We are reaching out to you to provide you with middle school specific information during this time of closure.  First, take a deep breath and recognize that we are all in this together and we will keep in communication with you, and would appreciate you doing the same!  I like to believe that schools provide far more services to students than simply academic content, this is also a space where kids get many of their social needs met, and where they know they have resources available should they feel in distress about anything.  Our goal is to be able to fill as many of those needs as we can during this time of extended closure.

As you have likely heard, there has been new guidance issued from the Department of Health Services.  Here is what we now know:

• Schools have been closed indefinitely in Wisconsin.  The actual language states...for the duration of the public health emergency or until a subsequent order lifts this specific restriction.
• Effective at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, all public and private schools...shall close for instructional and extracurricular activities at 5:00 pm.  Our materials pick up time is 3:00 to 5:00 pm and there are some great plans in place to allow that to happen while still observing the social distancing that is required.  This will still happen as scheduled.

What does this mean?  This means that we still have our plans in place that will take us through April 6th.  We will work in the next weeks to figure out what that is going to look like past that date and will communicate as we learn more information!

The Middle School office will be staffed from 7:30 - 3:00 should you have any questions,  Mr. Nortman and Mr. Roou are also here to be helpful!.  Ms. Weibel and Mr. Morene, the school counselors, serve as an amazing resource to our kids during the school day, they are also available daily from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm should your child want to check in.  

Each grade level is also sending you a letter that is specific to the work at their level along with contact information for each staff member.  PLEASE use these resources!   While there is very little that we would consider “normal” happening right now, we want to reassure you, as the parents, that we are not “passing the torch” of educating your child to you.  We still plan to provide regular electronic feedback on work that is submitted as well as reaching out to your child to encourage them to continue to engage in the work throughout the closure.   

That being said, there are some things we would greatly appreciate from you, as parents/guardians during this time:

• Encourage and reinforce to your student that they do have a responsibility to complete the academic work. 
• Set up some type of schedule for your child so that they still feel some semblance of normalcy.  It’s OK if it starts later in the morning to allow a little sleeping in:)
• Encourage your child to engage in something other than digital devices.  It's a great time to make phone calls to elderly family and friends that are not receiving visitors, play board games, read books, make craft projects, write letters, etc.  You know, think old school!
• Please consider some outdoor activities each day. 
• Remember that we are here as partners in all of this work.  Let us know how we can be helpful.

IMPORTANT PROCEDURAL INFORMATION - Packet & Chromebook Pickup

In accordance with the guidelines from the CDC and Health Department, we want to minimize congregation within the building and exercise social distancing to ensure the safety of all involved.  We are striving for an organized process that gets you your child’s materials as quickly as possible within these guidelines. 

When you arrive at school, we will have a “Drive-up / Pick-up” system using the same directional traffic flow as daily drop off. When parents arrive, they will drive around to the furthest end of the sidewalk that is open and let an adult know the name of their student and their focus teacher. Materials for each student are currently being organized by their Focus teacher, (Needed textbooks, Chromebooks, chargers, and print materials). Staff will be retrieving all materials from the building and bringing them out to your vehicle. You are welcome to park and walk up to staff as well, we just want to observe a minimal congregation of people if possible. 

Within the materials, you will find information on how to login to the Chromebook, how to troubleshoot with your student in navigating Canvas and how to find their assignments, as well as a detailed letter to help support you as you work with your child on their school work during this period of closure. 

As a reminder, materials are available for pick up on the following times: 

Wednesday 3/18 3:00pm-5:00pm 

Thursday 3/19 7:30am-3:00pm

Friday 3/20 7:30am-11:00am

*The curbside delivery will only be Wednesday evening.  If you are picking up Thursday or Friday, please check in to the office.  (If you want to call from the parking lot - we’ll deliver!)

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through this together.  We cannot say enough good things about the ability of great people to pull together during difficult times and make a rocky situation beautiful!  Our staff is here to serve you, please let us know how.

The Middle School Staff