Dear Staff Members, It is already time for another edition of E-Clips! This month I want to share a series of questions posed when we com- pleted the equity audit. These ques- tions reference sexual orientation and gender identity. I would simply ask that you read through them. What do you think the answers are? Some questions will be difficult to answer because the data is difficult to ascertain. Here they are: 1. Do all staff understand and apply federal and state law asso- ciated with sexual orientation and gender identity to leverage integrated, high achieving schools/districts? 2. Does your district have any active policies that address sexu- al orientation? Gender identity? 3. Assess your school or district’s anti-harassment policy. To what extent does it address sexual ori- entation? Gender identity? 4. To what extent are school enroll- ment forms inclusive of non- traditional families? To what extent do the forms include the range of gender demographic including male, female, transgender, intersex, and oth- er? 5. Does your school provide gen- der-neutral bathrooms for all students to use? 6. How many staff/students are open about their lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) identity to other staff/students? 7. What percentage of teachers in your school would be proactive in supporting LGBT staff, stu- dents and families? Neutral? Opposed? 8. To what extent are invitations to school functions, staff gath- erings, and so forth, inclusive of LGBT relationships? 9. To what extent are students or teachers called names because of their gender identity or sex- ual orientation in your school? How do you know? How do staff respond? 10. To what extent are students at your school required to adhere to a gender -specific dress code? 11. How and to what extent does your school’s cur- riculum integrate LGBTQ his- tory, events or persons across it? Continued... A Note from the Superintendent Inside this issue: Note From Supt. (cont.) 2 McMillan Events 3 WRIEP Hosts Needed 3 Advocates Update 5 Prairie Chicken Festival 5 Energy Fair 6 Employee Spotlight 8-9 Misc Info 10+ Employee E-clips March 16, 2017 “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” - Benjamin Franklin
Transcript
Dear Staff Members,
It is already time for another edition
of E-Clips!
This month I want to share a series
of questions posed when we com-
pleted the equity audit. These ques-
tions reference sexual orientation
and gender identity. I would simply
ask that you read through them.
What do you think the answers are?
Some questions will be difficult to
answer because the data is difficult
to ascertain. Here they are:
1. Do all staff understand and
apply federal and state law asso-
ciated with sexual orientation
and gender identity to leverage
integrated, high achieving
schools/districts?
2. Does your district have any
active policies that address sexu-
al orientation? Gender identity?
3. Assess your school or district’s
anti-harassment policy. To what
extent does it address sexual ori-
entation? Gender identity?
4. To what extent are school enroll-
ment forms inclusive of non-
traditional families? To what
extent do the forms include the
range of gender demographic
including male, female,
transgender, intersex, and oth-
er?
5. Does your school provide gen-
der-neutral bathrooms for all
students to use?
6. How many staff/students are
open about their lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender (LGBT)
identity to other staff/students?
7. What percentage of teachers in
your school would be proactive
in supporting LGBT staff, stu-
dents and families? Neutral?
Opposed?
8. To what extent are invitations
to school functions, staff gath-
erings, and so forth, inclusive of
LGBT relationships?
9. To what extent are students or
teachers called names because
of their gender identity or sex-
ual orientation in your school?
How do you know? How do
staff respond?
10. To what extent are students at
your school required
to adhere to a gender
-specific dress code?
11. How and to what
extent does your school’s cur-
riculum integrate LGBTQ his-
tory, events or persons across
it?
Continued...
A Note from the Superintendent
I n s i d e t h i s i s s u e :
Note From
Supt. (cont.) 2
McMillan
Events 3
WRIEP Hosts
Needed 3
Advocates
Update
5
Prairie Chicken
Festival 5
Energy Fair 6
Employee
Spotlight 8-9
Misc
Info
10+
Employee E-clips M a r c h 1 6 , 2 0 1 7
“An
investment in
knowledge
pays the best
interest.”
- Benjamin
Franklin
P a g e 2
E m p l o y e e E - c l i p s
(Note from Supt. continued)…
12. Does your school have a Gay/Straight Alliance?
13. To what extent do students in your school have access to information
about sexual orientation and gender identity?
