Ithaca School District

When one door opens, another gets decorated! Things are quite festive at Ithaca!

Learners Today, Leaders Tomorrow Announcements: Mon 18, 2023 Today is a Day 2 Lunch for today - First Choice: Chicken patty w/bun, Second Choice: Pizzaroni hotdish, Breadsticks, broccoli, applesauce, milk From the Ithaca-Weston Wrestling Club: Congratulations to the Ithaca-Weston High School wrestling team. They competed Saturday at the annual Richland Center Invitational. The team placed 5th out of 17 teams, some of which are strong upper division teams. Iowa-Grant/Highland won the invitational. Individual results were Kerrick Thomspon 5th, Blake Bingham 8th, Ethan Stowell 3rd, Ashtin Bennet 5th, Nolen Waldner 3rd, Logan Anderson 4th, Kayden Coleman 7th, Caleb Birkrem 6th, and Mac Neefe 2nd. See them compete next at the 41st Annual Bi-State December 28th through the 30th in LaCrosse. From Mrs Thompson: There will be a forensics meeting Monday, today during ATTACK time in the LMC for all interested in forensics this year. From Mrs. Ramsden: Gift wrappers are needed for the Elf Shop on Wed, Dec 20 from 8:30 am to 3:20. This is open to middle school students and high school students, it must be during your study hall period. Sign-up is in the library. Mrs. Kershner: Attention High School Juniors and Seniors: If you were considering being a part of the Youth Apprenticeship Program for this year, please see Mrs. Kershner on or before Wed, Dec 20. The deadline for enrollment is approaching. Thank you! From Middle School Girls Basketball: There is a sign-up sheet for 6th-8th grade girls basketball posted on the outside of the office. There will be an open gym Wed, Dec 20 after school until 5pm with a parent meeting to follow. From Jacob Manning: There is a sign up sheet for Middle School wrestling on the office window. Practice will start on Tuesday January 2nd in the mezzanine after school. From Ms Durkin: The annual Passages Food Drive starts today!! In the spirit of the holiday season, the Ithaca Student Council will be hosting their annual non-perishable food fundraiser for Passages in Richland Center. Passages is a homeless shelter for battered women. For the past 3 decades, Ithaca has had an annual holiday food drive and we would like to continue this tradition. Each elementary classroom will have boxes and student council representatives to help the kids get into the fun of giving. Class advisors will also have boxes in their classrooms for students to donate in the middle school and high school. All classes kindergarten through 12th grade will be able to compete and the class that collects the most boxes will get a Pizza Hut pizza party hosted by the student council. We will start collecting now and our last day to collect will be next Friday morning Dec 22. Student Council members remember to check in with your assigned classrooms every morning to count boxes and replace boxes! From Ms. Sprecher: Concessions Tuesday is Music Boosters; Friday is Student Council. Tuesday is flannel day. Birthdays Elementary: Paislee Grassman MS/HS: none Staff: none

There is a sign up sheet for Middle School wrestling on the office window. Practice will start on Tuesday, January 2nd in the mezzanine after school. If any Middle Schoolers would like to sell brats for the Ithaca-Weston Wrestling Club fundraiser, see Mrs Thompson for a form. The forms and money are due when we return from break.

May your days be Merry and Bright this Winter Break! This Friday, December 22nd, students will be released early - Elementary beginning at 12:15pm and MS/HS at 12:34pm. There is no school for students or staff until we resume on Tuesday, January 2nd. Ithaca Public Schools District Buildings will be closed also during that time. Any urgent or emergent needs should be communicated via email to District Administrators.

Ithaca's Giving Tree is bare, no tags HERE and no tags THERE - and that's a GREAT thing, because YOU care! Thanks to our staff, students, and the Ithaca Community as ALL tags have been taken. We invited our people to select a tag from the Ithaca Giving Tree to purchase a gift for youth in our community. You did NOT disappoint - THANKS!

Get in the holiday spirit with Dress Up Days next week at Ithaca Public Schools with Dress Up Days! On Merry Monday, Elementary students dress up in their holiday colors! On the First Day of Dress Up days, High School and Middle School students may wear Christmas Colors/Patterns.

The door decorating continued today!

