School Updates

1/17/2024

Self-Harm Concerns                                            Data show increases in self-harm coincide with returning to school after the holidays. 

As students begin the spring semester, the Department of Health Services (DHS) encourages parents and caregivers to be aware of Wisconsin Emergency Department data from the National Syndromic Surveillance Program that shows young people experience large increases in self-harm injuries at certain times of the year, including when school resumes after the winter holidays.

Self-harming increased among youth by nearly 40% in September 2022 and January 2023 compared to each of the preceding months. While September 2023 showed a smaller spike in self-harming (14% increase from August 2023), it still represents a significant concern. Self-harm refers to intentional actions to hurt oneself. Examples include cutting, hitting, poisoning, or burning. Self-harm may be done to express or lessen emotional pain. While someone who self-harms may not have the intention of suicide, they may be at greater risk of a suicide attempt or dying by suicide if they do not receive help.

"The start and return of school can be stressful for young people and families," said Paula Tran, State Health Officer and administrator of the DHS Division of Public Health. "Parents, guardians, teachers, mentors, and others can support the young people in their life by knowing the signs of self-harm, talking openly about the struggles youth are facing, and listening to what young people have to say without judgement."

1/16/2024

De Soto School District Referendum

The De Soto Area School Board voted unanimously at their meeting on Monday to place an operating referendum on the April 2, 2024 ballot. The district is requesting voter authorization to exceed the district revenue limit for non-recurring purposes by $1,200,000 per year for four years (2024-2025 through the 2027-2028 school year) supporting educational and operational services.  


Information will be developed communicating relevant data and facts with a running log of questions and responses being maintained on the district website. Please take time to note the following important facts:  

More details and information will be forthcoming in the next weeks and months.

1/10/2024

De Soto Schools On Time--Wed, Jan 10

Thank you to our municipalities for communicating they started plowing, salting and sanding early to get roads travel ready for an on-time school day start. A reminder to our student and staff drivers to allow extra time and to take it slow. 

Parents/guardians know their roads best and are welcome to judge when their high school student drivers should head out for school. Parents/guardians are also welcome to bring their child(ren) to school at a later time if they are concerned with road conditions.  

1/5/2024

January 2024-25 PreSchool Registration 

 The De Soto Area School District offers PreSchool for children ages 3-5 years of age at both Stoddard and Prairie View elementary schools. The De Soto Area School district will offer developmental screenings for children ages 3-4.  The screenings provide families with general information about their child's development and offers the opportunity to share with teachers any concerns or ask questions. 

Families with students enrolling for the 2024-25 school year or to schedule the Developmental Screenings are asked to schedule appointments at their respective schools.  Please call Stoddard Elementary at 608-457-2101 for an appointment on Mon, January 29 or Prairie View at 608-648-2227  for an appointment on Tue, January 30, 2024 .

1/4/2024

Health Information

The De Soto Area School District is committed to providing our families with health information that will assist in preventing the spread of illness amongst our students, families and staff. The Center for Disease Control has reported a combination of illnesses occurring which include influenza, COVID-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Streptococcal Pharyngitis commonly referred to as Strep Throat, and Mononucleosis, often called mono. All are contagious illnesses which can be spread through direct contact and through droplets from a cough, sneeze or runny nose.  FREE COVID-19 TEST KITS--The De Soto Area School District requested and received additional COVID-19 take-home test kits. Families may access these free COVID-19 take-home test kits by contacting their child’s school office while supplies are available.

The following is a helpful symptom reference associated with these illnesses.

Flu/influenza--Most people with the flu feel very tired and may have one or more of the following symptoms:

COVID-19--Has similar symptoms to other common illnesses. Symptoms may range from mild to severe.

Please note: Families may access free COVID-19 take-home test kits by contacting their child’s school office.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)--RSV usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, but RSV can be serious especially for infants and older adults. Symptoms usually appear in stages and not all at once and include:

Streptococcal Pharyngitis (Strep Throat)--In general, strep throat is a mild infection, but it can be very painful. The most common symptoms of strep throat include:

Mononucleosis (Mono)--The virus that causes mono is spread through saliva, including sharing of food utensils. The most

common symptoms include:

If you suspect your child or a family member is sick or has symptoms noted above, you are encouraged to contact your medical provider as soon as possible. If your child is ill, please keep them home. Students who have been ill may return to school when they have a reduction in symptoms, and are:

Preventative strategies include:

If your student(s) becomes ill during the school day, a call will be placed to parent(s)/guardian(s) or the emergency contact you have provided to be picked up. Please call your child’s school office if they have been diagnosed with the flu/influenza, COVID-19, RSV, Strep Throat or Mono. Your child’s medical information is kept confidential. Please feel free to contact the district school nurse if you have any questions or concerns:  Loralee Wetter, RN; 608-648-104 or lwetter@desoto.k12.wi.us                    Reference: CDC.gov

Free Flu Vaccinations

The Vernon County Health Department will be offering free Influenza vaccines to all children/students free of charge at the following locations: 

Students must have a consent form signed by their parent/guardian. Please review the Vaccine Information handout and return the signed consent form to the school secretary or classroom teacher no later than Tuesday October 17th. Forms are available from your child's school office or by downloading from these links:  Student Consent Form     Influenza Information

COVID-19 vaccines and Boosters are no longer provided through this free program as COVID-19 is no longer considered a global health emergency.

If you have any further questions/concerns, please feel free to contact the De Soto Area School Nurse Loralee Wetter at:  lwetter@desoto.k12.wi.us or 608-648-0114. or the Vernon County Health Department at 608-637-5251.  


6/1/2023

Welcome Back Students

De Soto Area School District welcomes K-12 students back to school on Friday, September 1! Students in 4K who attend Stoddard Elementary will have their first day on Tuesday, September 5. Prairie View Elementary 4K students will have their first day on Wednesday, September 6.

All families are asked to not drop off their children before 7:35am as supervision is not available. Prairie View & Stoddard students may be picked up by at 3:00pm. De Soto Middle/High School students may be picked up starting at 3:21pm.

Stoddard Surround Care is available on a first come first serve basis. Hours when school is in session are from 6:30-7:30am and in the afternoon from 2:55-5:30pm.

COVID-19 and other 2023-2024 information is available by clicking on this link:  2023-2024 Re-Opening School Year Plan.

5/9/2023 

Stoddard Elementary Incident Information Update

On Tuesday, May 9, 2023, the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call from an employee at Stoddard Elementary School. The employee, following appropriate training procedures, informed the Sheriff’s dispatch officer that they had received a message suggesting that an active shooter had entered the school building.

The dispatch officer notified a Sheriff’s deputy who had just left Stoddard Elementary School after spending time engaging with students and conducting a routine walk-through of the school. The deputy returned within minutes and ascertained that there was not an active shooter in the building or on the grounds, and that there was no threat to students, staff, or the school facility.

Immediately thereafter, the Sheriff’s Department investigated the incident. As a result of the investigation, Sheriff Torgerson will be referring the matter to the Vernon County District Attorney.

At the same time, the District’s administration also began an investigation into the incident, subject to district policies and procedures. Once completed, the District’s administration will take appropriate action if anyone is found to have engaged in misconduct related to the incident.

The safety of our students and staff is the District’s priority. The District wishes to acknowledge the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office for the immediate response in this incident. The District is grateful for the ongoing partnership with the Sheriff’s Office staff, who oversee school safety protocols and provide staff emergency training, as well as for the assignment of deputies who conduct regular school building walk-throughs and security checks.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation.

Linzi Gronning, Principal/Superintendent

Stoddard Elementary

First and foremost, all De Soto Area School District students, staff, and school facilities are safe and secure. There is NO threat to any person or school building. The District wishes to share that teachers and staff who responded to a perceived incident and followed the appropriate threat training provided annually to staff through the Vernon County Sheriff's Office.


The Vernon County Sheriff's Office has released the following statement:


This morning at about 9:31 AM, the Sheriff's Office received a report of an active shooter at the Stoddard Elementary School.  As officers were responding, it was determined that there was no active shooter at the school and there is NO threat at the school. Officers responded very quickly and as a precaution, they are contacting each school in the area. Again, it has been determined that there is no active shooter, and the community is NOT at risk.


Again, there is NO threat to our students, staff, school facilities or the community.

5/1/2023

DPI Approves De Soto Area School District's ESSER III Plan

ESSER III, the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund grand program authorized under American Rescue Plan Act,  provides short-term relief funds to address the effects of COVID-19. ESSER III is not an ongoing program and allowable funding expenditures end September 2024.  School districts must prioritize 20% of ESSER III funds to address academic needs and gaps in learning along with budgeting for allowable expenditures including student services and supports, preparedness and response to pandemics, training and professional developmet, environmental safety and health. More information can be found on the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction webpage:  www.dpi.wi.gov  Search for ESSER III.

Click to view the De Soto Area School District:  ESSER III LEA Plan Report

De Soto High School Prom Court

The Junior Prom was held at Retreat Sportsman's Club on Saturday, April 29.  The Grand March and Coronation began at 9:00 p.m. Congratulations to King Landon Pedretti and Queen Addisyn Trusonni!  Members of the 2023 Court are:  Chelsea Gronning, Cheyenne Fedler, Kyle Jarzemski, Madison Kumlin, Lillian Mitchell, Mya Radde, Matthew Sanding, Cole Walz, Cole Wehling,  and Mason Zink!

4/27/2023

Train Derailment South of De Soto

The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office informed the De Soto Area School District that there has been a train derailment between De Soto and the Lansing Bridge along US Hwy 35.  The Sheriff’s Office has advised there is no current concern for conducting a school evacuation.


The De Soto Transportation Department has indicated there will be one school bus route impacted. The Sherrif's Office in conjunction with our District's Transportation Department has authorized Bus 7 (seven) (Ferryville Route) to use Old Hwy 35 as an alternative route to US Hwy 35. There should be minimal delays in arriving home for students who are transported on Bus 7 (seven).


4/26/2023

Senior Scholarship & NHS Induction

Senior Scholarship Program and National Honor Society Induction will be held at De Soto Middle/High School on Wed, May 3 in the New Gymnasium. The Senior Scholarship Program will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by the induction of new National Honor Society Members at approximately 7:45 p.m.

4/18/2023

Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 Expires May 11, 2023

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act that the federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 will expire at the end of the on May 11, 2023.  HHS has indicated responding to COVID-19 remains a public health priority however the reported number cases are down 92%.

De Soto Schools will continue to offer free at-home test kits through Summer School for students and staff as long as supplies last. Families are welcome to contact their child's schools to obtain free test-kits.

Arts & Entertainment Night

De Soto Middle/High School will be the host site for the Arts & Entertainment Night on Tue, April 18.  The public is welcome to attend with doors open at 4:30 p.m. Displays will feature art created by elementary through high school students, wood projects, agriculture and FFA displays.  FFA students will provide hot dogs and bratwurst as a fund raiser for their program. Middle and high school students from choir and band will hold their spring concert which will begin at 7:00 p.m. 

We celebrate our students with a great program featuring their creative and performance talents!

4/17/2023

De Soto School Board Recognizes New & Current Board Members

The De Soto Area School Board recognized Jess Boardman, vice president, Kirk Holliday, treasurer, Brent Hutchison and Rick Pedrett, president for their years of service at the Regular School Board meeting on Monday, April 17.  

Mr. Holliday served for 30 years on the Board as well as on the Building, Grounds & Transportation Committee. He was also the Board's representative on the CESA 4 Board of Directors. 

Mr. Pedretti completes his 21st year of service to the disrtrict and was recognized at the Wisconsin Association of School Boards in January with a 20-year service award.  Mr. Pedretti has also serviced on board committees including Finance & Personnel, Policy and Building, Grounds & Transportataion. He also served on the Wisconsin Rural School Board Association where he was honored as a previous recipient of the School Board Member award.  

Mr. Boardman served as vice president on the Board of Education and also on the Curriculum & Technology and Policy committees. Mr. Hutchison represented the De Soto School Board as a Wisconsin Association of School Board delegate and served on the Finance & Personnel Committee, Curriculum & Technology Committee and Policy Committee.

The Board also welcomed newly elected members Holly Nickelatti representing the Town of Freeman, Nicole Johnson representing the Town of Wheatland, and Teresa Christianson representing the Town of Genoa. Ms. Christianson had been a previous school board member. Rick Pedretti was appointed by the School Board to fill the vacant seat resulting from the resignation of Brent Hutchison who served as a representative for the Village of Ferryville. Mr. Pedretti will serve in the position through the remainder of the term ending in April 2024.

3/1/2023

Inclement Weather Make-Up Day--Tue, March 7


March 7 was originally scheduled on the 2022-23 school calendar as a teacher in-service day with no school for students except juniors taking the ACT+ Writing test. Due to the number of inclement weather school delays and closings during this winter season an instructional make-up day for students will occur on Tuesday, March 7. 

We recognize that some families may have planned doctor or dentist appointments for their child or have alternative plans on that date. 

Further instructional make-up days are being discussed with potential for reducing the spring break schedule and/or extending the June dismissal date.  The District recognizes that family plans may prevent their child from attending make-up days scheduled at spring break or in June.  Please be advised that additional inclement weather school delays, early releases and/or school closure may require additional make-up days and/or virtual learning options to be implemented. Information on further make-up days in response to the current number of inclement weather cancellations will be provided by the end of next week. 

2/14/2023

De Soto High School Academic Recognition Breakfast

The Academic Awards Breakfast for De Soto High School students earning first semester Honors (3.0-3.49 GPA), High Honors (3.5-3.99 GPA) and Perfect Honors (4.0 GPA) will be held on Thursday, February 16 at 8:00 a.m. in the De Soto Middle/High School Cafeteria. Congratulations to the 78 De Soto High Schools students whose efforts have earned them academic recognition for the first semester of the 2022-2023 school-year with 50 of the 78 earning Academic Excellence awards with a 3.5 GPA or above! 

A special breakfast will be prepared by Betsy Knutson, Director of Food Service for all award recipients.  Mr. Fergot and Mrs. Gronning will preside over the distribution of award certificates, academic letters and honor bars. Additionally, $500 in prizes will be awarded  in a drawing for honor students in each high school class. The Academic Recognition Breakfast which was initiated in 2022 as an additional way of expressing Pirate Pride for our students!  

'Mother Nature' Postpones Winter Fun & Wellness Day

Due to the lack of snow the De Soto Middle/High School Winter Fun & Wellness Day scheduled for Thur, February 16 has been postponed. Recent warm weather and rain has resulted in a lack of snow and ice for the outdoor winter activities. We'll be watching for weather that allows rescheduling or alternative activities being planned.

State/National Youth Risk Behavior Survey 

De Soto Middle/High School will take part in the Wisconsin Online Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) on February 24, 2023. The data from these surveys is extremely helpful to our school district, county and state agencies when applying for grant funding supporting additional resources and services for students and families. 


The YRBS is part of a national effort to monitor health-risk behaviors of middle and high school students. Trends in behavior choices that impact health and wellbeing are associated with traffic safety, weapons and violence, suicide, tobacco, alcohol and other drug use, sexual behavior, diet, nutrition and exercise. Mental health issues and perceptions of overall wellbeing are certainly at the forefront of concerns impacting youth in all settings and questions pertaining to these areas will be asked for our school on a paper survey. Again, no names will be recorded.


Information on the YRBS survey is available by clicking on these links: parents/guardians, and YRBS Parent Info and on the WI Department of Public Instruction website at:  www.dpi.wi.gov/sspw/yrbs  For additional information, please contact school counselor Tom Dwyer, or principals Tim Fergot and Linzi Gronning at 608-648-0100.  Parents/Guardians who wish to opt-out their child from taking the survey are asked to complete the attached form and turn it into the office by February 23, 2023.


De Soto Middle/High School provides behavioral educational supports through Social/Emotional Learning curriculum and Positive Behavior Intervention Supports, Mental Health First Aid training and through health classes addressing a variety of health/wellness topics. Support Services are available for our students who are experiencing challenges and parents/guardians are welcome to reach out to our school at 608-648-0100 for help and to learn more. Please contact:

Additional Resources are available through:

The De Soto Area School District appreciates the support and partnership of parents/guardians in their children's educational and holistic growth.  

2/2/2023

State Notifies Schools the Free COVID-19 Testing Program Ends

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has notified schools that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has phased out funding to support COVID-19 testing programs. DHS is able to provide test kits to schools for distribution to students and staff through the 2022-23 school year.  

The De Soto Area School District has been a previous testing site since August of 2020 and during this 2022-23 school-year has distributed at-home testing kits for students and staff upon request. Test kits will be available to our students and staff through the remainder of the school year and during the dates of the  2023 summer school program.  Please contact your child's school office to obtain a testing kit.

ACT + Writing Prep

Wisconsin high school students in grade 11 take the ACT + Writing assessment which includes Reading, Math, English, Science and Writing. 

