Ithaca School District

The Winter Band Concert will be held tonight at 7:00 pm! Band students in grades 5 - 12 will be featured. Set up will begin at 5:15 pm for any students that are able to make it at that time to help.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Dec. 3rd, 2021 Today is a Day 1 Lunch for today: First Choice- French Bread Pizza, Second Choice- Philly Chicken, Broccoli/Cheese Sauce, Peaches, Dinner Roll, Milk The schedule today for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Choir, 7th and 8th Grade - Band, HS - Day 1 Schedule. Yesterday's winner of $75 in the Band Parent's Calendar Raffle was Sarah Stibbe, with ticket #593. Ithaca's High School Band auditioned and have been chosen to play as the Milwaukee Bucks Pep Band before their game against the Miami Heat on Saturday night. After their performance, they will stay and watch the game. Congratulations to the band students on being chosen to play! The Winter Band Concert will be held on Monday, December 6, at 7:00 pm. Band students in grades 5 - 12 will be featured. There will be an FCCLA meeting today in Ms. Stocks room during attack. 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! There will be a popcorn sale today. Cost is 50 cents a bag, limit 2 bags per student please. Proceeds this week will go to the 1st grade class. 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 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: “A Streetcar Named Desire” opens on Broadway. On December 3, 1947, Marlon Brando’s famous cry of “STELLA!” first booms across a Broadway stage, electrifying the audience at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre during the first-ever performance of Tennessee Williams’ play A Streetcar Named Desire. Word of the Day: Galvanize GAL-vuh-nyze verb Galvanize means "to cause (people) to take action on something that they are excited or concerned about."The council's proposal to close the library has galvanized the town's residents. Birthdays: Elementary—today: Laina Mani, Elijah Rosolowski, on Sunday: Emmett Barlow, Tylor Myers H.S./M.S.—on Saturday: Cole Dicken, on Sunday: Brianna Alt, Lucas Weitzel Staff—on Sunday: Cheryl Richards

Ithaca students organized a jersey day to honor Jackson Sparks, an 8-yr-old Mukwanago student who was one of the victims during a Christmas parade in Waukesha. Continued support from the Ithaca community goes out to those who are suffering in the wake of that tragedy. #JerseysForJackson

ANNOUNCEMENT: Dec. 2nd, 2021 Today is a Day 2 Lunch for today: First Choice - Pork Taco, Second Choice - Chicken Tenders, Coleslaw, Mandarin Oranges, Dinner Roll, Milk The schedule today for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Band, 7th and 8th Grade - Choir, HS - Day 2 Schedule. Yesterday's winner of $50 in the Band Parent's Calendar Raffle was Josh Kast, with ticket #311. Just a reminder, there is a Youth 4 Change meeting today during attack in the LMC. We will be choosing the coloring contest winners for elementary There will be an FCCLA meeting on Monday December 6th in Ms. Stocks room during attack. The Ithaca second and 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. HS Band Students: There will be pep band for the wrestling meet today. If you are unable to make it, please let Mrs. Behrens know. On Thursday, December 2nd, Mr. Andresen will be holding the first math contest of the year in his room. It will be a pencil-and-paper test. Calculators will be provided. It will be given during 5th hour and Seminar. Prizes to all students who attempt the test, as well as prizes to the highest scoring student. For more questions, contact Mr. Andresen. 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! There will be a popcorn sale this Friday, December 3. Cost is 50 cents a bag, limit 2 bags per student please. Proceeds this week will go to the 1st grade class. 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 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: Enron files for bankruptcy. On December 2, 2001, the Enron Corporation files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a New York court, sparking one of the largest corporate scandals in U.S. history. Word of the Day: Smarmy SMAR-mee adjective Smarmy means "behaving in a way that seems polite, kind, or pleasing but is not genuine or believable."Online reviews of the resort warned of smarmy street vendors when wandering from the tourist areas. Birthdays: Elementary—no birthdays H.S./M.S.—Brianna and Brooklynn Granger

