March 2022 Staff Newsletter by mcpasd

A Message from Superintendent, Dr. Dana Monogue

Dear Staff,

I hope this newsletter finds you well and ready for a well-deserved spring break. If you are traveling, please do so safely! If you are going to be "staycationing," enjoy every minute!

Be proud of what you and your students have accomplished since January 3rd. This is the most exhausting stretch of the school year but also the most rewarding, as we can see remarkable gains and progress in our students.

The fruits of your labor - time spent analyzing student work, preparing lessons, providing large group, small group, and individualized instruction, collaborating with colleagues, contacting parents/caregivers - all of this is paying off in student growth and progress.

Thank you! Things will go quickly upon our return in April and I am looking forward to a strong and positive end to the 2021-2022 school year.

Be well and take care!

2022 Education Foundation Grant

The Education Foundation Grant is now available for the 2022 year cycle! Each year, the Foundation reviews the goals of the District’s Educational Plan and establishes grant goals that recognize the needs within the District. For the 2022 grant cycle, they are seeking grant applications that require full or partial funding between $250 and $2,500. These grants will fund unique and innovative programs that will provide experiences for students outside of traditional learning.

Click here to learn more.

Referendum Engagement Session

What you need to know.

As our engagement sessions came to a close, we recently hosted a meeting with staff to learn more about exploring an operational referendum.

For those that missed the meeting or would like to learn more detailed information about the potential referendum, please view this message from Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue.

More information can be found by visiting our web page linked here or you can read a short recap here.

Updated Staff Portal

Our staff portal just got a facelift! To help streamline the process of finding quick links the staff portal now has "widgets" to find what you are looking for. You can access the staff portal on our website in the menu linked here.

Rossing named new Assistant Superintendent of Operations for MCPASD

The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District is honored and excited to welcome Jerrud Rossing as our new Assistant Superintendent of Operations. Rossing comes to MCPASD after spending 12 years at Monona Grove School District as their Director of Business Services.

During the Board of Educations Regular Meeting on February 28th, Jerrud formally introduced himself to our board members. He talked about his upbringing, mentioning that he grew up 40-minutes from Middleton on a dairy farm in Lone Rock, Wisconsin.

Rossing says his love of education is profound. His wife is a high school English teacher, and he has four beautiful children.

Best Wishes, Lori!

After a 32 year long career in Education, Assistant Superintendent of Operations Lori Ames will be retiring at the end of the 2021-22 school year. The district has been incredibly fortunate to have had Lori's thoughtful leadership and well-rounded knowledge for all these years

When asked to reflect on her time here at MCPASD, Lori replied, "I have been blessed to spend my entire career working in public education. I have met and served with some amazing individuals. Their boundless energy and intelligence have challenged and inspired me to do better. I am thankful for all of the opportunities MCPASD has provided. My lens and vision have expanded so much during the last ten years, and I am a better person as a result."

Read what colleagues had to say about Lori here.

Mike Hamstra promoted to Transportation Manager

Join us in congratulating Mike Hamstra on his new role as Transportation Manager. Hamstra started working with our district in 2018 as a bus driver. He held that position for two years before being promoted to Admin Assistant of Routing and Dispatch.

He officially started his new role as Transportation Manager on Monday, March 21, 2022.

MCPASD Leaders Present at Civil Rights Summit

Five MCPASD leaders presented at a Summit on Civil Rights in Education designed to address disparities in student experiences and academic achievement in schools

Over 1,000 educators from across the country participated in the summit The following leaders presented on behalf of the Learner First Center for Civil Rights in Education

Quick Tips

What is Peachjar?

It is an online flyer board for families and staff This does not replace standard paper ads but is a helpful tool for both organizations and staff You would use Peach whenever you send a flyer home with students or hang them up around the school

Someone wants to post a flyer

Great! You or an organization wants to post a flyer to Peachjar First, the uploader will need a Peachjar Account Once the account is set up, they can begin uploading! Submitted posters will be sent to Shannon Valladolid and Becca Bailey for review

How to upload a flyer

Luckily Peachjar makes uploading a flyer super easy! It also even includes our disclaimer at the bottom automatically

Click here to view the step-by-step how-to document Please note that outside school organizations could be charged $25 per poster They will be prompted for this automatically on the site

When to say no to a poster

Most posters will be acceptable, but here are a few reasons that they might not be a good fit for Peachjar:

The event or promotion is for a single class or staff (Ex: Classroom field trip or staff meeting)

The outside organization (Ex: Dance academy, tutoring service, etc ) wants you to submit the flyer for them A reminder that outside organizations (orgs we do not partner with or utilize) must submit their flyers personally so they are charged the $25 fee

Lastly, use your best judgment as you would whenever accepting regular paper fliers

Meet The Communications Team

We are here to help create clear, concise, and entertaining communication for both families and staff We wanted to take a moment to introduce ourselves and our positions We hope this helps you get to know us a little better so we can assist you with any of your communication needs!

Shannon

As the Director of Information and Public Relations, Shannon oversees the entire communication department, including Interpreter and Translation Services. She oversees strategic event planning, managing crisis communications, directing internal and external communication efforts, managing the department's budget, just to name a few.

Becca

As the Public Relations Specialist, Becca provides content for our district social media pages and manages our district website She also helps create communication emails to parents and faculty, as well as assist with other communications projects Her goal is to work with her team to provide clear, concise, and entertaining communications to our stakeholders.

