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Spence Elementary:
The Place to Succeed!
Every Student ~ Every Day
SPENCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Season’s Greetings!
As we begin December, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season begins
full swing. It is a wonderful time to be reminded of the spirit of giving. Did
you know, children who are involved in giving to others and seeing the
results of their good deeds have a better appreciation of the gifts they receive.
The spirit of giving is alive and well at Spence. Each day, I see students
giving of themselves in multiple ways. A few weeks ago, we kicked off our
food pantry drive. To date, over 527 items of food have been donated. (Our
food drive runs through December 12th.) Fifth graders, as part of our
Community Helpers program, give of their free time to stock food in the
pantry and create bags to be distributed to students weekly. Playground Pals
work with our youngest students at recess. Hallway Monitors keep our
hallways safe and quiet, Lunchroom Helpers support kindergarteners in the
lunchroom and our Safety Patrol ensures the safety of our walkers before and
after school. I also see many parents and community members freely giving
of their time and resources to make a difference in the lives of our children in
and out of the classroom. Our PTO continues to give by supporting a variety
of projects and events that enrich our school, families and our students.
In addition, each and every day, our teachers and staff go above and beyond
to ensure that our students receive an excellent education and that they are
cared for as if they were their own children. We treasure the bright smiles,
twinkling eyes, rosy cheeks (especially now that the weather has been so
cold), generous bear hugs and bright young minds eager to learn. It is our
hope that we continue to deliver the gift of learning to our students each and
every day.
I wish you a most joyous holiday season. I hope that we all take the time to
notice the many gifts that are given throughout the season, and as evidenced
above, gifts aren’t necessarily all wrapped up in bright, shiny paper.
Happy Holidays,
Shelley
Morning Congestion in Foyer
We have exceedingly more and more students arriving before 7:50 and
congregating in our foyer, causing a significant amount of congestion. Morning
recess is expressly for this purpose. We are reminding families that students that
arrive prior to 7:50 MUST go out for morning recess or be in our cafeteria
eating breakfast. Going outside has many benefits. Moving, stretching, or
walking actually improves the learning process. Morning recess also allows
your child to socialize with peers prior to the start of day. We appreciate your
attention to having your child go outside and participate in our morning recess.
If you do not want your child to participate, we request that you drop them off
at 7:50 and not before. Thank you for understanding.
PARENT NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2014
December Calendar
1st - Second Grade Nutrition
Presentation
3rd - Second Grade Nutrition
Presentation
5th - Flannel Day
10th - Early Release Day,
Student’s released at 12:40pm
12th - Parent Round Table at
8:15am in the LMC
15th - 5th Grade Orchestra to
BSJ
23rd - Red & Green Day
24th—Jan 4th ~ NO SCHOOL,
Students Return to school,
(Monday) Jan 5th
Afternoon Traffic
We have had several cars parked outside of Spence
starting as early as 2:00pm. Just a reminder that parents
should arrive no earlier than 2:30pm to pick up their child.
We still have several parents needing to come into the building to pick up
their child early and are unable to locate a parking spot.
Lunchroom News
As of November 21st, we will no longer be hand stamping
when your child has a low balance in their meal account.
Paper notices will still come home with your child if their
lunch account goes in the negative.
Walking School Bus
Thursday, November
20th was our last
walking school bus
until spring. Watch
for details in
following newsletters
as to when it will
start again . Thank
you to everyone that
joined Mr. Bina and
Mr. Holman this fall .
See you in the
Spring!
Help Stock the Health Room
The Health Room is looking for gently used sweat
pants and new underwear (preferably smaller sizes).
Choice and Charter School Priority Placement Opportunity
In addition to our outstanding neighborhood schools, the School District of La Crosse offers a variety of unique choice and charter
schools. Parents/guardians have the opportunity to submit an interest form for their student to attend one of our choice or charter
schools during the “Priority Placement” window. For the upcoming (2015-2016) school year, interest forms for our choice and charter
schools are being accepted through December 22, 2014. To apply, a parent/guardian must complete the district’s choice and charter
interest form located on-line at www.lacrosseschools.org. Please go to the Parents/Guardians tab to find the Quick Link on Choice and
Charter Opportunities. If your student is currently enrolled in one of our choice or charter schools—or you simply wish to continue at
your current school—you do not need to complete the choice and charter interest form.
The November 21 – December 22, 2014 Priority Placement window is available to families who have students currently attending one
of our schools, or are living within the School District of La Crosse boundary. (Note: This includes currently enrolled out-of-district
families.) The window allows our currently enrolled students priority consideration in advance of the state’s open enrollment process
and provides an early indicator for staffing needs for the 2015-2016 school year. After December 22, 2014, you can still apply to attend
one of the district’s choice or charter schools; however, your application will be considered with the general pool of applicants during
the February 2, 2015 - April 30, 2015 open enrollment period (space permitting).