There will be a popcorn sale this Friday, December 3. Cost is $.50/bag, limit two bags per student. Proceeds this week will go to the 1st grade class. 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.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Dec. 1st, 2021 Today is a Day 1 Lunch for today: First Choice - Mozzarella Burger, Second Choice - Polish Sausage, Baked Beans, Dill Pickle Spear, Pineapples, Dessert, Milk Allison Durst and Maggie Gschwind—Please see Mrs. Schoen at 8am this morning at her office. No TAs while Elementary is in the Red. Please report to the study hall that hour. The schedule today for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Choir, 7th and 8th Grade - Band, HS - Day 1 Schedule. Grade 6 - 12 Band Students: All unsold raffle tickets also need to be turned in to Mrs. Behrens. The Southwest Technical College Scholarship Application goes live today. If you have been accepted into a program, please take some time to fill out the Scholarship application form at www.swtc.edu/money. Seniors may check your email for a direct link. 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! HS Band Students: There will be pep band for the wrestling meet this Thursday, December 2. If you are unable to make it, please let Mrs. Behrens know. Sorry for the late notice. Ithaca Youth Wrestling Sign up is December 6 at 530 pm at school. All Ithaca students in grades 2-6 are open to join On Thursday, December 2nd, Mr. Andresen will be holding the first math contest of the year in his room. It will be a pencil-and-paper test. Calculators will be provided. It will be given during 5th hour and Seminar. Prizes to all students who attempt the test, as well as prizes to the highest scoring student. For more questions, contact Mr. Andresen. FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) will meet this Thursday morning, Dec 2nd at 7:00am. All high school students are welcome! Enjoy a hot breakfast, a devotional message and fellowship. Bring your athlete Bibles. If you don’t have one…no worries… one will be given to you! Hope to see you… bring a friend! There will be a popcorn sale this Friday, December 3. Cost is 50 cents a bag, limit 2 bags per student please. Proceeds this week will go to the 1st grade class. 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 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: Rosa Parks ignites bus boycott. In Montgomery, Alabama on December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks is jailed for refusing to give up her seat on a public bus to a white man, a violation of the city’s racial segregation laws. The successful Montgomery Bus Boycott, organized by a young Baptist minister named Martin Luther King, Jr., followed Park’s historic act of civil disobedience. Word of the Day: derrick DAIR-ik noun A derrick is a tall framework over an oil well that supports equipment used in drilling. Areas of the desert have become fields of oil derricks. Birthdays: Elementary—no birthdays H.S./M.S.—Jonathon Hash

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!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Nov. 30th, 2021 Today is a Day 2 Lunch for today: First Choice - Taco Soup w/Tortilla Chips, Second Choice - Ham Sub, Carrots, Applesauce, Dessert, Milk The schedule today for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Band, 7th and 8th Grade - Choir, HS - Day 2 Schedule. Grade 6 - 12 Band Students: All raffle tickets and money are due today to Mrs. Behrens. Football Calendar Raffle Winner for November 30th, Diane Teach -Congratulations! HS Band Students: There will be pep band for the wrestling meet this Thursday, December 2. If you are unable to make it, please let Mrs. Behrens know. Sorry for the late notice. There will be a student council meeting today during ATTACK in Ms. Sprecher's room The Youth 4 Change meeting scheduled for today has been moved to this Friday, December 3rd during ATTACK in the LMC. If you have any questions, see Mrs. Dickey. Ithaca Youth Wrestling Sign up is December 6 at 530 pm at school. All Ithaca students in grades 2-6 are open to join On Thursday, December 2nd, Mr. Andresen will be holding the first math contest of the year in his room. It will be a pencil-and-paper test. Calculators will be provided. It will be given during 5th hour and Seminar. Prizes to all students who attempt the test, as well as prizes to the highest scoring student. For more questions, contact Mr. Andresen. FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) will meet this Thursday morning, Dec 2nd at 7:00am. All high school students are welcome! Enjoy a hot breakfast, a devotional message and fellowship. Bring your athlete Bibles. If you don’t have one…no worries… one will be given to you! Hope to see you… bring a friend! There will be a popcorn sale this Friday, December 3. Cost is 50 cents a bag, limit 2 bags per student please. Proceeds this week will go to the 1st grade class. 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 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! Word of the Day: Hoitytoity hoy-tee-TOY-tee adjective hoitytoity means "pretentious, fancy, or pompous." The guidance counselor emphasized that students do not need to go to a hoity-toity college to achieve success. Birthdays: Elementary—Miley Brown H.S./M.S.—Maggie Kershner and Ryan Tourdot

