The UW–Madison Division of Extension is offering a three-part webinar series for school leaders, educators, and families focused on supporting healthy media habits for Wisconsin students. The series explores how schools and families can work together to support healthy media use through school policies, classroom practices, and family routines at home.
The UW–Madison Division of Extension invites parents, family members, and caregivers to attend:
Parenting in a Digital World
📅 Tuesday, September 1, 2026
🕕 6:00–6:30 p.m.
💻 Virtual via Zoom
✅ Free
Topics include:
Household media habits
Setting realistic technology boundaries
Talking with children and teens about phone use
Supporting healthy digital habits
Building alignment between home and school
Join us for a research-informed conversation about raising children in a digital world and supporting their success both at home and at school.
Learn more and register:
https://parenting.extension.wisc.edu/2026/07/14/from-policy-to-practice-wisconsin-school-phone-bans/
Please see the attached flyer regarding fall sports start dates. Also, we are looking for workers to run the chains at the football scrimmage this Friday, Aug 14th. If you are interested, please contact Erika Clark at Senecaad.k12.wi.us
July 2026
Elementary Summer School
We had a wonderful and very successful Elementary Summer School! We are so grateful to everyone who helped make these two weeks such a fun and meaningful experience for our students.
This year, we had 53 students participate in Summer School. Throughout the two weeks, students learned through hands-on STEM activities, creative projects, books, and plenty of fun!
Students learned how to make ice cream, chocolate chip cookies, granola, and pretzels. They also put their engineering skills to work by building structures designed to withstand earthquakes, creating a Ferris wheel, and designing animal habitats. Students even had the opportunity to design their dream bedrooms!
Our learning was connected to books throughout the two weeks, allowing students to explore stories while incorporating science, technology, engineering, art, and math into their activities. One of the books we enjoyed was Nim’s Island, which students listened to throughout Summer School. We wrapped up our two weeks with a field trip to the Grant County Herald Independent in Lancaster, where students got to see how newspapers are printed. We ended our day by watching Nim’s Island together!
Thanks to a generous Dollar General Literacy Foundation Grant, each student was able to take home two to three books that they had used during Summer School. Students also took home a new bag that they helped cut and sew. A special thank-you to Sue Welsh for coming in and helping us create these wonderful bags!
We would also like to extend a huge thank-you to our amazing school community:
Thank you to our parents for supporting and encouraging your children throughout Summer School.
Thank you to Mr. Osterkamp and Mrs. Kari for your help and support in making this opportunity possible.
Thank you to Meg and Carissa for cleaning the Elementary building and helping us keep everything ready for our students.
Thank you to our kitchen staff for preparing breakfast and lunch for our Summer Lunch Program.
Thank you to Mike Dearth for driving the bus and helping make our field trip possible.
Most importantly, thank you to all of our students for bringing their energy, creativity, curiosity, and smiles each day. We had such a great time learning and growing together!
Thank you to everyone who helped make Elementary Summer School 2026 a success!
Mrs. Shannon Kriel, Ms. Jessica Swiggum, and Ms. Madalyn Welsh
The store will close next Thursday, Aug. 13th!
https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/AM1BkftW1u
If you did not attend the meeting, please watch the video and take the quiz.
https://www.seneca.k12.wi.us/documents/athletics%2Fextracurricular/2026-2027-extracurricular-forms/490220
CELL PHONE COMMUNICATIONS POLICY
The 2025 Wisconsin Act 42 is a state law enacted on October 31, 2025, that requires all public school boards to adopt local policies prohibiting students from using personal wireless communication devices during instructional time by July 1, 2026. The law covers cellphones, tablets, laptops, and gaming devices, but allows local boards to choose stricter rules.
In response to Act 42 and the growing use of cell phones, smartwatches, and other devices that distract from the learning environment, the Seneca Area School District has implemented the following policy:
POLICY PROHIBITING STUDENT USE OF COMMUNICATION DEVICES
High school and Middle school students who choose to use or possess cell phones, smartwatches, or other electronic listening devices will be expected to turn them off and place them in a designated area before their first class of the day. Elementary students should keep their cell phones with their teacher.
Students who need to have a cell phone during the school day must get administrative approval.
Students who use/possess their cell phones or other devices without permission at school, as listed above, will face the following disciplinary consequences:
*1st Violation: The device will be confiscated and returned at the end of the school day.
*2nd Violation: The device will be confiscated, and the student will serve an after-school detention.
*3rd Violation: The device will be confiscated, and the student will serve an after-school detention.
*4th and subsequent Violations: The device will be confiscated, and the student will serve an after-school detention. The device will be turned in to the school administration, and a meeting with a guardian/parent will be held.
Locker rooms/Restrooms: Students who use a phone in the locker room or restroom will receive a Major Offense on the Log Card Steps.
To promote respect for privacy, intellectual integrity, and a positive learning environment, students are also prohibited from photographing, filming, or recording students or staff at school or school-related events without the permission of the school administration and the party being photographed, filmed, or recorded.
School Board Approved
Date: 07/20/2026
Please send your highest bid to:
Attention: District Administrator
Seneca Area School District
202 Main Street, PO Box 34
Seneca, WI 54654
Or email: aosterkamp@seneca.k12.wi.us
Code meeting paperwork has also been updated on the website.
If you were unable to attend the code meeting last night, you can print paperwork from the website under the athletic tab or you can pick up copies in the office. Those who did not attend the meeting will need to complete the code test which will be available next week.
Questions, please email senecaad@seneca.k12.wi.us
https://www.seneca.k12.wi.us/documents/athletics%2Fextracurricular/printable-schedules/251754
Wauzeka - Monday + Tuesday, 6 - 8 PM, Football Field
Seneca - Wednesday + Thursday, 6 - 8 PM, Football Field
Please note that the dates highlighted in BLUE are now designated as dates of importance and are no longer early release days(unless indicated).
Instead of having several early release days throughout the year, we are moving to full in-service days. This change gives our staff dedicated time for professional learning while helping provide students with more consistent instructional time throughout the school year.
Printable Version: https://aptg.co/hblMMn
Reminder: The Code of Conduct meeting is Wednesday, July 22, at 7:00 p.m. in the gym.
This meeting is for all students in grades 5–12 who plan to participate in any sport or extracurricular activity during the 2026–2027 school year. If you still have spring sports uniforms, please bring them with you.