Principal Thoughts
Welcome to a New School Year!
Wow what a crazy summer at Park Community Charter School! Our school received major renovations to our heating, ventilation, lighting and general appearance (paint and tuck point work) . These improvements are already noticeable and have made our school a better place to learn and to teach.
Check out this video which shows the extent of the improvements above the new ceiling tile and lights.
I am so proud of my staff for the hard work they put in on their own time to not only pack last spring but to unpack and set up their rooms in a very short time frame this August. I also want to thank the Kaukauna Area School District for making this significant investment in our wonderful 120 year old school. These improvements will allow our school to remain in its current location well into the future which is so important for our place based curriculum which accesses 1000 Islands, Kaukauna Utilities, the Grignon Mansion and other downtown sites like the public library on a regular basis.
Thanks again for your support!
Ken Kortens
Principal
Safety Week
This month during the week of September 18th our school will be practicing several important safety drills. Routinely we tell students that our job is to keep them safe. As a staff we take that responsibility seriously. Unfortunately events around the country in recent years have made it necessary to practice more than just fire or severe weather drills.
Our district has been working hard to improve the safety of our students and staff. We now have security cameras inside and outside of our building in addition to security locks on each door. The Kaukauna Police Department has been an area leader in training schools and businesses in a new protocol for intruders called ALICE. ALICE is a program to help schools and businesses prepare for the unthinkable. ALICE provides staff with options such as evacuation, or lockdown depending on the situation.
During this week we will introduce the concept of ALICE to students using the book I’m not scarred… I’m prepared in every classroom during a read aloud led by the classroom teacher. We then practiced a whole school evacuation to our two rally points which were determined by the Kaukauna Police Department, Holy Cross Parish and Riverview School. Last year during this drill our school was completely evacuated with all students and staff accounted for at our sites within 10 minutes. We hope to never have to use these procedures in a real situation but I do feel that we are much more prepared for the unthinkable. If you have questions about these drills please feel free to call or email.
Park Community Golf Outing October 7th
On October 7th we will be holding our 4th annual golf outing at High Cliff Golf Course in Sherwood. This is a major fundraiser for our school and a fun adult event. Last year we raised over $3,000.00 which was used to help improve the reading libraries used every day with your children. There is still time to register at www.parkgolf.eventbrite.com through October 4th for $60.00 per person or on the day of the event for $70.00. We have many great prizes including a signed Packer items and tickets to a Milwaukee Bucks home game. We also have Badger Basketball items signed by former Badger Brian Butch who also golfed in our outing last year.
Don't Miss the Fun This Year! Sign up today!
New Playground Coming September 18th!
Our school will be receiving new playground equipment September 18th! The Kaukauna Area School District Board of Education approved a plan to upgrade playgrounds at Haen, Park Community and Tanner. Due to the construction in our building they could not install the new playground until September. A slight change from our original plan is that the entire playground will be professionally installed by Lee Recreation instead of a volunteer build as originally planned. Here is an artist rendering of our new playground.
Lambeau Field Booth Update
Park Community Charter School has been staffing a booth at Lambeau Field since the Billy Joel Concert this past June. This is a very lucrative opportunity for our school that we hope will allow us to eliminate small fundraisers such as fall catalog sales (chocolates, wrapping paper, pizzas, etc) Reading for Education, flower sales, jelly beans, brat fry, turkey chase, basket raffles, penny wars, spirit wear, bake sales, or any other fundraisers that we have tried over the years.
So far 35 people have volunteered for the following events at Lambeau or related to Lambeau and here is what we have raised so far:
06/17/17 Billy Joel $845.00
08/05/17 Family Night - $627.19
08/10/17 Eagles Pre-Season - $759.36
08/13/17 Miller Park - $1,000.00 (Delaware North asked our team to work)
08/31/17 Rams Pre-Season - $1,000.00 unoficially as of this newsletter
For an estimated total of $4,231.55!
People breakdown:
4 people (2 staff) have worked every event
5 other staff members have worked at least one event
5 staff member family members (spouse or child)
7 parents of Park students have worked at least one event
2 GRANDPARENTS of Park students have worked at least one event
1 Non-staff board member has worked at least one event
If each family volunteered one person for each game we could easily staff our booth and reach our goal of $10,000.00!
06/17/17 Billy Joel $845.00
08/05/17 Family Night - $627.19
08/10/17 Eagles Pre-Season - $759.36
08/13/17 Miller Park - $1,000.00 (Delaware North asked our team to work)
08/31/17 Rams Pre-Season - $1,000.00 unoficially as of this newsletter
For an estimated total of $4,231.55!
This is AMAZING but we need more help!
Here is the breakdown of those who have volunteered so far:People breakdown:
4 people (2 staff) have worked every event
5 other staff members have worked at least one event
5 staff member family members (spouse or child)
7 parents of Park students have worked at least one event
2 GRANDPARENTS of Park students have worked at least one event
1 Non-staff board member has worked at least one event
Workers MUST BE 18 or over to work the booth. No exceptions!
Workers DO NOT need to be connected to our school. Bring friends, co-workers or other adults to help our school be successful in this fundraiser. We are not asking you to buy anything with this fundraiser we just need your help. Those working an event need to be at Lambeau 2 hours before the event and remain after the event until cleared to leave by Delaware North Staff. A typical game day will be a 8 hour shift.
