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Primary Press

9/8/2024

Primary Press9/8/2024

Thank you to the McFarland Sparks 4H Club for the beautiful sidewalk art greeting students and staff on the first day of school! 👏

The Conrad Elvehjem Primary School Family Newsletter

Address: 6009 Johnson St. McFarland, WI 53558

Main Phone: 608.838.3146

EC-2 Principal: Greg Nelson

K-5 Associate Principal: Brooke Hauser

Building Administrative Assistant: Lyndsey Niebuhr

Online: Website & Facebook Page

Meeting the needs of every learner, every day

Important Dates

  • 9/10: First Day of Classes for Early Childhood

Weekly Message

From Your Principals Mr. Nelson and Dr. Hauser

👏Our first week in kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade was a great success! One of our favorite things is getting to visit all of the learning spaces and see that the students and staff have already built positive learning communities where they all work together to support each others’ learning and growth.


🥱You have to feel a little bad for the kindergarteners...after the first day, we could see so many of them walking into school each morning looking utterly exhausted. This is a lot for their young minds and bodies to adapt to, but the good thing is...they are loving it! The routines and structure and the way our kindergarten teachers embed joy into the day is an art they have mastered, and we are sure they will be waking up next week ready to dive into week number two.


📖It is fun to see the first graders now in their element. They have already completed their first lap around the track here at CEPS, and you can tell they are proud for already knowing many of the Spartan Star skills and strategies we review at the beginning of each year. They are moving on up in their development, and this is the year we typically see tremendous gains, specifically in reading skills. We encourage you to take any opportunity you can to read with them at home...and make it fun! In June of this next year, take a moment to think back on the progress your child has made, both academically and socially-emotionally over the course of the year.


🔥Second graders...this is your year! It still boggles our minds to think that our seven and eight-year-olds are the “oldest” students in the school. Second Graders, let's step up and work hard to be good roles models for our school this year! The great thing about second graders is that (for the most part!) they still have an innate joy for learning and participating in all the educational opportunities that are presented. Let’s continue to capitalize on that and work together to discover and promote the passions and curiosities that each of our students exhibit...we just might be igniting a flame that sparks a future career path a decade from now!


In general, we have to highlight how well our students are doing with all of our school-wide procedures, especially at arrival time, lunch & recess, and dismissal time. The routines our students learned have resulted in safe and happy students that know what to expect - all very important for this age of students!


As we wrap up, a good talking point for the weekend with your child would be to discuss our “Spartan Star” expectations. They learn that "Spartan Star says...be safe, be kind, and be responsible!" and they are taught what that looks, sounds, and feels like all around school. We then catch students and classes being Spartan Stars, recognize great behavior for students, classes, and the school, and tie in our fun "TEAMWORK" theme for the year through dress-up days, lessons, and school-wide assemblies and celebrations.

  • McFarland Youth Hockey Association Try Hockey for Free Event - September 10

  • McFarland Sparks 4H New Member Meeting - September 12

  • Free Sale for Families - September 14

  • McFarland Girls Youth Basketball - Registration open through September 15

  • McFarland Cub Scouts Space Derby Recruitment Night - September 17

  • Stoughton Health Safe@Home Program for Grades 4-6 - October 11

  • Stoughton Health Safe Sitter Program for Grades 6-8 - October 12

  • School’s Out Days - Lussier Family Heritage Center - October 24-25

  • Free Triple P Positive Parenting Online Program for WI Families

Notes & Updates

Birthday Books

To help celebrate student birthdays while reinforcing a love of reading, each student gets a special token on their birthday that they redeem in our Book Machine! This is a repurposed vending machine near our library, purchased through grant and fundraising opportunities and kept stocked by our librarian Ms. Martin. Your child gets to pick out a book and keep on their birthday! Summer birthday? No worries - we'll celebrate your half-birthday during the school year!

Car Loop Safety Concern

We have received reports that some families are entering our Creamery Loop through the "exit lane" at dismissal time. We understand that waiting in the car loop line takes time, but we absolutely cannot have families enter against traffic. Please enter through the right hand lane, wait in line, and we will call your child to get in your car when you have pulled all the way up. When all families follow the expected dismissal procedures, we actually become more efficient with the flow! Thank you for following this important safety rule, and thank you to School Resource Officer Mr. Zietsma who will be coming around several times at dismissal to help reinforce this with families.

Keeping Relatives in the Know

Since only parents/legal guardians listed in Infinite Campus receive communication like school newsletters and emails, it is those family member's responsibility to let other adults know of our school procedures; for example, family relatives must use a car sign at pick-up, know how to buzz in at the main office and show an ID, how to safely drop-off and pick-up students in the loop, no birthday deliveries at school, etc.

Important Links

Open Feedback
Ask a question/share a suggestion at any time!
CEPS Daily Schedules
Links directly to our school schedules
Related Arts Rotation Calendar
This lays out our 6-day rotation for Related Arts classes
Previous Editions
Go directly to previous editions of the Primary Press

CEPS Lunch Menu

Health Services

Welcome Back Information

Please review the MSD Health Service welcome back letter for important information regarding medication at school 💊and WI Immunization school requirements 💉

MSD Health Services Website
Please view the McFarland School District Health Services website for information, forms, resources and contact info.

District News

Social Media - #McFarlandStrong

What: McFarland School District wants you to follow our Facebook and Instagram channels. Click on the icons below to follow along!

Why:

  1. Celebrate our #McFarlandStrong students and our staff!

  2. Keep parents, students, alumni, and the community informed about what is happening in our district.

  3. Promote the great things happening with student learning, athletics, activities, and other events.

  4. Build an ongoing conversation about the positive impact our district is making in the lives of our students!

What do I need to do?

  • If you are on these social media platforms – follow us!

  • Help promote the accounts to your family and friends - share and like posts!


McFarland School District complies with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. One of the components of the Act is limited disclosure of student information. Student names will not be included in social media posts as a general rule. In the course of school operations, names and/or images of students may be released to the McFarland School District social media pages for special academic and/or achievement awards, and athletic activities, etc.

🎓McFarland School Board

COMING UP:

The next School District of McFarland School Board meeting is scheduled for September 16, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.

  • Click HERE for a link to the McFarland School Board agendas and minutes.
  • Click HERE for a link to the McFarland School Board meeting recordings and upcoming YouTube live streams.

McFarland Schools Equity Collective (MSEC)

MSEC is a collaborative group that meets monthly to offer feedback to the district with the goal of improving equity and fostering positive experiences for all students and families. If you are interested in advocating for the betterment of our school community or learning about important district topics, we invite you to attend our first meeting on September 18th from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at WIS in the Multi-Purpose Room. Everyone is welcome!


To receive more detailed information and join our mailing list, please complete this form.


Check out our calendar of events!

District Recognition Days

September is...

Attendance Awareness Month

Suicide Prevention Month


Sept. 11 - 9/11 Remembrance Day. 9/11 Remembrance Day is a time to reflect and honor those who were lost and the heroes who emerged during this tragic event. Let's always remember the strength that comes from unity and compassion.

Your CEPS Staff