SDMA Back to School Update

Posted on 08/20/2019

Hello SDMA Families, Staff, and Stakeholders.

With Labor Day upcoming and the start of the 2019-2020 school year only a couple weeks away, many final preparations are being made in the School District of the Menomonie Area (SDMA). New teachers are in the district this week for orientation sessions and the rest of the staff will return next week for meetings, professional development, and getting classrooms ready for the first day of school.

Here are a few items for families to keep in mind to help children get off to a great start to the 2019-2020 school year:

  • Please consider prioritizing some daily routines prior to the first day of school. Establishing more consistent sleeping and eating patterns, as well as spending some time reading and writing over the next two weeks could make the transition back to school much easier for many children. It is also very important that children are provided time to be physically active each day. Mental health continues to be an important focus in our school district, so please consider communicating any concerns to your child's teacher, school counselor, and/or building principal.
  • The Back2School Newsletter was mailed out last week to all residents in the SDMA.  Please take some time to review this important information.
  • It is important that families take time each year to update online registration information (Skyward Family Access) and ensure that all contact information is updated and correct.  In the event of a school closing or emergency situation, it is important that contact information and family communication preferences are accurate. 
  • The school district will be offering free breakfast to all students (K-12) during the 2019-2020 school year, and the school district also offers free or reduced meal benefits for lunch.  Please take a moment to review information about the district's school nutrition program and the free or reduced meal benefits eligibility information. It can be helpful for families and the school district if the confidential Household Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals (available online or at school offices) is completed.
  • Menomonie Transportation does a great job safely transporting hundreds of children each day.  Please understand that there are slight variations to routes each year based on the changing number of families being served. Pickup/drop off times will vary (especially during the first week), so please exercise some patience and plan for some flexibility. While great service to each individual family is desired, policies are in place to provide service that is safe and consistent across the school district while minimizing the amount of time students need to spend riding the bus.
  • The school district is working to increase our pool of school volunteers and substitute employees.  If you are interest in volunteering at a school, please contact the building principal.  If you are interested in joining the sub list, please apply online or contact the Administrative Service Center. We need help finding substitute teachers, paraeducators, cooks, clerical, custodians, and other support staff employees.
  • The 2019-2020 School District CalendarSchool MenusAthletics and Activities Schedules, and a ton of other useful information is posted on the school district website. Please let us know if you need help finding any information this year.

Thank you all for your continued support of the School District of the Menomonie Area, and thank you for taking the time to prepare for the start of the 2019-2020 school year.  We are looking forward to seeing everyone for K-8 check in and freshman orientation on August 29, before the first official day of school on September 3.

Have a great week!

Joe Zydowsky

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Joseph E. Zydowsky, PhD
District Administrator
School District of the Menomonie Area
215 Pine Avenue NE
Menomonie, WI 54751
[email protected]
www.twitter.com/joezydowsky
Phone: (715) 232-1642