Ithaca School District

All students will report to IN-PERSON learning on Wednesday, December 14th. Students are expected to report to school at their regular time. Thank you, Ithaca families, for your understanding and flexibility.

Join one of the area's most successful high school wrestling programs! Ithaca-Weston Wrestling is seeking an additional High School Assistant Wrestling coach. Those interested should contact Brooke Hackl in the District Office at 608/585-2512 or email brooke.hackl@ithaca.k12.wi.us.

The PTSO winter apparel orders are ready! They will be available for pickup on Thursday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the commons. If you have any questions please contact Karia Brown at joekariabrown@gmail.com. And don't forget about the PTSO Gingerbread House Fun Night Friday, December 17 starting at 5:30 in the Commons. Hope to see you there!

Due to staffing issues, all Ithaca students will be virtual on Tuesday, December 14, 2021. Middle school and high school will follow the schedule below. Elementary will follow what the individual teacher send/email home. We hope to be able to come back to school in person on Wednesday, December 15th. That decision will be made by 12:00pm on Tuesday, Dec 14th. Students were told to bring home all computer devices and chargers. All after school activities (including the FFA blood drive) on Tuesday, December 14th, will occur as planned. This will also be reassessed on a daily basis.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Dec. 13, 2021 Today is a Day 1 Lunch for today: First Choice - Chicken Alfredo, Second Choice - Fish Sticks, Peas, Peaches, Garlic Bread, Milk Tonight is the Ithaca Winter Choir concert. Come enjoy 117 singers from grades 6-12 perform Christmas songs starting at 7pm in the high school gym. Students, there is a note on the choir door if you forgot what to wear or when to arrive for warm up. The schedule today for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Choir, 7th and 8th Grade - Band, HS - Day 1 Schedule. The weekend winners in the Band Parents Calendar Raffle were Brad Sorensen - $50, Ally Plonka - $50, and Diane Gallagher - $100. 7th - 12th Grade Band Students: This is a reminder that your first Secret Santa gift is due tomorrow (Tuesday). There will be a popcorn sale this Friday, December 17. Cost is 50 cents a bag, limit 2 bags per student please. Proceeds this week will go to the Middle School Student Council. Middle school students we will sell in your hallway by the elementary doors during your breakfast. High school we will sell in the hallway by the vending machine during your breakfast. The PTSO's Gingerbread House Fun Night will be this Friday, December 17 starting at 5:30 in the Commons. A $50 gift card will be awarded to the 1st place entry, a $30 gift card for 2nd and a $20 gift card for 3rd. Hope to see you there! The PTSO will be hosting a Virtual Ithaca Family & Friends Trivia Night via Zoom on December 31 - New Year's Eve - starting at 6 PM. Sign up your team by emailing the PTSO at IthacaPTSO@gmail.com with your group or family name by December 28. We will be drawing for three $50 gift cards throughout the night and you must Zoom in to win. Join us for family fun and prizes as we ring in the new year! Elementary--what is the temperature right now? How many more degrees until it's warm enough to go out? How many more degrees is it above (or below) our going-outside temperature? What time will we check the temperature for lunch recess? Choir Fruit orders will arrive Thursday, December 16th. Please pick up in the bus garage after school until 5:30. Contact Kris Willis or Liz Niemeyer if you are unable to make that time work. Attention 6th through 8th Grade. Middle school wrestling sign ups are on the school office window. Practice will start December 13th after school. There will be a parents meeting after practice on December 13th at 5:15pm. Parents with questions can call Coach Finnell at 608-475-9936 Did you know Rural Route 1 popcorn makes a great Christmas gift? The PTSO will be selling cash-n-carry popcorn in the school entryway by the office on Friday, Dec. 10 and Friday Dec. 17 during the boys and girls basketball games from about 6 PM to the end of the game. Most flavors available. Get 'em while they last! The annual Ithaca FFA blood drive is on Tuesday, December 14 from 9 am - 2 pm in the old community gym. Students between age 16-18 years old who wish to donate must have a permission slip signed by their parents. See Ms. Sprecher for a copy. You can sign up on the door by Ms. Sprecher's room or at the link https://bit.ly/ithacadec14.Help give the gift of life during the holidays! Birthdays: Elementary— none H.S./M.S.—none Staff—none

Tonight is the Ithaca Winter Choir concert! Come enjoy 117 singers from grades 6-12 perform Christmas songs starting at 7pm in the Ithaca High School gym. Enjoy our talented singers!

