Posoh, Boozhoo, Shekoli ICS Families!
Recently, the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned the statewide mask mandate, which may leave you wondering if anything will change here at ICS? Please know that we will not change any of our safety protocols including the requirement to wear a face mask while riding on the bus and anytime here at school. What we've been doing has been working well for us, so we will continue our safety practices at this time.
We understand that this has been a very challenging year for all of us and a time of loss for many. That is why it's so important to remain committed in doing what we know works, and to treat each other well, act with wisdom and to show compassion.
As more of us become vaccinated, there is new hope that one day, this pandemic will be behind us. Until that day, we ask everyone to stay strong and remain committed to doing everything we can to be safe, supportive and understanding. We are sharing an article at the end of this newsletter from Aurora to help our families cope with anxiety and worrying about what the future will bring. Please scroll down to read it or you can CLICK ON THIS LINK NOW.
If there is something that we can do to ease the strain or provide student support, I hope you will reach out to me at jdropik@ics-edu.org or (414) 525-6189.
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Jason P. Dropik
Head of School
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Winners of the Our Ways Scavenger Hunt Lynn Cook and Alisha House, please contact Our Ways to claim your prize! |
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Resources for learning how to stay safe in the event of a tornado:
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Learning about Tornado Safety |
Tornados are scary but learning about how to protect ourselves shouldn't be, so we are spending time to learn about tornado safety in April. Parents, we encourage you to ask your child(ren) about what they are learning at school and then talk about your plan for staying safe at home. To help you do that, we've included some resource links for you from the CDC and the Red Cross. Remember to have a plan and to be safe!
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Parents & Guardians, please complete the
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Help your Child
have a Successful MAP Experience!
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At ICS, we are dedicated to continuous improvement and meeting the learning needs of
all of our students. To do this, we use MAP Growth, which is an assessment for measuring achievement and growth in Math, Reading, Language and Science.
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Please save the date for our 8th Grade Graduation here at ICS on Monday, June 7th! We will be sending out more reminders and information to 8th grade families soon.
In addition, the Milwaukee Indian Education Committee (MIEC), has announced their event "All City Graduation" that will take place at ICS on May 6th. We encourage our 8th graders who will be graduating this year to attend as well!
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Student Composers and Artists at ICS
ICS Art teacher, Ms Rameriz, and Music teacher, Ms Meyer, have been doing incredible work with our students all year. We are astounded by the beauty, artistry and creativity of our students' work and are sharing some of their amazing projects with you now!
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Understand & Composing Music
Musicians in grades 5-8 are exploring how music works. Our middle school musicians are focusing on what to listen for in music (mood, texture, text, instrumentation, style). They are building their understanding of the purpose of music, how to discuss what they hear and how it affects us as we live, work, study and connect with one another. 5th grade worked on a composition unit where they tried their hands at making music using a digital tool called Chrome Music Lab Song Maker. As they continue to grow as composers, they will experiment with perimeters and how they affect the music they compose. All of our musicians are learning how music is used in the world we all inhabit!
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Want to hear it? Use the QR code below!
Want to learn more about the importance of a Music education?
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A Peek at Elementary Art Classes
K4 artists are exploring color, shape, and line as they embark on their journey of creating. Students recently learned how to mix primary colors to achieve secondary colors, which is a magical, powerful experience!
K5 and 1st grade artists are sharpening their scissors skills as they begin their work with felt and fabric. They are discovering math and art connections as they study patterns and shapes. They will learn about the storyquilts of Faith Ringgold and the quilts from Gee’s Bend.
2nd grade artists are studying the work of Chief Lady Bird, and the Woodland style floral and animal paintings. They are learning how to create a tint gradient with acrylic paint, too! Artists proudly stood and shared their nation and clan with the whole class.
3rd and 4th grade artists are wrapping up their weaving unit on a simple loom. Some students experimented with adding a fringe, or stitching up the sides of their weaving to make a pouch or purse. Artists collaborated on what to include in their artist statements, as they are learning to reflect on their process.
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Each week, we are sharing images from the previous week's social media posts so that families who aren't on social media, can see them. We hope you enjoy this new addition of our weekly newsletter! CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SLIDESHOW!
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Next week is College & Career Week! To celebrate, encourage and inspire our students to think about their education and career pathways, we're planning for a fun and informative week!
Monday, April 19th
Staff College Spirit Day
Show your support for higher education by wearing apparel that represents your college/university. Decorate your door with your alma mater.
Button Day
Students will have the opportunity to create a button with their favorite college or university. These buttons will be worn the remainder of the week
Tuesday, April 20th
College/University Hat Day (*buttons)
Wear your favorite school’s (college or university) hat during the school day in the hallways and cafeteria! Also, we are planning fun activities for elementary and middle school age students.
Wednesday, April 21st
Career Fair Day • 10am - 1pm
First Responders will be here to showcase emergency equipment and vehicles.
Career Interviews with amazing virtual guests!
Thursday, April 22nd
Tribal College Day
Guests from local and national tribal colleges will join us to share about their respective schools. *Tribal college representatives will present to classes via Zoom.