14. To what extent has professional development addressed sexual orienta-
tion and gender identity?
I can answer several of these right away, and you probably
can as well. Admittedly, several made me pause and consider
what the answers might be. I hope that by reviewing and think-
ing about these questions, you might start to understand where
you are in your belief system and whether or not it affects how
you relate to and how you work with your students. I believe it
is imperative that we open our schools and classrooms (as well
as our hearts) to ALL students and not just those that fit our
personal vision. I don’t ever want a student coming into school frightened
because they are not fitting into societal expectations. As educators, we must
love all our students and help them become as successful as they possibly can.
For many, school is the one safe location they have. We must help create a
safe environment for ALL of us.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2017 WRPS staff recognition awards. Students, parents, colleagues, or community members may submit nominations. Please consider nominating a colleague for one or both of the following awards:
Professional "Educator of the Year" Award
"Support Staff Person of the Year" Award Nominations must be submitted electronically. The deadline for submitting nominations is Wednesday, April 12, 2017. Retrieve the electronic nomination forms by clicking on the hyperlinked titles above or access the nomination links from the District website at Educator & Staff of the Year - Nominations. Honorees will be recognized during the Welcome Back program in August, 2017.
Speaking of equity opportunities…a paper released in February was informed by state chiefs, district leaders, equity advocates, researchers, and teachers. It caps State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers' term as CCSSO board president, during which he engaged the nation's chiefs around the pressing need for action on equity. "Across the nation, kids of color, kids with disabilities, those learning English, and those from economic disadvantage face challenges that their peers do not. And unfortunately, some of those challenges are a result of policies and practices we have influ-
ence or control over. As leaders of state education agencies, we have a moral imperative to help remove any barriers that stand in the way of a student's success," said Tony Evers, State Super-intendent of Public Instruction and Past President of the CCSSO Board of Directors. "I am confident that the resources we have developed will help education leaders achieve that goal. I am proud of the work my fellow state chiefs have poured into this issue and would like to thank both CCSSO and the Aspen Institute Education and & Program for their assistance. My hope is that we can capitalize on the momentum we have built to close opportunity gaps for all kids." For more information on advancing educational equity in states, visit the CCSSO website.
DPI-ConnectEd Article 2/15 /17
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E m p l o y e e E - c l i p s
A number of you may be aware, but for those who do not, you may be interested to know about the Wood County 2-1-1 Call Center. This is a partnership between United Way of Inner Wisconsin and Marshfield Area United Way, and it covers 14 counties from Ash-land County to Juneau County. In addition to connecting callers to local resources, 2-1-1 also tracks caller needs and uses that information to analyze trends, such as identifying gaps in services. This information can be used to help make program funding decisions. 2-1-1 is an information and referral program that maintains a database of community resources and connects callers with questions to the proper services or organi-zations to meet their information needs. It is a number you can dial (2-1-1) and is especially helpful to callers who have a “spectrum” of needs due to an emergency such as loss of job or health issues. In 2016, the 2-1-1– call center answered 3,866 calls, which is up from 3,644 calls in 2015. The top five needs were: 1) rent payment assistance; 2) Food Pantry information; 3) electric service payment assis-tance; 4) low income housing; and 5) gas money. Calls are free and confidential—help spread the word to others who may need to speak with a caring resource specialist who will be able connect them with services they may be seeking.
Advocates Grant Update Keep those grants coming in! We have had several requests already and we have several under review at this time. As we look to start winding down the school year, yep I said winding down (although it sure doesn't feel like it), if you have a grant that you would want to incorporate next fall, don't wait until next fall to sub-mit it. With the number of grants that we have coming in we have the possibility to be low on funds in the early fall. Also, please remember that we don't fund furniture purchases, so please don't ask for it. Have a relaxing spring break!