We are sharing with parents/guardians the information provided to 11th grade students on ACT + Writing test preparation. We appreciate your support in encouraging your 11th grader to take advantage of the free preparation sessions offered by our teachers, free prep offered on various links, free IXL ACT + Writing test prep through our school's subscription, or to access out-of-pocket cost courses offered by colleges.  Please note the following:


ACT + Writing Prep

De Soto teachers Mrs. Boardman, Ms. Oswald, Mr. Miller and Mrs. Rice will be providing ACT Prep session at De Soto High School on the following dates/times:

Additional ACT + Writing Prep Free Resources

Please note the two attachments that include free resources

UW-La Crosse ACT Test Preparation $199 

We know our students have the potential to do  very well on this national assessment. We thank our families for supporting our efforts to prepare our students to showcase their knowledge. Please contact Mr. Fergot, Mrs. Malin or Linzi Gronning if you have any questions.

State & District Spring Assessment Schedule

Students in Wisconsin public schools, including the De Soto School District, participate in district and state assessments throughout the school year. These assessments provide important data on student academic progress and achievement, and results are able to be compared to state and national data.   

 

It is very important that students be in school during the testing dates and times as one or more subtests may be administered daily. Students not in school on the scheduled testing days will be scheduled for a make-up test prior to the close of the testing window. Please note the following assessment schedule:

 

11th Grade ACT with Writing assesses English, Math, Reading, Science and writing


 

DLM Assessment

Testing window:  March 20-April 28

 

Forward Exam

Testing Dates:  March 22, 24 and 27

Testing window:  March 27-April 4

 

Pre-ACT assesses readiness in English, Math, Reading and Science

Testing Dates:  April 12 and April 13

 

PALS

Spring Testing Dates:  April 24-May 12

 

STAR Reading & Math 

Spring Testing Dates:  May 1-12

 

Informational Brochures for Families on the various state tests are available on the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction website: https://dpi.wi.gov/assessment/parent-info/resources  The brochures provide additional information about the assessments including their purpose, what scores will be provided, and how the scores will be used.

 

The De Soto School District values these assessments as an important data measure of the knowledge and skills students should have acquired by the time they reach each grade level. Student performance on the assessments will not affect any of their current grades. Parents are asked to encourage their children to take tests seriously and do the best they can. The results of these tests will be used to help school staff make determinations on curriculum, interventions and enrichment that best meet the needs of your child and every student in our district.

 

Winter Weather Cancellations Update


12/20/2022

Prairie View Elementary Holiday Concert

 Due to the weather forecast for the evening of Wednesday December 21 consideration may need to be given to cancel the K-2 holiday concert scheduled for 6:00 PM. The decision to cancel will be made and communicated via a School Messenger by 1:00 pm on Wednesday.  

12/15/2022

Information on Flu/Influenza, COVID-19 & Strep Throat

We are committed to providing our families with health information that will assist in preventing the spread of illness amongst our students, families and staff. The Center for Disease Control has reported a combination of illnesses occurring this fall which include influenza, COVID-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and Streptococcal Pharyngitis commonly referred to as Strep Throat. All are contagious illnesses which can be spread through direct contact and through droplets from a cough, sneeze or runny nose. The following is a helpful symptom reference associated with these illnesses.

 

Flu/influenza

Most people with the flu feel very tired and may have one or more of the following symptoms:

·         Fever or feeling feverish/having chills

·         Cough

·         Sore throat

·         Runny or stuffy nose

·         Muscle or body aches

·         Headaches

·         Fatigue

·         Vomiting/diarrhea (more common in children than adults)

COVID-19

COVID-19 has similar symptoms to other common illnesses. Symptoms may range from mild to severe. 

·         Fever or chills

·         Cough

·         Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

·         Fatigue

·         Muscle or body aches

·         Headache

·         New loss of taste or smell

·         Sore throat

·         Congestion or runny nose

·         Nausea or vomiting

·         Diarrhea

Please note:  Families may access free COVID-19 take-home test kits by contacting their child’s school office. 


Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

RSV usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, but RSV can be serious especially for infants and older adults. Symptoms usually appear in stages and not all at once and include:

Streptococcal Pharyngitis (Strep Throat)

In general, strep throat is a mild infection, but it can be very painful. The most common symptoms of strep throat include:

·         Sore throat that can start very quickly

·         Pain when swallowing

·         Fever

·         Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus

·         Petechiae—tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth

·         Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck

Other symptoms may include a headache, stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting—especially in children. Someone with strep throat may also have a rash; it is known as scarlet fever.

 

If you suspect your child or a family member is sick or has symptoms noted above, you are encouraged to contact your medical provider as soon as possible. If your child has any of the symptoms or is ill, please keep them home. Student who have been ill may return to school when they have a reduction in symptoms, and are fever free (100.4+) for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.


Preventative strategies include:

·         Obtaining the flu vaccination

·         Hand washing with soap and water

·         Using a tissue to cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing

·         Getting plenty of rest and fluids

·         Clean and disinfect hard surfaces and objects

·         Contact your family medical provider when symptoms appear

 

Your child’s medical information is kept confidential, so please call your child’s school office if they have been diagnosed with the flue/influenza, COVID-19, RSV or Strep Throat. Please feel free to contact Opal Hostert RN if you have any questions: ohostert@desoto.k12.wi.us   608-648-0104

 

Reference: CDC.gov

Updated:  12/15/2022

Tis the Season for School Music Programs

Prairie View Elementary--NEW DATE:  Wed, December 21:  The 3rd-5th grade program starts at 2:00 p.m. and the K-2nd grade program begins at 6:00 p.m. 

Stoddard Elementary--Tue, December 6 :  The 3rd-5th grade program is scheduled at 2:00 p.m. and the K-2nd grade  program begins at 5:30 p.m.

De Soto Middle/High School--Thu, December 8:  The Band and Choir Concert is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

WI Department of Health Service Free COVID Testing Kits

Free at-home test kits are available to all Wisconsin households. Each household is eligible to order one free package of five rapid antigen tests each month through this link: Say Yes COVID Test!      

Additionally, parents may request a free at-home kit for their school-age children by contact the their child's school office.  These kits are available as needed.


11/16/2022

WI Department of Health--Respiratory Virus Info

Data from the WI Department of Health Services (DHS) show respirator viruses are spreading in Wisconsin. People at the greatest risk of getting sick from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the influenza (flu), and COVID-19 include children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. DHS reports this is the first year these viruses are circulating simultaneously. 

People who are sick should talk to a doctor about getting tested for COVID-19, influenza, RSV, or other respiratory viruses. COVID-19 take home test kits are available for students at each school. Parents may contact the office if they would like a test kit sent home. 

Everyday actions can also prevent the spread of these viruses:

Resources are available on the WI DHS site:  www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/disease/rsv.htm

11/14/2022

Inclement Weather Information

As we enter into the winter months, please note the process that has been reviewed with our bus service in respect to inclement weather late starts, cancellations and early releases.

Morning Decision

During School

Decisions the Day Before

Communication Updates


9/12/2022

September--National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Helping cope with stress and providing resources to students is a wellness objective of the De Soto Area School District. Middle and High School students recently took part in a CESA 4 presentation on mental health specific to identifying and understanding stressors and coping techniques on the first day of school. District Staff have annual training which covers topics in Mental Health First Aid, Adolescent First Aid, Trauma Sensitive Schools, and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Resources are available to help those who are experiencing a crisis. These include 24/7 Crisis Lines:

9/1/2022

De Soto Area Schools Re-Opening Plan

The De Soto Area School District 2022-23 school year re-opening plan includes the latest CDC COVID-19 guidance for school districts. Click here for more information: De Soto Area 2022-23 School Year Plan

COVID POSITIVE

CLOSE EXPOSURES

MASKING

RE-OPENING READINESS

RAPID ANTIGEN TESTING

STAY HOME WHEN ILL

RESOURCES

Parents/Guardians should contact their medical provider, their county health department of the District's school nurse, Opal Hostert at 608-648-0104 or ohostert@desoto.k12.wi.us for questions regarding COVID-19.


5/31/2022

De Soto Area School's Upcoming Promotions

5/24/2022

Graduation Travel Route from the North

The Department of Transportation has confirmed that those traveling from La Crosse, Stoddard and north of Victory to attend the De Soto High School Graduation on Friday, May 27 at 7:00 p.m. may:

Please plan on a 45 minutes from Stoddard to De Soto.  Seniors are expected to arrive by 5:30 p.m. High School entrance doors open for families and the public at 6:00 p.m. 

Caring Thoughts For Robb Elementary School 

The unspeakable tragedy that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas is heartbreaking. As parents, teachers, and community members we extend our support and caring to the families who have lost a loved one due to this horrific and senseless act of violence.

We wish you to know that your children are precious to us. Our teachers, staff and school board, along with our Vernon County Sheriff's Office, are committed to maintaining safe and secure school environments where children can learn, thrive and grow knowing they area supported and cared for. We are also grateful for the partnership with the Sheriff’s Office who will be providing increased police presence in and around our schools for the remainder of the school year.

We recognize that children and teenagers will process information from media coverage in different ways, and that this can be a time of fear and anxiety for our students. Our Pupil Services team is able to assist students who may need some extra support and we encourage students and families to reach out as needed. Additionally, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers resources for families to support their children. Tips include:

 

Together, we share in caring and compassionate thoughts for the students, staff, and families of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District. As each day unfolds, please reach out to us if you are seeking resources and we will do our best to assist you.

5/23/2022

De Soto High School Graduation & Travel on Hwy 35

De Soto High School will hold Graduation on Friday, May 27 at 7:00 p.m. in the New Gym.  Please use the De Soto High School entrance on Main Street to enter the school. The doors will open at 6:00 p.m. for seating.   

Rehearsal:  Seniors will have rehearsal at 9:00 a.m. on Friday morning and will be expected to arrive by 5:30 p.m. prior to Graduation.

 The Department of Transportation has noted that those traveling south on Highway 35 may travel through 'local traffic only' areas to Cty Rd UU in Victory.  Take Cty Rd UU to  (Redmound Store) and turn west on Highway 82 to De Soto.  Plan for 45 minutes from the Stoddard area to De Soto Middle/High School. 


Review of District COVID-19 Plan Updated March 1, 2022



To read more scroll down to 2/28/2022 "District COVID-19 Plan Updated March 1"

Highway 35 Construction Update

The Department of Transportation reported that throughout the end of last week the crews were able to make some progress with culvert pipes. The culvert pipe located 1720' north of the Dairyland Power Cooperative entrance has been completed. The crew is now working on the pipe culvert 1690' south of Hwy 56 in Genoa. The pipe located at 1800' south of Mundsack Road and the pipe 2750' south of Heck's Point Road are anticipated to be completed by the end of the day, May 23. The pipe located 800'north of County Road UU is anticipated to be completed by May 24.  Work will then begin on the culvert pipe located 400' north of County Road UU with expected completion on May 26. 

Current Closure:  Box culvert just north of Zitzner Road.  Timeframe:  4/11-6/13     STH 35 will be impassable at this location for all vehicles.

4/10/2022 

Highway 35 Construction Update


4/5/2022

Highway 35 Construction Delayed Again

Road construction between Victory and De Soto on Highway 35 has been delayed until Monday morning, April 11. The highway will remain open the rest of this week. 

4/4/2022

Highway 35 Construction Update

The start of road construction on Highway 35 has been delayed one day. Highway 35 will remain open tomorrow, Tuesday, April 5  but will be closed between Victory and De Soto starting Wednesday, April 6. It's projected to reopen May 14. 

Please allow extra time for travel to and from school. Buses will continue with normal pick-up/drop-off locations but students and parents should anticipate a delay of 5 minutes on the afternoon drop-off.

4/3/2022

Highway 35 Construction

The following information has been made available to the De Soto Area School District regarding the upcoming HWY 35 construction:

Please allow additional time for travel to and from work and school and for sports and other school program activities.

De Soto District to Expand Rapid Antigen Testing Services to District Community Members

School districts that have offered COVID-19 Testing to students and staff have been asked by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to consider also serving the public by extending those services to their district residents. The De Soto District welcomes the opportunity to serve community members who live within the District's boundaries and will begin providing free Rapid Antigen COVID-19 tests on Monday, April 4.


The De Soto Area School District has provided free Rapid Antigen COVID-19 testing at each of our schools to students, staff and families since October 2021.  Starting April 4, the District will be offering free Rapid Antigen Testing to those who live in the District's communities as part of a community/school partnership program. This program is scheduled to continue through the month of July. Those interested in testing at one of the District's school are asked to call ahead for an appointment time. Testing takes approximately 15-minutes with results being known within 15-30 minutes. Testing will occur in a private area and students will not be exposed to a community member who is testing. Testing remains available to students and staff as well.

 

Expanding the testing program corresponds with a request from the WI Department of Health Services seeking Districts who are willing to provide this service in their communities. Districts will receive free testing kit supplies in order to provide the test at no cost to area residents. 

 

The De Soto Area School District feels launching the program at this time will be very helpful to area residents as they plan possible spring break trips and family gatherings over the upcoming Easter holiday adding to the safety of getting together. 


Testing will be available at all three school buildings and the public is asked to call the school in advance for a testing appointment.  


3/4/2022

Shelter in Place 'Soft' Lockdown for Students & Staff

The Vernon County Sherriff’s Office contacted the De Soto Area School District shortly after 10:00 a.m. on March 4 directing a lock down for all three school buildings as a precautionary measure. The District, at further direction from the Sheriff's Office, shifted to a 'soft' lockdown or Shelter in Place procedure in response to the Sheriff's Office investigating a suspicious person in coordination with other area law enforcement agencies. Updated information provided to the District from the Sheriff's Office indicated there were NO threats made to any De Soto Area School students, staff or facilities, and there were no criminal actions. The Sheriff's Office released the Shelter in Place directive at approximately 10:53 a.m. Students and staff returned to normal school day programming and activities.


Shelter in Place--A Shelter in Place procedures direct allow for students and staff to conduct classes and activities within school buildings. Classroom doors are locked and exterior and interior window shades are closed. No outside activities are permitted. Shelter in Place, by definition and by direction of the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office, does not allow for admittance into school buildings by any individual except law enforcement, or for individuals to exit out of the school buildings. Opening any exterior door would constitute a non-secure entrance jeopardizing the safety and security of those students and staff inside schools buildings. A Shelter in Place is recommended by law enforcement when there is no immediate danger to students/staff on a school campus; however all educational activities must occur indoors. All activities remain indoors until the Shelter in Place is lifted. 


Lock downs are initiated to keep students and staff safe and to bar campus entry. No one is allowed to enter or leave campus until lock downs are lifted. Parents/guardians and the media are asked not to call the school during lock downs as all phone lines must be kept open for vital communications. 


Communication--School Messenger emails and texts are used as the primary communication tool for parents/guardians. Information is communicated out to families as rapidly as possible with our first and immediate priority being to secure the safety of students and staff within our schools. 


Parents/Guardians who are not signed up to receive one or both of these communication formats are welcome to contact their child's school secretary to obtain information on how to register to receive these communications.


The District recognizes these incidents are alarming and concerning to our families, students, staff and the community. The District prioritizes the safety of our students and staff and to that end district employees participate in annual training with the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office and other area law enforcement and follows established guidelines and procedures for the safety of our students, staff and the community. 


Annually, safety training includes:  


If you have questions regarding lock down procedures at your school site, you are welcome to contact the school principal or the district administrator. 


Acknowledgements--The District commends our students and staff for following the Shelter in Place protocols and directions during this incident, and to our families for supporting our efforts to secure the safety of our students and staff. The District wishes to express our gratitude to the Vernon County Sheriff's Office and area law enforcement for their proactive and protective measures that ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and the community. 

2/28/2022

District COVID-19 Plan Updated March 1

The District recognizes that in-person and at-school instruction is the most effective learning method for students. Accordingly, the District has established wellness protocols that promote health, well-being and safety for our students and staff in all school learning environments.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic the administrative team and school board committees have engaged in ongoing data research resulting in a proactive and responsive mitigation plan adaptable to changing health factors and guidance from federal, state, and local agencies. This plan allows for the District to initiate a shift away from a pandemic response to a traditional health and wellness plan that focuses on keeping healthy students in-school and affirms established guidelines for when sick or ill students should remain home and/or seek health care from their family’s medical provider. 

District COVID-19 Plan Updated March 1, 2022:

 

The District will no longer actively engage in contact tracing students; however, the District, as able, will symptom check known school exposures. Parents/guardians of students who have symptoms will be notified and Rapid Antigen Testing offered. Parents/guardians will be asked to pick up students who feel ill regardless of a test outcome.

 

The District will continue to follow a layered prevention strategy which includes:

 

Health & Wellness Protocols

If your child is ill normal school protocols will be followed:

Parents/guardians should contact their local health care provider, the county health department, or our school nurse Opal Hostert with COVID-19 and health related questions, concerns or for more information. Opal may be reached at 608-648-0104 or by email:  ohostert@desoto.k12.wi.us


References:  CDC.gov and the WI Department of Health Services

2/26/2022

CDC Removes Mask Mandates for School Transportation

Effective February 25, the CDC released updated guidance no longer requiring masks to be worn on buses or vehicles operated by public school systems. Students transported by the District will not have to wear masks; as of February 26; however, masking remains optional by parent/student preference. 

