VIKING ELEMENTARY
NOVEMBER 2015
From the Principal, Ms. Bonnie Striegel
Dear Viking Families,
We are already into November, and that means, among
other things, Veterans Day on November 11th, our Harvest
Dance on the 20th, and of course, Thanksgiving Break
from November 25th-29th. We are nearing the end of the
first quarter on November 5th, and I must say, we are already seeing much progress and growth among our young
learners!
Inside this issue:
Attendance
3
Fall Harvest Dance
Program
5
Viking Elementary Newsletter
November 2015
Family Literacy Night
One of our Viking goals this year is to help our students
progress in the area of math. We would like them to gain a
more conceptual understanding of math, which involves
knowing more than just isolated facts and methods. While
facts and methods are important, we want them to become
problem solvers and to develop a mathematical mindset, so
they can see math in the world around them. I'd like to
share with you the eight mathematical practices we are focusing on to help our students develop these skills:
11-12
Music
Veterans Day Assembly
Sleep in School
6
3-4
9
Practice #1: Make sense of problems and persevere in
solving them.
Kid version: I never give up on a problem, and I do my
best to get it right.
What it means: A student understands a problem, finds a
way to attack it, and works until it is done.
Practice #2: Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
Kid version: I can solve problems in more than one way.
What it means: If students have a problem they should
be able to break it apart and show it symbolically, with pictures, or in any other way that shows they know how to
solve the problem.
Practice #3: Construct viable arguments and critique the
reasoning of others.
Kid version: I can explain my math thinking and talk
about it with others.
What it means: Students are able to talk about math and
use mathematical language to support or oppose the work
of others.
Viking Vision, Mission,
Values
Vision:
A school of excellence where
all children and adults learn
and grow together to make the
world a better place.
Mission/Purpose:
We, at Viking Elementary
School, ensure that all
children and adults continually improve as we learn the
knowledge, skills and behaviors essential to our success.
Values:
Be respectful
Be responsible
Be safe
Continued on Page 2
...so that ALL can learn
From the Principal, Ms. Bonnie Striegel...Continued
Practice #4: Model with mathematics.
Kid version: I see the math in everyday life, and I can use math to
solve everyday problems.
What it means: Students can use math to solve real-world problems,
organize data, and understand the world around them.
Practice #5: Use appropriate tools strategically.
Kid version: I know how to choose and use the right tools to solve a
math problem.
What it means: Students can select the appropriate math tool to use
and use it correctly to solve problems. For example, in the real world,
no one tells you whether to use a meter stick, a protractor, or a tape measure.
Practice #6: Attend to precision.
Kid version: I can work carefully and check my work.
What it means: Students speak and solve mathematics with an exactness and meticulousness.
Practice #7: Look for and make use of structure.
Kid version: I can use what I know to solve new problems.
What it means: Students find patterns and repeated reasoning that can help solve more complex
problems.
Practice #8: Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
Kid version: I can solve problems by looking for rules and patterns.
What it means: Students can keep an eye on the big picture while working out the details of a problem.
I know it can be frustrating as a parent to try to help your child with his or her math homework because it seems like the strategies and methods we use now are different than when you were in school.
But the "new math" we are teaching is research-based and is designed to not only teach the procedures
for working out math problems but also to build understanding of how our number system works and
the relationships between numbers. This deep understanding will benefit our students long after they
leave Viking. You can count on hearing more about this, and about how you can reinforce these practices at home in the near future.
Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences will soon be approaching. I hope to see many of you here.
Please feel free to stop by the office if you have any questions or concerns, or just to say hello!
Until then, stay warm and enjoy the last of the nice weather before winter sets in!
Warmest regards,
Bonnie Striegel
Page 2
V I K I NG E L E M E NT A R Y N E W S L E T T E R
No School
Early Release
Wednesday, November 25
Wednesday, November 11th
Thursday, November 26
Friday, November 27
Viking students are released
at 1:30 p.m.
Please note that students cannot come to school before 8 a.m.
and/or stay after 3:30 p.m. (unless enrolled
in Surround Care or arrangements have been
made with a teacher). There is no adult supervision on the playground or elsewhere in
the building until 8 a.m. or after 3:30 p.m.
Breakfast is served beginning at 8 a.m.
School starts at 8:30 a.m. and releases at
3:30 p.m.
Attendance
In keeping with the other elementary schools in our district, an
unexcused tardy or absence will be recorded for arriving late or
leaving early from school unless medical documentation warrants the absence.
Absent – Students are considered absent if they miss 90 or more
minutes of the school day.
Tardy – Students are considered tardy if they miss less than 90
minutes of the school day.