4K Screening January 25th and 26th, 2024 DO YOU HAVE A CHILD WHO WILL BE 3 OR 4 YEARS OLD PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 1, 2024? This is an opportunity to gain information about your child’s development and community resources. A group of professionals will screen your child to determine how to support them best academically. You will also have the opportunity to register your 4-year-old child for 4-year-old kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year. If your child was already screened at 3 years old in the past, please register and sign up for them to be screened again. Please have your registration completed and screening appointment secured by Friday, January 12, 2024. Once these tasks are completed, you will be sent a packet with more information to complete and return at your child’s screening appointment. If your child is younger than 2 1/2 and you have concerns about his/her development. Please talk to your pediatrician about a referral to the Richland County Birth to Three Program. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4K Proyección 25 y 26 de enero de 2024 ¿TIENES UN HIJO QUE TENDRÁ 3 O 4 AÑOS ANTES DEL 1 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2024? Esta es una oportunidad para obtener información sobre el desarrollo de su hijo y los recursos comunitarios. Un grupo de profesionales evaluará a su hijo para determinar cómo apoyarle mejor académicamente. También tendrá la oportunidad de inscribir a su hijo/a de 4 años en el jardín de infantes de 4 años para el año escolar 2024-2025. Si su hijo/a ya fue examinado a los 3 años en el pasado, regístrese para que se le realice el examen nuevamente. Complete su registro y asegure su cita de evaluación antes del viernes 12 de enero de 2024. Una vez que se completen estas tareas, se le enviará un paquete con más información para completar y devolver en la cita de evaluación de su hijo. Si su hijo tiene menos de 2 1/2 años y tiene inquietudes sobre su desarrollo. Hable con su pediatra sobre una derivación al programa  “Richland County Birth to Three Program”

A lot of learning is happening in Mrs. Sprecher’s Animal science class at Ithaca

Fifth graders continue with their Days of Kindness Challenge. Days 6 & 7 were in the works today. 5th graders cleaned their desks as part of the kindness challenge!

We at Ithaca are proud of our ENTIRE student body. Here are of a few of those students in the "spotlight". Enjoy.

When it comes to sports at Ithaca, our Seniors lead the way!

Elementary artwork at Ithaca. What is in your backpack?

Learners Today, Leaders Tomorrow Announcements: Fri, Dec 15, 2023 Today is a Day 1 Lunch for today - First Choice: Pulled pork w/bun, Second Choice: Cheeseburger w/bun, Green beans, mixed fruit, yogurt, milk From the office: A retainer - invisiliner was found in the commons on Wednesday. It can be claimed in the office. From Mrs. Ramsden: Gift wrappers are needed for the Elf Shop on Wednesday Dec 20th from 8:30 am to 3:20. This is open to middle school students and high school students, it must be during your study hall period. Sign-up is in the library. From Ms Durkin: In the spirit of the holiday season, the Ithaca Student Council will be hosting their annual non-perishable food fundraiser for Passages in Richland Center. Passages is a homeless shelter for battered women. For the past 3 decades, Ithaca has had an annual holiday food drive and we would like to continue this tradition. Each elementary classroom will have boxes and student council representatives to help the kids get into the fun of giving. Class advisors will also have boxes in their classrooms for students to donate in the middle school and high school. All classes kindergarten through 12th grade will be able to compete and the class that collects the most boxes will get a Pizza Hut pizza party hosted by the student council. We will start collecting food next Mon, Dec 18 and our last day to collect will be next Friday morning Dec 22. From Ms. Sprecher: Ithaca FFA middle school will meet Fri, Dec 15 during ATTACK. Show your Christmas spirit next week by dressing up in holiday swag. Check the signs in the hall for the theme for each day. Monday, Dec. 18 is Christmas color or Christmas pattern. From PTSO: Popcorn Friday will be this Fri, Dec 15. Elementary students, your classroom teacher will take your order and money. Middle School and High School students you will be able to purchase yours during breakfast, at the end of your hallways. Cost is $0.50 per bag, limit 2 bags per person. Help support the Freshman class! From Mrs Thompson: There will be a forensics meeting Monday, Dec 18th during ATTACK time in the LMC for all interested in forensics this year. Mrs. Kershner: Attention High School Juniors and Seniors: If you were considering being a part of the Youth Apprenticeship Program for this year, please see Mrs. Kershner on or before Wed, Dec 20. The deadline for enrollment is approaching. Thank you! From Middle School Girls Basketball: There is a sign-up sheet for 6th-8th grade girls basketball posted on the outside of the office. There will be an open gym Wed, Dec 20th after school until 5pm with a parent meeting to follow. Word of the Day: Exhort to strongly urge someone to do something. The volunteers exhorted the young adults to register to vote before the upcoming election. This day in history: 1577, English seaman Francis Drake sets out from Plymouth, England, with five ships and 164 men on a mission to raid Spanish holdings on the Pacific coast of the New World and explore the Pacific Ocean. Three years later, Drake’s return to Plymouth marked the first circumnavigation of the earth by a British explorer. Birthdays Elementary: Evelyn Dickey (Saturday), Gracelynn Miller (Saturday) MS/HS: Jerika Banker (Sunday), Jaxson Elliott (Sunday) Staff: none

Mrs. Sprecher’s Crop Production students tested flour from different varieties of wheat. What did they discover?

Don't forget, Ithaca's "PASSAGES food drive 2023" begins Monday, December 18th!

A unique project brings knowledge to Mrs. Sprecher’s Vet science class.

Things are VERY festive in Ms. Brewers room this Christmas season.

Mrs. Sprecher’s Animal Science class recently dissected chicken wings, here is what they learned.

Monday we hosted an OUTSTANDING High School and Middle School Band and Choir concert! A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to Mrs. Stafford, Mrs. Behrens, staff, students, and the Ithaca community for making Ithaca “Merry and Bright!”