2/10/2022

COVID-19 Symptom Screening

Parents/guardians are encouraged to screen their children for COVID-19 symptoms that may result from either known or unknown exposures to a positive case. Individuals with COVID-19 may have one or more of the following symptoms:

COVID-19, Influenza and Colds have similar symptoms. Please click on this link for a chart comparing symptoms and for additional information. COVID/FLU/COLD   

Free Rapid Antigen Testing is available for students, staff and families at all De Soto District schools by request.  All District schools are certified CLIA testing sites which provides timely and equitable health information to families promoting immediate access to health providers. School based testing allows for adjustment in prevention strategies and reduces risk of exposure and transmission. Parent/guardian consent forms are required in advance for students under the age of 18. Online registration also is required as the results either positive or negative are reported to the state Department of Health Services.  Contact your child's school for more information or the district's school nurse, Opal Hostert at 608-648-0104 or by email:  ohostert@desoto.k12.wi.us

De Soto H.S. Academic Honors Breakfast Program

De Soto High School students who achieved academic honors for the first semester of the 2021-22 school year will take part in a special breakfast recognition program on Friday, February 11 in the cafeteria.  Eighty-four high school students will receive certificates/awards in one of the following catagories:


2/1/2022

COVID-19 Testing: What You Need to Know

When to get tested for COVID-19:

A viral test tells you if you are infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, using samples that come from your nose or mouth. There are two types of viral tests: rapid tests and laboratory tests. A laboratory test, such as a PCR test, usually provides results in 1-3 days. Results are reliable for people with and without symptoms. A rapid test, such as an Antigen test, usually provides results in 15-30 minutes. Results may be less reliable for people without symptoms and follow-up test may be required.

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-⁠19 rapid Antigen tests. Order your tests now so you have them when you need them.

Reference:  cdc.gov

De Soto School District Follows CDC Test to Stay and 5/5 Isolation & Quarantine Guidance

The school district recognizes that it is in the best interest of all students to learn at-school and offers the following options for parents to consider when their child has had a close exposure at school.

 

CLOSE EXPOSURE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED


CLOSE EXPOSURE FOR STUDENTS WHO WERE COVID-19 POSITIVE WITHIN THE PAST 90 DAYS 

(School Must have received a copy of the verified positive test results for documentation)


CLOSE EXPOSURE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED

 

CLOSE EXPOSURE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED & WHO ELECT TO QUARANTINE AT HOME 


NEWLY CONFIRMED POSITIVES


NOTE:


1/6/2022

2nd COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for 5-11 Year Olds

The Vernon County Health Department will offer the 2nd COVID vaccine clinic for De Soto Area School District students ages 5-11 years old. The clinic will be held at Stoddard Elementary School on Friday, January 7 starting at 9:30 a.m. Students from Prairie View Elementary and De Soto Middle School who are age eligible to receive the vaccine will be transported by school bus to Stoddard Elementary School.

The District wishes to express their sincerest appreciation to the Vernon County Health Department nursing staff for their committment to keeping children healthy and providing families with school-based vaccination opportunities.

12/30/2021

DHS Urges Public Health Practices as Omicron Cases Increase

As students return to school in January, Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is asking all Wisconsin parents and guardians to take action to help slow the spread of Omicron and keep children safe in schools. DHS urges parents and guardians to: 

“With Omicron cases surging in Wisconsin and schools returning from holiday break next week, there is considerable concern that the number of children becoming infected with COVID-19 will increase – having major ripple effects for community transmission and COVID-19 hospitalizations.” said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, Chief Medical Officer and State Epidemiologist. “All Wisconsinites have a responsibility to help protect the health and well-being of children, especially those who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated or receive a booster dose, by engaging in layered COVID-19 mitigation strategies.”

As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 circulates throughout the country, states have seen an increase in the number of pediatric hospitalizations associated with COVID-19. Although pediatric hospitalization levels remain stable in Wisconsin, children 18 years and younger make up the largest proportion of new daily COVID-19 cases in the state. DHS is watching data from other states closely. While preliminary data suggests the Omicron variant may cause milder illness compared to the Delta variant, the highly contagious nature is increasing the overall number of infections, thus increasing the number of hospitalizations, including pediatric cases. The Delta variant also continues to be in wide circulation in Wisconsin and is a major contributor to COVID-19 hospitalizations.

"We know how important in-person instruction is for our learners, families, and our communities," said State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly. "Keeping our schools open at this critical moment is the right choice, but it requires a collective effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 – this means getting vaccinated, wearing a mask, and following testing and safety protocols. We all have to do our part to make sure our learners and educators can maintain safe and healthy classrooms."

On December 20, DHS issued a public health advisory calling on all Wisconsinites to take urgent action to prevent additional hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19. We all have a critical role to play in stopping the spread. To find a COVID-19 vaccine provider in your community, visit Vaccines.gov , or call 211 or 877-947-2211. For up-to-date information about Wisconsin’s COVID-19 response, visit the DHS COVID-19 webpage. We encourage you to follow @DHSWI on Facebook , Twitter , or dhs.wi on Instagram  for more information on COVID-19.

12/21/2021

Test to Stay Option Available for School-Based Close Exposures

Parents/guardians of students who have had a school-based exposure or have been contact traced to a school-based positive case now have a Test to Stay option as part of the District's COVID-19 mitigation and prevention strategies. The School Board, at the December meeting, approved the administration's proposed Test to Stay option which had been previously reviewed by the Board's Policy Committee and recommended for Board action. 

Test to Stay (TTS) is a practice comprised of contact tracing, serial testing (testing that is sequentially repeated), and masking to allow school-associated close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to continue in-person at-school learning during a defined quarantine period. The CDC recognizes that schools using TTS will in effect minimize the impact of quarantine and limit school absences after a SARS-CoV-2 exposure in the K-12 school setting. COVID data trends support the move to Test to Stay allowing healthy students who are not experiencing symptoms and who test negative to remain in school following a school-based exposure.

 When families are informed of a school-based exposure they may choose from:

All District schools are certified CLIA testing sites which provides timely and equitable health information to families promoting immediate access to health providers. School based testing allows for adjustment in prevention strategies and reduces risk of exposure and transmission.

Test to Stay Process

If a student is at school at the time the family is informed of a possible school-based exposure to a positive case:

If time does not allow for the test to be done at school or the parent/guardian prefers to test at an alternative location:

12/16/2021

TikTok Posts Warn of Acts of Violence to U.S. Schools

The De Soto School District is aware of a troubling post that has been circulated on the social media platform TikTok. The post refers to a threat to school safety ‘for every school in the USA, even elementary,” on Friday, December 17. The post appears to be part of a national TikTok trend and did NOT originate in our school district.

 

The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office has been in contact with administration and along with our staff will be closely monitoring the situation and taking all threats seriously. “If you see or hear something, tell someone” is essential in preventing any act of violence. All threats, even jokes about threats, are taken seriously by the Sheriff’s Office and our school district. Even if they are not credible threats, the school and Sheriff’s Office will respond and investigate with potential consequences for any perpetrator ranging from citations to criminal charges and expulsion from the school district. Those with information on a potential threat are asked to inform the:

 

We are very appreciative of the support and collaboration from the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office, and as an added measure to ensure safety, Sheriff deputies will be at Prairie View and Stoddard elementary schools and De Soto Middle/High School at times during the day.

 

It is truly unfortunate that the potential for using social media tools to benefit society is offset by posts that are reprehensible, disruptive, and also cause a great deal of stress and anxiety to our students, families, staff and the community. We ask our families to monitor their children’s social media activity and speak with them about proper and appropriate online behavior and posts.

 

We express our appreciation to our families, staff, and community for their partnership in ensuring a safe and positive learning environment for our students.

12/13/2021

Required Form for 5-11 Year Old COVID-19 Vaccines

The Vernon County Health Department will be offering vaccines to De Soto Area School District students for ages 5-11 years old . The clinic will be held at Stoddard Elementary School on Thursday, December 16 at 9:00 a.m. Students from Prairie View Elementary and De Soto Middle School who are age eligible to receive the vaccine will be transported by school bus to Stoddard Elementary School.

Families who wish their 5-11 year old child(ren) to receive the COVID-19 vaccine should review the linked information and must complete the Pfizer Screening Form and turn this form into their child's school by Tuesday, December 14.  Forms may also be faxed or emailed.

Link:  Parent/Guardian Information Letter  

Link:  Required Screening Form--Turn in to Schools on Tue, Dec 14

Link:  Vaccine Fact Sheet 

Link:  Clinic Flier at Stoddard Elementary

12/8/2021

COVID Vaccine Available to Elementary Students at School

The De Soto School District has been working with the Vernon County Health Department to offer COVID-19 vaccination clinics to families with children age 5 to 11 years old. The survey response from De Soto Area School District parents indicating their preference for a school vaccination site was very strong, and the District appreciates the Health Department working with our school nurse Opal Hostert to make COVID-19 vaccines available at a school site to families who wish this preventative measure for their children.

The first of a series of two vaccines will be offered at the vaccination clinic held on December 16 at one of the District's elementary schools. A decision on which elementary school will be the clinic site will be announced soon. The second vaccine will be offered in early January with a date to be determined.

Children ages 5-11 who are registered from other school locations (elementary and De Soto Middle) will be transported by school bus to the elementary school clinic site.  

Please weatch for more informaiton to be sent in the next couple of days regarding the school site for the vaccination clinic and required forms to complete and return to register your child. 

Please note that as with all school vaccination clinics, if a child refuses to receive the vaccine for whatever reason, it will not be administered regardless of parent permission. Parents/guardians who feel their child may be overly anxious are welcome to be present but will be asked to wear a mask.

Please contact Jackie Kreuzer at the District Office for questions about registering at jkreuzer@desoto.k12.wi.us or 608-648-0102.

The District encourages parents/guardians to contact their child's medical provider, the county health department or our school nurse Opal Hostert for questions, concerns or more information pertaining to the vaccine or any COVID-19 related issue.  

11/22/2021

Sharing Support & Resources

In the wake of what happened in Waukesha local and state resources are available to support parents/guardians as they help their children cope with tragedy. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is providing resources for families and teachers to help young children and young adults process the traumatic events which occurred at this link:  Resources for Families 

Additional support is available through the Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990. The national hotline is dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling 24/7, 365 days-a-year for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster.  Other Crisis Support Lines:

Pre-School--Parent resources for talking with pre-school age children regarding scary events. Click on links:  Parents & Pre-Schoolers  and Spanish Parents & Pre-Schooler

Elementary--For elementary aged children the Raising Caring Kids series might be helpful in helping children process how they and others are feeling. Also  A Little Caring Goes a Long Way  might be fitting. There is also a video about Responding to Scary Events   

Parents may also find this article from 2018 help teenagers process these or other traumatic events at this link:  teens about terrorism and mass violence  

Resource Reference:  Crawford County Extension and WI Department of Public Instruction

CDC Expands eligibility for COVID-19 Booster to All Adults

People age 18 years and older who received Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may get a booster six months after completion of their primary vaccination series. The CDC's recommendations now allow for individuals to choose which COVID-19 vaccine they receive as a booster shot, either the original or a different booster. 

There are multiple ways to  find a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot:

Reference:  'How Do I Find a COVID-19 Vaccine?' at:  www.cdc.gov

Giving Tree

De Soto High School's Student Activity Council (SAC) will again sponsor the annual Giving Tree. Ornaments will be hung on school trees with the needed and hoped for items on the wish list of students. Individuals may select an oranament and return presents by Monday, December 13. Financial donations are needed to support the many requests received for clothing, winter boots and coats, and presents on student's wish lists.

Those able to donate financial resources are asked to make the donation to Holmen High School with Giving Tree in the memo by December 13 to allow time for purchasing and delivering gifts. Please drop off or mail your donation to Scott Kelly (SAC Advsior) at De Soto High School, 615 Main Street, De Soto, WI 54624.

11/5/2021

CDC Vaccination of Children and Adolescents

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on the health and well-being of children. While children and adolescents are less likely to develop severe COVID-19 compared to older adults, severe illness (i.e., hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, death), and complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection (e.g., MIS-C, post-COVID conditions) do occur in this population. Among children and adolescents with severe COVID-19, no identifiable risk factor, such as an underlying medical condition, has been reported for approximately one third of cases. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 infection or exposure results in other negative impacts, such as school absences and social isolation.

COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and adolescents

Children and adolescents aged 5–17 years are recommended to receive the age-appropriate formulation of a COVID-19 primary vaccine series. At this time, the 2-dose Pfizer-BioNTech primary series is the only FDA-approved or FDA-authorized vaccine for children and adolescents aged 5–17. Although many children and adolescents may have experienced prior SARS-CoV-2 infectionpdf icon  COVID-19 primary vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 5 years and older, regardless of a history of underlying medical conditions, symptomatic or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, or seropositivity.   

Data from clinical trials in children indicate that Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines can be given safely to children with evidence of a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Data, predominately from adults, suggests that protection from SARS-CoV-2 reinfection is high after initial infection but decreases with time due to waning immunity. Growing epidemiologic evidence from adults and adolescents indicates that vaccination following infection further increases protection from subsequent infection, including in the setting of increased circulation of more infectious variants. Serologic testing to assess for prior infection is not recommended for the purpose of vaccine decision-making. More information on vaccination after SARS-CoV-2 infection can be found here.

Moderately and severely immunocompromised persons aged ≥12 years (Pfizer-BioNTech recipients) or ≥18 years (Moderna recipients) should receive an additional primary dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine administered for the primary series. Currently, an additional primary dose in children aged 5–11 years with moderate and severe immune compromise is not recommended.

Booster doses are not recommended for people <18 years of age.

Children and adolescents may be vaccinated with appropriate consent and assent. Sites administering COVID-19 vaccines should follow current state/jurisdictional policies and practices for other routine vaccinations in this age group.

Dosing and formulation

Children should receive the age-appropriate vaccine formulation regardless of their size or weight. Children aged 5–11 years should receive the 10 µg Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (orange cap) formulation and adolescents aged ≥12 years should receive the 30 µg Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (purple cap) formulation or COMIRNATY. In contrast to many medications, vaccine dosages (for COVID-19 vaccines and for other routinely recommended vaccines) are based on age and not size or weight.  Different dosages are evaluated during vaccine development to determine the lowest effective dose for the target age group. Clinical trials evaluate various dosing regimens to determine the best dosage and schedule that produces an adequate immune response which is both safe and effective.

Children should receive the vaccine dosage and formulation based on their age on the day of vaccination with each dose. If a child turns 12 years old between their first and second dose, they should receive the age-appropriate 30 µg Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (purple cap) formulation or COMIRNATY for their second dose to complete their series. However, the FDA authorization allows children who will turn from 11 years to 12 years of age between their first and second dose in the primary regimen to receive, for either dose, either: (1) the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine formulation for children aged 5–11 years (each 0.2 ml dose containing 10 µg in an orange cap vial); or (2) COMIRNATY or the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine formulation authorized for use in individuals 12 years of age and older (each 0.3 mL dose containing 30 mcg in a purple cap vial). If such dosing occurred, the child is considered fully vaccinated. This is not considered an error and VAERS reporting is not indicated.

Reactogenicity and adverse events

Available safety and immunogenicity data for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines in children and adolescents are similar to those seen in young adults. Local and systemic reactions following vaccination are less frequent in children aged 5–11 years compared with young adults aged 16–25 years.

Syncope (fainting) may occur in association with any injectable vaccine, especially in adolescents. Procedures should be in place to prevent falling injuries and manage syncopal reactions. People should be seated or lying down during vaccination. Vaccination providers, particularly when vaccinating adolescents, should consider observing vaccine recipients for 15 minutes after vaccination to decrease the risk for injury should they faint. If syncope develops, patients should be observed until symptoms resolve.

Myocarditis is a rare, serious adverse event that has been reported after receipt of the second dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, with the highest risk currently observed in males aged 12–29 years. FDA has authorized and ACIP and CDC have recommended Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines in children aged 5–11 years and adolescents aged 12–17 years based on the determination that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh risks in these populations. More information on myocarditis and COVID-19 vaccination can be found here.

Reference: CDC website:  Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Approved or Authorized in the United States.

11/3/2021

Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine Approved for Children 5-11 Years

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)  approved Emergency Use Authorization for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for use in children 5-11 years old yesterday, November 2, 2021. The WI Department of Health Services  (DHS) has shared with the WI Department of Public Instruction  (DPI) steps that need to occur before use of the vaccine in Wisconsin by vaccinators.

The DHS is awaiting word of official approval and sign off by the CDC director. When that happens DHS will wait for the clinical considerations to be published. DHS needs to update policies and procedures for local and tribal health departments and the standing medical order in the state needs to be amended. In addition, attestation by providers as to the completion of training needs to occur before a provider can begin to vaccinate children. These steps could happen within the next 24-48 hours. Training completion is up to each provider so the timeline for individual vaccinators being ready to begin vaccinations may vary across the state.

The Vernon County Health Department will hold an informational meeting for county school district superintendents today at 1:00 p.m. 

10/26/2021

Vaccination Clinic--De Soto Lutheran Church

The De Soto Lutheran Church will offer a free to the public vaccination clinic on Thursday, October 28 from 3:00-7:00 PM. The Pfizer vaccine will be offered for 12 years and older, the Johnson & Johnson--one dose--will be offered for those 18 years and older. 

The Pfizer Booster Shot will also be offered to eligible groups:

Rapid Antigen and PCR Tests Available at De Soto, Prairie View & Stoddard Schools

The District has implemented the COVID-19 testing program. Rapid Antigen and PCR tests are available at no-cost for staff and students at De Soto Middle/High School,  Prairie View Elementary, and Stoddard Elementary. 