Join Us in Honoring and
Thanking Our Veterans
Wednesday, November 11th
10 A.M.
If a student misses only the lunch period, it does not count as a
tardy or absence.
A complete copy of the Student Attendance Policy and Procedures can be found at:
www.holmen.k12.wi.us~District~School Board ~Policies~#430
Viking New Gym
The Public is Welcome!
V I K I NG E L E M E NT A R Y N E W S L E T T E R
N O V E M B E R 20 1 5
Page 3
Page 4
V I K I NG E L E M E NT A R Y N E W S L E T T E R
N O V E M B E R 20 1 5
Winter Break
No School
Wednesday, December 23rd through
Friday, January 1st
School resumes on
Monday, January 4, 2016
Viking Elementary Physical Education
Department Presents:
Fall Harvest Dance Program
Friday, November 20, 2015
Family and friends are welcome to attend.
The schedule for the dance is as follows:
1:00-1:40 Kindergarten & 5th grade
1:50-2:30
2nd and 4th grade
2:40-3:15 1st and 3rd grade
American Education Week presents all Americans with
a wonderful opportunity to celebrate public education
and honor individuals who are making a difference in
ensuring that every child receives a quality education.
Halloween at Viking
Halloween at Viking will be celebrated on Friday, October 30th. Students will be allowed to
dress as story book characters (unless your child’s teacher has given you other directions). They should
bring the story book or be prepared to share their book with the class that day.
Costumes need to be school appropriate with no fake blood, weapons, masks or the like. Students
should bring their costumes to school, as we will have students change into costumes after lunch.
Costumes also need to be simple enough for students to put on themselves.
Page 5
V I K I NG E L E M E NT A R Y N E W S L E T T E R
N O V E M B E R 20 1 5
Music
Viking
Programs
Express
All students at Viking Elementary are involved in one music
program a year. The programs are held in the New Gym and
begin at 6:30 p.m. Please mark the following dates on your
calendar:
Dec. 8th
2nd grade
Dec. 10th
4th grade
March 3 rd
1st grade
March 8th
3rd grade
April 21st
Kindergarten
May 10th
5th grade
Second Grade Music Program
Viking Express is off to a great
start. We have about 52 fifth
graders who practice together
once a week. They will be making their debut
performance at our Veteran’s Day assembly on
November 11th.
Please have them wear their red Viking Express
shirts for this performance .
Fourth Grade Music Program
You are invited to :
“Jingle Bell Jukebox”
We would like to invite family and friends to come and
Thursday, December 10, 2015
6:30 p.m.
share the sights and sounds of the holiday season with
us. Viking second graders will be performing:
Second Grade Music Program
“Holiday Windows”
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
6:30 p.m.
Viking New Gym
Students should report to their classrooms by 6:15 dressed
in their holiday best. We hope to see you there!
Mrs. Nancy Kronn
Viking Music Teacher
V I K I NG E L E M E NT A R Y
Students should plan on wearing their holiday best
for this concert. Feel free to call me at school if
you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Nancy Kronn
Viking Music Teacher
Please note that the date has changed
for the 1st Grade Music Program from
Thursday, February 18th to Thursday,
March 3rd.
Page 6
Summer Library Program
La Crosse County Library
Congratulations to the following Viking students who participated in the “Detectives” theme for the
La Crosse County Library summer program. Thank you, parents, for encouraging your children to
participate in this summer program. We know how important it is for children to continue to read
during their summer breaks.
Kindergarten – Aubrey Owens, Matthew Von Haden
1st grade – Grace Foster, Brianna Adams, Alex Goryl, Gretchen Hanson, Addison Steine, Makenna Keer,
Matt Gamoke, Julia Charbeneau, Avalee Euler, Sophie Hanson, Hailey Branes, Cody Mattson, Malinda Gates, Jack Baranowski
2nd grade – Jack Geier, Samantha Lichtie, Teagan Nelson, Isabela Waters, Karter Showers, Ella Owens, Caden Schams, Caleb Wyss
3rd grade – Rachel Charbeneau, Kasey Gibbs, Paul Goryl, Hailey Olson, Camden Thiele, Shania Gates
4th grade – Ava Foster, Lucas Martin, Joseph Baranowski, Jack Walter, Audra Newman, Lydia Olson, Riley Wiersgalla, Ellie Euler,
Jett Lewis, Sylvie Schams
5th grade – Hayle Dayton, Riley Olson, Adam Troyanek, Kendra Winker, Jalen Showers, Michael Herbers, Emily Nelson, Ben
Strupp
4th & 5th GRADE SHOE CREW 2015
Many 4th and 5th grade students at Viking took part in shoe crew during their lunch recess in September and October.
