March 2019
Executive Functioning Class for Parents
Are your children having trouble starting or completing tasks? Are they having difficulty with organization or following directions? Mrs. Kristin Stapel, Elementary Reading Specialist, and Mr. Ray Wolf, School Psychologist, are offering a brief introductory class for parents on executive functioning. The class is focused on what executive functioning is, why it’s so important, and what parents can do at home to continuously develop it in their kids.
It is a 45-minute class, planned at the beginning of the day (8:30-9:15) on April 9th and May 14th, and at the end of the day, (2:45-3:30) on April 11th and May 14th. Child care is available for both of the afternoon sessions. RSVP for one of the classes at Kristin.Stapel@oostburg.k12.wi.us or by calling the OES Office at 564-
2392.
HS Course Registration Forms are due on Friday, March 22nd.
Good morning, Parents.
With exactly one week left before spring break, it is a good time to remind you to remind your high school aged children to turn in their course registration forms. The forms are due this Friday, March 22nd and they can be turned in to Mr. Cole or me. Since the registration form also requires your signature as a parent, please take a little time to review your child’s course requests in light of their career plans, and have a discussion about which classes will best prepare them for their futures. If your child is avoiding classes that would play an important role in their preparation, please intervene.
As I stated in an earlier email, Mr. Cole and I are strongly encouraging all of our juniors and seniors who are planning to go to college to take an AP class to test their academic skills and work habits in the context of college course expectations. We feel this is an extremely important step in the complete preparation of any student before they head off to college, and we certainly hope you will support this expectation as parents as well. There will be one change with Advanced Placement (AP) courses this year that I should make parents and students aware of in advance. The AP program will now require students to register for the exams in the fall rather than waiting until spring. They have studied this change and have reported to us that when students register early in the school year it leads to higher success rates on the test, presumably because the early registration increases student commitment to working hard and learning from the beginning of the class.
I hope all of our students and families have a relaxing and enjoyable spring break.
Scott
Let’s Celebrate Middle Level Education!
I often have people say to me, “I could never work in a middle school. Elementary or high school, yes, but not middle school.” My response is always the opposite. There is no where else I’d rather be. The development of middle school age children is rapid and unique in so many ways making every day an opportunity to keep me on my toes!
March is Middle Level Education Month. This annual recognition provides a special opportunity to focus on the middle grades, a very important time in the education of our children. Other than from birth to age three, 10- to 15-year-olds are experiencing the most rapid, significant changes of their lives—changes that are physical, social, emotional, and cognitive in nature.
During this month I ask you to consider the following:
- The importance of parents being knowledgeable about young adolescents and being actively involved in their lives;
- The understanding that healthy bodies plus healthy minds equal healthy young adolescents;
- The realization that the education young adolescents experience during this formative period of life will, in large measure, determine the future for all citizens; and
- The knowledge that every young adolescent should have the opportunity to pursue his or her dreams and aspirations, and post-secondary education should be a possibility for all.
Join me in celebrating Middle Level Education!
Sincerely,
Sherri Stengel
DI Teams Advance to State
Seniors (“Gottem”) and 3rd graders (“Dutchmen Gamers”) recently competed in the regional Destination Imagination meet with an improv challenge and a play based on a game, respectively. These two teams won first place and advanced to the state competition! CONGRATULATIONS to all students who took part in this year’s DI experience. #BoostTheOost
Lifting Their Voices
High School Voice students spectacularly perform “Run to You”, “All of Me”, and “You’re the Voice” before a large audience, as they open for the Wisconsin Singers.
“You can find magic wherever you look…” -Dr. Seuss
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” First graders had so much fun reading Dr. Seuss books together in honor of his birthday!
Student Art on Display
A collection of pieces by Oostburg Middle and High School art students are featured in the John Michael Kohler Art Center’s current exhibit celebrating Youth Art Month. Other high school pieces will be showcased next month at the Big East Conference Youth Art Series at Rahr-West Art Museum in Manitowoc. Our students’ creative and technical talent knows no bounds!
Harlem Wizards April 13th
The Harlem Wizards are coming to town on April 13, and this event is hosted by the H.O.G. Colorado Trip Team. The Wizards will play against all-star teams from the Hingham, Oostburg, and Gibbsville churches, Team Aaron White and also the youth pastor’s team! Information and tickets are available online or in the office.