Rapid Antigen Test --The Rapid Antigen test is used for someone who does not have any symptoms. The Antigen test requires a small swab be inserted inside the nose opening with the swab rotated inside the nasal area. The process is repeated in the other nostril.  The Antigen test detects protein fragments specific to the Coronavirus. Results are available after 15-minutes. The swab is then appropriately discarded as biohazardous waste. 

The PCR Test--The PCR test is used for someone who has symptoms. It may also be used by someone who has no symptoms as it is condidered the 'gold standard' in SARS-CoV-2 detection. The PCR test requires a small swab  be inserted inside the nose opening with the swab rotated inside the nasal area. The process is repeated in the other nostril. The PCR test is sent to Accelerated Labs assigned by the WI Department of Health Services to our District. The PCR test actually detects RNA, genetic material specific to the Coronavirus, and information on the result can take 2 or more days. 

10/18/21

Jostens Sophomore Rings & Senior Cap & Gown Fitting 

Jostens will be a De Soto High School on Thursday, November 18. Sophomores will receive informationon class rings, different ring styles, proper sizing, and ordering processes. Sophomores should report to the Library at 11:15 a.m. for information. 

Seniors will receive information on how to place onlline orders for caps, gowns, tassels, invitations and other graduation related items. Jostens will also assist seniors with measuring for gown sizes. Seniors should report to the Library at 11:30 a.m. 

Brad Hurtig to Speak at De Soto Middle/High School

Brad Hurtig, a nationally known presenter from Relevant Speakers Network, will be a featured speaker at De Soto Middle/High School on Tuesday, October 20. Brad's message is centered around the theme Find A Way which was a direction he had to take in life after overcoming a devastating injury resulting in the amputation of both hands. Within months of losing his hands, Brad rejoined his high school football team, and two seasons later he regained his starting linebacker position and earned First-Team All-Ohio honors. 

Brad has been featured on ESPN and in The New York Times. He has also been a featured TEDx speaker and now travels the country sharing his message of Find A Way.

10/7/21

Quarantine Information for Families

We would like to take this opportunity to provide information to our families that we hope will be helfpufl during quarantine periods.

Medically Excused Quarantine Periods

 

Remote Online Virtual Learning

 

Quarantine Suspension for Positive Cases

 

Fully Vaccinated

 

Positive Case Quarantine—CDC 10 Days

 

Contact Traced Reduced Quarantine Period—CDC 7-Days

Parents/guardians may elect the CDC 7-Day quarantine. Students who wish to return after the 7-Day quarantine on day 8 are eligible:

 

Contract Traced Quarantine Period—CDC 14-Days

 

Upcoming Quarantine Ending Dates


The District recommends parents/guardians contact their medical provider, the county health department or our school nurse with questions, concerns or if more information is needed. Our sincerest hope is that every child and their family remains healthy through quarantine periods. Please let us know how we can be of assistance.

9/26/2021--Updated 10/7/21

Area Vaccination Clinics 

Every Thursday:  The Vernon County Health Department provides COVID-19 vaccinations each Thursday at the Health Department located at 318 Fairlane Drive, Viroqua, WI  54665.  The Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine is for ages 12 years and older. Anyone under the age of 18 must have a signed consent form by a parent or guardian. 

Multiple appointments are available in 5-minute time blocks on Thursdays each week. Those interested in receiving a vaccine need to use the online form to schedule  their appointment at:  hipaa.jotform.com/211436237076150 

October 7:  De Soto Lutheran Church is holding a vaccination clinic from 3:00-7:00 p.m. with a follow up clinic on October 28 at the same times.  Flier Link:

October 13:  Vernon County Health Department COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Viroqua Church of Christ from 9am-5pm.  The clinic will offer first, second, and booster doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.  Please register online:  https://form.jotform.com/212696508963165

9/13/2021

$100 Incentive to Get Vaccinated

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is promoting a $100 incentive for eligible individuals to get their first dose of any COVID-19 vaccine through September 19, 2021.  Interested eligible individuals can view information at:  100.wisconsin.gov or call 844-684-1064 for more information. 

8/27/2021 (updated 9/13/2021)

Summary of School Day Mitigation Efforts & Information

The District is again instituting layered mitigation practices and retains the right to add or reduce those practices based on health indicators in our schools and communities throughout the 2021-22 school year.  This communication is intended to serve as a brief summary of key areas in the reopening plan:

Mask/Face Covering--Masks/face coverings are recommended mitigation practice that parents/guardians have the option to chose reflecting their assessment of their child's health and well-being inclusive of social, emotional, mental health, and other individual needs. 

School Transportation Mask/Face Covering--The CDC requires masks be worn on public transportation by drivers and passengers. This includes school bus and vehicle transportation. Students and drivers (with passengers) are required to wear masks/face coverings.

Physical Distancing--Classrooms will be set up with 3' separation of desk seating whenever feasible. Group classroom desk/table seating will retain Plexiglas dividers. Short duration activity seating typical of 4k-1st grade may be closer than 3' when not using desk/tables.

Hand Washing & Personal Hygiene--Hand washing will be prioritized with students instructed to hand wash frequently. Hand sanitizers will be provided as back-up in classrooms, and in large group areas and entrances. Students will be encouraged to cough or sneeze using Kleenex and then hand wash.

Cleaning/Disinfecting--CDC/EPA approved cleaners will be utilized with ongoing daily focus on high touch surfaces and shared objects.

Ventilation--The District annually inspects HVAC systems and is investing in school systems to optimize fresh air circulation. Ionizers are installed in rough top units and portable ionizers as used in health room locations to optimize ventilation.

Stay Home When Sick--Students should stay home when ill and not return to school until  fever free for 24-hours without the use of fever reducing medications, and symptoms have improved.  Families should monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and if present follow the advice of their health care provider or their county health department regarding COVID-19 testing, and relevant quarantine periods and return to school recommendations. 

COVID-19 Positive Quarantine Period--Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 should follow quarantine orders from their Health Department  or medical provider, returning to school after 10-days, fever free for 24-hours without the use of fever reducing medication, and symptoms have improved.

Close Contact/Contact Traced Quarantine Period--The following information pertains to quarantine periods for both vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals who have been contact traced. The District is following the CDC guidance which provides for a 7-Day reduced quarantine period  option with appropriate guidelines followed. Parents/guardians may choose to have their contact traced child follow a 14-day quarantine period and should consult their health care provider or county health department of information on quarantine periods.

7-Day Quarantine Minimum Required for Non-Vaccinated Individuals

Student-Athlete Quarantine Information-- A summary sheet is available to student/athletes and families regarding quarantine periods. The District is following CDC guidance that allows for a reduced quarantine period when specific guidelines are followed. Click on this link:  De Soto Student/Parent Athlete COVID-19 Quarantine Information

CDC Contact Tracing Quarantine Exception--The CDC recently made an exception for Close Contact in the K-12 Indoor Classroom Setting. If students are within 3'-6' of one another, and both the infected student and exposed student(s) are correctly and consistently wearing well-fitting masks the entire time the exposed students will not need to quarantine based on contact tracing. 

School PCR & Rapid Antigen Testing--The District is working with the WI Department of Health Services in efforts to identify COVID-19 cases earlier and reduce community spread through the voluntary and free of charge PCR and Antigen Testing Program. The District will implement this additional mitigation strategy providing PCR/Rapid Antigen Testing at each school building. Schools will offer the student 'self-administered' tests with parent permission for those under the age of 18 and with communication to parents for those 18 and older. If a child is unwilling, in any way, to 'self-administer' the test, the test will not be given at school, even though parent permission may have been provided. The District is also working with the test vendor in expectation of offering the option for test kits to be sent home for parent supervised student 'self-administration.' Parents who utilize school-based testing kits are expected to report those results to their child's school. School-based testing results are required to be reported to the county health department.

Vaccination Clinics--The District is committed to collaborative efforts with the Vernon County Health Department (VCHD) to offer school-based vaccination clinics for age and health eligible students, families, staff and the community. The District has advocated on behalf of our students and will coordinate a school-based vaccination clinic with the VCHD for children under the age of 12 when the COVID-19 vaccinations are authorized for this age group.

Instructional Models--The District will provide in-person classroom instruction beginning on the first day of school, September 1. The District also offers the option for parents to enroll their child in the De Soto Virtual Charter School. Students who are under a quarantine period due to testing COVID-19 positive or are contact traced per notification of the county health department will be provided the Remote Learning Option. Food service will be available to students who during their quarantine period.

Continuity of Service--Educational and support services will be provided to ensure students who have IEP's or 504 plans have their plans met while on quarantine or receive supplemental services at an appropriate time.

Athletic and Activities--The District will conduct activities in accordance with WIAA and other host program recommendations in order to provide ongoing educational and extra-curricular program activities for our students. A summary sheet is available to student/athletes and families regarding quarantine periods. The District is following CDC guidelines that allows for a reduced quarantine period when specific guidelines are followed. Click on this link:  De Soto Student/Parent Athlete COVID-19 Quarantine Information

COVID-19 & Contact Traced Communication--The District appreciates parent notification of any student who has tested COVID-19 Positive or who has been contact traced. This information will be verified by communication from county health departments. The District will assist county health departments in identifying potential contact traced individuals from school exposures. The school will have available COVID-19 information for families; however, families should contact their health care provider or county health department for information and questions.

8/25/2021

WI Health Care Providers & Physicians Open Letter

For your information a letter from health care providers and physicians was distributed to the news media on 8/25/2021. Click on the link to read: WI Health Care Providers Open Letter 

8/23/2021

Prevention & Mitigation Efforts for Upcoming School Year

2021-22 School Reopening Plan-The School Board approved the 2021-22 school year reopening plan which included layered mitigation efforts in our schools; however, controlling the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious illnesses also depends on efforts to control the spread of diseases outside of the school environment as well.  Click here for plan link and summary information link:  Approved 2021-22 School Reopening Plan and Plan Summary 

COVID-19 vaccination for those medically and age eligible is considered by the CDC the #1 preventative strategy.  The District will support families, students, staff and the community to schedule vaccination clinics in our schools with the Vernon County Health Department (VCHD). The VCHD has indicated they will come to schools when there are 40 or more individuals registered to receive a vaccine or when vaccines become available to the under 12-age group. The VCHD offers weekly vaccination clinics at their Viroqua location and interested individuals must register in advance on the VCHD's online website.  

Wearing masks/face coverings remains highly recommended by state and county health departments, and  local health providers. The District's approved plan allows for the parent option to choose to have their child wear a mask/face covering or not. Link to:  Health Provider Letter

CDC Releases Exception for Contact Tracing-The CDC has recently made an exception for Close Contact in the K-12 Indoor Classroom Setting.  If students are within 3'-6' of one another, regardless of the length of time, and both the infected student and exposed student(s) are correctly and consistently wearing well-fitting masks the entire time the exposed students will not need to quarantine based on contact tracing.

CDC information:  'COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplets travel into the air when you cough, sneeze, talk, shout, or sing. These droplets can then land in the mouths or noses of people who are near an infected person or they may breathe these droplets in.  Masks are a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from reaching others. Studies show that masks reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth. The CDC recommends wearing masks, even if not sick. This is because several studies have found that people with COVID-19 who never develop symptoms (asymptomatic) and those who are not yet showing symptoms (pre-symptomatic) can still spread the virus to other people. Wearing a mask helps protect those around you, in case you are infected but not showing symptoms.'

8/14/202

Online Student Registration Information Mailed

We are excited to share with our families that the District is moving to an online student registration process through PowerSchool Parent Connect. This will provide parents/guardians with the ability to complete registration for their child(ren) at their convenience prior to the start of the school year.

Information and directions on completing the online process was mailed August 10, one per household.  If you did not receive the mailing by Monday, August 16, please contact your child(ren)'s school office. Questions may also be directed to building secretaries. Click on this link for a copy of the mailed letter without personal identification:  Reference Online Student Registration 

For parents who prefer to complete the registration process in writing, hard copies forms will be made available by request to your building secretaries.   

Assistance in completing online registration will be available from 4:30-7:30 p.m. during the Back to School Night held at each school on Wed, Aug 25. Alternative dates and times for assistance may be scheduled with building secretaries if needed. 

Back to School Night--Wed, Aug 25

School Board Reviews for Approval School Reopening Plan & ESSER Fund Utilization

The De Soto School Board will review for approval the school year reopening plan at their regular meeting on Mon. Aug 16. The meeting is open to the public and also available by clicking on the meeting link found on the District's webpage:  www.desoto.k12.wi.us 

The Virtual Town Hall Meeting regarding the reopening plan and planned utilization for ESSER funds which was held on Mon, Aug 9 is available for view on YouTube. Go to the District's website homepage, scroll to the bottom and click on the red box with the red arrow. 

Click on the links for the PowerPoint presentations:  2021-22 School Reopening Plan and ESSER Fund Utilization

For more information contact your child(ren)'s building secretary, principal or the District Office.

Upcoming Dates

Student Picture Dates

Student Picture Retake Dates

8/2/2021

Vernon County National Night Out

The Vernon County Health Department is providing a COVID-19 vaccination clinic during the National Night Out event. Vaccinations will be available at the Vernon County Fairgrounds in the Vernon Memorial Healthcare Expo Center.  The Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine is for ages 12 years and older. Anyone under the age of 18 must have a signed consent form by a parent or guardian.  Online registration is required:  https://hipaa.jotform.com/212004861664148

COVID-19 Vaccines--Leading Prevention Strategy

Getting vaccinated prevents severe illness and is considered the foremost preventative mitigation strategy against COVID-19. The  WI Department of Health Services encourages anyone age 12 and older to get their COVID-19 vaccination now, so they will be protected against COVID-19 in time for the 2021-22 school year. For children ages 12 and up, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the only vaccine currently available for this age group. The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses, spaced 21 days apart. Anyone ages 18 and up is eligible for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which also requires two doses, spaced 28 days apart. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is also authorized for those ages 18 years and up, but only requires one does. Full protection against the virus requires an additional two weeks after receiving the final dose for each of the three vaccines.  In order to be full vaccinated by September 6, eligible students and adults should receive their  

WI State Department of Health--Learn the Facts:  https://hipaa.jotform.com/212004861664148

CDC COVID-19:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/vaccine-benefits.html

The Vernon County Health Department offers free weekly vaccination clinics on Thursdays from 9-11:00 am. The Health Department is located at 318 Fairlane Drive, Virqoua, WI.  Online appointments are required . For assistance call:  608-637-5251.


7/23 2021

STUDENT REGISTRATION ONLINE PROCESS

We are excited to share with our families that the District is moving to an online student registration process through PowerSchool Parent Connect. This will provide parents/guardians with the ability to complete registration for their child(ren) at their convenience prior to the start of the school year.

There will not be an in-person registration process on Mon, Aug 9. Instead information and directions on completing the online process will be mailed out the week of August 9-13. Questions may be directed to building secretaries. Assistance in completing online registration will be available from 4:30-7:30pm during the Back to School Night held at each school on Wed, Aug 25. Alternative dates and times for assistance may be scheduled with building secretaries if needed. 

For parents who prefer to complete the registration process in writing, hard copies forms will be made available by request to your building secretaries.   

Upcoming Dates

Mon, July 26--Jump Start Summer School Program--Prairie View & Stoddard 

Mon, Aug 9--Virtual Town Hall Meeting--School Reopening Plan--6:30pm via district website link:  www.desoto.k12.wi.us

Week of Aug 9--Stoddard Surround Care Information Available--Contact Stoddard Elementary

Week of Aug 9-13--Online Registration Information emailed and mailed

Wed, Aug 25--Back to School Night at each school building

Wed, Sept 1--First Day of School--K-12th grades & Prairie View 4K

Thu, Sept 2--Stoddard 4K First Day of School

Student School Picture Dates--7:30am-2:30pm

Student Picture Dates

Student Picture Retake Dates


6/25/2021

De Soto HS Student Survey for 2021-22 School Reopening& ESSER Funding Planning

Students who will be 91th-12th grade this upcoming school year received survey links to their school G-mail account today. Students feedback is valued and will aide in planning for the 2021-22 School Year Reopening and the usage of ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funding. 

The District is seeking feedback perspectives from stakeholders as planning for the next year is developed. Additional opportunities will be via public open meetings, the Virtual Town Hall, and as always through emails, U.S. Postal Service, phone contact or in-person meetings as is the preference by those contributing comments or ideas.

Upcoming Dates for School Reopening & ESSER Plan Information & Feedback

The District will continue ongoing assessment of public health conditions throughout the summer months. The District reserves the right to adjust safety, health and wellness protocols as needed to ensure our schools are safe for students, staff and visitors.  

6/21/2021

District Discussions for 2021-22 School Reopening & ESSER Fund Planning

The District values feedback and has initiated survey opportunities this month for stakeholders. Parents/Guardians who have signed up for School Messenger will receive a survey link by email on June 21 to provide feedback towards the development of the 2021-22 School Reopening Plan,  and a link for feedback pertaining to the use of ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funding available to school districts. We also welcome feedback via email, US Postal Service, phone calls or in-person. We appreciate the time to complete surveys and connecting with us as we move forward into the 2021-22 school year!

