitude for you all, our Sand Lake families. We
cannot thank you enough for all that you do to support your students and our
school community as a whole. As the school year hits the final stretch, there
will be many field trips and special events, and we hope that you have time to
take part in them. Here are just a few of our schoolwide celebrations:
25th School Year Celebration
· We’ll be taking a schoolwide picture on
Thursday, May 23rd.
· We’ll also be having a schoolwide
assembly on Thursday, May 23rd. During this assembly, we’ll
rededicate items in a time capsule that was originally dedicated at Sand Lake
in November of 1999.
All School Picnic
· All families are invited to our
all-school picnic on Friday, May 24th.
· If you are new to Sand Lake, this is a
wonderful opportunity to have a delicious meal with your students. While all
school picnics take place at each elementary, the first all school picnic was
hosted by former principal Neal Janssen, right here at Sand Lake!
· We hope to see each of you there!
Field Day
· Mr. Fredrick is working hard to host
Field Day for students on Thursday, May 30th.
· If you are interested in volunteering,
contact Mr. Fredrick directly at frejoe@holmen.k12.wi.us
End of Year Assembly
· We’ll also be hosting an end of year
assembly with a recap of the school year, some awards, and games!
· This will take place during the last
week of school and be an exciting springboard to summer!
As we get set for the ’24-’25 school year, we want to remind you of a couple processes and exciting things happening at Sand Lake:
Class Placement:
· Teacher
requests are not accepted at Holmen elementary schools. Our teachers and
administrators work hard to develop class lists that support all students and each
individual child’s needs.
· Class
placement is shared with families at our picture/registration day, which will
take place on Wednesday, August 7th.
Playground
· Over the
summer, you’ll see some construction happening at Sand Lake.
· As part of a
successful, November 2022 referendum, new playgrounds are being installed at
all elementary schools.
· We expect
construction to begin at Sand Lake around mid-June.
·
Here is a
link that overviews playground
upgrades.*
o *please note that all drawings are
approximations and not exact replicas of the coming playground equipment.
Preparation for the School Year:
· The Sand
Lake office will send timely communication about events that assist in
preparation for the next school year.
· Be on the
lookout for communication about picture day and open house as the school year
draws closer.
· As a
friendly reminder, the 2024-2025 school year starts a bit earlier, with the
first day of school on Monday, August 26th.
In Partnership,
Matt Meyers
Art Room News from Mrs. Staige
Thank you for all the orders for the Original Works Fundraiser. Thank you for all your support! This month Sand Lake artists are having fun learning about symmetry by creating insects. Students will also be creating abstract and 3D art this month.
Happy Creating, Mrs.
Staige
Counselor
Connection – Amy Kobs
After
25 incredible years of working as Sand Lake’s School Counselor, the time has
come for me to retire and embark on a new chapter in my life's journey.
Working with children has always been more than just a job to me; it has been
my passion, my calling, and an honor that I truly cherish. I have watched
children grow and develop while being that supportive presence in their lives.
Sand Lake Elementary holds a special place in my heart and I will forever
treasure memories created within these walls.
While
it is bittersweet to say goodbye, I am also excited for the future of
Sand Lake Elementary School. Change brings with it new opportunities, and I
have every confidence that the incoming School Counselor, Haley Lamprecht, will
bring fresh perspectives, enthusiasm, and a commitment to continue the
tradition of excellence that defines this school. Mrs. Lamprecht will get an
opportunity to visit prior to the school year ending and may meet your student
on Wednesday, May 22nd.
Counselor
Connection – Introducing Mrs. Lamprecht
Hi Sand Lake families! I am thrilled to be starting my 10th year as a school counselor next year, with this one being at Sand Lake. For the past nine years, I have served as an elementary school counselor in the Sparta Area School District. Before that, I worked at a behavioral health day treatment program in La Crosse supporting children and adolescents while attending Winona State University for my Master of Science degree.
The
Coulee Region has been my home since 2008 and in 2018, my husband and I moved
to Holmen. We live here with our five-year-old son, Grayson, and
fourteen-year-old dog, Brewer. When I'm not chasing around my very
curious kiddo, you may find me enjoying a cup of coffee, reading, or spending
time outdoors. During the summer months, my son and I spend our time at local
parks. Feel free to say hello, if you spot us! Have a wonderful summer and I
look forward to meeting each of you in the fall.
Early Release
Reminder
As a friendly reminder, there will be an early release day on Wednesday, May 8, in order to provide professional development opportunities for staff. School will be dismissed at 1:40 p.m.
Farm2School
The La Crosse County Farm2School program is a collaboration between public school districts in La Crosse County and the La Crosse County Health Department. The Farm2School program provides student opportunities for health and nutrition education. Each month, one locally grown produce item is selected as the Farm2School "Harvest of the Month". May’s “Harvest of the Month” is radishes.
Four-Year Old Kindergarten (4K)
Registration
The
School District of Holmen will begin accepting enrollment for the 2024-25
Four-Year-Old Kindergarten (4K) Program soon. Any child who is
four-years-old on or before September 1, 2024 and lives in the school district
boundaries is eligible to participate. We encourage early registration in order
to help us plan accordingly for the 2024-25 school year.
Note:
All enrollment is done online– www.holmen.k12.wi.us
· 4K classes are currently held at Viking
Elementary School
· AM Session: 8:15 a.m.—11:00 a.m.
· PM Session: 11:45 a.m.—2:30 p.m.
· Placement in AM or PM session is based upon
transportation needs. We notify families of class placements during the
first week of August.
