Meadow View Elementary
November 2021
NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5
Dear Otters,
Thank you for this amazing first quarter! As always, I want to take this opportunity to:
Show Gratitude
Celebrate our diversity
Give you an update about School Goals
Invite you to lean in
Show Gratitude: Our school nurses
This month I want to elevate the work of our school nurses. Since the beginning of the year, our district and school nurses have been working tirelessly to make sure our schools are safe. I also want to say thank you to you: the caregivers, for the patience and grace you have shown every time we ask you to test your children for Covid. We are so grateful for our District's efforts to keep all students and staff safe.
Celebrate our diversity: Native American Heritage Month
During November, we will be celebrating Native American Heritage Month, Dia de Los Muertos, Diwali, and Thanksgiving.
What an amazing month to celebrate! If you celebrate one or many of these traditions, please consider sharing a little meaning of this tradition with your child's classroom.
School Goals Update
Meadow View K-2 Teachers participated in two days of learning this week with Dr. Katie Linder, Teachers College Reading and Writing Staff Developer.
The big takeaway is around a new structure for small group work, where kids are "doing more" and teachers are "doing and talking less".
The structure of rallying the kids into the work and giving them two different "try it" to practice the skill or strategy allows students more opportunity to practice. The menu of how a small group can flow allows for purposeful and responsive teaching, always moving toward small groups that build skill as well as independence.
Teachers were able to see Katie teach small groups around learning letters and sounds, adding to their writing using a mentor text, synthesizing nonfiction information from text features and words, and many others.
From there, teachers did their own planning of small groups. It was two amazing days of learning with more collaboration and small group planning on Friday, October 22nd during professional development.
Meadow View teachers are thankful for this opportunity to learn and grow together.
Invitation to lean in
Please see the information below from our Superintendent and Board President about ways to provide feedback to our school district.
Over the last six years, the Sun Prairie Area School District has worked toward our vision and mission through our strategic plan, and while we still have progress to make, we have achieved many goals to evolve and improve for our community and the children and families we serve. The goals and results can be found on our Continuous Improvement webpage.
As we continue to work towards our goals, we need to ensure our strategic direction is keeping up with our community's diverse needs and priorities. We are engaging students, staff, families, and community members in dialogue about our strategic direction in order to refresh our current strategic plan.
We want to hear from you on how we are doing and how we might improve or change to ensure we are responsive to the needs of our diverse and growing student population and community.
Here are some ways that you can get involved over the next few weeks:
Attend an Ideas Fair
- Explore ideas, hear back from others, and share your own input and feedback on key priorities for your school district in the coming years.
- November 11, Sun Prairie High School Cafeteria 5:00-6:30 pm
- November 18, Sun Prairie High School Cafeteria 6:30-8:00 pm
Two-Question Tuesdays
- Catch us on social media and our website every Tuesday from October 26-November 16. We will share two questions each week for you to share your thoughts and ideas. Today’s questions can be found here.
Online survey
- Want to share all of your thoughts with us right away? Take the online survey. The survey has all of the Tuesday questions in one place.
Learn more on the Planning for our Bright Future webpage or watch the School Board presentation from 10/25/21 explaining the Strategic Plan Refresh process.
This is your district and we need your voice. Thank you for your feedback, ideas, and participation.
Brad Saron, Superintendent
Steve Schroeder, School Board President
As always, please reach out to me if you have any questions.
Un abrazo,
Mrs. Bell
Veterans Day
Thursday, Nov 11, 2021, 08:15 AM
200 North Grand Avenue, Sun Prairie, WI, USA
Mark Your Calendars!
Thursday Nov 4: Diwali begins
Friday Nov 5: NO SCHOOL
Sunday Nov 7: Daylight Savings - Remember to turn your clocks back an hour!
Wednesday Nov 24: NO SCHOOL
Thursday Nov 25: NO SCHOOL/THANKSGIVING
Friday Nov 26: NO SCHOOL
Sunday Nov 28: Hanukkah begins
WINTER BREAK
Friday December 24 - Friday December 31
January 3: First day back from winter break
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, time and 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
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).
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.
Brrr!
Also, please be sure to label all of your student's clothing. It will help tremendously if something were to get lost.
Missing something? Check our Wall of Lost and Found!
Art Supplies Donations
Hello Otter family and friends!
I am asking for recyclables and used items as donations for the art room!
Here is a list of things we would like to use for our creations:
- Toilet paper/paper towel tubes
- cereal boxes
- plastic bottle caps
- corks
- buttons
- fabric or clean, ripped clothes
- craft items
- random plastic things (anything with an interesting shape)
- yogurt cups
- toy foods
- fake flowers
- beads
- yarn
- shells
Things we won't be able to use in the art room:
- glass
- metal cans
- plastic bottles
- large cardboard boxes
Thank you in advance for any items you can contribute!
-Ms. Henker and Mrs. Gearing
Help Make Our World a Better Place - One Act of Kindness at at Time!
This year we will be hosting the Kindness Club! Watch for your child to bring home the form over the next few weeks to have signed and then returned to school. The Kindness club will be held on Mondays (beginning Monday, November 29) from 3:18-3:45 in the music room. Any student from 2nd through 5th grade will be able to participate.
