PES Family Blog, October 2025

 Poynette Elementary School Staff are:

"Leaders in providing a positive, successful, and safe environment for ALL"

so our students can say,

"We are Pumas! I am learning and growing every day."

___________________________________________________________________________________

It has been a great start to the school year! We all know that dogs are not allowed on school grounds per board policy, but we do have one approved furry friend that does come to see us almost every day. Benelli is (Ms. Sisco's Standard Poodle) who is also our staff and student therapy dog. Benelli was trained and came in the middle of last year, and will be with us moving forward. The kids and staff love having him with us and now you know who Benelli is if they bring him up.

Conferences on Thursday, Oct. 16th and Friday, Oct. 17th

We are excited to inform you that our second round of Family Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 16th from 1:30-7:00 p.m. and on Friday, October 17th from 8 a.m.- 12 p.m. These conferences provide a valuable opportunity for you to meet with your child's teachers and discuss their progress and areas of growth. 

To make the sign-up process convenient for you, we will be using the same online sign-up system as we have been. Hopefully, you have already received an email from the district office with the links to your child's teachers and you can find the link below. Additionally, if you would like to schedule a conference with Encore teachers, feel free to sign up for them as well. As always, please contact the school office if you need assistance at 635-4347 ext. 105 or 107.

Here is the link to our: October Conferences Sign-Up

School Safety Information

Poynette School District participates in the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of School Safety (OSS) SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT  program. This threat reporting system is available 24/7 and is free to all. Students, parents, school staff and community members can submit a school safety concern by downloading the SUSO app (Android and iOS), visiting speakup.widoj.gov or by calling 1-800-MY-SUSO-1. Resource Center staff work around-the-clock to respond to reports and to deploy a response. Please click on the link below if you have a safety concern that you would like to report anonymously. You can report the following concerns:

• Bullying, harassment or intimidation
• Student self harm concern
• Alcohol, drug, or weapon concern
• School safety concerns including all threats
• Report a concern by visiting this link to SUSO at https://speakup.widoj.gov/  or  1-800-MY-SUSO-1

A Call for Military Veterans Again This Year!

We truly appreciated the Veterans who helped us last year and are again looking for participants this year on Veterans' Day. If you or a family member is a military veteran and would like to positively impact our students out please contact the school office at 635-4347 ext. 105/107 or email Mr. Hausser at jhaus@poynette.k12.wi.us. We are looking to create another Veteran's Day experience on November 11th for our students. We are looking to have it be similar to last year, which was more informal and age appropriate for our students versus an assembly. Don't worry we will answer all of your questions prior to you committing. We will also spend time to prepare you for the experience. 

Halloween Dance

Our school's Halloween dance is scheduled for Saturday, October 25th from 5:30- 7 p.m. in the PES Gym and Cafeteria. Please note that the dance is only for Kindergarten through 4th grade students, as organized by the PAD Parents' Club. We will be having our Dress-Up as your Favorite Book Character Day on Wednesday, October 29th. Please make sure that the students only wear appropriate costumes and bring props that are appropriate for school. If you have any questions, please contact the school office.

PAD Parent Club School Directory

Another service that our PAD Parents' Club who does great work for us, offers is a student directory each year. If you would like your contact information to be available to other parents for birthday parties, playdates, etc., then you will want to get your name in the school directory.

The Student Directory

• You can view the directory at any time at this link: Poynette ES & MS Directory
• If any changes are needed at any time you can email poynetteparentclub@gmail.com, we would be happy to update the directory. 

October

• 9th - Fire Station Visits

• 10th - Fire Station Visits - No 4K Classes

• 16th - Early Release all grades @ 1:15 p.m.; 4K-12 Family-Teacher Conferences (1:30-7:00 p.m.)

• 17th - NO SCHOOL Family-Teacher Conferences (8:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.)

• 24th - 👕 Badger / Favorite team dress-up day - No 4K Classes

• 25th- PAD Halloween Dance 

• 29th - 👕 Dress Up Like Your Favorite Book Character

• 30th ,31st - NO SCHOOL 

November

• 6th- 4K Family Literacy Night at Poynette Elementary School (6-7 p.m.)

