Parent Communication

HASD Update for May 29, 2020

Actualización en español

Dear HASD families,

Here we are one week from the end of school and we are working hard to finish strong.  It is growing season in Wisconsin; the leaves are out, and the seeds are sprouting.  As we end the school year it is a good idea to ask your children this question, “What do you know now that you didn’t know at the start of the school year?”  Some might say, “I can write my letters!” Some will tell you that they can “solve chemistry titration problems.”  All will have grown in some way because of the educational experiences they have had.  Reinforce that we are all learners and each day is an opportunity to learn something new.

Our call centers are here for you right up until the last day of school on June 5^th.  Please use them to get assistance as we complete the year.

Academic Support – 920 779 7943
IT Support – 920 779 7942
Lunch Call Center 779-7924 (8:00-Noon)
Family/Basic Needs Support - 920-460-7667
(School Social Worker, Jennie Kennedy)

Here are some celebrations and key thoughts of the week:

• Our HHS graduation was streamed on May 27, 2020 and it was an incredible celebration of these students.  If you haven’t had a chance, you can see our seniors graduate here.
• Our HHS Choir Online Concert was streamed on May 28, 2020 to celebrate the incredible work of HHS Choir students. Watch here.
• June 5^th is the last day for meals to be delivered.  If you need help, please contact our food service help line or Jennie Kennedy (phone numbers listed above).
• This link gives families up to date community information about what activities they can do over the summer, things that are open/closed due to COVID 19 and activities to do while practicing social distancing.
• Technology return information has been communicated by each building. Please read those directions to safely and efficiently return devices back to your school(s).

Have a safe and healthy weekend. 

HASD Update for May 22, 2020

Dear HASD families,

With nine school days remaining after today, we want you to know that we are working hard to finish strong.  Although these have been challenging circumstances, we have seen some amazing evidence of student learning.  Families will receive a report card (high school) or a progress report (elementary and middle) after June 5th. 

We saw this quote from an ACT email dated 5/15/2020 and wanted to share. “More than once I've heard ‘we’re all in this together,’ as an attempt to provide comfort that we are not alone amid the coronavirus pandemic. Perhaps what’s more accurate is that we’re not in the same boat but reckoning with the same storm.”  If your boat is rocking in this storm, please utilize our help lines.  We have a phenomenal team of professionals waiting to help you with academic, technology, food and hygiene needs.

Academic Support – 920 779 7943
IT Support – 920 779 7942
Lunch Call Center 779-7924 (8:00-Noon)
Family/Basic Needs Support - 920-460-7667
(School Social Worker, Jennie Kennedy)

Here are some useful resources for the week:

• This document is for parents needing to stop and take a breather.  It walks you through Mindful Breathing exercises.
• We are continuously amazed by the work our students produce and want to share with you our senior scholarship and awards virtual ceremony and our high school band awards and virtual concert.  We are so proud of these students.
• Although teachers won’t be around, Canvas will not go down over the summer so students can have access to learning resources over the summer.

Canvas Student Tutorial:  How do I view all my Canvas courses as a student?

Courses under the Past Enrollments heading are courses that have concluded but are still available as a read-only archived course. You can view course material and grades but can no longer participate in the course.

• We will be providing instruction for our device return plan soon.

Please safely enjoy the three-day weekend and maybe reflect for a moment on Monday about those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  You can learn a little about the history of Memorial Day here.

HASD Update for May 15, 2020

Actualización en español

Dear HASD families, 

We hope this latest communication finds you well and finding joy each day.  The current legal interpretation for Wisconsin Schools after the May 13th, 2020 Supreme Court Decision is as follows: 

The State Supreme Court’s decision does not invalidate the portion of the Stay at Home Order closing schools.  Wisconsin Schools remain closed.  Individual cities and counties are beginning to make closure related decisions.  We will keep you up to date on decisions related to the Hortonville Area School District. 

 As we keep moving through the school year, we want to reiterate that all HASD staff are here to help with your child’s education.  Please keep using the hotlines for academic, technical, food and hygiene support.  As they say in the commercials, “Operators are standing by!” 

Academic Support – 920 779 7943  
IT Support – 920 779 7942 
Lunch Call Center 779-7924 (8:00-Noon) 
 Family/Basic Needs Support - 920-460-7667
(School Social Worker, Jennie Kennedy) 

• Please note that the last day for lunch delivery will be Friday, June 5th, 2020.  If you have concerns about food supply over the summer, please contact Jennie Kennedy at the above number.   

