March 2020 E-Newsletter
Welcome to this month's publication of the eNews.
In this edition, you will find:
A Note from our
District Administrator
Community Connections...
  • Students Visit Nursing Homes
  • Thank You, Healthcare Volunteers
  • Percy's Employees
Elementary Schools...
  • Parents' Night Out
  • Expert Readers and Writers
  • Thank You, Healthcare Volunteers
  • 100th Day of School
  • Random Acts of Kindness
Intermediate/Middle School...
  • Pop's Concert
  • Sixth Grade Activities
  • Fifth Grade Activities
  • Winter Walking and Prizes
Secondary School...
  • Spring Play
  • Sources of Strength Activities
  • Class Activities and Projects
  • Club Competitions and Awards
  • Teachers Debate
District...
  • Staff Donates to Scholarships
  • Summer School Information
 
Dates to Note

March 5 - Literacy Night @ Lincoln School
March 8 - Daylight Savings Time
March 9 - Board of Education Meeting
March 9 - NLEA Meeting
March 12 - Literacy Night / Dinner @ Parkview
March 14 - ISMS Band Pops Concert @ HS
March 17 - Happy St. Patrick's Day
March 17 - McLiteracy Lunch @ Sugar Bush
March 20 - NO SCHOOL, Staff Development
March 21 - St. Patrick's Day Parade
March 24 - End of Quarter 3
March 26 - Literacy Night @ Readfield
March 27, 28, 29 - High School Spring Play
March 31 - Breakfast with Families, gr. 7 & 8
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A note from Scott Bleck, District Administrator
Motivating Children

It is not that uncommon for a child to say, “that is good enough.” Our society often accepts the idea of being average as acceptable. When the fact is that most children can exceed their current achievement levels. Today’s children are challenged to do their best in school, at home and even in work environments as they lead busy lives. One of the primary keys to developing productive young adults is to build in daily motivation practices that keep children focused. 
The following suggestions are helpful practices that can motivate children not to be satisfied with the phrase, “that is good enough.” The following points of interest are from “Resources for Educators,” which address recommendations for developing motivated children.
 
  • Offer Praise: Never underestimate the power of a “Good Job!” Children crave approval, even children that seem to do all of the right things all of the time. A positive response, such as a smile, can be a great incentive. Whether it’s for washing a sink full of dishes or passing a math quiz, a word of encouragement will show children that one notices their hard work. A child’s self-confidence will soar, and they will want to keep on trying. 
  • Show Interest:  Let children know that what they are involved in is important. When a parent/guardian expresses curiosity about what their child is engaged in, children respond by giving their best effort.
  • Use Consequences: Experts agree that punishing children for not doing what they’re supposed to do doesn’t always produce improved results. However, linking consequences to performance can provide a reason for children to get the job done while giving them a greater sense of control over their life.
  • Encourage Problem Solving: When children run into a problem, avoid solving it for them. Instead, give hints that help them discover the answer. The more children do on their own, the more confident they will feel about their work, and the harder they will try.
  • Manage Stress:  One may not realize it, but stress can zap a child’s energy. Feeling that they can’t get everything done can keep children from trying to do anything. Help children to simplify their schedule to regain the motivation they need to focus on what’s most important: school, family and friends, exercise, and relaxation.
  • Establish Expectations: Parents need to set high standards for their children at home and in school. Students whose parents expect them to do well in school have a better chance of learning success. Encourage children to give their best effort in everything they do. Children should know that some things may be harder than others, but there’s no excuse for not trying.
  • Provide Choices: Children, like adults, are more motivated by their interests. Allowing children to make decisions will give them a sense of control and encourage them to tackle the job at hand.
  • Accept Mistakes: Some children are afraid of trying new things because they think that making a mistake means they failed. When a child messes up, tell them you believe in them and give them a chance to try again. Treating errors as opportunities instead of failures shows that one values effort, not just achievement.

As a school community, we must make it a point to identify or re-identify what motivates our children. Parents/guardians are encouraged to communicate frequently with their child’s classroom teacher and/or school personnel to identify motivations that may work outside of your home environment. Creating motivation for children can be as simple as becoming an active listener and acknowledging the daily challenges all children face.
Community Connections

