Newsletters

Edison Newsletters

October / November / December 2019

October / November / December 2019

Edison Middle School

Keeping You Informed
October, November, December 2019

Important Phone Numbers: School District of Janesville

Main Office 743-5900 Educational Services Center
Attendance Office 743-5930 527 S. Franklin Street
Principal 743-5906 Janesville, WI 53548
Assistant Principal 743-5907; (608) 743-5000

From the Principal

We welcome all returning and new students and their parents/guardians to the new school year!

Edison Middle School is designed to meet the unique needs of young adolescents. We are committed to academic excellence and to providing opportunities for student growth and success. We plan and organize excellent projects and provide exciting learning experiences for our students.

Experience tells us that to receive the most benefit from what we offer, your child must be an active participant in the life of the school. This includes taking part in classroom activities, completing assignments, stretching his/her mind, and becoming involved in some of the extra-curricular offerings. Very importantly, your student must attend school on a regular basis. Research shows a clear relationship between regular and punctual attendance with academic achievement and later success in the real world.

We also know that family involvement in education is crucial. Family involvement benefits students’ academic performance, enhances family-school relations and increases the understanding and support for students in the home as well as in the school.

We, in the best interest of your child, request your involvement and support in the educational process. Please feel free to contact us to resolve any questions or issues you may have.

We look forward to a great school year!

Jim LeMire
Principal

Need more information? Stay Connected

It’s probably on the Edison website. Visit the website for the school calendar, staff contact information, school newsletters, PTA information, current events, breakfast and lunch menus, the student handbook and much more.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more Edison news and information.

Picture Retake Day

Picture retakes will be Wednesday, October 9th. Have your photo taken if you were absent on the initial day or return you ordered picture packet for a retake.

Fire Prevention Month

October is Fire Prevention Month. On Oct. 11th the Janesville Fire Department will observe Edison Middle School as we practice our monthly fire drill.

Scoopie Nights

Mark your calendars for the PTA Scoopie Nights at the Culvers on Court St. The events run from 4- 8:00 pm each of the following nights:

November 5, 2019
February 12, 2020
April 7, 2020

Edison Athletics - Season 2

October 18th – December 6th
Boys’ Swim (6th – 8th Grade)
Girls’ Volleyball (8th Grade)

If you have any questions, please contact Edison Middle School Athletic Director Mr. Carl Schenzel at 728-3779 or cschenzel@janesville.k12.wi.us.

Athletic events can be found on the Edison Middle School Homepage: edison.janesville.k12.wi.us, under athletics, athletics calendar.

Fall Conferences

Fall Conferences will be held October 23-24. Wednesday will be a regular day of student attendance. Conferences are Wednesday evening and all day Thursday. Appointments will be made with homeroom teachers. The conference schedule is:

October 23rd – Regular day for students. Conferences are 4:00-7:00 pm.
October 24th – Conferences are 8:00 am - 7:00 pm.
October 25th – No school for students or teachers.

Book Fair

The Scholastic Book Fair will be in the Edison LMC October 21st-24th. Students will be allowed to visit the book fair during the week and parents are encouraged to visit during conference time.

Box Tops for Education

Edison Middle School receives $.10 for every box top from General Mills. Our goal is to collect 20,000, which will be $2,000. The money that is raised will help fund student activities. Students may turn these in to the main office at Edison.

Discipline

Students are expected to abide by all established codes of conduct and board policies, as outlined by the student handbook and as stated in rules established by building principals for each school. All students must help to establish and maintain a safe and educationally conducive environment. When it becomes necessary to investigate student misconduct, students have a duty to cooperate and answer questions truthfully and completely. Students who are dishonest, uncooperative, and/or are evasive will be subject to disciplinary action up to and/or including a recommendation for expulsion.

School Lunch

A reminder to parents/guardians: Parents/Guardians may place spending limits on their student’s spending in the school cafeteria. Possibilities could include:

Limiting the spending to full meals only (no a la carte)
Limiting the a la carte spending to a specific amount
Limiting the entire day’s spending to a specific dollar amount (both full meal and a la carte combined)
If you have any questions, please contact the Secretary to the Manager of Food Services at 743-5132.

