Summer 2016 T H E S U M M E R N E W S O F W H M S Upcoming Events

• Picture, Chromebook &

Locker Set Up Day

Gym & Library

10am - 12pm &

2pm -7pm

Thursday, August 18th

• Parent Information Night

Thursday, Sept 8th, 2016

4pm—6:30pm

• First Day of School

Thursday Sept. 1st Full Day

for ALL Students

7:18am—2:31pm

• 6th Grade Ice Cream Social

12:05pm –12:40pm

Parents are welcome to

volunteer !

Details Inside

• 1st Term PT Conferences

Wed Oct. 19th

Tues Oct. 25th

Thurs Oct. 27th

• Teacher Day-No School

Friday October 7th

• Student Half Day

10:37am Dismissal

Thurs. October 20th

• Fall Break-No School

Friday October 21st

• Student Half Day

10:37am Dismissal

Monday, Nov. 7th

• Thanksgiving Break

November 23-25

• Winter Break

December 24-Jan 2

• Classes Resume

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2017

Wisconsin Hil ls Middle School

Hello Families of Wisconsin Hills Middle School!

I hope that each and everyone of you is experiencing a relaxing and re-juvenating summer with family and friends! The sale adds are out, so we know the start of school is coming. . As I start my second year as Principal, here is my pledge to ensure WHMS is a Great Place to Learn:

I will put students first.

I will be visible

I will engage our students, staff, parents, and community

I will listen

I will continue to learn, grow, and succeed

I will empower others to learn, grow, and succeed

I will represent and advocate for our school in my actions, appearance, and words I will be responsible, strategic and accountable for future ready learners

We have been extremely busy here at Hills getting ready for another successful year with our WHMS community. We continue to be a Great School in a Great School District, and our continuous improvement efforts have con-tinued during the summer months. We are dedicated to moving from great to greater, and our summer here at Hills has been filled with key staff learning. Over 93% of our teachers participated in professional development, curriculum writing, or strategic planning. Additionally, our custodial staff has worked hard with facility improvements to our learning environments.

I hope that our summer bulletin provides you with the necessary infor-mation for a great start to the beginning of the year. I’m looking forward to a prosperous year of learning and growing together, and I’m excited to have hall-ways filled very soon with middle school life!

Lisa Rettler– Proud Wildcat Principal

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Wisconsin Hi l ls Middle School

OUR VISION

A Great Place to Learn, A Great Place to Work, A Great School District

OUR MISSION

Educate each child to think, to learn, and to succeed.

OUR VALUES AND BELIEFS

Learning is a Personal Process

We believe every child is capable of college, career, and community readiness.

We learn at different rates and in different ways.

We encourage, nurture, and expect student ownership in learning.

Learning is a Partnership

We develop relationships with students, parents, and community to support each child’s academic, social and emotional growth.

We embrace each other’s journey to continually learn and grow.

We care and have fun together.

Learning is Progressive

We focus on creativity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration.

We commit to a culture of quality, continuous improvement, and lifelong learning.

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LOCKER SET UP , CHROMEBOOK

DISTRIBUTION, AND PICTURE DAY 8/18 Thursday

10:00 am - 12:00 pm or 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm

PRIOR TO ARRIVAL:

Print your child’s schedule from Infinite Campus. Sched-ules will go live on Infinite Campus on August 15, and an as-signed locker number will be listed on each student’s sched-ule. Be sure to select the “Print with locker number” option when you print out your schedules so you will know your

locker number when you come for set-up. STATION 1: GYM

Take student picture for school ID and for our Year Book. Life Touch is the School Sponsored

Photographer for 2016-17. Click here for the form.

Visit our PTO booth for spirit wear, event de-

tails and volunteer opportunities.

Pick up your pre-paid SCHOOL-PAK and locks.

Click here to see if you signed up to help with

School Pak distribution

6th Grade– Pick up locker shelves.

STATION 2: LIBRARY Check out Chromebook

STATION 3: GRADE LEVEL HALLWAY (6th grade ground floor, 7th & 8th 2nd floor)

Set up locker. All supplies including Kleenex & Wipes should be stored in locker.

If your student is unable to attend, we will have a Picture Make-Up/Re-Take Day Friday, 9/2. The building is open 8/18– 8/31 during school business hours (8:00 am– 3:00 pm)

for additional locker set up time if needed. Chrome books will also be available on 8/23 for checkout.

Click here for our School Supplies list.

The WHMS PTO is seeking parents to help with

our spirit wear sale & lock distribution on

Thursday, August 18th

10am-12noon & 2pm –7pm.

Please consider volunteering 1 hour of your time.

Click here to find available time slots on

Signup Genius.

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Purpose:

To meet teachers, see your child’s learning environment, and understand essential learning of the year.

* Add’l information for this evening will be in the Friday Blast.

Please remember to complete registration and pay student fees. Thank you!

Online Registration is Open!

Log onto the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and

register your students by August 31st!

