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Harrison Elementary School
February / March 2015 Newsletter
Dear Harrison Hawks:
The School District of Janesville is committed to creating a great place for students to learn, teachers to teach, staff to work, and
for parents to send their children to receive a great education. To build on this commitment, the school district gathers and
analyzes data on three essential goals and measures – Student Achievement, Employee Engagement, and Parent Satisfaction.

Student Achievement: Last fall, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released the report card scores for
public schools across the state. Based on our score, Harrison School was #1 in the district for student achievement for
the third year in a row, which was definitely cause for celebration!

Employee Engagement: In December, the employee engagement survey was administered to all school district
employees to assess their level of satisfaction with the work environment of the school where they work. The results of
that survey were rolled out in January. AWESOME NEWS! Harrison was the #1 school in the district based on staff
satisfaction. Harrison earned an amazing 4.7 out of 5 on the survey, which is further evidence that our school is truly a
great place for students to learn and for staff to work.

Parent Satisfaction: We will be asking parents/guardians to take our Parent Satisfaction Survey during parent-teacher
conferences on March 11th – 12th. We will have computers set up in the open lab, and the survey will not take more than
a few minutes of your time to complete. This is a great way for you to give us feedback about what is going well here at
Harrison, but it is also a way for you to let us know if there are areas that you would like to see improved. We value
your input and your feedback is important to our continued success here at Harrison. We are hoping for top scores in
this area, too!
We look forward to seeing you during our spring parent-teacher conferences. This will be a wonderful time when you can learn
more about the great progress your child has made already this
year. It will also be a time when you can talk with your child’s teacher
about any concerns and ask any questions you might have. We appreciate
your continued support of your child’s education and our school. As
always, feel free to contact me with any ideas, questions, compliments,
or concerns you may have regarding Harrison School. You can reach
me by phone at 743-6405 or by email at jgrandt@janesville.K12.wi.us.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Grandt, Harrison School Principal
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Spring Break
March 30 – April 3, 2015
School Resumes
April 6, 2015
Fifth Grade Track Meet (Monterey Stadium) p.m.
May 19, 2015
Fourth Grade Track Meet (Monterey Stadium) p.m. May 20, 2015
Rain Date – Track Meet
May 21, 2015
Harrison Picnic
May 21, 2015
Last Day of School
June 11, 2015
Harrison Elementary
760 Princeton Rd., Janesville, WI 53546
Attendance
Telephone
Fax
743-6430
743-6400
743-6437
http://janesville.k12.wi.us/har
What time is lunch?
May 22, 2015, Snow Reserve Day.
School will be in attendance on
Friday, May 22, 2015
Kindergarten: 11:10
1st grade: 11:15
2nd/3rd grade: 11:45
4th/5th grade: 12:10
New Staff Member at Harrison Elementary School
Please welcome Mrs. Megan Schultz to the Harrison Staff
in her new position as Special education teacher. Megan
was born and raised here in Janesville. In her spare time
she enjoys skiing, playing tennis, crafting, and reading with
Sophie, her 7 year old daughter.
“I am inspired every day by my students, and my goal is for
them to be inspired by my passion for teaching”.
Today, we pause to recognize a great a man who fought for Justice, Peace, and Equality for everyone. Many school
districts were out today in honor of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. The School District of Janesville (SDJ)
observes this day with a “Day On.” During this day, each of our schools teaches students about the life and legacy
of Dr. King. Students will be able to reflect and discuss what the dream meant to them and what they can do to carry
out the dream of equality.
The School District of Janesville understands the importance of a quality education and how important it is for
students to achieve. Having a “Day On” will allow us to continue to strive for excellence in the district. We believe
in our mission statement: To serve our community by educating every child. The SDJ realizes that all students are
not the same, so we work hard developing programs and policies to make sure all students succeed. This is how we
are making sure we are keeping the dream alive.
Educational Excellence is our goal, one that we take seriously. Dr. King
believed, valued, and fought for education. He wanted to make sure that all
students were treated equally and had the same opportunities. The SDJ shares
this sentiment and will continue to push for quality education for all students.
The SDJ applauds the effort, struggle, and fight for equality that Dr. King led.
As your Superintendent, I thank each of you for your dedication to our students.
You are making a difference in the lives of our future.
--Posted By Karen Schulte to Dr. Karen Schulte at 1/19/2015 02:27:00 PM
Student Council is designed to help promote school spirit and leadership among
students. Each fourth and fifth-grade
classroom has two representatives.
Brayden Stocks was chosen as this
year’s Student Council president
based upon his fine leadership last year
in Student Council.
Currently, Student Council is
trying to inspire Random Acts of
Kindness by our students and have
students put them on the school
calendar display that they helped
design. When students see a random
act of kindness, they are encouraged
to write it on a paper snowball, and
Student Council representatives will
display them.