Parents/Guardians who did not receive the link  by School Messenger may contact Jackie in the District Office at 608-648-0102 or by email:  jkreuzer@desoto.k12.wi.us  for a hard copy of the survey or a link to take the survey on line.

The downward trend in COVID-19 positive cases in our county and surrounding areas has been very encouraging. The District has initiated phasing-out COVID-19 protocols in preparation for the new school year starting with Summer School where routines have been implemented more typical of pre-COVID school days. The District will continue ongoing assessment of public health conditions throughout the summer months. The District reserves the right to adjust safety, health and wellness protocols as needed to ensure our schools are safe for students, staff and visitors.  

Upcoming Dates for School Reopening & ESSER Plan Information & Feedback

COVID-19 References:


 6/16/2021

COVID-19 Vaccination (2nd Shot) Clinic--Fri, June 18

Students and community members who received their first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at De Soto Middle/High School on Friday, May 28 are scheduled for their second vaccination on Friday, June 18 at 1:00 p.m. in the Oldy Gym.  Students will need to bring their original screening form or can print off and bring a copy from this link:  Screening Form

The clinic is for second vaccinations only. Those wanting to be vaccinated for the first time will not be able to do so this Friday.

Vernon County Health Department Vaccination Clinics

The Health Department holds COVID-19 vaccination clinics every Thursday in Viroqua. Those 12 and older interested in being vaccinated may register online for available dates and times:  https://hipaa.jotform.com/211436237076150

Division of Extension Institute of Health Well-Being

The Division of Extension Institute of Health and Well-Being is hosting a virtual town hall for youth, families, and community-based service agencies and organizations about the COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 12 and older.  Town Hall Meeting Info Link


5/20/21

Pfizer Vaccination Clinic at De Soto MS/HS FRI, May 28

The Vernon County Health Department will offer a Pfizer vaccination clinic at De Soto MS/HS on Friday, May 28. The clinic will start at 1:00 p.m. and those wishing to be vaccinated must register online in advance:  https://hipaa.jotform.com/211395086188160

12 Years & Older Vaccinations--Fri, May 28

Please contact the Vernon County Health Department at 608-637-5251 or De Soto MS/HS at 608-648-0100.

5/18/2021

De Soto H.S. Prom--UPDATED 5/20/21

The De Soto High School junior class has planned this year's Prom which will occur on Saturday, May 22. from 7:00-10:00 p.m. The cost is $3 for single admission and $5 for couple admission. The dance will take place in an outdoor tent in the De Soto Middle School Parking lot on the east side of the building.  Masks/face coverings are required of all participants and staff.

ENTRANCE TO PROM

The Junior Court Coronation will occur in the New Gym at 8:30 p.m. 

Parents of Prom attendees are encouraged to take pictures in advance of prom at home, at other community locations, or outside De Soto High School by the Marquee sign.  


5/17/2021

De Soto H.S. & De Soto Virtual Charter School Graduation Info

We are looking forward to the upcoming graduation ceremony for De Soto High School and De Soto Virtual Charter School graduates. The graduation ceremony  will take place on Friday, May 28 at 7:00 p.m. in the De Soto Middle/High School New Gymnasium and will also be broadcast live from the District's homepage:  www.desoto.k12.wi.us.  

Students may have up to 4 guests in the New Gymnasium. We understand there may be more family members who may not have access  to watch the live virtual broadcast from the District website. Each graduate may have an additional 4 guests who will be seated in the Old Gym to watch the virtual broadcast on the big screen.  There are no transfers of un-used tickets accepted. Masks /face coverings will be required of all guests, graduates and staff. 

The following are reminders for seniors and their families:

Congratulations to all our seniors!  We are so very proud of your accomplishments! 

De Soto Middle School 8th Grade Promotion

The 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony will be held on: 

The ceremony will be broadcast live from a link on the District's homepage:  www.desoto.k12.wi.us  


5/5/2021

VC Health Department Vaccination Clinic at De Soto HS

The Vernon County Health Department is offering a vaccination clinic on Friday, May 7 at De Soto Middle/High School from 1:00-2:00 p.m. The vaccination clinic is open to anyone 16 years or older including parents, family members, and the community; however, there are only 30 doses available. Specific time slots must be register for through an online process at this link:  https://hipaa.jotform.com/211244519888161   

Students 16 years or older will need the screening form filled out prior to their appointment. A link to this form was emailed out to families on Wednesday, May 5. If assistance is needed please contact the District Office at 608-648-0102. Additional information is available through the Vernon County Health Department at 608-637-5257.

VC Health Department Notes Increasing COVID Positives

The Vernon County Health Department has noted an increase in the number of positive cases among students who have attended proms. The Health Department noted that precautions still must be taken to prevent the spread for those not able to yet get the vaccine. The support of mitigation efforts by schools and the community is appreciated and continued mitigation measures are needed to effectively stop the spread of COVID-19.  Please see the recent letter sent from the Health Department to schools regarding quarantine periods:  School Quarantine Letter

De Soto High School Class of 2021 Graduation

The De Soto High School will hold graduation on Friday, May 28 at 7:00 p.m. in the New Gymnasium for the Class of 2021. Due to COVID-19 restrictions each graduate may have 4 guests present for the ceremony. Four additional guests will be accommodated in the Old Gym and will be able to watch graduation via a live virtual link. 

For those at home or another location, the graduation ceremonies will be broadcast live over a link on the District's web page:  www.desoto.k12.wi.us 

We are also cautioning our graduating seniors to be vigilant in following preventative measures to reduce or eliminate their exposure to any potential COVID-19 positive case, and to help prevent the spread of COVID. Our wish is for our senior students and their families to be safe, remain healthy, and enjoy this last month of school, graduation, and family celebrations.


5/4/2021

UW-System--Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 

The University of Wisconsin System is embarking upon a statewide campaign to address the decline in prospective Fall 2021 student families completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is an important step in ensuring college access and affordability for our Wisconsin high school seniors.

Parents of high school seniors, reminding them that it’s not too late to apply for financial aid and, importantly, there is money still available. Financial aid counselors at universities all across the UW System are collaborating in this effort, and they’re willing to help parents and students successfully complete the form. Furthermore, UW financial aid counselors will provide this assistance regardless of where a student ultimately decides to go to college. To schedule a time with one of our counselors, please visit https://uwhelp.wisconsin.edu/fin-aid/ for contact information.

Here are some additional resources that might be useful to parents and students.

College access and affordability have never been more important, and we want to ensure that all students who wish to go to college can have that opportunity. Submitting the FAFSA can be a key step in turning a dream into reality. 

5/2/2021

National Teacher Appreciation Week--May 3-7

We wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge our dedicated teaching faculty for their commendable work this year. Our teachers worked throughout the summer to prepare for an unprecedented school year expanding virtual learning opportunities through Google Classroom and training in mitigation efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our schools.  Teachers, as well as other district staff, also participated in training sessions on Trauma Informed Care, and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), A.L.I.C.E. School Safety. Teachers and staff from each school building completed an Adolescent Mental Health two-day training, and Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI). 

District-wide teachers started the school year on September 1  undertaking a dual educational model instructing students who began the school year in the classroom simultaneously with those students who were joining their classes from home. There were challenges for both teachers and students, and our teachers remained student-focused in their commitment to ensuring all students made academic progress as well as stayed connected with small group and social activities regardless if students were separated by 6 feet, Plexiglas and masks,  or were on the other side of a computer screen. 

Many of our teachers also serve as coaches/advisors, After-School Study tutors, sports assist with Surround Care, and serve as special programming event staff. As the year winds down many are planning for culminating programs as well as preparing to teach summer school offering remedial, recovery credit and enrichment classes. Because of their work our school year will hopefully be remembered as one where teachers, students, families and the community came together in a way that made this year truly remarkable and one to be celebrated. 

This week, please consider sending one or more teachers a special note acknowledging their contribution to educating our students. It will mean a great deal!  

Student/Parent Handbook Reviews

Parents/guardians and students are welcome to participate in the annual review of student/parent handbooks. The review process also includes the School Board's Curriculum Committee and the School Board.  The review timeline:  May/June--Stakeholder Feedback; June/July--School Board's Curriculum Committee; July--School Board .

Parents/guardians and students who are interested in participating in the review process are invited to contact their building principal for more information on how to participate. 

COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts, Culminating School Programs & Quarantine Periods

The District remains committed to continuing mitigation efforts which have been effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in school environments. This is especially important as the school year is coming to a closure with traditional programs and celebrations that are very meaningful to our students and families. 

The quarantine period for an individual who tests positive is 10-days from the onset of symptoms.

The quarantine period for an individual who has been contact traced is 14-days from the last date of exposure.

Traditional programs at this time of year include prom, spring sports conference championships and participation in the WIAA Tournament series, school promotion ceremonies, and high school graduation. These are important moments and the District will continue our mitigation efforts:

We ask parents/guardians to inform your child's school if they are ill and keep them at home for 72-hours if sick and symptom free.  Please click on "Additional Resources Link" under webpage header and then click on Parent COVID-19 Information Packet for specific guidance. Our school nurse, Opal Hostert, also welcomes questions. She can be reached through school offices or by email at: ohostert@desoto.k12.wi.us


4/01/2021

Mental Health Grant 

The De Soto Area School District is in the process of writing a School-based Mental Health Services (SBMH) grant for the 2021-2023 school year. The competitive grant process began on February 2 with participation by administrators and school guidance counselors in a grant workshop sponsored by the WI Department of Public Instruction (DPI). The grant is due to be submitted on May 3, 2021 and if received will provide funding to increase collaboration with community mental health agencies and providing mental health  services to students which includes community mental health consultation, training for stakeholders, social emotional learning curriculum for school-day use, student and family assistance. Areas for educational and  support services include Emotional Development and Social Competence, focusing on self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and decision making.

The grant requires data collection which includes feedback on needs assessment surveys from staff, students and parents. Teachers completed the survey in March. Students and parents will be invited to provide feedback on mental health concerns and needed services. Middle and High School parents/guardians are invited to preview the middle/high school student survey. Parents/guardians may opt their child out from taking the survey by contacting either Tim Fergot, tfer@desoto.k12.wi.us or Linzi Gronning, lgronning@desoto.k12.wi.us (608) 648-0100 by Friday, April 9.  The survey will be offered to students on Monday, April 12.  Parents/guardians may request to be emailed or receive a hard copy of the survey by contacting the District Office at 608-648-0102 or Jackie Kreuzer: jkreuzer@desoto.k12.wi.us  

Parents/guardians are also invited to complete a Family Survey to provide information on how the school district can best support mental health needs for your children and family. Parents/guardians who did not receive the Family Survey link via School Messenger may also contact the District Office to receive a link or hard copy of the Family Survey.

Additional information on the SBMH grant and Social and Emotional Learning is available using the Search link on the WI DPI webpage:  www.dpi.wi.gov

Preview:  Middle/High School Student Survey  


3/31/2021

Mitigation Efforts are Effective in Our Schools

Today the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a decision (4-3) to overturn the statewide mask mandate. We wish to assure our District parents, students, and staff that we will continue to base preventative decision through a continual review of data, guidelines, and recommendations as it pertains to COVID-19 mitigation and prevention efforts, and will continue to do so as Coronavirus vaccinations and other preventative efforts become available to our students, families, educational staff, and the greater community.  Additionally, the District continually reviews school data on absences, causes, and connections to illness. School District data supports that the mitigation efforts in our schools and by students and staff have been effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19, as well as have likely impacted low incidences of the common cold or flu. 

A study conducted by the CDC on COVID-19 cases and transmission in 17 rural Wisconsin schools was recently released. The study concluded that mitigation matters noting that "COVID-19 outbreaks related to K-12 grade classroom settings have been rarely reported.' The study further articulated that schools requiring mask-wearing have lower COVID-19 incidences among students and staff members. 

Mitigating the spread of the Coronavirus in our District schools has included the required use of face coverings/masks within the school building and at school events. The District has received several commendations that wearing face coverings/masks combined with other mitigation protocols have together contributed to safer and healthier learning and work environments. These mitigation efforts have also been attributed to the District's ability to maintain in-person learning in each of our schools. The ongoing efforts include:

Following a review of current practices and recent research by the CDC, it was determined that to no longer require face coverings/masks would be counter indicated as well as a disrupting factor to the combination of mitigation efforts which have proven to be effective in keeping our schools open and in our ability to provide in-person learning. 

Moving forward, the District's mitigation practice will be to continue requiring students, staff, and visitors to wear face covering/masks along with other preventative practices currently in place.  The bottom line, mitigation matters, and these efforts are effective in preventing the transmission of the Coronavirus in our schools. Our intention is not to change what is working for our students and staff. 

Message from WI State Health Officer 

"The Wisconsin State Supreme Court has overturned the current public health emergency, which also ended the mask order. From a public health perspective, this decision is dangerous and disappointing, but it does not need to change our own decisions about protecting our health and the health and safety of our families and friends, our neighbors and colleagues, and all our fellow residents of Wisconsin.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we at Department of Health Services (DHS) have followed the science, and we know our local and tribal health departments have done the same. The science is clear – masks work. My mask protects you, your mask protects me, and mask orders protect our communities and everyone in Wisconsin. Science shows that wearing a mask helps prevent transmission of the virus, and science also shows that the more people who wear them, the more effective they are at stopping the spread of COVID-19. And the science is clear on mask orders as well – mask orders work.

We will continue to follow the science in our statewide response, and we’re asking you to do the same by doing everything in your power to support the adoption or continuation of mask orders in your jurisdiction. For more information on the science behind masks and the effectiveness of mask orders, there are links to research below.

After more than a year of dealing with COVID-19, I know people are tired, and that following public health guidance is more and more challenging by the day. More than one million Wisconsin residents have completed their vaccine series, and all Wisconsinites age 16 and up will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting Monday, April 5. We are moving in the right direction. However, at this point in the pandemic, mitigation measures like mask orders are more important than ever. The number of identified cases of the more contagious COVID-19 variants in Wisconsin are increasing, which means the virus is likely to spread even more quickly if we do not take significant action to stop it. Again, masks are effective, and so are mask orders. Together, we can stop the spread."  Julie Willems Van Dijk. Interim State Health Officer, DHS Deputy Secretary


Note:  Research on mask effectiveness, “An evidence review of face masks again COVID-19” from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United State of America, January 26, 2021. The evidence review shows that wearing masks reduces the transmission of respiratory droplets, and that there are benefits at the community level.


3/24/2021

De Soto Staff Receive COVID-19 Vaccination

Round two of the COVID-19 vaccinations was given on Tuesday, March 23 to De Soto staff at a clinic supported by the Vernon County Health Department and administered by HealthDirect Pharmacy from La Crosse. The clinic was held at Stoddard Elementary with 67 individuals receiving the 2nd vaccine following the first given on March 2, and  15 additional individuals receiving the Johnson & Johnson single vaccine.

Obtaining a vaccination is not a condition of employment in the De Soto School District; however, the clinic was offered as part of the District's overall mitigation efforts and participation was voluntary. Since the onset of COVID-19 employees have been following the District's mitigation protocols that were put in place to prevent exposure and transmission of the Coronavirus. Staff have also been responsible for guiding students in health and wellness protocols since the start of the school year with in-person learning that began on September 1. The vaccine is one additional level of protection that is valued by staff who have maintained their professional responsibilities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and through the in-person classroom and Remote Learning options that has occurred for our students this school year. 

The District will continue to work with the Vernon County Health Department in scheduling vaccination clinics for staff as well as students when vaccines become available to student populations. 


3/18/2021

Upcoming 2021 Dates

A Year of Resiliency & Reflection--March 17, 2020 to March 17, 2021

On Friday, March 13, 2020 Governor Evers ordered the 'Statewide closure of all public schools for purposes of pupil instruction and extracurricular activities.' The order went into effect on Wednesday, March 18 with the anticipated reopening of schools on April 6, 2020; however we all know . Three days later on Monday, March 16, Governor Evers released a Mass Gathering order limiting public gatherings to no more than 50, and the next day a revised Mass Gathering order was released limiting gatherings to no more than 10. Aligned to those orders, the De Soto Area School District closed school buildings for in-person student learning on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

One year later on the March 17, 2021  we took time to reflect as well as  celebrate the fact that our schools have offered in-person classroom learning to approximately 92% of our students since September 1, 2020, and that on this anniversary date almost 100% of our students are learning in our schools with only a few families electing the Remote Learning model educational choice. This in truth is a tribute to our students and families who are committed to student academic progress  and have collaborated and supported the efforts of our district staff.  We also proudly acknowledge the professionalism of our teachers and aides, custodians, food service staff, secretaries, bus drivers, school nurse, auxiliary staff, administration and our school board who researched, planned and implemented best educational practices and support services throughout the pandemic period and school year. This included extensive preventative and mitigation efforts to ensure students could learn in a safe, healthy, and positive school environment. 

This past year was certainly unprecedented in educational history. Students and teachers together adjusted to an online learning format via  Google Classroom and virtual meetings. Together they experienced the cancellation of traditional activities including local and state field trips, national and international travel, sports seasons, prom, and culminating programs. Along with developing new learning formats, teachers, class advisors, and administrators worked with students to provide programs that would hopefully supplant to some degree those that were cancelled. Field trips occurred virtually,  and  with appreciation to Art Fahey, Director of the La Crosse Center, a special event was scheduled  with magician and entertainer Michael Carbonaro who performed for our students and families via a 'live' interactive broadcast from our website. The Class of 2020 Graduation and the 8th grade promotion were virtual having been developed with students to best mirror the traditional programs with speakers, class videos, and ceremonial tributes. Both events were broadcast on the district website, and later held in-person and broadcast live in July and August respectively.    