The FFA Blood Drive is on TOMORROW! The annual FFA Blood Drive will be held tomorrow, December 14th from 9am until 2:00pm, and there are still appointments available including walk-ins! See this link to sign yourself up or just show up! https://bit.ly/ithacadec14

The Wauzeka-Steuben at Ithaca boys basketball game has been called off for tonight, due to expected bad weather.

Some updates to events for tonight (as of 1:30pm): *Middle School Boys Basketball pizza party is cancelled, *Girls Basketball is cancelled, and *Wrestling is still on as scheduled.

Due to the impending weather, we are POSTPONING Gingerbread House Fun Night to next Friday, December 17 starting at 5:30 in the Commons. Hope to see you there!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Today is a Day 2 Lunch for today: First Choice - Pizza Second Choice - BBQ Pork Sandwich, Carrots, Tropical Fruit, Dinner Roll, Milk Concessions tonight are the Middle School Student Council. The schedule today for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Band, 7th and 8th Grade - Choir, HS - Day 2 Schedule. Thursday's winner of $75 in the Band Parents Calendar Raffle was Phil McCormick, with ticket #87. There will be National Honor Society Meeting today in the LMC during Attack. Elementary--what is the temperature right now? How many more degrees until it's warm enough to go out? How many more degrees is it above (or below) our going-outside temperature? What time will we check the temperature for lunch recess? Choir Fruit orders will arrive Thursday, December 16th. Please pick up in the bus garage after school until 5:30. Contact Kris Willis or Liz Niemeyer if you are unable to make that time work. Attention 6th through 8th Grade. Middle school wrestling sign ups are on the school office window. Practice will start December 13th after school. There will be a parents meeting after practice on December 13th at 5:15pm. Parents with questions can call Coach Finnell at 608-475-9936 Did you know Rural Route 1 popcorn makes a great Christmas gift? The PTSO will be selling cash-n-carry popcorn in the school entryway by the office on Friday, Dec. 10 and Friday Dec. 17 during the boys and girls basketball games from about 6 PM to the end of the game. Most flavors available. Get 'em while they last! It's time to start the High School Forensics season! We're coming off of an award-winning 20/21 season and are ready to have a repeat! Join us for a brief meeting on Friday, December 10th in the LMC during ATTACK time. This will NOT conflict with the NHS meeting that day. Not sure if you're interested? Still stop in! If you have any questions, see Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Zorea, or Ms. Schmitt. The Ithaca third grade boys’ basketball team will begin practice today at the old community gym. Practice will be every Friday Evening from 6-7PM. The annual Ithaca FFA blood drive is on Tuesday, December 14 from 9 am - 2 pm in the old community gym. Students between age 16-18 years old who wish to donate must have a permission slip signed by their parents. See Ms. Sprecher for a copy. You can sign up on the door by Ms. Sprecher's room or at the link https://bit.ly/ithacadec14.Help give the gift of life during the holidays! The PTSO's 4th Annual Gingerbread House Fun Night will be Friday, December 10 starting at 5:30 in the Commons. The PTSO will provide frosting and graham crackers; house decorators can bring any candy you want to decorate your houses. Judging will be at 6:45 with prizes for the top 3 houses. Please start saving boxes - like pasta or mac n cheese sized - to use to build your house around as we are not using milk cartons this year. Hot cocoa will be served as well - hope to see you there! This Day in History: First Nobel Prizes awarded. The first Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and peace on December 10, 1901. The ceremony came on the fifth anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite and other high explosives. In his will, Nobel directed that the bulk of his vast fortune be placed in a fund in which the interest would be “annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind.” Although Nobel offered no public reason for his creation of the prizes, it is widely believed that he did so out of moral regret over the increasingly lethal uses of his inventions in war. Word of the Day: Palisade pal-uh-SAYD noun Palisade refers to a fence of stakes used for defense or to a line of steep cliffs. Kayakers encounter many unique natural structures along the river, including its steep palisades. Birthdays: Elementary—on Sunday, Bodyn Louis H.S./M.S.—On Sunday: Derek Franzen, and Alana Nelson Staff—1st grade teacher, Mrs. Richards

Today we are throwing it back to the 1995-96 Boys and Girls Basketball teams. Recognize anyone from those teams?

