SPHS Parent Newsletter
September 2019
Message from Mr. Harnisch
Through two weeks of the new year, we are off and running. It's been a great start. Students and staff alike report that they are excited to be back in school and some data pieces bare that out.
We have a 96.4% attendance rate through 2 weeks. That's awesome. Our goal for the year is to above 95% so we are right there. Please help us out by making sure your student is in attendance as much as possible.
Our enrollment is up over 40 students from last year. Since our revenue is tied directly to how many students we have, that is great news. (Of course it's only our enrollment on one day that really matters for state aid purposes and that day is next Friday, Sept 20th. Another really important day for your student to be in school!!)
Next week is homecoming. An exciting time of year for every high school. We are looking forward to a fun and SAFE homecoming week. Please have a conversation with your child about the importance of having fun safely. Nothing can ruin the memories made during homecoming week faster than an accident or injury. We'll do our part here at school to communicate that message; please help us out and do so at home too.
Day of Service - October 16, 2019
In the Spring of 2016, members of the community approached me to brainstorm ways to increase the spirit and commitment to service among our high school students. The end result of those discussions was the “Day of Service” we executed in September 2016, where all 800+ students, 100+ staff members, and a large number of community representatives, participated in service projects throughout our community, contributing 4,000+ hours of service work.
The immediate impact that day had was substantial. Everywhere I went for the next month, people stopped me to thank us for the work our students did to make our community better. And our students took pride in the role they played to improve our local community. Lastly, and most importantly, we all allowed our students to demonstrate their value to our community that day; and that value was universally recognized. It was one of the best days in the history of SPHS.
We knew we wanted to do it again and had it on the schedule for last spring, opting for an every other year cycle due to the significant logistical needs of the event. With all the snow days and missed instruction we were unable to pull it off. But, we’re rescheduled for this fall - October 16th, 2019 - SPHS Day of Service II. It's gonna be a great day for our community and our students. Just wanted you to have it on your calendar.
Reminder - WEEKLY EARLY RELEASE - HIGH SCHOOL ONLY
Just like last year, as part of our trimester schedule, we have built in Weekly Collaborative Time for our staff. The purpose of this time is to focus on instruction and student data, with the goal to immediately impact student learning in the classroom. If you are interested in the research supporting the effect of consistent collaboration on student learning, here is an excellent article, "The Missing Link in School Reform."
The impact for students is that on Wednesdays, they will have early release at 2:34 pm. Buses will run at the normal time, after regular 3:25 release, and if a student must stay for transportation or after school activities, there will be a place for them to study or pursue other activities. (A menu of choices will be available to students shortly after school starts.)
These Early Release days will be on the following Wednesday's this school year:
- Sept. 25th
- Oct. 2nd, 9th, 23rd and 30th
- Nov. 6th and 13th
- Dec. 4th, 11th and 18th
- Jan. 8th, 22nd, and 29th
- Feb. 5th, 12th and 26th
- Mar. 4th, 11th and 18th
- Apr. 1st, 8th and 29th
- May 6th, 13th, and 27th
- June 3rd
If you are uncomfortable with your student having weekly early release, please complete this brief Early Release Restriction Form, and we will make sure you student has required attendance during this time, and report to you if they are absent.
Contact me with any questions or concerns at chad.harnisch@saukprairieschools.org
Homecoming Week - Sept 16-21st
Homecoming Theme: Mardi Gras
Dress up Days: Teachers will take a count of the number of students dressed up during first hour. The winning grade will get a $50 prize to their class funds.
- Monday- Media Monday
- Tuesday- Favorite Team Tuesday
- Wednesday- 'Merica Wednesday
- Thursday- Gone Fishing
- Friday- SP Spirit Day
Window Decorations-
The following groups will be decorating windows. They are getting judged on Thursday so go check them out during the week. The winning class will get a $50 prize to their class funds.