Services and supports were also offered to students and families last spring and through the summer which also included the Go-Bag meals prepared by food service staff and delivered by our Southwest bus company drivers who also picked up and dropped off school devices, educational materials and supplies. Our District gratefully received support from the De Soto Athletic Booster Club, PTO's, area banks, churches, businesses, and individual benefactors who  provided financial resources to ensure we could meet student and family needs.  Along with a huge thank you to Dairyland Power Company who provided staff to help us build Plexiglas Dividers on two separate dates. 

During the summer months our custodians/maintenance staff as well as all district teachers and staff received training on COVID-19 symptoms, preventing the spread through a variety of mitigation efforts, and using the CDC/EPA approved disinfectants. The COVID-19 & School Updates page also served families and staff as a site for resources and information. 

Reopening planning for Summer School and the school year involved extensive research by district staff, school board committees, and with consultation from the Vernon County Health and Emergency Management departments, Dr. Prior, school district medical advisor,  disinfectant distributors, and the District's insurance company risk assessor. Summer School was offered in June virtually, and in July sports program initiated in-person activities, with the Summer School Jump Start program bringing students back to school for in-person learning. Reopening plans were shared with families through mailed registration materials, the COVID-19 & School Updates webpage and during three Virtual Town Hall Meetings where questions were received via the chat room, call-in, text and emails. An online COVID-19 Dashboard also provides updates as to each individual school's positive and contact traced status which is accessible from the District webpage.     

At this point there is good news with state and local statistics showing declines in positive and contact traced cases along with increasing numbers of the population receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. District employees had an opportunity to take part in a vaccination clinic on March 2 (The State DHS eligibility date for those in public education was March 1.) with 76 individuals having received the COVID-19 vaccine through school district arrangements in coordination with the Vernon County Health Department and HealthDirect Pharmacy. The District will also work with the Health Department to establish vaccine clinics at our schools for parents who wish their child to receive a vaccine. students as well as for community members who fall within any defined eligibility grouping.

We are on the home stretch of the 2020-21 school year with 3rd quarter ending on March 26. Our staff and students have important work to do during these last three months which includes standardized testing now and into 4th quarter, and in the preparation of traditional activities including the FFA awards banquet, spring sports, prom, and elementary, middle school and high school promotions and graduation. 

We wish to again thank our students, families, and the community at-large for the ongoing understanding, collaboration, and support we have received during this extraordinary year!  Go Pirates!

School Board PowerPoint Presentation Click on link--Resiliency &  Reflection

3/2/2021

De Soto School District Staff Receive COVID Vaccination

A COVID-19 vaccination clinic was held at Stoddard Elementary on March 2 for De Soto School District staff. The clinic was coordinated through efforts with the Vernon County Health Department with 67 district staff being administered vaccines by a pharmacist from the HealthDirect Pharmacy (La Crosse).

Obtaining a vaccination is not a condition of employment in the De Soto School District; however, the clinic was offered as part of the District's overall mitigation efforts. Staff who wanted to receive the vaccine were and remain able to schedule with their own medical provider, an alternative provider, or were able to take part in the clinic offered by the District today. Those who received their first vaccine today will have the second dose administered in three weeks.   

Since the onset of COVID-19 employees have been following the District's mitigation protocols that were put in place to prevent exposure and transmission of the Coronavirus. Staff have also been responsible for guiding students in health and wellness protocols since the start of the school year with in-person learning that began on September 1. The vaccination is one additional level of protection that is valued by staff who have maintained their professional responsibilities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and through the in-person classroom and Remote Learning options that has occurred for our students this school year. 

The District will continue to work with the Vernon County Health Department in scheduling vaccination clinics for staff as well as students when vaccines become available to student populations. 

2/27/2021

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Elementary Parent/Teacher Conferences--Prairie View & Stoddard elementary school conferences occurred on Thursday, February 25 and are also scheduled for Tuesday, March 2 from 3:30-7:30 p.m. Parents who have not scheduled a conference may do so by emailing their child's teachers or by calling their elementary school office.  Prairie View Elementary:  608-648-2227 or Stoddard Elementary:  608-457-2101.

De Soto Middle & High School Parent Teacher Conferences--Parent/Teacher Conferences for De Soto Middle & High School students occurred on Thursday, February 25 and are also scheduled for Tuesday, March 9 from 3:45-7:45 p.m. The conferences are virtual through Google Meet or phone conference as the indicated preference of parents. Parents who selected phone conference are advised they may not recognize the phone number as we are using Google conferencing. 

Parents are still able to sign-up for the March 9 conferences by using the link which was emailed to them or by clicking on this link:  P/T Conference Link    Otherwise, parents are welcome to contact the teachers they would like to meet with via the teacher's email or by calling the office at 608-648-0100.  


2/4/2021

Governor Evers Issues New Face/Covering Mask Order

Governor Evers issued a new face covering/mask order to be in effect immediately through March 20, 2021 . This order was issued follow the Wisconsin State Assembly approving a resolution today to throw out Governor Evers' previous emergency order which would end the statewide mask mandate once the resolution is signed on Friday. 

As noted on February 2nd, in the update immediately below this information post, the District will continue with mitigation practices implemented at the start of the school year which includes face covering/masks for students, staff, and others in the school building, and those at school activities, sports, or programs. The District 's ongoing mitigation strategies are effective in preventing the spread of the Coronavirus resulting in our schools being open for students to learn in-person in the classroom setting. Mitigation strategies include:

For additional information on the District's mitigation efforts please click on the top right red tab Registration & Reopening Information and click on the link for the De Soto Area School District Reopening Plan Information. Questions, concerns and suggestions are welcome and may be shared with your child's teacher, principal, or Linzi Gronning, Principal/Superintendent (lgronning@desoto.k12.wi.us) or by phone:  608-648-0102.

2/2/2021

De Soto District Continues COVID-19 Mitigation Practices

The District continually reviews data, guidelines, and recommendations as it pertains to COVID-19 mitigation and prevention efforts, and will continue to do so as Coronavirus vaccinations and other preventative efforts become available to our students, families, educational staff, and the greater community. 

A study conducted by the CDC on COVID-19 cases and transmission in 17 rural Wisconsin schools was recently released. The study concluded that mitigation matters noting that "COVID-19 outbreaks related to K-12 grade classroom settings have been rarely reported.' The study further articulated that schools requiring mask-wearing have lower COVID-19 incidences among students and staff members. 

Mitigating the spread of the Coronavirus in our District schools has included the required use of face coverings/masks within the school building and at school events. The District has received several commendations that wearing face coverings/masks combined with other mitigation protocols have together contributed to safer and healthier learning and work environments. These mitigation efforts have also been attributed to the District's ability to maintain in-person learning in each of our schools. The ongoing efforts include:

Last week the Wisconsin Assembly delayed a vote on a resolution that would overturn the state's face covering/mask mandate which if overturned would have resulted in the state becoming ineligible for additional federal food stamp benefits. The Assembly may take up the vote at a future time; however if the face covering/mask order is overturned, the District's position would be to maintain face covering/masks in school and school sponsored event environments alongside other mitigation strategies as noted above. 

Following a review of current practices and recent research by the CDC, it was determined that to no longer require face coverings/masks would be counter indicated as well as a disrupting factor to the combination of mitigation efforts which have proven to be effective in keeping our schools open and in our ability to provide in-person learning. Moving forward, the District's mitigation practice will be to continue requiring students, staff, and visitors to wear face covering/masks along with other preventative practices currently in place.  The bottom line, mitigation matters, and these efforts are effective in preventing the transmission of the Coronavirus. 

1/26/2021

WI DHS Announces Future Eligible Groups for COVID-19 Vaccines

Today, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced future groups that will be eligible for vaccine. These populations will tentatively be eligible beginning March 1, though the start date is dependent on the vaccine supply from the federal government. The groups were selected after careful review and consideration from the State Disaster Medical Advisory Committee (SDMAC). Due to the limited amount of COVID-19 vaccine doses available, DHS must prioritize which populations can receive vaccine. DHS makes these decisions based on populations with an increased risk of exposure to COVID-19 and those more vulnerable to severe complications from the virus.

Future eligible populations includes the following groups (in priority order):

Educators and child care

Individuals enrolled in Medicaid long-term care programs

Some public-facing essential workers like food supply, public transit, utility and communications infrastructure, and 911 operators

Non-frontline health care essential personnel

Congregate living facility staff and residents


For more specific descriptions of these population, please visit our COVID-19 vaccine eligibility page.

Currently, the amount of vaccine allocated to Wisconsin does not meet the amount of vaccine doses requested by vaccine providers. The start date for vaccinations was determined given the current trend of Wisconsin’s weekly vaccine allocations. If the federal government increases DHS's weekly vaccine allocation, vaccinations for these groups may begin before March 1. If Wisconsin receives less vaccine than expected in the coming weeks, this date could be pushed back.


DHS recommends that you use the Wisconsin COVID-19: Vaccine webpage to stay informed on their efforts and also encourage you to widely share this resources with partners. Due to the nature of the vaccination initiative, information quickly evolves and changes. The vaccine team will make every effort to communicate the most up-to-date information as soon as it is available. The Wisconsin COVID-19 Vaccine Program is a monumental undertaking and the DHS team is committed to the equitable, quick, and safe distribution of COVID-19 vaccine throughout the state.

 

Vernon County Health Department COVID-19 Vaccination Pre-Registration Online Form

Those who plan to have the COVID-19 vaccine administered through the Vernon County Health Department, rather than an alternative medical provider, must complete the online pre-registration form via links:




1/24/2021

De Soto Staff In-Service--Monday, January 25

A scheduled in-service will occur for De Soto teachers and staff on Monday, January 25 following the end of the second quarter and first semester of the school year. Students will not be in school on Monday.  Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 26 which is the start of 3rd quarter and second semester.

Governor Evers Extends Face Coverings 

Governor Evers extended face coverings to March 20, 2021 as part of ongoing strategies in preventing the spread of COVID-19. The District will continue with mitigation practices implemented at the start of the school year which includes face covering for students, staff, and others in the school building and at school activities or programs where they are hosted. The District 's ongoing strategies include:

For additional information on the District's mitigation efforts please click on the top right red tab Registration & Reopening Information and click on the link for the De Soto Area School District Reopening Plan Information. Questions, concerns and suggestions are welcome and may be shared with your child's teacher, principal, or Linzi Gronning, Principal/Superintendent (lgronning@desoto.k12.wi.us) or by phone:  608-648-0102.

1/7/2021

Holiday Concerts Available on School Building Webpages

The school holiday concerts and programs, originally linked on the District homepage, are available for continued viewing on the Stoddard and De Soto MS/HS webpages.  Click on  SCHOOLS found in the top tool bar of the District homepage and then click on the appropriate school building.  Click on the red tab for Videos and then Programs. Click on the Holiday Program 2020.

12/25/2020

School Holiday Concerts & Programs

Please enjoy viewing the school holiday concerts and programs throughout the holidays with your family and friends. Click on the the concert and program links on the top right of the De Soto School District homepage:  www.desoto.k12.wi.us

We wish everyone a safe, happy and healthy holiday season and a wonderful New Year 2021!

12/23/2020

Statewide At-Home COVID-19 Testing

Governor Evers announced on December 22 a COVID-19 saliva testing kit available to everyone who lives in Wisconsin, with or without symptoms, and at no cost.  A kit can be ordered on line and shipped to home residences. The kit includes detailed information on how to collect the saliva sample, and a video call option with a testing supervisor through Vault Medical Services. The sample will need to be shipped back to the lab for processing. Click link for Gov. Evers Announcement

More information is on the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website and can be found by clicking on: COVID-19:  At-Home Collection Kit 


12/07/2020

CDC Revises Quarantine Recommendations

The Vernon County Health Department (VCHD) and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services released information today pertaining to the CDC’s recent guideline reducing the quarantine period of individuals who were contacts of a person with COVID-19.   


Quarantine Options for Contact Traced Individuals


Click here for VCHD information:  Quarantine Recommendation Options  and  Reduced Quarantine Time


Note: Daily symptom monitoring must continue through Day 14. If symptoms develop at any time, individuals should immediately self-isolate and get tested. Individuals must adhere strictly to all recommended guidelines (i.e., consistent mask use, social/physical distancing, hand washing/sanitizing).

 

Individuals Who Were Previous Positives—Additionally, people who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms. If they develop symptoms of COVID-19 they should isolate until they are well for at least 24 hours, or if an alternative diagnosis is made, until they can return to work or school according to that diagnosis. Encourage the individual to be evaluated by their healthcare provider for an alternative diagnosis other than COVID-19.

 

Parents, students, and staff are welcome to contact the District nurse, Opal Hostert at 608-648-0104 or ohostert@desoto.k12.wi.us or visit the District’s COVID-19 & School Updates page and resources for more information.

Two Prairie View Elementary Students Test Positive

The De Soto Area School District received confirmation today from the Vernon County Health Department of two Prairie View Elementary students who tested positive for COVID. The students have not been at school for an extended period of time; therefore, no contact tracing will occur for other students and staff. 

For more information on the District's COVID-19 plan and protocols, please click on the Additional Resources Links in the red tab above or scroll through information on this page. 

 

12/03/2020


De Soto Middle/High School Resumes In-School Learning on Monday, December 7

De Soto Middle and High School students may plan to return to school on Monday, December 7 for in-person classes. Parent/Guardians who plan to have their child(ren) continue to learn remotely are asked to notify secretary Kim Bohnenkamp at 608-648-0100.

District Notified of Prairie View Elementary Positive Cases

De Soto Area Schools received official notification this afternoon by the Vernon County Health Department that a Prairie View Elementary staff person and a Prairie View Elementary student has tested positive for COVID-19. There are no students or staff who will be contact traced as neither the staff person or student have been at school since November 23. The District maintains and updates daily a dashboard of county health department confirmed positive cases and contact traced students and staff. The dashboard can be found from a link on the District's homepage:  www.desoto.k12.wi.us or by clicking on the center red tab on the District's COVID-19 & School Updates page linked from the homepage as well.  

 

Cleaning and disinfecting protocols at all school buildings are established to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the school setting. Per the District’s established protocol, cleaning and disinfecting of our classroom and common areas occurs on a daily basis. Additional disinfecting occurs targeting all areas the individuals used while at school. This will continue to be our practice as we work with the county health department to take the steps necessary to protect the health of our students and staff. The District will continue to follow the best practice recommendations:

For additional information, please contact our school district nurse Opal Hostert at 608-648-0104 or ohostert@desoto.k12.wi.us or your school principal, or Linzi Gronning, Principal/Superintendent at 6080-648-0102 or lgronning@desoto.k12.wi.us


12/01/2020

Holiday Giving Tree Financial Donations Needed

Each year the De Soto High School Student Activities Council (SAC) sponsors a Giving Tree. The tree has had paper ornaments with information on each ornament listing a particular student's needs along with some of that child's wants for the holidays. In previous years anyone has been welcome to stop by De Soto High School, select an ornament, purchase the items listed, and return them to the school for wrapping with the SAC team delivering the gifts to the child and family in time for Christmas.

This year is distinctly different due to COVID limitations; however the HS SAC members wanted to continue the Giving Tree tradition, and with support from the community will be able to meet needs and wants from PK-12th grade students. 

Due to COVID it is not feasible to have people select ‘student ornament tags’ from the Giving Tree, purchase items for students in need, and return those to the school. Instead  SAC members are collecting monetary donations and will make the online purchases for students and families in need. A holiday basket containing, desired toys and clothing items will be delivered or available for pick up to our school families the week of December 14.. Families who are experiencing challenging times are most welcome to communicate with their child’s teacher, school counselor, principal or office secretary if you would like to receive the Holiday Basket for your child and family.  

Those interested in contributing may do so by dropping off or sending a monetary donation to:  De Soto HS Giving Tree, C/O Scott Kelly (advisor), 615 Main Street, De Soto, WI 54624. Your assistance in sharing the Giving Tree information to other organizations or benefactors who would like to financially support this effort is also greatly appreciated. See Holiday Giving Tree/Basket link below.

Thank you for your consideration as well as your assistance in passing this on! Your support of the annul Giving Tree would be greatly appreciated! Happiest of holidays, and wishing wellness to you and your families now and into the new year!

Holiday Giving Tree/Basket

11/30/2020

District Informed of Positive Prairie View Student

The De Soto Area School District received official notification this afternoon from the Vernon County Health Department that a Prairie View Elementary student tested positive this past weekend for COVID-19. There are no students or staff who will be contact traced as a result of school not being in session for the Thanksgiving holiday break. 

