Ithaca School District

The Curriculum Committee meeting scheduled for this Thursday, January 7th has been cancelled.

Congratulations to the following students who placed in the Voice of Democracy contest through the Richland Center VFW Post 2267 last November: 6th grader Aliyah Swenson received 2nd place on her essay "What is Patriotism to Me?" and in the high school division where the topic was "Is This the Country the Founders Envisioned?" Erica Steinmetz also placed second and Emma Schoen placed first in the county and second at district with her essay. We are proud of you!

10th grade families: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all youth have an emotional health screen annually. Ithaca is providing an emotional health screen called the YScreen. An informational brochure and a consent form will be sent home with your student later this week (please note that the screenings are virtual via Zoom at this time). As we spread Hope, Help and Strength in stressful times, it's a valuable opportunity for Ithaca 10th grade students to receive reassurance or recommendations for staying healthy. Please consider having your student screened, for peace of mind or further support, if needed. We ask that you complete the consent form, whether or not you choose to give consent.

Jan. 05, 2021 Today is a Day 1 Today's schedule for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Band, 7th Grade - Choir, 8th Grade - Band. HS Band and Choir are on the Day 2 Schedule. Lunch for today: 1st choice, BBQ Rib, 2nd choice, Mini Corn Dogs, Baked Beans, Carrots & Dip, Applesauce, Milk Students: masks are required and required to be worn properly. We are to social distance and wash hands frequently. In order to remain in person, we MUST keep covid out of the building. It takes all of us to do this! Seniors: Please stop in the office (one at a time:) and give us your name the way you want it on your diploma. Thanks. Students in grades 9-11. You will be receiving your folder with materials to create your schedule for next year during ATTACK time today. Mr. Hess sent a copy of the Ithaca Course Description Guide to your email to use as you are planning classes. Our scheduling day with teachers will happen on Tuesday, January 12th at 7:55a.m. Make sure you have your colored scheduling sheet signed by your parent/guardian here and ready to use on Tuesday. Please make an appointment with Ms. Bevan if you need help or have questions about scheduling before Tuesday. FCCLA will meet this Thursday during ATTACK in Ms. Sprecher's room. There will be a Forensics team meeting today during Attack time, in the LMC, after you have received your scheduling packet from your Attack time teacher. This meeting is for all students who are interested in participating in this year's competition, and for students who want to learn more about Forensics. Forensics students: Mrs. Murphey will be available in the library on Tuesday Jan 5 after 9:00 a.m. for any of you who want to choose a category and topic. Just stop in during a study hall or free period. If you're interested and haven't yet signed up, that's okay too. Just find Mrs. Murphey, Mrs. Zorea, or Mrs. Thompson in the library to get started! We look forward to working with you! Word of the Day: Canonize kan-uh-nahyz Canonize v. Regard as being above reproach or of great significance. “He canonized women.” Birthdays: Elementary—None H.S./M.S.— Arianna Louis

Attention all residents of Ithaca School District! Three positions are open for election this spring. The deadline for candidates to submit their paperwork to establish eligibility to appear on the ballot is 5:00pm on January 5th (tomorrow, Tuesday).

Jan. 04, 2021 Today is a Day 2 Today's schedule for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Choir, 7th Grade - Band, 8th Grade - Choir. HS Band and Choir are on the Day 1 Schedule. Lunch for today: 1st choice, Chicken Nuggets, 2nd choice, Hot Dog, Hash Brown, Peaches, Breadstick, Milk The final winners in the Band Parent's Calendar Raffle were: Monty Berger - $150, Kathy Hilleshiem - $175, and Betty Morel - $250. Forensics students: Mrs. Murphey will be available in the library on Tuesday Jan 5 after 9:00 a.m. for any of you who want to choose a category and topic. Just stop in during a study hall or free period. If you're interested and haven't yet signed up, that's okay too. Just find Mrs. Murphey, Mrs. Zorea, or Mrs. Thompson in the library to get started! We look forward to working with you! Middle School Girls Basketball season starts today! (Monday Jan 4) any girls in grades 6-8, are welcome to join! Practice will be held 3:30-5:30 in the old gym. Please make sure all physical and concussion forms are handed in. Congratulations to the following students who placed in the Voice of Democracy contest through the Richland Center VFW Post 2267 last November: 6th grader Aliyah Swenson received 2nd place on her essay "What is Patriotism to Me?" and in the high school division where the topic was "Is This the Country the Founders Envisioned?" Erica Steinmetz also placed second and Emma Schoen placed first in the county and second at district with her essay. We are proud of you! Word of the Day: Equivocal ih-kwiv-uh-kuhl Equivocal adj. Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous. Uncertain or questionable in nature. “Congress was equivocal on its domestic spending package.” Birthdays: Elementary—None H.S.M.S.— None

