Friday, January 26, 2024

January 26, 2024

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

  • I got to have a number of meetings with parents this week. These meetings had staff that had some difficult messages to share, but it was done respectfully and clear.  I know this can be hard, but it is important that we do this timely and clearly.
  • Shout out to Trisha P. who worked so hard this week, learning everything report card and PowerSchool. Also, a shout out to Brad who spent extra time training Trisha and checking to make sure that everything was working plus answering so many questions.  (Mine, not Trisha.  She's a quick learner!)
  • So many teachers are using the mid-year testing information to make groups and instructional decisions in their classrooms.  I love listening to your conversations and planning.  It always reminds me of the incredible talent at Dodgeland.  Thank you all for the things you do for our students.


What's Happening at Dodgeland?

  • Monday, January 29
    • Bus Duty: Bingen, Ruplinger, Stampfl, Donovan (3K/4K playground)
  • Tuesday, January 30
    • Social Media posts due: BCaine, O'Toole
    • Lunch Detention Supervisors
      • 12:00 - Miller
      • 12:30 - Wedel
      • 1:00 - Schwoerer
    • SEL Data Meeting - 2nd Gr 12:05-12:55pm
  • Wednesday, January 31
    • Workout Wednesday
    • Academic Data Meeting - 5K 12:05-12:55pm
    • KnowBe4 cyber training due date - Please make sure it is completed by the end of the day.
  • Thursday, Feb. 1
    • New Support Staff duties
      • Breakfast Duty: Rose, Jessica B/Jenny Kilburg
      • AM Circle Dr: Brittany
      • PM Circle Dr: Reilly, Bethany T?
    • Lunch Detention Supervisors
      • All are open, let me know if anyone wants to pick up one of the time slots.
  • Friday, Feb 2

Nitty-Gritty

  • Class Picture Day
    • Friendly reminder that the rescheduled class picture day is Friday, January 26.  The time schedule is HERE. Please bring your class to the commons at your time and hopefully it will be a quick process. :-). For support staff, please join the class/classes that you spend a lot of your school day with.
  • Technology Maintenance
    • Please make sure that you have read through Brad's email about technology maintenance. It is important that you are restarting your devices weekly.  Also, be sure that you stay up to date with updates that are needed for the software or apps by the end of the first week of each month.  If they are not done, the updates will automatically be pushed out from the network.  This means that it could be at a very inconvenient time or in the middle of your teaching.  Please make sure that you are charging and connecting your devices to the network weekly.
  • Digital Report Cards
    • The test run worked today.  On Friday, Jan. 26, the digital emails with the report cards will be sent out to the families.  Part of the message to families will be directions for them to access them on PowerSchool as well as to contact us if they need a paper copy mailed to them, as well as notifying them that the 2nd semester report cards will only be shared digitally.
  • Summer School
    • I am still looking for teachers that want to teach for one or both of the summer school sessions.  If you are still thinking about it, please let me know.  We can talk through ideas of courses as well.  I always love talking summer school.  It is a short amount of time, but provides a safe place for kids to be and also the opportunity to keep learning! It is also a great time for professionals to try new subjects or activities on a smaller scale.  HERE is the link to sign up.
  • Personnel Information
    • While Jessica Bauer is getting to the home stretch of welcoming her new little one, we will have a substitute para, Jenny Kilburg, in the building twice a week for her working with Blasia and Ann and the 4th/5th grade teachers.  She may be a familiar face as she helped out during Hailey's maternity leave and she has three children in the school as well.  Please help make her feel welcome!

Recess Information

The snow hill behind the basketball hoops is closed and will remain closed.
Please do not allow students to climb on them at any time.


Behavior Specialist Information

In case you missed it at the staff meeting, here is the Zones of Regulation information. Please take a few minutes to look it over and reach out with any questions as this will be our universal framework for supporting our students' regulation and for the program to be effective, it is essential that we are all on the same page. Once I learn Canva, nice posters with the information will be provided and hung throughout the building.