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First Day of School!

Tuesday, Sept. 1st This will be a full day of school for ALL Students

from 7:18 a.m. to 2:31 p.m.

6th Graders will receive special treatment upon arrival.

As they come off their bus, the 7th grade students will be there with

signs to greet them and direct them to the gymnasium.

There they will be given a short presentation, with an introduction to their

teachers and then escorted to their classrooms.

Our Annual 6th Grade Ice Cream Social

First Day of School

12:05pm—12:40pm

The Ice Cream Social gives our 6th Graders a chance to mingle and celebrate their first

day of middle school. And it's a great opportunity for parent volunteers to get a sneak

peek of how their 6th graders first day of middle school is going.

Volunteers are needed to help set up, scoop, serve and clean up.

Donations are needed for the ice cream sundaes.

All parents are welcome to volunteer. See below for details on how to volunteer!

Here is a link to the Sign Up Genius if you would like to volunteer or make a donation.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4ba5a92baaf49-1stday1

Volunteering at Wisconsin Hills

We warmly welcome those who are able to support our students and staff through volunteering. There are many opportunities throughout the year. Presently, we are looking for Library volunteers to help with...

1. Checking materials in and out for both students and staff 2. Shelving materials 3. Assisting students with acquiring the resources they need, i.e. delivering reserved materials to staff and students

We provide training, as well as working with top-notch staff and resources. All skill levels are welcome! Work-ing as a library volunteer provides the perfect opportunity to meet staff and students throughout the school!

To ensure the safety of all students, the Elmbrook School Board has adopted a new policy regarding volun-teers. Criminal background checks are required for all volunteers who may have unsupervised contact with students. Below is a link to the web site where you can read the policy and make online application for the criminal background check. Please be aware that the criminal background check must be completed before volunteering at Hills or any school in the District. Thank you!

Mandatory Volunteer Application

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We offer multiple ways to stay connected and engage with Wildcat Life!

WHMS Website: The website is updated each day with important student and parent announcements.

Weekly Friday Email Blast: All WHMS parents receive this email. No sign-up needed.

Daily Email Blast: You can opt to receive our daily student announcements. Click here to signup!

Parent Link Email & Phone calls: Used for special announcements. No sign-up needed.

Twitter: Follow us at @WHMS_SDE. Join our Wildcat story via Twitter. We post events, celebrations,

highlights on learning, and resources for students & parents. If you want to see more of the day-to-day,

here’s where to find it!

The Principal Chats: The 3rd Friday of every month we will host a Principal Chat in our

Library from 9am until 11am. Based on feedback from parents, we are offering varying times and days.

All are welcome!

PTO: The 1st or 2nd Wednesday of every month we will host our PTO Meetings in our Library from

9am until 10:30am. All our welcome! Our PTO is open to any parent of a Wisconsin Hills student.

Please consider attending a meeting to learn about ways to support our school!

WHMS PTO President: Christine Birt cbirthing@hotmail.com

WHMS PTO Membership Director: Jacquie Vraney vraney6@sbcglobal.net

WHMS PTO Treasurer: Jim Hoffman

Thursday, Sept. 22nd 5-6pm

Friday, Oct. 14th 9:30-10:30am

Tuesday, November 8th 6-7pm

Wed., December 14th 1:30-2:30pm

Monday, January 16th 9:30-10:30am

Wed., February 8th 4-5pm

Friday, March 17th 9-10am

Tuesday, April 25th 5:30-6:30pm

Friday, May 19th 9-10am

Wed. Sept. 7th Wed. Oct. 5th Wed. Nov. 2nd Wed. Dec. 7th

Wed. Jan. 11th Wed. Feb. 8th Wed. March 8th Wed. April 5th

Wed. May 5th Wed. May 31st

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Arrival and Dismissal @ WHMS Student Drop‑Off:

School buses drop off students at the North end of the building. Students may enter through either set of doors and report directly to the cafeteria if it is before 7:05am. Parents should plan to drop off students along the curb next to our cafeteria. Parents are asked to pull down the sidewalk as far as possible before

stopping to drop off their students.

Please do not drop students off in the driveway without pulling to the curb.

It is unsafe to have students cross between other cars pulled against the curb who may not see your son/daughter crossing in front/back of them. Please allow additional time for drop‑off on days when it is

raining or snowing.

After School Pick‑Up of Students:

Buses depart WHMS at approximately 2:40pm. Last year, we worked closely with the police department

to increase a safe drop off and pick up time frame. Our WHMS traffic patterns, signage, and safety ex-

pections have been established based on this ongoing feedback. FOR SAFETY & SECURITY, we

ask parents who pick up their child to wait in their cars. Students being picked up will not be

permitted to enter the parking lot until all buses have departed. To reduce traffic and wait times,

we strongly encourage students to ride the bus whenever possible.

Riding Bus Home With A Friend:

Permission to ride a bus other than one's own must be gained by presenting a signed note (faxed notes are

acceptable: 785-3967) from BOTH sets of parents to the school office.

