February 2019

Dear Families, What a change of weather we have had! I hope this newsletter finds you and family in good health and warmth! Just a reminder to please continue to make sure that your children have warm enough outside gear, along with boots, snowpants, gloves/mittens, hats, etc. We will go outside if it is above zero degrees. Thanks to you all for coming out for our Literacy Night and Chili Supper! Supporting your child in reading has so many benefits! SAGES learners should be reading at least four nights a week, if even for 10 minutes. There are many studies done that show the importance of reading at home. I included the chart below to show you the impact that reading at home has. If you didn't get a chance to come to Literacy Night, we are having another celebration, Dr. Seuss' ABC Celebration (Arithmetic, Breakfast, and Comprehension) on Thursday, March 7 from 8:00-10:00 a.m. Parents are welcome to join us that morning for a Dr. Seuss inspired small breakfast and reading/math activities. More information to come, but we wanted you all to be aware so you could make arrangements to come. We are asking no more than 2 parents per child due to space availability.

Mrs. Julie Schmidt, Principal jschmidt@waupun.k12.wi.us (920) 928-3136 ext. 2600

Important Upcoming Dates/Events

School Events/Dates Monday, February 4: PTO Meeting 5:00 pm (FINALIZE PTO DANCE! ALL ARE WELCOME TO HELP US!) Tuesday, February 5: Foundation Committee Meeting 6:00 at SAGES Thursday, February 7: RESCHEDULED 4K Preview Night at SAGES (5:30-7:00 pm) Thursday, February 14: Governance Board Meeting Friday, February 15: PTO/Student Council Dance 5:30-7:30 pm (*More to come) Monday, February 18: No School, Teacher Inservice Save the Date : March 7: Dr. Seuss' ABC Celebration 8-10 am; Parents Invited! *More info to come. March 7: End of 2nd Trimester March 15: PTO Movie Night at SAGES March 17: Music Bowl-a-thon for WASD families Sign up here March 25-29: No School, Spring Break

Family Literacy Night and Jim Heuer Chili Supper Fundraiser Thanks for all your support of our students and our school!

We Love Learning!

Life in the Soil – Dig Deeper! | 4-6 Interdisciplinary Learning

Fourth, fifth and sixth grade learners have been learning about soils and soil conservation in language arts, science and agriculture class. Did you know that a single spoonful of soil contains as many microorganisms as there are people living on the entire earth!?! Did you know that the health of this micro-life living in our soil directly affects the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat!?! In language arts, learners read several articles about how soil is made and life in the soil, while practicing note taking skills and learning how to synthesize information from multiple texts while citing those sources. In agriculture class, learners dug deeper into questions such as “Why is soil different colors?” and “What are different soils composed of?” and “What exactly lives in the soil?” and “Why does soil matter?” and “How can we conserve and protect our soil?” In science, learners made posters to help others understand the value of soil, and why we shouldn’t just treat our soil like dirt! Many of these posters are being entered into a contest sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD). A highlight of our interdisciplinary soil study was making soil crayons by pulverizing different colored soils into very fine powders, and mixing those soils with melted paraffin and molding that mixture into a crayon shape! Students were fascinated by how quickly the melted wax transformed into a hard, soil colored substance! If you want to know more, ask an older SAGES’ learner!

Outdoor Classroom: Forest Friday for Grades K-3 "On January 18th, the kindergarten through third graders ventured to the school forest for the first time in the new year. SAGES learners checked the food they took to the forest in December. Half of the strung Cheerios were eaten, and all the sunflowers had been eaten off the bird feeders. The students discovered the Cheerio strings closer to the ground were all eaten so they chose to move the higher strings to lower areas. Then, they read a book about animals that migrate, hibernate, and adapt to their environment in the winter. Students then explored their forest trail to see what signs of animals there have been in the area this winter. Lastly, students created animal habitats and are excited to explore them upon their return to the forest. " ~Rachael Smith, first grade teacher

February's "Meet SAGES' Learning Partner"

Meet SAGES' Learning Partner is a monthly segment showcasing the valuable people, businesses, and groups who contribute to the success of our school. This month, we’re featuring Rick Vant Hoff, a local man whose passion is “for the birds!” Mr. Vant Hoff has “soared” into SAGES across the years offering special all-school presentations on his “feathered friends” including talks on whooping cranes and the assortment of birds he has photographed among the trees of the School Forest. He’s assisted with the installation of Bluebird Nestboxes on Earth Day. Last spring, he shared his birdwatching knowledge serving as a presenter during our annual Pontoon Classroom. Most recently, Mr. Vant Hoff met our 3rd graders at the School Forest to clean out the Bluebird Nestboxes and explore what was inside. Additionally, he assisted with taking the boxes down and plans to return to SAGES again in February to assist 3rd grade in making modifications to the nestboxes so they can more easily be opened for monitoring during the nesting season. Actively involved in the community, Rick Vant Hoff serves in a wide-variety of volunteer roles including Marsh Haven Nature Center Board in Waupun, SSM Long Term Care Board in Fond du Lac, Church Health Services Board of Directors in Beaver Dam, plus he is a member of the Horicon Bird Club and volunteers for the DNR at Horicon Marsh . Despite his busy schedule, Mr. Vant Hoff is glad to help SAGES whenever and however he can. Beyond sharing his love of birds, Mr. Vant Hoff has also served as a “surrogate grandparent” for learners who didn’t have someone able to attend “Grandparents Day” functions at SAGES. Thank you , Rick, for your ongoing support of SAGES and the numerous ways you have helped SAGES’ learners and staff “spread our wings!”

S chool for Ag ricultural & E nvironmental S tudies ( S AG E S ) PHONE: (920) 928-3136 | FAX: (920) 928-2284 EMAIL: jschmidt@waupun.k12.wi.us WEBSITE: www.waupun.k12.wi.us/o/sages FACEBOOK: schoolforagriculturalandenvironmentalstudies -------------------------------------------------------------------- Cultivating Inquiry. Growing Minds. Walls Optional.

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