DeForest Area School District

DASD News

 For friends of the DeForest Area School DistrictSeptember 2010
 Greetings!  
 

Back to School image

It's hard to believe but it's that time of the year again - the beginning of a new school year. We look forward to working with you this year.  With your enthusiasm and support, we will continue "to provide an excellent education by engaging, challenging, and inspiring all students to pursue their full potential." (DASD mission statement).
 
 
Please contact me if you ever have any questions or comments.
 
Debbie Brewster,  School/Community Relations Coordinator
In This Issue
District develops "bullying" policy
District continues Response to Intervention
Important notices for families
Snow days 101
Meet new high school principal Machell Schwarz
More news and information
Show Kids You Care - Tip of the Month
Pictured above...
Events Calendar
District develops "bullying" policy
 
 
childrenSchool districts are required by a new state law to adopt a policy prohibiting bullying by students and to distribute this policy to all students and parents. The DASD Board of Education recently adopted the policy as Administrative
Regulation 4.7(3). A complete copy of the policy in included in this issue of DASD News . In the future, the policy will be published annually in the district's "Notices" document, available to students and parents/guardians during registration. If you have questions about the "bullying" policy, please contact Ann Higgins, Director of Administrative Services, at 842-6580.
 
A complete copy of the "bullying" policy, AR (Administrative Regulation) 4.7(3), adopted by the board of education at their 8/9/10 meeting, is available by clicking here (p. 1).
District continues Response to Intervention
 
DASD staff are continually working to improve student achievement and reduce behavior problems that affect student learning. One proactive prevention system currently in place in the District is called ASPIRE. It is based on a national Response to Intervention (RTI) program. Through ASPIRE (or RTI), staff identify students at risk for poor learning outcomes, provide evidence based interventions, monitor their progress in order to adjust the intensity and nature of those interventions, and identify students with learning disabilities or other disabilities.  ASPIRE coordinators Lori Billings and Barb Lebica have been training staff in the basics of RTI, and continue to implement strategies throughout the district. 
 
Click here for a sampling of ASPIRE initiatives that have been completed, or are currently underway, in our schools. (go to page 3)
Important notices for families
 
Park only in designated areas on school grounds
The DeForest Police Department and DeForest Area School District would like to remind residents who visit school buildings to park in designated areas only. Designated parking areas are available for staff, students, visitors, and State Disabled Parking permits. Parking in the grass, fire lanes, or in other places not designated is prohibited. Police will issue parking citations to those who park in undesignated areas or block building access during school and private events. This applies to all youth and high school athletic events or other activities held in the schools.
 
penpaper imageRequest to Withhold Public Information (Directory Data)
Parents/Guardians receive a form at registration that denies DASD from publishing student "directory data". On the back of the form there is a complete description of what is included as "directory data".  If you did not receive this form and would like to make this request, please contact your child's school. More  information and the form are available at: http://www.deforest.k12.wi.us/formsforparentsstudents.html.
Snow days 101 
 
snowflakeWhile it seems hard to think about snow right now, winter will be upon us sooner than we know it. School district staff take decisions to delay, close,
or dismiss school due to inclement weather conditions very seriously. As with most decisions that affect literally thousands of people, it will impact
individuals differently. You may be interested in knowing what goes into the decision.  More (p. 7)

Meet new high school principal Machell Schwarz
  
I'm excited to be joining the staff, and students of the DeForest Area High School. My first month has been filled with learning and getting to know everyone. I am quite impressed with the willingness of both students and staff to work together to create the absolute best possible learning environment.

A little about me . . . I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse with a degree in Mathematics and Secondary Education. I then earned my Masters of Education in Professional Development from UW-LaCrosse. I am also married and have three children. More (p. 5)
Lend a Hand program begins
Homecoming, September 20-25
DASD welcomes new staff 
 
Stay connected with DASD, p. 8
Facebook
Twitter
DASD News Blog
Show Kids
You Care!
40 Assets image
40 Assets
Tips of the Month

Be available.
 
Encourage win-win solutions.
 
Listen to their favorite music with them. 
 
For more information, visit www.search-institute.org
 
Pictured above...

New teachers posed for a photo during the District's New Teacher Orientation, held August 23 and 24.  A complete list of new staff is on page 6 of DASD News.
Events Calendar
 
September 16
Big Hill Work Evening
4-7 pm
 
September 16
Fall Scholastic Book Fair 
YES, 3-7:30 pm
 
September 20
Public Safety Family Fun Night 5-7 pm
 
September 25
Yahara Riverfest
 
October 2
MOO-ving for a Cure
DAHS, 6-9 pm
 
October 11
Parenting with Love & Logic begins
 
October 11
Early Release
 
October 27
Community Trick or Treat Night at DAHS, 5-7 pm
 
October 28 & 29
No School
 
November 5
Early Release
End of 1st Quarter
 
November 10-13
High School Fall Play
 
 
Upcoming Family Events
in the Madison area
DASD News, p. 4
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thank you!

Click here to download a PDF version of this DASD News issue (and previously versions).
Thank you for your support of the DeForest Area School District. 
Contact Information

Please contact me if you have any questions or if I can assist you in any way . . .
 
Debbie Brewster, School/Community Relations Coordinator
DeForest Area School District
520 E. Holum Street
DeForest, WI 53532
(608) 842-6581 phone
(608) 842-5492 fax
[email protected]
www.deforestareaschools.org