- In This Issue
- *NJSD Wellness Award
- *Youth Suicide Prevention
- *Staff Meeting April 27
- *Certified Job Postings
- *WRS Benefits Updates
- *Non-Certified Evals
- *Employees of the Year
- *IEP's 101 Session
- *EP/PDP Support
- *Curriculum Writing
- *Summer Maintenance Jobs
- Regular Features
- *Wellness Update
- *Student Showcase
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Board Meeting Recap
- Several personnel changes were approved by the Neenah Joint School District Board of Education at its April 18 meeting.
Click here for the Recap
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- Weekly Tech Tip
- This week's tech tip focuses on customizing your computer to your own personal preferences.
Click here to watch the video
Activities Update
- A number of home sporting events in several different sports headline the upcoming week in Neenah High School Activities.
Click here for the Full Update
- ELL Weekly Tip
- All the ELL weekly tips and more can be found in the ELL Schoology group. Access Code X6DSZ-N9378
- This week's ELL tip allows you to explore, select and combine tasks and strategies based on the essential question, the central text, and your instructional goals.
Click here for the link
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- Past Issues
- Miss something in a previous Rocket Roundup? They are archived on the staff resources page of the website.
Click here for past issues
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- Have News to Share?
- If you have any information for NJSD staff you would like included in the Rocket Roundup please send to:
jstrick@www.neenah.k12.wi.us
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April 19, 2017 - Issue #30
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NJSD Named One of America's Healthiest Companies
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The Neenah Joint School District has been recognized as one of “America's Healthiest Companies” with a prestigious Well Workplace Award from the Wellness Council of America. The Well Workplace Award recognizes an organization for its overall wellness program and commitment to wellness activities.
The Neenah Joint School District achieved the award's gold level, which is the third-highest of its four levels. The gold level is presented to “companies that have successfully built comprehensive worksite wellness initiatives and are demonstrating concrete results.” Neenah had a score of 177.84, which was just short of the 179 points needed for the platinum, or highest, level.
It is the second time the District has won the award, having also received it in 2013. The award carries no financial reward and provides the District recognition for its commitment to employee wellness for the next 36 months.
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Youth Suicide Prevention Notice Posted
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Each year, DPI sends out a Model Notice of Suicide Prevention Resources. This notice is part of a state requirement to inform staff about the signs of suicide and the resources that are available for our students. Click here for the notice.
Winnebago County schools have a suicide attempt rate that is twice the state and national average (YRBS, 2015). Furthermore, Wisconsin has the 24th highest suicide rate in the country and suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for youth ages 10-14 and 2nd leading cause of death for youth ages 15-24 (CDC, 2013).
And yet, depression and suicide are preventable and treatable. Students who are identified as struggling with feelings of hopelessness and thoughts of death are relieved when someone notices they are distressed, shows them they care and stands along side them as they get the help they need.
The mental health system and insurance companies can be difficult to navigate, particularly when you are trying to help a child in crisis. Please connect parents/caregivers to their building school counselor or Mike Altekruse (maltekruse@www.neenah.k12.wi.us) for questions related to mental health issues.
Resource and Crisis Numbers:
* 211 for Fox Valley resources related to health, mental health, homelessness or poverty
* (920) 722-7707 Winnebago Co. 24 hour crisis line
* 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Natl Suicide Prevention Lifeline
* 741741 Crisis Text Line
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All Staff Meeting Set for April 27
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NJSD staff members are invited to an optional all-staff meeting on Thursday, April 27 at 4 p.m. in the Shattuck Middle School Auditorium. Proposed changes to the Employee Policy Manual for 2017-18 will be presented at the meeting.
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NJSD Certified Staff Job Postings
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If you are a Neenah Joint School District certified staff member interested in applying for one of the the following positions, please use this link.
0.9 FTE Art (Elementary/NHS)
1.0 FTE Grade 3 at Spring Road
1.0 FTE Cross Categorical at Wilson
1.0 FTE Cross Categorical at Horace Mann
1.0 FTE CDM at Taft
Application deadline is Wednesday, April 26.
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WRS Benefits Updates
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The Department of Employee Trust Funds recently discontinued its walk-in appointment service. Most members are choosing the many different convenient and easy ways to access information about their Wisconsin Retirement System benefits, instead of traveling to the agency’s office in Madison.