Signed notes must be brought to the school office as soon as the student arrives to school in the morning.

A bus pass will be issued to the student as long as space permits on the bus. Students must give this ap-

proved bus pass to the driver. Drivers will not accept non‑route students on their bus without an ap-

proved bus pass. Each student is allowed to bring a maximum of two other students onto their bus

space permitting.

In the event of a student absence, the parent/guardian must call the absentee reporting line at 780-8083

by 8:00am on each day of the absence. If the parent/guardian has not provided prior notice or called,

then a school representative will call the parent/guardian to inquire about the student’s absence. Parents of students who will be vacationing two or more consecutive days during the school year should contact

the Attendance Office and Guidance Office well in advance of their planned departure to determine the effect that travel will have on the student's academic performance.

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TRAFFIC PATTERN

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Middle School (PPMS & WHMS)

Student Dress Code for 2016-2017

- Reference Elmbrook School Board Policy 5132 -

Insufficient Coverage –Shirts/blouses which expose the waist, chest, and back are not appropriate school attire. Short shorts, short skirts, tube tops, negligee like garments, and ripped clothing may also pose a violation. Tops allowed must cover bra straps and be 2” wide on the shoulder; no spaghetti straps. Sheer tops can only be worn as a second shirt over another shirt that meets dress code.

Clothing Images/Messages - Clothes may not display images with tobacco, drugs, alcohol, weapons, vulgar language/pictures, and may not advocate violations of school rules or the law.

Footwear – students must wear shoes at all times. No bedtime slippers are allowed at any time.

Headwear - No headwear of any type may be worn inside the school building (ie: hats, scarves, skull-caps, ban-danas, sweat bands, hoods, visors, sunglasses, etc.). Only girls headbands/barrettes used to keep hair up are

allowed. (Note: Religious and medical reasons for headwear are excluded from the dress code.)

Coats - Students may not wear or carry winter coats, winter vest-coats, backpacks or vinyl-drawstring shoulder

bags in the classroom.

Inappropriate Items - No waist chains (wallet chains, clip chains, etc.) exposed. No spiked accessories.

Other- Dress items not mentioned herein, but that are found to be disruptive to the learning environment or that pose a safety concern will be addressed by school administration and staff.

This complete dress code will be enforced during school hours, field trips, and school-sponsored extra-

curricular events at school – including those school activities that occur outside of regular school hours.

Consequences for violation of Dress Code:

First offense: Warning issued (change of clothing issued by school/brought by parent)

Second offense: Parent contacted (change of clothing issued by school/brought by parent) and lunch detention

assigned. Third offense: Parent contacted (change of clothing issued by school/brought by parent) and discipline referral

written for an after school detention.

Additional Offenses - Parent contacted (change of clothing issued by school/brought by parent) and discipline re-

ferral written and consequences to be assigned.

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Calendars

2016-17 School Year Elmbrook School District 2016-17

Calendar WHMS Calendar

A/B Day Rotation Calendar

Click HERE for the full year Activities At-a-Glance (as seen below) **Most up-to-date info located on our WHMS Calendar**

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Club / Activity

Superviser

Last Name

First

Name Start Month Ending Month Additional Info

Beautification Club Knuth Nathan September March Watch Announcements

Chamber Strings Weber Shelly September June Fridays beginning 9/9

Chess Club Meulemans Cally Ann October March Watch Announcements

Cross Country Losey Mark September October Physical required

Extreme Jazz Friedli Matt September June Current Music Students

Forensics Uttech Deb January March Students choose a day

Fun Friends Dentice Tammy November May All students all grades

Geography Club O'Regan Angela September January Wed. Starting 9/21

History Club O'Regan Angela September April Mondays

Intramurals Losey Mark October March 3 sessions/year

Jazz Lab Cooney James September June Current Music Students

Math Counts October March Watch Announcements

Mine Craft Club McGinn Betsy November March Watch Announcements

Mock Trial Club Vogt Jon November March tinyurl.com/whmocktrial

National Junior Honor Society Pratt Emily Sept/Nov May Watch Announcements

Sewing Club Sewell-Jensen Kathy November April E/O Wed. starting 11/16

Ski Club Heyden April November February Parent Mtg & 5 events

Solo Ensemble Friedli Matt January March Solo Ensemble 3/11/17

Spelling Bee Cally Ann Meulemans October December Watch Announcements

Super Singers Berendsen William September June Current Music Students

Symphony Orchestra Weber Shelly September June Current Music Students

The 8th Grade TGIF Social Club McGinn Betsy September March 3 Friday night events 8th

Track Losey Mark March May Parent Mtg & Physical

Vocal Ens. Showcase Singers Berendsen William September June Current Music Students

Wildcat Drumline Hemke Mike September June Watch Announcements

Wrestling Sanders Huel November March Physical required

Yearbook Steinke Karin October April Watch Announcements