Bergy Dave Bergerson K-12 Science Coordinator 715-424-6721 x 1054 [email protected]
Wisconsin Prairie Chicken Festival
A Wisconsin Prairie Chicken Festival is planned for Saturday, April 8, 2017 from 4:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Following are some details: 4:30-7:30 a.m. Prairie Chicken Viewing & Grassland Birding Tour Report to Sigel Town Hall (3678 Town Hall Rd., Wisc. Rapids) 7:30-9:00 a.m. Dutch Oven Breakfast in the Sigel Town Hall 10 a.m.—4 p.m. Exhibitors/Vendors at Hotel Mead & Conference Center Luncheon Speakers: Lance Pliml, Wood County Board Chairman Mary “Casey” Martin, Author/Publisher, The Hamerstrom Lesa Kardash, Wildlife Biologist, WI DNR 1:00-4:00 p.m. Guest Speakers at Hotel Mead & Conference Center Dr. Kent Hall, “Dr. Bluebird” - Learning to Think Like a Bluebird
Robert Welch, Waupaca Field Station Bill Kolodziej, Marathon County Grazing Specialist
Make your reservations early to attend! Contact info: Becky Davis, Central WI Farm Bill Biologist
Facebook: @Central Wisconsin Prairie Chicken Festival / @CWPCF
E m p l o y e e E - c l i p s
2017 Energy Fair
Save the date! Join the nation’s longest-running sus-tainable living and renewable energy event on June 16-18, 2017 in Custer, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education (WCEE) and the College of Natural Resources at UW-Stevens Point will again be hosting the Educator Tent at The Energy Fair. The Educator Tent pro-vides classroom resources, hands-on activities, and
ways to engage students to support and promote sustainable communities. Each year, The Energy Fair offers over 250 workshops related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living. Do you have something to share? You are invited to submit a workshop pro-posal highlighting educational activities and successes from your school and/or community. Visit www.theenergyfair.org to learn more and to submit a workshop proposal. Interested in attending The Energy Fair to earn a credit? Click here to learn more!
A District Science teacher shared a link to a Cheerios initiative to create bee-friendly habitats which are important to sustain the production of food crops for human con-sumption. One in three bites of food we eat is made possible by bees and other pollina-tors; however, 42% of bee colonies in the U.S. collapsed in 2015. With bee populations declining at an alarming rate, more wildflowers are needed to provide the habitat neces-sary for bee survival. A “100 Million Seed Giveaway” initiative has been started as a re-
sult. Click here to learn more about the program, and how free seeds can be requested. Perhaps this is something you want to explore in your classroom, or do at home on your own!
- Dave Bergerson, Science Chair
“We Need the Bees” Awareness Project
Dust off your sneakers and head out to participate in a few upcoming 5K walks/runs being sponsored by a few very worthy local causes: Run the Rapids 5K Walk/Run for Child Abuse Prevention—April 8, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon (Register by March 22 to receive a T-shirt!) South Wood County Humane Society 5K9 Walk & Run Event—May 13, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A great way to get exercise with friends/family while supporting local organizations!
Each March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages Americans to return to the basics of healthy eating. Aspirus Riverview’s Food & Nutrition Services Department and Diabetes & Nutrition Center have this same focus and commitment to the nutritional health of our patients, employees and community. National Nutrition Month began as National Nutrition Week back in 1973. By 1980, it was so popular it be-came National Nutrition Month. Within National Nutrition Month is Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) day on March 8, 2017. The 2017 National Nutrition Month campaign focuses on improving the health quality of our diets. The theme “Put Your Best Fork Forward” reminds us that each bite counts, and that making just small shifts in our food choices can add up over time. Whether cooking at home or eating at a restaurant, let this year’s theme inspire you to start making small changes. Making small changes at home can sometimes be the easiest, as you have more control over what foods are brought into the home. Think about making small changes like:
· Baking instead of frying · Choosing fruit for dessert or snacks in place of sweets · Using beans in place of meat in casseroles, soups and stews · Downloading new healthy recipes to try once a week
You can make healthier choices when out at a restaurant as well. Try small changes like:
· Ordering a side salad or baked potato in place of French fries · Choosing water or an unsweetened beverage in place of regular soda · Ordering from the “lite” section of the menu, if available · Sharing your main course with a friend or family member
Some other activities you may enjoy include:
· Experimenting with your favorite recipes to add healthier ingredients · Starting a new walking program or changing your current workout routine · Making a list of your favorite healthy foods and incorporating them into new recipes · Searching the library for new and interesting cookbooks · Practicing cooking more foods at home
To learn more about healthful eating or the “Put Your Best Fork Forward” campaign, visit www.eatright.org/nnm or www.Choosemyplate.gov.