• Are you taking care of yourself while you are taking care of your family?  Here is a short, yet powerful article about how you might live a balanced life under quarantine. 

• For those families with very young children (ages 3-6) the quarantine life presents many challenges.  The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction links this page from Harvard called A Guide to COVID-19 and Early Childhood Development to help you be informed and healthy at home. 

Finally, we know that many of you are wondering what school will look like in the future.  The entire staff at HASD continues to focus on the last several weeks of the academic year and planning for summer school programming and the fall 2020.  Our back to school plans continue to evolve due to the constantly changing situation. 

If you find yourself living from day to day or minute to minute, please know that we are here to support you to stay “polar bear” strong.  In times of difficulty, we want you to know our staff believes in this community and are here for you. 

HASD staff 

May 14, 2020:  State Supreme Court Decision and Wisconsin Schools

We hope this note finds you well.  The current legal interpretation for Wisconsin Schools after last night’s Supreme Court Decision is as follows:

The State Supreme Court’s decision does not invalidate the portion of the Stay At Home Order closing schools.  Wisconsin Schools remain closed.

Individual cities and counties are beginning to make closure related decisions.  We will keep you up to date on decisions related to the Hortonville Area School District.

Have a good day.
 

HASD Update for May 8, 2020

Actualización en español

Dear HASD Families,

Each day is challenging to each person or family in different ways. We at HASD want you to know that we are meeting the challenge of educating your children proudly and with as much grace as we can.  We are here to help you and your children with as many supports as we can deliver.

Amazing Call Centers
IT Support – 920 779 7942
Academic Support – 920 779 7943
Family/Basic Needs Support - 920-460-7667
(School Social Worker, Jennie Kennedy)

Here are the week’s news items

• Do not hesitate to call the HASD Academic Support call center if your child needs help.

From Debra Schmid at HHS, “The best part of my work day is just speaking with parents and assisting them in many ways.  I know that our current "normal" is a challenge for all of us, but if I can "smile" through the phone and offer some uplifting conversation, encouragement, and assistance, then it can brighten both of our days just a little. Calls are transferred to Counseling for transcripts and fall course scheduling, to teachers for teaching assistance and clarifications, and to Administrators for everything from cleaning out lockers, to cap and gown orders.  I then email the recipients that they have a voicemail waiting so that they can check it in a timely manner, since they are also working remotely.  So please, keep calling!!!”

• This is a great article (link for English and Spanish) for parents to help their children cope with all the changes brought on by COVID-19.  It shares how to talk to children about all of this in an age appropriate manner, how to protect them from social media, and what to look for in regards to  mental health needs.
• The current statewide order on school closures for onsite instruction and extracurricular activities extends through the end of June impacting Hortonville area summer programs.
  • High school credit recovery summer school (online) will run during the normal June dates:  June 8, 2020-June 26th, 2020.
  • Elementary/Middle School summer school will run August 3, 2020-August 21, 2020 pending state guidelines, CDC and Department of Health recommendations at that time. 
  • HASD officials transitioned registered PK-8 Summer School students from June 8-June 26th to the August dates. If you must unenroll your child from August 2020 summer school, email LynnDrechsel@hasd.org for assistance. Contact Mrs. Powell, summer school coordinator with additional questions at 920-779-7940.  Mrs. Powell will provide details for our August summer school as state officials provide updated guidelines.
• Special week to celebrate amazing people in our community.
  • During this teacher appreciation week, we celebrate all the people who invest time helping our students.
  • On Sunday, we celebrate Mother’s Day and the incredible gift of love and support.
  • HHS Virtual Senior Awards show is this Wednesday night at 6pm. We thank all the people who contribute to student success in our community.
     

As we end this letter, we want to add the quote from Winston Churchill, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”  Our attitude is that we can and will make a difference in the lives of children.  We hope your attitude remains positive and uplifted.  Let us know how we can help. Keep your spirits up.  We will get through this.

HASD staff

HASD Update for May 1, 2020

Actualización en español

Dear HASD families, 

As the weeks roll by, we want you to know that we are here with you, doing the very best we can to educate and support your Safe at Home experience.  The lines of communication to support are open from 7:30 am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday.  Your student(s) should be neither bored nor overwhelmed, rather they should be getting the best education we can provide under the circumstances.  Please call if you need help.

