Terrapin News
December 2022
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Hello Terrapins!
“If parents want to give their children a gift, the best thing they can do is to teach their children to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort, and keep on learning.”
-Carol Dweck, world-renowned psychologist, author, and professor
In December, we focus our efforts on teaching and learning around the power of having a growth mindset. A growth mindset is when you focus your energy and efforts on a task and stick with it until it is finished – no matter how long it takes. You keep going even when things are difficult, and you don’t give up. You make decisions and follow through on them.
As individuals, we often toggle between the two ends of the fixed to growth mindset spectrum. Despite where we may fall on the spectrum, one thing we have the power and control over is our ability to move into a growth mindset zone.
Students who have a growth mindset believe that they can develop their intelligence, talents and abilities through practice and effort. This belief can spark your child(ren)’s desire to grow, which subsequently drives motivation and produces results. Your child(ren)’s belief about their ability to change and willingness to do so is the key to building their growth mindset muscle.
Check out these other resources on growth mindset
Happy December!
Michael Marincic, Principal
608-478-5101
5th Grade Orchestra Concert - SPHS East
Thursday, December 8
6:00 p.m. (Students should arrive at 5:00 p.m.)
1st Grade Field Trip - State Capitol
Tuesday, December 13
8:30 a.m. - 2:20 p.m.
SCOTS December Social Tuesday - Buck & Honey's
Tuesday, December 13
6:30 p.m.
Liv's Drink Emporium Share Day
Thursday, December 15
*see flyer for details
5th Grade Field Trip - New Perspective Senior Living
Monday, December 19
9:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Travelin' Tom's Coffee Truck - Token Springs Staff Appreciation
Wednesday, December 21
*see SCOT section for details
Festive/Silly Sweater Day
Friday, December 23
No School - Winter Break
Monday, December 26 thru Monday, January 2
School resumes Tuesday, January
Family Movie Night
Friday, January 20
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Helpful Links
- Please visit the Token Springs website for 2022-2023 Recess & Lunch schedules
- For further details about days off this school year, please visit our 2022-2023 school year calendar
Token Springs Reminders
Door Buzzer
When visiting the school, please continue to use our door buzzer system (located at the far right of the main entrance with a red sign). This is a district-wide protocol that will continue to help ensure the right people are in our building for the right reasons. Thank you for helping to keep our students safe!
Wellness Policy
Baked goods that are served or provided in the classrooms must be purchased, not homemade, and be in a wrapper which contains nutrition information and expiration date. For more information on the Sun Prairie Area School District's wellness policy, please click on the following links: Policy JHK, JHK-R. Please have all classroom treats dropped off in the front office so our nurse can check for allergies. Thanks!
Stay Informed!
With winter on it's way, we want to make sure you are informed of school closures due to inclement weather. Please email our front office of any changes to your address or phone numbers listed in Infinite Campus.
For more information on school delays and closings, please visit the SPASD School Delays & Closings website page.
Winter is Here!
With colder weather soon to come, please make sure your student(s) are dressed appropriately for outside recess! Please make sure to put your student's name on anything that could be taken off at school.
- Hats
- Gloves or Mittens
- Fall/Winter Coat
- Boots (don't forget a change of shoes for afterwards
SPASD Winter Guidelines for Recess
Students will stay indoors during inclement weather or when the air or wind chill temperature is at or below 0°F. The school principal will check local weather websites for temperature and wind chill factors.
Volunteer Terrapins Program
The Volunteer Terrapin Program is in full swing. We love seeing all the families come in to help out!
Please feel free to sign up for multiple timeslots! Preview the available slots on our SignUpGenius and navigate the tabs on top to find the different opportunities available throughout the week. Once you find a slot(s), click on the button to sign up.
A reminder that all Volunteer Terrapins must complete the District Volunteer Application prior to volunteering at Token Springs. Please keep in mind that applications may take up to 2 weeks to process and you can reach out to the Token Springs main office to check the status of your volunteer application. Be sure to have your ID with you and sign in at the main office on your volunteer day and also make sure to check out in the office at the end of your volunteer time. This helps us keep track of who is in the building at any given time.
Festive/Silly Sweater Day
Help Us Design the Yearbook Cover!
If I Built a School Challenge
Virtual Art Fair
Each month we will be showcasing some artwork by some of our students.
Check out our talented 3rd Graders!
What is SCOTS?
SCOTS or the School Community Organization of Token Springs is the Parent Group here at Token Springs. PTA... PTO... SCO... Same thing. Parents coming together to build a sense of community around our school. We organize events for afterschool, help show our appreciation to our dedicated staff, and can help facilitate things the school can't (like connecting parents via a voluntary directory).
We are a 501(3)(c) non profit. We are run by volunteers. We have a 5 member board this year (most in Sun Prairie, woot woot!), we have amazing volunteers that run Book Fairs, design Spirit Wear, create haunted houses, organize a Terrapin Trot, put together the Yearbook and so much more.
