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Terrapin News
September 2023
This newsletter can be translated
¡Este boletín se puede traducir! Primero, haga clic en el enlace "View it in your browser" en la parte superior del correo electrónico (si lo está viendo desde su bandeja de entrada). Luego, desplácese hasta la parte inferior de la página donde dice "Translate" y elija su idioma.
No matter how you start your day. What you wear when you play. Or if you come from far away.
ALL ARE WELCOME HERE.
We’re part of a community. Our strength is our diversity. A shelter from adversity.
ALL ARE WELCOME HERE.
You have a place here. You have a space here.
YOU ARE WELCOME HERE.
At Token Springs, we continue to strengthen our school community by centering around our Terrapin Values, and we work to respect, honor, and celebrate the diversity that makes our building beautiful! As we welcome all new and returning families to our school community, we look forward to strengthening our home-school relationship, working together to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment where ALL of our students feel seen, heard, loved, and supported.
Ways that families can support an inclusive community for their children:
Share your family culture and traditions with your child.
Make a list of all the places that you go where you feel welcome. What are some ways you can make someone else feel welcome there?
Write a list of five kind things you can do and make a plan to do them.
Say something when you see someone feeling sad or unwelcomed. Speak up to let the child know you care. Tell them they are important and that they are welcome to play with you. Be kind.
- Draw your family doing something you do that you think other families don't do. Maybe you have a routine, holiday tradition, or good-bye habit that you always do.
- Enjoy the All Are Welcome read aloud as a family (I'll be reading this book to our whole school at our first all-school assembly on Friday, 9/8).
We are so glad to have kiddos back in the building and look forward to a great school year!
Michael Marincic, Principal
Jenna Fechtner - Music Teacher
My name is Jenna Fechtner and I am so excited to be joining the Terrapin family for my 5th year of teaching general music. Outside of teaching I love cooking, board games and playing with my labradoodle puppy named Saz. Fun fact, I have been writing my own music since I was eight years old and enjoy performing at local venues around the Madison area.
Katie Homuth - 4th Grade Teacher
Javier Martinez - Night Custodian
We are so happy to have Javier with us as part of our night custodial crew! Thanks for all you do!
Tami Mayr - Special Ed Assistant
Hi there! My name is Tami Mayr & I have been working for the SPASD for almost 20 years! You might find me riding around town on my e-bike or walking the paths. My favorite hobby of them all though is spending time with my 11 grandkids! When I’m not working or exploring the town, I love traveling! My favorite place that I have traveled to is Hawaii!
Sarah Sands - Cross Cat Teacher
Hi! My name is Sarah Sands and I am excited to be the new Cross Categorical Teacher at Token Springs Elementary School. I love being at school and working with students but in my free time you can typically find me outside doing something or inside reading a book on those rainy days. I am excited to have an amazing school year!
Jessica Schleicher - Kindergarten Teacher
Hi! My name is Jessica Schleicher and I will be a Kindergarten teacher at Token Springs this school year! This will be my 19th year teaching! My family and I love to spend time together hiking and camping! My twin daughters will be 5th graders at Token Springs this year!
Nicole Suchomel - Kindergarten Teacher
My name is Nicole Suchomel and I am one of the new kindergarten teachers. I live in Sun Prairie with my husband and four kids. I love teaching kindergarten, spending time with family and friends and traveling!
Anabel Voung - Long Term Substitute
Hello, my name is Anabel Voung. Please call me Ms. Voung (VAUGH). I taught 5th grade at Creekside and then worked in a different city, but I am excited to be back in the Sun Prairie schools! I graduated from Sun Prairie High School in 2016. I love reading, any outdoor activities, and playing board games. Don't be shy and say hi! Go Terrapins!
SCOTS Meeting
Tuesday, September 12
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Click here to access the Zoom link
School Picture Day
Monday, September 18
(during school hours)
SCOTS Burrachos Share Event
Wednesday, September 27
4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Family Drum Night
Thursday, September 21
6:00 - 6:50 p.m.
see flyer for more details
SCOTS Terrapin Trot
Friday, September 22
No School
Monday, October 2
Helpful Links
- Please visit the Token Springs website for 2023-2024 Recess & Lunch Schedules
- For further details about days off this school year, please visit the School Year Calendar At a Glance 2023-2024
- SPASD Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Stay Connected with the SPASD App
This app allows students, staff and caregivers to access information quickly and easily. It provides access to school blackboard connect notifications, school menus, calendar, District news, Peachjar flyers and more. Students and caregivers can also access Infinite Campus via the app, which provides information regarding attendance, grades and more. To download the app, visit either the iPhone App Store or the Google Play Store.