Amazing Call Centers
IT Support – 920 779 7942
Academic Support – 920 779 7943

Here are some items to help you this week:

• Why not take the whole family on a virtual tour of a zoo, theme park or museum?  It might provide a few moment s of family time and have great educational benefit.  You can find a great list of thirty opportunities here. 
• Traditional Graduation Ceremony – The high school is committed to conducting a traditional graduation ceremony to honor the Class of 2020 if the health guidelines in place support such an event.  We are unsure what this will look like at this time because the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) guidelines are continually being monitored and changed. We are asking families to reserve the second date of Tuesday, July 28th, in case multiple dates are needed to create smaller graduating groups to allow each student the opportunity participate in a traditional ceremony.
• Hortonville High School Virtual Graduation Ceremony – Hortonville High School is partnering with local businesses to create a virtual graduation ceremony that can be viewed by students, their families, and the Hortonville High School Community on May 27^th at 7pm.  Seniors will be receiving a letter very soon regarding what is needed from each graduate to ensure each student is represented.
• Thousands of video conferences happen each day with our teachers and students.  If your child hasn’t had one and you feel it would really lift them up, please contact the academic help center (920 779 7943).  They will connect you to the student’s teacher and we will ensure it happens.  Sometimes seeing that teacher face is a powerful way to lift a child’s morale.
• The current statewide order on school closures for onsite instruction and extracurricular activities extends through the end of June.  High school credit recovery summer school (online) will run during the normal June dates.  Elementary summer school will run August 3, 2020-August 21, 2020 pending state guidelines, CDC and Department of Health recommendations at that time.  Mrs. Powell, summer school coordinator, will communicate further with families, students, and staff as we continue to plan for an August summer school this year. 
• Our food service department continues to serve meals to students daily.  You can find out more about that program here.
• If your family is in need of hygiene products or other basic needs due to a financial hardship during this pandemic, please contact Jen Kennedy (School Social Worker) at 920-460-7667.

We hear every day how much teachers miss students and how students miss teachers.  We miss the entire school experience.  From the smile of the lunch staff, to the hug in the hallway, the competition on the court, field, pitch or diamond, to the look on the students face when they finally “got it” and are ready to move on.  We miss reading and writing and math and art and music and physical education and world languages and welding and childcare and science projects and social studies.  We miss the front office ladies and school bus drivers who smile and take care of lost lunches and so many other problems.  We miss the laughter and the effort of learning.  We miss all of you at events and concerts.  Fear not, we are a community of learners and, although it might look differently, we will be back.

Hortonville Area School District

HASD Update for April 24, 2020

Dear HASD Families,

Our district mission is to ensure all students learn at the highest level and we certainly are doing our very best to live it.  We never envisioned meeting that mission in these circumstances but want all our families to know we care deeply about you.  Please continue to take care of yourselves and let us know how we can help by using our IT or academic call centers.

IT helpdesk call center - 920 779 7942
Academic call center - 920 779 7943

Here are this week's items to keep the communication coming:

• Each week we will bring you a new resource to help you cope while under quarantine.  This week we have a document entitled Coping with Stress During an Infectious Disease Outbreak. 
• Material Pick Up – You will be receiving communication from your building administration about personal student pick up within the next couple of weeks.  You will also be hearing from building admin about when to pick up ordered materials such as yearbooks etc. 
• Thank you to the families who participated in the elementary school parade process on Wednesday.  This community wide event really energized our staff. If you missed it, you can see some pictures here.
• The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) launched a customer service phone line for people who need help locating phone or Internet service during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

"The helpline will serve as a one-stop shop for Wisconsin residents. Now more than ever we need to equip our consumers with the information an resources they need in order to access essential services." said Rebecca Cameron Valcq, Chairperson of the PSC.

The Internet and Phone Helpline number is 1 (608) 267-3595. For more information, please visit the WI Internet and phone helpline announcement.

• Our food service department continues to serve meals to students daily.  You can find out more about that program here.
• If your family is in need of hygiene products or other basic needs due to a financial hardship during this pandemic, please contact Jen Kennedy (School Social Worker) at 920-460-7667.

