April 2020 
In This Issue
Message from Principal Langer
Meal Request- Grab and Go Breakfast and Lunch
Office Hours
Forward Testing
Check-in with Officer Jess
News from Student Services
Have you moved out of the district?
Jumpstart for Incoming Freshmen
Summer Programs for Middle Grades
Yahara River Writers 2020 Winners
Destination Imagination
Message from Principal Langer
Dear Parents,

Thank you for being patient with us as we work through these unprecedented times!  We hope that you have started to find a routine that works for you and your family and that you have been able to stay healthy and content at home.

I am very proud of our staff for putting so much time, effort and thought into virtual learning for our students.  As we begin this week, we have way more questions than answers! We have some students and parents asking for more work, and some families overwhelmed by all of the communication and requests.  We are working to find a happy medium, and over the course of the next couple of weeks, we will be reflective and learn as we go!

Our main goal at GDS for the remainder of this year is that students continue their path to learning.  Our teachers will prepare instruction that can be accessed by students at any time during the day, night, weekend, etc.  Any of our live meetings are truly optional. Students will not be graded with percentages or letter grades this quarter.  Instead, they will be provided with feedback as to how they are doing according to the standard and/or objective to which they are working.  Teachers will be entering a few weekly learning activities into Infinite Campus as well as the main objective. Students will receive a "P" if they have reached the objective and are proficient at it, an "I" if they are in progress towards the objective and an "M" if they have not worked at all towards the objective.  There will be no GPA for our 4th quarter or 2nd semester for GDS students, which is adequate as we do not award credits in middle school.  

If students are not accessing their online education, we are going to do our best to be in contact with you and your family out of care and concern.  The state has waived required attendance for this spring, but we are here and want to help and support in any way that we can. Our teachers will provide your son/daughter with the essential learning that they need in order to have a successful return to school as soon it opens.  If your son/daughter cannot access this learning, we will work extra hard with him/her upon the reopening of school to help catch up.  

Our building is closed and only a few people have access.  Our maintenance staff is doing a deep-cleaning and we are trying our best to keep it clean, so they do not have to re-sanitize areas.  We do hope that you have everything you need from school at this time. Our playground and basketball courts are also closed. Please feel free to walk our grounds, but watch for traffic and maintain social distancing.  As soon as it is safe for us to be more open to our community, we will be.

As always if you need anything please let us know!  I am available via email: kristen.langer@mgschools.net and I get my voice messages at 608-839-8408.

Meal Request:Grab-and-Go Breakfast & Lunch
The Monona Grove School District Nutrition Department will continue to provide a grab-and-go Breakfast and Lunch program during the time in which school is closed.  Meals are provided FREE to any child 18 years of age and under. Each day children ages 18 and under will receive two (2) pre-packaged meals (lunch for the day of and breakfast for the following day) FREE.  All families can participate, there is no income limit.  There is no requirement for a daily sign up to request meals being picked up at one of the following sites:  (Children do not need to be present)
 
Monona:
  • Monona Grove High School (Front Circle by Main Office Entrance) 10:30 am to 10:45 am
  • Winnequah School 11:00 am to 11:20 am
Cottage Grove:
  • Glacial Drumlin School 11:00 am to 11:15 am
  • Taylor Prairie 11:20 am to 11:35 am
  • Cottage Grove School  11:45 am to 12:00 pm 
Families needing the grab-and-go Breakfast and Lunch program delivered need to complete the  meal delivery form by 11:59 pm Sunday of the week delivery is needed. 
 
El Departamento de Nutrición del Distrito Escolar de Monona Grove continuará brindando un programa de desayuno y almuerzo para llevar durante el tiempo en que la escuela esté cerrada. Las comidas se proporcionan GRATIS a cualquier niño de 18 años o menos. Cada día, los niños menores de 18 años recibirán dos (2) comidas preempaquetadas (almuerzo para el día y desayuno para el día siguiente) GRATIS. Todas las familias pueden participar, no hay límite de ingresos. No es necesario registrarse diariamente para solicitar que las comidas se recojan en uno de los siguientes sitios: (No es necesario que los niños estén presentes)
Monona:
  • High School secundaria de Monona Grove (círculo delantero por la entrada de la oficina principal) 10:30 a.m. a 10:45 a.m.
  • Escuela Winnequah 11:00 am a 11:20 am
Cottage Grove:
  • Escuela Glacial Drumlin 11:00 am a 11:15 am
  • Taylor Prairie 11:20 a.m. a 11:35 a.m.
  • Escuela Cottage Grove 11:45 am a 12:00 pm
Las familias que necesiten el programa de desayuno y almuerzo para llevar entregados deben completar el siguiente formulario de entrega de comidas antes de las 11:59 p.m. del domingo de la semana. 

Glacial Drumlin School Office Hours
At this time GDS is closed due to  COVID-19.  

When school is in session GDS office hours will be:
Monday-Thursday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Friday 7:30 am - 3:45 pm
Forward Testing
Forward Testing has been canceled due to COVID-19.
 