Information about all of our unique choice and charter schools can be found on the School District of La Crosse website at
www.lacrosseschools.org where you can submit an interest form. Please go to the Parents/Guardians tab to find the Quick Link to the
Choice and Charter Opportunities. Should you have any questions about a particular choice or charter school, please don’t hesitate to
contact the building principal at the schools listed:
Finally, physical space and special education programming (which will be considered through program availability at each building)
will remain considerations as we strive to most appropriately meet the learning needs of students.
Important Dates:
November 21st - December 22nd. 2014 - Priority placement interest form window for School District of La Crosse families and
currently enrolled out-of-district families
February 2nd - April 30th, 2015 - State of Wisconsin Open Enrollment window
String Orchestra News
On Monday, December 15th, the Spence
5th grade orchestra will perform at
Bethany St. Joseph Care Center at
10:30am. They will be playing songs for
string orchestra and also solos that they have been
working on. This concert is open to the public.
FREE DENTAL CARE
Give Kids a Smile Day
The La Crosse District Dental Society will be
providing a day of free dental care for children in the
La Crosse School District if children are:
* First-time participants
in the Give Kids a Smile Program
* School aged (5 to 18 years old)
* Eligible for free/reduced school lunch
* Not receiving regular dental care
Screening date will be: January 9th, 2015, 3:00pm to
6:00pm
Screening includes a free examination and x-rays with a
follow-up dental appointment.
For an appointment, contact the Health Assistant at
Spence, before Monday, December 22nd, 2014.
Snowpants…boots…mittens…
Winter weather is here…..Please make sure your student brings
these items every day or keep an extra set in their locker!
Be sure to label all items with the students name.
School Closings &
Early Dismissals
In the event school is closed or dismissed
early due to bad weather, the
announcement will be made on the
following television and radio stations:
WKBT TV 8
WEAU TV 13
WXOW TV 19
WKTY 580 AM
WIZM 1410 AM
WLFN 1490 AM
WLSU 88.99 FM
Z93 93.3 FM
COW 97 FM
KQ98 FM
CLASSIC ROCK 100.1 FM
EAGLE 102.7 FM
MAGIC 104.9 FM
CC106.3 FM
KCLH 94.7 FM
WRQT 95.7 FM
The announcement will also be listed on the
district’s website at
www.lacrosseschools.com
A Skylert message is also sent out in the
event of a early dismissal or school closing.
Please be sure to keep your phone
numbers up to date.
This program is open to the first 100 applicants.
Health Room News—When Should My Child Stay Home
FEVER: greater than 100 degrees. For fever and flu symptoms, student should not return to school until fever free
without the use of medication.
VOMITING: return 24 hours after vomiting
DIARRHEA: return 24 hours after diarrhea
RASH: rash that is open and draining or a rash with a fever
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES: strep throat, impetigo, pink eye, return after 24 hours of treatment with antibiotic
NUISANCE DISEASES: head lice, scabies, ringworm - must be treated before returning to school
CHICKEN POX: child may return to school 5-7 days after onset of rash, with all sores dry and scabbed over
Please notify your child’s school if your child is absent due to illness or injury. If your
child has a serious illness or injury that affects school participation, please notify your
school principal so a plan can be implemented to meet your child’s needs.
ILLNESS OR INJURY AT SCHOOL
Students who become ill or injured at school will be seen in the health room by trained staff. If
your child is unable to return to class, a parent will be contacted. For your child’s comfort please
make arrangements to pick them up as soon as possible.
A copy of the parent Health Guidelines is available on the La Crosse Schools website or in the school health
office.
School District of La Crosse
2015 PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
The School District of La Crosse will begin accepting registrations for the 20152016 Four Year Old Preschool Program beginning January 7-9, 2015, starting @
6:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. Any child, who is 4 years old on or before September 1,
and lives in the La Crosse School District attendance area is eligible for preschool.
The preschool program is a 2.5 hour program housed at a number of centers and
schools throughout the district. The preschool program is free for any eligible
child.
Those interested in registering for the Four Year Old Preschool Program may
register by:
Register in person at: Hogan Administrative Building, 807 East Ave. S.,
in the Welcome Center. (Please bring address verification & child’s
birth certificate)
OR
You may fill out the paperwork online @ www.lacrosseschool.org. You
must have a valid email address in order to use the New Student
Online Enrollment option. If you are filling out the paperwork online,
this process is not registering or guaranteeing placement for any
preschool site, you are simply filling out the enrollment paperwork in
advance to expedite the enrollment process. Print that paperwork and
bring it into the Hogan Administrative Building beginning January 7,
2015, starting at 6:30 A.M. You will need to bring in address
verification & the child’s birth certificate to complete enrollment and
secure site placement.
