Ithaca School District

Today is Monday, March 15, 2021. Due to the impending storm, Ithaca Public schools will release students at 1:00 for the elementary, and at 1:15 for the Middle and High school.

World Down Syndrome Day, March 21st, is a day to spread awareness and advocate for those who may experience unjust treatment for having Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome occurs when an individual has an extra partial (or whole) copy of chromosome 21. It is not yet known why this syndrome occurs, but Down Syndrome has always been a part of the human condition. It exists in all regions across the globe and commonly results in variable effects on learning styles, physical characteristics, and health. The Middle School Student Council is collecting money from March 15-18, this is completely optional, that will be donated to the National Down Syndrome Society, which supports and advocates for the Down syndrome community by focusing on three key areas of programming: Resources & Support, Policy & Advocacy and Community Engagement. Overall, the goal for this day is to inform and educate people about this condition. For those of you interested in donating during those dates (March 15-18), there will be collection jars in each elementary classroom, one for middle school in room 205, and one for high school on the microwave by the office. In support of World Down Syndrome day on Thursday, March 18, the Middle School Student Council is holding a dress up day for you to wear the colors blue and yellow.

March 15, 2021 Today is a Day 2 Elementary Day 2 Today's schedule for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Band, 7th Grade - Choir, 8th Grade - Band. HS Band and Choir are on the Day 2 schedule. Lunch for today: First choice-Corn Dog, Second choice-Fish Sticks, Baked Beans, Pineapple, Dinner Roll, Milk The Band students in grades 5 - 12 are selling Berres Flavored Coffee, a company from Watertown, WI. If you are interested, please contact a band student. Band Students - all fundraiser forms and money are due on Monday, March 22. Seniors...please check your email regarding upcoming scholarship opportunities! Also, you can access all scholarship information on our school website. Go to counselor’s corner and click on scholarship info. We live in a great community with gracious givers! Attn students in grades 8-12: The Morgridge Institute for Research and UW-Madison are offering FREE online Summer Science Camp workshops. If you are interested in more information, contact Mrs. Plonka. The deadline to sign up is May 15. Attn Middle and High School Students:The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation has launched an Editorial Writing & Cartoon Contest. High schoolers may write a 500 word article about the First Amendment and middle schoolers a 200 word letter to the editor about the First Amendment. Or you may create an original cartoon about the First Amendment. Cash prizes of up to $500 will be awarded to winners. Submissions are due May 15. Contact Mrs. Plonka for more information. There will be a PTSO meeting this Wednesday, March 17 starting at 4 PM via Zoom. Hope to see you then! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83111432995 For all boys and girls from grades 4K-8th. Registration forms are available in the school office. 2021 Ithaca Youth Baseball and Softball registration forms are due Friday, March 26th. If you have any questions, please contact Brett Maxwell at (608) 588-4496. World Down Syndrome Day: The Middle School Student Council is collecting money from March 15-18, this is completely optional, that will be donated to the National Down Syndrome Society, which supports and advocates for the Down syndrome community by focusing on three key areas of programming: Resources & Support, Policy & Advocacy and Community Engagement. Overall, the goal for this day is to inform and educate people about this condition. For those of you interested in donating during those dates (March 15-18), there will be collection jars in each elementary classroom, one for middle school in room 205, and one for high school on the microwave by the office. In support of World Down Syndrome day on Thursday, March 18, the Middle School Student Council is holding a dress up day for you to wear the colors blue and yellow. Ithaca Youth For Change invites you to join a prevention workshop. We're finding new ways to reduce drug misuse, change our community and be leaders! Join the fight, stand for something and make our community better. This prevention workshop will be held via Zoom on Monday, March 15th from 4-6 pm. If you are planning on attending, zooming from the school building is an option. Meet in the commons after school. We hope to see you on the screen! This Day in History: On March 15, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson used the phrase “we shall overcome,” borrowed from African American leaders struggling for equal rights; Johnson declared that “every American citizen must have an equal right to vote.” Johnson reminded the nation that the Fifteenth Amendment, which was passed after the Civil War, gave all citizens the right to vote regardless of race or color. But states had defied the Constitution and erected barriers. Discrimination had taken the form of literacy, knowledge or character tests administered solely to African Americans to keep them from registering to vote. Word of the Day: Expeditious ek-spi-dish-uhs Expeditious (ex·pe·di·tious) adj. Acting or done with speed and efficiency. Birthdays: Elementary— none H.S./M.S.—none Staff-Mike Hutchison, bus driver

Substitute Teachers make an incredible impact on our children’s education. In fact, one full year of a child’s K-12 education is taught by substitute teachers, according to the Substitute Teaching Institute at Utah State University. In recognition of all they do, schools across the country will celebrate the approximately 270,000 men and women who fill in for permanent teachers. Pictured are: Sly Deitelhoff, Dave Hinrichs, Janet Jeffers, Jeanna Lorenz, Liz Pulvermacher, Chay Schmitt, Heather Stocks, and Michael Whiteside.

