Ellsworth Community School District

AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM SUPERINTENDENT CAIN September 17, 2021 I have started the school year with the plan to currently provide families a weekly update on COVID cases within our student population to keep all families in the loop regarding trends we are seeing or any necessary changes in our operations. Last week was the first of these letters and I hope that this information is helpful to our families. As of this morning, we have experienced 53 cases of COVID within our student population of 1627 since the beginning of the interim session days on August 24th. As we begin the day on Friday, September 17th we currently have 16 active cases of COVID (just under 1% of the overall student population). The overall cases and current active cases from our three buildings are as follows Ellsworth Elementary: 25 cases (6 active cases) (712 students) Ellsworth Middle School: 8 cases (3 active cases) (383 students) Ellsworth Senior High School: 20 cases (7 active cases) (532 students) As noted in discussion at our school board meeting this past week, our plan at this point is to continue with our current school board district approved plan which includes masks being optional. .As previously discussed, we are contacting all families in which a student has been defined as a close contact by being within 3 feet of a known case for longer than 15 minutes. We are not excluding these students from school, but we feel it is important to notify the families of these students. I continue to strongly encourage all families to please keep their children home from school when ill. As a reminder, our long standing policies have stated that no child is to attend school within 24 hours of vomiting or a fever. It is essential that all families follow this guideline to assist us in keeping our schools open and our current plan in place. Thank you, Barry Cain Superintendent

Homecoming buttons are now on sale in the high school office and Friday at the home football game. By purchasing a button, you are automatically entered into a drawing at half-time of the Homecoming game (must be present to win) or some great prizes - gift cards, Panther's Den merchandise & cash. Homecoming is not an event that is funded by the school. That means if we want to keep the festivities alive and well in our school, we need the support of staff, students and community members to ensure we can have this event in our schools. Buttons are $3.00 each (you can purchase as many as you would like). Thank you for your support. EHS Student Council Homecoming Committee

Register at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfV13zsOEGcMMdoDUkImx5NP9IngZSC3orJyNCl9naIV4vzgw/viewform

This message is from ECSD: September 10, 2021 I wanted to reach out to all parents to provide an update on our school operations and COVID cases for the school district as we end this week. To this date we have experienced 36 cases of COVID within our student population of 1633 since the beginning of the interim session days on August 24th. As we begin the day on Friday, September 10th we currently have 14 active cases of COVID. This represents (.08%) of the overall student population. It is important to note that a number of cases happened in the earliest days of our school year and likely came from outside of our schools. We did identify spread within one classroom at the elementary level that likely occurred during the three interim school session days. We identified 4 cases from within that classroom the day before the start of school on September 1st with three other cases later identified. To limit further spread within that classroom and the larger elementary population, the instructor and students were excluded from in person learning for the first three days of school. Instruction was provided remotely to this classroom. Our school board approved school start up plan provided for face coverings to be optional for all students and staff. This is still in place. We have worked with our students and staff to highlight the need for all to respect the individual choice that any individual makes in regards to wearing face coverings. As another component of our start up plan, we are contacting all families in which a student has been defined as a close contact by being within 3 feet of a known case for longer than 15 minutes. As outlined in our school start up plan, we are not excluding these students from school, but we feel it is important to notify the families of these students. With all of this in mind, I strongly encourage all families to please keep their children home from school when ill. We are experiencing a number of students in all buildings who are coming to school with various symptoms. As a reminder, our long standing policies have stated that no child is to attend school within 24 hours of vomiting or a fever. It is essential that all families follow this guideline to assist us in keeping our schools open and our current plan in place. Thank you, Barry Cain Superintendent

We are experiencing internet issues throughout the district today. We are working with our vendors to get it back online but we don’t expect it back till later this evening. This may cause delay in staff email responses. If you need to get ahold of anyone please call the main office at each building. Ellsworth Elementary School-715-273-3912 Ellsworth Middle School- 715-273-3908 Ellsworth High School- 715-273-3904 Ellsworth Bus Garge- 715-273-3917 Have a great day!

Support Your Local Panthers: Get your yard signs to show your support of the Ellsworth Panthers! These signs are for ALL school levels and all activities. They come in three varieties and are being sold by two EHS softball players (EmmaJo Meier and Morgan Kolodzienski) as their service learning capstone project. Proceeds go to get a new playground set at Browns Field Complex in Hager City. Online purchases should be done by September 9th and will be delivered by Homecoming Week. https://helmerprinting.com/SupportYourEllsworthPanthers/

The Elementary School and the District Office are currently experiencing issues with our phone system affecting both the ability to make outgoing calls and accept incoming phone calls. This is random and sporadic and without warning. This means that when you are calling either office, you may be able to get through but that is not always the case. This is also affecting our ability to make outgoing calls. Staff may try contacting you with their personal cell phones if an outgoing line is not working. If you are having issues reaching either office or if you are expecting a return phone call and have not received it, please feel free to reach out to the building-level administrative assistants by email as this is not affecting our email capabilities. This is not expected to be fixed until Tuesday (September 7th) or Wednesday (September 8th) at the earliest. We apologize for any inconvenience.

