PBIS UPDATE

This month we shifted our focus from composure to noticing. Noticing is verbally describing a child’s actions without judgment.  

Why is noticing helpful? 

When we notice when we are in our highest brain state (executive), we strengthen the child’s executive brain state. It shows acceptance of the child, which comes from a place of unconditional love. Noticing connects us to our child. Moving away from “Good job!” and “I like

                                                                                      how you…” keeps children from feeling judged negatively.

What does it sound like to notice your child’s choices?  

• You did it! You ____________________. (describe in detail what they did)

Example: You did it! You put your jacket and backpack on and went to the front door. That was helpful!

• You __________ so __________. That was __________. (describe value or attribute)

Example: You saw your brother was upset so you brought him his favorite stuffed animal. That was thoughtful. 

Helpful noticing tips from Conscious Discipline:

Want to know more? Use this LINK to learn more about noticing. Watch this 5 minute video. 

FEBRUARY TREE-Mendous Students

MARCH EVENTS & DATES

• March 1 - Herd Night for Carl Traeger!

• March 4 - Kindergarten Field Trip to Heckrodt Nature Reserve 

  • 5th Grade Chess Club in the Library until 3:30

• March 6 - Day of Play at School 

• March 7 - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

• March 11 - 3-5 Spring Music Concert, 6pm at Alberta Kimball Auditorium 

  • 5th Grade Chess Club in the Library until 3:30

• March 17 - Flags for 1st Graders Presentation

• March 18 - April 17 - Third - Fifth Grade Forward Exam Testing Range

• March 18 - K-Kids Meeting after school in the Creation Station until 4pm

  • 5th Grade Chess Club in the Library until 3:30

• March 22 - March 30 - SPRING BREAK!

• March 31 - Return to School from Spring Break

News from the Art Room

Hello Traeger Families! 

What’s new in the Art room? By now almost all students will have taken home their clay projects. THANK YOU to all of the families that sent in bubble wrap and mailing envelopes to get these projects home safely. Feel free to send the bubble wrap back to school so we can reuse it next year and I will continue to collect bubble wrap for next year.

It is definitely art show season! March is Youth Art Month, and to help celebrate, artists from the ArtSpace Collective have donated the use of their gallery to showcase artwork from all over the school district. Representing Carl Traeger Elementary this year is fourth grader Sophie Paulik, with her mixed media work of a chameleon. This project focused on foreground, middle ground and background, as well as warm and cool colors. Fabulous job, Sophie!

Coming up in April, we have another art show, this time at the Oshkosh Public Library lower level. We also wrote a SOAR grant for a muralist to come to CTE and involve all of our students in a large mural. There is so much fun to be had!

Items needed for the Art room:

• Bubble wrap/bubble wrap mailing envelopes for sending home clay projects
• Yarn - Any type, color or amount
• Amazon gift bags for a Rajasthani Indian puppet project

With much gratitude-

-Mrs. Harmon

Yearbook Orders are Due March 10th

ORDER WITH THIS LINK!

Join us! Learn About the OASD’s April 1 Referendum

Making an Informed Decision: April 1 School Referendum Approaches

We’re just weeks away from a significant moment for our schools—the upcoming vote on the Oshkosh Area School District’s (OASD) $197.8 million facilities referendum. This plan is about more than just buildings—it’s about creating better learning environments and opportunities for our students, improving safety and Americans with Disabilities (ADA) access limitations, and saving money through operational efficiencies, all while maintaining a $0 tax increase to the debt levy. This referendum represents the next step in our community-developed facilities consolidation plan, which began in 2017 and has already delivered significant improvements through Phase 1. 

As members of our school community, we know you may have questions or hear questions from others about what this means for our schools. We want to ensure you have the facts and an understanding of the plan before you cast your vote on April 1! 

What Will Your Vote Decide?

If the Referendum is Approved:

• A new consolidated middle school will be built at the Shapiro site (close South Park and Perry Tipler, reducing from three to two westside middle schools)
• Carl Traeger, Franklin, and Oakwood Elementary schools will be expanded and renovated (close Roosevelt and Shapiro, reducing from seven to five westside elementary schools)
• Perry Tipler Middle School will be converted into a pre-kindergarten center and recreation department
• A new auditorium will be added to Oshkosh North High School
• Air conditioning will be installed at Emmeline Cook, Lakeside, and Read Elementary schools
• The district will close and seek to sell South Park Middle School, Roosevelt Elementary School, and the downtown recreation center
• Non-district pre-kindergarten leases will be eliminated (approximately $550,000 annual savings)

WATCH! Here is a 3-minute video explaining the scope of our April 1 Facilities Referendum.

If the Referendum is Not Approved:

First and foremost, the OASD will seek community feedback to understand why it did not pass. After review, a process will be developed to adjust accordingly - with the next opportunity to go to referendum being April 2026. Additionally:

• South Park students will remain in a 120-year-old building located within a restricted flight zone
• Virtual learning would be required during emergency repairs at South Park due to insufficient space at other schools
• Shapiro STEM Academy will still close after the 2025-2026 school year due to low enrollment (Note: Shapiro will close regardless of the referendum outcome)
• Planned facilities improvements will not be made
• Annual operational savings from consolidation will not be realized
• Construction costs are projected to increase by 5% annually, potentially raising the project cost from $198M now to $242M by 2029

Upcoming Information Sessions

There are still several opportunities to learn more and ask questions before the vote. Visit oshkosh.k12.wi.us/referendum-2025/information-sessions for a list of upcoming dates - including information sessions and informal Q&A drop-in sessions.

WATCH! This 30-minute presentation is available for anyone who is not able to attend an information session. 

Voting Information

• Election Day: Monday, April 1, 2025
• Voter Registration: Visit Myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Voter-Registration 
• Early Voting Options:
  • Absentee ballots can be requested through Friday, March 28 by 5:00 PM
  • Municipalities will begin mailing absentee ballots no later than March 11
  • In-person early voting begins March 18 at your local municipal clerk's office (check directly for office hours)

Learn More

For more detailed information about the referendum, including FAQs, videos, floor plans and project details, visit the district's dedicated webpage: oshkosh.k12.wi.us/referendum-2025. You can also contact the district directly with questions at 920.424.0395 or referendum@oshkosh.k12.wi.us.