The Howl
West Parent/Caregiver Newsletter Volume 3: Issue 6 9/17/23
Welcome to Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month
As we enter Week 3 of the school year we also have begun our celebration of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage month. Over 10% of our student population at SP West, in addition to several of our staff and many of our parent/caregivers and community members, identify as Hispanic/Latinx.
Hispanic Heritage Month does not cover one single month but instead begins in the middle of September and ends in the middle of October. The timeframe of this month is significant because many Central American countries celebrate their independence days within these dates, beginning on September 15 with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. By aligning with these independence dates, Hispanic Heritage Month honors the resilience and determination of the Hispanic community. Key Independence Days celebrated within Hispanic Heritage Month include:
- September 15 - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua
- September 16 – Mexico
- September 18 – Chile
- September 21 - Belize
During September 15th- October 15th we intentionally celebrate them, their identity, the incredible diversity and beauty within the Hispanic/Latinx community, their history and incredible contributions to our community. This week students in our Spanish 1 class, along with our phenomenal custodian Jose Gonzalez, hung our banner and flags to begin the visual celebration in our commons. Be on the look out for other ways we will be celebrating as a community during the upcoming weeks! Happy Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month.
Jen Ploeger- Principal- jrploeg@sunprairieschools.org
Chai Lee- Associate Principal- cmlee1@sunprairieschools.org
Ed Ford- Associate Principal- ebford@sunprairieschools.org
Need Your Voice- Communication Feedback!
West Wolves Homecoming 2023
Guest Forms for Other Schools
Parking Week 3
Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Resources
Post Secondary Planning for High School Athletes
When: Wednesday, September 20 from 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Where: Sun Prairie West High School Room 1202
Who: Any 8th - 12th grader considering play NCAA sports after high school
Please join us for an informational meeting with athletic advisor Tyler Kastner. He will provide guidance with the collegiate athletic process for high school student athletes and their families in their pursuit to play sports beyond high school.
Some topics covered include:
High School Timeline
Approved High School Courses
Eligibility Requirements - 16 Core Course Requirement
Differences among Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3
Grade Point Average Scale
How to register
COVID Changes
Classroom Corner
Technology Updates
Please take a look through the links below for more information on some technology updates to our filter policy, our loaner Chromebook procedures, and our new focused browsing tool called Securly Classroom.
SPANISH LINK
CBITS for 9th Graders
We are committed to partnering with you in supporting your child as a strong learner. This school year, Sun Prairie West high school is offering a program to students who have experienced stressful events or who are experiencing other stressors in their lives. People who have experienced a trauma or those experiencing significant stress may develop symptoms. This can show up as not wanting to go to school or as difficulties with class work and concentration.
In partnership with Journey Mental Health Center and the United Way, we are offering a program for all 9th graders called REST (Resilient response to the Effects of Stress and Trauma).
The staff at Sun Prairie West High School will be screening all 9th graders on Monday October 9, 2023.
Students whose questionnaire score indicates symptoms of depression or traumatic stress will have a face-to-face conversation with a school staff or REST Team member. These conversations are meant to provide support and to determine what resources would be useful for the student.
This form only covers the screening and follow-up conversation. If you DO NOT want your child to participate in the REST screening, please complete the form below and return to Susi Sirianni, Sun Prairie West school social worker by Friday October 6, 2023 or just reach out to Susi Sirianni and express that you would like your student to NOT participate. If you have questions or would like more information about the REST screening, please call Susi Sirianni at 608-478-1700 ext 5335 or email sesiria@sunprairieschools.org.
Upcoming Events
- September 20th- Guest forms due for Homecoming
- September 25th-29th- Homecoming Tickets on Sale
- October 4th- Homecoming Parade- Main Street
- October 6th- Homecoming Game- Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium
- October 7th- Homecoming Dance- West Gym
Game of Tiaras
SP Tennis at the Ironman
Wolf Wear
Adapted Sports Apparel
Statement of Nondiscrimination
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.
Subs Needed!
- Our wages for substitutes are in the top 5% in Dane County.
- Control your own schedule.
- We financially support you with Department of Public Instruction training (8 hours) for a 3-year substitute teaching license.
- We will provide you with technology training so you have the skills you need to succeed in supporting students and staff.
- Earn a $100 bonus for working 5 days in a month. (More info about the incentive program below)
- Earn an extra bonus for working in targeted schools and positions.
- Lunch provided through our award-winning school nutrition program.
- Full or part time positions are available!
In Case You Missed It! Information that's too important to miss from previous Howls
It's about learning!
- Common slides at the beginning and end of every class for consistent expectations
- Schoolwide implementation of planners to explicitly teach organizational skills
- Intentional planning and use of the 86 minute block lesson including: beginning of lesson, 3 "engagements" including movement breaking the learning into smaller pieces and allowing predictability for students and a closing activity. The number one feedback we got from students last year was that 86 minutes is a long time to be in a classroom if there is not predictability, movement and variety in the teaching and learning, that's now the expectation consistently across classrooms.
- Our grading practices from last year continue with 90% of a student's grade coming from "summative" activities- tests, quizzes, projects, etc. This is "the game" in which students show what they know and are able to do at the end of the learning. 10% of a student's grade comes from "formative" activities- homework, in class practice, practice quizzes, etc. This is "the practice" in which students are still learning and growing.
- As our teacher teams have worked to identify the essential standards of what students need to know and be able to do by the end o the course new this year students will need to complete ALL summatives in a course to be eligible to pass. This ensures that the teacher has had an opportunity to assess the student on the essential skills and knowledge that they need to be prepared for the next step after that course. Last year this was true in some courses and now it is a common expectation across all courses at East and West. Teachers will be contact with parent/caregiver and student if a student is missing a summative and provide opportunities for the student to recover that opportunity.
- Additional Opportunities. We know that everyone learns at their own rate and in their own way. Students that do not experience success the first time on a summative will be given a minimum of 1 additional opportunity to show their knowledge/skills. Teachers will communicate with the students what learning needs to take place between the first attempt and second attempt to help the student learn and grow before the assessment is taken for a second time.
Vandalism and Lunch Accountability
Additionally, last year we had a problem with students not cleaning up after themselves after lunch. Both inside in our dining spaces and in the courtyard. We have an incredible, beautiful building and 2 custodians for the entire building during the day. We will miss Alex as he moved to Oshkosh and welcome Dino to day shift. Jose and Dino are fantastic humans and they simply cannot cleanup after 1500 other people during the day. They are here to help make the system function by providing us with toilet paper, towels, etc. It is your responsibility to clean up after yourself. If you see something on the ground, even if it's not yours, pick it up. Clean up carefully after yourself during lunch.
Together we can and will take care of this amazing facility and live out PACK on a daily basis.