We are excited for a fantastic week heading into break, full of academics, community, fun and Wolf traditions. We hope that you and yours have a safe and restful break. We are excited to come back from break and finish the semester strong. The end of the semester is RIGHT around the corner when we get back so we need to have a strong week both academically and with attendance. Check out important information for: this week, the end of the semester and LOTS of classroom and student spotlights. Make sure not to miss Mr. McVeigh trying on a TikTok challenge at the end of the Howl. The Howl will return on January 5th. Have a great week and a great break.

In this week's Howl:

• Greetings Wolf Pack!
• Upcoming Events
• Self-Care in the Holidays
• Wolves ready for Winter Break
• Attendance Check-In
• Cafeteria Connection
• Semester Finale
• Course Request Season is COming
• SP30 Food Drive Competition
• Student and Classroom Spotlights
• In Case you Missed It!

December 16th-20th- Winter Spirit Week (see themes for each day below) and Wolf in the Wild (see info below).

December 17th- East and West Combined Choir Concert at 7:30pm

December 18th- Staff Appreciation Celebration- SIGN UP HERE

December 20th- Winter Celebration. Modified Schedule. Regular dismissal time.

December 21st-January 5th- NO SCHOOL- Winter Break

January 10th- Last day for missing assignments and assessments

January 11th- Trivia Night to Benefit Girls Soccer

January 13th- Badger Precollege Registration Opens

January 21st- Course Expo at WHS (Snow date- January 23rd)

January 24th- End of 1st Semester!

February 4th- Course Requests Due!

February 26th- STEM Applications Close for 10th grade

Holidays are a great time filled with celebration and joy, BUT can be very stressful. It is important that we make the conscious decision to no longer let your fears and doubt dictate your life and develop the habit of listening to ourselves and showing up for yourself in a purposeful manner.

• How will I show up authentically this week?

• What is one thing I can do for play and pleasure today?

• How will I connect with myself, others and nature this week?

Some Ideas:

• Journaling

• Write down your thoughts, feelings and memories

• Schedule time with friends

• Play a board, card or video game

• Do something with friends outside of your home

• Spend time with pets

• Our furry friends want to enjoy time with us too!

• Call or text loved ones

• Near or far, it’s nice to connect with family and just chat

• Spend time outside

• Take time to reconnect with nature

• Take a nap

• It’s okay to rest, take a nap, you deserve it!!!

This week we are excited to expand on our Wolf traditions, celebrate our community, work hard and play hard as we go into Winter Break.

Our student council scholars have organized a Winter Spirit Week to send us into break with a sense of unity and fun. Wondering what a groutfit is? It is an all gray outfit, perfectly demonstrated in the picture to the right by Tim Allen in the Santa Clause.

Our PBIS team is starting a new tradition this week. Wolf in the Wild! There will be 5 stuffed wolves hidden in the building each day. Your mission is to find them and return them to the front office for a prize. They are hidden somewhere in the school- NOT in classrooms. You can ONLY go wolf searching before/after school, during lunches and passing times. Wolves found during class time will not count. Wolves need to be returned by 3:00pm daily.

We are excited to host our 2nd annual Winter Celebration. Why a winter celebration? As a community it is important to have rituals, traditions and celebrations. One classic High School tradition are pep assemblies (which we had during homecoming and will have again later during the year). Pep assemblies are great but they are also difficult for a lot of students with different needs. The winter and summer celebrations allow us to come together as a community to celebrate, deepen relationships, serve our community and create a culture of care allowing student voice and choice in activities.

On Friday, students participated in their monthly attendance check-in. Ask your student about their progress on their attendance and to see the email they received on Thursday afternoon.

As a community 56% of our Wolves maintained improved their Full Day attendance in the last month while 61% of Wolves maintained or improved their SIS attendance. Additionally, 50% of students decreased their gap between SIS and Full Day attendance. Our next check-in for attendance is January 10th. We are hoping to see these percentages increase. We know that the end of semester and holiday season can be a difficult time of year for attendance but are committed to continuing to strive for 90%+ for each and every student.

Hey parents/caregivers!

Did you know that the government has rules about what makes a "complete" school meal? It has to include fruits or vegetables at breakfast and lunch. This is because healthy food helps kids learn better!

