This Week at College Park: January 13

Students enjoyed our wonderful weather on Wednesday! It was hard to believe it was January.

Good Afternoon College Park Families,

As many of you know, our after school pick up situation is becoming a challenge. The issues will increase as snow piles begin to take over our parking lot. For safety reasons, vehicles may not park in areas not designated as spots. In case of emergencies, the parking lot lanes must be kept open.

Parents should plan to pick students up in the circle drive whenever possible. Students know to wait for their parents and move to the car when it pulls up. Unless a parent needs to enter school they should not be parking in the school lot. Parents of students in our K5 and first grade should work with teachers on releasing students when the parent vehicle is in view.

While it may take a few extra minutes to wait in the circle drive line, it will create a safer dismissal for our children and will alleviate traffic congestion in our parking lot, as well as along College Avenue. The line will continue to move rapidly if all parents pull forward as far as possible and follow the expectation of not leaving the vehicle to meet children at the door.

Thank you to all of our families choosing to walk to and from school! We appreciate those parents willing to chaperone groups of students each day. Walking not only helps with our traffic issues, it is also a healthy start and end to each school day!

Student Services Change
We have made some changes in our student services staff to offer more assistance to students. Mr. Vogt, who had been working with students at College Park, Canterbury and Greendale Middle School, will no longer be coming to College Park one day a week. This will allow him to provide more assistance to the other two schools. We will miss him at College Park but look forward to the opportunity to work with Miss Larsen, our new school counselor.

Miss Amanda Larsen has been hired to work with students at College Park. She will be coordinating with Mr. Bainbridge, who will continue in his role at all three elementary schools. Miss Larsen will be here each Monday, Thursday and Friday, working with students in small groups, individually and also offering classroom presentations when needed. Miss Larsen attended UW-Madison and received a bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis on child development. She received her master’s of science, and school counseling certification, from UW-Milwaukee. She has experience working in school settings, offering at-home therapy for students and helping children transition into school environments. We are excited to welcome her to our College Park community.

Mark Your Calendars
The PTO Annual Dinner and Raffle will be held on Friday, March 2. More details will be coming as the date gets closer. You won’t want to miss this fun family evening! If you have items you would like to donate to our raffle, please contact our school and we will we put you in touch with our raffle chairs; Robin Konop and Cherie Swiercz.

Next Door Foundation Book Drive
Each year, families in Greendale are encouraged to donate new or gently used books to the Next Door Foundation. The organization provides the books to families who may not otherwise have access to books in their homes. We are looking for children’s books to be brought in next week.

College Park Band and Orchestra Concert
We will hold our fifth grade band and fourth and fifth grade orchestra concert on Wednesday, January 18 at 6:00 p.m. in the College Park gym. Students will be performing music they have had the opportunity to study during our first semester of musical learning. We look forward to celebrating their progress with families.

Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) Meeting
The Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) Meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 17 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the District Office. Please RSVP to Director of Pupil Services, Colleen McHugh-Moore at colleen.mchugh-moore@greendale.k12.wi.us.

Parents as Partners Conference
The Parents as Partners Conference will be held on Tuesday, February 7 from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at Greendale Middle School, 6800. The free event will provide learning and discussion opportunities on topics related to raising today’s youth.

The Parents as Partners Conference will be divided up into convenient, 45-minute sessions. Greendale parents and guardians can attend for up to three mini-courses, including Technology Bootcamp for Parents, Parenting with Love and Logic: Birth to Age 6, Leap into Learning, Understanding the Impact of Social Networking, Raising a Healthy Child, Did You Know We Had That Class at GHS?, Using WISCareers for College/Career Readiness, Parenting in the Middle, From Stress to Strength for Parents, Is My Child Gifted?, Conversation with the Superintendent and Understanding Your Child’s EXPLORE Test Results.

There is no cost for the workshop and free childcare will be provided to children who are potty trained. For more information on the Parents as Partners Conference or to register, please click here.

Community Cookbook
We need your recipes. As part of the District’s wellness goal and integrated into the Health curriculum, Greendale Schools is compiling a Nourish – Mind, Body, Community cookbook. We are looking for submissions of healthy recipes from students, families and community members. For a recipe template form, please click here. Send your completed recipe form to cookbook@greendale.k12.wi.us. The deadline is February 1. Inclusion is dependent upon the number of entries.

Greendale Park and Recreation Registration
The Greendale Park and Recreation Winter/Spring Program Book is now available. For the online version, please click here. You can start registering for classes today!

Community Playground Project
Over the years, Greendale community members have assisted in generating the funds to update playground equipment at Jaycee Park, Community Center Park and Lions Park and establish the Daffodil playground. In October 2009, Greendale residents began efforts to raise funds for the replacement of the outdated playground equipment at the 84th & Grange athletic field site.

Anticipated cost is about $15,000. With no taxpayer dollars being used, the project is relying on fundraising. About $8,500 has already been generated. The latest fundraiser is an "I Helped Greendale Play" t-shirts sale. Click here, for flyer. If you’re not interested in purchasing a t-shirt, but would consider a donation toward the project, that would be greatly appreciated. Donations are tax-deductible and may be sent to: Greendale Park and Recreation Department, 5900 S. 51st Street, Greendale WI 53129. Checks should be made payable to “Greendale School District.” Contact the Greendale Park and Recreation Department at 414-423-2790 for more information or if you would be interested in working on this project.

January Dates
16 Next Door Foundation Book Drive – All Week
18 College Park Band and Orchestra Concert, 6:00, CP Gym
23 No School For Students – Teacher In-service
24 Monday Schedule

February Dates
10 Early Dismissal - Students released at 11:30 a.m.
15 PTO Meeting – 6:30 p.m., College Park IMC
17 Kohl’s Wild Theater Presentation, 1:30 p.m. (K-2)
21 Presidential Primary Election (Gym – all day)
24 Early Dismissal – Students released at 11:30 a.m.
27 MidWinter Break