Initially, students were confused
Back row: Brayden Stocks, Natalie Ziebell, McKaylie Justman,
of the difference between random acts Madelyn Mayer, Presley Stanley Addison Kooyman
of kindness and kind words, so our
Front row: Devyn Klingaman, Litty Dummer, Audrey Bowditch,
representatives developed a Prezi
Chandler Hanthorne
lesson that all teachers shared with
their class to teach students examples of random acts of kindness. We look forward to
seeing all the random acts of kindness pile up.
Also, in an effort to prevent bullying in our schools and promote kindness,
Student Council is participating in a book study on a thought-provoking novel called
Wonder by R. J. Palacio. This book was selected because it does an amazing job of teaching
kindness, friendship, and acceptance, which our Student Council representatives continue
to promote at Harrison Elementary.
Weather Alert
Please dress your child for
Wisconsin winters. Students
will be going outside twice a
day unless the temperature
and / or wind chill is 0 degrees
or below. Students will not be
allowed to stay in unless they
have a medical excuse from
a doctor.
Student Council Theme Days
Monday, February 2 - Mismatch Day
Friday, February 6 - Spirit Day
Tuesday, February 10 – T-shirt, Tutu, Tie
Wednesday, February 18 – Fancy Wednesday
Thursday, February 26 – Throwback Thurs.
Friday, March 27 – Spirit Day/Hawaii Day
November Hawk Hero Award Winners
Kindergarten
Third
Alliana Greco (K-Astin)
Aiden Benewich (3-Grooms)
Landen Henkel (K-Adler)
Joyon Forster-White (3-Smith)
Cheyanne Christians (3-Fitzsimons)
First
Fourth
Matthew Yates (1-Martin)
Aiden Guernsey (4-Genung)
Riley Stacey (1-Sarauer)
Bailey Valet (4-Stalsberg)
Jamar Jenkins (1-Washington)
Second
Fifth
Ellie Breit (2-Kislia)
McKenna Bennett (5-Burke)
Blake Bowditch (2-Malterer)
Saharra Cappis (5-Kohn)
Cooper Ritter (2-Seibert)
December Hawk Hero Award Winners
Kindergarten
Third
Wiley Rufledt (K-Astin)
Macie Breit (K-Adler)
Zadin Subhan (3-Grooms)
Olivia Crawford (3-Smith)
Hailey Jessie (3-Fitzsimons)
First
Fourth
Lincoln Baker (1-Martin)
Logan Krause (4-Genung)
Shaden Fustok (1-Sarauer)
Kiara Hejhal (4-Stalsberg)
Landon Guernsey (1-Washington)
Second
Fifth
Nathan DeCook (2-Kislia)
Aiden Ott (5-Burke)
Jacob McLaughlin (2-Malterer)
Evelyn Filter (5-Kohn)
Callie Stanley (2-Seibert)
SCOOPIE NIGHT
February 3  4:00-8:00 pm
April 14  4:00-8:00 pm
February/March Orchestra Newsletter 2015
Dear Parents and Students:
I am happy to report that we had a very exciting concert on Thursday December 18th. Every student has been working
hard to achieve mastery of skills that they have learned and also team work with other orchestra performers. Orchestra is
a team of players and each instrument has a different part to perform in the pieces we learn. So that is why it is so
important to be a part of every concert we present to the community.
We have been working to learn songs on our D and A string. In the next few months we will expand to the G and C string
and learning some very fun songs.
We have a practice club. As soon as every student fills up their practice chart we will have a celebration. With limited
rehearsal time, it is imperative that students invest extra time to improve their skills in practicing at home. Please
encourage a positive practice schedule. Remember that practice time must be framed as a benefit and not as a disciplinary
penalty. Practice is a positive way to learn the skills and songs. If you make the time of practice as a part of the
homework that they need to do for other classes, they will learn that it is an important part of their learning. Students will
like practice if parents present it as a positive learning experience.
Our next concert will be: Thursday April 16th All City Strings at Craig High School. This is a great opportunity for
each orchestra student to hear and perform with the Middle and High School orchestra. Your continue support of the
whole orchestra program is a cornerstone in the foundation of our music program.
Thank you,
Mrs. Banwell, Orchestra Director
Please remember to
only send birthday
invitations to school if
your child is inviting
everyone from the
whole class to the party.
This helps prevent hurt
feelings.
Thanks!
School Calendar for 2015 – 2016
The 2015-2016 District Calendar has been approved by the school board and is
available on the School District of Janesville website.
Go to “for parents”, “Calendars, and click on “2015-2016 All District
Calendar/Parent Teacher Conference Days”. Link provided below:
http://www.janesville.k12.wi.us/Portals/1/Calendars/15-16%20All%20District%20Calendar.pdf
In addition to the calendar dates, the elementary
school day will be extended by eight minutes:
8:20 a.m. - 3:08 p.m.
