HORIZON ELEMENTARY
Home of the Red Tail Hawks
December 2021
Hello Horizon Community,
Welcome to December. We really appreciate how you are all working with us to get our students into the building and ready to learn by 8:20am each day.
For those of you who are using our drive thru lane, please allow students to get out of the car as soon as you stop anywhere in the drive thru lane that is next to our sidewalks. Have students ready to jump out of the car with their backpack in hand. This helps all of us.
The bell rings at 8:20, and teachers are beginning their morning meetings right away. It becomes distracting and disruptive for everyone when kids are not ready to go.
We are super proud of the Penny War fundraiser that our Student Council put together last month. Our students raised $1,600 for the Miracle League of Dane County to help pay for lights for their baseball field. Thank you to all of you! We have Horizon students who are part of the Miracle League.
Our PBIS focus in December is "Respect". Our teachers will focus our learning on what respect looks, sounds and feels like at Horizon all month long.
I am looking forward to our first snowfall. I think.
Enjoy the month!
Michelle Kelly, Principal
608.834.7901
Library news
We often practice coding during library lessons! If students want to continue coding at home, check out the Horizon Coding Symbaloo for links.
We have had an increased use of water bottles this school year. With that increase, we have had an uptick of library books that have been damaged by leaky water bottles.
Please help your student remember to double check their bottles before they go into their backpacks.
Advanced Learner Program
News from Mrs. VanDerKamp
Happy December!
Yahara
The Yahara River Writers Contest opportunity is available through the Greater Dane County Advanced Learner network that was introduced to students in October. Students who have chosen to participate should have a rough draft turned in by December 3rd and a final draft is due December 17th. All writing should be submitted through google classroom.
Math 24
Math 24 club has been meeting for several weeks. Soon we will be learning and practicing the official tournament rules in preparation for our local Math 24 competition in February. Tournaments are for students in 4th and 5th grade. Our club meets Monday mornings from 7:35-8:05 in 3/4 pod.
If you have questions or concerns regarding any of the above or about the Advanced Learner Program (ALP) in general, please email me at brvande@sunprairieschools.org
Penny wars results are in!
Remember, silver money subtracted from penny totals...
1st Place: SECOND Grade! (-69.11)
2nd Place: Third Grade (-95)
3rd Place: Kindergarten (-97.51)
4th Place: Fourth Grade (-103.73)
5th Place: First Grade (-120.37)
6th Place: Fifth Grade (197.99)
Total Money Raised... almost $1,600!
Wow, this was a fun and successful fundraiser for The Miracle League of Dane County! Thank you for supporting this incredible cause! Congrats 2nd grade!
Nurse’s notes
● Celebrate Smiles is coming to Horizon in December
○ They offer fluoride treatment & dental screenings for all students at no cost
○ Look for an informational packet that will be sent home with students
● By the time you read this, some of our students ages 5-11 will have received their covid vaccine. If you have questions about the vaccine and/or vaccination opportunities, please check out PHMDC’s website https://www.publichealthmdc.com/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine
● Please continue to use the COVID-19 Health Screening Checklist
○ Covid-19 Health Screening Checklist
● Covid testing continues at Ashley Field for SPASD students
○ Most school days, typically from 8:30am - 12:30pm
○ Pre-register at https://register.covidconnect.wi.gov/en-US/
● Thank you to everyone who donated clothing so far this year. We are still collecting hats, gloves and winter boots if your student has outgrown them.
● Health Assistant at Horizon:
○ Nurse Salina 608-834-7906 or sscarr@sunprairieschools.org
SPASD Health Services5th Grade orchestra concert, Thursday December 9th
There will be a short (15-20 minute) concert featuring the 5th grade orchestra students from Token Springs and Horizon.
Thursday, December 9th
6:00 p.m.
Sun Prairie High School Performing Arts Center
Note: Orchestra students will need to arrive by 5:00 p.m. and meet in the orchestra room at the high school for tuning and warm up!
Kobussen reminders
Waiting for the Bus
As cold and snowy weather is upon us, here are a few reminders when students are waiting for the bus in the morning. Students should:
● be waiting at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the scheduled arrival time.
● be dressed appropriately for waiting in cold weather. This includes jackets, hats, gloves/mittens, and scarves.
● stay out of the road and others’ yards. Wait on the sidewalk or close to the curb if there
aren’t sidewalks.
● wait to cross the road until the driver signals and the bus comes to a complete stop before attempting to board.
No Eating On The Bus
Please remember there is absolutely no eating allowed on district buses. Students may have life-threatening food allergies that could be affected by others eating on the bus. If your child does not get a chance to eat breakfast at home, please make sure he/she knows to wait until
they arrive at school. If your child is given a snack or treat at the end of the day, we ask that they eat it before leaving school or wait until they get home.
If you have any questions or concerns about this information, or school bus safety, please contact Kobussen at 825-8700, ext 5509.
Volunteering in the District
We appreciate your interest in volunteering for Sun Prairie Schools. To help ensure the safety of every student in the district, a national criminal background check must be completed prior to volunteering. More detailed information can be found here.
All information disclosed is kept strictly confidential and a determination will be made on an individual basis. Your background check is valid for three years. You will receive an email from Raptor letting you know that your background check is up for renewal 90 days, 60 days, and 30 days before it expires.
If you have any questions, or require additional assistance, please contact Melissa Gors at 834-6503.
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.
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.
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.)