Meadow View Monthly Newsletter
February 2022
A Message from Mrs. Bell
Dear Otters,
Black history is American History. February is Black History Month and it’s important for our country to take some time to reflect on the importance that African/Black Americans have played in American history, and what our country and the world can learn from this experience. This is a special time where we promote knowledge of black history, culture and heritage. Below is an overview of the celebrations at Meadow View.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten students are going to focus their learning on influential African/Black Americans. The teachers are going to share about one influential African/Black American during Morning Meeting. Each classroom will create rocket ships, focusing on influential Black/African Americans who made an impact in space discovery and take pictures using the green screen.
1st grade
First grade students are going to focus their learning on researching influential African/Black Americans, and using facts they learn to write and publish opinion pieces. We hope to use google slides to produce their work.
2nd grade
Second grade students will focus their learning about the contributions of African/Black Americans. We’ll be reading the book 28 Days: Moments in Black History that Changed the World, and will be engaging in conversations about people that made history.
3rd grade
Third grade students will be researching an African/Black American person who has made an impact, then write an I am poem. The students will perform their poem in the first person’s point of view.
4th grade
Fourth grade students will work with a partner to research various African/Black American pioneers of science and create a poster to present to the class. We have a pre-made list of potential research options that are not commonly known.
5th grade
5th graders will focus on the standards around analyzing an author’s purpose, determining the author’s perspective, and discussing literary techniques used by authors to keep readers interested.
We will reach these standards in part by incorporating lyric analysis of famous Black artists. The songs we are considering range from the early 1900s to music of today. We will also consider the major historical events of the time the song was released/ how those events impacted the writing.
Students will also be learning 2 - 3 songs by black musicians in music class, in which we will have a small group perform in each ecosystem at a designated time. We will have a few soloists perform on zoom for the school or make a recording. How is racism present in our school system? What can students, teachers, and the Sun Prairie community do to address the issue of racism?
Whole School Celebrations
Weekly Read Aloud
Throughout the month, we are going to be posting read alouds, poems, and interesting facts that celebrate our African/Black American students and community. These videos are going to be posted on Seesaw and the Meadow View Elementary Facebook School page.
February Virtual Celebration
Our students are excited to share their learning in a virtual Celebration. Grade level teachers are thrilled to share their students’ learning and artifacts for the creation of our MV Black History Month Video Celebration. This video is going to be posted on Seesaw and the Meadow View Elementary School Facebook page at the end of the month of February.
At Meadow View, we are always keen to learn from one another and promote understanding of different cultures and backgrounds. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with your child’s teacher or myself if there is information, a story, an artifact or photo that your child would like to share with their class, or if you are able to support our Black History Month work in any other way. We would be pleased to receive these contributions. As always, thank you for your continued support.
Please see the video from Mrs. Bell and Mrs. Earhart introducing Black History Month.
Kind regards,
Cynthia
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Mark Your Calendars!
Tuesday February 1 - Lunar New Year
Wednesday February 2 - Groundhog Day
Tuesday February 15 - SCO Zoom meeting at 6:00 pm
Tuesday February 22 - Orchestra Concert
Thursday February 24 - Parent/Teacher Conferences (4:00pm - 8:00pm)
Friday February 25 - NO SCHOOL: Parent/Teacher Conferences (7:00am - 11:30am)
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Scholastic Book Fair
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School Bus Driver Recognition Week: February 14th - 18th
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Valentine's Day/Friendship Celebrations
Here are some guidelines for celebrating Valentine’s Day at school on Feb. 14th -
Yes, students may bring in valentines and exchange them with peers. If you have a student who needs valentines, please contact Kelsey Eyers and she’ll hook them up!
All exchanged treats must be individually wrapped and taken home to consume.
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4K Enrollment for the 2022 - 2023 School Year
Do you have 4 year old or soon-to-be-4 year old and you want them to have a jumpstart at school? Any child who is age 4 by September 1, 2022 can register for the 22-23 school year.