BRENDA WOYAK Curriculum Secretary — Central Office
Greetings! My name is Brenda Woyak. I, too, enjoy reading the “Employee Spot-lights.” I have been employed with the WRPS District since 2004 as a Curriculum Secretary at Central Office. I am a graduate of Lincoln High School (the current EJH) class of 1978. As I get older, each school year seems to go by faster and faster. My husband, Roy, and I have been married for 23 years. Roy is a retired police officer from the Wisconsin Rapids Police Depart-ment. After 35 years on the force, he retired and is now a van driver for our school dis-trict. He loves it! He loves the kids! Our son, Cody, turned 20 in February and is a sophomore at Marian University in Fond
du Lac. He is pursuing a nursing degree. Lambeau, our not-so-miniature, Miniature Schnauzer is 2½. He’s not-so-miniature because he has very long legs, which gets him into plenty of trouble! My husband likes to tell people that I wanted to hear the pitter patter of little feet again after our son left for college….so he bought me a dog! I was born and raised in Wisconsin Rapids. I come from a family of 7 kids. I have four brothers and two sisters. The farthest one lives in Marshfield. We all stayed close to home. What I like about my job is no two days are ever the same! I work behind the scenes with the director on the WRPS Children’s Theatre, the book giveaway at River Cities High School, and whatever comes my way. In my spare time, I love, love, love to garage sale! One person’s trash is another person’s treasure! I must admit, my husband and son aren’t too fond of my hobby. My mom and dad both inspired and mentored me over the years. They instilled a strong work ethic, a religious background, and were determined that us kids all graduate from high school. My dad passed away in 2011, and we miss him every day. I admire my mom because she is a very strong person. Something many may not know about me is I used to be a bartender at David Harold’s. For those who may not know where David Harold’s was, it’s where Karen’s Wines and Steins is today. I also used to be a hairdresser at Regis Hairstylists in the Rapids Mall, a secretary in the office of the CenterPoint Mall in Stevens Point, and a word processor at Sentry Insurance. I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about me, and I look forward to learning about you someday. Have a terrific second half of the school year!
Employee Spotlight A section in our E-clips to get to know one another better!
JENNIFER KOBACK Special Education Aide — Wisc. Rapids Area Middle School
Hello! I am Jennifer, and I have been married for 11 years to Greg Koback. I have two children and three step-children. I also have six grandchildren who keep me busy with their sporting events! My dog is named Snickers, and she is a Lhasa Apso Poodle mix. I grew up in Wisconsin Rapids and went to S.S. Peter and Paul until 6th grade. I then attended Howe Elementary, West Junior High, and I am a graduate of Lincoln High School. Through-out my life I have worked at various places of employment, including Consolidated Papers in Biron; Shopko; and then I was a substitute in the District before I was hired at WRAMS. What I really like about my job is that I enjoy seeing the smiles on the students' faces when they are successful. In my spare time, I enjoy hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and spending time with my grandkids at their sporting events.
A person who I really admire and who has inspired me over the years is my co-worker and friend, Cheryl Koch. I have known Cheryl for about 20 years now, and her pas-sion for her job is contagious. Something people might not know about me is that two summers ago I was fishing with Greg on Otter Lake. While there I had to perform CPR on an elderly gentlemen, and he lived!
