Elkhorn Area School District

📣Members of the EASD School Board are hosting a Community Forum @ 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26, at the Elkhorn Chamber of Commerce. Stop by to learn more about the EASD Operational Referendum on your April 1 ballot.📣 Visit elkhornschools.org to learn more and check out a complete schedule of Coffee Chats and Community Forums.

Trail Report Elkhorn Middle School: January 2025 was cold, and the ground was bare. And yet, increasing numbers of walkers were trekking along the trails at EAMS. Song Sparrows, Dark Eyed Juncos, and European Sparrows gathered in underbrush to shelter from the cold. Native, keystone plant species such as golden rod, aster, and many others provide winter food for birds and small mammals foraging about. Newly discovered grey squirrels have winter shelters in the tall cottonwood trees, and a busy mole scurried about under one of the benches along the far trail. Further along, furry remains confirm the existience of both rabbit and coyote existing on the property. February continues with cold turning to bitter cold and the first significant snowfalls of the season. Boots work just fine, but snow shoes or cross-country skis would be even better on trails totally snow-covered with 6 to 8” drifts in some places. Birds have been even more scarce this month. Only the most hardy birds, such as Juncos and Nuthatche,s are out foraging on the coldest of days. Gusty winds and light snow quickly cover human tracks made only hours before. In spite of severe conditions, a good samaritan or group has recently placed a number of fantastic new birdhouses along the trails. Thank you so much for these great additions.

Elkhorn Area Middle School 6th Graders, as part of their PLTW Green Architecture Science class, have worked with Wausau Homes Elkhorn since 2018 to provide a hands-on building project that brings what they're learning in the classroom to life. The Picnic Table Project in 2024 was such a success that they are now offering these picnic tables to the public for purchase. Visit the Wausau Homes booth at MakerFest this weekend to see the table in person, and then head over to Classmunity to purchase a table of your own! https://www.classmunity.com/elkhornwi/view-fundraiser.php?fundraiser_id=2694

Learn more and ask questions about the April Referendum by visiting elkhornschools.org or attending a Coffee Chat or Community Forum hosted by EASD School Board Members. -- ☕Coffee Chats @ 8 a.m. ☕ • Feb. 22 - Perk Up • Feb. 26 - Vasili's • Mar. 8 - Friends on the Square • Mar. 12 - The Elk • Mar. 22 - Friends on the Square 📣Community Forums @ 6:30 p.m.📣 • Feb. 26 - Chamber of Commerce • Mar. 3 - Matheson Memorial Library • Mar. 17 - Chamber of Commerce

Join us on Wednesday at Matheson Memorial Library for the next meeting of the Autism Parent & Caregiver Support Group.

Last chance for your MakerFest FREE early bird tickets! Visit https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/elkhorn-mini-maker-faire/2025-elkhorn-mini-maker-faire before February 8 to get yours! Don't forget to head over to the MakerFest merch shop to get your t-shirts and sweatshirts! https://www.overwearapparel.com/store/c265/MakerFest_2025.html

The Elkhorn Autism Support Team (EAST) live auction fundraiser is OPEN with over 50 awesome items! Check them out at https://event.gives/24eastchili

The annual EAST Chili/Soup Cook-Off is Thursday, February 6, from 5-7 p.m. at the Middle School! Their BIG online auction opens this week, on Thursday, January 30, and runs through February 6. Check out all of the fantastic auction items at https://event.gives/24eastchili

🚀 Exciting news! Today at the WASB Conference, our very own Nick Datka, Buildings & Grounds Supervisor, is sharing his expertise on building energy savings strategies.🌱

Due to the weather forecast for tomorrow, Tuesday, January 21, 2025, school and all school activities will be called off. The National Weather Service predicts very cold wind chills as low as 33 below zero. The dangerously cold wind chill could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. Classes will resume Wednesday.

