Author: Sherri Stengel

About Sherri Stengel

Posts by Sherri Stengel:

Let’s Celebrate Middle Level Education!

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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

It Could Never Happen Here-Take 2

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As a parent of 3 children of my own and the Principal of many, I am like most of you and would like to believe that things like human trafficking won’t happen to my own children or my school children. However, given the statistics on these topics and our youth, it would be naive to believe that it isn’t happening in our County or even in our school. In fact, it is happening in our county. I pray that it won’t happen to “ our” youth, but it might. Prevention on these topics is necessary to keep our students safe.

Natalie, a Sexual Assault Specialist and Advocate from Safe Harbor, and Scott Wieland, a Detective for Sheboygan County, are coming to Oostburg to present to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students on Monday, March 4, 2019.  Natalie and Det. Wieland have teamed together to talk to students at schools throughout the County about human trafficking.  While a very sensitive and personal subject, school prevention programs are presented  in an age-appropriate manner and are designed to raise awareness. Students also learn about resources, risk reduction strategies and bystander intervention.

On March 4, in the OHS Auditorium, Natalie and Det. Wieland will be speaking to all 6th grade students at 11:30 am, and to all 7th and 8th grade students at 1:00 pm. All parents and any community members are invited to join us during one or both of these presentations. Please check in at the OHS office prior to coming to the auditorium.  Parents, your child will be bringing home a letter explaining this as well on Friday, March 1, 2019. 

Immediately following each presentation, we will be breaking students into small groups to have a follow up discussion/debriefing with them about the presentation. I’d encourage parents, if you aren’t able to join us for the presentation, to have a conversation with your child about what they learned.

The last time we had a similar presentation was 2 years ago already. The feedback was positive from those parents in attendance. Also, I’ve included two links to articles related to human trafficking in the state of Wisconsin and Sheboygan. Please visit https://whbl.com/news/articles/2017/oct/03/violent-sex-trafficker-appears-in-sheboygan-county-court/ and http://www.sheboyganpress.com/story/news/local/2015/06/05/human-trafficking/28566791/ to learn more. 

Any questions pertaining to the presentations can be directed to Ms. Keri Lauritsen, the OMS School Counselor, at 920-564-2383 or keri.lauritsen@oostburg.k12.wi.us. 

While this is a sensitive subject that we don’t like to think about, the safety of our children is paramount. Prevention and education can save a life!

Sincerely, Sherri Stengel

Thank You School Counselors!

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February 4-8 is National School Counseling Week where we celebrate the unique contributions that school counselors have on our school and district wide goals. Bringing public attention to their impact on student success is important to me. This week, my blog will focus on how our very own school counselor, Keri Lauritsen, brings value to OMS and the students, families, and staff she serves.

How are students different because of the work that Mrs. Lauritsen does? I randomly asked a small group of 8th grade students how Mrs. Lauritsen helps them. Answers included, “She helps me through my problems,” “She studies with us after school, ” “She is in a book club with me,” “She helps us figure out what classes to take in high school,” and “She gets me information on the military because the program doesn’t have much on it.”
“School counselors work with all students to remove barriers to learning by addressing students’ academic concerns, career awareness in post-secondary options and social/emotional skills,” said Kwok-Sze Wong, Ed.D., ASCA executive director. As you can tell from student responses, this is exactly what Mrs. Lauritsen does at OMS.

Thank you Mrs. Lauritsen for your time, attention to detail, and concern for the success and well-being of all students. You are an integral piece in helping OMS achieve our mission of all students learning at high levels. Your work both directly and indirectly increases student achievement. Furthermore, your work with career planning and serving as a liaison to much-needed resources for students, parent, teachers, and administrators is much appreciated. Thank you for all you do this week and every week!

If you happen to see Mrs. Lauritsen this week or any time, be sure to thank her too!

Thanks for reading,

Sherri Stengel

Brains or Strains?

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This summer I read a blog by Dr. Charles Fay and the Love and Logic Institute. As a parent, the article resonated with me so I thought I would summarize some of the key points for you.

In this blog, it asked a series of questions about what we, as parents, want our children to be. What is best for them now to prepare them for tomorrow’s highly competitive workforce? Do we want them to give up easily when an assignment gets difficult, or do we want them to persevere and have the confidence to keep going when times get tough? Do we want them to take an easier class so they get a good grade or the harder class which pushes, but may result in a lower grade? What’s more important, stellar grades or the grit to keep trying and growing?

To best prepare our children, as parents and educators, we can:

  • Focus less on brains and more on strains.
  • Blame successes on perseverance and the effort they gave, rather than the ease in which they succeeded.
  • Teach them that failure is part of learning and is not final. By focusing on perfection, we decrease their chances of taking healthy academic risks and may limit their ceiling of potential. 