TechKnow Tip

Have you checked out Novel Effects yet?! It is a read aloud aide that adds sound effects to the book you’re reading. Some great seasonal titles you may want to check out first are Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson, Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner, Dino-Football by Lisa Wheeler, and The Secret Life of Squirrels: A Love Story by Nancy Rose. All these can be checked out from our library or the Sora app and read with your students. They also have a great activities and learning resources page. They provide activities like printable coloring sheets and games, as well as resources like graphic organizers and supplemental research information. These can be a great way for students to continue to practice their literacy skills they are working so hard on with all of you! You can find login information HERE on our staff resource page.


Friday Funny

This week I had a group of third graders in the office to talk to them about some poor choices that they made at recess. At the end of the conversation, one of the boys says to me, "I hate getting in trouble. I wish I could turn back time and not do _______." Another student says, "I don't like to get in trouble either." A third student says, "Well, we can't do that because it would mess up the whole timeline!" And at that point, it became a science fiction conversation about time traveling. I may have to repeat my message, but it started as a remorseful statement at least!


Friday, January 19, 2024

January 19, 2024

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

  • Shout out to Stacey for providing an alternative activity for indoor recess for 1st and 2nd graders today (and Friday) after a loooong week of indoor recess!  Thank you Stacey for giving them a safe place to dance and laugh!
  • So many teachers are praising their students and celebrating student growth on the mid-year assessments going on now.  I know that it takes a lot of time to get this done, but it is important that we are analyzing growth so we can make adjustments as we continue through the school year.
  • Staff working together to communicate important details to parents, as well as making plans to address student needs. Thank you all for putting students needs at the forefront of your minds and planning!

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

  • Monday, January 22
    • Grades due at 8am
    • Bus Duty: Schweitzer, BCaine, O'Toole, Braunschweig (4K/5K)
    • American Heart Fundraiser Starts today
    • School Board meeting at 6:30pm
  • Tuesday, January 23
    • Social Media posts due: Schwoerer, Miller, Jenkins
    • Lunch Detention Supervisors
      • 12:00-Stampfl
      • 12:30-Wedel
      • 1:00-Schwoerer
  • Wednesday, January 24
    • Workout Wednesday
    • Happy Birthday Lance!
    • NHS Blood drive in MS Gym (8:30-1:30pm)
    • Jenny in meeting from 8:30-10am
    • Academic Data meeting - 1st gr 12:05-12:55
    • Staff meeting in IMC at 3:10pm
    • 5th graders on a Field trip for the day
  • Thursday, January 25
    • Report cards sent home with students
    • Lunch Detention Supervisors
      • 12:00-Koenings
      • 12:30-Open
      • 1:00-Open
  • Friday, January 26
    • Happy Birthday Stephanie Schuett!
    • Rescheduled Class Pictures for Elementary homerooms


Nitty-Gritty

  • Class Pictures Rescheduled
    • The class picture day has been rescheduled for Friday, January 26.  Click HERE to see the schedule.  (It is the same as it would have been on Jan 12).  Please encourage your students to wear purple or a Dodgeland shirt.--I do have some extra Dodgeland shirts in my office in a small selection of sizes if you have any students, particularly new to the district, that might need a shirt for the picture.  For support personnel, (paras, special education teachers, interventionists, etc) please join the class or classes that you spend the most time in so that the group picture includes the adults that are part of that learning community!
  • Dodgeland Den Supplies
    • Alexis is looking for some supplies that she can use with students in Dodgeland Den after school.  If you are looking to get rid of any of these things from your room, please contact Alexis Uttech in room 137.  She is looking for things like yarn, string, beads, bracelet making rubber bands, colorful tissue paper, watercolors/brushes, pillows or cushions, kinetic sand, or any other extra crafting stuff. Thank you in advance for any possible donations.
  • Google Classroom Anyone?
    • I am still looking for a grade level/group of teachers that are willing to learn and use Google Classroom during 2nd semester this year to get a head start on transitioning away from Schoology and towards our new system that we will be using next school year. (Google Classroom) The Tech department will work closely with you during this phase to implement it successfully.
  • Eco Guardians Assembly
    • Juneau Utility is again sponsoring the energy conservation assembly.  This year the assembly is called Eco Guardians.  So that you can plan ahead, please make note that the 25 minute assembly is coming on Monday, February 12.  Grades 3-5 will attend the presentation at 1:30 and grades 4K-2 will attend the presentation at 2:15.  St. Johns' students will be joining us at 2:15 for the assembly as well.