Individuals who test positive are asked to self-quarantine at home for 10 days from the date of symptom onset or if asymptomatic from the date of the positive test.  Positive individuals are eligible to return to school after 10 days if they have been symptom free without the use of medication for 24-hours. Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever (temperature 100.4 or higher), cough, trouble breathing, chills, muscle/body aches, loss of sense of taste or smell, runny nose or nasal congestion, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. The CDC’s website has helpful information regarding COVID-19: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Cleaning and disinfecting  protocols at all school buildings are established to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the school setting. Per the District’s established protocol, cleaning and disinfecting of our classroom and common areas occurs on a daily basis. Additional disinfecting targeting all areas the individuals used while at school has occurred. This will continue to be our practice as we work with the county health department to take the steps necessary to protect the health of our students and staff. The District will continue to follow the best practice recommendations:

Information on COVID-19 and available resources can be found on the Additional Resources link in the red tab at the top of the page. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our school district nurse Opal Hostert at 608-648-0104 or ohostert@desoto.k12.wi.us or your school principal, or Linzi Gronning, Principal/Superintendent:  lgronning@desoto.k12.wi.us or 608-648-0102


11/25/2020

Free Community COVID-19 Testing 

The Vernon County Emergency Management has scheduled two additional upcoming COVID-19 test dates for the community. The free testing will be available to the public on Tuesday, December 1 and Thursday, December 10 at the Old County Shop in Viroqua across from the Viroqua Food Cooperative. Testing will be available from 10:00am-6:00pm for individuals 5 years old and older. 

The free testing is available to individuals who are asymptomatic (who have no known symptoms) or who are symptomatic (with one or more symptoms). The Vernon County Emergency Management recommends that individuals with symptoms stay home until they get the test results. Individuals who have been contact traced or are a close contact to a positive must stay home for the 14 days even after having a negative test.Those individuals taking the test for 'peace of mind' and have NO close contact with a someone who is positive, and NO symptoms may return to work/school after getting the test and while awaiting test results.  

11/21/2020

Administration Notified of a COVID-19 Positive Staff Person at Prairie View Elementary

This evening administration received information from a Prairie View staff member that they had tested positive for COVID-19. Administration reached out immediately to contact families of students who were contact traced. Those families of contact traced children have been either personally contacted or a message was left with information. The health department recommends the students who are contact traced be quarantined at home through Wednesday, December 2, and may return to school on Thursday, December 3, 2020.

The definition for contact tracing is to be within 6 feet for a cumulative of 15 minutes or longer in a 24-hour period of someone who has tested positive or who is a known positive. Due to the educational format of elementary classrooms the health department has recommended that the grade level class impacted be quarantined. 

This recommendation is common for elementary classrooms, and the District will follow cautionary guidelines for grade level quarantine. While at school the staff person followed preventative protocols wearing their face mask, following cleaning and disinfecting procedures, monitoring students for wearing face masks and hand washing/sanitizing, and maintaining physical distancing as feasible within the classroom. Plexiglas barriers were also in place at student tables and at the teacher desk. The staff person is complying with quarantine recommendations from the county health department.

Parent/Guardian Information— It can take up to 14 days after being exposed to a person with COVID-19 before symptoms begin. The health department recommends parents/guardians:

Daily Symptom Check for School Age Children and for Contact Traced Individuals

Contact your medical provider for guidance and testing information when symptoms appear or with questions. The CDC’s website has helpful information regarding COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html  

Per the District’s established protocol, cleaning and disinfecting of our classroom and common areas occurs on a daily basis. Additional disinfecting targeting all areas the individual used while at school has occurred. The intent is to mitigate the potential for exposure, and this will continue to be our practice as we work with health departments to take the steps necessary to protect the health of our students and staff. The District will continue to follow the best practice recommendations:

Food Service--Breakfast and lunch meals are available to students who are quarantined and/or Remote Learning. To arrange for meals please contact Betsy Knutson at 608-648-0111 or via email:  bknutson@desoto.k12.wi.us

Food Assistance—If your family is experiencing food insecurity during this challenging time, we encourage you to reach out to your school office, guidance counselor, or Betsy Knutson. Food boxes are available through the De Soto MS/HS Food Pantry for any school district family. If you are in contact with others experiencing food insecurity, please encourage them to reach out as well.

Social/Emotional Supports & Counseling Services—The elementary school counselor is available for students and parents to contact with questions or concerns. The school’s counselor, Kurt Gaylor may be reached at 608-648-0124 or by email at kgaylor@desoto.k12.wi.us  

School Chromebook & Materials—Parents/Guardians may pick up their child’s Chromebook and materials on Monday, November 23. Contact the school office (608-648-2227 ext. #2) if you need the items to be delivered.

Technology Support--If students are experiencing challenges with technology or internet services families should notify the teacher first, and then notify the school if problems persist. Additional support is offered from the Technology Director, DuWayne Gronning at (608) 648-0133 or by email at:  gronning@desoto.k12.wi.us

Parent COVID-19 Information Packet & School/Community Resources Flier--Please also note there is a Parent COVID-19 Information Packet and a School Community COVID Resources flier which is available by clicking on the Additional Resources Link red tab at the top left of the COVID-19 & School Updates page. The COVID-19 & School Updates can be accessed under Quick Links on the District’s homepage:  www.desoto.k12.wi.us

School Nurse--For additional health related information, please contact the District's school nurse, Opal Hostert by email:  ohostert@desoto.k12.wi.us or by phone:  608-648-0104.

11/20/2020

De Soto Middle & High School Will Shift to Remote Learning from Mon, Nov 23 through Fri, Dec 4

Today marks the 55th day of instruction for our students and we are proud to have offered families a choice of Traditional In-Person learning, Remote Learning, or enrollment in our De Soto Virtual Charter School. We sincerely appreciate the efforts of our families in supporting your children, as well as our teachers and staff which has ensured a positive start to the school year despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shift to Remote Learning for De Soto MS/HS Students—We wish to inform you that De Soto Middle/High School is experiencing untypically high staff shortages due to COVID-like seasonal illnesses, and quarantining. These shortages are anticipated to continue over the next two weeks. As a result of these circumstances, we have decided to make a short-term change for De Soto Middle and High School students shifting from at-school In-Person learning to Remote Learning from Monday, November 23 through Friday, December 4. The targeted return date for in-person learning is December 7, 2020.  A schedule will be provided to students and is included on a link at the bottom of this information.  Current Remote Learners should follow the revised class time schedule.

Please note, at this time there will be no change for 4K-5th grade Stoddard and Prairie View elementary school students.

Continuity of Learning—While we know learning remotely is not optimal, we are working hard to ensure a high-quality learning experience for all students as well as maintaining essential support connections between and among students and teachers. 

Transition—In order to facilitate a smooth transition, teachers will review schedules, assignments, and expectations today, Friday, November 20 in order to assist with a smooth transition to Remote Learning. Students will be able to bring home school-issued devices and materials for virtual instruction. Families will be able to pick up additional learning materials offered by individual teachers on Tuesday, November 24 and Tuesday, December 1. The daily class schedule for Remote Learning and the Remote Learning Expectations information sheet are located at the bottom of this communication and were attached to the School Messenger email. Students who were absent on Friday, November 20 may contact the office at 608-648-0100 to make arrangements to pick-up their Chromebook and personal items out of their locker.

Attendance—Middle/High School students are expected to participate and engage in their daily class learning. Teachers will take and report attendance daily. Families with students who do not regularly engage will be contacted by the teacher or administration to offer support and discuss a plan for student success.

Minimal Capacity In-Person Instruction—If your student receives specialized services, your child’s teacher or the Special Education Director may contact you to discuss how services will be implemented during Remote Learning.  A small number of students with IEPs or 504 plans may be provided in-person instruction and support in school buildings as appropriate.

Technology & Access to Supports—Students who have technology problems should first contact their teachers for assistance and to make them aware of the issue.

Tech Support—In the event a student needs additional tech support, please call 608-648-0133 or email Mr. DuWayne Gronning:  gronning@desto.k12.wi.us

Internet Access—All Chromebooks/iPads can connect to the home internet using Wi-Fi. If you don’t have access to the internet at home, the school district can provide some alternatives such as a HotSpot or hard copy materials depending on your location. Please call 608-648-0133 or 608-648-0100.

Food Service—Free school meals are available for remote learners, home school families, and children who are not yet school-age. Meals for the week’s school days can be picked up every Tuesday at any of the three school buildings between 7:30-8:30 a.m. or by appointment. Parents must pre-order meals by calling Betsy Knutson at 608-648-0111 or email bknutson@desoto.k12.wi.us

Food Assistance—If your family is experiencing food insecurity during this challenging time, we encourage you to reach out to your school office, guidance counselor, or Betsy Knutson. Food boxes are available through the De Soto MS/HS Food Pantry for any school district family. If you are in contact with others experiencing food insecurity, please encourage them to reach out as well.

Social/Emotional Supports & Counseling Services—The School Counselors are available for students and parents to contact with questions, concerns or if you just want to talk. Counselors:  Jeni Rapraeger, 608-648-0115 or jrapraeger@desoto.k12.wi.us or Kurt Gaylor, 608-648-0124 or kgaylor@desoto.k12.wi.us   If there is an emergency please call 911 or 211. Please also note the School Community COVID Resources flier is available by clicking on the Additional Resources red tab at the top left of this page.

Extra-Curricular Activities & Winter Sports Programs—Academic co-curricular activities may continue virtually. Advisors will communicate with students setting up Google Meet dates and times.

Winter Sports—The District intends to continue with the winter sports season. High School coaches will arrange practice dates and times with their teams which should follow the end of the school day. Student-athletes will be expected to follow all preventative practices (wearing masks, physical distancing as feasible, hand washing/sanitizing, etc.)

Communications & Updates—The District will continue to utilize School Messenger and the COVID-19 & School Updates website as parent communication tools. We encourage families to visit the webpage frequently for information and resources. The COVID-19 & School Updates page is found under Quick Links on the District’s homepage: www.desoto.k12.wi.us   

We appreciate your understanding and we hope you recognize that we are taking this action to best protect the health and safety of our students, staff, and families. We hope to be able to return to in-person learning on Monday, December 7.  If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact your building principal or Linzi Gronning at 608-648-0102 or lgronning@desoto.k12.wi.us

Best wishes for a safe and healthy Thanksgiving Holiday.

Daily Remote Learner Schedule

Gold/Maroon Day Schedule

Remote Learning Expectations

11/19/2020

District COVID Dashboard

The District has implemented a COVID Dashboard to provide current information from health departments pertaining to positive and contact traced students and school staff.  The dashboard will be updated daily by 8:00 p.m. The dashboard can be found on the COVID-19 & School Updates page by clicking on the middle red tab above:  District COVID Dashboard.

District Notified of Two Positive Cases

Notification of New Positive Cases—The De Soto School District received notification this morning from the Vernon County Health Department of two positive cases. A De Soto Middle/High School staff person has tested positive. There are no students who have been contact traced back to the teacher.  The Health Department also confirmed that one high school student has tested positive; however, no contract tracing will occur related to the school environment as the student has been Remote Learning for an extended period of time.

Two additional staff who work at De Soto Middle/High School are listed as contact traced.  

Preventing the Spread—The county health department acknowledged the District’s efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the school setting. Per the District’s established protocol, cleaning and disinfecting of our classroom and common areas occurs on a daily basis. Additional disinfecting targeting all areas the individuals used while at school has occurred. Our intent is to mitigate exposure and this will continue to be our practice as we work with the county health department to take the steps necessary to protect the health of our students and staff. The District will continue to follow the best practice recommendations:

Parent/Guardian Communication to Schools—The District appreciates receiving information from parents/guardians indicating that their child has tested positive or has been contact traced.  This information is very helpful and allows the District to assist with contact tracing and any mitigation practices in an efficient and timely manner. The health departments are extremely helpful although due to the number of cases a lag may occur between 24-48 hours before information is able to be provided or verified with the school district.    

Parent/Guardian Partnerships in Prevention—The District appreciates the efforts of parents/guardians to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus by daily:

The CDC’s website has helpful information regarding COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html


11/18/202

Governor Evers to Extend Face Mask Order

Governor Evers announced today that he will be issuing an order later this week that extends the face mask order through mid-January.

This aligns with the De Soto Area School District's prevention strategies that includes mask wearing. Preventing the spread of COVID will take everyone's efforts. The District encourages parents to follow best practice preventative protocols including:

Parents are asked to help support the school's efforts by reminding your child to: 

For more information on COVID-19 please click on the Additional Resources box at the top of the page.

11/15/2020

De Soto Middle & High School Resumes In-School Learning Monday, November 16

De Soto middle and high school students may plan to return to school on Monday, November 16 for in-person classes. The quarantine period for any known De Soto Middle/High School positive cases and known contact traced students and staff has ended. Parents/Guardians who plan to have their child(ren) continue to learn remotely are asked to notify Kim Bohnenkamp, De Soto Middle/High School secretary at 608-648-0100.

Vernon County Health Department--Related to the confirmed cases in Vernon County, the Health Department released a letter to the community last Friday sharing recent testing data and asking for everyone to wear masks when in public, maintain physical distancing, and limit unnecessary contacts. Please click on the link to read: Vernon Co Health Department Letter to the Community

Prevent the Spread--Symptom Check at Home--For the safety and well-being of everyone we are asking parents/guardians to: 

Keep Children Home who have Symptoms or who are Ill--If your child has symptoms please keep them home for their own health, and call your medical provider, the County Health Department or our school nurse Opal Hostert at 608-648-0114 for questions and testing referrals. 

Call the School if Your Child is Positive--We appreciate receiving notification from parents/guardians if their child(ren) have tested positive. This is essential if we are to assist with timely contact tracing of students or staff. 

Testing Result Process--Families or the adult individual, in most instances, will learn first from the testing center if test results are positive. Information from test centers is forwarded through the  Wisconsin Electronic Surveillance System to County Health Departments who within 24-48 hours will contact the positive individual or family. Due to the HIPAA Law, the County Health Department cannot release information to schools until receiving authorization from the parent/guardian or adult positive. Due to the timeline within the process, Parent/Guardian notification to our schools becomes essential for schools to respond effectively and timely.

Parent Screening Begins at Home--Please help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by checking for symptoms before sending your child(ren) to school:

Students who do not test positive may return to school after 72 hours and at least 24 hours symptom free without the use of medication. Students who are positive or who are contact traced are asked to follow the timeline guidelines outlined by the CDC and County Health Departments or their medical provider.

De Soto School District is committed to educating our students providing parent/guardian choice of in-school, remote learning, or enrolling in the De Soto Charter School.  In order to maintain in-person learning it is essential that everyone is working together towards that goal. Everyone...our students, staff, families and the community should follow the known practices that help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

For more information, questions, or how we can be of assistance to your family, parents/guardians are welcome to contact your building principal. 

11/11/2020

District Notified of COVID-19 Positive Case

Today, the De Soto Area School District received notification that a staff member from Prairie View Elementary has tested positive for COVID-19. The staff person has not been in the school building since Wednesday, November 4. One other staff member was contact traced to this individual. While at school the two staff practiced physical distancing and wearing their face masks. The staff are complying with quarantine recommendations from the county health department.

There are no students who have been contact traced. 

The District maintains the daily cleaning and disinfecting protocols in place to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, with protocols recently reviewed with staff. The expectation is for all in our school buildings to follow preventative practices which include:

Please note that face masks/covering are not required when eating, drinking, and when outside and maintaining an awareness for appropriate physical distancing.  Teachers and staff may also remove their masks when they are alone in their room for prep time. 

Veterans Day Program

De Soto Middle and High School produced a virtual Veterans Day Program. The program has been pre-recorded is available to watch from a link on the District's website:  www.desoto.k12.wi.us  by either clicking on the Veterans Day Program link or at a later time:

Thank you to our Veterans!

11/9/2020

Governor Evers Order #94

Earlier today, Governor Evers signed Executive Order #94 -  Relating to Actions Every Wisconsinite Should Take to Protect their Family, Friends, and Neighbors from COVID-19. This Order offers recommendations and suggestions about actions that individuals and businesses should take with regard to gatherings, travel, sanitization, and social distancing.  

This Order does not include any explicit requirements or obligations.  Nor does it explicitly address educational institutions, virtual or in-person instruction.  Therefore, despite this new development, each school district continues to have the authority to make its own decisions regarding in-person, virtual, and hybrid education, except to the extent that a local health department has issued orders applicable to a particular school district or area. Link to Order #94: Recommendations to Protect Family, Friends, and Neighbors from COVID-19

 The District recognizes that even with the best planning efforts we cannot fully eliminate the risk of exposure to COVID-19 or other communicable diseases in the school setting. The District is committed to mitigation efforts that prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, and with the foremost consideration for the well-being of students and staff. The most current guidance is followed as closely as possible and as feasible in order to maintain a healthy and safe learning environment. 

From an educational standpoint, we believe in-person instruction is the best way for our students to grow intellectually, socially, artistically, and through extracurricular sports and activities. Families have had the option to choose from one of three District instructional models for their child's education. 1) Traditional Classroom Instruction where students learn in the school setting; 2) Remote Choice Learning where students are at home and will use internet devices to join their daily classes at the time the classes are in session; and 3) Enrolling in the K-12 De Soto Virtual Charter School with online course curriculum. 

Remote Learning is intended for families who choose this option for personal reasons relative to health and family well being, or as an alternative to the classroom setting if the student is quarantined. Remote Learning may also be instituted by the district as needed during the school year for a particular grade, class, or school building. 

Remote Learning is not intended to be a day-by-day choice, but rather for learning continuity purposes be a choice made for several weeks as necessitated by quarantine, a quarter, semester or for the school year. Moving at-will from one learning model to another on a daily basis is challenging and reduces learning productivity and advancement.