1. Registration online begins February 1, 2022. Fill out this Google form on the SP4K website
2. After you complete the Google form, you will be directed to finish the enrollment process on Infinite Campus.
* Please note: Step 2 must be completed on a computer. If you complete Step 1 on a mobile device, you can find the link to Step 2 on the SP4K Enrollment page above. *
SP4K Office Contact Information
608.834.6672 | csschmi@sunprairieschools.org
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Go to www.sunprairieschools.org
- Then 'BEGIN THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS' for information on how to enroll a new student
* This enrollment is only for a child(ren) that does not currently attend a Sun Prairie 4K site *
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Moving?
Thank you!
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Missing something? Check our Wall of Lost and Found! [Updated 2/1/22]
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Attendance
- Please be sure to use the Meadow View attendance line at 608.478.5000 or email Kelsey at kjodori@sunprairieschools.org, before 9 am for any morning your child will NOT be in school. If we don’t hear from you, we will contact you at home or work. We want to make sure of your child’s safe arrival.
- When leaving a message, please include the date, student name, teacher, reason for the absence, along with a phone number so I can reach you if needed. This line will be checked frequently throughout the day, and we will let students know if they need to leave for an appointment.
- If you email your student's teacher about the absence, please include me in your email so I can get the message in a timely manner and forgo giving you a safety arrival call. Again, we appreciate you letting us know in advance.
Thank you!
Kelsey Odorizzi
Attendance Secretary
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School Start / End Times
Friendly reminder:
The first bell rings at 8:10am and students can enter the building at this time. The final bell rings at 8:20am and students should be in their classroom by then, getting ready for the day. When students are late, they miss out on their classroom morning meeting which sets the tone for the rest of the day.
At the end of the day, parents/guardians should be picking their student up promptly at 3:18, every day (except Early Release Thursday, which is at 2:03).
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Thursday is EARLY RELEASE for all 4K/Elementary Classes
EVERY THURSDAY is Early Release for all 4K/Elementary classes at 2:03 p.m.!
Please be ready to pick up your child or meet the bus at the earlier time.
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K/1
Kindergarten
Recess 10:45 – 11:15
Lunch 11:15 – 11:45
1ST Grade
Recess 11:00 – 11:30
Lunch 11:30 – 12:00
2/3
2ND Grade
Recess 12:00 – 12:30
Lunch 12:30 – 1:00
3RD Grade
Recess 11:45 – 12:15
Lunch 12:15 – 12:45
4/5
4TH Grade
Recess 11:30 – 12:00
Lunch 12:00 – 12:30
5TH Grade
Recess 12:15 – 12:45
Lunch 12:45 – 1:15
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Student Services Updates
Clothing
With the cold weather hitting us lately, please be sure to have your student come with warm pants, long sleeves, socks, hats, gloves, boots and snow pants. If you and your family are in need of warm clothes as the winter continues, please don't hesitate to call or email me.
Box of Balloons
This year we have the opportunity to partner with Box of Balloons. This is a nationwide nonprofit organization that started at Westside Elementary in Sun Prairie! The goal of this program is to help provide a birthday box to students that may not otherwise have a birthday party. The boxes will be themed, and include items for six children for a party, include a gift for the child, as well as decorations. It is a party in a box! Please let me know if you think your child would benefit from this program, and I will take care of coordinating the birthday box.
Attendance
I continue to work with our secretaries on attendance. With it being an unusual school year, please know that our number one priority is ensuring your student's success. Research indicates that regular attendance greatly impacts academic success starting as early as preschool, and continuing through high school years. Please be sure to call the attendance line if your student(s) is unable to attending learning for the day. The attendance line is 478-5000 and press 1 to leave your message. If you need to talk with me regarding a specific situation, you can call, text, or email me.
Resources
If you are in need of any support, such as food, clothing, or outside help, please contact me and I am happy to help in any way possible.
Thank you and stay warm!