March 12, 2021 Today is a Day 1 Elementary Day 1 Today's schedule for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Choir, 7th Grade - Band, 8th Grade - Choir. HS Band and Choir are on the Day 1 schedule. Lunch for today: First choice-Cheese Pizza, Second choice-Pulled Pork Sandwich, Caesar Salad Pears, Dinner Roll, Milk Forensics team: District video round 2 starts today right after school! Dress appropriately and meet in the LMC. Those who recorded on Wednesday should attend as well to support your teammates! Seniors...please check your email regarding upcoming scholarship opportunities! Also, you can access all scholarship information on our school website. Go to counselors corner and click on scholarship info. We live in a great community with gracious givers! Today is the final day of National School Social Work week. School Social Workers implement multi-tiered programs and practices, value student self-determination, and honor confidentiality. Mrs. Pluemer thanks you for your support of your School Social Worker! Good luck to the Destination Imagination teams as they will be doing their main challenge recordings tomorrow to try to qualify for state. Teams include: The 7 Yetis - Kerrick Thompson, Meghan Miller, Sam Jones, Annabeth Sprecher, Braysen Garcia-Boland, and Maylee Pluemer. The Secret Six - Abby Plonka, Owen Feryance, Ally Plonka, Jadyn Boland, Callie Muckler, and Caden Keller. Scrat Rats - Maggie Gschwind, Holly King, Trista Pluemer, and Tristen Peterson. And the Chicken Trio - Miranda Franzen, Kaylee Peterson, and Alivya Young. The yearbook staff will be taking group photos for the yearbook today during Attack. Some of these photos are for band, choir, FCCLA, FCA and others. Attention Middle school volleyball players, practice will start Monday in the old gym right after school. Attention Middle school football players, practice will start Monday after school. Bring clothes and shoes for both indoor and outdoor practice. Middle School Wrestlers: Please drop off your uniforms in the office as soon as possible. For all boys and girls from grades 4K-8th. Registration forms are available in the school office. 2021 Ithaca Youth Baseball and Softball registration forms are due Friday, March 26th. If you have any questions, please contact Brett Maxwell at (608) 588-4496. World Down Syndrome Day: The Middle School Student Council is collecting money from March 15-18, this is completely optional, that will be donated to the National Down Syndrome Society, which supports and advocates for the Down syndrome community by focusing on three key areas of programming: Resources & Support, Policy & Advocacy and Community Engagement. Overall, the goal for this day is to inform and educate people about this condition. For those of you interested in donating during those dates (March 15-18), there will be collection jars in each elementary classroom, one for middle school in room 205, and one for high school on the microwave by the office. In support of World Down Syndrome day on Thursday, March 18, the Middle School Student Council is holding a dress up day for you to wear the colors blue and yellow. Ithaca Youth For Change invites you to join a prevention workshop. We're finding new ways to reduce drug misuse, change our community and be leaders! Join the fight, stand for something and make our community better. This prevention workshop will be held via Zoom on Monday, March 15th from 4-6 pm. If you're interested in joining this fun learning experience, contact Mrs. Dickey, Mrs. Pleumer, Carissa Willis, or Emma Schoen to get signed up! Prizes will be given to all participants! Hope to see you on the screen! Congratulations to ALL the students who successfully completed their story and submitted it on time for Delta Kappa Gamma. This year's winners: 3rd Grade Molly Geraths, Smoking the Bees, 2nd Place Kashtyn Alt, Another Boy, 3rd Place Cameron Beasley, My Family Trip 2020, 3rd Place Brynli Brady, Summer Vacation, Honorable Mention Briggs Maxwell, The Hunt, 1st Place Odin Alexander, My Four Wheeler, 1st Place Alejandro Abarca, Costa Rica, 2nd Place Desiree Buscher, North Dakota, Honorable Mention 4th Grade Hallie Steinmetz, Gold Medal Brownies - First Place Aspen Young, The Captain’s Story - Second Place Spencer Nelson, The Hunt - Third Place Miley Brown, Bob the Chicken - Honorable Mention Mckailah Swenson, Pandas - Honorable Mention Braxton Fowell, Frederick the Pig - Honorable Mention Owen Kershner, Finland the Duck - Honorable Mention Avaya Pyfferoen, My Cat Kiki-Honorable mention 5th Grade Alyssa Olson Snowy’s Adventure - 2nd Place Addison Smyth Where’s the Sad Llama? - Honorable Mention Ashlynn Fowell - 3rd place Kennedy Salisbury - Honorable Mention Autumn McBain- Honorable Mention This date in History: On March 12, 1933, eight days after his inauguration, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gives his first national radio address—or “fireside chat”—broadcast directly from the White House. Roosevelt began that first address simply: “I want to talk for a few minutes with the people of the United States about banking.” Word of the Day: Lucid loo-sid Lucid (lu·cid) adj. 1. Easily understood; intelligible. 2. Mentally sound; sane or rational. “A lucid conversation.” 3. Translucent or transparent. Birthdays: Elementary— Today, Jett Elliott, on Sunday, Aaron Jacobson H.S./M.S.—On Sunday, Logan Anderson Staff-Ms. Jensen