Mustang Club
Bronze Mustang Pride
Ellie Adler, Landon Alexander, Ibrahim Al Jawhar,
Maryum Al Jawhar, Katie Arlt, Susanna Arlt,
Angel Arredondo, Roberta Arredondo, Logan Arndt,
Lucas Baker, Ayden Bantle-Felt, Nola Bantle-Felt,
Angel Barnes, Wesley Barnhart, Moxie Brown,
Wyatt Bush, Alex Butterfield, Ellie Buxton,
Jaymeson Buxton, Cameron Carver, Kiera Cash,
Lindsay Clark, Riana Cole, Jakwon Coleman, Will Cox,
Sarah Dalton, Shelby Davis, Blake Faulkner, Trysten Fish,
Annika Forde, Kadin Foster, Henry Franklin,
Noah Froegel, Rebecca Frye, Kaden Galstad,
Samara Garcia, Hallie Geary, Kaylee Geary,
Parker Gerke, Bella Giese, Elliot Giese, Lizzie Gillett,
**Due to limited space, early registration is recommended.**
Sydney Goth, Eli Graewin, Devin Gregory,
On January 12, 2015, we will be back to regular office hours of 7:00 a.m. – 3:30
p.m. If any registrations are done online, you will need to bring in the address
verification & child’s birth certificate to Hogan Administrative Building to
secure placement at the requested preschool site.
Harry Hohmann, Maurice Holeyfield, Brianna Howe,
The sites that are tentatively established for the 2015-2016 school year thus far are:
Max Ipsen, Lily Johnson, Rashawn Johnson,
Congregational Preschool
Coulee Children’s Center
Child First South La Crosse
Emerson Elementary
Gundersen Health System Child Care
Hamilton Family Learning Center
Hintgen Elementary
La Crosse Montessori Preschool
North Woods International
Northside Elementary
Spence Elementary
State Road Elementary
Summit Environmental
Toddle Inn Day Care
YWCA Child Center @ WTC Campus)
Coulee Montessori (Northside Campus)
2503 Main St.
2935 East Ave. South
3710 East Ave. South
2101 Campbell Road
700 Bennora Lee Court
1111 South 7th St.
3505 S. 28th St.
1818 Redfield St.
N2541 Sablewood Rd.
1611 Kane St.
2150 Bennett St.
N1821 Hagen Road
1800 Lakeshore Dr.
W2637 Hwy 33
419 N. 9th St.
1611 Kane St.
If you have further questions, please call Julie Lawrence at 789-7006.
Payton Greschner, Hunter Gundlach, Callie Haak,
Kooper Heintz, Sam Heise, Miranda Highman,
Rebecca Kadera, Makenna Klingelhofer, Lily Klingeman,
Isabel Klose, Gavyn Koch, Megan Konkel,
Cassidy Kotlowski, Cianna Lamb, Brandtson Lambert,
April Lor, Avah Lor, Colin Mahlum,
Adeline Marcou-Smart, Mikai Marsh, Graci Marshall,
Asher Mask, Nathan Miles, Lucas Miller, Jacob Motzel,
Ryan Northwood, Collin Ogle, Haley Ogle,
Nicholas Oldenburg, Leo Orlikowski, Josh Osiecki,
Kaya Papadinoff, Mikayla Patton, Lance Pedretti,
Sophia Pence, Mollie Peterson, Keaton Purney,
Jared Rediske, Kianna Reed, Kieran Reisenauer,
Emily Ritter, McKayla Rivera, Paige Robinson,
Parker Robinson, Zach Sallander, Skye Schaefer, Sophia
Schmitz, Makenzie Sheard, Makirah Sheard,
Owen Skiles, Elizabeth Sorenson, Devin Stach,
Danielle Stasewich, Xai Thao, Ethan Traun,
Taylor Turner, Kana Vue, Ayda Weege, Wyatt Weege,
Amari Wilson, Ethan Wirts, Landon Wolf, Alan Wright,
Owen Wright, Kari Wynos, Hao Seng Xiong,
Pa Dao Xiong, Vang Xiong, Shayla Yang, Tyler Young,
Jack Zinniel
Reading ConnectioN~Tips for Reading Success
Design and write
Playing “print shop” is a great way for your child to
practice writing. Try these ideas to encourage her to
write for different purposes.
Greeting cards
Suggest that your youngster make a supply of
birthday and holiday cards to give friends and
relatives throughout the year. On the front of each,
she can write a greeting (“Happy Birthday,” “Happy
New Year”) and draw a picture. Then, help her write
a sentence or verse inside (“I hope your birthday is
fun!”). A more experienced writer might include a
rhyming verse: “Roses are red, violets are blue. I’m
excited to spend the New Year with you.”