Thank you for your partnership in the education of our students.

Todd Timm

HASD Update - April 17, 2020

Actualización en español

Dear HASD families,

Governor Evers has announced an extension of the Safer-At-Home order in the state of Wisconsin through May 26, 2020.  The order also closes schools and extracurricular activities for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.

The Hortonville Area School District will continue digital learning through June 5, 2020.  The district will continue to provide meals to students 18 years of age and under in the school district during this time period.  We hope students continue to connect with their teachers and staff in the virtual educational environment. 

We know this time period has been difficult for our students and families.  In a normal academic year, our seniors would be planning graduation activities at this time.  Our hope is to have a graduation ceremony in some form.  HHS administration will communicate about graduation recognition in the future.

We hope this note finds our families safe and healthy.  Thank you to our entire community for your commitment to our current educational environment.  We are excited to greet our students in our buildings in the future.

 Sincerely, Todd Timm   

Here are some additional resources we feel will be helpful: 

• HASD has identified a need for a tool that allows students to communicate with their teachers and classmates in a safe, instant feedback style. We have a solution in place, Microsoft Teams. To best utilize the instant notifications features, please assist your student(s) to install the Teams application on their device. Once students install the app, they can have real time chats and calls with anyone at HASD. Please anticipate someone from your child’s building contacting you to ensure you were enable to successfully install the application.
  • How to Download Teams
  • How to use Teams Chat (On page 1)
  • How to participate in a Teams Call (Go to page 2)

• Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, who previously has worked with our staff and patents, recently tweeted out this video which gives parents two strategies to alleviate stress of children during quarantine.
• Administration is developing a plan for families and students to retrieve personal items while school buildings are closed.  That plan will be shared once it is developed.
• If your family needs hygiene products due to a financial hardship during this pandemic, please contact Jen Kennedy (School Social Worker) at 920-460-7667.  The HASD Pupil Service team will be putting together items that you need and delivering them to your residence as needed. Deliveries will continue to be made until supplies run out.
  • Dental Care: Toothbrush, Toothpaste
  • Body Care: Soap, Shampoo, Conditioner, Lotion, Deodorant
  • Home Care: Detergent, Paper Products, Cleaning Supplies

HASD Update - April 9, 2020

Actualización en español

Dear HASD families,

Today is the twelfth digital learning day for HASD and we want you to know how impressed we are with our students and families.  We are committed to providing the very best education to your children given the circumstances as we all learn together. We are trying hard to provide just the right amount of learning opportunities without causing too much pressure on students and families.  

It is important to us that each family has:

• Access to food, shelter, and other basic needs. 
• The equipment needed to connect to the Internet and access the curriculum.  
• Engaging curriculum and education that challenges the learner without being overwhelming.

We care deeply about each member of the HASD family and are ready to do what we can during this challenging Safe at Home event.  To that end here are reminders and resources to ensure each family has what they need:  

• The district continues to provide free pre-packaged meals (both breakfast and lunch) to children while schools are closed. All children in the community age 18 and under can participate in this program (this includes both public and private students). To make a request, call the call center one day in advance of the day you would like a meal. The call center can be reached at 920-779-7924, and will be in operation from 8:00 a.m. until noon, Monday through Friday. Food will still be delivered tomorrow April 10th.  
• We have two call centers that are staffed during business hours to support you and your students.  If you have a need for technical support please call 920-779-7942.  If your student needs academic support please call 920-779-7943.  If you have any questions, concerns or feedback, we encourage you to contact your school principal. 
• Did you know there is a parent app for Canvas?  This app is designed for you to engage in your students' education and view assignments, events, and grades. Download on your smartphone (iOS 8.0+, Android 4.2+) at the App Store or Google Play.  Canvas also recently had a webinar designed for parents that you can access here if you are interested in a deeper dive. Finally, you can always access information through the Mastery Connect parent portal (Grades pk-8) or through Skyward (Grades 9-12). Please visit our website to find “Canvas for Parents” instructions. Also, our wonderful IT helpdesk call center (920 779 7942) friends are available during the week for assistance if you run into any issues.
• It is so important to us that we try to help support you with information on the social, emotional, intellectual, behavioral, physical and overall wellbeing of our students.  This week we offer Tips for parenting during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak from Unicef.  We hope you find some useful strategies in there.  Find local resources for meeting basic needs on our district website.   https://www.hasd.org/parents/pupilservices.cfm
• As a reminder, no instruction will be given on April 10th, 2020.

