Letter to Parents 3/16/20

March 16, 2020

Treffert Way Families,

As you have heard, with the continuing evolution of the COVID 19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the School District of North Fond du Lac is closed and is anticipated to remain closed through Monday, April 13th, 2020. Our students will be participating in remote, virtual, learning starting Thursday, March 19th.

Treffert Way staff members have been working hard to prepare for virtual learning to take place for all of our students. We have created care packages that will be delivered to each family. In your child’s care package you will find their chromebook, a charger and books for guided reading. There might also be math activities as well as some art projects. 

All Treffert Way staff members have set up Google Classrooms, where students will receive directions for the tasks that they are to complete. There will be daily activities for reading, math and social learning. Each teacher will post a daily read aloud and students will also have access to teacher lead projects as well as passion projects that they have been working on in school. 

Teachers will be available to answer questions and/or provide instruction daily from 8:45-12:00 and 1:00-4:00. This could be provided through email, Google Chat or Google Hangouts. If your child has an upcoming IEP, the case manager will be contacting you about holding the meeting via Zoom or phone. 

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Dolan at tdolan@nfdlschools.org. Thank you for your patience and support as we work through this new adventure together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Dolan

2020 – 2021 Enrollment & Lottery Process

Update 2/4/2020 – 2020 – 2021 Enrollment is now closed.

North Fond du Lac School District families who wish to have their student(s) attend Treffert Way School for the Exceptional Mind please read requirements below.

Requirements for Enrollment within the School District of North Fond du Lac

  • Must be a student enrolled in or open-enrolled into the North Fond du Lac School District
  • Must be a 5K through 7th grade level student for the 2020-2021 school year.

General Information

Application to and attendance at Treffert Way is voluntary and no tuition is charged. Students who do not wish to attend or are not admitted into Treffert Way may attend their home school or their home district.

If the number of applicants from exceeds available seats (45 seats), a lottery will be employed. The names of students on the waiting list will be recorded in the order in which they were drawn. The waiting list will dissolve September 30th, 2021.

Enrollment Process for Students outside the District

Families interested in having their child attend Treffert Way will need to complete the Enrollment Application (link). They will be available online no later than January 14, 2019. In addition, out of district students must also complete the open-enrollment process through the School District of North Fond du Lac and be accepted into the School District of North Fond du Lac for the 2020-2021 school year.

Lottery Protocols

If a lottery is needed, it will be held on February 18, 2020.  All students will be notified including those who were placed on the waitlist.  Individual acceptance of open enrollment students will occur after February 20th, 2020 pending North Fond du Lac School Board approval.

Lottery Procedures

  • The lottery will be videotaped and kept on file for one calendar year.
  • Each application will have a numbered ticket attached to it; a duplicate ticket will be placed in a drum or similar container. Applicants of the same family will receive just one numbered ticket.
  • A governance board member of the Treffert Way will draw numbers from the drum or similar container and the names of the students will be written down in order, until the maximum is reached.
  • Numbers will then be drawn to form a waiting list. The names of the students will be recorded for the waiting list in the order that they are drawn.

Waiting List Protocols

  • Students will be called from the waiting list in the order they were placed when seats become available. Families will either accept the open seat or decline it. By declining the seat, the student is removed from the waiting list. If a family wants to be considered for the following year for the next grade, they would need to reapply.
  • The waitlist will remain active until September 30, 2020.  At that time, no new students will be accepted for the school year. There is the opportunity to re-apply for the 2020-2021 school year.
  • Periodically, the administration will review enrollment to determine if and how many seats are available for calling up students from the waiting list.

Timeline

  • Application Process for next year Opens on January 14, 2020
  • Application process closes Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at the close of school.
  • Lottery date – February 18, 2020
  • Notification of enrollment status via letter to parents – February 20, 2020.

Important Dates for 2020 Admission

Our 2020-2021 school year online application process will begin in January. Once the applications have been submitted for the available seats Treffert Way School will hold a lottery as was done last year.

Below are the key dates for the 2020-2021 admissions process:

  • Information Meeting for Prospective Students/Parents – January 7th, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Application Process for next year Opens on January 14, 2020
  • Application process closes Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at the close of school.
  • Lottery date – February 18, 2020
  • Notification of enrollment status via letter to parents – February 20, 2020.

Please contact Meg Puddy, a board member, if you have any questions by emailing mpuddy@nfdlschools.org or calling 920-904-4932.

Thank you,

Treffert Way Team

Update on Enrollment

(update) Enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year has been completed.

Click here for the Online Enrollment Form

Our 2020-2021 school year online application process will begin in January. Once the applications have been submitted for the available seats Treffert Way School will hold a lottery as was done last year.  

Below are the key dates for the 2020-2021 admissions process:

  • Information Meeting for Prospective Students/Parents – January 7th, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Application Process for next year Opens on January 14, 2020
  • Application process closes Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at the close of school.
  • Lottery date – February 18, 2020
  • Notification of enrollment status via letter to parents – February 20, 2020.

Please contact Meg Puddy, a board member, if you have any questions by emailing mpuddy@nfdlschools.org

Teach to the Talent

Teach to the Talent flyer

A great learning opportunity is available on March 8. Trevor Clark, PhD, National Director Research & Senior Education Consultant, Autism Spectrum Australia will be presenting on a variety of topics relevant to our school including strength based learning. Please see the information on this registration site.  All of our staff will be in attendance!