Here is the sign up for this upcoming food service. As earlier in the fall, you may indicate the platform that your student is using for school to help choose what food needs suit your situation. Any questions may be directed to Annette Louis at 608/475-7312 by phone call or text or Juli Thompson by email at juli.thompson@ithaca.k12.wi.us https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScc6QrqoAUePGHFrdW6gXrM3tVPjAsqXaZhmJJIm0Vm574Q6Q/viewform?usp=sf_link

BOYS BASKETBALL ANNOUNCEMENT - Just a reminder - this was announced at practice today - due to the incoming weather there will be no boys basketball practice tomorrow (Wednesday December 30). We will practice again on Thursday from 7-9 AM in the old gym. Please stay safe!

Mrs. Behrens invites you all to go to the Ithaca Band or school FB pages to enjoy the performances of all three levels of band. Each student recorded themselves playing their portion of the composite piece. The 6th Grade Band played "Good King Wenceslas", the Middle School Band played "God Rest You Merry Peeps", and the High School Band performed "Silent Night". Merry Christmas from Mrs. Behrens and the Ithaca Bands.

As we begin our Holiday Break, everyone at Ithaca Public Schools wishes all our families and community members a very Merry Christmas and amazing New Year! Enjoy the much-needed break, and we'll see you when we resume school on January 4th.

Dec. 23, 2020 Today is a Day 1 Tuesday's winner of $75 in the Band Parent's Calendar Raffle was Lyndsey Swenson, Lone Rock, with ticket #363. Middle School Girls Basketball season will be starting soon! Girls in 6th-8th grade are welcome to attend open gym on the following days: Monday Dec 28 ~ Thursday Dec 31st (9:30-11:00am, old gym). We will be starting practice on Monday January 4. (3:30-5:30- old gym) Please submit all concussion forms & WIAA physical forms in to the office, prior to the first practice date. We will have a schedule coming out soon! Any questions or concerns please reach out to Coach Monica Kershner or Coach Bailey Miller. Word of the Day: Unctuous uhngk-choo-uhs Unctuous adj. (of a person) Excessively or ingratiatingly flattering. “Anxious to please in an unctuous way.” Birthdays: Elementary—Malakai Tauaalo on 12/27 and Lyvia Pickel on 12/31, Averie Montes on 01/01, Peyton Brown on 01/02, Alexander Toussaint on 01/02 H.S./M.S.—Michah Salisbury 12/25, Evan Gomez & Kailey Newkirk 12/26, Wyatt Hilby & Adam Kepler on 12/31, Ethan Stowell on 01/01 Staff—Larry Hines on 12/29, Adam Hess on 12/27, Kate Powell on 12/30, Mike Mani on 12/30

Dec. 22, 2020 Today is a Day 2 Today's schedule for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Band, 7th Grade - Choir, 8th Grade - Band. HS Band and Choir are on the Day 5 Schedule. Monday's winner of $75 in the Band Parent's Calendar Raffle was Jane Kepler, Richland Center, with ticket #95. HS Band Students: Secret Santa gift opening will be held on Zoom during Attack time. You don't need to check in with your Attack teacher today. If you didn't participate, you don't need to join. The high school girl’s basketball game at Seneca on Tuesday, December 22nd has been cancelled. Middle School Girls Basketball season will be starting soon! Girls in 6th-8th grade are welcome to attend open gym on the following days: Monday Dec 28 ~ Thursday Dec 31st (9:30-11:00am, old gym). We will be starting practice on Monday January 4. (3:30-5:30- old gym) Please submit all concussion forms & WIAA physical forms in to the office, prior to the first practice date. We will have a schedule coming out soon! Any questions or concerns please reach out to Coach Monica Kershner or Coach Bailey Miller. Word of the Day: Surreal suh-ree-uhl, -reel Surreal adj. Having the disorienting quality of a dream; unreal; fantastic. “There was something surreal about the diving accident.” Birthdays: Elementary—none H.S./M.S.—Calix Wheaton

Middle School Girls Basketball season will be starting soon! 😃🏀 Girls in 6th-8th grade are welcome to attend open gym on the following days: Monday Dec 28 ~ Thursday Dec 31st (9:30-11:00am, old gym) We will be starting practice on Monday January 4. (3:30-5:30- old gym) Please submit all concussion forms & WIAA physical forms in to the office, prior to the first practice date. We will have a schedule coming out soon! Any questions or concerns please reach out to Coach Monica Kershner or Coach Bailey Miller.