TechKnow Tip

Next week, starting January 21-27 is Data Privacy Week! Data privacy is a crucial aspect of our online

lives. It refers to the ability of an individual to control the sharing of their personal information with others.

Your online activity generates a wealth of information, ranging from your interests and purchases to your

online behaviors. This data is collected by various websites, apps, devices, services, and companies

worldwide. Advertisers, businesses, and bad actors prize this data because it helps them better target

ads and products toward you or for malicious intent.


  • Schools are one of the examples of many organizations that collect and store sensitive information about students, including their academic performance, medical records and personal details.
  • Additionally, information related to job applicants, staff and volunteers is often stored with a school data base. Protecting student data privacy is essential to ensuring that this information is not misused or compromised.
  • While you cannot control how each piece of data about you and your family is collected, you still have the right to data privacy. You can manage your data by adopting a few repeatable behaviors. Your data is valuable and you deserve to have a say in who receives it!
Here is a great article to get you started -

> Privacy Basics



Friday Funny

Sometimes, I can not believe the weird things that happen in my life.  Other times, I think, well this is just my normal everyday life.  This week was another one of those situations and this time, Lexi got to be my HERO!  Tuesday morning, I am going to my garage to get the car and drive to work.  But, when I get to the door, the door handle is stuck and will not budge.  I use all my strategies; jiggle the handle, bang on the door as hard as I can, fiddle with the lock that will not move, etc.  I am locked in my house and can not get out to the car. I think the door is frozen and it will not budge. So then I think, "Well, there is a key code on the garage door, we can try that, open the garage door and go in from outside."  I am thinking that I am brilliant until my temperamental garage door refuses to open from there either!  So, I then called my Dad who I had to wake up and we end up Face Timing him.  He talks us through it and then Lexi proceeds to get the door off the hinges so that I can get out of my house and into the garage.  It took a awhile, but it WORKED.  Below is the picture of our triumph! Although to be fair, my Dad's look is more like, "This would only happen to Jenny." Sigh.







Sunday, January 14, 2024

January 12, 2024

 What's Happening at Dodgeland?

  • Monday, January 15
    • Bus Duty: CaineT, Riege, Juech, Vertz (4K/5K playground)
    • EP meeting in the IMC at 3:15pm
  • Tuesday, January 16
    • Badger Day - Wear Red or Badger clothes
    • Social Media Posts due: Stampfl, Chambers, Mook
    • Lunch Detention Supervisors
      • 12:00 - Schuett
      • 12:30 - BCaine
      • 1:00 - TCaine
  • Wednesday, January 17
    • Early Release, no AM recess
    • Jenny out of the building for dr appt until 10am
    • Workout Wednesday
    • SEL Grade level mtg 5th gr 11:10-11:45am
    • SEL Grade Level mtg 3rd gr 12:40-1:15pm
  • Thursday, January 18
    • Academic Grade level mtg 4th gr 12:35-1:25pm
    • Lunch Detention Supervisors
      • 12:00 - Open
      • 12:30 - Open
      • 1:00 - Open
  • Friday, January 19
    • End of Semester (Report cards due on Monday, 1/22/24 at 8am)
    • 4K SEL Grade level meeting 11:40am-12:25pm
    • Pyramid Model Leadership Meeting at 1pm
    • Did you finish your KnowB4 training yet? (due by the end of January)