Enrollment in the De Soto Virtual Charter School is for a semester period due to the structure of the online curriculum. Scott Kelly is the director and may be contacted for more information by email:  skelly@desoto.k12.wi.us or by phone at (608) 648-0116, 

For additional information, families are encouraged to contact their school building principals.

District Notified of COVID-19 Positive Cases

The De Soto School District received confirmation this afternoon from the Crawford and Vernon County health departments of two De Soto High School students who tested positive for COVID-19. The District has not been informed of any contact tracing that will occur related to the school environment as both high school students have been Remote Learning  for an extended period of time.  

Reminder:  De Soto Middle and High School shifted to Remote Learning for all middle and high school students from Friday, November 6 through Friday, November 13.  

Veterans Day Program

De Soto Middle and High School will present a virtual Veterans Day Program. The program which has been pre-recorded will air on Wednesday, November 11 at 11:00 a.m. via a link on the De Soto School District webpage:  www.desoto.k12.wi.us

 

11/8/2020

Veterans Day Program

A Veterans Day Assembly will be broadcast on Wed, Nov 11 at 11:00 a.m. Our area veterans, students, families and the community are encouraged to watch this program honoring America's veterans, and can do so by clicking on the Veterans Day Assembly link from our District website homepage:  www.desoto.k12.wi.us  The link will be available on Wed, Nov 11. 

11/7/2020

Reminders

School Meals Available for Remote Learners--Parents of remote learners or De Soto Virtual Charter School learners, who reside in the District, and other children 18 years old or younger, who live in the district boundaries  may contact Betsy Knutson, Food Service Director, to arrange to pick-up weekday meals. Betsy can be reached at: 608-648-0111 or bknutson@desoto.k12.wi.us

De Soto Middle & High School Parent Teacher Conferences--Parent/Teacher Conferences for De Soto Middle & High School students are scheduled for Thu, Nov 12.  The conferences will be held virtually through Google Meet or phone conference as the indicated preference of parents. Parents who did not sign-up for conferences are welcome to contact teacher's they would like to meet with via the teacher's email or by calling the office at 608-648-0100.  

Stoddard Elementary 2019-20 Pre-School Graduation--The pre-school graduation program will be broadcast live on Friday, November 13 at 2:00 p.m. Parents, families, and the community may watch the program by clicking on the link found on the  District webpage:  www.desoto.k12.wi.us  

Remote Learning--All De Soto Middle & High School students will continue with remote learning through Friday, November 13.  Students are asked to report any technology issues to their teacher by email or by calling the school office at 608-648-0100. Students who live in Stoddard and experienced the power outage last Friday, November 6 will receive additional time to obtain the lesson information and catch-up on any work assignments. 

11/6/2020

Power Outage in Stoddard

A power outage in Stoddard has been reported at approximately 11:00 a.m. which impacts the elementary school building along with other residential areas and businesses.  The estimated time for the power to be back on is 12:30 p.m. 

Students were able to have lunch and classes are occurring as scheduled. We are not anticipating an early release and are planning that the school day ends at the normal time.

11/5/2020

Pre-School 2019-20 Graduations

Princiapls Kelly Olson, Prairie View and Derek Fuglsang are pleased to announce the reschedule 2019-20 preschool graduations will take place this month. Abbey Sedlmayr, preschool teacher knows the students are looking forward to these fun ceremonies which will be broadcast live on their respective dates. Parents, family members and the community members are able to watch the programs live by clicking the link found on the  District webpage:  www.desoto.k12.wi.us  

Click on the following links for more information pertaining to each school's program:

Prairie View Elementary Preschool Graduation--Friday, November 6

Stoddard Elementary Preschool Graduation--Friday, November 13

De Soto Middle & High School Remote Learning Schedule

De Soto Middle and High School students will Remote Learn starting Friday, November 6 though Friday, November 13. Remote Learning will follow the normal Gold and Maroon Day Schedule with all classes occurring in the morning starting at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 11:48 a.m. Teachers will utilize the afternoon to follow up with students who need extra assistance and tutoring, have late work,  attempt to reach those who were not in attendance, and for prep. Teachers will be available for questions from 12:40 - 3:35 p.m.  

Students who have been previously remote learning from home will also follow this posted schedule for morning classes, and afternoon tutoring or assistance as needed. Please note the following attachments for the schedule of classes, gold and maroon day schedule, and the expectations for students during Remote Learning.

De Soto Middle & High School Remote Learner Schedule--Nov 6-13

Gold & Maroon Day Schedule

Remote Learning Student Expectations

De Soto Middle & High School Will Shift to Remote Learning from Fri, Nov 6 through Fri, Nov 13

The De Soto Area School District was notified this afternoon by the Vernon County Health Department of a De Soto High School student who has tested positive for COVID-19. The student was not at school this week. The school will be assisting the county in quickly identifying any high school student(s) or staff who may be contact traced (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or longer in a 24 hour period).

De Soto Middle & High School students will shift to Remote Learning starting Friday, November 6 through Friday, November 13. With the recent case this week, Administration has made the decision to shift to remote learning for all De Soto Middle and High School students until after the quarantine period ends respective of the four high school positive cases. The quarantine period is defined by the health department and is based on the last contact date with a positive individual.  The quarantine associated to the positive high school cases will end next week by November 11 or 12 (again depending on the last date of contact with a positive case) for those who have been contact traced. Contact traced individuals may return to school if they remain symptom free without the use of medication for 24 hours at the end of the quarantine period.

Middle and High School students are being informed by their end-of-day Homeroom Teachers to take their Chromebooks and any items they need out of their school lockers home with them.

Prairie View and Stoddard Elementary Schools will remain in session. There have been no positive cases of students or staff in either school and there has been no known contact tracing to elementary students in respect to the high school student cases.

he District’s established school-day protocols include cleaning and disinfecting classrooms, high touch surfaces, and common areas. These and other mitigation efforts have been noted by the VCHD as apparently effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and include: wearing masks and other essential PPE, hand washing/hand sanitizing, disinfecting (CDC/EPA approved disinfectant) classroom desk tops and chairs between transitions, physical distancing efforts, utilization of Plexiglas dividers when physical distancing is not feasible, re-purposing gyms and the cafeteria for instruction, and posting prevention signage.

 The District will continue working with the health department to take the steps necessary to protect the health of our students and staff. Our plan moving forward if a case is reported to the District includes:

If you have any questions, you are welcome to call or email our school district nurse, Opal Hostert at (608) 648-0104 or ohostert@desoto.k12.wi.us  or your school principal, or Linzi Gronning, Principal/Superintendent at lgronning@desoto.k12.wi.us or 608-648-0102.

Consider Testing with Symptoms

Because COVID-19 symptoms are very similar to cold or flu symptoms it is hard to know if or when an individual should get tested. Those who have symptoms are encouraged to contact their medical provider, the county health department in which they reside,  or our school nurse, Opal Hostert at (608) 648-0104 or ohostert @desoto.k12.wi.us  for information on testing. 

Those who have multiple symptoms are encouraged to get tested and isolate until test results have been determined. Because it can take up to 14 days after being exposed to a person with COVID-19 before symptoms begin, testing results may be negative early on in the 14-day period and could be positive on the 14th day.

Knowing if you are positive allows individuals to follow all safety and health precautions including isolation, self-monitoring,  and helping prevent the spread during contagious periods. Current health information also indicates that those who tested positive and have recovered are able to return to school or work. Those individuals will not be contract traced for 90-days from the date of their positive test.


11/01/2020

Flu Shots Available at Stoddard Elementary Tue, Nov 3

The Vernon County Health Department will offer their second Flu Shot Vaccination Clinic in the De Soto Area School District on Tuesday, November 3 at Stoddard Elementary School. Parents must complete and turn in the Student Consent Form for students to be eligible to receive a flu vaccination.  Adults are also welcome to receive flu vaccinations and must complete a consent form as well. Both forms are linked here.

Student Consent Form

Adult Consent Form

Remote Learning Expectations for Student Success

Learning Models--Remote Learning is one of three options the District offered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to parents and students. The school-year opened with parents able to choose for their child the 1) Traditional in-school model, 2) Remote Learning at-home connected to the classroom, or the 3) De Soto Virtual School with family selected online curriculum not connected to the school classroom.

Remote Learning is intended for families who choose this option for personal reasons relative to health and family well being, or as an alternative to the classroom setting if the student is quarantined. Remote Learning may also be instituted by the district as needed during the school year for a particular grade, class, or school building.

Weeks to Months--Remote Learning is not intended to be a day-by-day choice, but rather for learning continuity purposes be a choice made for several weeks as necessitated by quarantine, a quarter, semester or for the school year. Moving at-will from one learning model to another on a daily basis is challenging and reduces learning productivity and advancement.

Expectations of Remote Learners--Remote Learners are expected to be connected via the internet to their classes at the time their classes are in session.

Attendance Avoids Truancy--Class attendance will be taken with tardies and absences recorded. The WI Department of Public instruction requires schools to document attendance and follow truancy procedures if students are absent and not attending in-person or virtually. Parents should call their child's school if a Remote Learner is tardy or absent. If leaving a message please provide the parent name, student's name, and reason for absence (E.g. dentist appointment, illness, family trip, etc.). For students to be considered in attendance the student will need to:

School Meals & Support Services--School Meals are available for Remote Learners. To sign up for school breakfasts and lunches please contact the District Food Service Director, Betsy Knutson at (608) 648-0111 or bknutson@desoto.k12.wi.us  Other support services are available through our school nurse, Opal Hostert at (608) 648-0104 or ohostert@desoto.k12.wi.us or by contacting Jeni Rapraeger, the  MS/HS School Counselor at (608) 648-0115 or jraprager@desoto.k12.wi.us and Kurt Gaylor at (608)  648-0124 or kgaylor@desoto.k12.wi.us

COVID-19 Information & School Resources

The De Soto School District's 2019-20 calendar had pre-scheduled 'no school' dates for students on Thursday, October 29, and for students and staff on Friday, October 30. All buildings are cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis with target disinfecting in areas needed.  

While positive cases were noted at De Soto High School, all De Soto middle and high school classrooms and areas were additionally disinfected last week on the non-school days as an additional preventative measure to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Classes will resume as scheduled on Monday, November 2.

Please note the following for additional information. Please scroll down both documents to review all information. The packet has some blank pages which are page breaks and are not missing information.

Community & School Resource Flier

Parent, Student, Staff COVID-19 Information Packet


10/30/2020

District Notified of Two Positive High School Students

De Soto Area Schools was notified today by the Vernon County Health Department that two high school students tested positive for COVID-19. We are actively working with the Vernon County Health Department to quickly identify any high school student(s) or staff who may be contact traced (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or longer in a 24 hour period). Vernon County Health Department has asked the District to assist with personally notifying the families of high school students who have been contact traced.

Any individual who tested positive for COVID-19 will not be eligible to return to school for at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms or 10 days from the date of the positive test if asymptomatic, and also have symptom reduction or be symptom free for 24 hours without the use of medication.

Individuals who are contact traced will be asked to self-quarantine for 14-days from the date of last exposure to the positive case. Contact traced individuals are expected to follow the guidance of their medical provider and the Vernon County Health Department pertaining to self-quarantine, monitoring for symptoms, and any recommendation for testing or medical care.

Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever (temperature 100.4 or higher), cough, trouble breathing, chills, muscle/body aches, loss of sense of taste or smell, runny nose or nasal congestion, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. The CDC’s website has helpful information regarding COVID-19: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

The county health department acknowledged the District’s efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the school setting. Per the District’s established protocol, cleaning and disinfecting of our classroom and common areas occurs on a daily basis. Additional disinfecting targeting all areas the individuals used while at school has occurred. Our intent is to mitigate exposure and this will continue to be our practice as we work with the county health department to take the steps necessary to protect the health of our students and staff. The District will continue to follow the best practice recommendations:

Classes at De Soto High School will continue as scheduled. If you were not contacted personally by the Vernon County Health Department or the District, our hope is you will continue to send your child to school to maintain the continuity of their learning process. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our school district nurse Opal Hostert at 608-648-0104 or ohostert@desoto.k12.wi.us or your school principal, or Linzi Gronning at 608-648-0102 or lgronning@desoto.k12.wi.us


10/29/2020

De Soto Schools Notified of Positive Case

This morning, De Soto Area Schools was notified by the Crawford County Health Department that a high school student tested positive for COVID-19. We are actively working with the Crawford County Health Department to quickly identify any high school student(s) or staff who may be contact traced (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or longer in a 24 hour period). Crawford County Health officials will be personally notifying the families of high school students and staff who have been contact traced. 

Any individual who tested positive for COVID-19 will not be eligible to return to school for at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms or 10 days from the date of the positive test if asymptomatic, and also must be symptom free for 24 hours without the use of medication. Individuals who are contact traced will be asked to self-quarantine for 14-days from the date of the positive test. Contact traced individuals are expected to follow the guidance of their medical provider and the Crawford County Health Department pertaining to self-quarantine, monitoring for symptoms, and any recommendation for testing or medical care. Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever (temperature 100.4 or higher), cough, trouble breathing, chills, muscle/body aches, loss of sense of taste or smell, runny nose or nasal congestion, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. The CDC’s website has helpful information regarding COVID-19: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Per the District’s established protocol, cleaning and disinfecting of our classroom and common areas occurs on a daily basis. Additional disinfecting targeting all areas the individual used while at school has occurred. Our intent is to mitigate exposure and this will continue to be our practice as we work with the county health department to take the steps necessary to protect the health of our students and staff. The District will continue to follow the best practice recommendations:

Classes at De Soto High School will continue as scheduled. If you were not contacted personally by the Crawford County Health Departments, our hope is you will continue to send your child to school to maintain the continuity of their learning process.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Opal Hostert, District nurse at 608-648-0104 or ohostert@desoto.k12.wi.us or your school principal or Linzi Gronning, Principal/Superintendent at lgronning@desoto.k12.wi.us or 6080-648-0102.

COVID RESOURCE INFORMATION

Please click on this link for:  Parent COVID-19 Information

About COVID-19

COVID-19 is an illness caused by a new coronavirus. It spreads from person to person through droplets created when we cough, sneeze, talk, sing or laugh. Most people—especially young people—who get COVID-19 have mild illness, similar to having a cold or the flu. However, in others it can cause severe illness, such as pneumonia. Symptoms of COVID-19 include:

The CDC’s website has good information about COVID-19: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Prevent Further Spread

The following guidelines will help to prevent further spread of illness at our school:

10/27/2020

Class of 2021 Cap, Gown & Tassel Orders Due

Seniors can save a late fee by ordering their cap, gown & tassel  by November 1.Please add 2 inches to your height when ordering your maroon cap & gown set.  (Unopened Cap & Gown units may be returned if you do not participate in 2021 Ceremony).  To order a graduation tassel only, please select the Souvenir Tassel.

Please arrange to have orders placed online by NOVEMBER 1, 2020 to avoid late fees. 

De Soto Schools Notified Today of Positive Employee

This morning the De Soto Area School District was notified by the Vernon County Health Department (VCHD) that an employee at De Soto Middle/High school has tested positive for COVID-19. Our protocol is to actively work with the Vernon County Health Department to quickly identify, notify, and quarantine any students or staff who may have come into close contact with the positive case and who may be at risk of getting sick.

The VCHD has informed us that there are no students or staff who have been contact traced (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or longer). De Soto Middle/High School classes will continue as scheduled. We will closely monitor this situation and will provide updates if there is additional information.

The impacted employee is complying with quarantine recommendations in place by the CDC and the Vernon County Health Department and will not be eligible to return to work for:

 Per our established protocol, a thorough and targeted disinfecting has been completed in all areas of the building that the individual used.

The District’s established school-day protocols include cleaning and disinfecting classrooms, high touch surfaces, and common areas. These and other mitigation efforts have been noted by the VCHD as apparently effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and include: wearing masks and other essential PPE, hand washing/hand sanitizing, disinfecting (CDC/EPA approved disinfectant) classroom desk tops and chairs between transitions, physical distancing efforts, utilization of Plexiglas dividers when physical distancing is not feasible, re-purposing gyms and the cafeteria for instruction, and posting prevention signage.

 The District will continue working with the health department to take the steps necessary to protect the health of our students and staff. Our plan moving forward if a case is reported to the District includes:

About COVID-19

COVID-19 is an illness caused by a new coronavirus. It spreads from person to person through droplets created when we cough, sneeze, talk, sing or laugh. Most people—especially young people—who get COVID-19 have mild illness, similar to having a cold or the flu. However, in others it can cause severe illness, such as pneumonia. Symptoms of COVID-19 include:

The CDC’s website has good information about COVID-19: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Prevent Further Spread

The following guidelines will help to prevent further spread of illness at our school:

If you have any questions, you are welcome to call or email our school district nurse, Opal Hostert at (608) 648-0104 or ohostert@desoto.k12.wi.us  or your school principal, or Linzi Gronning, Principal/Superintendent at lgronning@desoto.k12.wi.us or 608-648-0102

10/23/2020

P/T Conference Sign Up & Reminders

Parent/Teacher Conferences (Phone or Virtual)

Sign Up for Phone or Virtual Conference