Sugar Bush Student Council delivered valentines created by students to St. Joe's Residence and Trinity Assisted Living . Chris Renner, the manager of Family Dollar , started a project with St. Joseph Residence with a goal to give every resident a balloon. Members of the community donated over 200 balloons for the project so that all the residents and employees could receive a balloon.
The NLHS BEST club organized a Valentine's Day event at Kindred Hearts Nursing Home. Members from BEST Club and Vision Show Choir sang songs, passed out treats, and played BINGO with the residents.
Several healthcare volunteers assisted with the annual sophomore class blood pressure screening . A heartfelt thank you goes out to Sue Wegner, Judy Priest, Millie McHugh, Sue Nehring, Carrie Van Curk, Kristie Rhoden, Kim Handrich, and Sue Resch for donating their time and expertise to this wellness screening.
An employee appreciation luncheon was held to honor and thank the students who volunteered to work at Percy's Pro Shop . Percy's had another successful year and are thankful for the partnership with Familiar Grounds Coffee Shop .
Elementary
Parkview Parent's Night Out event was a success! PTO members, along with high school and middle school volunteers, entertained students for the evening while parents enjoyed a night off. Thank you to Crystal Falls, Shamrock Heights, Hilby's, Jolly Roger's, Pine Tree, and Bean City for partnering to donate a portion of proceeds back to Parkview!
Sugar Bush second graders worked hard to develop their non-fiction reading and writing skills.To celebrate their hard work, second grade " experts " in Mrs. Hinde's class read their published animal books to Kindergarten students in Mrs. Bressler's class.
Lincoln Student Council handed out carnations to parents for Random Acts of Kindness week.
Students at Sugar Bush celebrated the 100th day of school !
Parkview students learned all about healthy teeth from Mrs. Resch, the SDNL school nurse. They learned how to brush, floss and make good food choices.
Parkview's kindergarten teachers and students celebrated the 100th day of school !! They've learned a lot this year and maybe "aged" a bit too.
Intermediate / Middle

Sixth grade students , Brandi and Reid, show off their smoking prevention posters. During Media Studies, students worked on an e-learning program called It’s UR Choice that focuses on AODA prevention as students learn coping skills, how to handle pressure situations, and analyze influences.
All sixth graders were able to get a hands-on experience at the Appleton Fox Valley Technical College . Some courses included medical training, phlebotomy and how to read certain types of blood, welding, computer operated machines/robotics, cooking, animal/farm technology, coding, electrical, and business management. Thank you to FVTC for putting this opportunity together.
Fifth grade students used Augmented Reality on iPads to walk through a food web. They were able to watch a vulture in action and see animals eating food. After this, they will choose an animal to research for their own food webs.
The Fuel up Team partnered with Safe Routes to School to promote Winter Walking . Students were encouraged to walk outside at recess and could enter for prizes based on their laps! Prizes from Safe Routes included hats, gloves, glow bracelets, scented pencils, and subway gift cards! On average, 100 students participate. These students are able to log their miles walked using a QR code and the EZ Scan program.
Secondary
Mr. Gruentzel's carpentry class has been working on several projects this school year. Shown here is a storage shed they are building. The class started the project by drawing up a blueprint and making a detailed supply list.


These FFA members participated in the FFA District Speaking Contest in Manawa and are moving on to sectional competition . Congratulations to these individuals.
Spanish 4 students had the unique opportunity to use Google Hangouts to communicate with New London native and Peace Corp volunteer Ryan Watling . The students were able to practice their Spanish while learning about Ryan's project in the Dominican Republic, university studies, and travel experiences.
The Mock Trial team attended the Appleton Regional Mock Trial Tournament . The team prepared strong arguments for both the plaintiff and defense sides of a civil case this year. They received high marks and praise from the judging panels at the event.


Students in Personal Finance were able to log in to a test account for Intuit Turbo Tax and file taxes using a W-2 handed out in class. Many students were surprised to find out that filing taxes was not as hard as they thought it would be!
AP U.S. History students watched former high school history teacher and debate coach, Mr. Fischer , and current U.S. History teacher Mr. Lawton debate the causes of the Civil War. Labelled the 'Great Debate,' students were able to hear historical arguments by Mr. Lawton that the Civil War was caused primarily over the issue of slavery while Mr. Fischer defended that it was states’ rights that lead to the outbreak of war between the North and South.

Sources of Strength peer leaders hosted an Open Gym for students during their afternoon IE session. Over 50 students took part in this activity, which was a campaign to promote healthy activities.
The mission of Sources of Strength is to provide the highest quality evidence-based prevention for suicide, violence, bullying and substance abuse by training, supporting, and empowering both peer leaders and caring adults to impact our school through the power of connection, hope, help and strength.
NLHS Sources of Strength members hosted a movie option open for all students to enjoy after school. The movie was part of a campaign to promote healthy activities .
Congratulations to the following DECA students for qualifying for the state DECA competition : Spencer Faulkes, Briley Johnson, Ben Porath, Kaden Reybrock, Emma Reismann, Emma Tuchscherer, Riley Titterton, Tess Ruckdashel, Tucker Kohl, Garrison Gregory, Emily Kling, Abbi Gilespie, Alyson Hoffman, Kendall Heise, and Kelli Sager.


Students from Mrs. Nelson's art classes participated in Bergstrom Mahler Museum of Glass ' annual high school glass experience day. Students had the opportunity to work with both "hot" and "cold" glass techniques while creating lamp work beads and cut glass mosaics. They toured the museum and learned about the history of the glass museum. Students' works will be on display at the FOX VALLEY AREA HIGH SCHOOL GLASS EXHIBITION From March 6 – April 5, 2020
District
SDNL staff raised money for a 2020 New London graduate going into the field of Education on its annual Higher Education Day. Staff dressed in their alma mater gear and made donations toward the NLEA Scholarship , which is given every year.
Pupil Nondiscrimination Statement
It is the policy of the School District of New London that no person may be denied admission to any public school or be denied participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any curricular,extracurricular, pupil services, recreational or other program or activity because of the person's sex, race, religion,national origin, ancestry, color, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental,emotional or learning disability.