ECSD is currently hiring for a part-time Panther Kids Club After School Care Support Staff. This is a part-time position with working hours of 3:15 p.m. -5:30 p.m Monday- Friday. Child care certification and experience working with children are preferred but not required. All questions can be directed to Mary Zimmerman, Elementary Principal/Special Education Director by phone at (715)273-3912 or by email at zimmermanm@ellsworth.k12.wi.us

Urgent update from the bus garage! Bus Garage phones are currently down. If you get a busy signal, please email chisholmm@ellsworth.k12.wi.us or call 715-245-6486 if you need assistance.

ECSD is currently hiring a full-time substitute teacher position for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. All questions can be directed to Superintendent Barry Cain by email at cainb@ellsworth.k12.wi.us or Ashley Halverson by email at halversona@ellsworth.k12.wi.us or the District Office by phone at 715-273-3900.

ECSD is currently hiring for the following positions for the upcoming school year: Ellsworth Elementary School - 5.75 hours/day Teaching Assistant This is a part-time position working 28 hours/week- 5.75 hours/day, five days/week. This position includes assisting in the general education classroom including supporting students in academic work and supervision at lunch and recess. Ellsworth Elementary School- PKC and Special Education Teaching Assistant- 8 hours/day Working hours are from 6:00 - 8:00 am in the PKC Child Care program and 8:00-2:30 providing support to Special Education students. This position is health insurance/additional benefits eligible. All questions can be directed to Mary Zimmerman by phone or email.

ECSD is currently hiring for a full-time special education teaching assistant at the middle school for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. This position is health insurance eligible. This position is for a student with health needs and will be directly working with the student throughout the day in a one-to-one setting. Applicants must have a High School diploma or GED. SE Aide license must be in process at DPI in order to begin working. Special Education aides will be reimbursed the cost of obtaining a WI Department of Public Instruction aide license. Ongoing training working with children with learning disabilities is required. Teaching experience in Reading, English Language Arts, and Math is preferred but not required. CNA license and experience preferred but not required. All questions can be directed to Mary Zimmerman, Elementary Principal/Special Education Director by email at zimmermanm@ellsworth.k12.wi.us or by phone at (715)273-3912 or Tim Conway, Middle School Principal by email at conwayt@ellsworth.k12.wi.us or phone at (715)273-3908.

Is your child interested in swim club? River Falls Swim Club has registration on Sept 2nd & Sept 3rd from 5-7pm at the River Falls High School pool. More details can be found on their website. http://riverfallsswimclub.org/

There is a special school board meeting planned for Monday August 16th at 6pm at EHS Cafeteria where the school board will be approving the Safe Return to School Plan.

RECEIVE DENTAL CARE RIGHT AT SCHOOL! Oral Screening Dental Cleaning Fluoride Varnish Sealants Silver Diamine Fluoride Referral Assistance Services are provided during the day and visits are held throughout the school year. Enroll Now! https://enrollment.bbsmiles.org/ Bridging Brighter Smiles, Inc. accepts Forward Health/BadgerCare Insurance Only. Any Questions Please Call Bridging Brighter Smiles at (262)896-9891 or visit www.bbsmiles.org

ECSD is currently hiring for a Middle School Special Education Teaching Assistant. Working hours are 7:45 am - 3:45 pm. This position primarily works with students with learning disabilities in the general education classroom. Ongoing training working with children with learning disabilities is required. Teaching experience in Reading, English Language Arts, and Math is preferred but not required. Special Education Teaching Assistants must hold a special education aide license or be in process from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction in order to begin working. Special Education Teaching Assistants will be reimbursed the cost of obtaining a WI Department of Public Instruction aide license. All questions can be directed to Mary Zimmerman, Elementary Principal/Special Education Director by email at zimmermanm@ellsworth.k12.wi.us or by phone at (715)273-3912 or Tim Conway, Middle School Principal by email at conwayt@ellsworth.k12.wi.us or phone at (715)273-3908.

THANK YOU to these Ellsworth businesses and organizations for supporting the Back to School Supply Event. Your support provides supplies, backpacks and shoes for students with a financial need. *Ellsworth Ford *Walter's Electric *American Family Insurance Joanne Hines *Ellsworth Lion's Club

Four Year Old Kindergarten Open House is Monday, August 16th. Teacher assignments, bus information and open house details have been mailed for all children enrolled. If you have not received your information or are planning to enroll your child please contact Ellsworth Elementary, 273-3912.

ECSD is currently hiring for a Head 8th-grade boys football coach. Practice begins August 16, 2021. Compensation for this coaching position is $1,998.00 Questions can be directed to Ann Huppert at huppertan@ellsworth.k12.wi.us

Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services (PPCS) is excited to announce we are starting Dolly Parton's Imagination Library right here in Pierce and Pepin counties. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a program for children from birth to five years old. When a child is registered for the program through PPCS, they will receive an age-appropriate book in the mail once a month free of charge. Dolly Parton founded the Imagination Library to inspire the love of reading in young children with a particular emphasis on school readiness. PPCS is excited to offer this program to all families in Pierce and Pepin counties. On Saturday, August 7 we are hosting two launch events: one here in Ellsworth at Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM and one in Pepin at the city park from 2:00 -4:00 PM. We've planned fun activities that are family centered, including face painting, touch-a-truck, coloring, a local celebrity reading, and snacks.