Nitty-Gritty

  • Class Pictures
    • At this time, the goal is to reschedule the class picture day from last Friday.  When it is scheduled, we will announce to families and staff.  The schedule may need to be modified depending on the day of the week that it is scheduled.
  • Staff Meeting Presentation
    • Last Wednesday, Jessica had a presentation on budget.  At the conclusion of the meeting, she shared a link to a survey asking staff to share some information or feedback related to thoughts you have on what needs we have to do our jobs and the things we use the most often at school.  The link is HERE if you haven't shared your ideas yet.
  • Report Cards
    • We will be sending home report cards through our messaging system as well as a paper copy for 1st semester.  After this semester, paper copies will only be sent home by request, it will be sent through Bright Arrow at the end of the semester.
  • Indoor Recess
    • This week it looks like we will be spending a lot of time inside for recesses.  Please see Teresa's email with details regarding locations and logistics of indoor recess this week.  The document is HERE with supervision details.  PLEASE remind students that personal items are NOT ALLOWED at indoor recess.  This usually ends with issues or conflicts when it is in the gym or PLTW room.
  • Google Classroom- VERY IMPORTANT Changes COMING!
    • We are thrilled to announce an exciting change in our ongoing efforts to enhance the learning experience for our students and educators. After careful consideration, we have decided to transition from Schoology to Google Classroom as our primary learning management system.


    • This change comes with numerous benefits that will streamline communication, collaboration, and overall efficiency within our educational community. Google Classroom offers a user-friendly interface for all grade levels, seamless integration with other Google Workspace tools, and a variety of features that will empower both educators and students.


      The district will transition to using Google Classroom for all levels starting the 24-25 School year with the availability to access Schoology content from previous years. Google Classroom will be the only Learning Management System used for all K-12 students. After our smooth transition into Google Classroom, Schoology will no longer be available for the 25-26 school year.


      Here is a quick video of Google Classroom


      Key highlights of the transition include:


      1. Simplified Collaboration and Integration: Google Classroom provides a centralized platform for teachers to create, distribute, and grade assignments, making collaboration more efficient and effective. Enjoy seamless access to Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and other Workspace tools directly within Google Classroom, fostering a more integrated and organized digital learning environment.


      2. Product Development: Google has continued to develop Google Classroom each year with new enhancements being released quarterly. Most recently Google launched sharable video presentations and interactive questions for YouTube videos. Schoology has not had a product enhancement in the last 8 years. Since PowerSchool purchased Schoology in 2019 there have been significant performance issues and numerous outages.


      3. Mobile-Friendly Experience: Google Classroom is designed to be accessible from various devices, offering a mobile-friendly experience that allows students and educators to stay connected on the go.


      4. Training, Help, and Communities: Google does a great job with its training and collaboration opportunities. Most training comes at no cost and can be done asynchronous.  Google offers educators to be part of communities to collaborate and learn from other educators. 


      Here is a Google Classroom 101 Training Series channel on YouTube. As you look through some of the videos, know that some features will be automated for you such as class creation.


      Our next steps moving into Google Classroom as a district:

      • We are looking for grade levels and/or departments to start this epic transition second semester. Those willing to participate will be working closely with the tech department as you learn, navigate, and succeed! Please let your building principal know if you are interested.

      • We have multiple learning opportunities scheduled to learn more about Google Classroom, so stay tuned.


      Thank you for your continued commitment to education and the success of our students. If you have any questions about this move to Google Classroom, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your building principal


TechKnow Tip

If you have a teacher assistant, please be sure to enter a grade for them. This needs to be completed by ALL elementary, middle, and high school teachers who have a TA. Once logged into PowerSchool, select “Dodgeland High School” from the drop-down in the top right corner. Select “PowerTeacher Pro” under one of your teacher assistant courses. Select “Grading” along the left and then “Traditional” under the grades tab. Click on the white box under “S1” and select “P” (pass) or “F” (fail) along the right. Select the green “Save” button.


Friday Funny (on a Sunday!)

This was last week, now it'll all freeze to ice!  I am so sorry I every said anything negative about winter!



Thursday, January 4, 2024

January 5, 2024

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

I am so sorry that there were so many of you that spent many days during your break sick or miserable.  My hope for you all is that you are healthy soon and feeling back to normal.  If you are one of the lucky ones, that didn't get sick last week, I hope it bypasses you!  Take care of yourselves everyone!