• 7th - No 4K Classes

• 14th - No 4K Classes

• 17th-21st - Scholastic Book Fair 

• 21nd - No 4K Classes

• 25th - 👕 Pajama Day & 1st Trimester Ends 

• 26th, 27th, 28th - NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)

December

• 5th - No 4K Classes

• 5th - 👕 Flannel Friday

• 12th - 4K Classes Attend 

• 19th - No 4K Classes

• 23rd - 👕 Pajama Day or Festive Holiday Clothes/Winter Celebration

• 24th - 31st - NO SCHOOL (Winter Break)

January

• 1st/2nd - NO SCHOOL

• 3rd - Classes Resume

• 9th - 4K Classes Attend 

• 9th - 👕 Puma Pride / School Spirit Day

• 16th - No 4K Classes

• 19th - NO SCHOOL 

• 26th - No 4K Classes

• 30th - 👕Puma Pride Day

February

• 6th - No 4K Classes

• 9th- 100th Day Celebration (School-Wide)

• 13th - 👕 Dress to Impress/Red and Pink Day and Classroom Valentine Exchange- No 4K Classes

• 20th - No 4K Classes

• 27th - 👕 Puma Pride / School Spirit Day- No 4K Classes

March  

Youth Art Month 

• 5th - Second Trimester Ends (4K-4th); Early Release all grades @1:15 p.m.; P/T Conferences (1:30-7:00 p.m.)

• 6th - NO SCHOOL for all Students  

• 9th - 👕 Primary Colors Day (Wear red, blue, and/or yellow)

• 10th - 👕 Secondary Colors Day (Wear orange, purple, and/or green)

• 11th - 👕 Neutral Colors Day (Wear brown, black, and/or white)

• 12th - 👕 Monochromatic Day (Wear as many shades of one color as you can!)

• 13th - 👕 Pattern Day (Wear as many different patterns as possible)- No 4K Classes

• 19th- Music Concerts grades 1-2 (5:45 p.m. and 7 p.m. start time)

• 20th - No 4K Classes

• 26th- Music Concerts  grades 3-4 (5:45 p.m. and 7 p.m. start time)

• 27th - No 4K Classes

• 30th/31st - NO SCHOOL (Spring Break)

April

• 1st-3rd - NO SCHOOL (Spring Break)

• 10th - 👕 Puma Pride / School Spirit Day- No 4K Classes

• 17th - No 4K Classes

• 20th - NO SCHOOL 

• 24th - 4K Classes Attend

• 25th - 4K Classes Attend

• 30th - 👕 Tie Dye Day (National Tie Dye Day is April 30th!)

May   

• 1st - No 4K Classes

• 8th - No 4K Classes

• 14th - 4K Superhero Day and Fun Run

• 15th  - 👕 Superhero Day & Fun Run -No 4K Classes

• 22nd - 👕 Brewer Day- No 4K Classes

• 25th - NO SCHOOL 

• 27th - 4th Grade Celebration Night (6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.)

• 28th - All library materials due

• 29th -  4K Classes Attend

June

• 2nd - Last Day of 4K Classes

• 3rd - 👕 Puma Pride Day and Last Day of School & Early Release @ 12:30 p.m.

P.A.A.W.S. Program  (Poynette Area Adults Working with Students)

We are excited this year to again roll out this program that will encompass our school’s mentors, tutors, WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) and field trip volunteers.  We are really hoping to a lot more adults participate this year! We can set up volunteer plans that are flexible, weekly, or day-long that will support our students.  Volunteers will have a T-shirt to wear for the day and also access to a free school lunch depending on your volunteer plan.  We have the saying on a wall in our school of “Strong Schools, Strong Communities”.  We would love to add your picture on our wall this year.  If you are intrigued by these offers or interested in volunteering at our school, please contact Mr. Hausser at 635-4347 ext. 100 or at jhaus@poynette.k12.wi.us.

In order to volunteer at our school or participate in a field trip, you need to pass our district background check.  These checks need to be completed every three years. Some of our parents/guardians will need an updated background check. If you are unsure of your status, you can contact the school office at 635-4347 ext. 107 or 109 to receive that information. The background check form is located on our website, here is the direct link:  Criminal Background Check for Volunteers.  We will seek additional volunteers in the Spring; continue to watch for communication updates.

We are so excited for the new school year and to see the learning and growth that will occur each and every day.  As always, please contact the school office if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you and Go Puma Nation!

Jay Hausser, Principal Lynn Sisco, Associate Principal

PES Family Blog, September 2025

 Poynette Elementary School Staff are:

"Leaders in providing a positive, successful, and safe environment for ALL"

so our students can say,

"We are Pumas! I am learning and growing every day."

___________________________________________________________________________________

Start of the Year 2025

It was great getting to see so many of our students and families at our Great Start Conferences. Thank you to all of you who attended and please reach out if you ever have any questions or concerns.

School Times/ Bus Loading and Pick- Up

Just a reminder that our school day runs from 8:10 a.m.- 3:10 p.m.  Instructional minutes are very important to us and school attendance is an important factor in student achievement.  Please make every effort to keep your children here at school. Students arriving late or leaving early on a consistent basis can accumulate many lost instructional minutes.  We ask that students please do not arrive at school until 8:00 a.m., when the first bell rings and the buses unload.  