Seniors...please check your email regarding upcoming scholarship opportunities! Also, you can access all scholarship information on our school website. Go to counselors corner and click on scholarship info. We live in a great community with gracious givers!

Registration for the Youth Baseball/Softball has begun. Any boys or girls, 4K-8th grade, interested in playing should complete the registration form. Ithaca Youth Baseball/Softball registration forms are due Friday, March 26. If you have any questions, please contact Brett Maxwell at (608) 588-4496.

March 11, 2021 Today is a Day 2 Elementary Day 6 Today's schedule for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Band, 7th Grade - Choir, 8th Grade - Band. HS Band and Choir are having pictures taken today during 5th hour. All Choir students should go to Choir first. Meet Mrs. Niemeyer outside at the ampitheater. The Band students, who are not in choir, should go to Band first to get instruments out. Lunch for today: First choice-Tator Tot Casserole, Second choice-Hot Ham & Cheese, Steamed Carrots, Applesauce, Breadstick, Milk Attention Middle school volleyball players, practice will start Monday in the old gym right after school. Attention Middle school football players, practice will start Monday after school. Bring clothes and shoes for both indoor and outdoor practice. Middle School Wrestlers: Please drop off your uniforms in the office as soon as possible. Anyone interested in joining the art club, there will be a meeting in the art room during attack today. No art skills or classroom experience required! Forensics Students: Great job yesterday making district videos and being present to support your teammates. If you didn't record your video on Wednesday, get in some practice, and then be dressed and ready to go on Friday starting at 3:30. Your coaches love working with you and think you're pretty awesome! For all boys and girls from grades 4K-8th. Registration forms are available in the school office. 2021 Ithaca Youth Baseball and Softball registration forms are due Friday, March 26th. If you have any questions, please contact Brett Maxwell at (608) 588-4496. The yearbook staff will be taking group photos for the yearbook on today and Friday during Attack. Some of these photos are for band, choir, FCCLA, FCA and others. This week is National School Social Workers Week. School Social Workers empower students and offer a voice for marginalized youth. More facts to follow... Ithaca Happy Hour--stop by Ms Schoen's office for a package. Pickup by end of week. Word of the Day: Demonstrable dih-mon-struh-buhl Demonstrable (de·mon·stra·ble) adj. 1. Capable of being demonstrated or proved: “demonstrable truths.” 2. Obvious or apparent: “demonstrable lies.” Birthdays: Elementary— none H.S./M.S.—None

CESA 3 will be conducting a virtual substitute teacher training on Thursday, March 17th, meeting a licensure requirement for your potential subs. Are you or do you know a community member who has expressed interest? A paraeducator who is great with kids? The minimum requirement is an associates degree. That, and this training on Thursday, could make you a new sub by Friday! Future subs register here: https://bit.ly/2XA7L3M

First Graders have been playing with their food? Pizzas and equal parts, and restaurant retell sandwiches. In Mrs. Richards' Pizza Company, students reviewed our 2D shapes and created equal parts in our pizza! In Mrs. Owen's Restaurant, students learned how to retell with our retelling sandwich and a book!

March 10, 2021 Today is a Day 1 The yearbook staff will be taking group photos for the yearbook on Thursday and Friday during Attack. Some of these photos are for band, choir, FCCLA, FCA and others. Forensics students, today is filming day ONE! Everyone should meet in the LMC, dressed and ready to go. We will begin as close to 1pm as possible.Those of you we don't film today will be filmed on Friday. This week is National School Social Worker Week. School Social Workers consider barriers to learning and value relationship building. More facts to follow this week.... Ithaca Happy Hour--stop by Ms Schoen's office for a package. Pickup by end of week. Word of the Day: Plagiarize pley-juh-rahyz, Plagiarize (pla·gia·rize) v. 1. To use and pass off (the ideas or writings of another) as one’s own. 2.To appropriate for use as one’s own passages or ideas from another. Birthdays: Elementary— none H.S./M.S.—Rylee Jacobson and Caleb Marchwick Staff—Ms. Umhoefer

The Ithaca School district is now accepting applications for Head Middle School Track Coach, Assistant Middle School Track Coach and JV Baseball Coach. You can print an application from our website at www.Ithaca.k12.wi.us, stop at the school to pick up an application or call the school and we can mail one to you. For more information or to arrange for an application for these coaching positions please call 608-585-2512 today and ask for Brooke Hackl or Zac Thome. Call now for your opportunity to join the Ithaca team!

Mrs. Schoen's Irish eyes are smiling, but so are so many other eyes who are happy to get their first dose of a COVID vaccine. Staff at Ithaca are grateful to the many people who made this day possible for them, including local and county health officials, district administration, school nurses, and all staff who gave their time and talents. A special thank you goes out to our families who are understanding of the change to our calendar. There were Ithaca alumni present helping the Ithaca, Richland, Weston, and UW Platteville-Richland personnel receive their vaccinations. And the sun is shining! All around, so much to smile about.

Last week our elementary classes celebrated Read Across America! We had dress up days and Mrs. Schoen visited classrooms for a read aloud. Reading independently, as a family, as a class, to a child helps expand vocabulary and writing skills, exposes students to other ideas and opinions, introduces students to other cultures and geography, and it is a relaxing and entertaining way to spend your time. Make every day a Read Across America day.

School social work week represents a time when the incredible work of those in the profession is especially recognized. This challenging year, as every year, school social workers have led the way in fostering connections with and among students, staff, families, and community members to turn new problems into new opportunities. School social workers do not look to place blame for a problem, but instead ask, “How can I help?”. School social workers make the world a better place. This week, we recognize our School Social Worker, Shelly Pluemer. She is integral in supporting students of all grade levels as well as our staff.

March 8, 2021 Today is a Day 2 Elementary Day 5 Today's schedule for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Choir, 7th Grade - Band, 8th Grade - Choir. HS Band and Choir are on the Day 2 schedule today. Lunch for today: First choice-Hamburger, Second choice-Chicken Nuggets, Baked Beans, Mixed Fruit, Dinner Roll, Milk Forensics team: District video recording is this Wednesday and Friday! Make sure to get plenty of practice. If you would like to come in tomorrow, see a coach to arrange a time. This week is National School Social Worker Week. School Social Workers promote the social and emotional development of students. More facts to follow this week..... Ithaca Happy Hour--stop by Ms Schoen's office for a package. Pickup by end of week. Word of the Day: Perpetuity pur-pi-too-i-tee Perpetuity (per·pe·tu·i·ty) n.pl. 1. Time without end; eternity. 2. The quality or condition of being perpetual: “The terms of the agreement remain in effect in perpetuity.” Birthdays: Elementary— none H.S./M.S.—Emma Coy and Lukeus Mueller

Due to the change in school for students on Tuesday (there will be no school for students except for juniors on Tuesday, March 9th), all food for Virtual Wednesday will be sent home with students on Monday, March 8th. Please use this form to sign up for food next week. All food for Virtual Wednesday will be sent home with students on Monday, March 8th.Any questions may be directed to Annette via text or phone at 608/475-7312 or Juli Thompson via email at juli.thompson@ithaca.k12.wi.us. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScaALM2NDoxvzfBFLjd3aYKout4VIqqoOqDcZ3fgnCrkMW9CQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

Our spring Scholastic Book Fair is still open! Shop the book fair from February 22nd-March 7th. Closing soon! The book fair has 6,000 titles to choose from. Book-only orders of $25 or more ship to your home for free. Every purchase will benefit our school. Thank you for your support. Shop the fair at www.scholastic.com/bf/ithacaelementaryschool1.

Attention high school students. The Ithaca Youth 4 Change group invites you to a youth prevention workshop! We're finding new ways to reduce drug misuse, change our community, and be leaders. Join us March 15th for pizza after school, games, friends, and change including an interactive zoom meeting with youth speaker, Jeremy Triblett. Register with Mrs. Shelly Pluemer or Mrs. Heather Dickey before March 13th!

March 5, 2021 Today is a Day 1 Elementary Day 4 Today's schedule for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Band, 7th Grade - Choir, 8th Grade - Band. HS Band and Choir are on the Day 1 schedule today. HS Band students should bring a pen to class today. Lunch for today: First choice-Cheese Quesadilla, Second choice-Hot Dog, Peas, Applesauce, Dinner Roll, Milk HS Band Students: Your medical and permission forms for the trip are due to Mrs. Behrens today. Except for the junior class, there will be no school on Tuesday, March 9 so all staff can get vaccinated. Juniors must report and take the ACT. 4H Horse Project members--Meeting Sunday, 4pm, via Zoom. Plan to attend. Best of luck to all of our youth and middle school wrestlers who will be participating at the state wrestling tournament this weekend. Junior Class: There will be a class meeting in the band room today during Attack time. Forensics team: District videos are March 10 and 12! That means it's time to practice so be sure to see a coach! Thank you for all of your generous donations in the FBLA - March of Dimes Dime War. The fundraiser collected $725. The Elementary students donated almost $400 themselves. The true winners of the Dime Wars are the mothers and babies who are being helped with this money, but the winners of the ice cream bars are Elementary: Mrs. Pulvermacher’s class donating $88.39; Middle School: 8B donating $74.39; and High School: Freshman donating $124.08 **At the beginning of Attack the freshman class had $0 and the juniors and seniors were $.20 apart. It was an exciting half hour. Freshman, you should thank Landon Thompsonand his posse for the Dime War win.** Any 6-8 graders interested in participating in the virtual UW-LaCrosse Math and Science Expo must let Mrs. Plonka know by Friday, March 5. Our spring Scholastic Book Fair is open! Shop the book fair from February 22nd-March 7th. The book fair has 6,000 titles to choose from. Book-only orders of $25 or more ship to your home for free. Every purchase will benefit our school. Thank you for your support. Shop the fair at www.scholastic.com/bf/ithacaelementaryschool1. Juniors- please don't forget to hand in your ACT permission slip - there is an envelope outside Ms. Bevans room to put them in. THANK YOU! Southwest Technical College Program Visit Days – March 2 – 5 – Program Visit Days will be held virtually this year. It is great for Juniors or Seniors who are unsure of their plans as well as for those students who have already applied to meet their instructors and get more information about their chosen program. For more information and to register go to www.swtc.edu/programvisit. Southwest Technical College Free Applications March 1 – 5 – SWTC Application will be FREE ALL WEEK starting March 1 – 5. This is an awesome opportunity for anyone who hasn’t applied yet, but is thinking about coming to Southwest Tech in the fall to apply at NO COST. Go to www.swtc.edu/apply to apply. This day in history--the hula hoop was patented. 1963, the hula hoop, a hip-swiveling toy that became a huge fad across America when it was first marketed by Wham-O in 1958m is patented by the company's cofounder, Arthur "Spud" Melin. An estimated 25 million were sold in first 4 months alone. The Boston Massacre--On the cold, snowy night of March 5, 1770, a mob of American colonists gathered at the Customs House in Boston and began taunting the British soldiers guarding the building. The protesters, who called themselves Patriots, were protesting the occupation of their city by British troops, who were sent to Boston in 1768 to enforce unpopular taxation measures passed by a British parliament that lacked American representation. Word of the Day: Verbose ver-bohs Verbose (ver·bose) adj. Using or containing a great and usually an excessive number of words; wordy. “She was too verbose in her narrative.” Birthdays: Elementary— none H.S./M.S.—on Saturday, Ryan Lee and Cinara Lorenzo-Castillo Staff—On Saturday, Mr. Kelly