Finally, we wanted to share some of what we are seeing and hearing.  Success!  Have a great three-day weekend.  

From the parent: I’m grateful that the kids are able to continue their education. And it’s working. The teachers are doing an excellent job keeping the kids engaged. My kids are doing really well staying on task and completing their assignments. I’ve heard other schools not able to provide this opportunity to their students which makes me very grateful for our school district and its amazing staff.

From the student: one thing that’s been positive about this is that I get to sit down every morning and have a good breakfast and I get to work at my own pace, and I don’t feel rushed ever.

HASD Update - April 3, 2020

Actualización en español

Dear HASD families, 

The Hortonville Area School district will be sending weekly communication to our parents and guardians to make sure you have the latest information during the COVID-19 school closure. 

• On March 18^th, Governor Tony Evers directed that “all schools should remain closed for instructional and extracurricular activities for the duration of the public health emergency or until a subsequent order lifts this specific restriction.” The previous anticipated re-opening date of April 6th has been rescinded. 
   
• Our district is committed to continuity of learning during the closure.  We know this is a different way of learning and are here to helping you.  We have two call centers that are staffed during business hours to support you and your students.  If you have a need for technical support, please call 920-779-7942.  If your student needs academic support, please call 920-779-7943.  If you have any questions, concerns or feedback, we encourage you to contact your school principal.
   
• The Hortonville Area School District will be providing free pre-packaged meals (both breakfast and lunch) to children while schools are closed. All children in the community age 18 and under can participate in this program (this includes both public and private students). To make a request, call the call center one day in advance of the day you would like a meal. The call center can be reached at 920-779-7924, and will be in operation from 8:00 a.m. until noon, Monday through Friday. Food will be delivered on APRIL 10^th. 
   
• The district is observing strict social distancing.  Therefore, all schools have closed the front office, but phone calls are being processed by work at home employees. Please do not attempt to enter the buildings.  Parents and families will not be allowed to enter district buildings to retrieve student items.  We will communicate a process when it becomes known.
   
• April 9 had previously been scheduled as a professional development day but is now a digital learning day. This means your children will be getting assignments through Canvas on that day. No instruction will be given on April 10th, 2020.
   
• The United States Department of Education has waived the requirement of standardized testing this spring.  Therefore, there will be no Wisconsin Forward or STAR assessment given. 

We want you to know we care about your child and family. We know this is not an easy time for anyone and want to share some resources you may find helpful in these trying times:   https://casel.org/covid-resources/   Please stay safe and well.

Food Service Update During School Closure - March 17, 2020

Hortonville Area School District

March 17, 2020

This is an announcement regarding food service for students of the Hortonville Area School District.

The information that follows can also be found on the District website. 

Beginning on Thursday, March 19, the Hortonville Area School District will be providing free meals to students while schools are closed due to the current pandemic situation. These meals are available to enrolled students of the District, ages 18 and under. Meals will be available to all children 18 and under in the household as long as one child attends HASD. In order to know how much food to prepare and how much food to have available at each pick up location, we have established a call center. 

In order to request a meal for your child or children:

• Call the call center one day in advance of the day you would like a meal. The call center can be reached at 920-779-7924, and will be in operation from 8:00 a.m. until noon, Monday through Friday. For example, you will need to place a call on Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. until noon to request a meal for your child or children for Thursday. You will need to indicate the number of meals you need and indicate the location where the food will be picked up. Location information is noted below.
• All meals will come pre-packed in a lunch bag, commonly referred to as a “grab and go” lunch, and will be available Monday through Friday. Lunches will consist of a cold sandwich, fruit, vegetable, and milk. There will only be one menu choice per day. Menu choices may be listed on the District website in the future.
• Meals will not be available during the HASD scheduled spring break, March 23 through March 27. We will resume service on Monday, March 30. If you wish to request a lunch for Monday, March 30, please inform the call center on this Friday, March 20.
• Two district buildings will be used and we will have off-site drop off areas as noted below. All deliveries to off-site locations will be made using a school district bus.

Locations -

Additional updates may follow as we move forward. Please visit the HASD website for the latest updates during this school closure period.