EDISON CLASS SCHEDULE

1st Hour 8:00-8:44 AM
2nd Hour 8:48-9:36 AM
3rd Hour 9:40-10:28 AM
4th Hour 10:32-11:20 AM

Lunch Schedule

6th 7th 8th

Lunch 11:24-11:55

5th Hour 11:24-12:1211:59-12:47; 11:24-12:12

Lunch 12:16-12:47

6th Hour 12:16-1:04; 12:51-1:39 12:51-1:39

Lunch 1:08 -1:39

Afternoon Schedule

7th Hour 1:43-2:31 PM

8th Hour 2:35-3:23 PM

Title 1 ~

Edison Middle School is a school-wide Title 1 school. What does that mean for your child? It means access to highly qualified teachers, including Title 1 teachers, to support students in reading and math. Title 1 services can include, but are not limited to, extra support in the math and reading classrooms, small group instruction, and targeted interventions. Here at Edison, our Title 1 teachers are shared with Franklin Middle School. They are Mrs. Laura Steele (lsteele@janesville.k12.wi.us) and Mrs. Dawn Skrzypchak (dskrzypchak@janesville.k12.wi.us). Being a Title 1 school also increases funding for teacher professional development, technology upgrades, family nights, and other resources for students, staff, and parents.

WEATHER - INCLEMENT WEATHER/SCHOOL CLOSING INFORMATION

Decisions about whether to cancel school are made in coordination with both the Janesville Transit System and the Van Galder Bus Company, as well as the passage of city streets, safety of rural students, and information from the county highway department and city street department. The final decision to delay or close rests with the Superintendent. If school is not cancelled and families do not feel it is safe for their child to come to school, then they should keep their children home. Families should remember to call in the absence to the school.

The Superintendent will continue to have the option of delaying the start of school by an hour. If this occurs, the School District will continue to have special education, early childhood, and kindergarten classes. Elementary School class will begin at 9:20 a.m. and middle and high school classes will begin at 9:00 a.m. Universal Free Breakfast will be served on delayed start days.

Infinite Campus will serve as our primary means of notification. We urge you to supply your student's school with your contact information and updates as changes occur. WCLO and additional radio and TV stations will be contacted regarding school closings or delays. Closing and delay information will be posted no later than 6:00 a.m. In order to keep district lines open for general operations, we suggest parents not call the district for closing information.

Our schools do not close early in an attempt to avoid incoming snow or ice storms. This decision is to protect children who may get home before their families and have no access or supervision at home. There also will be no athletic contests and no practices on days school is called off for weather reasons. The gyms will also be closed.

On days when school is in session but weather has progressively gotten worse, cancellations for after school or evening athletics or extracurricular activities will be announced by 2:00 p.m. on WCLO radio that day. Infinite Campus will serve as our primary means of notification.

Are You Moving???

If you will be moving from your current home address, please contact Edison Middle School’s Student Service’s Secretary at 743-5926, as soon as possible, to determine what paperwork you will need to fill out for your child to continue attending his/her current school.

Please note: If you are moving to an address outside the School District of Janesville, in most cases, your child is eligible to continue attending the School District of Janesville as long as you complete the appropriate paperwork within the required timeline.

If you have any questions about school placement for a particular address, please contact Open Enrollment Specialist Deen Hartley at 743-5152. The Administrative Services Office is open year round.

Tornado Warning

When the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning, it means that an actual tornado has been sighted by a trained spotter or a radar reading shows conditions are right for a tornado to develop in the immediate area. When a tornado warning is issued for the immediate Janesville area, the emergency sirens will be activated.

Twice each school year, Edison Middle School practices the response the school would use if an emergency siren is activated for a tornado warning during the school day. Edison Middle School has designated safe areas for all students and staff to go to when a tornado warning is issued.

Because all doors to Edison Middle School are secure during the school day, they will remain locked during a tornado warning. Staff are encouraged to not respond to door buzzers, knocks on doors, or phone calls, but rather to remain in their designated safe zone until the tornado warning is canceled. We also encourage parents and family members of students to seek safe shelter during a tornado warning. Parents or family members should not come to Edison Middle School during a tornado warning to pick up their child.

Once the tornado warning is canceled, Edison Middle School will return to usual operations. At that time, staff will be able to respond to door buzzers and phone calls. Thank you in advance for working with Edison Middle School to keep y your child safe during a tornado warning. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this information, please call the Director of Safety and Student Services at 743-5078.

NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE:

Release of Pupil Directory Data Information

Wisconsin Statutes provide that schools or school districts may legally release a pupil’s name, address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of member of athletic teams, dates of attendance, photographs (The School District of Janesville will consider videotapes the same as photographs), degrees and awards received, name of the school most recently previously attended by the pupil.

Such information may be withheld if the district is advised by the parent, legal guardian, or eligible student (18 years of age or older) to do so. If it is your wish to not allow such information to be released, and if you are the parent, legal guardian, or eligible student, you need to sign a “Request to Withhold Directory Data” form at the school office.

