Winter Break for students and staff begins on Monday, December 24. School resumes Wednesday, January 2, 2019. Enjoy your time off!
The Central Office will be closed during the entire break.
DARE Graduation for 167 proud fifth-grade students occurred on December 10 in the CAL Center at Reedsburg Area High School. The classrooms of Mrs. Corbin, Mrs. Hager, Mr. Hora, Ms. Neumann, Mrs. Weiss, and Ms. Williams from Pineview Elementary School participated in this special ceremony featuring guest speaker Pastor Sonny Hyde.
Students have been learning about Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) and strategies to use from School Resource Officer Summer Karll. Also assisting in the graduation ceremony was Tim Becker, Reedsburg Police Chief, and Sami Middlesteadt, School Resource Officer.
Students wrote an essay about what they learned in class and how they will apply the strategies learned in their everyday life. Each class had an essay winner and two runner-ups recognized during the ceremony and the winners read their essays aloud at graduation. Essay winners included:
Mrs. Neumann:
Winner: Jackson Mahoney
HM: Addison Sukup and Jeremy Grande
Mr. Hora: Winner: Paige Othmer HM: Alyssa Langness and Henry Holmes
Mrs. Hager: Winner: Makayla Romanelli HM: Brady Rist and Damon Luke
Mrs. Corbin: Winner: Anna Hirschinger
HM: Abby Kelley and Annashae Blake
Website Emergency Banner - Delays and Cancellations
Winter in Wisconsin typically presents transportation challenges for us all. Certainly, that is true for getting students and staff to and from school as safely as possible. Many days the district is faced with the difficult decision of whether to start school on time or cancel the school day altogether. As district leaders make a decision, their most significant concern is the safety of our students and staff. (Closure and Emergency Procedures)
When the decision is made to cancel school, delay the start of school or dismiss school earlier than scheduled, the district does its best to notify parents and caregivers in a variety of ways. First, a Skylert message will be sent (phone, text, and email) for all weather-related changes to our school day. Please make sure to keep your contact information updated with your child's school.
In addition, the district adds an Emergency Banner notification at the top of each page on its website. The banner is RED and includes pertinent information regarding a closing, delay or other information. Bookmark the district website www.rsd.k12.wi.us and check it the next time Mother Nature rears her ugly head.
A word of caution, please DO NOT click the "close" option for the emergency notification banner as this will close the banner for any future emergency notification as well.
Weather-related changes can also be found on the district's Facebook page and local television and radio stations. Please refer to the Elementary handbook on this website page 28 for a list of those stations.
Students Contribute to Reedsburg's Inaugural Tree Lighting
Students from throughout the district are helping the City of Reedsburg celebrate their Inaugural CommunityTree Lighting ceremony in City Park, located at 222 North Park Street, on Friday, December 7 at 8:30 p.m. Over 600 ornaments created by local students will help decorate the tree. And one lucky youngster will be chosen to assist in the lighting! Additionally, during the ceremony, the RAHS Jazz Choir will sing carols for all to enjoy.
Prior to the Community Tree Lighting ceremony, the local businesses downtown will be transformed into the spirit of the holidays from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Watch as store windows come to life for the 9th annual Living Windows event. This year's theme is, 'All I want for Christmas is...'
Join in this free family fun night celebrating our students and our community while appreciating the sights and sounds of the season. Enjoy caroling, refreshments, fire barrels to warm by, and horse-drawn wagon rides.
The School District of Reedsburg's new school now has a name, Prairie Ridge Intermediate School. It was approved by the Board of Education during their meeting on Monday, November 19.
The name, Prairie Ridge Intermediate School, incorporates the building's themes of sandstone bluffs, agriculture, forest, industry, wetlands, the 400 trail, and the Baraboo River; along with the local area it resides. In addition, the name takes on the identity of the school, the students it will serve, and the educational culture created within.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the naming contest by submitting names and voting. The name was submitted by two individuals Mary Jo Huber and Barb Sand. They will be part of the school's Grand Opening Celebration.
The school district is excited to open this building in September for students. "Thanks again to everyone. It was a fun process to name the new school, it created a lot of debate and discussion," says Principal Clint Beyer. "I am excited to have Prairie Ridge Intermediate School full of our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders next year and for many years to come."
Building The Future of Reedsburg Schools Update
Progress continues on the construction of the new school - Prairie Ridge Intermediate School. The new controlled entrances at all school buildings have been completed. In addition, the new transportation maintenance facility is close to being finished.
The RAHS FFA Corn crop was recently harvested. Thanks to the many great sponsors for helping to make the 2018 crop season a great one!
Jason Fearing/Rob See Co: Seed corn
Joe Dorow: Seed Corn and Custom planting
United Coop: Fertilizer and other Agronomy Services
Holtz Farms: Custom Harvest and Grain Hauling
Photos by: Tyla Scherbert & Kaylee Engel
Yager Receives Andy Anderson Award from WI Athletic Directors Association
The Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association presented the Leroy “Andy” Andersen Award to Bryan Yager, Activities Director on Monday, November 12.
Andy served the Association with unselfish dedication, time and effort for 10 years. His contribution and willingness to assist went above and beyond the call of duty, a standard by which others will be measured. This award is presented to those special few, who best exemplify those traits in serving the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association.
DPI District & School Report Cards
The School District of Reedsburg has had a wonderful start to its year! "We are excited about each student's individual growth and achievements. As a learning community, we are continually looking to improve," says Linda Bruun, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. "One source we use to reflect on our strengths and areas for improvement is the School Report Card."