Check in with SRO Jess Helgeland
Hello Parents and Students of GDS!  

Many of you may know who I am, but for those of you who don't, my name is Jessica Helgeland and I am the School Resource Officer for Glacial Drumlin School, as well as Taylor Prairie Elementary School and Cottage Grove School.  Even though this school year is on hold, I wanted to pass on that I am still available for you and your children.  I am back on patrol so you may see me driving around!  I hope you and your families are safe and well during this time.  My contact information is below if you wish to contact me.  I would love to hear from the kids and see how they are doing!

Officer Jessica Helgeland
Cottage Grove Police Department
210 Progress Drive
Cottage Grove, WI 53527
Office: (608) 839-4652
Cell: (608) 598-0505

A Message from Student Services
If you're anything like me, you've been feeling stressed about things that are completely out of your control. The good news is that there are steps you can take to help yourself to feel more calm and centered.

 
 
Emily McKee
emily.mckee@mgschools.net
School Counselor
 
Fred Bartman
frederick.bartman@mgschools.net
School Counselor
 
Alex Ensch
alexandra.ensch@mgschools.net
School Social Worker
 
Jessica Schiltz
jessica.schiltz@mgschools.net
School Psychologist
 
Have you moved out of the district?
Families who move out of district boundaries  must contact the Open Enrollment Coordinator for information on what is needed for your student(s) to remain enrolled in the Monona Grove School District.  Please email  openenrollment@mgschools.net or call 
(608)221-7688  for more information.
 
Jumpstart - 8th Grade Families
Jumpstart for Incoming Freshmen
June 15-18
Class runs from 8:30 am - 2 pm with a 30 minute lunch
Bus transportation will be provided from GDS to MGHS

Click here for more information
Click here to register online
Summer Programs for Middle Grades
Click HERE for amazing summer opportunities available in our area and beyond.
 
Yahara River Writers 2020 Winners
Submissions to the writing contest included the categories of fiction, editorial, cartoon, and poetry, as well as cover & divider art from students in the Dane County Area, grades 5-8.   The following Glacial Drumlin School writing pieces will be published in the 2020 Yahara River Writers Anthology. 

Please congratulate these GDS Writers!

Karina Pedracine, 7th grade
Americans Love Black Culture, but Do They Love Black People?

Jordan Sarubbi, 7th grade
The Bitter Side of Sweet

Anna Fairweather, 7th grade
Expect More, Pay (Foreign Workers) Less

Ella Hoch, 7th grade
"I Should Have Sent Her a Text..."

Helen Boehm, 6th grade
The Spanish Sun

Mason Konz, 7th grade
Life Defining Moments

Miriam AJ Israel, 7th grade
One Wish

Sami Brice, 7th grade
A Place Where I Go To Escape
 
Destination Imagination
Five GDS teams participated in the Blackhawk Regional Destination Imagination Tournament on Saturday, February 28 at Kromrey Middle school in Middleton.  

7th-grade Team: The Goosers SCIENTIFIC CHALLENGE 3rd place 
Catie Hinthorn, Gus Loeder, Ethan Soderholm, Jamen Maeder. 
Parent Leader Kristia Loeder


6/7th-grade Team: Tac Tics IMPROV Challenge 
Emma Brath, Orin Bush, Kevyn Cardoso, Mason Huff, Michael Schnell. 
Parent Leader Liz Schnell


Three GDS DI teams Qualified for State Destination Imagination Tournament

5th-Grade Team  PAMARAE FINE ARTS Challenge 2nd place 
Evelyn Kameeta, Myah Lee, Paisley Lemon, Alexa Olson, Rachel Rodefeld, Amelia Wurz, Arielle Xiong
Parent Leaders: Jeannine Kameeta & Matt Wurz 


5th-grade Team The DopeDIers ENGINEERING CHALLENGE 2nd place 
Ben Philipps, Aidan Moriva, Caden Soderholm, Jay Hurley 
Challenge: Big Fix 
Parent leader: Sarah Hurley


8th-Grade Team Hairy Situation SCIENTIFIC CHALLENGE 1st Place
Adele Arrington, Alice Johnson, Emma Royston
Parent Leaders: Elon Roti Roti & Jennifer Royston


WAY TO GO!!!

datebook-header-purple.jpg
2019-20

ALL EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

May 4
5th Grade Fine Arts Night
7 pm at GDS

Band Instrubment Rental Meeting - GDS-Band Room

May 12
6th Grade Band/Orchestra Concert 7 pm at GDS

May 17
GDS Jazz Band-Big Band Bash at MGHS

May 19
6-8th Grade Choir Concert
7 pm at GDS

May 22
Inservice

May 25
No School

May 27
7-8th Grade Band Concert
7 pm at GDS

May 28
7-8th Grade Orchestra Concert 7 pm at GDS

June 9
8th Grade Recognition

June 11
Last day of school