- Freshman: Style and Stitches
- Sophomores: Cameo Antiques
- Juniors: Mixing Bowl
- Seniors: La Bombita
- Tennis: Sauk City Library
Bonfire and Outdoor Movie- Monday, September 16th
- The event takes place by the football field between the stadium and softball fields.
- Bonfire will be lit at 8 pm
- Movie "The Waterboy" will start at 8:30
- Concession stand funds will go towards Bahamas relief
Powder Puff Games- Wednesday, September 18th during early release
- Powder puff games will be during early release. Students who ride the bus will need to find alternative transportation to participate. Buses will still leave at 1:50.
- Powder Puff Football- Out on Football Field start at 2:00. Seniors vs Freshman and Juniors vs Sophomores to start with Championship games to follow.
- Powder Puff Volleyball- Seniors vs Freshmen will start in the South Gym at 2:00 and Juniors vs Sophomores will start in the North Gym at 2:00. Championship games to follow.
Pep Rally- Friday, September 20th at 12:30
Parade- Friday, September 20th at 2:00-
- Route: south on Maple from the RAC, Right on Hemlock, Right on Sycamore, Right on Grand, Right on 9th Street, Ending at the RAC.
- The winning class float will receive a $50 prize for their class.
Homecoming Dance- Saturday, September 21st 7:30-11:00
- 7:30 Coronation in the South Gym, dance will follow until 11:00
- Door closes at 9:00 pm (no admittance after this time)
- Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door, and $2 for coronation only, tickets will be sold during lunch all next week.
We are also raising money for Bahamas Hurricane Dorian relief in the following ways:
- All proceeds from concessions at the Homecoming Bonfire Monday, September 16th.
- Penny Wars - During Homecoming week, Donate next week Monday through Friday at lunch into each grades jar! Each grade will be against each other. Pennies and dollars are positive. Nickels, dimes, and quarters are negative. The class with the highest total wins $50 for their class account. May the best class win!
- Buy some red and black beads to wear to the Homecoming Game. A set of black and red beads is $2. You can buy the beads at lunch all Homecoming week.
1st Trimester Parent Teacher Conferences
Tuesday, Oct 15, 2019, 04:00 PM
Sauk Prairie High School, 9th Street, Prairie du Sac, WI, USA
College and Financial Aid Seminar Offerings
During Parent Teacher Conferences this year the Counseling Department will be offering three different seminar sessions to better assist our parents and students. Details about these sessions are listed below.
Your Future, Your Way
When: Tuesday, October 15th @ 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Where: SPHS Room 19
What: This time is dedicated to seniors to explore, fill-out, and complete applications that align with their goals and plans after high-school. Staff will be around to help assist students as they complete these items and answer any questions they may have.
Fearless FAFSA & Other Financial Aid
When: Tuesday, October 15th @ 5:30-6:30 pm
Where: RAC Gallery
What: Katie Sprunger from Edgewood College will provide a detailed presentation on the financial aid process. She will discuss all aspects of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and answer questions regarding this important topic.
Crush Your FAFSA
When: Tuesday, October 15th @ 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Where: SPHS Room 19
What: Katie Sprunger from Edgewood College will be here to help parents and students complete their FAFSA on-site. The goal is to have parents and/or students complete and submit their FAFSA before they leave. You will need the following items in order to complete your 2019-20 FAFSA. If you are considered a dependent student for financial aid purposes, you will also need these items for your parent(s).
2018 Federal Tax Return and W2s.
2018 Untaxed Income Records, such as child support or veteran’s non-education benefits
Information on savings, investments, business assets and farm assets (if applicable)
Driver’s License (if you have one)
Cell phone (if you have one)
Social Security Number
Alien Registration Card or Permanent Resident Card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
Date of birth for parents
Month and year of parents’ marriage, divorce or separation
It is highly recommended that a dependent student attend the event with a parent so the FAFSA can be submitted that evening.