It’s the Law in Wisconsin Kids Need Shots for School!

To attend school in Wisconsin, students must show they’ve had immunizations.

Immunization Requirements

The following table lists the minimum required immunizations for students in grades 6-9.

Age/Grade	DTP/Dtap	Tdap	Polio	Hepatitis B	MMR	Varicella
Grade 6-10	4	1	4	3	2	2

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE IN THE ATTENDANCE OFFICE AT 608-743-5932

If your child needs immunizations, they can receive them from their local doctor or the Rock County Health Department (608-757-5440). These immunization requirements can be waived by claiming a health, religious, or personal waiver. Contact the Edison attendance office at 608-743-5932 to claim a waiver.

Child Find Notice

“The school district must locate, identify and evaluate all resident children with disabilities, including children with disabilities attending private schools, regardless of the severity of their disabilities.” The school district has a special education program to locate and screen all children with suspected disabilities who are residents of the district and who have not graduated from high school. Upon request the school district will screen any resident child who has not graduated high school to determine whether a special education referral is appropriate. A request may be made by contacting Kimberli Peerenboom, Director of Pupil Services for the School District of Janesville at 743-5061, or by writing her at 527 S. Franklin St., Janesville WI 53548.

Annually the district conducts developmental screening of preschool children. Each child’s motor, communication and social skills are observed at various play areas. Each child is weighed and measured, and the child’s hearing and vision is checked. The information is used to provide the parent with a profile of their child’s current development and to provide suggestions for follow up activities. Parents learn about community services available to them and speak with representatives of agencies serving families. The information from screening is also used to determine whether a child should be evaluated for a suspected disability. When school staff reasonably believe a child is a child with a disability, they refer the child for evaluation by a school district Individualized Education Program (IEP) team. Developmental screening will be a part of the kindergarten screening this Spring.

Watch for dates at your local school.

A physician, nurse, psychologist, social worker or administrator of a social agency who reasonably believes a child brought to him or her for services is a child with a disability has a legal duty to report the child to the school district in which the child re-sides. Before referring the child, the person making the referral must inform the child’s parents that the referral will be made.

The referral must be in writing and include the reason why the person believes the child is a child with a disability. Others who reasonably believe a child is a child with a disability may also refer the child to the school district in which the child resides. A referral of a child residing in the School District of Janesville may be sent to Kimberli Peerenboom at the school district address above.”

Request for School Transfer/Placement (Intra District Transfers) within the School District of Janesville Attendance Areas

Due to Move:

If you move within the School District of Janesville during the school year and wish to remain at your current school, please ask the school office for a Request to Remain in Current School Following Move to New Attendance Area Form (blue). Complete the form and return it to the school office.

Due to Parent Choice:

If you wish to apply to have your student transferred/placed in another school within the district next school year (2020-2021), please ask the school office for a School Transfer/Placement Within the School District Form (yellow). Completed forms will be accepted from December 1 through December 15, 2019 only. Submit your Request for School Transfer/Placement Within the School District Form (yellow) to your home school attendance area office. Parents applying for a Request for School Transfer/ Placement Within the School District will be notified of approval or disapproval by January 15, 2020. Parents applying for a Request for School Transfer/Placement Within the School District for incoming Kindergarten students will be notified of approval or non-approval after they have enrolled their child during the Kindergarten Enrollment period with the New Student Enrollment Office. If you have questions, please contact the school office of your home school attendance area.

Open Enrollment or Public School Choice

If during the school year, you move outside the School District of Janesville and you wish to remain at your current school please contact the Open Enrollment Specialist at 743-5152 and request a tuition waiver form within two weeks of your move. This will allow you to be eligible to attend your current school for the remainder of the current year tuition free. To continue attending the School District of Janesville after the 2019-2020 school year, you will also need to complete an open enrollment application. Application instructions are provided to the School District of Janesville by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and should be available by late January 2020. This year applications will be accepted February 3 – April 30, 2019.

If you have questions regarding Open Enrollment or Public School Choice, please contact the Open Enrollment Specialist at 743-5152.

Kindergarten Enrollment

2020-2021 School Year

School District Residents

If you have a child turning 5 (five) years old prior to September 1, 2020 and they are not currently enrolled in a School District of Janesville Pre-school for Janesville (P4J) or Early Childhood (EC) program it is time to enroll in the Janesville Public School District. Enrollment will take place at the Educational Services Center located at 527 S. Franklin St. (administration building) in the New Student Enrollment office. You may enroll anytime during the two week period.