DON'T FORGET! Gingerbread House Fun Night is this Friday, December 10 starting at 5:30 in the Commons! Prizes for the top 3 - 1st receives a $50 gift card, 2nd a $30 gift card and 3rd a $20 gift card! Judging starts at 6:45.

The Elf Shop will open soon! Santa's helpers of the Ithaca Middle School Student Council will be opening up the Elf Shop for Elementary students on Dec. 22nd during the school day. Each classroom will have assigned shopping times. Students will not need more than $2 to shop for items in the $.25-$.50 range.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Dec. 9th, 2021 Today is a Day 1 Lunch for today: First Choice - Beef Nachos, Second Choice - Hot Ham & Cheese, Carrots & Dip, Peas, Peaches, Milk Concessions tonight is the Fair Committee. Friday night concessions is the middle school student council. The schedule today for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Choir, 7th and 8th Grade - Band, HS - Day 1 Schedule. Wednesday's winner of $50 in the Band Parents Calendar Raffle was Becca Keller, with ticket #67. Elementary--what is the temperature right now? How many more degrees until it's warm enough to go out? How many more degrees is it above (or below) our going-outside temperature? What time will we check the temperature for lunch recess? Choir Fruit orders will arrive Thursday, December 16th. Please pick up in the bus garage after school until 5:30. Contact Kris Willis or Liz Niemeyer if you are unable to make that time work. Attention 6th through 8th Grade. Middle school wrestling sign ups are on the school office window. Practice will start December 13th after school. There will be a parents meeting after practice on December 13th at 5:15pm. Parents with questions can call Coach Finnell at 608-475-9936 Did you know Rural Route 1 popcorn makes a great Christmas gift? The PTSO will be selling cash-n-carry popcorn in the school entryway by the office on Friday, Dec. 10 and Friday Dec. 17 during the boys and girls basketball games from about 6 PM to the end of the game. Most flavors available. Get 'em while they last! It's time to start the High School Forensics season! We're coming off of an award-winning 20/21 season and are ready to have a repeat! Join us for a brief meeting on Friday, December 10th in the LMC during ATTACK time. This will NOT conflict with the NHS meeting that day. Not sure if you're interested? Still stop in! If you have any questions, see Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Zorea, or Ms. Schmitt. There will be National Honor Society Meeting in the LMC during Attack on Friday, December 10th. The Ithaca third grade boys’ basketball team will begin practice on December 10th at the old community gym. Practice will be every Friday Evening from 6-7PM. The annual Ithaca FFA blood drive is on Tuesday, December 14 from 9 am - 2 pm in the old community gym. Students between age 16-18 years old who wish to donate must have a permission slip signed by their parents. See Ms. Sprecher for a copy. You can sign up on the door by Ms. Sprecher's room or at the link https://bit.ly/ithacadec14.Help give the gift of life during the holidays! The PTSO's 4th Annual Gingerbread House Fun Night will be Friday, December 10 starting at 5:30 in the Commons. The PTSO will provide frosting and graham crackers; house decorators can bring any candy you want to decorate your houses. Judging will be at 6:45 with prizes for the top 3 houses. Please start saving boxes - like pasta or mac n cheese sized - to use to build your house around as we are not using milk cartons this year. Hot cocoa will be served as well - hope to see you there! This Day in History: New York Giants beat Chicago Bears in 'Sneakers Game'. On December 9, 1934, the New York Giants win the NFL championship by beating the Chicago Bears, 30-13, in the famous "Sneakers Game." With the temperature at 9 degrees and the Polo Grounds field a sheet of ice, the Giants open the second half wearing basketball shoes and score 27 points in the final quarter to overcome a 13-3 Chicago lead. Word of the Day: Rankle RANK-ul verb Rankle means "to cause anger, irritation, or bitterness." Rae Ann's snooty attitude and rude behavior rankled the host, but he smiled to hide his irritation. Birthdays: Elementary—Brennan Klingaman H.S./M.S.—No birthdays