Will you join me in focusing on the strains, rather than the brains, of learning? Focusing on the brains may limit students as they may think, 
“If I try something challenging and fail, I might not live up to what people think of me. I’m not going to take that risk. I will play it safe and take the easier route.” Instead, let’s encourage our children to take academic risks and show them that with effort and perseverance, the sky’s the limit!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season with friends and family and that 2019 blesses each of you with an abundance of health and happiness. Thanks for reading!

Sherri Stengel

Armed Intruder Drill

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Good Afternoon Parents/Guardians,

As we continue to learn about school safety and provide our students and staff with the latest information in best practices related to this topic, I wanted to let you know in advance that next week we will be having our first Armed Intruder Drill at the middle school. During our in-service time prior to the school year, we were trained as a staff by the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department on multiple crisis response scenarios. Our next step in preparing for these sorts of situations will be to first teach students about some response options, and then run a basic lock down drill. In future drills, we will very likely practice other response options, such as rapid evacuation and barricading, that will depend on the threat, location, and other varying circumstances. 

Along with our belief that involving students in drills that prepare for these sorts of situations is critical so that our response can be as efficient and effective as possible, these drills are also specifically required by Act 143. In every case where we run a drill in response to an Armed Intruder or Active Shooter, we will make it perfectly clear that it is a drill situation and not a real threat. At this particular point in the process, we will first carefully plan each of our responses in a meeting with our staff, and then we will teach the responses in detail to our students in the classroom before actively practicing the drill itself. 

Although the likelihood of something happening at OMS is small, we do need to be prepared and learn from the drills so our children are as safe as possible. If you have any questions or concerns about these sorts of crisis response drills, please feel free to call me at (920) 564-2383 x4218 to discuss the matter.

Thank you and have a great weekend,
Sherri Stengel

Parent Teacher Conferences Start Tomorrow!

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Hello Parents,

This is a friendly reminder that Parent Teacher Conferences are tomorrow, 11/13 and Monday 11/19 at OMS. Half of each night are scheduled conferences and the other half of each night will be walk-in conferences.

If you did not receive an email for a scheduled conference, you are welcome to discuss your child’s progress with one or more of their teachers during the walk-in conference times. These conferences will be on a first come/first served basis and will be from 5:15-7pm on Tuesday 11/13 and from 3-4:45 pm on Monday 11/19.

We look forward to discussing your child’s progress with you on these evenings. Please call the OMS office if you have any questions!

Sincerely,
Sherri Stengel

Learner Responsibilities in Infinite Campus

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Good Afternoon and Happy Election Day!

Some of you that check Infinite Campus regularly may have noticed marks such as C, P, and/or N recently added for your student under “Learner Responsibilities” related to Collaboration, Effort, and Respect. Your child’s behavior in these areas can receive the following marks:
C=Consistently (Your child consistently demonstrates the behavior.)
P=Progressing/Developing (Your child is progressing on the behavior but is not always consistently demonstrating it.)
N=Needs Attention (Your child’s behavior in this area needs improvement or attention.)

Sorry for any confusion these marks recently added for quarter 1 progress reports may have caused you. A rubric explaining these marks will be printed right on your child’s report card as well.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Sherri Stengel

Upcoming Parent Teacher Conferences

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Hello Parents,

Parent teacher conferences will be held on Tuesday 11/13 and Monday 11/19 at OMS. Half of each night will be scheduled conferences and the other half of each night will be walk-in conferences.

If teachers are requesting a scheduled conference with you, you should have received an invite from Sign Up Genius to select a time to meet. If you did not receive an email for a scheduled conference, you are welcome to discuss your child’s progress with one or more of their teachers during the walk-in conference times. These conferences will be on a first come/first served basis and will be from 5:15-7pm on Tuesday 11/13 and from 3-4:45 pm on Monday 11/19.

We look forward to discussing your child’s progress with you on these evenings. Please call the OMS office if you have any questions!

Sincerely,
Sherri Stengel

Volunteers Wanted

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OMS is looking for a few volunteers to facilitate the Hansen Fundraiser Delivery and Pick-Up on Tuesday, 10/23/18 from 1:30-5pm in the OMS Cafeteria.  If you are interested in helping out for some or all of the time, please contact Deb Denboer at (920)564-2383. Thank you!

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School District of Oostburg

410 New York Ave
Oostburg, WI 53070
Phone: 920.564.2346

School Report Card | Academic and Career Planning

“The mission of the Oostburg School District is to ensure all students learn at high levels so they can become productive and positive contributors to society and the world.”

No person may be denied admission to any public school in the district or be denied participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any curricular, co-curricular, student services, recreational or other program or activity because of the person’s sex, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, handicap or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability in the educational programs or activities operated by the School District of Oostburg.

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