HASD School Closure Update - March 16, 2020

March 16, 2020

Dear Hortonville Area School District Parents and Guardians:

We are thankful for your patience and understanding as we work through meeting the needs of students in these uncertain times.

This document addresses key components of your student’s learning plan for the upcoming weeks. The Hortonville Area School District facilities will be closed to students beginning on Tuesday, March 17^th.

Plans are in place to provide Distance Learning at home for students during the school closure as shown in the schedule below:

Student Schedule

March 16^th- Students are attending school as usual

March 17^th- No School for students-Staff preparation day-Student tutorials available on Canvas

March 18^th-March 20^th-Distance Learning Days for Students

March 23^rd- March 27^th-HASD Closed-Spring Break

March 30^th-April 3^rd-Distance Learning Days for Students

Minimum Student Expectations

The district recognizes that the minutes outlined below are minimum expectations for students during the closure. We encourage students to continue physical activity, music practice, drawing, and reading during this time.

Kindergarten-2^nd Grade-Minimum of one hour of learning per school day

3^rd Grade-5^th Grade-Minimum of two hours of learning per school day

6^th Grade-12^th Grade-Minimum of three hours of learning per school day

Teachers and other professional staff are available to provide resources and work digitally with students and families throughout the school closure. will provide resources on Canvas and answer questions via email on the Canvas learning management system. 4K and elementary students also received learning go kits to take home with them on Friday, March 13^th. Middle school and high school students were also asked to bring home course resources on Friday.

If students need to collaborate, we encourage students to work digitality to comply with social distancing which is recommended by the CDC. “Social distancing” is a described infection control measure emphasized by public health officials to stop or slow down the spread of a highly contagious illness. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) social distancing is one of the best strategies in preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

While your student is out of school, please consider the following:

• Practice staying 6 feet away from others when able
• Avoid any large gatherings, including malls, movie theatres, adventure parks, or any other location that would require close contact with others
• Consider video-chatting with friends and family rather than meeting in public places

If you develop symptoms of cough, fever, or shortness of breath, contact your physician.

Medications and Health Related Items

If your student receives medication or other health-related items at school and you will need them during the school closure, please stop at the school office Monday, March 16^th-Friday, March 20^th, between 730 a.m.-400 p.m., to pick them up. We are unable to send medication home with students.

How to contact Staff

All Staff members including administrators, school counselors, paraprofessionals, aides and teachers will be checking their emails regularly. The link below allows you to search for any district employee.

https://www.hasd.org/staff-directory.cfm

If you have any other questions, please contact your building’s main office which will be open during regular hours. Building administrators will be in daily to answer questions.

Food

A Skylert message will be forthcoming outlining a potential student food program that may become available.

Device Procedure

If you have previously requested a device. Device checkouts will be available on Tuesday, March 17^th from 8am-6pm at your child’s school.

The district is currently working on acquiring additional MiFi devices and district staff will reach out to people who inquired previously.

Spectrum is currently offering 60 days of internet service for families in their service area. The phone number to enroll in this program is 1-844-488-8395.

Student Canvas access information (Digital learning portal)

Canvas can be accessed by visiting www.hasd.org and click the Canvas link.

Students are asked to login daily to Canvas to view course content, progress, and feedback. The following steps is your student’s daily checklist in Canvas.

• Use your username (with @hasd.org at the end) and password used for school computer use
• Submit assignments
• Keep track of course work with to do lists and calendar
• Send and receive messages to the teacher for support
• Receive push notifications for new feedback, course updates, and much more

Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource

A new type of coronavirus, abbreviated COVID-19, is causing an outbreak of respiratory (lung) disease. It was first detected in China and has now been detected internationally. While the immediate health risk in the United States is low, it is important to plan for any possible outbreaks if the risk level increases in the future. These are uncertain times for everyone, especially children. Here are some resources that may be helpful to you as parents.

Additional Resource Links:

For the latest coronavirus information and updates:

• Outagamie County Health Department-COVID 19
• Wisconsin Department of Health Services COVID- 19
• Centers for Disease Control COVID- 19

Just for Kids:

• A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus by Malaka Gharib, Editor NPR. Download and print a comic book or a 3 min. Podcast for listening.
• Brain Pop Coronavirus

Your continued support as we maneuver the current school closure is greatly appreciated. We are excited to have our students back in our buildings as soon as it is safely possible.

