Thursday, August 27, 2015

Traffic Flow & Pick Up/Drop Off

Greetings JWP Families,


Each and every summer we spend time reviewing practices throughout our school district to ensure the safety of our students.  This summer we studied our Crisis Management Plan and traffic flow around the building.  We have made some adjustments to both so that we can provide our students with safe experiences in and around our building.


This letter is being provided to update families on traffic flow updates around the JWP school building for the 2015-2016 school year.  Please read this letter carefully, study the map provided, and ask any questions that you may have.


The east side of N. Main Street on the west side of the JWP building will be reserved for bus loading and unloading from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday.  This is designated on the provided map by a yellow line stretching from E. 3rd St. to E. 4th St.


E. 3rd Street will become a one way street from N. Main St. to N. Market Street.  This is called out on the map by a blue line running from Main St. to Market St.  This area will now serve as student drop off and pick up before, during, and after school.  On the south side of E. 3rd St. there has traditionally been parking for staff and visitors.  That area will now be 15 minute parking only.  There will be signs installed to cover this information as well.


Preschool, Early Childhood Family Education, Early Childhood Special Education and School Age Care will now drop students off on the southeast side of the building outside door E1.  You can see the traffic flow suggested by following the green line on the map.


As always, we appreciate your understanding and flexibility.  It takes a partnership to ensure the safety of our students and we are thankful for your support!  In closing, should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly.


With Kind Regards,
Bill Adams, Superintendent


Tuesday, August 18, 2015

The Year Ahead


The Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton School District is gearing up for the start of another school year.  Our custodians have been working diligently in getting our facilities and grounds prepared for our students to return.  Technology staff members have completed preparation of our Chromebook deployment process.  Teachers are in their classrooms organizing their yearly lessons and administrators are formulating and finalizing plans for the 2015-2016 school year.  It is safe to say, all of us are ready to welcome our outstanding students back!

We will welcome the following new staff members:

High School Special Education - Kathleen Miller
Elementary Special Education - Lisa Schroeder
High School English - Colleen Crisera
High School English - Connor Meyers
High School and Elementary Physical Education - Evan Rosa
3rd Grade - Tammy Barnes
6th Grade - Sherry Urness
STEM Teacher - Rachel Pierson
High School Math - Erin Oakley

This school year also brings new changes for instructional offerings and technology tools.  Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) will be a new class offering for our students in kindergarten through 6th grade.  All students in 4th through 12th grade will have Chromebooks assigned to them in a one to one environment.  Students in kindergarten through 3rd grade will have one to one access via Chromebook Carts assigned to classrooms.

STEM will provide our students with additional exposure to the skills and knowledge in each of the disciplines making up STEM Education.  STEM is an interdisciplinary and applied approach that is coupled with hands-on, problem-based learning.  Our students are going to be provided with an excellent opportunity to improve their knowledge and skill set in this area.

Our Chromebook deployment is new this year and is happening for the following reasons:

  1. To provide our students with the opportunity to access a variety of resources.
  2. To ensure our students enter the college or career platforms with technology literacy and are device agnostic.
  3. To set the state for flexibility in become 22nd Century ready.
  4. To make local and global connections.
  5. To connect, communicate, collaborate, create and recreate with local and global education partners.
The addition of STEM Education and Chromebook deployment is an excellent opportunity to take student learning to a whole new level.  This is an exciting time for the JWP School Community and an exceptional opportunity for students to be enrolled at JWP.  Should you be interested in learning more about JWP, please contact the District Office at 507.234.5181, Option 5.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Chromebook Deployment


August 11, 2015

Greeting Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (JWP) Families and Students,

First and foremost, we hope that this communication finds you and your families doing well.  It has been a busy time at the JWP School District as we work on plans for the 2015-2016 scholar.  At the end of the 2014-2015 school year, it was announced that the JWP School District would be deploying Chromebooks to students in grades 4-12.  This letter will provide you with important information regarding this process.

The District will have a series of meetings in which we will cover important information regarding a variety of topics.  These meeting dates and locations are as follows:

August 18, 2015 Chromebook Deployment at 7:00 pm

10th - Varsity Gymnasium
11th - Auditorium
12th - Commons

August 19, 2015

7th - 6:00 pm Orientation in the Auditorium followed by Chromebook Deployment at 7:00 pm
8th - 7:00 pm Chromebook Deployment in the Commons
9th - 7:00 pm Chromebook Deployment in the Varsity Gymnasium followed by Orientation at 8:00 pm

August 20, 2015 Chromebook Deployment at 7:00 pm

4th - Varsity Gymnasium
5th - Auditorium
6th - Commons

You may have students that attend grade levels in different meeting strands.  Your family will need to attend only one meeting, however, all students receiving a Chromebook must be in attendance at one of the meetings.

When any piece of technology is purchased and/or deployed, many individuals begin to wonder how accidents or theft will be covered.  In brief summary, here is our District's plan:

We will offer a $20 opt-in insurance plan for families to purchase per Chromebook issued.  This will cover the first two accidental replacements/repairs.  Therefore, if you plan to participate in this optional insurance plan, we ask that you provide payment on the evening in which your family attends.  More in-depth details will be shared on the informational night.

If you would like to view our Chromebook Policy, Acceptable Use Policy and other Chromebook related items in advance, you may do so by utilizing this web address: http:bit.ly/1KTKtvh

We thank you for your unending support and look forward to seeing all of you in the near future.  Should you be unable to attend or have further questions, please contact Bill Adams, Superintendent.

In closing, if you would like to update your contact preference in Infinite Campus, you may do so via this link: https://goo.gl/a8QoMR

With Kindest Regards,
Bill Adams, Superintendent
badams@isd2835.org
507.234.5181 - Option 5