Sand Lake Elementary Newsletter - September 16, 2024

 

From the Principal:

Mr. Meyers

Sand Lake Families:

We hope that you have found the start of the year successful for your student. Our staff have been working hard to develop relationships with all of our learners, deliver new and exciting curriculum experiences, and learn where student academic talents currently are so that we can continue planning for growth.

As we hit the middle of September, we’ve been through three full weeks of school and are beginning to hit our rhythm. We are celebrating Homecoming this week and keeping the learning going with opportunities to learn in our new English Language Arts curriculum, as well as state determined assessment windows opening up. This important information will be one piece of the puzzle that we use when determining what additional intervention and extension supports students need to further their learning. 

Students are also getting a chance to show off their skills in being Sand Lake Proud. Ask your child what it means to be Safe, Respectful, and Responsible in different areas of the school like the hallways and lunchroom. We build on these expectations throughout the year and celebrate student achievements. You can also ask your child if they’ve earned any Sand Dollars. Students can earn these Sand Dollars if a staff member “catches” them doing the right jobs. All of our classrooms set a Sand Dollar goal to work towards which culminates in some sort of classroom celebration!

As the leaves begin to turn colors, we hope you get a chance to enjoy the season with your family as we continue being Dedicated to Excellence here at Sand Lake!

In Partnership

Matt Meyers

Attendance Information

State law allows parents to excuse their children for up to ten days of school per school year. While state law allows this, we believe that using 10 days of absences is not in the best interest of students. Sometimes, we know these absences are unavoidable or part of a once in a lifetime experience for students. 

In any cases when students meet predetermined absence number thresholds, you will receive an attendance letter indicating the number of absences along with a variety of attendance statue related information. In addition, our teachers, student services staff, or myself may reach out to learn more. If there is a barrier to your child attending school, we want to play a role in removing that barrier so that students can be here as often as possible. If you submit a special absence request form, Mr. Meyers will review it, and determine if the absence is excused based on your allowable parent days. However, you may still receive an absence letter after the vacation, indicating for example that your child has missed 5 days of school, even if it has been pre-arranged. This helps the school and your family monitor how many days your student has been absent.

Handbook Link

The Elementary Family & Student Handbook is always available at the following link. Should you ever need a paper copy of the handbook, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our office staff. If you have any questions, you can also contact the office.

Keep up with our happenings by following us on Facebook!

Like us @ Sand Lake Elementary

From the School Counselor:

Mrs. Lamprecht

It has been so great getting to know students over the last two weeks of school! As students continue to adjust to new schedules, interacting & making friends and the extended periods of learning, we want to work with you to support their needs. If your student is having a tough time, please do not hesitate to reach out for support. My contact information is (608) 781-0974 ext. 3400 or lamhal@holmen.k12.wi.us. During the month of September, our school counseling lessons will focus on self-regulation. Self-regulation is an important foundational skill that can positively impact your student's ability to be available for learning, form strong relationships and develop problem solving skills. Students will learn how to recognize feelings within themselves and others as well as coping strategies for when our feelings get big. 

I look forward to continuing to get to know the students and families at Sand Lake! 

Mrs. Lamprecht

School Counselor

From the Health Office:

Emily Hanes RN

Prescription and Over-the Counter Medications: Medicines such as cough drops, pain relievers, and other over-the-counter remedies to be administered at school require the completion of a School Medication/Treatment Form by a parent/guardian before the medications can be administered. A parent must sign the form, and if it is a prescription, the doctor must sign it as well. Forms may be obtained from the health office or your healthcare provider. All medications must be in the original container and labeled with the child’s name. ALL medications must be brought to the health office by an adult.

Physical Education: 

Ms. Franzen

The year is off to a great start in PE class! 4th and 5th graders are kicking off their target games unit with bocce ball and will explore more games as the unit continues. 2nd and 3rd graders are working together to complete team challenges and learning how to be supportive, positive teammates. Kindergarten and 1st graders are playing games to learn fundamental movements like skipping, galloping, running, and more! The 3rd graders will begin their biking unit towards the end of September, so keep an eye out for a letter home about bringing helmets to school for PE.

We are excited to announce the adoption of the Amplify CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) program for K-5 English Language Arts instruction in our district. This comprehensive curriculum is designed to build students' reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills through engaging and knowledge-rich content. We are working on providing individual student access at home, which will be available soon, allowing your child to continue learning outside of the classroom. In the meantime, for more information about the CKLA program, please visit the Amplify CKLA Caregiver Hub.

From the Sand Lake PTG:

Thanks to all who supported our summer fundraiser event with the La Crosse Loggers last month! We raised $159.00 and sold 22 tickets in total.

