December 2024

 

IN THIS ISSUE
  • PBIS Update
  • December SEL
  • November's Tree-Mendous Students
  • Events & Dates
  • K-KIDS Meeting
  • PSA for December
  • Dress Up Days
  • OASD Upcoming Events
CONTACT

Carl Traeger Elementary 
3000 W. 20th Ave
Oshkosh, WI 54904
920.424.0221
kendall.sander@oshkosh.k12.wi.us (Building Secretary)

Principal Message - December

Dear Traeger Elementary Families,

December will be a quick three weeks before the start of winter break! We recently held our amazing K-2 winter music concert and participated in a Turkey Trot event as a school. During both of those events, we talked about how much we have to be thankful for with our school family. With that, I want to express my sincere gratitude to you all for partnering with us in your student’s education each day. I am thankful for having the opportunity to be with your student’s each day, build relationships with you all, and be part of the Traeger school family!

Between December-April, each grade level team will be holding a family night for students and families to attend in the evening. Each family night will have a separate theme centered around literacy and/or math in their grade level and may include things such as academic activities, a day in the life of what we do for each subject, games, etc.  Be on the lookout for information from your student’s teacher/grade level team for specific dates and times. We look forward to seeing you there!

The last day of school prior to winter break is Friday, December 20th. Your child’s classroom teacher will be in touch with you closer to the date about our winter celebration classroom parties that will take place on December 20th. Winter Break will last from Saturday, December 21st through Wednesday, January 1st. Classes will resume on Thursday, January 3rd.

I want to wish you all a very Happy Holiday Season and hope you all enjoy a wonderful, healthy and relaxing winter break! 

Sincerely,

Kristin Burgert

 


PBIS UPDATE

 

Every classroom focused on growth mindsets in November. We discussed that intelligence can be developed through optimism, effort, and persistence. When facing a challenge, instead of saying “I am bad” or giving up, we keep trying and use feedback to grow. We say things like “I am trying” or “It’s okay to not be perfect”. Research shows that people with a growth mindset are more likely to use problem-solving strategies, volunteer to help others, and persist when faced with obstacles.  We also continued to practice noticing and regulating our emotions. When we practice these skills more often, we are able to remain calm, think more clearly, and make good choices. One strategy we have been practicing to calm ourselves is to take three slow breaths. We have practiced star, drain, balloon, and pretzel breathing. 

 

 

 

 

December SEL: 

This month’s SEL (Social Emotional Learning) key topic is Self-Awareness. Self-awareness is the first 

component of social emotional learning. It is being aware of your feelings, motives, or desires. Students are learning how being self-aware allows them to enjoy things and have positive thoughts. This month as your student experiences a strong emotion, become self-aware as to what they are experiencing and coach them through that feeling. For example, “I noticed you are crying. Do you feel hurt? How can I help?”

Self-awareness can also be taught through mistakes. This means encouraging children to recognize and learn from their errors, fostering a growth mindset where they view mistakes as opportunities to improve and develop new skills, rather than failures to be avoided.

 

 




 

November TREE-Mendous Students

 


 

DECEMBER EVENTS & DATES

December 6th - PSC Family Paint Night in CTE Cafeteria from 5 - 7pm.

-Last day for K-Kids Food Drive (submit food items to the CTE Main Office)

- Last day to drop off purchased items for Brighten Someone's Holiday

December 9th - Mrs. Trebiatowski's 3rd grade class to The Paine

December 10th - First Grade Family Night from 4:30 - 6:00pm

December 11th - Mrs. Reisler's 3rd grade class to The Paine

December 12th - Mrs. Branson's 3rd grade class to The Paine

-K-Kids December meeting after school

December 17th - Rocky Rococo Restaurant Fundraiser Night from 4pm - 7pm

December 18th - First Grade Classes to Barlow Planetarium

December 20th - Winter Sing-A-Long and Classroom Celebrations

December 23rd - January 1st - NO SCHOOL FOR WINTER BREAK - Return date of January 2, 2025

 


 

News From the Art Room

Hello Traeger Families!  We just finished the 1st quarter of school, and we couldn’t be more excited about the amazing artwork we are making this year!