Here's the deal:

• Complete meals = Government funding: When your child takes a complete meal (with fruit or veggies), the school gets money from the government to help cover the cost.

• Incomplete meals = Costs for you: If your child refuses the fruit or veggies, the school doesn't get that funding. This means we might have to charge your account, even if your child gets free or reduced-price meals.

• Lots of tasty options: We offer a variety of fruits and veggies every day, including fresh salads and always at least two fruit choices.

Why it matters:

• Healthy bodies = Healthy minds: Fruits and veggies provide essential vitamins and minerals that help kids grow and learn.

• Fighting childhood obesity: Eating healthy foods helps kids maintain a healthy weight.

Let's work together to make sure our kids are getting the nutrition they need to succeed in school! Encourage them to try something new from the salad bar or fruit options.

Remember: Hungry kids can't learn!

When we return from Winter Break the end of the semester will nearly be upon us. Here are some of the most important dates for when we head back from break.

All missing summative and formatives are due the FRIDAY we get back from break (try to take care of them THIS WEEK). The semester officially ends on January 24th and grades are posted on January 31st to the parent portal.

Another reminder that as we move forward with both a culture of care and rigorous and coherent teaching, students must have attempted at least 50% of their summatives in a class to be eligible for a passing grade. If they have not complete half of the summatives, they will not pass. Please make plans TODAY to make up missing summatives.

Friday of this week you will be receiving an email with the Course Guide for selecting courses for the 25-26 school year. Take time over Winter Break to begin discussing course options as a family and what your scholar is thinking for next year. Important upcoming dates and information for course requests with much more information coming after break:

• January 21-23rd- Students start talking about course requests in their classes
• January 21st (23rd snow date)- Course Expo!!! We hope to see ALL students, parents/caregivers to join us to talk about the upcoming school year and course selection
• January 28th- February 4th- Request Fest during SP30. Students will be guided through Course Request information in SP30.
• February 4th- SUBMIT DAY! All students need to submit their course requests by the 4th.

We are entering our last week of the Sunshine Place Food Competition! SP30 dens are competing against each other to bring the most items to support the Sunshine Place. Help your team help our community this week.

Students in FACS classes made over 3000 cookies for staff who ordered for pick up next week!!!

In digital storytelling, students are preparing to make a short film. This includes planning out scenes and camera movements in a storyboard and getting familiar with equipment.

The Sun Prairie West HS Creative Writing community was in glorious form Wednesday as we descended on the annual UW-Whitewater Creative Writing Festival. We represented Wolf Pride in categories ranging from poetry to short fiction to drama and beyond.

Alphabetically: Aubrey Erickson, Lizzy Feldmann, Abi Gindlesberger, Cecily Humphrey, Amelia Johnson, Megan Johnson, Kahlen Kane, Geethika Korukola, Nicole Meier, Charlie Melendy, Caitlyn Royalty, Abilene Thao, Ellyson Wos

Two of our students won special prizes for their superb writing. Extra congrats to Abilene Thao and Ellyson Wos.

Ms. Speth stopped by to show off her little wolf! Congratulations!

Our multilingual learners had the exciting opportunity to hear from a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). The guest speaker introduced students to the IBEW’s inclusive training programs and the steps to becoming an electrician. Students learned about career pathways, leadership development, and the importance of diversity and solidarity in the electrical trade. This inspiring session highlighted the possibilities within the IBEW and encouraged West High School’s students to consider a future in this dynamic field.

On Wednesday, December 11th, our Multilingual Learners (ML) students took part in "Reality Rocks!" – a hands-on personal finance simulation. Students were assigned household profiles with a set income to manage expenses, gaining valuable real-world experience in budgeting and financial decision-making. It was an insightful and engaging learning opportunity!

Sun Prairie West FBLA Chapter was selected as Chapter of the Month for Wisconsin and Mr. Wagner was selected as Advisor of the Month for Wisconsin.

After a fantastic winter concert Wind Ensemble kicked back and had some fun, including inviting Principal JP to come in as a guest conductor for Sleigh Ride

Then Mr. McVeigh took on the student's challenge to try the TikTok trend to see if he could recognize all FORTY of their voices. Check it out. It was pretty impressive.

