Resources
- Back To School
- Welcome
- Attendance
- Internet Safety Guides for Parents
- Links
- Newsletters
- Student Behavior
- Time Schedule
- Visit Our School
Back To School
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Dates at a Glance Back to School Events Back to School Information 2025-2026 Please review the linked documents below for grade-specific supply lists:
Helpful Links: |
Welcome
Welcome to the Primary Center Resources page! This section offers families access to essential tools and information to support students through their primary school years. Explore our family handbook, attendance policies, time schedules, internet safety guide, newsletters, visitor information, and more—all thoughtfully organized to help you stay engaged in your child’s educational experience.
Attendance
Why School Attendance Matters
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Research shows that students who miss 9 or fewer days of school in one academic year in Kindergarten and 1st grade are more likely to be reading on grade level by 3rd grade. Building the habit of good attendance early on is key to academic and social emotional success long-term. Said another way, by letting your child miss today, you give them permission to ditch later. Missing school in the early grades teaches them it's okay to miss school when they are older. Here is a resource to help your family build healthy school attendance habits. |
Absences
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Excused absences may include, but are not restricted to: illness, family emergency, medical appointments, and family vacation. School Board Policy 431 and School Board Policy #431.1 further spells out the conditions of the school attendance policy. Parents and guardians may excuse their child for up to 10 days per year without a medical excuse. These days may be taken in ½ day increments according to the Full Day Attendance Policy #431.1 and will be calculated as follows:
Said another way:
Absences beyond a total of 10 days are considered unexcused. These absences may only be excused if a medical provider’s note is provided. Absences that are medically excused do not accrue toward the 10 allowable absent days. Families are encouraged to seek and provide a professional note in order for an absence to be marked as medically excused. Unexcused absences occur when a parent does not contact school to report the absence or a student exceeds their 10 allowable absent days without a medical excuse. |
Family Vacations
Please keep in mind that much of the work completed during the school day will not be able to be duplicated. It is recommended that families take trips that match the vacation schedule within the school calendar. Students are expected to bring a note from their parents/guardians a minimum of one week before a family vacation. It is the student and parents’ responsibility to see his/her teacher to inquire in advance about missed schoolwork.
Excessive Absences
It is widely recognized that any pattern of excessive absences (excused, unexcused or a combination) has an adverse effect on the learning process. The Mount Horeb Area School District believes early intervention is most successful in making a positive difference in a child’s school experience. Because of this philosophy, all schools in our district make formal responses to situations involving excessive or unexcused absences. If problems are suspected, a parent meeting will be held to discuss reasons for the absences and to determine an action plan designed to improve school attendance and the child’s educational program.
Truancy
Truant and habitual truant are two classifications used by the Intermediate Center when Wisconsin State Law (S.118.16) maximum days of excusable absences are passed. Absences that are not called in and/or not excused for any of the above reasons are considered unexcused. The Intermediate Center is obligated to refer truant and habitual truant students to local, county and state agencies.
Ways to report an absence at the PC
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Students are expected to be at school each and every day unless they have an excused absence. If a student cannot attend school, a parent/caregiver should call the school office at 437-7606 before 8:00 am. A message may be left on that line. If no contact is made, a "safe call" will be made to verify the child is safe. Parents may send in a note in advance of planned absences. This note should include the following information:
***Following the return from a medical appointment, students should provide a note from the medical provider. State law requires that all absences be recorded as excused or unexcused, and it permits up to 10 days of student absences. |
Internet Safety Guides for Parents
- i-SAFE Inc.
i-SAFE Inc. is the worldwide leader in Internet safety education. Founded in 1998 and endorsed by the U.S. Congress, i-SAFE is a non-profit foundation dedicated to protecting the online experiences of youth everywhere. i-SAFE incorporates classroom curriculum with dynamic community outreach to empower students, teachers, parents, law enforcement, and concerned adults to make the Internet a safer place. Please join us today in the fight to safeguard our children’s online experience. - web Aware
This site provides the tools you need to help keep your kids safe online. - Wired Safety
WiredSafety provides help, information and education to Internet and mobile device users of all ages. We help victims of cyberabuse ranging from online fraud, cyberstalking and child safety, to hacking and malicious code attacks. We also help parents with issues, such as MySpace and cyberbullying. - NetSmartz
Communication is an effective tool for parents and guardians when helping their children avoid the dangers that exist on the Internet. NetSmartz provides on- and offline learning activities for parents to facilitate discussions with their children and teens about Internet safety. Visit "Parent FAQ" to learn more about how and why parents should use NetSmartz. - Child Net International
Few parents understand their children’s cyber culture, that is, the way in which their children use the Internet and mobile phone to work, play and socialise. The issues of safety, privacy, on-line predators and cyber bullying are sometimes complex, both technically and psychologically and parents can struggle to keep up. At Childnet we aim to empower parents to get involved with their children’s online activities, whatever their level of experience, in order to help their children reap the benefits of the Internet and avoid the dangers.
Links
Newsletters
Student Behavior
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Dear Families, We have spent significant time during the past couple of weeks establishing and practicing expected choices in all school areas. When students demonstrate an unexpected behavior, we are reteaching and sharing replacement behavior ideas. We know that some students need additional practice, and we shouldn't expect all 5-to-7-year-olds to know all of the rules from the moment they walk in our door. Each week, the Dean of Students and I share a Monday video with all students and staff. Last week's message was about behavior and bullying. Please view our Monday Message to see one way we are supporting a safe and successful school year for each K-2 Viking. Bullying, harassment, or intimidation in any fashion is unacceptable behavior and is prohibited at school. The ELC and PC strive to create a school community where all people are welcome and students learn to be respectful, responsible, and ready when working with others. To learn more about our proactive efforts, please visit the Guidance page. Despite our best efforts, peer conflict will happen. When it does, it is important to know when it reaches the level of bullying. According to stopbullying.gov, “Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:
Bullying is not perceptions of rudeness, criticism, “not getting your way,” healthy peer conflict, isolated and unintentional physical contact, or lack of consideration. These are examples of conduct that are unlikely to constitute bullying, harassment, and/or intimidation. Regardless of whether the problem is bullying or not, we want to know about it so we can address it. Please notify the Dean of Students, Katie Hardyman, if your student is struggling with a peer conflict. To learn more about our Anti-Bullying/Harassment/ One of the best ways to improve school safety is for students, families, and staff to share concerning behavior with school administrators when they see it. If you have traveled by airplane, you are familiar with the regular announcements to report any suspicious activity to the Department of Homeland Security. “If you see something, say something” also applies at school. When students hear of situations where someone might get hurt or they see someone harming another person, they are taught to report the issue to the supervising adult. This could be the classroom teacher or the supervising adult at lunch or recess. If students hear something outside of school or on the bus, they can still come to the office to report the issue directly to Mrs. Johnson, the ELC/PC principal, or share what they heard or saw with the office staff. Parents or community members can also report issues of safety or concern to the school. This could be via phone at 437-7506 or 437-7606, via email to Mrs. Johnson or another staff person, or stopping into the office in person. With Viking Pride, |
Time Schedule
Visit Our School
Please see our District "Visiting Our School" for details about our school visit prerequisites you need to complete. The safety of our students and staff is among our primary responsibilities. We consistently seek ways of improving our processes. Starting with the 2025-2026 school year, the Mount Horeb Area School District has added a new visitor management system, Visitor Aware, to the robust criminal background check we already employ.