Spark Play Studio is thrilled to host a Kids Makers Market at this year's Elkhorn Makerfest! This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for young entrepreneurs to showcase their creativity and sell their handmade items to an audience of over 1,000 visitors. Pre-register at https://sparkplaywi.com/products/kids-makers-market?_pos=1&_psq=kid&_ss=e&_v=1.0 🔑 Key Details: • Spots are FREE but limited to 10—they’ll fill up fast! • Pre-registration is required. • Commitment Required: Participants must be set up on 2/14 and stay for the entire event on 2/15 (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM). Please only reserve a spot if you can commit fully. Help your child take their creativity to the next level and inspire the community! 📆 Reserve your spot now before it’s gone! 🌟

Check out this great slideshow, Birds of Elkhorn Middle School from 2003 to Present, with images from Dr. Jack and Holly Bartholmai. Dr. Jack Bartholmai is a retired radiologist who went from medical imaging to capturing images of the natural world as an amateur photographer. Wildlife photography has provided a hobby with endless opportunities. View their collection of EAMS birds at https://tinyurl.com/EAMS-Birds

Calling all three-year-olds! The Elkhorn Playgroup is now accepting applications for the 2025-26 school year. Register online at tinyurl.com/elk-playgroup-25 This program is a playgroup consisting of five students with special needs and five typically developing students. It meets multiple times a week for two hours a day at Jackson Elementary School in Mrs. Kitzmiller’s classroom. During this program, play-based learning will expose students to literacy, gross and fine motor, and language development activities. This model allows for enrichment for all children who participate in the program. Research shows that these blended classrooms provide benefits for all children who participate. To be eligible to attend: Children should be three years old by September 1, 2025, and toilet trained. Registration is limited to five students per session, and a lottery system will be utilized to determine placement. The lottery will be held on April 15, 2025, and families will be notified by May 1, 2025, if their child is selected to attend. Families of peer models will need to provide their own transportation to and from school. Please contact Jill Kitzmiller at kitzji@elkhorn.k12.wi.us if you would like further information.

SAVE THE DATE: The Annual Elkhorn Autism Support Team (EAST) Chili & Soup Cook-Off is Thursday, February 6, from 5-7 p.m. at Elkhorn Area Middle School. Over 30 soups and chilis will be available! Online auction starts January 30.

Join the Elkhorn High School Gymnastics team at the annual Kid's Camp Fundraiser! Register online at https://easdcommunity.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=185 Children in Kindergarten-8th Grade are invited to join the high school team for a day of gymnastics. Children will rotate through all four events: Vault, Bars, Beam, Floor, as well as Tumble Track with the high school gymnasts as coaches. This is a fundraising event for the high school team; all money raised will be used to support and supplement the gymnastics program with things like new equipment and uniforms. Kid's Camp is offered Saturday, January 25, from 9-11 am, with check-in beginning at 8:45 in the Agility Center Gym. Families can enter through the back of the school at Door #24. Cost of the camp is: $15.

Thinking about joining the EAHS Fitness Center but want to take it for a test run first? Lucky for you, next week is "Try It Week!" From January 13 - 17, you can visit the EAHS Fitness Center during posted public hours for FREE and see if it's a good fit for you! Check in with the attendant when you arrive, and let them know you're "trying it."

Hot Cakes, Cool Tunes is back! Join us on Saturday, January 25, 2025 from 8 a.m. to noon at Elkhorn Area Middle School for dine-in and carry-out pancakes! Sponsored by the Elkhorn Rotary Club, all proceeds from Hot Cakes, Cool Tunes benefit EASD music programs. We'll have EASD musicians onsite, providing the cool tunes! No need for tickets! Bring your free-will donation to the Middle School on Saturday, January 25 and enjoy your pancakes!

Last chance! Be sure to sign your team up for our Adult Volleyball league. The season starts January 8! Visit https://easdcommunity.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=171 to register.

The EAHS Fitness Center and Pool will be closed to the public over Winter Break, starting Friday, December 20, through January 5. The Fitness Center will reopen on Monday, January 6, 2025. Lap Swim at the EAHS Pool will resume on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.

Have you ever thought about exploring another culture? Language? Customs? By hosting a Rotary Youth Exchange Student for three to five months, you and your family can experience another culture without ever having to leave home! Learn more at https://www.elkhorn.k12.wi.us/article/1868958