Options Virtual Charter School

☕EASD School Board Members will be available to answer your referendum questions @ 8 a.m. at Perk Up on Saturday, February 22 ☕ Learn more about the April 1 Operational Referendum at elkhornschools.org and check out a complete listing of Coffee Chats and Community Forum opportunities.

📣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.

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

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

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.

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.

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."

🥞🎶Save the Date! Hot Cakes, Cool Tunes returns to Elkhorn Area Middle School on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Brought to you by our friends at Elkhorn Rotary Club, Hot Cakes, Cool Tunes is one of our favorite events of the year!🥞🎶 🎟Tickets are available at the 1887 Building, Elkhorn Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Center, and Friends on the Square! You can even get your dine-in or carry-out ticket at the door.🎟 Proceeds from Hot Cakes, Cool Tunes benefit EASD music programs.

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!

On Monday, December 16, the 9-12 Options staff hosted a Holiday pizza party and white elephant gift exchange for the Blended Learning students. Staff wanted to celebrate the students and the successes they had during the first trimester. Students and staff came dressed in their favorite holiday “ugly” sweater or holiday attire. The staff brought in white elephant gifts for the students. Students were able to pick a gift from under the tree or they could “steal” someone else’s gift. They also played a holiday trivia game. Students really got into the holiday spirit. If you would like to learn more about our blended learning program or the Options program, please click here https://options.elkhornschools.org/

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

The Blended Learning STEM class is learning about planning residential spaces, the different systems in a home, and how to read the symbols found in architectural plans. Currently, the class is working on designing and drawing out their dream bedroom. To do this students worked on designing and drawing walls using the architectural scales. They also learned how to calculate how much flooring and paint they will need for their dream bedrooms. Students enjoyed sharing the dream bedroom floor plans with each other. If you would like to learn more about our blended learning STEM program or the Options program, please click here https://options.elkhornschools.org/

Tonight Gateway will be hosting a free Apprenticeship Open House at the Elkhorn Campus! Discover how you can work, learn, and get paid to be an apprentice! If you are interested in becoming an apprentice, please register to attend this free event. Find out how apprenticeships can help companies find skilled workers. The Open House will include: • Special guest speaker • Career fair • Business and recruiting expo • Skills demonstrations • Hands-on activities in Fab Lab, Robotics, Welding, and CNC Interested in becoming an apprentice? Come and ask questions, meet apprentices, and talk to companies that have apprenticeship programs. Register for this FREE event using https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdibcbcBJOpjQXWbIVFZO3K_h-X6Fc-kUR84pf6jBhkrBTGPA/viewform.

In today’s blended learning gym class, students played a fast paced game of Star Wars Dodgeball. This is a team based dodgeball game. There are 2 equal teams, each team has 5 “Lifesavers/Jedi” (bowling pins), and a large area divided in half. The goal of the game is to knock out the opposing team’s Jedi/bowling pins. During the game, the students cannot cross the dividing line. If students are hit by a ball, or their thrown ball is caught they must sit down where they are. The Jedi are able to bring people “back to life” with their Lifesaver by tagging their teammates on their shoulders. Learning objectives are to focus on correct throwing and catching mechanics, use of multiple locomotor skills, and learning how to work with others. The game is over once all 5 Jedi/bowling pins from a team are knocked down. Remember, the Force will be with you…Always. To learn more about our blended learning program or the Options Virtual Charter School, please click here https://options.elkhornschools.org/.

Academy 6th and 7th grader students recently enjoyed a field trip to the Options School Forest for school counselor Mr. Kayser’s Career Explorations class. Well-established deer paths throughout the 4-acre forest led the way for students to experience hands-on learning about the devastating effects of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) on the green ash tree population. Students observed the s-shaped markings left behind after the EAB larvae have burrowed and fed on the inner bark and phloem, which eventually leads to a tree’s starvation. Many large branches from the dead ash trees made excellent framing material for building a fort. Prior to this trip, Ms. Lena’s high school forestry class installed white trail markers to indicate a safe route to the fort site. No matter the grade level, these Options students agree that cooperating to build forts is a fun time. To learn more about our blended learning program or the Options Virtual Charter School, please click here https://options.elkhornschools.org/.

Join the Elkhorn High School Gymnastics team at the annual Kid's Camp Fundraiser! 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, November 23, 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. Register online at https://easdcommunity.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=181 If you have any questions, please contact Amanda Merlo: amandalee0322@gmail.com

Line the streets and wish our Elks Soccer team good luck at State! The State-bound Elkhorn Boys Soccer team will be leaving the High School, heading out of town on Friday, November 8, at 9:30 a.m. Their bus will make a quick loop down Geneva Street, over Jackson Street, and then up Court Street as they head to Milwaukee for the big game! Help us send them off in style - line the streets and give them a cheer as they take on Homestead at 1:30 p.m. Tickets to the game can be purchased online at https://gofan.co/event/1705741?schoolId=WIAA2

Students participating in the Blended Learning Monday Phy Ed class started a new unit this week. This week they learned about the fundamentals of the game Speed Away. This game uses a combination of football and soccer skills. After Mr. Tom reviewed the rules of the game, students got to participate in a fast moving game using the skills they learned during the soccer and football units they had earlier this year. The students had a great time learning about the game and playing it. If you would like to learn more about our blended learning program or the Options Virtual Charter School program, please click here https://options.elkhornschools.org/.