We need YOUR input too! Do you have an idea of something that should be included in the Howl? Your ideas are always welcome. Email our Admin Associate to the Principal, Jordain Blank at jnblank@sunprairieschools.org.

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.

We strive to keep The Howl as streamlined as possible with all of the important information for our community. To the end once something has appeared in The Howl, it will move here to the "In Case you Missed It!" section. Take a moment to peruse and make sure you have not missed important info!

What: Parent Led Appreciation Event for West HS Staff

When: Wednesday, December 18

Invitation: Inviting all Parents/Caregivers to donate food items or volunteer time or funds toward a Winter Holiday Sweets & Treats Appreciation event for West HS staff - teachers/aides/counselors/custodial/health/admin.

More Info: see Sign Up Genius for details: https://tinyurl.com/24WinterStaffAppreciation

Questions: parent: Linda Crawford-Fogg lindacrawford631@gmail.com

It is hard to believe that we are nearly 3/4 through this semester. This week we will be having our FINAL progress report of the semester before semester grades are due. The semester ends on January 24th.

Some important reminders as we begin approaching the end of the semester:

• Semester grades are what go on your transcript:
• They are what decides if you receive credit for graduation (if you fail the class you do not get credit).
• These are the grades shared with colleges
• Determine your GPA (Grade Point Average)
• Any failing grades at the semester result in athletic semester.

• ALL missing work (formatives and summative) are due JANUARY 10th. Please work with your teachers to get caught up now so there's no need to rush at the end.

• Students must attempt half or more of their summatives to pass.
• Examples:
• If there are 5 summatives in your English class you must have completed 3.
• If you only attempted 3 out of 7 of your history summatives you will not pass.

• SP30
• There are three lessons for each grade level to complete for the semester. ALL THREE MUST BE COMPLETE TO PASS>

• Resources available!
• Remember that we are here to support you.
• Sign up for WIN to get help and complete your missing work and make up summatives.
• Visit Wolf Study Lounge for help after school.

Over the next several weeks you will be starting to receive information about Course Requests for next year. Course requests are your opportunity to help chart out your academic career in High School and take advantage of incredible opportunities from Career and Technical Education to AP Classes to classes at Madison College or UW. Over the next several weeks we will be starting to highlight the process, timeline and information so that as a family you can begin to discuss what next year will look like for your scholar.

Four Year Overview:

• 9th Grade- As you start high school in 9th grade you experience an opportunity for choice and electives and many graduation requirements will fill the majority of your schedule.
• Math- Next year- Math 1
• Science- Biology (other options available but most students take Biology)
• Social Studies- World History or AP Human Geography (AP Hug)
• English - English 9
• PE- Foundations of PE
• Electives:
• World Languages- Spanish, French or German- Many colleges want students to have had 2 years of the same language
• Begin to explore the awesome worlds of: art, tech ed, family and consumer science, business and marketing, agriculture, computer science and so much more at the high school level

• 10th Grade-
• Continuing through your graduation requirements and options begin to open wider with AP Seminar for 10th grade English, second levels of courses like Drawing, Foods, languages, etc.

• 11th Grade-
• Incredible opportunities begin to open:
• Start College Now
• Early College Credit
• STEM Academy
• Fire Academy
• EMR Academy
• Youth Apprenticeship
• Work Based Learning
• Teaching Academy

• 12th Grade-
• It is our goal that by senior year EVERY Wolf would have a dual credit, certificate or off-site experience. Senior year is an opportunity to bridge into the world after high school while still having your Wolf support network. The opportunities are VAST including: becoming a certified nursing assistant while still in High School.

As we begin to talk about course requests for next year start thinking not only about what you want next year to look like but where you are and where you are going on your four year plan to get you to your post-high school plans.

Did you know that you can be a full time Madison College student your Junior and Senior Year studying STEM while still being a Wolf? The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Academy is an INCREDIBLE opportunity for students thinking about entering those careers and wanting a jumpstart on the next step of their education. This program is FREE and includes additional supports as you transition to the college level. Sophomores, apply today!