Dec. 8th, 2021 Today is a Day 2 Lunch for today, First Choice, Chicken Patty, Second Choice, Brat, Baked Beans, Romaine Salad, Applesauce, Milk The schedule today for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Band, 7th and 8th Grade - Choir, HS - Day 2 Schedule. Tuesday's winner of $75 in the Band Parents Calendar Raffle was Kari Honer, with ticket #378. The race is on!!! We are starting out slow but sure! Keep encouraging your students to bring their food donations for Passages. Here are the current standings: Kindergarten - 38 pounds, Third grade - 15 pounds, Second grade - 13 pounds. The Student Council is sponsoring prizes for the top 3 classes. Attention 6th through 8th Grade. Middle school wrestling sign ups are on the school office window. Practice will start December 13th after school. There will be a parents meeting after practice on December 13th at 5:15pm. Parents with questions can call Coach Finnell at 608-475-9936 Did you know Rural Route 1 popcorn makes a great Christmas gift? The PTSO will be selling cash-n-carry popcorn in the school entryway by the office on Friday, Dec. 10 and Friday Dec. 17 during the boys and girls basketball games from about 6 PM to the end of the game. Most flavors available. Get 'em while they last! It's time to start the High School Forensics season! We're coming off of an award-winning 20/21 season and are ready to have a repeat! Join us for a brief meeting on Friday, December 10th in the LMC during ATTACK time. This will NOT conflict with the NHS meeting that day. Not sure if you're interested? Still stop in! If you have any questions, see Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Zorea, or Ms. Schmitt. There will be National Honor Society Meeting in the LMC during Attack on Friday, December 10th. The Ithaca third grade boys’ basketball team will begin practice on December 10th at the old community gym. Practice will be every Friday Evening from 6-7PM. The annual Ithaca FFA blood drive is on Tuesday, December 14 from 9 am - 2 pm in the old community gym. Students between age 16-18 years old who wish to donate must have a permission slip signed by their parents. See Ms. Sprecher for a copy. You can sign up on the door by Ms. Sprecher's room or at the link https://bit.ly/ithacadec14.Help give the gift of life during the holidays! The PTSO's 4th Annual Gingerbread House Fun Night will be Friday, December 10 starting at 5:30 in the Commons. The PTSO will provide frosting and graham crackers; house decorators can bring any candy you want to decorate your houses. Judging will be at 6:45 with prizes for the top 3 houses. Please start saving boxes - like pasta or mac n cheese sized - to use to build your house around as we are not using milk cartons this year. Hot cocoa will be served as well - hope to see you there! This Day in History: John Lennon, a former member of the Beatles, the rock group that transformed popular music in the 1960s, is shot and killed by an obsessed fan in New York City. Word of the Day: Milquetoast MILK-tohst noun A milquetoast is a timid, meek, or unassertive person.The sales manager is not a milquetoast: when she sees an opportunity to make a lucrative deal, she will seal it. Birthdays: Elementary—no birthdays H.S./M.S.—no birthdays