Dec. 21, 2020 Today is a Day 1 Today's schedule for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Choir, 7th Grade - Band, 8th Grade - Choir. HS Band and Choir are on the Day 4 Schedule. The weekend winners in the Band Parent's Calendar Raffle were Aaron Huebsch - $50, Sabrina Fargen - $100, and Jim Luxton - $50. HS Band Students: This is a reminder to come to school today to pick up your Secret Santa gifts. We will open the presents up on Tuesday during Attack time. PTSO Online Spirit Sale items will be available to pickup on Monday, December 21 from 5-7pm in the commons. Middle School Girls Basketball season will be starting soon! Girls in 6th-8th grade are welcome to attend open gym on the following days: Monday Dec 28 ~ Thursday Dec 31st (9:30-11:00am, old gym) We will be starting practice on Monday January 4. (3:30-5:30- old gym) Please submit all concussion forms & WIAA physical forms in to the office, prior to the first practice date. We will have a schedule coming out soon! Any questions or concerns please reach out to Coach Monica Kershner or Coach Bailey Miller. The annual food drive put on by Student Council is going to be a little different this year but we still wanted to support Passages. We are going to have 3 nights to donate at our Food Drive Through Drop Off. Those nights are December 15, 17 and 21 from 4-6 pm. Bring your donations to the elementary drop off and food pick up area and a member of the Student council will unload your donation for you! Plus we have heard that Santa may be there to say Hello! We are continuing to have the food drive competition a school wide event. The top three classes throughout the elementary, middle, and high school who collect the most pounds of food will get a pizza or ice cream party! Water will be accepted as a donation but not counted towards pounds of food collected. Thank you for your support and donations to the less fortunate people in our community! Birthdays: Elementary—Today, Paislee Grassman, on Saturday, Shayla Klingaman H.S./M.S.—Katarina Weitzel

Dec. 18, 2020 Today is a Day 2 Today's schedule for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Band, 7th Grade - Choir, 8th Grade - Band. HS Band and Choir are on the Day 3 Schedule. Thursday's winner of $50 in the Band Parent's Calendar Raffle was Gene Clary, Richland Center, with ticket #40. HS Band Students: This is a reminder to bring your Secret Santa gifts into the band room at any time today between 8:00 am and 3:30 pm. Please put the name of the recipient as well as your own name on the gift. Attention Ithaca Choir: Fruit orders can be picked up today at the bus garage in Ithaca. Students who submitted the order may pick up their fruit between 3-5:30pm. Masks and social distancing protocols will be observed. More details were emailed to parents. The annual food drive put on by Student Council is going to be a little different this year but we still wanted to support Passages. We are going to have 3 nights to donate at our Food Drive Through Drop Off. Those nights are December 15, 17 and 21 from 4-6 pm. Bring your donations to the elementary drop off and food pick up area and a member of the Student council will unload your donation for you! Plus we have heard that Santa may be there to say Hello! We are continuing to have the food drive competition a school wide event. The top three classes throughout the elementary, middle, and high school who collect the most pounds of food will get a pizza or ice cream party! Water will be accepted as a donation but not counted towards pounds of food collected. Thank you for your support and donations to the less fortunate people in our community! Word of the Day: Elegiac el-i-jahy-uhk, -ak, ih-lee-jee-ak Elegiac adj. Having a mournful quality. “An elegiac poem.” Birthdays: Elementary—Today, Paislee Grassman, on Saturday, Shayla Klingaman H.S./M.S.—on Saturday, Daniel Feryance, Benjamin Otto, on Sunday, Marshell Self

Ithaca Staff embraced a little holiday spirit by caroling yesterday. Check out the talents of our staff as they share some Christmas carol classics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ37lArHswA&feature=youtu.be

A Surprise Visitor Joins the First Ever Virtual Literacy Night at Ithaca! On December 14, Ithaca held their first ever virtual Family Literacy Event hosted by the Title 1 Program. Over 80 students registered for the literacy night planned by Mr. Kyle Lange and Mrs. Andrea Newkirk. They started the event by reading the classic story, Twas the Night Before Christmas. Mrs. Newkirk discussed the Title 1 Reading Program. Each family picked up a bag of goodies from the school which included a countdown to Christmas Santa calendar, supplies to make a reindeer ornament, and a cookie decorating kit. The event concluded with a surprise visit from Santa! After the virtual event, families spent time making memories by working on the projects that were included in their bags.

