Merrill Elementary School
March 2021 Newsletter
Important Dates
March 1st-5th - Reading Across America Spirit Week (See Below)
March 10th - Early Release @12:30pm
March 17th - St. Patrick's Day - Wear your Green!
March 23rd - End of 3rd Quarter
March 29th- April 2nd- Spring Break
Principal's Message
Hello Merrill Families!
I cannot believe it is March already… February flew by and hopefully this winter goes away quickly too! Spring break this year will fall during the last week of March beginning on Monday March 29th - April 2nd. School will resume on Monday, April 5th. We hope you all have a restful, safe, fun, and relaxing spring break!
A peek ahead into April as we have a lot going on...
Forward Exam testing will begin the week we get back from Spring Break, starting with 5th Grade. The general testing dates for each grade are listed below for any planning needs you and your family may have. Please avoid scheduling appointments for your son or daughter during their testing times if at all possible. Students will do a practice of the test with their teachers ahead of time. The best preparation for them is to continue to learn at school. At home, please help to ensure your student gets a good night's sleep before testing and eats breakfast. As we get closer to the testing period, more details will be sent home. The general testing schedule is as follows:
Forward Exam break down:
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April 13-15 |
Grade 5 |
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April 19- 23 |
Grade 4 |
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April 26- 30 |
Grade 3 |
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April 12-16 |
eAcademy |
Stay Safe and Healthy,
Tanya Fenner
Daily Schedule Reminders:
1 . All students need to make sure to have their Chrome Books with them and charged everyday.
2. If your student wants to play on the playground at recess they need SNOWPANTS, BOOTS, GLOVES, HAT, and JACKET everyday!
3. Before school supervision starts at 7:30am and the kids come into the building at 7:40am. Please plan accordingly with the weather.
4. School dismissal is at 2:45pm.
Attendance Procedures
Please call (920) 424-0420
if your child is going to be absent for that school day. Please make this call before 8 AM. If your child is leaving for an appointment during the school day please also call in so we can have your child ready and at Door 7 for you to pick them up.
It is important that you call in if your child is ill or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. If anyone living in your house tests positive for COVID-19 we need to know.
Please make sure that your student is properly dressed to be going outside. They will need snow pants, boots, winter jacket, hat, and gloves EVERYDAY!
Reading Across America Week
Summer School Information
Online registration for the 2021 Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) Summer School program opens on Monday, March 1, 2021, at 8 a.m. and this year's course guide is now available. Please read the following update to learn more: OASD Update 02.19.21 - OASD Summer School Registration Opens March 1
Merrill Elementary will be selling yearbooks through Network Photography. The yearbook will cost $12 this year. Please follow the link below to prepay. There will be no paper order forms. Be sure to check the newsletter, Facebook or emails for future information on when they will be available.
Here is the link for the online ordering of the Merrill yearbook. The prepay link will be closed March 31st.
Merrill Elementary Yearbook 2020-2021
You can also find the online ordering at www.networkphoto.net, select FALL PREPAY, and type in Merrill.
Dental Program
The Dental Bus will be coming to Merrill. The date is unknown at this point. However, the forms were sent home with your student the last week of February. If you want your child to receive these services the sheets must be returned to Merrill. More information to follow please watch IC, your emails, and paper communications to come home with your student.
Here is the link if you need to reprint!
Lighted School House Openings - After School Care
Our Lighted School House Program has openings in almost every grade. If your student could benefit from having extra help with classwork, or you have trouble getting a ride home for your student when school ends, please reach out to Mr. Evan.
Email is: evan.hollnagel@oshkosh.k12.wi.
Phone number: 920-410-3973
Health Note
Please click here and here for notes from the School Nurse.
Please be sure to notify the school office if your student is showing Covid-related signs or symptoms, even while they are learning at home. Symptoms include:
*Fever/ chills
*Cough
*Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
*Fatigue
*Muscle or body aches
*Headache
*Loss of taste or smell
*Sore throat
*Congestion or runny nose
*Nausea or vomiting
*Diarrhea
It is important that schools are able to keep track of student illnesses, especially with this year’s virus. We appreciate your help with this. Thank you!
Free School Meal Pick Up
Updated OASD Free School Meal Distribution
Update as of Wednesday, February 3: Free school meals will be available at one distribution time and location only. The distribution will be Wednesdays from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Oshkosh West High School (main parking lot - enter on Taft Avenue and exit on Eagle Street). Those accessing free meals cannot enter the school parking lot until 4 p.m. to allow students and staff to safely exit the area before the distribution begins.
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Free Family Food Boxes: In addition to a week’s worth of school meals, families will also be able to receive Farm to Family Food Boxes - a partnership with Feeding America. LEARN MORE
NOTE: No school meals will be sent home with students at the end of their in-person learning days at this time. Families looking for additional school meals for virtual learning days are asked to visit the distribution sites on Wednesdays to receive those meals.
Meal Distribution Details:
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Meals will be distributed for five days at a time and will include a breakfast, lunch, and supper for each day.
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Milk will be offered with all meals.
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Meals are available and are free to anyone age 18 and under.
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Children do not need to be present to receive free meals, a parent/guardian or sibling may pick up meals.
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Children do not need to be enrolled in the Oshkosh Area School District to receive free meals.
2021-2022 Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment (requesting to attend another school outside OASD)
Click link below for more information.
Open Enrollment - Information & Deadlines
Having issues with your Chromebook?
Follow these steps if students experience Chromebook difficulties:
Step One: Problem-solve by using these Chromebook Troubleshooting Tips.
Step Two: If students are unable to solve the problem on their own please call (920)424-0420 and we will put you in contact with our wonderful Media Assistant.
Step Three: If our media assistant determines that the student device needs to be sent in for repair, and if the family is not under quarantine or experiencing symptoms, a drop off time will be set up. District Learning without Limits Handbook expectations apply to all devices in all learning models.
Caregiver Series
Grief is a result of a loss. This school year (and 2020 in general) has created a lot of loss and uncertainty for children. In this episode we talk with Kaelee Heidemann, School Counselor at Traeger Elementary about grief, how it might be playing a role in your child's behavior, and how caregivers can help. Please take a look!
Past Editions:
Increasing Focus: Breaks, Flexible Seating, & Focus Tools
Adult Self Care during Distance Learning
Employment Opportunity
The OASD has a lot of open positions in the Food Service Department. You can apply on WECAN or you can call the Food Service Office with any questions you have.
Jenny Wallace
Food Service Secretary
Oshkosh West High School
375 N Eagle St
Oshkosh, WI 54902
920-424-4936
Public Library
Please enjoy the following hands on learning fun through the public library.
https://www.
Breakfast & Lunch Menus
Lighted School House News