Weeks of December 2–6 and December 9-13

7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. M/W/F both weeks
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m Tuesday, December 3, 2019
8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 5, 2019
8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 10, 2019
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m Thursday, December 12, 2019

If you cannot attend the enrollment period please come in as soon as possible to enroll after December 13, 2019. Enrollment in the district is required for participation in orientation. When you enroll, you will need your child’s birth certificate for proof of age, proof of residency (top portion of a utility bill, or current lease) to determine school assignment, immunization records and photo identification. If you have questions on general enrollment, please contact the New Student Enrollment office at 743-5072 or 743-5153 during regular office hours, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Requests for School Transfer/Placement within the School District (yellow forms) for incoming kindergarten students should be submitted through the enrollment process. Forms are available at all schools, as well as at the Educational Services Center. If you have questions regarding this process contact Deen Hartley at 743-5152. The status of requests will be determined by January 15, 2020 if they are turned in by December 13th. If you have a student currently attending a school under a School Transfer/Placement within the School District, it does not automatically qualify your kindergarten student for attendance at the same school; however, siblings are generally assigned to the same school. In order for your kindergarten student to attend the same school as a sibling, you must submit a request during the Kindergarten Enrollment time frame.

If you know of a child in your neighborhood or from community activities that would be entering kindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year, please pass this enrollment information on.

Non-District Residents

If you are a non-resident of the School District of Janesville and have a child turning 5 (five) years old prior to September 1, 2020 and would like your child to attend the School District of Janesville you must also apply for OPEN ENROLLMENT. The timeline for Open Enrollment is February 3 to April 30, 2020. Currently open enrolled non-residents in a P4J or EC program do not need to re-apply. If you have questions regarding the Open Enrollment process, please contact Deen Hartley at 743-5152.

Public School Open Enrollment Timelines

The State of Wisconsin has announced the application period for open enrollment (also known as public school choice) begins in February for the following school year. Open Enrollment laws permit children to attend a public school in a school district other than the one in which they live.

The open enrollment application period for the 2020-2021 school year is from February 3, 2020 – April 30, 2020. Parents are encouraged to apply on-line at dpi.wi.gov/open-enrollment. Although on-line application is recommended, paper applications may be obtained from the Department of Public Instruction or any school district after February 3, 2020 and must be delivered (hand-delivery is recommended) to the nonresident school district during the application period. Paper applications to attend Janesville must be submitted to the Open Enrollment Specialist in the New Student Enrollment Office no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 30th (a postmark does not constitute timely submission). Applications turned in prior to February 3rd will be returned as not valid and must be resubmitted after February 3rd but before April 30th at 4:00 p.m.

Enrollment in a requested school or program is subject to space and other limitations and is not guaranteed. Transportation is the responsibility of the parent. Habitual truancy may result in recommendation for the student to return to their home district.

Under School District of Janesville board policy, students who attended the district under open enrollment the previous year are not required to reapply for the following school year.

An application is required for each sibling in the family. For example, if a family has one child in elementary school that has been approved for open enrollment and a new student entering kindergarten next year, the student entering kindergarten must apply for open enrollment in order to attend the School District of Janesville.

Parents will be informed in June whether their open enrollment applications have been approved or denied. The student’s school or program placement will be provided in June.

If you have questions, please contact the Open Enrollment Specialist at 743-5152.

School District of Janesville

Annual Notice of Special Education Referral and Evaluation Procedures

Upon request, the School District of Janesville is required to evaluate a child for eligibility for special education services. A request for evaluation is known as a referral. When the district receives a referral, the district will appoint an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team to determine if the child has a disability, and if the child needs special education services. The district locates, identifies, and evaluates all children with disabilities who are enrolled by their parents in private (including religious) schools, elementary schools and secondary schools located in the school district.

A physician, nurse, psychologist, social worker, or administrator of a social agency who reasonably believes a child brought to him or her for services is a child with a disability has a legal duty to refer the child, including a homeless child, to the school district in which the child resides. Before referring the child, the person making the referral must inform the child's parent that the referral will be made. Others, including parents, who reasonably believe a child is a child with a disability may also refer the child, including a homeless child, to the school district in which the child resides.

Referrals must be in writing and include the reason why the person believes the child is a child with a disability. A referral may be made by contacting Ms. Kimberli Peerenboom, Director of Pupil Services, School District of Janesville, at 608-743-5061, or by writing her at 527 S. Franklin Street, Janesville, WI.