Dec. 17, 2020 Today is a Day 1 Today's schedule for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Choir, 7th Grade - Band, 8th Grade - Choir. HS Band and Choir are on the Day 2 Schedule. Wednesday's winner of $75 in the Band Parent's Calendar Raffle was Jeff Scallon, Hillpoint, with ticket #200. HS Band Students: This is a reminder to bring your Secret Santa gifts into the band room at any time between 8:00 am and 3:30 pm on Friday. Please put the name of the recipient as well as your own name on the gift. Attention Ithaca Choir: Fruit orders can be picked up Friday, December 18th at the bus garage in Ithaca. Students who submitted the order may pick up their fruit between 3-5:30pm. Masks and social distancing protocols will be observed. More details were emailed to parents. Attention students in grades 4-8 - remember to take the Spelling Bee online qualification test this week. Sign up at https://online-test.spellingbee.com and take the online test by Friday, December 18 at 6 PM. School spelling bee qualifiers will be announced on Monday, December 21. If you have any questions, contact Mrs. Plonka. The annual food drive put on by Student Council is going to be a little different this year but we still wanted to support Passages. We are going to have 3 nights to donate at our Food Drive Through Drop Off. Those nights are December 15, 17 and 21 from 4-6 pm. Bring your donations to the elementary drop off and food pick up area and a member of the Student council will unload your donation for you! Plus we have heard that Santa may be there to say Hello! We are continuing to have the food drive competition a school wide event. The top three classes throughout the elementary, middle, and high school who collect the most pounds of food will get a pizza or ice cream party! Water will be accepted as a donation but not counted towards pounds of food collected. Thank you for your support and donations to the less fortunate people in our community! Mrs. Murphey is BACK! Please join Mrs. Murphey, Mrs. Thompson, and Mrs. Zorea for an introductory Forensics meeting on Thursday, December 17th during ATTACK time at 11:50am. This will be a Zoom meeting to discuss updates to this year's season, get you on our sign up list with your availability, and talk about the season timeline. Use this link to join.https://zoom.us/j/98511446133 Word of the Day: Colloquial kuh-loh-kwee-uhl Colloquial (ism) adj. (of language) Used in ordinary conversation; not formal or literary. “His lecture was quite engaging due to his colloquial speech. Birthdays: Elementary—Jerika Banker, Jaxson Elliott H.S./M.S.—none

Dec. 16, 2020 Today is a Day 2 Tuesday's winner of $50 in the Band Parent's Calendar Raffle was Elise Nelson, Richland Center, with ticket #274. HS Band Students: This is a reminder to bring your Secret Santa gifts into the band room at any time between 8:00 am and 3:30 pm on Friday. Please put the name of the recipient as well as your own name on the gift. Attention Ithaca Choir: Fruit orders can be picked up Friday, December 18th at the bus garage in Ithaca. Students who submitted the order may pick up their fruit between 3-5:30pm. Masks and social distancing protocols will be observed. More details were emailed to parents. Attention students in grades 4-8 - remember to take the Spelling Bee online qualification test this week. Sign up at https://online-test.spellingbee.com and take the online test by Friday, December 18 at 6 PM. School spelling bee qualifiers will be announced on Monday, December 21. If you have any questions, contact Mrs. Plonka. The annual food drive put on by Student Council is going to be a little different this year but we still wanted to support Passages. We are going to have 3 nights to donate at our Food Drive Through Drop Off. Those nights are December 15, 17 and 21 from 4-6 pm. Bring your donations to the elementary drop off and food pick up area and a member of the Student council will unload your donation for you! Plus we have heard that Santa may be there to say Hello! We are continuing to have the food drive competition a school wide event. The top three classes throughout the elementary, middle, and high school who collect the most pounds of food will get a pizza or ice cream party! Water will be accepted as a donation but not counted towards pounds of food collected. Thank you for your support and donations to the less fortunate people in our community! Mrs. Murphey is BACK! Please join Mrs. Murphey, Mrs. Thompson, and Mrs. Zorea for an introductory Forensics meeting on Thursday, December 17th during ATTACK time at 11:50am. This will be a Zoom meeting to discuss updates to this year's season, get you on our sign up list with your availability, and talk about the season timeline. Use this link to join.https://zoom.us/j/98511446133 Word of the Day: Ignoble Ignoble adj. Not honorable in character or purpose; shameful. “An ignoble act.” Birthdays: Elementary—Gracelynn Miller H.S./M.S.—John Honer

Lots of Ugly Sweaters yesterday to kick off our Holiday Spirit Week! Send us your pictures of today's white out for Blizzard Day. Tomorrow wear your best holiday clothing and celebrate with a Holiday Dress Up day.