As Homecoming is fast approaching, a friendly reminder that you can purchase Holmen Vikings apparel at our Spiritwear store in which 10% of proceeds go directly back to Sand Lake. Available in both youth and adult sizes, design options include our 25th Anniversary logo, our school logo in both maroon and black, and newly released designs which all can be placed on multiple garments (see examples below). Shop Now! To date we have sold a told of 26 products with earnings of $54.09.

Both fundraisers recently helped to provide $5 food truck vouchers for our teachers at Open House as well as popsicle freezies for every student during the new playground celebration last week.

And lastly, we have looked at our PTG survey results from the 2023-24 school year. More details will come next month as we prioritize next steps from what we learned. Thank you for participating! If you have interest in supporting PTG feel free to reach out any time at sandlakeptg@gmail.com or come to our next meeting scheduled at 6pm on Monday, September 16th.

What a great start we have had to the school year so far,

Sand Lake PTG

What's for lunch at Sand Lake? 

Find our September menu here! 

Our menus can always be found on the Holmen School District website 

by first clicking the Menus icon in the top bar of the home page, 

then clicking Sand Lake Elementary.

Sand Lake Elementary Newsletter - August 23, 2024

Sand Lake Families:

It was so great to see each of you and our students throughout the month of August for Picture/Registration Day and Open House! We hope that you found Sand Lake to be a welcoming place and are so excited for our adventures ahead this school year!

Contained within this newsletter, you’ll find some updates, dates, and information needed to start the school year. Our school office will send this newsletter on a regular basis so that you are aware of key events and information happening at Sand Lake. As with past school years, timely information will still come through in individual eblasts. If at any point in the school year, you are concerned that you aren’t receiving this communication, please reach out to Melissa Lacasse at lacmel@holmen.k12.wi.us

In Partnership,

Matt Meyers


Kindergarten Families
Kindergarten families, please note that your child will have an introductory conference with their teacher on August 26th. Your scheduled orientation time was given to you on picture day and at registration a reminder was provided. Please reach out to your teacher if you have any questions.


1st-5th Grade Students
The Board of Education for the School District of Holmen has officially established Monday, August 26th as the first day of school. The school day at Sand Lake is from 8:40-3:40. We are so excited to begin school after the weekend!


Drop-Off/Pick-Up
Students can be dropped off at school as soon as 8:10 when our staff is available to supervise. When students are dropped off, they can either go into school and eat breakfast or play outside with staff supervision.

The school day officially ends at 3:40. Please know that we’ll take great care when dismissing students to ensure that everyone is on the right bus or following their designated after school plan. We will only alter student’s after school transportation plans if we hear directly from their parents. That means you should contact the office and your child’s teacher if the plan changes during the day. Also, as routines are being established and we take time to get students where they belong at the end of the day, it may take a few extra minutes to get our buses on the road at the beginning of the year.


Connection with Caregivers
Communication between home and school is essential for student success. In addition to newsletters, grade level communication, assignment notebooks, meetings, e-mails, and telephone conversations, the Sand Lake staff is extending to you a year-long invitation to visit the school. This may include attending student programs, eating lunch with your child(ren), and/or volunteering. Your partnership in the educational process is extremely valuable.


Support Available
There are a variety of opportunities through the Sand Lake Kidz Kloset or community programs in the event that you need assistance with school supplies, clothing, or other needs for your students. Please contact our school office, our school counselor, Haley Lamprecht (lamhal@holmen.k12.wi.us), or our school social worker, Erin Noll (noleri@holmen.k12.wi.us), if you need assistance at any time.


Transportation Updates
This summer, our transportation department emailed your child’s bus route and information to you. If you have any questions about your child’s transportation, we encourage you to contact the transportation department at 608-526-4752. If you have any questions about transportation safety procedures at Sand Lake, please contact the main office at 608-781-0974.

Sand Lake families who are dropping off and picking up students at school, please be aware that more Sand Lake students will be walking to school. Please drive safe, stay alert, and follow posted signage and instructions from our staff who supervise the parking lot.

Introducing (most of) our 2024-2025 Sand Lake Staff!

What's for lunch at Sand Lake? 

Find our August school menu here! 

Our menus can always be found on the Holmen School District website by first clicking the Menus icon in the top bar of the home page, then clicking Sand Lake Elementary.

Yog nej muaj lub nug, hu rau Kelly Vang pem tsev kawm ntawv 608.526.1313. Us tsaug.

Sand Lake Elementary Newsletter - August 2024

 

August 2024 Newsletter Update Topics:

Sand Lake Families:

We look forward to seeing you and your Sand Lake students at Picture/Registration Day on Wednesday, August 7th. We are here from 7AM-7PM and are eagerly awaiting the day! In order to best prepare for the day and some upcoming events, we wanted you to be aware of a couple changes.