Kelsey Eyers
608.478.5020
608.909.1454 (text)
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Update on COVID Protocols and District Testing Site
Dear Sun Prairie Parents and Caregivers,
Keeping our schools open for in-person learning continues to be our priority. The pandemic’s impact on our schools is shifting continuously, and we want to keep you informed and continue to ask for your partnership. Coming off the winter break, we have had over 200 students and staff test positive. Thankfully, many were not in our schools while contagious, which has limited the potential for spread within the district. Due to the high level of activity, our COVID response team will not be able to issue some notifications, and we will no longer be actively contact tracing at the upper middle school and high school level. We will focus on positive cases, sports close contacts, and K-7 contact tracing.
We communicated on Sunday that we needed to wait for additional information from PHMDC prior to implementing the new CDC guidance related to shortened quarantine and isolation. This new guidance recommends certain conditions for students to return early, and we need time to set up new protocols in our schools.
We will maintain our current quarantine and isolation policies through Thursday, January 13. Therefore, students who test positive will need to isolate for 10 days, and close contact quarantine will remain at 10 days (with the option to return on Day 8 with a negative test on Day 6-7). We will implement the new shortened CDC guidelines for isolation and quarantine when school resumes on Tuesday, January 18.
Testing Site Information
Our district testing site is open daily at Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium at Ashley Field. As a reminder, it only serves SPASD students and staff. Due to high demand and a shortage of testing supplies, family members cannot be tested at this site. Please help us focus on keeping schools open by reserving testing supplies for students and staff.
Based on feedback and to combat the winter weather, the line has been converted to a "drive-up" format. Please follow the signs on-site at Ashley Field. Wait in your car until it is your turn to approach the testing kiosk. To keep the line moving, participants must pre-register using the COVID Connect link.
Please be aware that due to a statewide shortage of rapid antigen test kits, our lab partner is only able to provide lab-based PCR tests until further notice. This means results will be delayed until processed by the lab. We know rapid tests are critical to minimize the time students and staff are away from school, so we will work to reinstate antigen testing as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding!
Here is where we need your help:
- Please keep sick kids home! Use the SPASD Student COVID-19 Symptom Screening Checklist daily!
- Please call your primary care physician / nurse-on-call hotline to discuss your particular situation- our staff must focus on school-related contact tracing and cannot offer individual medical advice.
- Please be patient with our nursing staff - They are inundated with emails and calls daily and reply in the order they are received. Please expect a delay in response, as they work to answer all questions. When in doubt if your child should come to school, keep them home until you verify the proper protocols.
- Please review PHMDC Vaccination information and consider getting yourself and/or your child vaccinated if you have not already done so, and schedule your booster as soon as eligible.
Please reference the following SPASD documents for more information
- Student Version | Employee Version of SPASD COVID-19 Infection Response Action Plans. This document illustrates a variety of scenarios related to COVID-19, including testing positive, testing negative, exhibiting symptoms, or being a close contact.
- SPASD Close Contact Infographic | SPASD Screening Flow Chart
Please review these NEW resources to help navigate our current COVID protocols. These will be updated and re-shared once the new CDC guidelines have been implemented.
- SPASD COVID-19 Health & Safety Webpage - Data Dashboard & Ashley Field Testing Site. Our district's most recent COVID-19 data and testing site information can be found on this webpage. This website contains other information and resources.
- Public Health Madison & Dane County COVID-19 Webpage - Please visit this page for county resources related to face coverings, vaccination, and recommendations and guidance if you are sick or possibly exposed.
We will continue to keep you informed as new information becomes available.
Stay Well,
Brad Saron, Superintendent
Stephanie Leonard Witte, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching, Learning, & Equity
Janet Rosseter, Assistant Superintendent for Operations
Nick Reichhhoff, Director of Student Policy & School Operations
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Meadow View Elementary School
Website: sunprairieschools.org/meadow-view-elementary
Location: 200 North Grand Avenue, Sun Prairie, WI, USA
Phone: 608-478-5000
Facebook: facebook.com/MeadowViewElementarySPASD