Dig in the back of your closet, dust off your ugliest Christmas sweater and join us for the sixth annual 2 mile Ugly Sweater Fun Run/Walk through the Lights on Campus and overlook the Rotary Lights in the park! If walkers are permitted in the Rotary Lights in the run/walk will go through the Rotary Lights in the park. Afterwards, warm up with a warm bowl of soup, your choice of two healthy soups and fixings. Start at Symons Recreation Complex (SRC) Check-In Starts at 4:00 pm at Symons Recreation Complex. Run starts at 5:30pm Walk starts at 5:40pm. See registration and flyer to register for a start time. Please help support our local Food Pantry by donating a non-perishable food item when picking up race packets, day of the race. Early Check-In on Friday December 3rd for pre-registered participants.

One Elementary class has been closed due to covid transmission. This also puts all Elementary and Middle school at RED. Masks are required at all times. (HS is Blue)

The Thanksgiving Day Parade came to Ithaca! Mrs. Pulvermacher's 3rd Grade class read Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet, which tells the story behind the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and balloon floats. Students first decided what the float idea would be, then each had to individually draw the float. Collaborating with each other, groups planned the finalized design of the float. They then used balloons and construction paper to build their float. Once the floats were constructed, groups used the Bee Bots to code their floats down along a mapped out “parade route.”

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Nov. 29th, 2021 Today is a Day 1 Lunch for today: First Choice - BBQ Rib, Second Choice - Fish Sticks, Corn, Pears, Dinner Roll, Milk The schedule today for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Choir, 7th and 8th Grade - Band, HS - Day 1 Schedule. Football Calendar Raffle Winner for November 25th = Sharon Klang, November 26th = Mitch Ricco, November 27th =Chet Sumwalt, November 28th = Rod Klingaman , November 29th = Gregg Hilby - Congratulations! Grades 6 - 12 Band Students: The calendar raffle tickets and money must be turned in by Tuesday, Nov. 30th. All tickets are expected to be sold. If you cannot sell all of your tickets, please bring them in to Mrs. Behrens this week so that someone else can sell them. On Thursday, December 2nd, Mr. Andresen will be holding the first math contest of the year in his room. It will be a pencil-and-paper test. Calculators will be provided. It will be given during 5th hour and Seminar. Prizes to all students who attempt the test, as well as prizes to the highest scoring student. For more questions, contact Mr. Andresen. There will be a Youth 4 Change meeting during ATTACK tomorrow in the LMC. We will be choosing Red Ribbon Week coloring contest winners and working on our plans for the year. Contact Mrs. Dickey with any questions. FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) will meet this Thursday morning, Dec 2nd at 7:00am. All high school students are welcome! Enjoy a hot breakfast, a devotional message and fellowship. Bring your athlete Bibles. If you don’t have one…no worries… one will be given to you! Hope to see you… bring a friend! It is that time of year again! The HS student council is sponsoring Deck The Halls! Join in the fun by decorating your room, door, and locker for prizes!Awards will be given for the best teacher decorated door individual and the best teacher decorated door group. All MS and HS students that participate in decorating their lockers will win a prize too! Decorating must be complete by Friday, Dec. 3 at the end of the day. Judging will be the following Monday. But wait! There is more! The student council is also having the annual Passages Food drive for the month of December. Prizes to the top three classes that collect the most pounds of food! We will collect weekly for the first three weeks of December and announce the winners on December 22! Help support Passages with your donation! This Day in History: Despite strong Arab opposition, the United Nations votes for the partition of Palestine and the creation of an independent Jewish state. The modern conflict between Jews and Arabs in Palestine dates back to the 1910s, when both groups laid claim to the British-controlled territory. The Jews were Zionists, recent emigrants from Europe and Russia who came to the ancient homeland of the Jews to establish a Jewish national state. The native Palestinian Arabs sought to stem Jewish immigration and set up a secular Palestinian state. Word of the Day: Obfuscate AHB-fuh-skayt Verb Obfuscate means "to make difficult to understand" or "to be evasive, unclear, or confusing." The coach obfuscated his response as to whether he would retire at the end of the season. Birthdays: Elementary—Kaylee Ewing and Colton Straight H.S./M.S.—Dayton Scott

