Hello March!

Good Afternoon,

Wow, February has flown by, and I couldn’t be more proud of how hard our students have worked! It’s been a month full of growth, learning, and moments of real progress. As we step into March, I’m excited to keep that momentum going. I know our students are ready to tackle new challenges with energy and enthusiasm, and together, we’ll reach our goals and continue to achieve great things. Thank you for your ongoing support. I’m looking forward to what we can accomplish in the coming weeks!

Week in Review:

Leader in Me: This week, our class participated in Differbilities Week, a celebration of disabilities and an opportunity to learn about supporting each other in meaningful ways. Throughout the week, we focused on increasing awareness and acceptance of different abilities within our school and community. The goal was to reduce bullying and judgment, and encourage kindness, patience, and inclusion. Our class discussed how we can help and support classmates with different abilities by being patient, asking if they need help, and using kind words. We also talked about the importance of inclusion, ensuring that everyone can participate in activities, whether it’s in games or group projects. Key Takeaways: everyone is unique and may need different kinds of help, it’s important to show kindness, patience, and support, making sure everyone feels included helps everyone succeed and feel happy. We encourage you to keep these ideas in mind at home and continue to promote kindness and understanding in all activities!

Writing: This week, our young writers focused on preparing for their upcoming writing tests. Over the course of five days, they participated in test prep activities designed to help them feel confident and ready. Each day, they worked on different aspects of writing, including organizing their thoughts, practicing key skills, and refining their writing techniques. 

Math: This week, our mathematicians worked on various math concepts. They started with Polygon Bingo to explore polygons, then moved on to Measuring Area and Measuring Perimeter. Students also reviewed Area and Perimeter Formulas and finished the week with the fun activity of Hexarights. These lessons helped strengthen their understanding of shapes, measurement, and problem-solving skills.

Reading: This week in reading, our 4th graders focused on test preparation to help them feel confident and ready for upcoming assessments. They worked on understanding characters, their feelings, and why they change. They also explored how to determine character traits and practiced identifying the theme of a text along with supporting details. The students learned how to summarize a text by focusing on central ideas and key details, and they analyzed how different parts of a text connect with one another. Each session aimed to strengthen their skills so they can approach testing with confidence!

Content: Students previewed events – including exploration, colonization, cooperation, and conflict – that shaped their state as new people arrived from outside the US. Students constructed a timeline of events that shaped their state and made inferences about how events might connect to one another.

  • Thank you to a parent who shared this great resource which can benefit your 4th grader and family! Every fourth grader in the US is eligible to receive a free pass for their family to visit America’s natural wonders and historic sites, which accesses hundreds of parks, lands and waters for an entire year! Visit everykidoutdoors.gov/rules.htm for more information and to get your pass!


A Look Ahead:

  • March 7th - No School
  • March 14th - Knowledge - A - Thon
    • Get ready for the Knowledge-A-Thon (KAT) on March 14th! This year’s theme is "Today Readers, Tomorrow Leaders." We’re raising funds for new document cameras, high-interest books, and screen-free activities for our classrooms. And if we hit our $10,000 goal, Mrs. Steif will get a pie to the face! We need parent, grandparent, and adult volunteers to help with in-person questions that morning. Interested? Check out the school blog for the sign-up link! Don’t forget to practice the questions with your students — the class with the highest average of correct answers wins a pizza party, a traveling trophy, and bragging rights!
  • March 14th - Skate City Field Trip in P.M.
  • March 21st - Early Dismissal (11:30)
  • March 24th - 28th - No School
  • April 18th & 21st - No School
  • Madison Field Trip - Thursday, April 10th
  • See below on information from the District for subbing opportunities!


That's all for this week!

Have a great weekend!


Mr. VW
















Do you want to make a difference in Kaukauna? 
Would you like to help your child's school out? 
Do you like kids?
Are you good with kids? 
 
Then you should become a KASD SUB!! 

Talented and skilled substitute teachers and educational assistants are critical to our district. Becoming a sub aids in the instructional and procedural continuity of the district. We are so thankful for our wonderful subs! 

To become a Certified Substitute Teacher the state requires a minimum of an associate's degree and the completion of an 8 hour Substitute Training Program - in person or self guided modules from the comfort of your own home - through CESA 6 (see first link below). Once the 8 hours are complete, you will receive the certification of completion. You will then log onto the Department of Public Instruction website (DPI) (see second link below) and apply for the Short Term Substitute License. In the application, DPI will require you to upload your completion certification from the substitute training program. 

Here is the link to the CESA 6 substitute training program: 

https://www.cesa6.org/teachers/educator-licensing/substitute-teacher-training

After the program is complete, here is the link to DPI - where you will need to go after you acquire the certificate from CESA: 

https://dpi.wi.gov/licensing/apply-educator-license/sub-permit

To become an Educational Assistant Substitute no degree or certification is necessary! You just have to like kids and be reliable! Please log onto WECAN, and apply today to become an EA sub. Your school and district thank you!

Both positions - Certified Subs and EA Subs - are posted on WECAN.  Here's the link:https://wecan.waspa.org/    Please apply when you're ready and I will reach out to you once your application comes through.  

Feel free to reach out to me with any questions. 

Thank you!



Holly Parks
Human Resources and Business Services Associate
Kaukauna Area School District

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