Students logged laps around the outdoor track behind Viking each day. We logged an amazing 412 miles this year!!
Way to go! Congratulations to the following shoe crew members for logging the most miles…………
5th Grade Boys
1st place
Kyler Wall
17 miles
nd
Adam Troyanek
16.75 miles
rd
Gavin Bramwell
16.5 miles
2 place
3 place
th
5 Grade Girls
st
1 place
Shyleeann Xiong
15.5 miles
2nd place
EvelynVetsch
12.25 miles
Emily Nelson
9.25 miles
rd
3 place
th
4 Grade Boys
st
1 place
Noah Oines
18.75 miles
2nd place
Luke Wedul
14.75 miles
Carson Kinyon
13.5 miles
rd
3 place
th
4 Grade Girls
st
Hannah Griffin
15.5 miles
nd
Ava Werner
12.75 miles
rd
Anna Torrez
10.5 miles
1 place
2 place
3 place
Page 7
V I K I NG E L E M E NT A R Y N E W S L E T T E R
N O V E M B E R 20 1 5
From the Health Office
Nurse: Emily Hanes, RN, BSN
Health Aides: Lynn Peterson and Audrey Vinz
Hearing and Vision Screenings
The health office will be continuing our hearing and vision screenings for students in Kindergarten, 1st,
3rd, and 5th grade. If any issues arise, you will be notified in writing of the results of the screenings. . Vision and/or hearing problems can affect a student’s educational success by interfering with his/her ability
to learn. Parents/guardians or teachers may request screenings for any student at any time during the
school year if concerns arise.
Head Lice
With hat season upon us and with winter on our doorstep, I would like to bring to
your attention the possible spreading of head lice. Good head hygiene habits are
essential. Due to a few cases of head lice in school already, we encourage you to
check your children’s heads for the presence of any lice or nits if they complain of
an itchy scalp. Head-to-head contact is the most common form of transmission.
Lice do not jump or fly from head to head, but crawl. Articles such as combs,
brushes, helmets, towels, pillowcases, hats, or other head coverings also aid in the
spread of head lice. Please discourage your child from lending or sharing personal
articles mentioned above.
There is a rumor that “Super Lice” are present; it is indeed a rumor. However, at this time we are not recommending the NIX or RID brands due to the lice’s current resistance to these products. Prescription
shampoo treatments are also available from your doctor. Other alternative treatments include mayonnaise, olive oil, and coconut oil to the head, covered with a shower cap or cling wrap for 8 hours to suffocate the lice. We do not recommend putting your child to bed with this on their head due to the risk of
suffocation. Nits (eggs) have to be either combed or picked out of the hair. Also deep cleaning of the
home and the classroom is required to prevent re-infestation, or infestation of others. All couches, car
seats, mattresses, and flooring needs to be vacuumed. The vacuum bag must be thrown out after vacuuming or they may crawl out. Sheets must be washed daily and placed in the dryer for at least 30 minutes.
Anything that cannot be laundered must be placed in plastic garbage bags and let to sit for two weeks or
longer if lice and nits are still present.
When checking for nits, if it removes easily from the hair, it is not a nit. Nits are attached by a strong glue
to the hair shaft, about one to two inches from the scalp. Lice can live 1-2 days on a surface without a
human host. They live about a month on the scalp, and the female louse can lay 6 eggs (nits) a day.
If you believe your child has head lice, PLEASE contact the health office for assistance in treatment.
Your child will need to be checked for the presence of lice and nits before returning to class. The school
district does have a no lice or nit policy. A student should only miss one day of school due to the presence of head lice and nits.
For more information please refer to the CDC website http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/index.html
V I K I NG E L E M E NT A R Y
Page 8
Sleep in School-Aged Children (5-11 Years)
What to expect
School-aged children need between 10 and 11 hours of sleep per night. Not getting enough sleep is common in this age group,
given increasing school homework, evening activities, and later bedtimes. Sleep problems are also common in school-aged children, including sleepwalking, sleep terrors, teeth grinding, nighttime fears, snoring, and noisy breathing.
Signs of sleep deprivation in school-aged children can include:
Mood. Sleep deprivation may cause your school-aged child to be moody, irritable, and cranky. In addition, he may have a
difficult time regulating his mood, such as getting frustrated or upset more easily.
Behavior. School-aged children who do not get enough sleep are more likely to have behavior problems, such as noncompliance and hyperactivity.
Cognitive ability. Inadequate sleep may result in problems with attention, memory, decision making, reaction time, and
creativity, all which are important in school.
