Mrs. Renken's Message
As we move into October, our staff and students have settled into the full swing of the school year. Routines are established, classrooms are buzzing with activity, and everyone is focused on learning and growth. Scheduling is running smoothly, with students engaged in both academic and extracurricular activities. Our teachers are hard at work ensuring that each student is supported, and we appreciate your continued partnership in helping your child stay organized and on track.
Viking Pride was in full swing with the excitement of our very own pep rally thanks to WHS Student Council!
Parent Teacher Conferences Thursday, Oct. 9 & Tuesday, Oct. 14
Parent-teacher conferences are coming up, and we encourage all families to take advantage of this important opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher. Conferences provide a chance to discuss your child’s progress, address any concerns, and set goals for the remainder of the school year. It’s a valuable time for us to collaborate in supporting your child’s success both academically and socially.
Please reach out to your child's teacher if you have been unable to schedule a time to meet.
Learning Focus 📚
Over the past two weeks, we have been gathering baseline information to better understand our students’ current levels of learning, particularly in the area of reading. All first and second grade students recently took the DIBELS assessment, which helps us measure important early literacy skills. Our data shows that 66% of our students are already meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations in reading—a great place to build from!
This week, we are beginning to implement specific learning plans and tasks for every student during WIN time (“What I Need”), where instruction is tailored to support growth for all learners. Your child’s teacher will share more details about your child’s progress and learning goals during conferences.
Kindergarten students are completing their assessments this week, and that information will also be shared by teachers during conferences.
Celebrations & Expectations 😀
This week we celebrated classes that are doing an outstanding job of following our common area expectations in places like the hallways, lunchroom, bathrooms, recess, and even keeping classrooms tidy. We are so proud of the way our students are showing responsibility and respect across the building!
🎉 This week’s celebrations include:
Best Bathroom: Mrs. Curtis' and Mrs. Frantzen's 2nd Grade
Lunchroom Leaders: Mrs. Bloch's 1st Grade
Spick and Span (Tidiness): Mrs. Frantzen's 2nd Grade
Whistle Winners (Recess): Mrs. Schere's 2nd Grade
Hallway Heroes: Miss Warnemunde's 1st Grade
Thank you for encouraging your child to practice these expectations every day. It makes a big difference in creating a positive, safe, and welcoming school environment!
At Hamlow, we are in full swing of supporting the whole child. This means not only focusing on academics, but also helping students grow behaviorally, emotionally, and socially. We believe it is our responsibility to meet students where they are and provide the scaffolds and supports they need to be successful.
Sometimes this looks like:
Using a calming spot when a student needs a reset
Teachers thoughtfully choosing seating arrangements to set students up for success
Offering a choice of where to play at recess
Other small supports that help students learn how to manage themselves in different settings
These tools are not about consequences, they are about teaching missing skills and giving students what they need to thrive in school.
Best Bathroom
Mrs. Curtis and Mrs. Frantzen's 2nd Grades
Lunchroom Leaders
Mrs. Bloch's 1st Grade
Spic and Span
Mrs. Frantzen's 2nd Grade
Whistle Winners
Mrs. Schere's 2nd Grade
Hallway Heroes
Miss Warnemunde's 1st Grade
Guidance in October 💚
October is National Bullying Prevention Month and we invite you and your child to participate in wearing and sharing the color orange on October 22, 2025. This day is Unity Day which is an international bullying prevention initiative by the PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, where people wear orange to promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion and to stand up against bullying in schools and in the community. If you would like more information about Unity Day head to the PACER.org/bullying for more information!
In our guidance rotation classes, we will be discussing the following topics: what is bullying, bullying prevention, conflict vs. bullying, and how can you help a friend if you notice bullying. We want to help all children work to strengthen their skills of advocacy and would like your support in this as well. Let’s put a stop to bullying for good! It takes us all!
Absences/Attendance Notes
If your child will be gone an entire day or leaving during the day, please call the Hamlow Office at 402-786-2341 or email the office at hes.office@district145.org. If you haven't let their teacher know, we'll get their teacher a note. We ask that for appointments, especially those where they'll be leaving for the day, you call at least an hour or more in advance so we have time to get their things gathered and get them ready to go. You can inform us of any days that will be missed well in advance- we do not mind!
Report Card Updates 📝
District 145 Standards-Based Report Cards
This year, District 145 is moving to a standards-based report card for grades K–5. The goal is to provide clearer, more meaningful feedback on your child’s learning by focusing on specific skills and grade-level standards.
What’s different about standards-based grading?
Grades show how well your child has mastered key skills—not averages or behavior.
Progress is measured on a 4-point scale:
4: Exceeds expectations
3: Meets expectations
2: Approaching expectations
1: Beginning
Students can show growth over time and redo work to demonstrate mastery. The most recent evidence of learning counts the most.
What will be reported?
Academics: Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies
Specials: PE, Music, Art, Library & Media
Social Skills: Cooperation, kindness, problem-solving
Work & Study Habits: Independence, engagement, task completion
Why this change?
Teachers want grades to reflect true learning, not just test averages or effort. This system:
Provides consistent expectations across the district
Highlights student strengths and growth areas
Gives parents a clearer picture of progress
How was it developed?
Over the last three years, teachers collaborated to identify priority standards and create consistent criteria for mastery at each grade level.
How is learning measured?
Student progress is assessed through a variety of ways: classwork, projects, skill demonstrations, tests, and benchmark assessments—all tied directly to state standards.
This shift helps us better communicate where your child is excelling and where they may need more support, ensuring every student builds the knowledge and skills to thrive in school and beyond.
Attendance notes for appointments are extremely helpful when a student misses school.They provide important documentation for our records and ensure that the absence is marked as excused. These notes help us keep accurate records, which is essential for state reporting and for monitoring your child’s attendance patterns. Additionally, knowing the reason for an absence helps teachers adjust lesson plans and make sure your child catches up on any missed work. We appreciate your cooperation in sending a note when your child has an appointment! This may include, but not be limited to appointments with/for: Doctor, PA, Nurse Practitioner, Chiropractor, Dentist, Therapy, Counseling, Psychology, Vision, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, etc.
October/November Important Dates
OCTOBER
Ocotber 1--PTO Pearsons Pumpkin Patch from 4:00-8:00pm
October 9 & 14--Parent/Teacher conferences
October 10--Kindergarten field trip to the Pumpkin Patch
October 13--1st grade field trip to the Fire Station
Otober 15--School Pictures
October 16 & 17--No school
October 23--Cherrydale Fundraiser pick up at WIS
October 27--PTO meeting at 6:30pm/Report cards emailed
October 28--FBLA hosts Kindergarten Fall Party from 6:30-7:30 Hamlow gym
October 31--Fall classroom parties at 2:30
Health screenings
NOVEMBER
November 3--No school
November 7--Grandparents/VIP Day-more information will be sent out
November 13--EC family night, more information will be sent out at a later date
November 24--PTO meeting at 6:30pm
November 26-28--No school