Health Office News
Nurse: Emily Hanes, RN, BSN
Health Aide: Annette Hundt
Medication Pick-up:
All
medications, over-the-counter or prescription, need to be picked up by
parents/guardian at the end of the school year. NO MEDICATION WILL BE SENT HOME WITH STUDENTS PER BOARD POLICY.
Medications that are left in the Health Office after June 27 will be properly
disposed of. The Sand Lake Office will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
during June.
Footwear
We highly recommend children not to wear flip-flops or open toe sandals to school. Children run on the playground and have PE class. Wearing this type of footwear may cause an injury to their feet and makes them more likely to roll their ankles
Fun in the Sun
Remember the sunscreen!
- Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before
going outside, even on cloudy days.
- The
SPF (sun protection factor) should be at least 15 and should be for
broad-spectrum protection.
- Try
to limit exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are most
intense.
- Clothing
can offer practical protection from the sun’s rays. Lightweight, tight
weave, cotton clothing is cool and protective. Wet clothing is not an
effective optical filter. Hats with bills not only provide shade, but also
can be cooler and more comfortable than a bare head.
- Remember
to drink lots of water! Drinks containing caffeine, such as soda pop, not
only provide empty calories, but also can further dehydrate.
Musical Notes from Mrs. Heerts
This May in music we will be singing seasonal songs for Spring and Summer. We will also be practicing various folk dances.
Kindergarten:
We will be working on moving to music in many ways using melodic direction and
scarves and beanbags.
First:
Focus will be on silly folk songs and beginning exposure to world drumming and
world instruments, after completion of the instruments of the orchestra.
Second:
Focus will be on silly folk songs and beginning exposure to world drumming and
world instruments.
Third:
Focus will be on our introduction to the recorder and the beginning notes of G,
A, B, along with note reading and rhythm reading on the staff.
Fourth:
Focus will be on world music and drumming. We will also work on music
terminology and form elements.
Fifth:
Focus will be on silly songs, rhythmic counting and review of music
terminology, instrument selection and basic music foundational skills.
Holmen
Area Foundation and the La Crosse Community Foundation for
their joint support and grant of 9 Orff instruments for the Sand Lake Music
room. My hope for this project is to create global musicians through using Orff
instruments, folk music and music literature in my music classroom. When we
create a learning environment that includes experiences and perspectives from
all students, each child is more likely to reach his or her personal best. We
will explore and learn about many different cultures around the world and
celebrate our similarities and differences through drumming, stories, music and
movement. The music literature, folk music and world culture studies will
broaden the students scope of knowledge and show them that we really are all connected.
Thank you La Crosse Community Foundation and Holmen Area Foundation for both
supporting our Sand Lake Music room with their generous grant that will broaden
and touch the lives of every Sand Lake Elementary student.
Parent Teacher Group (PTG) News
It is hard to believe that summer
is near. What a great year we have had. Our recent Chuck E. Cheese fundraiser
was a big success, raising $654.53. We have one more fundraiser planned for the
remaining school year. It will be hosted by Noodles & Company on May 23rd
from 4-8 p.m. See below for more details as 25% of qualifying sales will be
given back to Sand Lake PTG. Reminder to enter code ‘GIVING25’ and click
‘Apply’ (red checkmark will appear), if ordering online or through the app.
Thank you for your continued generosity and support!
We’d also like to highlight a very warm welcome to our newest PTG member, Jamie Bell, who comes with amazing experience both as a parent and teacher. Our group continues to grow as we support the school and community that we love. If you have interest in joining the fun, feel free to reach out any time at sandlakeptg@gmail.com.
And finally, we are very excited to introduce the launch of our new Sand Lake Spiritwear Apparel Store. Access the store link on our PTG website here. Order any time with the convenience of delivery right to your door. For every item sold, Sand Lake PTG receives 10% back to support students and staff. Available in both youth and adult sizes, design options include our 25th Anniversary logo as well as our school logo in maroon and black. All designs can be placed on multiple garments including short sleeve tees, long sleeve tees, fleece hoodies, backpacks, hats, polos, athletic shorts, sweatpants and more. You may also personalize items for grandparents, teachers, and others making great gift ideas (see examples below). Thank you for supporting Sand Lake and showing your school spirit and pride.
As the school year comes to a
close, a gentle reminder to thank our teachers and supportive staff for
offering such a nurturing learning environment for our children. We have so
much to be grateful for as we reflect on this past school year.
Have a wonderful summer vacation!
Sand Lake PTG
Physical Education -
Sneaker News from Mr. Fredrick
Another month has gone already! Time sure
flies when we are having fun in PE! In the months of May and June, we
have lots of fun and exciting things going on! 4th and 5th graders are in
the middle of their inline skating unit (keep remembering those helmets) and
will finish the year with a striking and fielding unit. K-3 will
learn about striking with different implements and will end the year with units
combining all the skills we learned this year. Coming up as well is
our annual field day. On May 30th, students will get a chance to
participate in 13 different stations for part of their day with different kids
throughout the school. This year we will have lots of water stations, so
it will be very exciting. More information on this will be e-blasted as
we get closer including a chance for parents to volunteer at the
stations. I can't wait to see the kids try out all the new stations this
year and hope you can be a part of the fun! Enjoy the sunshine and remember
to get outside and play!
School Staff Appreciation Week is May 6 through May 10. It is the perfect time to share a word or two of appreciation with staff members, who help educate your children.
Substitutes Opportunities
Summer School
At Sand Lake Elementary, we will instill a love of learning in ALL students and prepare them to be responsible and productive global citizens.