There are so many things to be thankful for. Ithaca Public Schools is thankful for our incredibly resilient students and staff, our supportive families and community, and the commitment to education that is shown by all. Happy Thanksgiving!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Nov. 24th, 2021 Today is a Day 2 Lunch for today: First Choice - Pizza Dippers, Second Choice - Hot Dog, Mixed Vegetables Applesauce Dinner Roll, Milk The schedule today for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Band, 7th and 8th Grade - Choir, HS - Day 2 Schedule. Football Calendar Raffle Winner for November 24th, Jacey Maxwell -Congratulations! Teaching Assistants--reminder to turn in your log. New assistants, who have not started, plan on meeting with Ms Schoen Monday and starting Monday. Seniors, MAKE SURE you submit your Senior Portrait, Baby Picture, and Then & Now Pictures to Mrs. Burnley or directly to the Josten's website (https://images.jostens.com/416245955) by today. Feel free to forward the Josten's link to your photographer or email it to the adult helping you with your pictures. Also, make sure that you have submitted your Senior Quote and Senior Legacy. Thank you to the seniors who have already submitted your pictures and statements to the yearbook staff. Again, the deadline is NOVEMBER 24! Choir Students: The end of the fruit sale is today. All orders need to be turned in by today. Make sure you collect all the sales by that time and be sure to turn in your order forms before Thanksgiving Break. It is that time of year again! The HS student council is sponsoring Deck The Halls! Join in the fun by decorating your room, door, and locker for prizes!Awards will be given for the best teacher decorated door individual and the best teacher decorated door group. All MS and HS students that participate in decorating their lockers will win a prize too!Decorating must be complete by Friday, Dec. 3 at the end of the day. Judging will be the following Monday. But wait! There is more! The student council is also having the annual Passages Food drive for the month of December. Prizes to the top three classes that collect the most pounds of food! We will collect weekly for the first three weeks of December and announce the winners on December 22! Help support Passages with your donation! Grades 6 - 12 Band Students: The calendar raffle tickets and money must be turned in by next Tuesday, Nov. 30th. All tickets are expected to be sold. If you cannot sell all of your tickets, please bring them in to Mrs. Behrens this week so that someone else can sell them. This Day in History: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, a groundbreaking scientific work by British naturalist Charles Darwin, was published in England on November 24, 1859. Darwin’s theory argued that organisms gradually evolve through a process he called “natural selection.” Most scientists quickly embraced the theory that solved so many puzzles of biological science, but orthodox Christians condemned the work as heresy. By the time of Darwin’s death in 1882, his theory of evolution was generally accepted. Word of the Day: Feign FAYN Verb Feign means "to give a false appearance of something." After her mom told her that she will bring her to the doctor's, Kim confessed that she was feigning illness because she forgot to finish her book report. Birthdays: Elementary—today: Tucker Brown, Piper Elliott; on Thursday: Todd Dolan, Brianna Louis H.S./M.S.—today: Ashlynn Fowell; on Saturday: Brooklyn Dickey

The giving spirit extends to donating blood! The need for blood is very large right now. Please consider donating blood during the FFA Ithaca Community Blood Drive on December 14th in the Community Gym. Schedule an appointment online: bit.ly/ithacadec14 or call 877-232-4376 to be a priority donor. All blood types are urgently needed to help us maintain a healthy blood supply during the winter months and holiday season. Thank you for your life-saving donation!