P a g e 9
SHIRLEY BREHM
Head Cook—THINK Academy My husband, Jerry, and I have been married 45 years. We live on 60 beautiful wooded acres located 3 miles from where I grew up. We have two handsome sons: Jerry, married to Jennifer; and Dustin, married to Jenna. We also have four adorable grand-children: Brianna, 10; Jerrod, 3; Nola, 2; and Jolee, 6 weeks old. Being called “Grandma” is a wonderful, heartwarming thing. I have been with the District for 35 years. I started working part-time with Mary Peters at the Vesper Grade school in 1982. She taught me the fine art of cooking lunch for a hungry crowd of children and their teachers! From homemade rolls, cooking whole turkey, and hiding beets in the chocolate cake! After 13 years at Vesper, I moved into a helper position at Mead Elemen-
tary for 2 months, and then ventured to Rudolph Elementary as lead cook. Today I am feeding students of the children I watched grow up, and whom I served lunch to 30 years ago! The smiles and stories our school children have to tell each day is truly remarkable. Our reward is when they tell you that your food “tastes better than mom’s!” My mom taught me to bake cookies when I was 8 years old, and I have continued my love of baking to this day. She also taught me to love the outdoors and gardening. In the summer I garden, plant and tend to flower beds, and enjoy our small pond. I also like to sew, make blankets for Ronald McDonald house, and volunteer in a support group for the Vesper Volunteer Fire Department. I feel very fortunate to have been able to work at a job that I truly love. The people I have worked with and around in Food Service are very dedicated, fun, and supportive. That makes my job, and my life, very good!
Workplace Cubicles: Courtesy Tips
Do you practice common courtesies with cubi-
cle coworkers? Rules to consider: 1) Remem-
ber, you have neighbors. Be self-aware re-
garding speech topics, tone, and volume. 2) Cubicle
workers often complain
about disruptions. Mini-
mize them by creating
traditions that reinforce
everyone’s role as a
gatekeeper in maintain-
ing an effective work
environment. 3) Use
staff meetings to discuss the cubicle environment and
add to or amend your traditions. 4) Be sensitive to a
coworker’s body language that may indicate annoyanc-
es, such as unannounced appearances at one’s cubicle
to discuss issues. If in doubt, ask. Cubicle stress must be
managed and has been depicted in comic strips and fea-
ture films. Ironically, the inventor of the cubicle, George
Nelson, became its fiercest critic. Source: George Nel-
son: “The Design of Modern Design” (MIT Press)
Study: Ace a Test
N eed to recall information you studied to ace a test?
A study conducted at Baylor University discovered
that students who are given information and tell
someone about it immediately recall the details better
and longer—a strategy that could be a plus come test
time. To use this technique effectively, study the material
then immediately turn to another person and attempt to
restate what you just read or learned. (Reading what you
learned to another won’t
do it.) Then study the
material again. The dis-
covery was identified in
research conducted by
Melanie Sekeres, Ph.D.
Press Release: bay-
lor.edu [Search: “ace a
test”]
Being Cooperative
A re you a cooperative employee? It’s not a simple
question. For example, are you able to hold back
pointing out the flaw or spotting the shortcoming in
a project or process and instead listen to others, join with
the team, and play a crucial role in an activity at work?
Right now may not be the best time to point out prob-
lems, but instead, wait for a more appropriate time. Can
you check yourself, gauge the environment, see the larg-
er purpose, and participate in an
organizational effort where your
work style matches the tempo of
your team? If you are bright, keen
on taking action, and a great or-
ganizer or leader, holding back
may be difficult, but these skills in
self-control are the sign of a mature employee. Skills at
cooperation show others that you are also self-
disciplined, empathic, self-aware, and patient. All these
traits, which are linked to cooperation, help make being
cooperative a highly valued soft skill for your career.
Teen Cyberbullying
A new study on teen bullying surveyed 5,600 chil-
dren between the ages of 12 and 17 years old to
address various forms of bullying and cyberbully-
ing, “sexting,” and dating violence. Thoughts of suicide,
deviant behavior, resili-
ence, and ability to
cope were also exam-
ined. A few findings:
Girls are more likely to
be bullied online.