Cell Phone Policy - Year 2
Last year we made the decision as a faculty to prohibit cell phone use in the classroom. We did so considering the most recent research into the distraction to learning they represent for students and teachers alike and with student and staff input in the process. We will be living that policy again this coming year. I will share at Back to School night with parents, and in class meetings the first week of school with students, our expectations about cell-phone use at SPHS this year. In case you are unable to make it, here is the text of our policy:
Students may use Personal Communication Devices (PCDs) before or after school, during their lunch break, in between classes as long as they do not create a distraction, disruption or otherwise interfere with the educational environment, during after school activities, or at school related functions. PCDs may not be used during instructional time. (Instructional time is defined as those times when classes are in session, whether or not a student is physically in class.) Additionally the main office and student services office, without the express permission of school staff present, are cell-phone free zones at all times school is in session,
Technology including, but not limited to, PCDs intended to be (and actually) used for instructional purposes (e.g., taking notes, recording lectures, writing papers) will be permitted, as approved by the classroom teacher or the building principal.
Violations of the above conditions are subject to the following progressive discipline plan (for repeat offenses, initial steps may be skipped as warranted) :
1st Offense - Teacher confiscate phone and deliver to administration for remainder of the day with automated contact to parents
Any refusal to comply with teacher direction related to this step, will result in an administrative interaction and a consequence for failure to follow directions.
2nd Offense - Administration confiscate phone to return to parents.
3rd Offense - Administration Confiscate phone and return to parents. Develop a school phone-free plan for 20 consecutive school days
Any refusal to comply with administration directions as related to these steps, will immediately initiate confiscation of phone to return to parent, and the development of a school phone-free plan for 20 consecutive school days and a consequence for chronic refusal to follow school rules.
4th Offense - 1-day ISS
5th Offense - 1 Day OSS
6th Offense - multi-day OSS with pre-expulsion meeting on re-entry
7th Offense - consideration for recommendation for expulsion
Faculty and students alike report that the new practice made a difference in classrooms and during instructional time. As more and more information surfaces from researchers about the impact of cell-phones on learning, we are increasingly confident that providing space at school for students to be "phone-free" is an important goal of our school.
Thanks for your support as we continue this effort.
19-20 Bell Schedules
For the first time in my tenure at Sauk Prairie High School, we have an identical bell schedule to last year. It's nice to go a year without this changing. You can find our schedules on high school website at the following link: Daily Bell Schedules
School Pictures Retakes - October 15th
Student pictures retakes will be taken during the school day on October 15th by Lifetouch. If your student did not get their picture taken on Sept 9th, or if they do not like the one they did have taken, please make sure to remember this date.
Attendance Reminders:
If your student is going to absent please call 643-5902 (24 hour line) by 9:00 a.m. on the day your student is absent to report the absence and the reason for the absence. We would like to remind parents that state law leaves the decision about whether an absence is excused or not with the school's attendance officer. Being specific in your reporting provides the necessary information for that decision to be made well. If we do not receive a contact regarding the absence you will receive an automated contact asking for you to contact us
You can also submit absences:
- via the skyward app or parent portal
Upcoming Dates
Sept 16-21 - HOMECOMING WEEK
Sept. 18th - DIstrict Wide PLC early release - 1:50 PM
Sept. 25th - HS Only Early release for Teacher Collaborative Time - 2:34 PM
Oct. 2nd - HS Only Early release for Teacher Collaborative Time - 2:34 PM
Oct. 9th - HS Only Early release for Teacher Collaborative Time - 2:34 PM
Oct. 15th - HS 1st Trimester Parent Teacher Conferences 4:00 - 8:00 PM
Oct. 16th - SPHS DAY OF SERVICE
Oct. 16th - DIstrict Wide PLC early release - 1:50 PM
Oct. 24th - No School - Comp Day for P/T Conferences
Oct. 25th - No School - Trade Day for Summer Professional Development
Oct. 30th - HS Only Early release for Teacher Collaborative Time - 2:34 PM