At Badger Precollege, we create innovative programs for students in grades 2–12 who want to explore their academic interests, learn more about the college experience and meet new friends. Our programs support educational and social growth by challenging students’ curiosity and expanding their academic interests. Summer 2025 program registration opens January 13

We offer a range of courses, from engineering and computer science to art and psychology. You can explore all of our summer 2025 courses at the link below. Choose a subject you already know and love, or pick something new to explore in a low-risk environment!

Registration for all summer programs opens on January 13, 2025. Courses fill up on a first-come, first-served basis, so mark your calendars and apply early. Limited need-based scholarships are available.

We look forward to seeing you next summer!

Search Badger Precollege classes

Nourishing Our Future: Enhancing School Meals. The Sun Prairie School Nutrition Department is committed to providing nutritious and delicious meals that fuel your child's growth and learning. We are excited to share some of the ways we are improving our school meals program:

1. Fresh, Local Ingredients:

• Farm-to-School Partnerships: We are partnering with our distributors, Gordon Food Service and V. Marchese to bring fresh, seasonal produce to your child's plate. Every Middle School and High School in the district has a Hydroponic growing tower and supplies us with fresh Romaine lettuce for our entree salads and salad bars.

• Reduced Processed Foods: We are minimizing the use of processed foods and artificial additives. Our homemade roasted vegetable recipes are well liked by the students and contain small amounts of olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic. These include roasted fresh broccoli, butternut squash and green beans.

2. Diverse and Flavorful Menu Options:

• Cultural Cuisine: We are offering a variety of cultural dishes to introduce your child to new flavors and cuisines. New recipes this year include Asian seasoned rice, long grain and wild rice, taco meat made from scratch and more.

• Vegetarian and Vegan Options: We are expanding our vegetarian and vegan menu options to cater to diverse dietary needs. This year at our High Schools and Middle Schools we have plant based chicken nuggets and buffalo wings, spicy black bean burgers, black eyed peas and rice, along with many cheese entrees and salad options.

3. Educational Initiatives:

• Nutrition Education Programs: We are meeting with classes, student council groups and student clubs to share nutrition information and receive feedback from students as to what they would like to see offered for breakfast and lunch at their schools.

• Taste Testing: We are involving students in taste-testing new menu items to encourage their input and preferences.

We believe that healthy eating is essential for a child's overall well-being. By providing nutritious and delicious meals, we are supporting your child's academic success and future health.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely, Barb Waara, Director of School Nutrition

bmwaara@sunprairieschools.org 608-834-6527

State Report Cards are one measurement of success and areas of growth for a school. It is by no means a full picture of who we are as a community, however, it is one way to assess our current state.

This week the 23-24 State Report Cards were released and we received our first State Report Cards as a One West community. Our first school year we were evaluated under an alternative measurement as a new school. This year we were evaluated alongside all of the schools in Wisconsin. In our second year of existence we exceed state expectations and achieved the highest possible score (100) for ELA growth and exceeded the state average for both ELA and math achievement and growth. We are in the top 20% of all 9–12 high schools in the state.

We know that the first two years of launching our school community had their fair share of challenges. If we can accomplish this amidst those challenges, the sky is the limit for us as a One West community. Can't wait to see what this year and beyond has in store.

The Sun Prairie Wellness Coalition is hosting a screening of the film Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age. Registration is required and once an individual or group registers, they will have a two week window, from December 1st through 15th, to view it in your home whenever you want!

Screenagers explores parental struggles over social media, video games, academics and internet addiction and offers solutions to help kids find balance. Registration is required and once an individual or group registers, they will have a two week window, from December 1st through 15th, to view it.

On Friday, all Freshman attended an ACP Planning Presentation in the PAC. Students gained valuable information about their academic and career plans at SPW. You can view the presentation HERE

Topics included:

• Graduation Requirements

• Reviewing Transcripts

• Testing options

• Academic and Career Opportunities

What is the STEM Academy?

The STEM Academy is a dual enrollment program for Sun Prairie Area School District high school students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Mathematics. Students take full-time college classes at Madison College in 11th and 12th grade to earn transfer level credit towards an associate degree while completing high school requirements, at no cost to students and families. More information can be found at this website. There will also be an informational meeting in the evening on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at SP West.