The change means members must schedule an appointment in order to meet with a WRS benefits specialist. This allows the benefit specialist to complete a detailed review of the member’s account in advance. Members receive personalized, confidential assistance. There is also decreased wait time for scheduled appointments.
Members can still drop off and pick up forms at the ETF office, 801 W. Badger Road in Madison.
Also, the Annual WRS Statement of Benefits will be going out to all employees in the mail (U.S. Mail) on Friday and should be received sometime next week or early the following week.
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Non-Certified Staff Evaluation Input Now Open
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Non-Certified staff members may provide input for their evaluation to their supervisor between today and May 1, 2017.
Non-Certified staff members either need to install FileMaker Pro on your computer if it isn't already and open the SSAPE database... Or you can access the database using a web browser, by going to this web page: http://webd.www.neenah.k12.wi.us/fmi/webd#SSAPE From here, your account name is the name portion of your District email (for example, John Smith would be john.smith@www.neenah.k12.wi.us) and your password should be your standard password that's used for email and other applications. If you need assistance, put in a help desk ticket and Bryan VonDeylen will help you.
Again, the window is open and will remain open for Non-Certified staff input until Monday, May 1, 2017. Please consider providing your supervisor with information related to your job performance.
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Employee/Team of the Year Nominations Due Friday
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Please submit nominations of Neenah Joint School District staff that should be considered for the Employee of the Year awards. The nominations are due by April 21, 2017. The recognition ceremony for the Employees of the Year will be held on Wed., May 10, 2017 from 3:45-5 p.m. at Bridgewood Conference Center.
For the second straight year a "Team of the Year" will be chosen. Please consider nominating groups of individuals who have collaborated during the past year. There is no specific criteria for what defines a "team." It may consist of any group within a school (but not an entire school) or across different buildings in the District.
Click here to submit an Employee/Team of the Year nomination
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APLL to Host Session on IEP's 101
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The NJSD Autism Partnership for Learning and Life will host an informational session on Individualized Education Plans 101 on Wed., April 19 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Shattuck Middle School Auditorium. Join us as program support teachers LeAnn Knoeck and Elisa Bergstresser present information regarding IEP's including the Wisconsin Department of Public Instructon's newest initiative of College and Career Ready IEP's. Parents, staff members and community members are welcome to attend.
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EP/PDP Support Meeting Set for April 20
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Need help with your EP? Or your PDP? We've got you covered! Please join us for an EP/PDP meeting on Thursday, April 20 at the Administration Building in room 201 at 4 p.m. If you are unable make it, feel free to checkout the Schoology page or any of the EP/PDP reps.
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Curriculum Writing Opportunities Offered
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Each year the District accepts summer curriculum writing proposals to address district as well as building needs related to curriculum development. District curriculum writing opportunities for classroom teachers this summer will include K-5 Project Lead the Way, K-8 Human Growth and Development, and K-5 College, Career, and Civic Life Framework for social studies (C3 Framework). Please watch for ways to participate in these District curriculum writing opportunities which will be advertised through the Rocket Roundup between now and the end of the school year.
Department chairs: please be sure you or someone in your department submits a curriculum writing proposal for each new course approved through the CADR process.
Teachers: use the link below to submit any additional district or building curriculum writing requests by May 1st at 8:00 AM. Please email Susan Hull if you have any questions about summer curriculum writing.
https://goo.gl/forms/dtD6QpowHm2MPWcv2
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Operations and Maintenance Seeking Summer Help
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The operations and maintenance department is seeking high school and college students for summer employment. Staff members who have children or students looking for a summer job are encouraged to have them apply for summer maintenance jobs in the District. Click Here to access the application form.
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Student Showcase
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** The Student Showcase is a new weekly feature in the Rocket Roundup, showcasing some of the unique technology projects students are doing around the District.
Students in Elizabeth Kirkman's ELA class at Horace Mann collaborated in small groups to create a Google Site. Prior to creating the websites, students read self-selected novels, identifying social issues hidden in texts. That then led to selecting a social issue, researching the issue in non-fiction texts, deciding what they felt was important to teach others about the issue, writing an informational essay, and transforming it into a website format. The new Google Sites allows for a collaborative working environment for students, automatic saving into Google Drive, and sharing permissions that can be controlled to be private (not published), public, or only available to the NJSD.
These students have included a feedback page, and would love your input if you could spare a few minutes!
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