Letters to Salvation Army Volunteers
A group of third grade students completed a
community service project by writing thank you
letters to volunteers. They wrote specifically to
volunteers that rang bells for the Salvation
Army during the Christmas season. The letters
.
were graciously received
by an employee at
Salvation Army and were to be distributed to
the volunteers at their banquet in January.
7:50 - 8:10 a.m.
Free for all Janesville School District students.
On days when the start of school is delayed,
Harrison will NOT serve breakfast,
Students attending Breakfast Club at Harrison should
not be on the grounds before 7:50 a.m. as there will be
no adult supervision. Students not attending Breakfast Club
at Harrison should arrive at school no earlier than 8:05 a.m.
when adult playground supervision is provided.
Fifth graders at Harrison participated
in the Hour of Code in December. Fifth graders
used Khan Academy and worked on coding Java
Script, web pages, and data bases. They also
spent time on Code.org and worked on the
fundamentals of coding.
Second graders at Harrison recently
had a guest teacher in their classroom – a park
ranger from Yellowstone National Park! We
connected with the ranger via Skype and she
talked with us about the super-volcano in the
park, which was an extension of information we
have been learning about in class. Students
were engaged and very excited about the
opportunity.
Harrison School Lunch Picnic
Thursday, May 21st
Kindergarten
Grade 1
Grades 2 & 3
Grades 4 & 5
11:00 a.m.
11:20 a.m.
11:40 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS – INFORMATION TO FOLLOW
Public School Open Enrollment Timelines
The State of Wisconsin has announced the application period for open enrollment (also known as public school choice)
begins in February for the following school year. Open Enrollment laws permit children to attend a public school in a
school district other than the one in which they live.
The open enrollment application period for the 2015-2016 school year is from February 2, 2015 – April 30, 2015. Parents
are encouraged to apply on-line at https://www2.dpi.state.wi.us/OpenEnrollApp. Although on-line application is
recommended, paper applications may be obtained from the Department of Public Instruction or any school district after
January 15, 2015 and must be delivered (hand-delivery is recommended) to the nonresident school district during the
application period. Paper applications to attend Janesville must be submitted to the Administrative Services Department
no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 30th (a postmark does not constitute timely submission). Applications turned in prior to
February 2nd will be returned as not valid and must be resubmitted after February 2nd but before April 30th.
Enrollment in a requested school or program is subject to space and other limitations and is not guaranteed. Transportation
is the responsibility of the parent.
Under School District of Janesville board policy, students who attended the district under open enrollment the previous
year are not required to reapply for the following school year, unless they will be entering middle school.
An application is required for each sibling in the family. For example, if a family has one child in elementary school that
has been approved for open enrollment and a new student entering kindergarten next year, the student entering
kindergarten must apply for open enrollment in order to attend the School District of Janesville.
Parents will be informed in June whether their open enrollment applications have been approved or denied. The student’s
school or program placement will be provided in June.
If you have questions, please contact the Administrative Services Office at 743-5006.
Parents of ELL students: If you would like to have a larger voice in the
school district's ELL services, please consider attending the ELL Parent
Advisory Committee meetings. This is an opportunity to share your
appreciations, concerns, and suggestions. Upcoming meetings are
scheduled for February 20 and April 15 (Fridays) at 5:30-7:00 p.m. in the
board room at the Educational Services Center (527 S. Franklin St.). There
will be childcare, snacks, and a children's book raffle.
Hope you can be there,
Patty Henrichs, ELL Teacher
Moving?
If you will be moving from your current home address please contact
Harrison Elementary School office at 743-6400 as soon as possible to determine
what paperwork you will need to fill out for your child to continue
attending his/her current school.
Please note: if you are moving to an address outside the School District of
Janesville in most cases your child is eligible to continue attending the School
District of Janesville as long as you complete the appropriate paperwork within
the required timeline.
If you have any questions about school placement for a particular address
please contact Administrative Services Secretary Tami Carlson at 743-5006. The
Administrative Services Office is open year round.
Summer School registration information will be coming home with
your child soon!
Harrison Summer School:
June 15th – July 10th
8:00-11:30 a.m.
Mark your calendars and plan on joining us for summer school fun!
If your student will be taking medication at school this year (prescription and/or over
the counter), please stop in to the office this week to pick up an updated Medication
Consent Form and drop off the medicine. All students taking prescription medications
at school MUST have a new Medication Consent Form each year, signed by both the
parent/guardian and the prescribing physician.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our school health aide,
Sandy Perry, at 743-6415.