So if you have an event idea, email us at tokenspringssco@gmail.com and we will help make it happen. A Ga Ga Ball Tournament? A sidewalk chalk contest? A snowball fight? Bring the idea and we'll bring the resources and manpower to make the event happen. Our meetings happen the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 at Token Springs AND via zoom.
2022-2023 Officers
President - Amy Knock
Vice President - Kim Waetjen
Treasurer - Corine Friday
Secretary - Christy Tubbs
Parent Liaison - Brent Hyden
SCOTS December Social
Token Springs Share Day - Liv's Drink Emporium
Travelin' Tom's Coffee Truck
SCOTS Meeting
No SCOTS Meeting in December!
Next Meeting is Tuesday, January 10
This meeting will be held in person in the LGI as well virtually via Token Springs/Zoom
Family Movie Night
Join us on Friday, January 20th from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. for a showing of The Rise of Gru. This is a great opportunity to connect with the whole family and have fun outside of school hours! Refreshments will be available for purchase. Bring blankets, dinner, or your own snacks and drinks. The movie will be shown in the gym and cafeteria. We hope you can make it, and enjoy the night out with us.
Last Call for the One and Done Fundraiser
The Token Springs SCO is hosting one completely optional, no pressure fundraiser this year. This is a convenient opportunity for our caregivers and families to do just that: make a contribution and be done for the year.
One of the core missions of our organization is to build a sense of community within our school and throughout the Sun Prairie area. The SCO will utilize the funds raised to support our students and community with giving back and hosting some of our most successful events including the Terrapin Trot, Spooktacular, and Spring Fling to mention just a few!
This fundraiser also eliminates any other fundraising efforts through the year, and the donation requests that go along with them.
SCOTS hosted this fundraiser last year, and after helpful feedback on how to improve, we have set a fundraising goal of $10,000 this year.
To help understand what these funds are used for, we wanted to provide a snapshot of the cost of the events we have sponsored in the past as well as some we are hoping to provide in the future. This money goes directly to support these costs:
Spooktacular: $300
Terrapin Trot: $3,500
Spring Fling: $3,000
Movie Nights: TBD
Paint Nights: TBD
Thank you in advance for your support! We greatly appreciate all of our caregivers and the amazing support we receive from each and every one of you to make these events possible.
Reminders For Morning Bus Riders
As cold and snowy weather is upon us, here are a few reminders for students riding the bus in the mornings:
● Arrive at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the scheduled pick up time.
● Wait on the sidewalk or close to the curb if there aren’t sidewalks. Stay out of the road and others’ yards.
● Don’t cross the road until the driver signals and the bus comes to a complete stop before attempting to board.
Students must have their bus tag with them when riding the bus. Replacement bus tags can be picked up at the school. A photo of the bus tag on their cell phone is acceptable. Students may be denied if they don’t have a bus tag and the driver doesn’t recognize them.
Token Springs Elementary School
Website: https://www.sunprairieschools.org/token-springs-home
Location: 1435 North Thompson Road, Sun Prairie, WI, USA
Phone: (608) 478-5100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TokenSpringsElementary/
STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION
No student may be unlawfully discriminated against in any school programs, activities or in facilities usage because of the student’s sex (gender identity, gender expressions, and non-conformity to gender role stereotypes), color, religion, profession, or demonstration of belief or non-belief, race, national origin (including limited English proficiency), ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, homelessness status, sexual orientation, age, or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability. Harassment is a form of discrimination and shall not be tolerated in the District. It is the responsibility of administrators, staff members and all students to ensure that student discrimination or harassment does not occur.
(SPASD District Policy JB
If a student or parent/guardian would prefer to have this information translated into Spanish, please contact us at 608-834-6620. Si un estudiante, padre ó guardian prefiere tener esta información traducida en Español, por favor contactenos en el 608-834-6620.
If a student or parent/guardian would prefer to have this information translated into Hmong, please contact us at 608-834-6630. Yog tus me nyuam lub xiv los yog niam thiab txiv/tus neeg muaj cai saib xyuas tus me nyuam xav tau qhov ntawv ntawm no ua lus Hmoob, thov hais rau peb paub rau ntawm 608-834-6630.
NEW NOTICE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICIES ON SEX DISCRIMINATION, THE DISTRICT’S TITLE IX COORDINATOR, AND PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING OR FILING A COMPLAINT OF SEX DISCRIMINATION
The Sun Prairie Area School District (“District”) does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of sex in any education program or activity that the District operates. Title IX’s requirement not to discriminate in any education program or activity extends to cover, but is not limited to, District students, certain admissions processes, and District employment. To access the relevant policy and procedures you can go to the District’s website. For inquiries regarding how Title IX and the federal Title IX regulations apply to the District please contact the District’s Title IX Coordinator, (the Director of Student Policy & School Operations, 501 S. Bird Street, Sun Prairie, WI 53590, 608-834-6624 or by email at titleixcoordinator@sunprairieschools.org.)