Beth Dardis – Comments on a neurodiversity video

Devon MacEachron PhD Video 

Treffert Way staff, in preparation for our opening in September 2019, are coming together for a wide range of professional development.  We are visiting many schools throughout, not only Wisconsin, but across the country to learn from others that have similar missions and visions.  We are learning so much from what others are already doing. Online trainings have been confirming and educational. The Bright and Quirky Summit 2019 hosted a long list of experts that help support families and educators.  One of the speakers Devon MacEachron PhD has created a video regarding neurodiversity. We found this video to be especially insightful and fitting with our mission.

 

Enrollment & Lottery Process

North Fond du Lac School District families who wish to have their student(s) attend Treffert Way School for the Exceptional Mind please read requirements below. To enroll online click here, or download Treffert Way PDF Application

(update) Enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year has been completed.

Requirements for Enrollment within the School District of North Fond du Lac

  • Must be a student enrolled in or open-enrolled into the North Fond du Lac School District
  • Must be a 5K through 6th grade level student for the 2019-2020 school year.

General Information

(Due to DPI requirements, a few updates to this enrollment process have been made.) Application to and attendance at Treffert Way is voluntary and no tuition is charged. Students who do not wish to attend or are not admitted into Treffert Way may attend their home school or their home district.

Parents will enroll their children by completing an Intent to Enroll form. A parent/guardian is encouraged to attend an informational meeting in order to assure understanding of the nature and work of the school.  If parents would like to proceed with the enrollment process they will be asked to complete an application. If the number of applicants from exceeds available seats (40 seats), a lottery will be employed. The names of students on the waiting list will be recorded in the order in which they were drawn. The waiting list will roll over from year to year.

Families  will receive information about Treffert Way through press release, social media, and radio announcements in late December and early January.

NOTE: If a current North Fond du Lac student changes their mind and wishes to apply to Treffert Way after the enrollment period is closed, they must follow the out of district rules.  

Enrollment Process for Students outside the District

Families interested in having their child attend Treffert Way will need to complete an Intent to Enroll form. They will be available online no later than January 14, 2019, and available in the school office. If more out of district students apply than the number of seats available a lottery will be held.

Lottery Protocols

If a lottery is needed, it will be held on (NEW DATE) March 11, 2019 February 25, 2019.  All students will be notified including those who were placed on the waitlist.  Individual acceptance of open enrollment students will occur after April 18, 2019 pending North Fond du Lac School Board approval.

Lottery Procedures

  • The lottery will be videotaped and kept on file for one calendar year.
  • Each application will have a numbered ticket attached to it; a duplicate ticket will be placed in a drum or similar container. Applicants of the same family will receive just one numbered ticket.
  • A governance board member of the Treffert Way will draw numbers from the drum or similar container and the names of the students will be written down in order, until the maximum is reached.
  • Numbers will then be drawn to form a waiting list. The names of the students will be recorded for the waiting list in the order that they are drawn.

Waiting List Protocols

    • Students will be called from the waiting list in the order they were placed when seats become available. Families will either accept the open seat or decline it. By declining the seat, the student is removed from the waiting list. If a family wants to be considered for the following year for the next grade, they would need to reapply.
    • The waitlist will remain active until September 30, 2019.  At that time, no new students will be accepted for the school year. There is the opportunity to re-apply for the 2020-2021 school year.
  • Periodically, the administration will review enrollment to determine if and how many seats are available for calling up students from the waiting list.

Timeline

    • January  14th to February 8th- North Fond du Lac School District families and Out of district families fill out an Intent to Enroll Form.  
    • February 19,  21, 27- Attend one of the informational meetings and fill out an application for the Treffert Way.
    • NEW DATE – March 11, 2019 February 25, 2019– If needed a lottery to determine who will be sitting in the 40 seats.
  • March and April- Staff will be in contact to outline your students personalized education plan.

To enroll online click here, or download Treffert Way PDF Application

(update) Enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year has been completed.

Enrollment Period & Informational Meetings

Treffert Way for the Exceptional Mind is a school of optional enrollment for all students entering grades K-6.

The school is inclusively designed to provide diverse learners with an appropriately matched educational environment that will invite them to explore and recognize their potential for life success. Treffert Way for the Exceptional Mind will open in September of 2019.

Enrollment will take place from January 14-February 8, 2019.
Enrollment is first open to current North Fond du Lac students with remaining seats available to surrounding districts.

Informational meetings will be held January 15th at 6:00 and January 21st at 4:00, at Early Learning Center in North Fond du Lac.

Families who live outside of the district should apply for Treffert Way during the Enrollment Period, but must also apply for open enrollment through DPI sometime between February 4-April 30, 2019.

For further details or questions, e-mail us.


Treffert Way for the Exceptional Mind is a community-engaged public charter school in the North Fond du Lac School District. The school is open to all children. The unique aim of this school is to recognize the individual talent of each student and design learning experiences focused on these talents. The individual learner is therefore at the center of our educational approach. Staff will work to support students in reaching their full potential by personalizing their learning opportunities, building on their unique strengths and interests.