Eighty-three percent of
those bullied online are
also likely to be bullied
at school. Insight: Bullying at school is often not reported
to parents. However, if you discover your child is bullied
online, the chance that they are being bullied at school is
very high. www.cyberbullying.org [search “2016 cyber-
bullying data”]
March 2017
Stop Bickering!
B ickering is the petty disputes you experience with
another person, especially a loved one like a
spouse, part-
ner, or friend. To
bicker is human, but
a frequent pattern
that sabotages the
relationship you
both value needs a
fix. Try this: 1) Ac-
cept that quarreling
is a problem and
that you want to reduce it. (Agree to avoid bickering
about who is more at fault.) 2) Participate in a 10-minute
exercise together, listing as many adverse effects of bick-
ering as possible. Include both visible effects, such as
negative effects on children, and invisible effects, such
as coping methods, negative self-talk, isolation, reduced
intimacy, wasted time, withdrawal, recuperation time,
resentment, even your reputation as the “Bickersons.” 3)
Practice with a behavioral change log. After the next
bickering event, record the topic, how long it lasted, what
you did well to end the bickering, what you can do better
next time, and especially anything you learned or insights
gained. After one week, share your experiences. Making
major behavioral changes (new habits of communicating)
will take several weeks. If things stay rocky, seek coun-
seling and bring your notes for a speedier resolution.
Got Stairs? (And 30 Minutes a Week?)
R esearch keeps showing us how little exercise is
needed to maintain health. The one consistent find-
ing: You need some. A McMaster University of
Canada study screams “no more excuses,” claiming that
a bit of stair climbing and a total of only 30 minutes per
week can do the trick. Stair climbing has already been
shown to provide health benefits, but scientists wanted to
know how little was actually
needed to achieve measur-
ably improved cardio-
respiratory fitness. You
should see your medical
doctor and obtain approval
prior to beginning an exer-
cise program. Source:http://
dailynews.mcmaster.ca
[Search “no time for gym”]
Using Breath to Manage Stress
C ontrolled deep breathing is standard in stress
management training, and knowing why it works
can have you doing it more often. One reason
deep, slow breaths work so well is brain physiology.
When you breathe deep, you use a different part of your
brain to control your chest muscles instead of the part of
your brain experiencing the “fight or flight” reaction to
stress: the amygdala. Your
awareness of what’s going on
with your body improves in-
stantly. This calms you in ad-
dition to the stretching sensa-
tion in your muscles associat-
ed with the chest wall. The
opposite state of stress is the
relaxation response. This in-
cludes deep breathing, which
is a direct intervention. This is
what makes it more powerful
than other relaxation methods
that are often misperceived as effective, such as stress
eating, smoking, plopping down in front of the TV, or
drinking alcohol. Deep breathing is appropriate anytime,
but especially when you notice that you are under stress.
Monitor the frequency of your attempts at stress manage-
ment breathing to increase the frequency of its use.
Don’t Sit On Your Talents
Do you like dreaming up new ideas, spotting
new business
opportunities,
imagining the possibili-
ties, seeing unmet needs,
and building a team? Do
you take initiative on the
job to undertake some-
thing new without being
asked to do so? Are you
the courageous sort, un-
afraid to think outside the
box? These traits demonstrate an entrepreneurial mind-
set. Share your awareness with your boss. Let him or her
know about what makes you tick and then seek opportu-
nities to match your desires within the work organization.
Your organization needs your talents, and these
strengths are assets that could propel your career where
you want it to go.
Frontline | March 2017
Registration Required:Visit aspirus.org/AspiringWomen or call 1.800.847.4707(Registration closes April 4 - or when filled. Please register individually.)
AW-098 RIVERVIEW
Sitting ducks are an easy target for many serious health conditions. Health experts are saying, “Sitting is the new smoking.” Learn why, and how you can build activity into your day to maintain your health with Physical Therapist Matthew Ironside and Athletic Trainer Danielle Kilps from Aspirus Riverview Therapies.
Free Girls’ Night OutTuesday, April 11
Quit Sitthe
Also:• Enjoy energy-boosting appetizers • Take home recipes• Receive an Aspiring Women gift
