![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/AegDhFGDLS3EV1cgqFRI7g.42f4c76d.jpg)
![Logo](https://cdn.smore.com/u/thumbs/b75c/thumb-a4f0a6d4a98f3cf89de19d767f60394d.jpeg)
Stoner Prairie News
![Stoner Prairie News](https://cdn.smore.com/u/thumbs/cb33/thumb-25cc24f745751d8539ecdf0133126c5c.png)
14th Edition, January 15th, 2024
Principal Connection
Honoring Dr. King - History Matters!
In the Verona Area School District, our mission is that each student will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve their personal goals, thrive in a diverse global society, and lead a healthy, self-fulfilling life. To meet this mission, the Verona Area School District will ensure that every individual has access to the educational, social, and emotional support they need to feel valued and affirmed in their unique identities and experiences. We acknowledge that inequities and power dynamics exist in our system such that some individuals, on the basis of their identities, face barriers to accessing the opportunities they need to experience success. In acknowledgment of such, the Verona Area School District is committed to disrupting these systems of inequity.
Our district was closed and a paid holiday for all VASD employees. During this time off, we were encouraged to reflect, volunteer, support, and improve our community around the issues of racial equity and social justice.
At Stoner Prairie we will continue to honor the legacy of Dr. King and other leaders as we gather to celebrate black history in February. History matters! Stay tuned for further details about events that we will be holding across the school in February.
Teacher Newsletters: Click here to see your child's newsletter
School Start Times Reminder: MONDAYS 9:20 (drop off at 9:05)
School Start Times Reminder: TUES-FRI 7:30 (drop off at 7:15)
Thank you for remembering these times. Staff supervision is not available prior to drop off times, so if your child is dropped off prior to 7:15 (or prior to 9:05 on Mondays), they will need to wait outside in line unsupervised.
Attendance reminders:
Please, please, please call us when your scholar is unable to be at school. To report an absence, you may:
- Call 608-845-4203 (English attendance line) or 608-845-4200 (main line with Spanish option) or
- Email sp-attendance@verona.k12.wi.us (English and Spanish) with all attendance changes.
Contacting the attendance office directly is important!
Gratitude
Thank you to our families, staff and community for your patience and understanding as we experienced two days without school last week due to snow. Centering on the safety of everyone in our community matters; however, I understand that this often poses significant inconvenience. I appreciate your kindness as we navigated these challenges together.
The snow was so deep it was hard for everyone to walk in...including Oliver!
Thank you,
Principal Seidl
Wanted: Snow Pants, Boots and Mittens
Our clothing closet is in need of snow pants, boots and mittens. If your child is sizing up or if they received new gear recently, please consider donating your gently used items to our school social worker, Ms. Confer.
Digital Citizenship - Cyberbulling
NOTE: At Stoner Prairie we are seeing an increase in misuse of social media especially for some of our scholars in fifth grade. Please read this carefully and reach out to Mr. Geissal (our tech ed coach) and/or Principal Seidl if you have any questions.
Dear Families,
We continue to address digital citizenship in our classrooms as it grounds us in our belief in teaching the whole child. Keeping our kids safe and happy, both offline and online, is so important! In November your child learned about Media Balance and Well-Being using the Common Sense Media Digital Citizenship Curriculum.
This month, 2nd - 5th graders will learn about Cyberbullying. The lesson and student work will be in Seesaw. As a family, you can continue the conversation at home using these Tips for Families as well as these Grade 2 and Grade 3-5 activities. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your school’s Education Technology Coach.
Thank you!
Ben Geissal, Heidi Konop, Melissa Ruder and Sarah Urben
Verona Area School District Educational Technology Coaches
Behavior system reboot
Stoner Prairie Elementary PTO News
Treat your family to MOD Pizza on Thursday, 1/25. Use the code MODGIVES20 and 20% will be given to Stoner Prairie.
Save the Date! The annual gift card auction is coming 3/6-3/8. If you have any unused gift cards from holiday gifts or if you’d like to donate a gift card to a favorite restaurant or store, please reach out to stonerprairiepto@gmail.com to arrange drop-off.
Mark your calendars! The next PTO meeting is Tuesday, 2/13 from 6-7 pm in the Stoner Prairie Library. All are welcome! Reach out to stonerprairiepto@gmail.com with any questions, concerns, or suggestions or to be added to our email list. Keep up to date with events on our website: https://stonerprairiepto.wixsite.com/website/
Important Updates & Upcoming Dates
Second Reminder: Need a bike?
It may be hard to think about bike riding with a foot of newly fallen snow...however...
If you or your child(ren) need a bike this Spring, please contact our school social worker, Ms. Confer by January 31.
We will be completing an application and plan to distribute bikes in the Spring. Bikes are available for both kids and adults.
Social Emotional Learning Screener on January 24
Universal screening helps school staff to determine which students may be “at risk” of not adequately achieving identified social and emotional learning standards. A reminder that your child’s teacher will be completing the Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS) on January 24th. The use of SAEBRS refines and strengthens our efforts to help all of our students be successful by allowing us to take positive and preventative measures as early as possible. Because this screener is completed by teachers, your child’s learning will not be disrupted.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the use of SAEBRS, or if you do not want your child to be included in this assessment, please contact your child’s school psychologist (Ms. Thompson at thompsonk@verona.k12.wi.us) or myself (seidlm@verona.k12.wi.us) by January 19, 2024.
Please click here for the full letter in English and Spanish.
Snow day fun!
Here is a sample of how some of our staff spent the snow day.