We also have staff who will be available to help students find their way and arrive at their classrooms. We ask that parents drop their students off in the vestibule or office area if necessary and not walk around the hallways. This can create a safety concern and so for every one's safety we do not have parents' walking to classrooms.

 Please take a look at this graphic for our student Pick Up procedures. Drop-off is a similar procedure, but does not seem to be as congested as after school. We really believe if everyone just stays in their vehicles and uses the loop it would go very smoothly.  Also, please contact Go Riteway at (800) 236-5450 or email Rebecca Talley at portagebus@goriteway.com if you have any questions or concerns about busing.  

Forms Coming Home the 1st Week Of School

Our classroom teachers will be sending some forms home for you to sign. The form is acknowledging that you have read our student handbook and the district's AUP (Acceptable Use Policy). The sheet also contains our school literacy commitments which is on the back side of it. We do need a parent signature for both of these items. Here are links to the handbook and the policy so you can read them ahead of time if you wish.

2025-26 PES Student Handbook

School District AUP Policy

Attendance Information

We know that you have many hopes and dreams for your child’s success in school and beyond. To make sure those hopes and dreams are realized, we want to ask for your commitment to making sure your child attends school every day possible this year. The evidence is clear: children with good attendance are more likely to be successful in school. To accurately record attendance, we are asking that your child please bring a note from the doctor, dentist, or another designee to the office after an absence.  These absences will be marked MEDX and will not count towards your child’s absences. If your child is not feeling well, we do ask that you continue to keep your child home until they are feeling better. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the office. 

Student Safety Request

Last minute changes can be tough for our staff to handle and miscommunication can occur when dealing with pick ups or bus riders. We ask you to please notify the office by 2:30 p.m. on days that your child may have a different plan for going home. After 2:30 p.m., children will be instructed to follow their normal procedures.   We understand that life happens, and plans change, but the more notice the better.  The end of the day is very busy for our great secretaries and any early notice would be great for them.  Also please follow our pick-up and drop-off procedures at the front of our building.   

School Directory

Our PAD Parents' Club who does great work for us, offers a student directory each year. If you would like your contact information to be available to other parents for birthday parties, playdates, etc., then you will want to get your name in the school directory. There were slips available at conferences to fill out, but if you missed them, there is still time to be a part of the directory. You can call the school office for more information. If you would like to be a part of our Parents' Club, please email the group at: Poynetteparentclub@gmail.com. They meet monthly at the Poynette Elementary School Cafeteria.

P.A.A.W.S. Program  (Poynette Area Adults Working with Students)

We are excited this year to again roll out this program that will encompass our school’s mentors, tutors, the WATCH D.O.G.S. and field trip volunteers.  We are really hoping to have a lot more adults participate this year! We can set up volunteer plans that are flexible, weekly, or day-long that will support our students.  Volunteers will have a T-shirt to wear for the day and also access to a free school lunch depending on your volunteer plan.  We have the saying on a wall in our school of “Strong Schools, Strong Communities”.  We would love to add your picture on our wall this year.  If you are intrigued by these offers or interested in volunteering at our school, please contact Mr. Hausser at 635-4347 ext. 100 or at jhaus@poynette.k12.wi.us.

In order to volunteer at our school or participate in a field trip, you need to pass our district background check.  These checks need to be completed every three years. Some of our parents/guardians will need an updated background check. If you are unsure of your status, you can contact the school office at 635-4347 ext. 107 or 109 to receive that information. The background check form is located on our website, here is the direct link:  Criminal Background Check for Volunteers.  We will seek additional volunteers in the Spring; continue to watch for communication updates.

We are so excited for the new school year and to see the learning and growth that will occur each and every day.  As always, please contact the school office if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you and Go Puma Nation!

Jay Hausser, Principal Lynn Sisco, Associate Principal

PES Family Blog Post May, 2025

Poynette Elementary School Staff are:

"Leaders in providing a positive, successful, and safe environment for ALL"

so our students can say,

"We are Pumas! I am learning and growing every day."

___________________________________________________________________________________

Mrs. Maurer on the News Literally!