Hortonville Area School District

UPDATE - Spectrum number correction - March 13, 2020

Spectrum number correction. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395.

Parents may contact Charter for free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription at any service level up to 100 Mbps. Installation fees will be waived for new student households. Parents may contact your child’s school office staff to request a computer or Internet MIFI device if they do not have such resources at home. School officials will document and assist with requests.

The original announcement listed an incorrect Spectrum number. Sorry for the confusion.

UPDATE - School Closure Announcement - March 13, 2020

UPDATE - Access to Technology - March 13, 2020

As part of the HASD Pandemic Plan, HASD will provide a continuity of learning in the event of an extended school closure. HASD will provide computers and Internet MIFI devices for families without such resources at home. For planning purposes only, please notify your school office staff if you do not have a computer and Internet services at home. 

UPDATE - March 12, 2020

February 28th we updated you on the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Hortonville Area School District holds the well-being, health and safety of our students as our highest priority and feel it is important to share updates with you. HASD administrators and staff are continuing to monitor the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak locally, across the United States and globally. Information is changing rapidly, and new guidelines are coming from the CDC, Wisconsin Department of Health, and Outagamie County Health Department. We are staying briefed on new information as it becomes available and are in continual communication with public health officials. We will keep our families updated as new information arises.

Emergency Planning

HASD has been working together to develop a pandemic plan that aligns with COVID-19. This pandemic plan addresses what is done before, during, and after a potential outbreak, and will provide guidance if an outbreak of COVID-19 occurs in the area schools and community.

Travel

It is essential we share current travel recommendations we have received from the Department of Health and Human Services as well as the CDC in regard to how spring break and other upcoming travels could impact future school attendance for your students. The current recommendation is that “people who travel to places where there is community spread of COVID-19 (international and domestic locations) are asked to self-quarantine and monitor for symptoms for 14 days. If symptoms of fever, cough, or difficulty breathing are present, individuals should contact their local health department and health care provider for possible testing. People should call ahead before arriving at the health care facility for testing.” This would include layovers and airport visits in states considered to have community spread. In these situations, your student should not return to school until the recommended quarantine period is over. Please see the following link and review the state level spread to determine if self-quarantine is needed: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html

Families of students attending the Hawaii band trip will receive further communication, the communication will be sent by the end of the day.

Precautionary Measures

Public Health officials continue to recommend that the best approach to addressing COVID-19 is to take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of respiratory disease which includes influenza and COVID-19. The CDC recommends the annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older. Other actions include:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water
• Help your students to wash their hands well
• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing
• Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms
• Keep children at home when:
  • Fever of 100.0 degrees or greater
  • Persistent cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Additional HASD Illness Guidelines

Health Services staff will continue to follow our current Health Services Guidelines around fever, cough and sore throat. If a student presents with these symptoms, they will be advised to go home and return to school 24 hours after they are fever free. If a student is determined ill and must go home, we are requiring that a parent or representative pick up the child within 30 minutes.

Our custodial staff is providing cleaning to our school per guidelines determined by the CDC. 

Continuity of Learning

HASD continues to prepare if the current situation would change to require school closure. Due to this possibility we are working to provide online learning for students. For families without internet and/or computers, devices and internet hotspots will be available for check out. Again, more information on this process will be provided if school is to be closed. 

Talking to Your Student - Information from National Association of School Psychologists

Here are some suggestions for talking with your children regarding COVID-19:

• Stick to the facts. It can be scary to hear about a disease outbreak but learning the facts can help ease your mind.
• Help the student remain calm and assure them their risk is low.
• Remind your family that it is best to be prepared in difficult situations.
• It is important to avoid assumptions or stereotypes about who you think might be sick. Viruses cannot target people from specific populations, ethnicities, or racial backgrounds. A person’s race does not make them more or less likely to be sick or to get sick.
• The following website is a great resource for parents addressing your children’s needs. https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a-parent-resource

Additional Resource Links:

• For the latest coronavirus information and updates:
  • Outagamie County Health Department-COVID 19
  • Wisconsin Department of Health Services COVID- 19
  • Centers for Disease Control COVID- 19
• Just for Kids:
  • A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus by Malaka Gharib, Editor NPR. Download and print a comic book or a 3 min. Podcast for listening.
  • Brain Pop Coronavirus