Picture Day - September 18th
Smile! Picture Day will be held on Monday, September 18th. Retakes will be taken on Wednesday, October 25th.
SPASD has partnered with Empire Photography to provide school photos this year. For details on ordering your school photos, please see the Empire Photography Picture Day flyer.
School Clubs 2023 - 2024
Club information will soon be available on our Clubs & Activities page. This page is in progress...please check back often!
Token Springs Reminders
Door Buzzer
When visiting the school, please continue to use our door buzzer system (located at the far right of the main entrance with a red sign). This is a district-wide protocol that will continue to help ensure the right people are in our building for the right reasons. Thank you for helping to keep our students safe!
Wellness Policy
Baked goods that are served or provided in the classrooms must be purchased, not homemade, and be in a wrapper which contains nutrition information and expiration date. For more information on the Sun Prairie Area School District's wellness policy, please click on the following links: Policy JHK, JHK-R
Planning on Chaperoning or Volunteering?
Are you planning on chaperoning field trips or volunteering at Token Springs this year? Criminal background checks are now completed online. If you have not had a criminal background check completed in the last 3 years, please take a moment to fill out the online criminal background check.
It can take up to two weeks for your background check to be approved. If you are planning on chaperoning any upcoming field trips or volunteering in the school, please take a moment to fill out the online criminal background check so that you are ready to go when these events occur.
Volunteer Terrapin Program
We are excited to bring back our highly successful Volunteer Terrapin program for the 2023-24 school year! Our educators will continue to populate opportunities as they settle into the school year, in the meantime, take a look at our sign-up and check out our current volunteering opportunities starting Monday, September 11th. You must have an approved criminal background check on file prior to being a volunteer terrapin.
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! We are so excited to have students back in the building. We can certainly see their smiles even while wearing a mask. I just wanted to share a few reminders as we welcome everyone back in the building together.
Please keep your child home if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
-Fever of 100.4 or higher.
-Vomiting or diarrhea.
-Rashes along with fever and redness.
If your child needs any medication during the school day, it will be kept in the health office along with a signed consent form. Prescription medication consent forms must be signed by the provider and over the counter medications need to be signed by a parent. Forms can be faxed to 608-834-4281.
Prescription Medication Consent Form
Over the Counter Medication Consent Form
If you are interested in free back to school vaccination clinics, please click here for some upcoming events in the area.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns.
Barb deVenecia, School Nurse
bdeven@sunprairieschools.org
Tips for Back to School Transition
As we welcome our Terrapins back to school, we understand that transition can be both exciting and challenging for you and your family. As a Token Springs community, we are committed to supporting your family’s emotional health and we’re here to offer some valuable tips on how to navigate this transition smoothly and establish a strong routine that sets your child up for success.
Here are five tips on the topic of routine during this time of year:
Support all the Feels: Engage in open conversations with your child about the school year, taking time to listen to their feelings, expectations, and any concerns they might have about their new routine. Keep in mind that your main goal should be for your child to feel heard, understood and supported as they experience so many new things this year.
Create a Visual Schedule: visual schedules are great tools for children to understand their daily routines. Together with your child, create a simple easy-to-follow schedule that includes pictures (you could draw or print out) of your morning routine and what an average day would look like. Display it in a shared space. Visual schedules can be especially helpful when a change in the routine is coming up where you can adjust and talk about it with your child ahead of time to help everyone feel more prepared.
Set Consistent Bedtimes: Getting enough sleep is crucial for your child’s overall well-being and energy levels for a day of school. Establish a consistent bedtime routine that includes calming activities like reading or listening to soothing music. You may even choose to create a visual schedule for this bedtime routine as well; this can really help especially when everyone feels so exhausted adjusting to the new norms this month.
Try Morning Rituals: We all know how it feels to be running late to something, scrambling around, feeling rushed, possibly forgetful, and starting your day feeling stressed and anxious. A great way to avoid this is to try creating a few positive and calm morning rituals. Allow extra time for breakfast and getting ready, so your child starts the day feeling relaxed and prepared. Small routines, like a morning affirmation or a quick mindfulness game at the breakfast table, can help set a positive tone for the day.