Our Kindergarteners have not only learned how to be a student here at Traeger, but have explored lines, pattern, shape, color theory, names of artists and MORE! Here are some examples of overlapping shapes that create new, interesting shapes. They created the shapes with Magic Chains and then drew and painted them with tempera sticks.

These Magic Chain Shape paintings were created by Maverick, Charlotte, Bentley and Wells.

 

We are doing our clay unit this December!!! We’ll begin learning about ceramics and the properties of clay in late November, but will begin projects on December 4th. That should give every student plenty of time to not only create a fun and amazing piece, but then the projects will have time to dry completely before we fire them after break.

Needed items:

  • Plastic and paper grocery bags to send home artwork (We can’t get enough!)
  • Egg cartons
  • Bubble wrap and Amazon bubble mailers

Thank you for your amazing support! You can contact me with any questions by email at melissa.harmon@oshkosh.k12.wi.us or by calling school after the school day.

With much appreciation - Mrs. Harmon and Miss Loest (Art intern)

 


 


 

First page of the PDF file: 202412OctoberK-Kids-TraegerTales

 

 


 

 

Oshkosh Schools Academy: Learn More About Your School District

Do you want to learn more about how the Oshkosh Area School District works? The Oshkosh Schools Academy is a new six-month program designed to give community members an inside look at the district’s mission, priorities, and initiatives. (See FLYER)

Program Details:

  • Start Date: January 17, 2025
  • Meeting Dates: One Friday a month from 7:30 - 9 a.m. (OASD Administration Office)
    • January 17, February 14, March 14, April 4, May 9, June 13
  • Topics Covered:
    • District operations and governance
    • Leadership principles
    • Academic priorities (e.g., reading, student wellness)
    • Community engagement opportunities

Participants will attend monthly sessions, engage in a book study, and interact directly with district leaders and staff. This is a great way to get involved and make a positive impact on public education in Oshkosh!

How to Apply:

  • Application Deadline: December 11, 2024
  • Limited Spots: 20-30 participants. If more than 30 apply, selections will be made randomly.
  • Those not selected will be placed on the waiting list for the 2025-2026 program.

Apply Today: Visit oshkosh.k12.wi.us/district/oshkosh-schools-academy to learn more and submit your application.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to deepen your knowledge of the Oshkosh Area School District!

 


 

SAVE THE DATE: OASD MLK Day Celebration

Date: Monday, January 20, 2025 Time: 8 AM Location: Vel Phillips Middle School - Attrium

Join us for the inaugural MLK Day Celebration hosted by the Oshkosh Area School District on January 20, 2025. (See Flyer.) This community event will include:

  • Continental Breakfast
  • Community connections
  • Keynote speaker
  • MLK essay contest winners
  • And more!

RSVP Required: While the event is free, guests must RSVP in advance for planning purposes. Students and children must be accompanied by a guardian.

Complete the registration form here: RSVP: OASD MLK Day Celebration 2025

For additional details, visit oshkosh.k12.wi.us/MLK-Day.

Questions? Contact Anthony Miller Jr., OASD Director of Community Engagement & Equity, at anthony.miller@oshkosh.k12.wi.us or 920.718.4309.

We look forward to celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy with you!

 


 

Families are invited to the best indoor playground and arcade around! Join us at Funset for an exclusive CTE offer plus a portion of the proceeds go to our PSC. Wristband price is $6 each and adults are free (wristbands must be purchased in advance).

Forms will be sent home with children soon, so you can complete and return that with the appropriate payment via cash or check, or you can fill out the online form on PTBoard at https://traeger.ptboard.com/formvw?store=4862&form=4 and pay via credit card.

Mark your calendars and be sure to bring the whole family for an evening full of fun!

* All PSC events and fundraisers are some great options we're all able to participate in if interested. The organizations we’ve partnered with provide our CTE PSC a portion of the proceeds, so that if families are looking for something to do in the area, they have great options like these that also benefit our school and bring the community into their businesses as well. Please do not feel obligated to attend or participate. We understand some of these events occur around the same time, so when we share the details on social media, it can seem like a lot. Again, this is just to offer different opportunities if you’re on the hunt for interactive and entertaining activities in and around Oshkosh.