The potential for a large profit is great! Some organizations our size have made up to $30,000.00! As you can see from preseason we are well on our way to exceeding our goal. Money raised this year is targeted towards continued staff development in Conscious Discipline. This year we are bringing in a national trainer to our school December 11th and 12th. This training alone will cost over $7,000.00.
Parent Access to Morning Announcements Over SeeSaw
This year we are doing our morning announcements over the site SeeSaw. Students will be helping me and the announcements include elements related to Conscious Discipline. They are recorded the day before. If you are interested in watching these at any time during the day here is how you can join. You would be accessing the class as a student. Students connect their email accounts to your class by typing in this code one time:
TGWB BMEG
For security, this code is valid until September 13, 2017. If the code does not work email me at kortensk@kaukaunasd.org and I will send you a new code.
Students will:
Open the Seesaw app or website at app.seesaw.me
Choose "I'm a Student"
Choose Email/Google Account
Create a new account, or sign in to an existing account
Type in the code above
DO YOU KNOW AN OUTSTANDING TEACHER OR PRINCIPAL AT ANY LEVEL K-12?
Now is your chance to nominate your teacher or principal for a Herb Kohl Fellowship. The Herb Kohl Educational Foundation is celebrating its 27th year of providing fellowships for 100 teachers and its 2nd year of providing fellowships for 16 principals. The purpose of these programs is to recognize and support excellence in teaching, innovation and administrative leadership. Now is the time to nominate! Learn more and nominate an outstanding teacher or principal in your life today! Click Here to Nominate a Teacher or Principal
Now is your chance to nominate your teacher or principal for a Herb Kohl Fellowship. The Herb Kohl Educational Foundation is celebrating its 27th year of providing fellowships for 100 teachers and its 2nd year of providing fellowships for 16 principals. The purpose of these programs is to recognize and support excellence in teaching, innovation and administrative leadership. Now is the time to nominate! Learn more and nominate an outstanding teacher or principal in your life today! Click Here to Nominate a Teacher or Principal
Attention Future Band Students?
Next year when you are in 5th grade, you will be able to participate in our district’s band program so we want to make you aware of a change in our beginning band recruitment process. Beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, students who are interested in being part of the percussion section will be expected to have at least 1 year of piano lessons. If you need information about local piano instructors or have questions about the band program, please feel free to contact Julia Langenhuizen (5th & 6th Grade Band Instructor) at River View Middle School (766-6111 x4183 or langenhuizenj@kaukaunasd.org)
Please Sign up for Parent Portal in Infinite Campus
Infinite Campus has the ability to make emergency contacts with parents regarding school closing or other information during the school day. If the superintendent would determine that district schools would be closing early for some reason parents will receive an automated message giving them details.
It is very important that your contact information in Infinite Campus is up to date. If you have questions regarding your contact information please call our school secretary Mrs. Tennessen to check. Click Here for Directions
Infinite Campus has the ability to make emergency contacts with parents regarding school closing or other information during the school day. If the superintendent would determine that district schools would be closing early for some reason parents will receive an automated message giving them details.
It is very important that your contact information in Infinite Campus is up to date. If you have questions regarding your contact information please call our school secretary Mrs. Tennessen to check. Click Here for Directions
Safety Information
Sign In and Wear a Badge Every Time
All visitors to the building are reminded to sign in the office and put on a visitor name tag. This system allows everyone in our building to easily identify staff (who wear name badges) and visitors. If you forget to get a name tag, please don’t be offended when you are asked to return to the office. Also, please be sure to sign your child in if your child is arriving late and sign your child out in the office if your child is leaving early for any reason. Working together, we can keep everyone in our school family safe.
All visitors to the building are reminded to sign in the office and put on a visitor name tag. This system allows everyone in our building to easily identify staff (who wear name badges) and visitors. If you forget to get a name tag, please don’t be offended when you are asked to return to the office. Also, please be sure to sign your child in if your child is arriving late and sign your child out in the office if your child is leaving early for any reason. Working together, we can keep everyone in our school family safe.
Pick a Consistent Meeting Place After School
Parents who pick up their children after school are encouraged to develop a consistent meeting spot. This also promotes some independence of our students as they dismiss. There is adult supervision both behind school and in front until 3:15 p.m. If your child is picked up after school, please be here by 3:15 p.m. In the event that you are late, for the safety of your child, they will be asked to wait inside the building. Your understanding is appreciated. We also ask that when picking up students at the end of the day please wait outside of the main office or by the door on McDonald’s side of school.
Community Flyers
NEW THIS YEAR! All community flyers will be found on the district web page. Click Here to access information about Boy Scouts and Kaukauna Dance for this month. Anyone requesting flyer distribution at the elementary level should submit an electronic copy to district office, attention Erin Kape, at kapee@kaukaunasd.org for consideration two weeks prior to the first of each month.
Parents who pick up their children after school are encouraged to develop a consistent meeting spot. This also promotes some independence of our students as they dismiss. There is adult supervision both behind school and in front until 3:15 p.m. If your child is picked up after school, please be here by 3:15 p.m. In the event that you are late, for the safety of your child, they will be asked to wait inside the building. Your understanding is appreciated. We also ask that when picking up students at the end of the day please wait outside of the main office or by the door on McDonald’s side of school.
Community Flyers
NEW THIS YEAR! All community flyers will be found on the district web page. Click Here to access information about Boy Scouts and Kaukauna Dance for this month. Anyone requesting flyer distribution at the elementary level should submit an electronic copy to district office, attention Erin Kape, at kapee@kaukaunasd.org for consideration two weeks prior to the first of each month.
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