The Passages Food Drive sponsored by the HS National Honor Society and Student Council is picking up steam! There's still time to help your class reach the top spot. See the flyer for needed items. Top classes to this point are: Kindergarten - 38 pounds, Third grade - 15 pounds, Second grade - 13 pounds.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Dec. 7th, 2021 Today is a Day 1 Lunch for today: First Choice - Baked Ham, Second Choice - Grilled Chicken, Scalloped Potatoes, Strawberries, Dinner Roll, Dessert, Milk The schedule today for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Choir, 7th and 8th Grade - Choir, HS - Day 2 Schedule. Monday's winner of $50 in the Band Parents Calendar Raffle was Shawna Kitsembel, of Richland Center, with ticket #573. Thank you to all of the middle school and high school students in 8th hour study hall, who helped with moving band equipment down to the Commons for the concert last night. I really appreciated your help! Thank you to Mrs. Thompson and all of the students who helped set up before and tear down after the concert! Also, Thank you to Mr. Hess for narrating at the concert last night. You were awesome! Congratulations to Mrs. Behrens and the band students on a wonderful Christmas concert last night! FCA (Fellowship of Christian athletes) t-shirts are available. The cost of the t-shirts is $6.00. Please stop in the guidance office and see Mrs. Kershner for one. Attention 6th through 8th Grade. Middle school wrestling sign ups are on the school office window. Practice will start December 13th after school. There will be a parents meeting after practice on December 13th at 5:15pm. Parents with questions can call Coach Finnell at 608-475-9936 There will be a high school FFA meeting today during ATTACK in Mrs. Sprecher's room. We will be discussing a lot of important topics so please plan on attending. Did you know Rural Route 1 popcorn makes a great Christmas gift? The PTSO will be selling cash-n-carry popcorn in the school entryway by the office on Friday, Dec. 10 and Friday Dec. 17 during the boys and girls basketball games from about 6 PM to the end of the game. Most flavors available. Get 'em while they last! It's time to start the High School Forensics season! We're coming off of an award-winning 20/21 season and are ready to have a repeat! Join us for a brief meeting on Friday, December 10th in the LMC during ATTACK time. This will NOT conflict with the NHS meeting that day. Not sure if you're interested? Still stop in! If you have any questions, see Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Zorea, or Ms. Schmitt. There will be National Honor Society Meeting in the LMC during Attack on Friday, December 10th. The Ithaca third grade boys’ basketball team will begin practice on December 10th at the old community gym. Practice will be every Friday Evening from 6-7PM. The annual Ithaca FFA blood drive is on Tuesday, December 14 from 9 am - 2 pm in the old community gym. Students between age 16-18 years old who wish to donate must have a permission slip signed by their parents. See Ms. Sprecher for a copy. You can sign up on the door by Ms. Sprecher's room or at the link https://bit.ly/ithacadec14.Help give the gift of life during the holidays! The PTSO's 4th Annual Gingerbread House Fun Night will be Friday, December 10 starting at 5:30 in the Commons. The PTSO will provide frosting and graham crackers; house decorators can bring any candy you want to decorate your houses. Judging will be at 6:45 with prizes for the top 3 houses. Please start saving boxes - like pasta or mac n cheese sized - to use to build your house around as we are not using milk cartons this year. Hot cocoa will be served as well - hope to see you there! This Day in History: Pearl Harbor bombed. At 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time, a Japanese dive bomber bearing the red symbol of the Rising Sun of Japan on its wings appears out of the clouds above the island of Oahu. A swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes followed, descending on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in a ferocious assault. The surprise attack struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet and drew the United States irrevocably into World War II. Word of the Day: Ostracize AH-struh-syze verb Ostracize means "to exclude from a group by common consent."The Senator knew that he might be ostracized by his party, but he voted with his heart and against the party line, nevertheless. Birthdays: Elementary—no birthdays H.S./M.S.—no birthdays

The Ithaca School District parents, grandparents and caregivers have access to high-quality education resources for preventing youth substance use. No cost! Our community coalition, Partners for Prevention, hopes you find the materials to be helpful and supportive as you relate to the young people around you. ❤ Ithaca School District partners with the Richland School District to provide these services. Please see the link on the district website: https://www.richland.k12.wi.us/for_parents/your_choice For more information on the work of the P4P, please follow us on FB, Twitter, and Instagram. For the local network of care: https://southwestern.wi.networkofcare.org/mh/index.aspx Stay warm, safe, and healthy!

Ithaca Families! Don't forget that tomorrow, Wednesday, December 8th, is a scheduled Early Release day for all students. Elementary students will begin releasing at 12:15pm, and Middle and High School students will dismiss after the 12:36pm final bell.