Primary Press

Fun fact: Mr. Nelson started his career in education in McFarland, in 2012 working as a teacher at the old McFarland Primary School. Last week, one of his students from his first year teaching, who just graduated last year, came for a visit and donated a book he picked out for our school library!

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

✅Structured, systematic, and explicit literacy curriculum (Wonders 2023)

✅Staff training (LETRS training)

✅Reading readiness screeners (Aimsweb 3x/year)

✅Personal reading plans for select students (UFLI)

✅And more!

We take your child's learning seriously, and look forward to heading into semester 2 strong with your partnership. After report cards come out tomorrow, please don't hesitate to be in touch with any questions you might have!

Sincerely,

Greg Nelson, CEPS Principal

Brooke Hauser, CEPS/WIS Associate Principal

• 1/27: Report Cards live on Infinite Campus 3:00 PM

• Spartan Headquarters Donations for Feb. Vintage Sale to Benefit Food Pantry

• E.D. Locke Library Teen Crochet Party - January 30

• McFarland Dance Team Winter Kids Clinic 2025 - Registration closes February 7

• MHS DECA Superhero Training Camp - February 8

• CESA 2 MHS Driver Education Program

• ACT Prep Plus - Registration Open

• Futura Grades K-2 Spanish Language Program

• Spartan Headquarters Vintage Sale to Benefit McF Food Pantry - February 11 & 13

• E.D. Locke Library Self-Defense Classes - February 15

• E.D. Locke Library Teen After Hours Karaoke Party - February 21

• E.D. Locke and Galin Education Free ACT Diagnostic Test Day - March 11

• McFarland Youth Baseball Organization 2025 Season Registration Open

• McFarland Youth Softball 2025 Season Registration Open

• i9 Sports 2025 Spring Season - Register by March 28

• McFarland Soccer Referee Course - April 19

• E.D. Locke Library Teen Dungeons and Dragons One-Shot Adventures - January-April

• E.D. Locke Library VolunTeen Program - January-April

• E.D. Locke Library Teen S.T.E.A.M. - January-April

• E.D. Locke Library Teen Hangout - January-April

• E.D. Locke Library Teen UnBook Club - January-April

• E.D. Locke Library Teen Snack & Chat - January-April

• E.D. Locke Library Grades 3-5 LEGO Club - September-May

• E.D. Locke Library Grades 3-5 Graphic Novel Book Club - September-May

• E.D. Locke Library Grades K-2 Magic Tree House Book Club - September-May

• Free Triple P Positive Parenting Online Program for WI Families

The School Nutrition Department would like to invite all CEPS students to join us for Donuts with First Responders!

Date: Wednesday, January 29th.

Time: Breakfast before school (7:20-7:40 AM)

Where: CEPS cafeteria

Who: Open to CEPS students only; sorry, this is not a family event

Students will get a chance to have fun and spend time with our local first responders while they enjoy a delicious donut for breakfast (included with the standard breakfast purchase that day). Even if your child typically does not eat school breakfast, they are welcome to eat breakfast with our responders this day (charges come from IC just like a school lunch). We hope to see you there!

We occasionally have staff report to our front office that they are unable to use their assigned parking spots (i.e., numbered spots) due to visitors parking in them. We ask visitors to our building to use only the designated visitor parking stalls, because we have both part-time and staff shared between buildings who anticipate being able to park in their assigned spot on any given day. There are visitor stalls in both parking lots; if none available, park against the curb in our Johnson St. drop-off loop and let the office know upon your arrival. Thanks!

Our annual Open House will be Thursday, February 20th from 4:00-5:30 PM. More details to come closer to that date.

Welcome to winter in Wisconsin! With the cold weather here, the Health Services Team wants to remind families of some cold weather safety tips. You can help by reminding your student of the importance of wearing weather-appropriate clothing, especially in these below zero temps. Your student should be wearing several layers of clothing on very cold days including a coat, hat, mittens/gloves and water-resistant boots. Please see the following links for more information and resources. Reach out to Health Services with any questions. Stay warm!