• Yes, a few weeks ago we held an assembly to suprise Mrs. Maurer by Leigh Mills that Mrs. Maurer had won a Crystal Apple Award. However, now we can talk about it.
• Mrs. Maurer's Crystal Apple TV segment will air this Tuesday, May 6th on the 6 p.m. NBC 15 newscast at night.
• Also on Wednesday, May 7th at 2 p.m. Mrs. Maurer is going to be appearing on a live news broadcast on the WMTV NBC 15 website. It is something new this year that the TV station is doing. The link to the program can be found at: https://www.wmtv15news.com/ and click on livestream. The segment is supposed to air for 30 minutes and so classes may choose to watch it if they would like. All 5 of the Crystal Apple Award winners will be on the show at the same time and Mrs. Maurer will be in studio with them.

 What's Up at School?

• BOGO Book Fair- Our Awesome PAD Parent Club is excited to host an upcoming BOGO Scholastic Book Fair.  It's a great way to stock up on books for the summer!  The Book Fair will be held at the Elementary School from 3:10-7:00PM on May 19th, 20th, and 22nd.  We hope to see you there!  Note: The Book Fair will not be open on Wednesday, May 21st due to the Fourth Grade Celebration Night being held that evening. 

• Thursday, May 15th and Friday, May 16, 2024- Superhero Fun Run- On Thursday, May 15th(4K) and  Friday, May 16th our (K- 4th grade) students will participate in our Superhero Fun Run. Students are encouraged to participate in the Fun Run and dress as a superhero for the day. The purpose of the run is to encourage healthy habits in our students and this is the only fundraiser that the school does for supporting any special projects at school. This year we hope to use the funds from this activity to add some furniture for an outdoor classroom. Donations for this fundraiser can be made at the following link:

• PES Superhero Fun Run donation site (You will have to click the site a second time so it can open in a different window.)

  
  Students will be running around two loops at Poynette Elementary School. After they run, the students will have a healthy snack provided by our PAD Parents’ Club. Also, we will be able to have spectators again this year. Teachers and staff members will also share photos of the day. We will have the rain date of Friday, May 23rd.

  Here is a link to the classroom schedule

• 4th Grade Walk-In- We are going to have a 4th-grade Walk-in on the last day of the school year. It will be similar to a walkout, but instead at the beginning of the day so families do not have to contend with end-of-the-day traffic. The community is invited to join us in the cafeteria to cheer on the 4th graders. The walk will commence shortly after 8:10 a.m.

• Back Parking Lot- It has taken us a bit to get used to having two parking lots available. We apologize, but just wanted to let you know that we can use both of them. So if you arrive for field trips or other events during the day after 8:05 a.m. (when the buses are gone), you can definitely park behind the school in the bus loop. Please do not park in the fire lane at any time, but we can use both lots during the day and at night. Thanks for your patience, but we now have a routine down so the back doors are unlocked and supervised at these times. That way, you do not have to walk around the school to the front.
• School Safety Information- Poynette School District participates in the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of School Safety (OSS) SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT  program. This threat reporting system is available 24/7 and is free to all. Students, parents, school staff and community members can submit a school safety concern by downloading the SUSO app (Android and iOS), visiting speakup.widoj.gov or by calling 1-800-MY-SUSO-1. Resource Center staff work around-the-clock to respond to reports and to deploy a response. Please click on the link below if you have a safety concern that you would like to report anonymously. You can report the following concerns:

• Bullying, harassment or intimidation
• Student self harm concern
• Alcohol, drug, or weapon concern
• School safety concerns including all threats
• Report a concern by visiting this link to SUSO at https://speakup.widoj.gov/  or  1-800-MY-SUSO-1

• PAD Parent Club School Directory- Another service that our PAD Parents' Club who does great work for us, offers is a student directory each year. If you would like your contact information to be available to other parents for birthday parties, playdates, etc., then you will want to get your name in the school directory.

  • You can view the directory at any time at this link: Poynette ES & MS Directory
  • If any changes are needed at any time you can email poynetteparentclub@gmail.com, we would be happy to update the directory. 

Breakfast/Lunch Menus

Student Events Coming Up!

May   

• 9th- No 4K Classes

• 15th- 4K Superhero Day and Fun Run

• 16th  - 👕 Superhero Day & Fun Run 

• 16th- No 4K Classes

• 20th- 4th Grade Tour to Middle School (1:30- 3:00 p.m.)

• 21st- 4th Grade Celebration Night (6-7 p.m.)

• 22nd - 👕 Brewer Day

• 23rd- No 4K Classes

• 26th - NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)

• 28th- All library materials due

• 28th - 3rd Grade Zoo Night Family Activity (3:20 p.m.-4:00 p.m)

• 30th - Sharing Writing Pieces with Reading Buddies📚

• 30th- No 4K Classes

June

• 4th- Last Day of 4K Classes

• 5th- 4th Grade Walk-In (Start of the School Day)

• 5th - 👕 Puma Pride Day and Last Day of School & Early Release @ 12:30 p.m.