CARES Connection
November 1, 2021
Dear Families
Suddenly we find ourselves at the start of Quarter 2 of the 2021-22 school year. Teachers and support staff have been working hard to ensure the start of this quarter is centered on building on student strengths and looking for next opportunities for growth. At times, our work is overshadowed by events in the immediate community and our larger community. Our goal is to take these events and mold them into learning and growth opportunities. Student voice is essential in moving forward. Doing this in a peaceful and respectful manner should be non-negotiable.
I’m borrowing this nice graphic from our friends at Northside. They are saying goodbye and we are lucky to say “Welcome Tenisha Winn!” She will begin her work with us on November 8th.
Child Find Annual Notice
Attached you will find a copy of our annual Child Find Notice with the procedures for accepting and documenting a referral.
Upon request, the Sun Prairie Area School District is required to evaluate a child for eligibility for special education services. A request for evaluation is known as a referral.
We need your help - Behaviors & Concern Areas that are interrupt learning
Our colleagues at the High School recently gathered up some resources regarding Relationships and Communication: Social Media. I am offering these resources to you and encourage you to sift through them.
There are so many Social Media apps, and they are ever-changing. While some features CAN be used for negative and harmful things, we know how social media can also provide our students with a lot of opportunities to be connected, to find community, to be expressive, and to contribute to the world in a positive way.
Social media platforms are part of how people build relationships and communicate in a digital world. As a parent, helping your child capitalize on the opportunities while being aware of the drawbacks can be tricky. Here’s some advice:
11 Social Media Red Flags Parents Should Know About, and What to do About Them
5 Reasons You Don't Need to Worry About Kids and Social Media
In school, we teach kids about the positives AND negatives of social media, and help them think about their own social media experiences. We categorize this learning under the Relationships and Communication focus of our digital citizenship curriculum. From our students, we have found that a big topic around social media is oversharing.
Check out this video to learn more about oversharing.
Here are more resources to explore:
K-5th Grade Relationships and Communication Family Tip Sheet
6-12th Grade Relationships and Communication Family Tip Sheet
Links for Help - From our School Social Worker
Our young people and their caregivers increasingly find the need to reach out to our school support staff for assistance in navigating life today. Here are some resources
Crisis Text Line:Text HOME to 741741
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255
The Trevor Project: (866) 488-7386 or Text START to 678-678
From Coach Boberg:
We are excited to have 8th grade boys basketball and 8th grade wrestling up and running for our student-athletes! Home competitions for boys basketball will be at Patrick Marsh and Prairie View and home competitions for wrestling will be located at Token Springs Elementary School. Reminder about entrance requirements for student spectators attending middle and high school athletic events: Students in grades 6 – 8 must enter with a parent or caregiver and have their student ID. Schedules and details for 8th grade athletics can be found on our school's athletic website: https://www.sunprairieschools.org/cardinal-heights/athletics. Information for 9th grade athletics can be found here: https://www.sunprairieschools.org/high/athletics.
Kobussen Bus
Starting Monday, October 25, some of our students will be assigned to a new bus route (either 528 or 542). Adding these 37 students to the two routes may have changed the pick up/drop off times for all the other bus riders as well. A Blackboard message was sent to the parents of routes 528, 542, 552, and 554 today informing them of their student's new pick up/drop off times.
Static Information
Health Office Update
If your student is ill, please include any specific symptoms they are experiencing. Also, please let us know if your student has tested positive for Covid -19 or has had close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. Students who are symptomatic or have tested positive will receive a phone call from our nurse to determine when the student can begin in person attendance again based on their symptoms.
Infinite Campus
Contact Deb Garczynski for information and guidance on getting IC access.
dlgarcz@sunprairieschools.org 608-318-8120
Virtual Learning Update
During the first week of November, SPASD will begin to communicate information to families about the opportunity to transition into virtual learning in JEDI for the second semester. They will also offer families who are currently participating in the first semester virtual option to transition back to in-person instruction for second semester.
Attendance update
You should be receiving regular updates regarding your students attendance and tardy to class events.
Please call our attendance line at 318-8020 to let us know when your student will be absent
Calendar check and reminders
Please click HERE to view our athletic schedule for the week of November 1 - 6, 2021
November 4: First Quarter grades are posted to the Infinite Campus Portal.
November 5: No school for students. Staff vaccine clinic.
November 7: Day Light Savings Ends - “FALL BACK”.
November 17: Principal Sarah Prankeklangreturns.
November 24 - 28 Thanksgiving Break. No School.
December 2: Progress Grades are available for review and goal setting.
Reference Links:
Start guide to using Google Classroom
9th grade athletics, the Sun Prairie High School athletics website is here! Everyone (coaches, athletes, officials, and game workers) must self screen themselves prior to every practice and competition.