We have about 40 girls in fourth and fifth grade
participating in Girl Power this year. During our
first meeting in October, we discussed what Girl
Power is and participated in community-building
activities. In November, we made an empowering scrapbook page. After the pages were completed, we
hung them in the hallway for the whole school to see. In December, we frosted and decorated cookies
to donate to ECHO. We started 2015 off with a sledding party in January. Mrs. Burke, Mrs. Genung,
and Mrs. Stalsberg all love getting in on the action of empowering young women. Thank you to all the
girls, parents, and volunteers who have helped to make Girl Power a huge success thus far.
Emma DiStefano is a sixth grader at Marshall Middle School. While Emma was
attending Harrison she was chosen to take part in the “100K Strong Ambassador
Program”. Last summer Emma went to visit China along with her mother, Heather.
One of the Ambassador’s responsibilities is to speak to groups about their trip to china.
Emma talked about her trip to China with each class at Harrison.
Enrollment Beginning February 2, 2015
P4J Questions contact
Angela Lynch, P4J Coordinator, or Peggy Karleski, P4J Secretary
Educational Services Center
527 South Franklin Street
608-743-5038
The School District of Janesville is excited to offer its 4-year-old kindergarten program for all children
who are 4 years old on or before September 1, 2015. The School District of Janesville partners with 16
different community early learning and care centers within Janesville. Families that do not live in the
School District of Janesville boundaries and whose home district offers 4k programming, will need to
“Open Enroll” their four-year-old child during the February 2- April 30, 2015 open enrollment window.
Preschool 4 Janesville (P4J) is funded through the Department of Public Instruction and the School
District of Janesville. Participating families do not pay tuition to participate in the P4J Program. P4J
classrooms offer a developmentally appropriate preschool experience. Each classroom is taught by a
DPI certified teacher. A minimum of 437 hours of preschool instruction are offered by each partnering
community program. In addition, the School District of Janesville and the collaborating P4J sites offer
many hours of parent outreach programming.
P4J Enrollment Process:
1. Determine your top choice(s) of P4J sites you want your child to attend.
 If your child is already attending daycare at a specific site that hosts a P4J classroom, inform
the site you are interested in participating in P4J.
 Open House opportunities are available at participating P4J locations to become familiar
with the sites during the week of January 26-30, 2015. (See enclosed sheet for times)
2. Child Development Days (CDD) is occuring at the same at the Educational Services Center the week
of February 2-6, 2015. This is a great opportunity to have your child participate in a developmental
screening. If you would like to have your child screened please call 743-5063 to make an
appointment.
3. Enrollment paperwork and a P4J site selection form must be completed for all P4J students at the
New Student Enrollment Office (located at the Educational Services Center, 537 South Franklin
Street); you need to bring with you to complete enrollment include:
 Parent Identification (Drivers License/State I.D.)
 Proof of residency ( for example, copy of lease/purchase agreement or utility bill)
 Child’s Birth certificate
 Child’s Immunization Records
Sunday
Monday
1
Tuesday
2
Wednesday
3
Thursday
4
Friday
5
Saturday
6
7
Mismatch Day
Scoopie Night
Culvers
Milton Ave.
4:00–8:00pm
Ground Hog
Day
8
9
10
Spirit Day
11
12
18
19
13
14
Happy
Valentines
Day!
20
21
T-Shirt, Tutu,
or Tie Tuesday
15
16
17
Spring Primary
PTO Meeting
6:30-7:30pm
9:30-11:15
Gr. 4 & 5
JPAC Chinese
Acrobats
Fancy
Wednesday
Chinese New
Year
12:00-1:45
Gr. 3
JPAC Chinese
Acrobats
23
22
Remember to
save your Box
Tops for PTO
Collecting:
February 9-23
Trimester 3
Snack Milk
Money Note
Goes Home
24
Guys Rock
Girl Power
3:00-4:00pm
25
26
Throwback
Thursday
Market Day
Pick-up
3:00-5:00pm
School Store
Gr. 1-5
11:30-12:30
PTO Game Night
6:30-7:30pm
27
Six Flags
Reading Logs
Due Back to
School
28
Sunday
Monday
1
Tuesday
2
Wednesday
3
Thursday
4
Friday
5
End of Second
Trimester
8
9
10
Trimester 3
Snack Milk
Money Due
15
16
17
11
Conferences
3:20-8:00pm
School Store
during
conferences
School Store
during
conferences
18
6
19
Guys Rock
Girl Power
3:00-4:00pm
7
Teacher Work
Day
12
Conferences
3:20-8:00pm
Saturday
13
14
20
21
School Store
Gr. 1-5
11:30-12:30
Spring
Pictures
22
23
24
25
Gr. 5 Field Trip
8:00am-6:30pm
29
30
31
April 1
26
Market Day
Pick-up
3:00-5:00pm
April 2
27
28
Spirit/Hawaii
Day
April 3
School
Resumes
Monday,
April 6