Award certificates
Let your child make certificates in honor of family
members’ accomplishments. Getting a promotion,
completing a 5K race, performing a violin solo…all
of these are cause for celebration. Write “Certificate
of Achievement” at the top of a piece of paper. Your
youngster can fill in the person’s name, the date,
and the accomplishment. She could illustrate the
award and hand it out at dinner.
Signs
Ask your child to create signs to hang around the
house. She can start with her bedroom door
(“Emma’s Room”) and your door (“Mom and Dad’s
room”). Next, she might post “Cool stuff” on the
refrigerator, “Knock, please” on the bathroom door,
and “Children playing” in the family room.♥
All about alliteration
“Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” This
familiar tongue twister is an example of alliteration— all of
the words begin with the same sound. Encourage your
youngster to make up her own tongue twisters. She’ll
practice hearing beginning sounds in words and
pronouncing words carefully.
First, have her pick a name—she’ll probably want to start
with her own. So Beth could use B. Then, ask her to think
of a verb, or an action word (bouncing), and related
words (basketball, basket). Together, arrange the words to
make a tongue twister: “Beth bounces basketballs beneath
the basket.” Who can say it the most times without
messing up?
After she finishes laughing, let your child choose another
name and make up another silly tongue twister!♥
Book Picks
Read-aloud Favorites:
 A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin
by Jen Bryant
 Pinduli by Janell Cannon
 We the Kids by David Catrow
 I Wish I Had Glasses Like Rosa by Deborah Hembrook and
Kathryn Helig
Read-to-Self Favorites:
 National Geographic Myths Busted! by Emily Krieger
 Worth by A. La Faye
 Latin Americans Thought of It: Amazing Innovations by Eva
Salinas
 All Four Starts by Tara Dairman
Question and Answer
Q: A few relatives have asked for suggestions of gifts to give my daughter. Can
you recommend gifts that would help her with reading and writing?
A: Books always make great gifts. You could mention an author or a series that
your daughter enjoys.
Other ideas include a picture dictionary for looking up spellings and definitions,
journals and colorful pens to inspire writing, and board or card games that teach
her about words. Small, portable family games are a good bet, too. They might
try Spot It! Alphabet, Pairs in Pears, or Scrabble Slam. There are also board
games based on favorite books, such as Goodnight Moon Game and The Very
Hungry Caterpillar Game.
Finally, toys that encourage creativity and language can help her read and write.
Consider asking relatives for items like finger puppets, flannel board sets, and
storytelling dice.♥
Q: I think my daughter might want to be a scientist when she grows up! How
could we use her love of science to help her with reading and writing, too?
A: It’s great that your daughter enjoys science so much. Try getting books of
science experiments for her from the library. She can read them and pick out
experiments to try at home. She may enjoy reading science fiction, too. Ask her
to point out inventions or technology in the story that are based on real science
or that she thinks could be possible in her lifetime.
You might also suggest that she start a science journal. She could record the
results of her experiments there. Or she can take it when you go for walks
together and write about what she sees, such as animal tracks in the mud or
icicles hanging from a roof.
PTO CORNER
PTO Contact Information
Spence PTO, SpencePTO@yahoo.com
Will Faulkner, President, angler.faulkner@gmail.com
Sandy Kotlowski, Vice-President, sagrag90@yahoo.com
Jessica Lapic, Treasurer, jlapic@brookdaleliving.com
Heather Mask, Secretary, heather.j.mask@gmail.com
On behalf of the Spence PTO Board I would like to wish all
our Spence Elementary School families a wonderful holiday
season and a very happy new year!
Sincerely,
Will Faulkner
The Chip Shoppe delivery
day - Carol Arlt, Kimberly
Young, Sandy Kotlowski,
and Will Faulkner
Mark your Calendar for this
year’s PTO Meetings. All
meetings will be held on the
third Tuesday of the month at
6:30pm in the Spence LMC.
Tuesday, January 20th
Tuesday, February 17th
Tuesday, March 17th
Tuesday, April 21st
Tuesday, May 19th
A BIG thank you to all of
our volunteers for 2014.
We have had a great
first half to the school year and are anxious for the
second half. We'll see you in 2015.
Thank you to the following
volunteers that helped out
Giving Tree
with Vision Screening:
Sally Klich, Kimberly Young,
Don’t forget to take a look at the Giving Trees
Heather Mask, Linda Hansen,
located on the office windows. To make it
Dixie Fladhammer, Lion’s
easy to find your child’s teacher, ornaments
Club Members
are color coordinated by grade. Please “take a
ornament” if you are interested in donating
that item and attach it to your gift.
KG - Green, 1st - Pink, 2nd - Yellow, 3rd - Blue,
4th - Purple, 5th - Orange, Others - Red