Jose

As the District Interpreter and Translator, Jose translates written communication from English to Spanish and vice versa, coming from all the buildings in our District. He assists District staff with oral interpretation during meetings, conferences, or phone calls. He also coordinates interpreters and translators for all other languages. Lastly, he helps post to our Spanish Facebook page and hosts our "MCPASD Monthly Update" videos, all in Spanish!

Dea

As the Media Productions Specialist, Dea oversees all video content for MCPASD. She produces, films, and edits content, and creates informational and creative graphics among her other tasks. Her goal in every project is to both entertain and inform.

WELLNESS CHALLENGE WINNERS WELLNESS CHALLENGE WINNERS

Congratulations to the winners of the latest wellness challenge! Your prizes will be delivered soon!

Joanna Cree Hannah Smith-Jones Chris Acker Jen Zart

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

If you carry MCPASD group life insurance, the new plan year starts in July with the premiums affecting June pay cycles. There are a few things that could affect your deductions.

Support Staff: Thinking of Retiring?

If you are part of our District Support Staff and work less than 12 months per year, this message is for you IF you are thinking of retiring at the end of this current school year

Each year, we get a fair amount of retirement and resignation notifications from colleagues that decide to move on to the next chapter in their life As we begin to look at staff assignments for the upcoming 22-23SY, we need to know who is planning on returning, and who is planning on resigning/retiring Having staff assignments finalized sooner-than-later ultimately determines who receives Letters of Reasonable Assurance for the upcoming school year We have started to receive a couple for next year already As sad as we are to receive notices of retirement, we do appreciate those who let us know as early as possible. Waiting to let us know until after the Letters of Reasonable Assurance have gone out causes re-work and stress for all involved.

We have heard from prior colleagues that they waited to let us know in August because of fear that they wouldn't keep their insurance through the summer months. This is not correct. It is important to emphasize with each of you that as long as you have finished your work year for the 2021-2022 school year, your insurance benefits that you are enrolled in will run through August 31, 2022, regardless of when we are notified of any possible change for you. We really need to know of planned retirements from the Para group by Monday, April 18th to be able to most efficiently complete the staffing moves that need to occur for 2022- 2023. You can turn in your notice to us by simply sending an email to employeeservicesmailbox@mcpasd.k12.wi.us to let us know. This deadline will allow us to plan for the continuing staff and get everyone assigned to positions in the new staffing needs for next year If you have any questions about this, let us know

Employee Services

MARCH MARCH

WELLNESS CHALLENGE WELLNESS CHALLENGE

This four-week physical activity challenge based on the game, Yahtzee™, encourages your team to take charge of your health rather than letting it be up to chance. You will be challenged to make little changes throughout your day. Throughout this team challenge, you will track your physical-related activities to earn points, while encouraging or involving your team too! To join, click here.

EMPLOYEE EMPLOYEE

BENEFITS BENEFITS

March Wellness Care Package from Dean

Take a look at upcoming events as well as new Living Healthy Rewards activities in the March Wellness Care Package.

YOGA / ZUMBA CLASSES

CLASSES CONTINUE CLASSES CONTINUE

Yoga will continue to be offered along with Saturday Zumba classes through April.

Slow flow yoga on Tuesdays 6 - 6:45am, virtually

Restorative vinyasa yoga on Thursdays from 3:154:15pm @ Elm Lawn Zumba on Saturdays from 10-11am virtually through March

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

REALiving Monthly Newsletter and Friday Facts

March EAP Newsletter: Let the Crafting Commence

Friday Fact: Empathy in Action

Friday Fact: Easy Craft

Friday Fact: Medium Difficulty Craft

Friday Fact: Difficult Craft

Click here for past REALiving articles

Relaxation Rooms

Some buildings now have a safe space for staff to take a few minutes to themselves.

Learn more in this episode of "What's happening at!"

Staff Spotlight

Meet Kenra Deja

Join us in welcoming Kendra to the MCPASD family!

She has recently accepted the role of Health Services Coordinator.

Kendra has worked in healthcare for the last 20 years and is now pursuing her Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) at UW-Madison! Kendra also has two sons that attend school in the District.

She enjoys playing hockey, reading, camping, thrifting, boating, and watching her sons play hockey and soccer in her free time

Welcome to the team, Kendra! We are happy to have you!

Meet Cleveland Stegall

Join us in welcoming Cleveland to the MCPASD family!

He has recently taken on the role of Technology Systems Engineer. Backed with over 17 years of experience in infotech management, Cleveland is ready to hop in where needed!

He enjoys spending time with family, building computers, PC gaming, jazz clubhopping, foodie tours, and traveling in his free time

Welcome to the team Cleveland! We are happy to have you!

Celebrations

Join us in celebrating the big and the little wins

Breakfast Heros

Our Nutrition Services Team was recently presented the 'Breakfast Hero' award from the Department of Public Instruction during National School Breakfast Week!

The month of March marks two years of working through a pandemic for all our District staff. DPI wished to give an extra special thank you to our Nutrition Services Staff for their incredible ability to adapt to mitigation protocols and manage supply chain issues and staffing shortages.

Thank you to our breakfast heroes!

Creativity & Kindness

Shout out to Kromrey Middle School Custodian Mr. Tom!

When he learned that a student with a disability needed an adaptation on their desk to help keep them safe, he got right to work!

In record time, Mr. T designed and executed his plan to add a front panel to the student's desk.

Thank you, Mr. T for using your skills to find creative solutions to make learning a safe and fun environment for everyone!