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) generates a School Report Card and District Report Card for every publicly funded school and district in the state. These public report cards can be found online at https://apps2.dpi.wi.gov/reportcards/home. The Report Cards are intended to help schools and districts use performance data to target improvement efforts that ensure students are ready for their next educational step – including the next grade level, graduation, college, and careers.
The current School Report Card is primarily based on last year’s performance, the 2017-18 school year. At the foundation of the report cards are four priority areas. Schools and districts receive a score for each priority area:
Student Achievement proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics on the annual state assessments
School Growth measured by year-to-year progress in ELA and math achievement
Closing Gaps in performance between specific student groups (comparing English language learners, low-income students, students with disabilities, and members of a racial or an ethnic group with their peers)
On-Track and Postsecondary Readiness showing reliable predictors of how many students are on track to graduate from high school and student readiness for post-high school success
Schools and districts are also evaluated on their level of student engagement – reducing chronic absenteeism rates and dropout rates – when applicable.
The priority area scores are aggregated into an overall accountability score, from 0 to 100. This score is displayed in the top left corner of the School or District Report Cards. It is important to note that the 0 to 100 accountability score is not a “percent correct” measurement. Based on its score, a school or district receives one of five rating categories, from Fails to Meet Expectations to Significantly Exceeds Expectations, as well as corresponding one to five stars.
The School District of Reedsburg has Exceeded Expectations on its state report card for the 2016-2017 school year. The district received a score of 75.4 in overall accountability ratings. All seven schools in the district Meet or Exceeded Expectation scores for the 2017-18 school year.
DPI has produced two versions of each Report Card: a quick one-pager labeled “School Report Card” and lengthier, detailed version labeled, “School Report Card Detail.” Resources that explain the report cards can be found online at http://dpi.wi.gov/accountability/report-cards.
As DPI stresses, these report cards are just one source of information about the School District of Reedsburg schools. Given that, here is some additional information that shows the district moving in the right direction. The district:
Continues to support Instructional Coaches working with teachers in the classroom assisting to implement effective teaching strategies, classroom management techniques, and formative assessment plans.
Utilizes student test data effectively, by a detailed analysis that transpires into modifying instruction. Mark Olson, Director of Data Analysis and Staff Development, assists school personnel to break down and review student test scores and then works with staff on professional development and in-classroom implementation of these strategies.
Partners with parents and guardians have been a major focus especially in reaching out to families of young children earlier and assisting all families to understand and engage their children in learning.
Implements a standard's based report card for students in grades K-5 that is more effective at showing individual student growth and achievement.
Improves overall district communication using various avenues to inform and educate both families and community members of what is occurring within the school district.
Make-Up Day for 4K Morning Session Classes Only
Due to the delayed start of the school year, the district is adding a few Fridays for the Morning session of 4K classes. The last one will be held on January 4.
Class time will remain the same 8:00 a.m. – 11:05 a.m. Transportation will be provided on these days. This is for Morning session 4K classes only. There will be no Early Childhood or 4K afternoon sessions on these dates.
News and Views
News and Views is a weekly radio spot hosted by radio personality Tom Demmin. The show highlights students or staff from our district. The interview airs Tuesdays at 10 am on WRDB but past spots may also be accessed here. This week's edition features Bill Voigt, Webb Middle School Music Teacher talking about the upcoming Elf The Musical Jr at the CAL Center.
School District of Reedsburg Partners With Lands' End To Form A Unique Employment Opportunity
The School District of Reedsburg and Lands’ End are partnering to create a full-time work opportunity to hire bus drivers. The district transports over 1500 students, covering 264 square miles in Sauk and Juneau counties. This is a critical element in providing a safe learning environment for area students. Because driving bus is a part-time position, Lands’ End is partnering with the School District of Reedsburg to provide drivers continuous work between the morning and afternoon routes.
Sourcing bus drivers aren’t just a problem for the district. Darrin Frye, Transportation Director & School Safety Coordinator shares, “Transportation statewide have had a shortage of applicants.”
This partnership will allow the bus drivers to complete their morning route, go to Lands’ End to work and then return to school to complete their afternoon bus route. This schedule will create close to a 40 hour work week.
“We are excited about this new partnership with Lands’ End and working closely with a local employer to enhance employment opportunities in our community. It’s a great positive for the Reedsburg area that two local employers can work together to enhance employment opportunities in our community,” says Mechelle Thompson, Human Resource Specialist for the School District of Reedsburg. “We look forward to seeing where this partnership takes us and appreciate Lands’ End’s support in this creative idea to address a critical hiring gap.”
To learn more about this employment opportunity, please contact Mechelle Thompson, School District of Reedsburg, at (608) 524-2016 ext. 2002 or email mthompson@rsd.k12.wi.us.
This month's School Board meeting is Monday, December 17 at 7:00 pm at the Central Office located at 501 K Street. We encourage all interested citizens to attend. An agenda for the meeting is available both online through Neptune Meeting Manager and at the meeting. For more information, please contact Barb Sand at bsand@rsd.k12.wi.us or by phone at (608) 524-2016 ext. 2007. The board meeting may also be watched live at livestream.com. Search Tommy Lee Bychinski under "watch events".
School Newsletters
In an ongoing effort to improve communication with our students and families, each of our schools sends out a monthly newsletter electronically. The newsletter is sent via email on the first Tuesday of the month. It will include a variety of topics, including a message from the principal, a list of upcoming events, and important reminders. Please contact your child's school if you do not receive the newsletter via email. Find a link to your child's school newsletter below:
