Ithaca School District

It's a basketball - spaghetti TRIPLE HEADER! Join us at HOME TONIGHT for a conference BOYS / GIRLS BASKETBALL DOUBLE HEADER as the Ithaca Bulldogs host the Desoto Pirates AND a fundraising spaghetti dinner! Come out, eat dinner, and CHEER on the Bulldogs, TONIGHT!

Learners Today, Leaders Tomorrow Announcements: Fri, Feb 9, 2024 Lunch for today: First Choice: Baked fish Second Choice: Chicken strips Peas, mandarin oranges, WG roll From Ms Schoen: Ithaca and Richland Horse Club is hosting a spaghetti dinner tonight starting at 3:45pm. Price for students, $5; adults $8. Carry outs available. There will also be a pie auction-winners announced at half time of the varsity game. We hope the student body and staff will support the horse teams. From Ms. Sprecher: Thank you to all the FFA students and all the staff that helped to make the District 10 LDE contest a success! I really appreciate your hard work and commitment to our school and FFA organization. Congratulations to our FFA students advancing to Sectionals! Quiz Bowl -Autumn McBain, Alyssa Olson, Ashlynn Fowell, Ellie Otto, Aydin Kloehn, Lyvia Pickel, Jasmine White, Emma Birkrem Creed - Aleyah Swenson Prepared Speaking - Annabeth Sprecher Parliamentary Procedure - Violet Dilley, Logan Anderson, Josie Laue, Caleb Birkrem, Hewsten Garcia-Boland, Katie Fry From Ithaca Basketball Boosters: Ithaca Alumni Basketball games and 3-pt contest will be held this Saturday, Feb 10th in the High School gym. Doors open at 4:00pm and will start with the open 3-pt contest at 4:30pm. Alumni games will begin at 6:00pm with the women's games and men to follow. Players should bring a light and dark shirt. A silent auction will start at 4:00pm and conclude at the start of the second half of the men’s game. Concessions available all night. Proceeds benefit the Ithaca Basketball Boosters. From PTSO: Enjoy an afternoon with your family and friends at Symons Recreation Complex for FREE!!! Feb 11 from 1:30-3:45 p.m. the PTSO will be holding their Swim for Free Family Day. All you have to do is come to Symons and let them know at the counter that you are for the Ithaca PTSO Swim Day. We hope to see you there! From Mrs. Kershner: The Pistons to Pathway Automotive Technician Academy will host an open house on Fri, Feb 16 at Fillback Ford. Students currently in 10th or 11th grade may attend this field trip tour. The sign up is posted on Mr. Nee’s classroom door. Register no later than Monday Feb 12. Any questions please see Mr. Nee or Mrs. Kershner. Thank you From Mr. Andresen: The Math Team will meet during ATTACK Time on Monday Feb 12 in Mr. Andresen’s room. Team T-shirts and future competitions will be discussed, so attendance is important. If you cannot attend, please reach out to Mr. Andresen directly. From PTSO: Our next PTSO meeting will be Feb 13 at 3:45pm in the LMC. We hope to see you there! From Forensics coaches: Be sure you’re keeping up with emails and working regularly with coaches this week and next week. Our first contest is Monday, February 19th at Riverdale Elementary. The Ithaca FFA is selling strawberries again this year. The students will be collecting orders until Feb 20 and the strawberries will arrive the week of March 11. To order, please contact a FFA member, Ms. Sprecher or find an order form on the Ithaca FFA and Ithaca Schools facebook page. From Ms. Ernzen: Hoping to discuss your latest read or find your next amazing page turner? Then join Book Club! Our first meeting will be on Wednesday Feb, 14 during ATTACK in Ms. Ernzen’s room. Treats will be provided.

Edit: Tickets are cash-less only. Catch the first step as our Ithaca-Weston High School wrestlers work their way to the state tournament! The 2024 post-season kicks off with Regional action this Saturday, February 10th at Mineral Point High School. Skip the line with digital tickets or purchase yours at the door. Good luck wrestlers and coaches! https://gofan.co/event/1383823?fbclid=IwAR1j_MPoKwBPeOTEvI50l2M0_oVRB_rWG7W-LI-Bv6Cjul8mlGtYfEBLemI

Get to know our Ithaca Staff! Over the next few weeks, we will be highlighting our staff, both newly hired and old hands! Please enjoy our "Get to know you" posts. Today's featured Ithaca employee is 5th grade teacher Olivia Preuss.

Second graders have been learning the steps of the writing process, and how to write a persuasive letter. As a culmination of the unit, they wrote letters to Annette and discussed their favorite lunch menu choices with her. Additionally, they presented letters to Mrs. Schoen regarding their ideas for the playground. The students were very proud to share their thoughts and suggestions!

On February 7th, published author Erin Soderberg Downing visited Ithaca’s 3rd-8th grade students for a school assembly. Downing has written more than 100 books for children and teens. During the presentation, Downing discussed her newest novel, Just Keep Walking and shared many behind-the-scenes secrets from her writing process. Students learned about how she generates ideas from her real experiences, how she creates memorable characters, and how she researchers for her books by living as much of the experience of her characters as possible. Many students expressed excitement about reading the books featured in this presentation. If your student is interested in ordering books, Amazon provides the fastest service. Titles on Amazon that were featured in the presentation include: Just Keep Walking Controlled Burn The Great Peach Experiment #1 Thanks to Ithaca’s Emily Zorea for spearheading this event, and the entire Ithaca Education Staff for helping our students enjoy this time. And THANKS to Author Erin Soderberg Downing for sharing her talent with Ithaca!

Enjoy our story and pictures concerning 4K screening at Ithaca, held in January. (pictures and stores below in this email) You can also enjoy the entire story in THIS Ithaca YouTube Featured Presentation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQmLTlaQ564 The screening team welcomed three- and four-year-old children and their families to participate in the screening. The goal of early screening is to identify areas of strength and possible areas of concern in communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social developmental domains. During the event, parents receive information on community resources for young children and families, such as Richland County’s Birth-to-Three and Headstart programs while their child is screened in a play-based screening scenario. Families meet with our school nurse, Mrs. Wilson, to prepare for the next school year if their child has any medical concerns, and children are generally assessed for wellness during their visit. Parents also receive activities they can do at home with their child to encourage the child’s development in the domains above, and the children go home with a well-stocked goodie bag as a welcome to Ithaca School District and free books. School staff members involved in the screening event include Deb Manning (4K Paraprofessional), Amanda Meister (Speech and Language Pathologist), Andrea Newkirk (Title I Reading Specialist and Instructional Coach), Brittany Penfield (4K Teacher), and Jenna Wipperfurth (Elementary Special Education Teacher). Special thanks to Ithaca PTSO for donating goodie bags and all participants who make this event a success each year!

Popcorn Friday will be this Fri, Feb 9th! Elementary students, your classroom teacher will take your order and money. Middle School and High School students you will be able to purchase yours during breakfast, at the end of your hallways. Cost is $0.50 per bag, limit 2 bags per person. Help support the 1st grade class!

Learners Today, Leaders Tomorrow Announcements: Thu, Feb 8, 2024 Today is a Day 2 Lunch for today - First Choice: Mozzarella Sticks, Second Choice: Rib on a sub bun, Baked beans, apples, WG roll From Mrs. Stellner and Mrs. Pluemer: Sources of Strength will meet Thursday, Feb. 8th, during ATTACK. High School will meet in the LMC and Middle School will meet in Mr. Kelly’s room. From PTSO: Popcorn Friday will be this Fri, Feb 9. Elementary students, your classroom teacher will take your order and money. Middle School and High School students you will be able to purchase yours during breakfast, at the end of your hallways. Cost is $0.50 per bag, limit 2 bags per person. Help support the 1st grade class! From Ithaca Basketball Boosters: Ithaca Alumni Basketball games and 3-pt contest will be held this Saturday, Feb 10th in the High School gym. Doors open at 4:00pm and will start with the open 3-pt contest at 4:30pm. Alumni games will begin at 6:00pm with the women's games and men to follow. Players should bring a light and dark shirt. A silent auction will start at 4:00pm and conclude at the start of the second half of the men’s game. Concessions available all night. Proceeds benefit the Ithaca Basketball Boosters. From PTSO: Enjoy an afternoon with your family and friends at Symons Recreation Complex for FREE!!! Feb 11 from 1:30-3:45 p.m. the PTSO will be holding their Swim for Free Family Day. All you have to do is come to Symons and let them know at the counter that you are for the Ithaca PTSO Swim Day. We hope to see you there! From PTSO: Our next PTSO meeting will be Feb 13 at 3:45pm in the LMC. We hope to see you there! From Forensics coaches: Be sure you’re keeping up with emails and working regularly with coaches this week and next week. Our first contest is Monday, February 19th at Riverdale Elementary. The Ithaca FFA is selling strawberries again this year. The students will be collecting orders until Feb 20 and the strawberries will arrive the week of March 11. To order, please contact a FFA member, Ms. Sprecher or find an order form on the Ithaca FFA and Ithaca Schools facebook page. From Ms. Ernzen: Hoping to discuss your latest read or find your next amazing page turner? Then join Book Club! Our first meeting will be on Wednesday Feb, 14 during ATTACK in Ms. Ernzen’s room. Treats will be provided. WORD OF THE DAY: vivacious happy and lively in an appealing way. Our vivacious host’s bubbly humor and welcoming spirit quickly set everyone at ease. THIS DAY IN HISTORY: An idea floated by a Hollywood business leader in 1953 comes to fruition on February 8, 1960, when construction begins on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—today one of the Los Angeles area’s main tourist attractions. BIRTHDAYS: Elementary - none Middle School - Juana Gomez High School - none Faculty & Staff - none

Get to know our Ithaca Staff! Over the next few weeks, we will be highlighting our staff, both newly hired and old hands! Please enjoy our "Get to know you" posts. Today's featured Ithaca employee is Christine Schmitt.

If you've ever wanted to take an exotic vacation without leaving the comfort of Ithaca, the 7th grade Ecologists have made projects just for you! Our young scientists are studying Earth's biomes, climate, vegetation, and animals before diving into food webs, and some ambitious students decided to show their learning by creating dioramas that depict the different elements of Earth's biomes. Enjoy a mini-vacation through these mini-landscapes while you await your spring break plans!

Congratulations to the 17 students who participated in the FBLA Regional Leadership Conference on Saturday at River Ridge High School. Twelve students qualified to participate in the State Leadership Conference in Green Bay April 8 - 9. First-place winners of their events were Abby Plonka in Introduction to Parliamentary Procedures, Ally Plonka in Introduction to Marketing Concepts, and Landon Thompson in Insurance and Risk Management. Second-place finishers were the team of Jadyn Boland and Izzie Ortiz in Introduction to Social Media, the team of Emma Coy and Alivya Young in Broadcast Journalism, and the team of Holly King, Kailey Newkirk, and Tristen Peterson in Graphic Design. Third-place finishers were Maggie Gschwind in Public Speaking and Callie Muckler in Introduction to Public Speaking. Qualifying as an alternate to the State Leadership Conference is Annabeth Sprecher who placed 4th in Job Interview. Also participating at RLC were Josie Laue in Organizational Leadership and the team of Danny Feryance, Matt Kepler, and Ethan Birkrem in Sports and Entertainment Management. Thank you, Mrs. Sprecher, for chaperoning!

Ithaca High School Boys Basketball recently honored their seniors. Coach Benson thanked seniors Micah Salisbury and Danny Feryance. All of your hard work and dedication is very much appreciated. It's your leadership that has helped your team get to where they are today. Good luck to both of you after you graduate.

Learners Today, Leaders Tomorrow Announcements: Wed, Feb 7, 2024 Today is a Day 1 Lunch for today - First Choice: Grilled cheese w/ tomato soup, Second Choice: Hot dog w/ bun, Carrots, peaches, milk From Ms Schoen: Willow Valley Church is having a pancake supper starting at 4:30 tonight From Mrs. Deitelhoff: There will be an FCCLA meeting today, Wednesday Feb, 7 during attack in Mrs. Deitelhoff’s room. From Ms. Durkin: There will be an Art Club meeting today during ATTACK. If you are in FCCLA, please attend that meeting first. From Mrs. Zorea: Author Erin Soderberg Downing will be visiting Ithaca to talk with students in Grades 3-8 on Wed, Feb 7, 2024. Erin has written more than 50 books for kids and teens. Erin will discuss her newest novel, Just Keep Walking and will share many behind-the-scenes secrets from her writing process-from generating ideas to creating characters to research to writing first drives to revisions and beyond. If you would like signed copies of Erin’s books and need another order form, please see Mrs. Zorea. From Mrs. Stellner and Mrs. Pluemer Sources of Strength will meet Thursday, Feb. 8th, during ATTACK. High School will meet in the LMC and Middle School will meet in Mr. Kelly’s room. From PTSO: Popcorn Friday will be this Fri, Feb 9. Elementary students, your classroom teacher will take your order and money. Middle School and High School students you will be able to purchase yours during breakfast, at the end of your hallways. Cost is $0.50 per bag, limit 2 bags per person. Help support the 1st grade class! From Ithaca Basketball Boosters: Ithaca Alumni Basketball games and 3-pt contest will be held this Saturday, Feb 10th in the High School gym. Doors open at 4:00pm and will start with the open 3-pt contest at 4:30pm. Alumni games will begin at 6:00pm with the women's games and men to follow. Players should bring a light and dark shirt. A silent auction will start at 4:00pm and conclude at the start of the second half of the men’s game. Concessions available all night. Proceeds benefit the Ithaca Basketball Boosters. From PTSO: Enjoy an afternoon with your family and friends at Symons Recreation Complex for FREE!!! Feb 11 from 1:30-3:45 p.m. the PTSO will be holding their Swim for Free Family Day. All you have to do is come to Symons and let them know at the counter that you are for the Ithaca PTSO Swim Day. We hope to see you there! From PTSO: Our next PTSO meeting will be Feb 13 at 3:45pm in the LMC. We hope to see you there! From Forensics coaches: Be sure you’re keeping up with emails and working regularly with coaches this week and next week. Our first contest is Monday, February 19th at Riverdale Elementary. The Ithaca FFA is selling strawberries again this year. The students will be collecting orders until Feb 20 and the strawberries will arrive the week of March 11. To order, please contact a FFA member, Ms. Sprecher or find an order form on the Ithaca FFA and Ithaca Schools facebook page. WORD OF THE DAY: capitulate to surrender to an enemy, often after negotiating terms, or to stop trying to fight or resist something. The teacher refused to capitulate: no calculators were to be used during the exam. THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On February 7, 1964, Pan Am Yankee Clipper flight 101 from London Heathrow lands at New York’s Kennedy Airport—and “Beatlemania” arrives. It was the first visit to the United States by the Beatles, a British rock-and-roll quartet that had just scored its first No. 1 U.S. hit six days before with “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” At Kennedy, the “Fab Four”—dressed in mod suits and sporting their trademark pudding bowl haircuts—were greeted by 3,000 screaming fans who caused a near riot when the boys stepped off their plane and onto American soil. BIRTHDAYS: Elementary - Eva Scholl, Madelyn Wilkinson, Sawyer Wilkinson Middle School - none High School - none Faculty & Staff - none

Get to know our Ithaca Staff! Over the next few weeks, we will be highlighting our staff, both newly hired and old hands! Please enjoy our "Get to know you" posts. Today's featured Ithaca employee is Paula Boland.

School Counselors Celebrate During National School Counseling Week, Feb. 5–9, 2024. Help Ithaca Public Schools thank Ms Meredith Bevan, Mrs Monica Kershner, and Ms Shelly Pluemer by enjoying our YouTube FEATURED Presentation! (Runtime 2 minutes and 11 seconds) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VoP2cWtqXE

Come out this Friday, February 9th to support the Ithaca/RC WIHA Team! Get your homecooked spaghetti supper served by our team from 3:45pm until 6:45pm in the High School Commons. Adult meals are $8, Student meals are $5, and those 5 and under are $3. Funds raised help offset costs such as stable fees at shows. Thank you for your support!

Ithaca Alumni Basketball games and 3-pt contest will be held this Saturday, Feb 10th in the High School gym. Doors open at 4:00pm and will start with the open 3-pt contest at 4:30pm. Alumni games will begin at 6:00pm with the women's games and men to follow. Players should bring a light and dark shirt. A silent auction will start at 4:00pm and conclude at the start of the second half of the men’s game. Concessions available all night. Proceeds benefit the Ithaca Basketball Boosters.

You can guide our Bulldogs!! The need for substitute teachers is great. You could be a great addition to our pool of substitute teachers. Register for the next CESA 3 in-person training course led by Brad Van Epps on Wednesday, March 13th from 9:00am until 2:00pm at the CESA 3 office in Fennimore. This training, along with an associate degree, completes the state requirements for obtaining a short-term substitute teacher license. Use this link to gain more information or register. https://hopin.com/events/substitute-teacher-training-bf14558a-c082-4499-a2e1-0f6f12292265

The girls battle at home tonight - come out and GET LOUD!