Build in Down Time: After a busy school day, your child might need time to unwind. Provide a designated space and reserved time for relaxation, whether it’s through creative play, quiet reading or outdoor exploration time.
The journey towards a routine that feels right for you is unique for every family. Wishing all of our Terrapins and their families a smooth and empowering back-to-school transition!
Mrs. Zweifel, School Counselor
What is SCOTS?
SCOTS or the School Community Organization of Token Springs is the Parent Group here at Token Springs. PTA... PTO... SCO... Same thing. Parents coming together to build a sense of community around our school. We organize events for afterschool, help show our appreciation to our dedicated staff, and can help facilitate things the school can't (like connecting parents via a voluntary directory).
We are a 501(3)(c) non profit. We are run by volunteers. We have a 5 member board this year (most in Sun Prairie, woot woot!), we have amazing volunteers that run Book Fairs, design Spirit Wear, create haunted houses, organize a Terrapin Trot, put together the Yearbook and so much more.
So if you have an event idea, email us at tokenspringssco@gmail.com and we will help make it happen. A Ga Ga Ball Tournament? A sidewalk chalk contest? A snowball fight? Bring the idea and we'll bring the resources and manpower to make the event happen. Our meetings happen the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 at Token Springs AND via zoom. You can also check out our SCOTS linktree for upcoming events and links.
2023-2024 Officers
President - Amy Knock
Vice President - Kayla Degnan
Treasurer - Corine Friday
Secretary - Christy Tubbs
Parent Liaison - Tiffany Black
Parent Directory 2023-2024
Please complete the Parent Directory 2023-3024 Form if you would like your household included; this is completely optional to families. One form is to be filled out per student. Please complete by September 25th so we can get directories published in a timely manner. Hard copies will be made available to all families.
SCOTS Meeting - September 12th
Tuesday, September 12th from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
This meeting will be held in person in the LGI as well virtually via Token Springs/Zoom
Burrachose Share Event - September 27th
Join us at Burrachos (Sun Prairire) on Wednesday, September 27th from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. 25% of all sales will be donated to SCOTS! Please bring in this Burrachos flyer to make sure your purchase is recognized for the donation.
Terrapin Trot - September 22nd
Dear Token Springs Families and Caregivers,
Join Us for the Token Springs Terrapin Trot: A Day of Fun and Wellness! We're thrilled to extend a warm invitation to our annual Token Springs Terrapin Trot—an event that brings our school community together to celebrate the new school year and promote wellness!
Date: Friday, September 22nd
Location: Token Springs School (outside behind the school on the field)
Time: Each grade level will be assigned a different time slot to participate in the event.
What to Expect:
Family Fun: We invite caregivers, family members, and friends to join us in cheering on our incredible students as they participate in the Trot! It's a day filled with energy, enthusiasm, and camaraderie.
Tshirts: All terrapins will receive a free Tshirt! If you have not already done so, please fill out the Terrapin Trot T-Shirt form for your student(s) by Friday, September 8. If you don't get a chance to complete this form, your student will still receive a shirt.
Volunteer Opportunities: We're in need of volunteers to help make this event a huge success. If you'd like to get involved and support our school, please click here to sign up.
Stay Informed:
For more information and updates, please watch for future e-mails, or contact us at tokenspringssco@gmail.com.
P.S. Don't forget to bring your cheers and positive vibes! Together, we'll make this Terrapin Trot unforgettable!
Cassoulet Share Event - October 24th & 25th
Give yourself the gift of time and delicious food while you help Token Springs SCOTS! Check out our Cassoulet Share Event flyer happening this October.
Free or Reduced School Meal Applications
If you choose to apply for Free or Reduced status, please fill out the application for free or reduced price school meals. Please see the links below for directions, the application, and frequently asked questions document. You only need to submit one application per household, even if your children attend more than one school in Sun Prairie. The application must be filled out completely to certify your children for free or reduced price school meals. If at any time you are not sure what to do next, please contact the Sun Prairie School District, Nutrition Department, 501 S. Bird St., Sun Prairie WI 53590 or email nutritiondepartment@sunprairieschools.org or call 608-834-6544.
How to Apply for Free and Reduced Price School Meals
Household Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals
Token Springs Elementary School
Website: https://www.sunprairieschools.org/token-springs-home
Location: 1435 North Thompson Road, Sun Prairie, WI, USA
Phone: (608) 478-5100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TokenSpringsElementary/
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.
(SPASD District Policy JB
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.
NEW 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.)