Who can apply to the STEM Academy?

Tenth grade students who meet the entrance criteria can apply. Current entrance requirements are at least a 2.25 cumulative GPA, 90% attendance rate and minimum progress toward high school graduation requirements. Since Sun Prairie has a limited number of available spots in the STEM Academy, application to the program does not guarantee admission.

How do students apply for the STEM Academy?

The application can be found HERE, and there are paper copies available in Student Services. All completed application materials must be turned into Student Services no later than Monday, February 24, 2025 at noon.

Please contact Mrs. Griffin (rlgriff@sunprairieschools.org) if you have questions.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available to submit for next school year. You can fill out the FAFSA on the Federal Student Aid website. If you would like support filling out the FAFSA, Sun Prairie East will host College Goal WI on January 7, where there will be financial aid advisors available to help.

The Sun Prairie Area School District is required by state and federal law to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities who are in need of special education and related services. This process is known as “Child Find”. The Sun Prairie Area School District is also required to provide annual notice of its Child Find activities. Below will find a copy of our annual Child Find Notice with the procedures for accepting and documenting a referral. The notice is provided in English, Spanish and Hmong.

As a school district we engage in yearlong school improvement planning that is broken into three 100 day cycles. We just completed our first 100 days and last week our Guiding Coalition (leadership team) spent a day reviewing the work we have completed thus far this school year, celebrating the success, trouble shooting the areas of growth and planning for our next 100 days.

As a part of the day each team created a graphic representing celebrations from the first 100 days in the form of: a tree!

The Roots: The roots of our work during the first 100 days were the strategies and actions that all of our other work has been grounded in. Our roots this fall have been norms and agreements among adults, with students and across spaces. We have intentionally built consistency through tightening our universal practices (pass expectations, expectations of students being in classrooms, etc) and restorative practices school wide.

The Trunk: The tree trunk in our illustration is the adult practices that grow out of the roots and allow the branches to grow. Our adult practices have including a universal practice of teachers analyzing student learning in their professional learning teams to identify what students have learned and areas they still need to grow. Additionally we have been engaging in and reflecting on personal and professional learning including Courageous Conversations around race and that the best place for students is in their assigned class.

The Branches: The product of the roots and the trunk are the branches. The results that we have seen so far this fall has been improved attendance, a decrease in the use of out-of-school and in-school suspension and that our professional learning teams are student focused and collaborative.

We have great momentum this fall, moving in the right direction. We have seen a significant uptick in tardies in the last month and next week will have more data on attendance, what is going well and areas we need to grow.

For the safety and well-being of all students, parents/caregivers are not permitted to board the school bus for any reason. We understand that sometimes it might seem convenient, but keeping the bus environment secure and on schedule is our top priority. If you need to speak with your child or address something related to transportation, please contact your school principal or Brinda Thompson at Kobussen Buses at (608) 825-8700, and they will be happy to assist you. Thank you for your understanding and support in helping us maintain a safe and efficient ride for all our students.

On Friday, all Sophomores attended an ACP Planning Presentation in the PAC. Students gained valuable information about their academic and career plans at SPW. You can view the presentation HERE.

Topics included:

• Graduation Requirements

• Reviewing Transcripts

• Testing options

• Academic and Career Opportunities

As your Deans of Students, we’re here to support you in any challenges you might face. If you need to report bullying, harassment, or conflicts with teachers or peers, please reach out to us. We’re committed to helping you get the assistance you need and will connect you with the right resources to resolve the situation. Rest assured, all conversations are 100% confidential, and our goal is to ensure you feel safe and supported at school. Stop by any time and visit us across from the Restorative Practices space (1423) and next to the Admin Office (we are between 1400 and 1500). - Coach Rob and Ms. Diaz

Our before and after school tutoring is up and running!!! Schedule out time this week to stop by the Wolf Study lounge to get help, catch up, or study for your classes.

• Morning Tutoring: 8:05 AM – 8:35 AM

• After-School Tutoring: 3:50 PM – 4:40 PM- Activity bus available at 4:45pm
  

Questions? Reach out to Nehemirah Barrett @ntbarre@sunprairieschools.org

Great work on the progress made! Keep up the great work.