Meadow View is looking for dedicated, kind leaders who are passionate about spreading kindness, helping others, and setting a positive example within their school community. As Kindness Ambassadors, students are expected to serve as positive role models and to assist with various school wide projects throughout the year.
Being a Kindness Ambassador is an honor and a big responsibility. The mission of the team is to bring students together to help create an environment where everyone feels welcome and included. Members of the club are committed to making our school, community, ourselves and our world a better place, one act of kindness at a time!
If your child rides the bus, we will dismiss them when their bus arrives. If you will be picking up your child, please be parked out front at 3:45.
Please let us know if you have any questions!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Eyers and Mrs. Leon
Thank you! - From the SCO
Thank you so much to ALL the teachers, staff, volunteers, and families that helped and attended the fall festival this year! The SCO was excited to bring back an event for the whole school community and make our lives feel a little bit normal during this pandemic uncertainty. We loved seeing all the smiles (masks didn’t hide them completely) and our kids getting to be kids and just being able to have fun with their friends. The SCO looks forward to being able to put on more events in the coming months and getting to know everyone in our community a little bit better.
A special thank you goes out to third grader, Saanvi, who performed a traditional dance performed during Diwali. It was so special to be able to share a little piece of her culture with her school family.
An additional thank you to Sameera, Mani, Madhuri and their families for putting together and sharing information about their culture and celebration of Diwali. In the coming months we will be putting together a few more cultural type events based on the celebrations and cultures that the students are learning about during the school day. As these celebrations are chosen, the SCO will let parents know and potentially reach out for additional help. We are a truly diverse school, and the students love learning from our Meadow View community.
Do you like to volunteer? Do you want to get involved in your child’s school?
What is the SCO (School Community Organization)?
The SCO is similar to other schools’ PTO or PTA. Those on the SCO work directly with administration and teachers to enhance a child’s experience at Meadow View. All parents who attend SCO meetings have the opportunity to vote on school matters and help make decisions and/or provide feedback. We are always looking for parent volunteers at various school events, help plan events, provide food or other supplies, and of course have fun!
At SCO, we are striving to bring the whole Meadow View community together and provide safe events for everyone. Please consider joining the Meadow View SCO, as we have two positions open: Vice President and Secretary! It is an amazing way to contribute to the school community and get to know your administration and staff. Not to mention all the big smiles you will help create!
If you are interested in either of these positions or becoming a volunteer, please contact our SCO President, Tess Weinheimer: president@meadowviewsco.org.
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
COVID UPDATE: From Superintendent Dr. Saron
Hello SPASD Caregivers and Students -
The safety of our students, families, and staff have been and will continue to be our top priority as we embrace our vision of Every Child, Every Day, even in this pandemic. Our goal is to work collaboratively with our parents and caregivers to mitigate COVID spread so that we can maintain full-time, in-person instructional opportunities.
To promote the safety of our students, staff, and families, we have developed infection mitigation plans in line with recommendations from leading public health authorities. A layered approach to infection mitigation continues to be recommended by public health agencies. It is important to talk to your child about the need to follow COVID-related guidelines while at school. It is equally important to commit to risk-reducing practices outside the school setting. Each of us needs to do our part to mitigate infection in the community.
Mitigation measures include:
Symptom Screening - All families must monitor their children daily for symptoms and exposure according to the SPASD Student COVID 19 Symptom Screening Checklist (Spanish). If you are feeling ill or if you may have been exposed to someone that has tested positive for COVID-19, visit the Public Health Madison & Dane County testing webpage to learn the different ways you can get tested.
Face Coverings - The district expects all students attending in person to wear a face-covering in accordance with county and district rules. If you have questions about masking requirements, please review the SPASD Face Covering Information for Families. Once you review that information, please contact your child’s principal with any additional concerns.
Vaccination - After a thorough evaluation of the safety and effectiveness data, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) formally approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 16 years of age and older. This is an important step in the fight against the pandemic. Other vaccines remain available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age. Information on how to access vaccines locally can be found on the Public Health Madison & Dane County vaccine webpage.
Gov. Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced Wisconsin residents who get their first dose of any COVID-19 vaccine between August 20th through September 6th can receive a $100 Visa Gift Card. All Wisconsin residents ages 12 and over are eligible for the reward. You can learn more by visiting the DHS COVID-19 Vaccine Reward webpage or by calling 844-684-1064 (language assistance is available).
Action Plans - The district has a comprehensive infection response action plan, including separation of any symptomatic or diagnosed individuals, disinfection, notification, and contact tracing. If your child meets close contact criteria with someone who tested positive, you would be directly contacted. Since it is important to respond quickly in these cases, there may be very little notice given to families for the need to quarantine. Quarantine could be up to 10 days. Please ensure your emergency contacts are updated in Infinite Campus to enable us to contact you or another caregiver to pick up your child during the day if your child is not feeling well. Please also ensure you have a backup plan for childcare in the event your child is placed in quarantine.
With your help implementing these minimally invasive mitigation measures, we believe we can provide a safe and consistent in-person learning experience for students throughout the 2021-22 school year. For more updates and additional resources, please visit our COVID-19 webpage. As always, when you have questions, your building principal and all of us are available to help.
All our best,
Brad Saron, Superintendent
Stephanie Leonard-Witte, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning, and Equity
Janet Rosseter, Assistant Superintendent of Operations
Nick Reichhoff, Director of Student Policy and School Operations
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