Newsletter of Sevastopol School District
Volume 37 Issue 1
Fifth-grade students give an enthusiastic thumbs-up after touring the new building and their future classrooms. Photo by Photos by Matt/Matt Orthober.
Building Construction Update BY KYLE LUEDTKE, DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR
The new addition behind the school from the outside may not look like it has changed very much over the past couple of months. On the inside, however, the progress has been significant. Each day, there are over 70 construction workers on site associated with the
related trades. Recently, we were able to give our 4K through 5th grade students a tour of their future classrooms. One 4k student commented that, “We will have the best school!” It was great to see and share in their excitement.
The most exciting feature to me is within the project, there is something for each age group. Our elementary students will have new classrooms. Our middle school and high school students will have a new industrial art and science wings. Our special education and English Language Learners (ELL) will have new educational spaces, too. The various sections of the new building are at different stages of progress. The early childhood, 4k, and kindergarten wing is the furthest along. This area has been painted along with connected lighting and installed cabinets and cubbies. The middle school and high school science wing is the area with the most work ahead of it. One reason for this is that all of the materials needed for the second floor enter the building through the south wall of the science section. The mild winter weather through January has been very beneficial for the project as well. The building is entirely enclosed and is heated on its own system. This has allowed the pace of the work to be uninterrupted and remain on schedule. There is still quite a bit of work ahead on the project, but the progress is amazing. It will be exciting to enter these spaces come September.
Winter Community Programs Being Offered Virtually BY SUSAN ANSCHUTZ, PUPIL SERVICES & SPECIAL EDUCATION SECRETARY
What is a community program? For Sevastopol Schools, it is an opportunity for our district neighbors and friends to explore a new craft, join a discussion about a topic of interest, or to simply learn something new from Sevastopol’s staff instructors or community partners. For more than ten years, Sevastopol has been offering courses that have included arts and crafts, cooking and baking, computer
software and internet topics as well as exercise classes. The programs not only provide a means for district residents to connect with others with similar interests, but also give participants a fun or informative reason to become involved with our school. The 2021 Community Programs are currently underway. Classes this season are all being offered virtually and will continue through mid-March. Hands-on and in-per-
son assistance previously offered at school, has been replaced by video instruction this year. However, the remote classes have their benefits. Our first class went pretty well,” said Sarah Brandt, instructor for the popular quilting class that has been offered for several years. “One of the advantages of having it virtual this year is that I can record the class and share it with the participants so they can review the directions if they missed class or are having issues with the process,” Brandt said. “Virtual classes are also nice for those who wouldn’t be able to participate due to childcare or other family obligations.” “We still look at this virtual opportunity as a great way for our community members to be involved in something offered by the school district,” said Melissa Marggraf, coordinator of the programs. “From the safety and comfort of their home, participants can socially connect with others while learning something new.” Classes this year include Paint Pour, Quilting, Strings of Stone - a jewelry making class, Art Journaling for a Better Mood, Creative Sugar Cooking Decorating, Virtual Book Club, Beginner Sign Language, Computer Clean-up and Internet Security classes. “I want to thank our instructors for sharing their passion and expertise with members of the community and other staff,” Marggraf said. “I’d like to invite others to consider our programming in the future.”
Dyslexia Awareness
Notes from the District Administrator It is difficult to believe that we are already in the third quarter of the school year. To me this year has at times moved very quickly and very slowly simultaneously. Covid-19, of course, has been a major contributor to this feeling. We have had at least one active case of Covid-19 from Sept. 12 through Feb. 3. We are thankful, as of this writing, that all 91 cases experienced between our student body and staff have resulted in everyone reaching full recovery without the need for hospitalization. Moving forward, we are adjusting our educational delivery on March 1 to give all students in-person learning daily. Families who feel remote learning is best for their children at this time still have this option. Another factor, which affects the speed by which a school year flows, is the weather. We have been fortunate this year. As of Feb. 22, we have had one two-hour delay and one day missed because of cold weather. As is the case in Wisconsin, weather changes often. I have been determining snow days for fifteen years and like the weather, it is not an exact science. The National Weather Service sends out information prior to each expected storm in addition to the local weather reports. Sevastopol’s transportation director, Roch Lautenbach, communicates with the county’s highway department on road conditions. Additionally, both of us drive the roads to experience the situation firsthand. As I drive in my four-wheel drive truck, I take into account how the traveling would be for our busses, young high school drivers and my wife in her minivan. I also appreciate the communication with the superintendents of Gibraltar, Sturgeon Bay and Southern Door. We usually talk the night before a storm and then confer the next morning at 5:00. This year has also been challenging for our extracurricular programs. The fall play needed to be shifted to a January show without a live audience. Athletics has been ever changing. The WIAA added an alternate season for fall sports. Our football, boys’ soccer and volleyball teams will take advantage of this opportunity. The alternate season has a ripple effect on both the winter and spring sports seasons. Adjustments were made to each of the sports seasons start and end dates. In the end, the goal remains the same as always, which is to provide quality opportunities for our students. While it has been a challenging year, it has also been rewarding. Our staff has had to be flexible and problem solve. I think this has led to growth and will give us some skills we can use in the future even when conditions return to normal. As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to us here at school. Kyle Luedtke, District Administrator
BY MELISSA MARGGRAF, DIRECTOR OF PUPIL SERVICES
Sevastopol’s mission statement emphasizes that every student has a pathway for success. The role of the pupil services department is to provide our students with a holistic approach, so they are able to thrive both academically and emotionally. Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects some of our students and families. The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) defines dyslexia as: “a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction.
Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.” Students with dyslexia are on a continuum of severity and are able to learn and overcome their disability with targeted interventions. The myth that dyslexia is related to intelligence, must be dispelled. It is important to note that students with dyslexia have tremendous strengths. These students can be characterized as having incredible imaginations, strong listening comprehension, possessing a large vocabulary, having the ability to think out-of-the-box, having empathy towards others, and the capability to understand the big picture. Early identification and intervention for
students who are diagnosed with dyslexia are essential. Sevastopol has recognized that as a district, we can increase staff’s awareness of dyslexia and provide more professional development to implement targeted interventions. Our journey as a district to better prepare our teachers to help students with dyslexia, has begun. Six of our elementary teachers are enrolled in a program through Maxscholar to increase their multi-sensory instruction. In addition, two staff members are working towards earning their dyslexia interventionist certification. Our teachers are life-long learners and are committed to improving their practice so that our students continue to shine.
INSIDE: Spelling Bee Winners - page 2 Community Spotlight - page 3 Athletic Update - page 4