Dates to Remember
December
Wed, 9 Wellness Wednesday - wear you workout gear!
Thurs, 10 Early Release - students dismissed at 3:05 pm
Wed, 16 Wellness Wednesday - wear you workout gear!
Thurs, 17 Early Release - students dismissed at 3:05 pm
Wed, 23 - Fri, Jan. 1 No school - winter break
PLEASE Help Keep Dousman Open
While we usually celebrate the holidays through some sort of gathering with friends and family; it's important for us to remember that COVID-19 is in our community.  This holiday season, the CDC is urging us to consider how our holiday plans might be modified to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to keep friends, families, and communities healthy and safe. We know that even small household gatherings are a contributor to the rise in COVID-19 cases. CDC offers some considerations to slow the spread of COVID-19 during small gatherings. I encourage you to review the considerations provided by the CDC, to help keep our students and staff healthy, and our building open.

It is up to ALL of us to do what we can to mitigate the spread in order to keep schools open. Per the CDC, Waukesha County Health Department and Dr. Deklotz's message from the district last Wednesday it is recommended that if you did travel to self-quarantine in order not to bring the potential virus into school. Keep in mind that many people become contagious without ANY symptoms and/or symptoms may not occur for several days after you become contagious. Under these circumstances, the potential spread occurs everywhere a contagious person goes, including school.

Here are some quarantine facts specific to Dousman that may help build your understanding to the impact that COVID has had.
  • 8 full classes have had to quarantine and move to distance/remote learning for over a week at a time due to a close contact with a positive.
  • One class had to go back into quarantine for distance/remote learning one week after returning because mitigating protocol was not followed.
  • Over 9 staff members have tested positive with a few needing significant medical attention and hospitalization.
  • An additional 18 staff members have had to quarantine (usually for a week-ten days) because of close contacts with positive cases. All were available remotely, however, most still had F2F students that were not met with because a sub was not available.
  • Students have had to quarantine over 240 times because they were either a close contact with a positive (school, home, or community contact), exhibited symptoms, or tested positive themselves. Note- of the 240 quarantine incidents, several students have had to quarantine multiple times.

On behalf of the students and staff here at Dousman, I want to extend a sincere thank you and appreciation for all the efforts and sacrifices you as families are making to keep Dousman as safe as possible and open. Our students continue to do an incredible job persevering through this pandemic, including following our mitigation protocols while at school. Our staff continue to remain flexible and student centered in the midst daily and sometimes hourly changes within their classrooms and learning environments. Thank you as well for your past and continued grace and understanding as we continue to push ahead.
Guidance News from Mrs. McAboy

Bullying Prevention Unit:

All grade levels have been learning skills to recognize, report and refuse bullying. In learning to recognize bullying, students learn to identify when they or others are being bullied and increase empathy for bullied students. Giving students a clear message to sets a positive norm, lets students who might bully know there will be consequences, and supportive adults.

Lessons on refusing bullying reinforce the message that bullying should never be tolerated. Students learn appropriate responses they can use when bullied or as bystanders. Research shows that wen peers intervene, bullying almost always stops. The lessons teach students they can have a big impact on bullying if they use appropriate actions when they are bystander.

Lesson 1: Recognize, Report and Refuse
Lesson 2: By Stander Power
Lesson 3: Bystander Responsibility
Lesson 4: Bystanders to Cyber Bullying


Feel free to email or call me with any questions or concerns. mcaboya@kmsd.edu or call me at 262-965-6520 ext. 6213

Amy McAboy, School Counselor
PTO News
 
Our Vision: Bridge the gap between home and classroom to unify our efforts in developing our children.
Our Mission: Create opportunities to enhance experiences by collaborating with parents, teachers, students, and the community.

Announcements:
 
HELP US GIVE THANKS TO DOUSMAN STAFF - Looking for a way to support your child’s teacher or staff as we near the holidays? The Dousman Elementary PTO is collecting donations for a staff breakfast (COVID-friendly) before the Thanksgiving holiday break! It’s a great way to show your gratitude for the Dousman Elementary staff! If you’re interested in donating, please see Volunteer Corner.
 
Current Volunteer Opportunities on Volunteer Corner:
(Visit the Volunteer Corner for further details and sign-up instructions on all opportunities)
  • Board of Directors Volunteer Relations
  • Bargain Book Fair Coordinator for 2021
  • Effortless Fundraising Coordinators
  • Looking for passionate volunteers to mentor in the roles of President, Treasurer and Secretary!
 
Upcoming Events:
(View all our upcoming events on our website.)
Community Education

KM Community Education provides recreational and educational opportunities for families. Please be sure to visit the website often for updates and new programs. For program information and registration forms, visit www.kmsd.edu/communityed.

KM Lacrosse Club
Registration is now open for winter/indoor lacrosse as well as the spring 2021 season for all students in grades 3-8. Visit www.kmlacrosse.com to register.
Community Events & Flyers

Events/opportunities listed on our Community Flyers page are not endorsed by the Kettle Moraine School District. They have been approved for electronic sharing. Visit www.kmsd.edu/communityflyers to see the full list of current flyers. Links to recently-added flyers and upcoming events are included below.

PTO
341 E. Ottawa Avenue | Dousman, WI 53118 | 262-965-6520