What's Happening at Dodgeland?

  • Monday, January 8
    • Packer Day -  Wear your Packer attire
    • Bus Duty: Anderson, Miller, Huso
    • Mentor/Mentee Mtg - Year 1 Teachers only @ 3:15 in the IMC
    • Playworks Coach is visiting from 9-2pm
    • Mid-Year Assessments window opens for all levels
  • Tuesday, January 9
    • Social Media Posts due to Jessica - Turcotte
    • SEL Grade level Data meeting 3rd gr - 12:05-12:55pm
    • Lunch Detentions:
      • 12:00-Miller
      • 12:30-Braunschweig
      • 1:00-Schwoerer
  • Wednesday, January 10
    • Workout Wednesday
    • Seals on Wheels visit (will be coming around to classrooms starting around 8:30am
    • Jenny in meeting from 8:30-10am
    • Academic Grade Level meeting 2nd gr - 12:05-12:55pm
    • Elem. Staff meeting in IMC 3:10-3:55pm
  • Thursday, January 11
    • Jenny out of the building until 2pm
    • Lunch Detention Supervisors:
      • 12:00-Schuett
      • 12:30-Braunschweig
      • 1:00-
  • Friday, January 12
    • Happy Birthday Barb Schlief
    • Group Class Photo day - Watch for specifics next week
  • Saturday, January 13
    • Happy Birthday Leah Neis

Nitty-Gritty

  • Semester Report Cards
    • Looking Ahead, the semester ends on January 19.  Grades will be due on Monday, January 22 at 8am.  At that point, Trisha will start running report cards and will send them digitally to you to proofread before they are printed for the kids to take home on Thursday, Jan 25.  We are also going to send a digital copy of each report card through Bright Arrow, our school messaging system in PowerSchool.  As a support for you, the tech department will have some "office hours" in the afternoon during the early release on 1/17 to ask questions. Watch for specifics coming up.
  • Contact Information in PowerSchool
    • Click HERE to see the directions for how to see the updated contact information for students in your class.  It is in PowerTeacher Pro (your gradebook) and this is the page that gets updated.
  • RiverEdge Field Trip opportunities
    • Click HERE to see a flyer from RiverEdge in Saukeville for options for next school year.  I share in case this would fit with your grade's curriculum.

TechKnow Tip

  • As you work on your grading, you may find it helpful to have a second screen-one designated to PowerSchool while the other navigating Schoology and all your students’ outstanding work. GOOD NEWS!! Apple has a feature called “Sidecar” which allows you to connect your iPad to your laptop, working as a second screen. Here is a quick video to get you started. As always, be sure you are logged into your Apple ID on both devices. As you set this up for the first time, reach out to Brad, Sam, or Christina who would love to help walk you through the steps.

Behavior Specialist Info

  • As a pupil services team, we recognize that we continue to have many students that struggle with emotional control and regulation. As such, we have decided that we would like to teach Zone of Regulation as a universal curriculum to have a common language  to teach students emotional regulation. Starting next week, Ms. Mosher and Mrs. Chambers will be teaching Zones of Regulation during guidance lessons. Zones of Regulation is a program that teaches students to identify how they are feeling and then use taught strategies associated with each zone so they can self-regulate to a calm, ready to learn state of being. As we roll Zones, please plan to actively participate in lessons so that we can all effectively support our students in this new regulation program. We plan to adopt/keep Zones of Regulation as one of our universal programs indefinitely.


Recess Information

Coach Maggie will be here on Monday, January 8th. Junior coach meeting in the PLTW lab

have been changed to:

  • 4th grade - 10:30-11
  • 5th grade 10:00-10:30

If you were unable to attend one of the Expectation Review Sessions, please review the presentation (here) shared with all of the classes. Please continue to be consistent in reinforcing our expectations at Dodgeland.


With the continued varying weather, bus duty and recess staff, please close the playground equipment as necessary if it is too slippery/frosty/snow covered to be safe for our students.


Friday Funny

I know that you are all going to be able to read it, but shockingly, there are a number of people in the world, that would never be able to figure this out!