How to help your school-aged child sleep well
Develop a regular sleep schedule. Your child should go to bed and wake up at about the same time each day.
Maintain a consistent bedtime routine. School-aged children continue to benefit from a bedtime routine that is the same
every night and includes calm and enjoyable activities. Bedtime one-on-one time with a parent is helpful in maintaining
communication with your child and having a clear connection every day.
Set up a soothing sleep environment. Make sure your child’s bedroom is comfortable, dark, cool, and quiet. A nightlight
is fine; a television is not.
Set limits. If your school-aged child stalls at bedtime, be sure to set clear limits, such as what time lights must be turned off
and how many bedtime stories you will read.
Turn off televisions, computers, and radios. Television viewing, computer-game playing, internet use, and other stimulating activities at bedtime will cause sleep problems.
Avoid caffeine and sugar. Caffeine can be found in sodas, coffee-based products, iced tea, and many other substances.
Many snacks and treats contain loads of sugar. Keep snacking routines healthy!
With the approaching end to daylight saving time, it’s a great opportunity to establish earlier bedtime routines. If you have any questions, contact me anytime!
Mr. L, School Counselor
Page 9
V I K I NG E L E M E NT A R Y
Viking Fun Run 2015
4th and 5th grade students at Viking Elementary held their annual fun run on Friday, October 9, 2015. Emphasis was on
participation, fitness and fun! There were
147 runners competing this year along
with over 30 parent runners and volunteers. All runners received ribbons and
the top 10 boys and girls received additional place ribbons. The top ten runners
were:
BOYS
1 – Adam Troyanek
2 – Jacob Kaczmarek
3 – Dalton Thienes
4 – Carson Kinyon
5 – Noah Oines
6 – Kyler Wall
7 – Jared Rotering
8 – Payton Erskine
9 – Gavin Bramwell
10 – Caleb Lor
GIRLS
1 – Ava Werner
2 – Madison Onstad
3 – Hannah Griffin
4 – Gabby Parks
5 – Gracey Kline
6 – Karli Briggs
7 – Liberty Butterfield
8 – Evelyn Vetsch
9 – Lydia Olson
10 – Addie Roberts
Viking PTO Meeting
Tuesday, November 10
6:30 p.m.—Viking LMC
Free Childcare Available
V I K I NG E L E M E NT A R Y
Substitute Custodian
The School District of Holmen
is seeking applicants for Substitute Custodians. Qualified
applicants must possess a
high school diploma (or equivalent), the ability to complete
cleaning schedule for assigned areas and ability to work with Material Safety Data
Sheets. The District offers an excellent working environment and competitive pay. Training provided.
Substitute Custodian
Openings AM or PM
Inquire today by calling Shirley at the District Office in
Holmen - 526-1314 (Ext. 1314), OR go to our website at
www.holmen.k12.wi.us >Human Resources
>Employment to complete an application.
Substitute Bus Drivers
The School District of Holmen is seeking applicants for
Substitute Bus Drivers. Qualified applicants should possess a high school diploma (or equivalent), ability to create a safe, positive and nurturing environment for schoolage children. No previous experience required. Friendly
environment and flexible hours. Training provided. Substitute work allows you to coordinate work schedule
around personal life and has the potential to lead to regular positions.
Substitute Bus Driver
6:00-8:45 a.m. and/or 2:20-4:45p.m.
Inquire today by calling Shirley Rozak at the District Office in Holmen - 526-1314 (Ext. 1314),
Transportation 526-4752 or go to our website at
www.holmen.k12.wi.us >Human Resources
>Employment to fill out an application.
Page 10
Viking Elementary Events
for November 2015
Date
Event
2
Book Fair
3
Conferences 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
7th and 8th Grade Orchestra Performs for 4th and 5th Grade 10:45 a.m.
Book Fair
Ronald McDonald Presentation “A Friendship Adventure” 9:45 a.m.
Book Fair
4
5
6
Conference Option Night
End of 1st Quarter
Book Fair Ends
NO SCHOOL—Teacher Inservice
9
10
PTO Meeting—6:30 p.m. Viking LMC
11
Veteran’s Day Program—10 a.m.—New Gym
Early Release Viking Students Released at 1:30 p.m.
12
Family Literacy Night 5:30 p.m .and 7 p.m.
13
16
17
Reports Cards Sent Home
SEEDS Presentation Grades 4 and 5 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.
18
19
SEEDS Presentation for Grade 3, 1:30-2:15 p.m. HHS
20
Harvest Dance Program
23
24
25
No School
26
No School
27
No School
30