The annual food drive put on by Student Council and the NHS starts December 3 and goes through December 20. Have your children bring their donations to their classroom and student council and NHS members will collect items during the week. This year we are making 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 party during lunch. Along with these changes, water will not be accepted as a donation. Thank you for your support and donations to the less fortunate people in our community! See the flyer for needed items. We thank our community and families for always making this such a successful event for Passages.

The #IRS Credit for Other Dependents may represent up to $500 per dependent for people supporting relatives who don’t qualify for the #ChildTaxCredit. Learn more at: https://go.usa.gov/xME8r

Tomorrow, November 24th, is a scheduled Early Release as we begin our Thanksgiving Holiday break. Elementary students begin releasing at 12:15pm. The final bell for Middle and High School is at 12:36pm. Enjoy this time to reflect on all the gifts for which we are thankful.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Nov. 23rd, 2021 Today is a Day 1 Lunch for today: Turkey Supreme, Mashed Potatoes w/Gravy, Yams, Cranberry Sauce, Mandarin Oranges, Dinner Roll, Dessert, Milk The schedule today for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Choir, 7th and 8th Grade - Band. HS - Day 1 Schedule It is that time of year again! The HS student council is sponsoring Deck The Halls! Join in the fun by decorating your room, door, and locker for prizes! Awards will be given for the best teacher decorated door individual and the best teacher decorated door group. All MS and HS students that participate in decorating their lockers will win a prize too! Decorating must be complete by Friday, Dec. 4 at the end of the day. Judging will be the following Monday. But wait! There is more! The student council is also having the annual Passages Food drive for the month of December. Prizes to the top three classes that collect the most pounds of food! We will collect weekly for the first three weeks of December and announce the winners on December 22! Help support Passages with your donation! Ms Hilby's 5th hr study hall is to report to Mr. Thome's room with their materials. There will be a FBLA club meeting during Attack today in Mrs. Burnley's room. Grades 6 - 12 Band Students: The calendar raffle tickets and money must be turned in by next Tuesday, Nov. 30th. All tickets are expected to be sold. If you cannot sell all of your tickets, please bring them in to Mrs. Behrens this week so that someone else can sell them. Football Calendar Raffle Winner for November 23rd, Jonah Marchwick -Congratulations! Seniors, MAKE SURE you submit your Senior Portrait, Baby Picture, and Then & Now Pictures to Mrs. Burnley or directly to the Josten's website (https://images.jostens.com/416245955) by WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24. Feel free to forward the Josten's link to your photographer or email it to the adult helping you with your pictures. Also, make sure that you have submitted your Senior Quote and Senior Legacy. Thank you to the seniors who have already submitted your pictures and statements to the yearbook staff. Again, the deadline is NOVEMBER 24! Choir Students: The end of the fruit sale is coming fast. All orders need to be turned in by Wednesday. Make sure you collect all the sales by that time and be sure to turn in your order forms before Thanksgiving Break. This Day in History: 1859. The infamous Western outlaw known as “Billy the Kid” is mostly likely born in a poor Irish neighborhood on New York City’s East Side on November 23, 1859. (Much about his early life is unknown or unverified.) Before he was shot dead at age 21, Billy reputedly killed at least nine people in the American West. Word of the Day: enclave. An enclave is an area inhabited by people who are different in some way from the people in the surrounding areas. The district includes an enclave in which students of the university reside. Birthdays: Elementary—no Birthdays H.S./M.S.—Abby Plonka, Ally Plonka, Haleigh Colson

Attention Girls Basketball fans! The Ithaca High School Girls Basketball game originally scheduled for tonight at Wonewoc-Center has been cancelled.