Registration Updates:

• While we are sad to see some staff members leave us for new opportunities over the summer, we are excited to welcome our new team members!

• In Kindergarten, Mrs. Seidel is replacing Mrs. Larkin. We also welcome Ms. Brekke as an additional teacher as a result of increased enrollment within Kindergarten.

• In 3rd grade, Mrs. Harris has joined our team. Mr. Elsen and Mrs. Gappa have departed and we’ll soon be finalizing another excellent addition to our 3rd grade team!

• Mrs. Lamprecht is now our school counselor. She will be available in the morning at registration if you’d like to introduce yourself or your student or if you have anything you’d like to discuss. If you’d like to reach out ahead of time, you can contact her at lamhal@holmen.k12.wi.us. 

• Mrs. Lamprecht and Ms. Yassini can also assist if you have any needs with our Kidz Kloset. We do have clothing, backpacks, and school supplies among other things available for our students.

Along with all other grades, 5th grade students will receive their class placements. Fifth grade classrooms are not departmentalizing this year, meaning students will have ELA and Math taught by their classroom teachers. This is the case in all of our District elementary schools as we implement a new literacy curriculum to best meet all students’ needs. As always, relationships between 5th grade students and all teachers will continue to be a priority. 

Upcoming Events:

• August 10th - Thanks to our wonderful PTG for hosting a Back-to-School night at the Loggers’ game. We hope to see many Sand Lake students and their families there. Please see the flyer below for more details!

• August 20th: Open House takes place from 4:00-6:00. You are welcome to be at the school as soon as 3:30, as our PTG has arranged for food trucks to be at the school. We’ll have Taco Broz and Schindoggies as well as some ice cream available for purchase. School doors will not open until 4:00 for our official Open House and staff will be available until 6:00.

In Partnership,

Matt Meyers

Sand Lake Elementary Newsletter - July 2024

 

July 2024

Sand Lake Families:

While the official start is still over a month away, we have officially begun to enter the 2024-2025 school year! A new school year brings plenty of excitement, and whether your child and family are new to Sand Lake or advancing to the next grade level, we are so happy you are here!

Please take a minute to review our summer newsletter update as we prepare for some back to school events. As the school year draws closer, a more detailed update will come your way with information about our school day and school year procedures.

In Partnership,

Matt Meyers

Picture/Registration Day

Picture/Registration day will take place on Wednesday, August 7th from 7:00AM-7:00PM. During registration day, we’ll verify that you have everything completed online, our school nurse will visit with you, your child will receive their teacher assignment, and they will have their school picture taken. We’ll have many of our school groups and volunteers present as well. We encourage you to stop by and learn more about the growing Sand Lake Parent/Teacher group and it’s mission to continue strengthening the valued partnership between the school and parents, caregivers, and families.

We are looking for a few parent volunteers to help with our picture station during Picture/Registration Day. If you are interested, please contact the Sand Lake office at 608-781-0974 or email lacmel@holmen.k12.wi.us.

Finally, please note that if you are not able to attend registration, you can call the office on or after August 7th to receive your child's teacher assignment. Additionally, picture makeup day will take place on Wednesday, October 9th.

Back to School Night

Sand Lake will host an Open House on Tuesday, August 20th from 4:00-6:00PM. During this time, you’ll be able to meet your child’s classroom teacher, drop off school supplies, and get prepared for the school year. We’re excited to have a great back to school celebration!

First Day of School

Grades 1-5 first day of school is Monday, August 26th.

Kindergarten first day of school is Tuesday, August 27th.

Please use the link below if you have not yet completed your online registration.

https://wicloud3.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/parents/holmen.jsp

Finally, as our school sends our best retirement wishes to Lonie Fredrickson as Administrative Assistant, we want you to know that Melissa Lacasse will be serving in this role as our new Administrative Assistant. Melissa comes to us after having spent 6 years in our LMC working as an Educational Assistant. Melissa looks forward to getting to know all of our Sand Lake families on a different level. Please know that eblasts that come from the Sand Lake office will now primarily come from Melissa Lacasse.

 

Sand Lake Elementary May Newsletter

From the principal’s desk…

 

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:

 

25^th School Year Celebration

·                       We’ll be taking a schoolwide picture on Thursday, May 23^rd.

·                 We’ll also be having a schoolwide assembly on Thursday, May 23^rd. 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 24^th.

·                  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 30^th.

·                        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 7^th.

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 26^th.

 

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 22^nd.

 With Gratitude,  Mrs. Amy Kobs

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.

 Take care, Mrs. Lamprecht

 

 

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

 Important 4K Information:

· 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.

 A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO:

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 23^rd 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 25^th 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!

Staff Appreciation Week: May 6-10, 2024

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.