WI DHS - Climate and Health: Winter Weather and Extreme Cold

WI DHS - Cold Weather-Related Health and Safety Tips (Hypothermia)

CDC - Winter Weather: Before, During, and After

National Weather Service - Understanding Cold Weather Alerts

Your student’s school health assistant will be sending out email notifications shortly for students who are still in process or not compliant with WI School Immunization Requirements, in preparation for the 2025-24 school year. Please follow up with your Primary Care Provider to ensure that your child becomes up-to-date with vaccinations for their age/grade for next school year, WI Student Immunization Law by Age/Grade Requirements. If you have updated immunization information or would like access to a waiver (for personal, religious or health reasons - see step 4) please submit a student immunization record (English, Spanish) to your students school health office.

Vaccine Clinics: Public Health Madison & Dane County is partnering with Madison Metropolitan School District and SSM Health to offer more school vaccine clinics to get students up to date on their school vaccines. These clinics will take place at the below dates and times in Madison.

• Saturday, February 8th – 10am-2pm – at Holtzman Learning Center

• Saturday May 17th – 10am-2pm – at Holtzman Learning Center

To find out more information and to schedule an appointment, see the attached flyer, or visit publichealthmdc.com/schoolclinics.

Dear Families,

Recent national conversations regarding immigration enforcement may have raised concerns within our community. I want to assure you that the McFarland School District is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all students and families, regardless of immigration status. To uphold this commitment, I am writing to clarify the district’s approach to handling requests from immigration officials:

1. Commitment to Privacy and Safety:
   The McFarland School District values the privacy of its students, families, and staff. We will not share information about a student’s or family’s immigration status unless required by law (e.g. valid judicial warrant or court order).

2. Access to Schools:
   Even though the Trump Administration has rescinded previous guidance that prohibited federal immigration officials, such as those from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), from arresting individuals in schools, schools can still prohibit ICE from accessing school property unless they have a valid judicial warrant. A warrant is considered valid if it is signed by a Judge or U.S. magistrate and specifies access to the school to apprehend named individuals. Administrative warrants signed by an ICE official are different and schools may comply with an administrative warrant. If this were to occur here, we follow District Policy 5540- The Schools and Government Agencies and not comply in order to preserve the educational environment of the school.

3. Clear Protocols:
   If an immigration official contacts or visits a school, district staff have been instructed to notify the superintendent’s office immediately. Legal counsel will be consulted to ensure all actions comply with federal and state laws while protecting the rights and safety of students and families.

4. Support for Students and Families:
   We understand that immigration concerns can affect our students’ ability to learn and thrive. We will continue to provide counseling and support services for those impacted. Please reach out to your school’s principal or student services staff member if you or your child need assistance.

The McFarland School District remains steadfast in its commitment to education and equity for all students. We stand together as a community to ensure that our schools remain safe spaces where every child can succeed.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at tarnuta@mcfsd.org.

Sincerely,

Aaron Tarnutzer, Superintendent
McFarland School District

January is...

Reflection and Motivation

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Looking for more things to do?

McFarland Recreation Aquatics & Play (MRAP) and the McFarland Performing Arts Center (MPAC) offer a wide variety of recreation and aquatics programs for community members of all ages. To learn more, visit MRAPNews.com

Questions about specific MRAP or MPAC programs?

Reach out to the staff contacts listed below:

• Stu Schaefer, Director of Community Services: schaefs@mcfsd.org | 608-838-3168
• Kayla Eliasson, Aquatics Supervison: eliassk@mcfsd.org | 608-838-3168
• Alisha Fix, Recreation Supervisor: fixa@mcfsd.org | 608-838-4666
• Zachary Franczak, Performing Arts Supervisor: franczz@mcfsd.org | 608-838-4461

Spanish Class Resumes in February! Did you miss registration in the fall? We currently have space available to add your student to the class roster! Looking for an exciting way for your child to learn Spanish? This 8-week adventure, ¡Vamos con los animales!, is just what they need! From “visiting” a pet store to exploring a family farm, the zoo, the ocean, and the rainforest, students will learn new vocabulary, conversation skills, and cultural facts—all in Spanish! Join us for a wild journey!

https://futuraadventures.com/wisconsin-region/

Please note: Students enrolled in the Full Year session, which started in the Fall, do not need to re-enroll.