Friday, April 23rd
College Tour Day
Students will tour the college of their choice virtually
and dress in their favorite college gear.
Colleges that will be explored are:
UWM, UW-Madison, Marquette, Carroll and MATC.
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Announcing Copper Horns in the Water
A PLAY WRITTEN BY ICS ALUMNUS TY DEFOE
AND ACTED BY ICS STUDENTS & ALUMNI
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Later this week, we'll be sharing a LINK for ICS families to watch a new virtual play entitled "Copper Horns in the Water," which was written by ICS alumnus, Ty Defoe and acted by ICS students and another ICS alumnus, Marisa Carr!
The play is in cooperation with First Stage Theater who offered free theater workshops for our students to help them prepare for auditions and rehearsals. You'll be hearing a lot more about this play later this week, so please stay tuned!
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As language and culture are at the heart of ICS, it is essential to use language in our daily routines throughout our school and at home too! We encourage you to follow along and learn the common greetings and phrases along with us! |
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This week’s Words of the Week are:
“See You Later"
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Learn to Make Moccasins with Our Ways & FRC!
On May 22nd, Our Ways and FRC will offer another Moccasin Making Workshop at the school. These Workshops are for ICS parents & guardians who want to learn how to make moccasins for themselves and their children. There is no cost to attend however, seating is very limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Please know that these Workshops are for adults only and that childcare is not available.
To reserve your place for the May 22nd Moccasin Making Workshop:
ICS parents & guardians who want to learn how to make Eastern Woodland Center Seam moccasins, should contact FRC at cjanechek@ics-edu.org or (414) 525-6117.
Eagle Singers Drum parents & guardians who want to learn how to make Woodland Style or Plains Style moccasins should contact Our Ways at auwilliams@ics-edu.org or (414) 525-6144.
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ICS parents, guardians and families are invited to join us for a virtual Parent Café on Monday, May 10th, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
If you haven't attended a Parent Café before, please know this is a free program offering opportunities to develop new friendships, share positive strategies for effectively handling child behaviors and gaining new perspectives on healthy and resilient families.
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ICS Play and Learn Program is accepting new participants. Contact FRC today!
Play and Learn is a program for adult caregivers and children ages birth to 4, who socialize and play together. The Play and Learn program also provides:
• Support for caregivers in preparing children for success in school and life.
• Information and resources to promote optimal childhood development.
• Fosters connections and friendships between parents.
• Intentional and developmentally-appropriate learning experiences.
• Instills a love for life-long learning.
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Understanding worry: Prepare, don’t panic
Amidst the uncertainty and the ever-changing health landscape in our country, you may find yourself in varied response states. You may be thinking ahead, anticipating future negative outcomes. In other words, worrying.
Some worry is normal and can be useful because it can help you effectively prepare for what lies ahead. However, your worries can be fueled and exacerbated by societal influences, especially the barrage of 24/7 news reports.
Worrying too much, though can lead to a prolonged, heightened alert status, staying preoccupied and fixated – often resulting in our thoughts becoming our reality.
Pauline Krutilla, director of the Employee Assistance Program at Advocate Aurora Health offers some coping tips for individuals who may feel worried or panicked:
- Practicing mindfulness can be extremely helpful. Mindfulness means paying attention in the present, without judgement. When we observe our thoughts, choices and behaviors more objectively, we can manage them more effectively.
- Problem solving and effective planning can be productive. Worrying is not. Try periodically checking in with your work, travel, personal and family commitments and prepare accordingly, to ease any unnecessary worry.
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Staying informed while remaining calm during a widespread crisis is key. Setting specific times to check news updates might be advisable. Tuning in to other topics of conversation, activities and attention will help mitigate the tendency to worry too much about things we can’t control. When something like a global health crisis hits, you need good, solid data, not false or exaggerated information. You can find some good ones here.
We know that people react differently to stressful situations. How someone personally responds can depend on his or her background, personal circumstances, and the community in which someone lives. The CDC says that those who respond more strongly to stress during a crisis may find themselves with:
- Changes in sleep or eating patterns
- Difficulty concentrating at work
- Worsening of chronic health problems
- Increased use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs
Some workers have an added resource that can help called an Employee Assistance Program. Tapping into the EAP allows covered employees to confidentially connect with a trusted person about their concerns, especially if they are being consumed by worry and stress.
EAP is a voluntary benefit employers can offer their employees to support their behavioral health and well-being. EAP is centered around addressing issues such as stress, grief, family problems, psychological disorders and alcohol and substance abuse. Employee assistance programs are intended to provide employees with the right resources to help resolve whatever issue they may be encountering.
An EAP can offer assistance whenever a problem:
- Occupies too much of your time
- Interferes with normal activities
- Persists for more than two or three weeks
An EAP may offer counseling on many different concerns, including:
- Alcohol/drug abuse
- Anxiety or depression
- Balancing work and family
- Caring for aging parents
- Child/Family concerns
- Divorce
- Financial pressures
- Relationship issues
- Workplace stresses
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Wāēwāēnen • Miigwech • Yawʌɂkó |
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INDIAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL
(414) 525-6100 • www.ics-edu.org
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©2021 INDIAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL, INC. |
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