Terrapin News
November 2023
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Hello Terrapin Families,
Our building theme for November is all about GRATITUDE. Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness to others. Gratitude is pausing to notice and appreciate the things that we often take for granted. It involves feeling and expressing appreciation for others. Research states that gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions and enjoy good experiences. Gratitude also improves health, helps people deal with adversity and builds strong relationships.
Here are some ways to get your student(s) in the habit of expressing gratefulness at home:
Model Gratitude
- In your daily interactions, model saying thank you to others and encourage them to do the same.
- Help younger children write a thank you note to someone they know with pictures or dictated sentences.
- Older children can write their own thank you cards or make thank you gifts for others who have touched their lives.
Each family member can write or draw something they are grateful for on a small piece of paper a few times a week. These can be small things or big events. At the end of the week, dedicate time to read the slips together as a family.
Here are some simple prompts that your family can journal about together at home:
- What are three activities that you enjoy doing on your own?
- Name three friends you have made at school. What is your best memory with each of them?
- Who were the last 5 people you said thank you to? Why did you say it?
As a family, make it a ritual to share three good things that happened during the day. This is a perfect way to connect during dinnertime or bedtime by simply asking each other, “What made you happy today?” or “What were three glows for the day?” And don’t forget to share your own reflection as well.
Happy November, Terrapins!
Michael Marincic, Principal
608-478-5101
End of 1st Quarter
Tuesday, November 7
Hearing & Vision Screening
Tuesday, November 7
SCOTS Meeting
Tuesday, November 14
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Click here to access the Zoom link
No School - Happy Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 22 thru Friday, November 24
SCOTS Rosati's Share Event
Tuesday, November 28
11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
SCOTS Family Movie Night
Friday, December 1
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
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.
Winter is On the Way!
With colder weather soon to come, please make sure your student(s) are dressed appropriately for outside recess!
- Hats
- Gloves or Mittens
- Fall/Winter Coat
- Boots (don't forget a change of shoes for afterwards)
**We get A LOT of lost and found items! Please make sure your student's name is on any clothing or items that may get misplaced**
SPASD Winter Guidelines for Recess
Students will stay indoors during inclement weather or when the air or wind chill temperature is at or below 0°F. The school principal will check local weather websites for temperature and wind chill factors.
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.
Virtual Art Fair
Each month we will be showcasing some artwork by some of our students.
Check out our talented 2nd Graders!
Vision & Hearing Testing - November 7th
This fall, all students in Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th grades will have a vision screening done at school. Kindergarten students will also have a hearing screening done at this time. If you have a child in another grade that you would like us to screen or you do not want your child screened, please call the school health office at 608-478-5106.
Thank you for all the clothing donations! We could still use new, unworn underwear for boys sizes 4 and 6 and socks for girls.
Barb deVenecia, School Nurse
The Spirit of Giving 2023
Click here to visit the Sunshine Place website for more information regarding the Spirit of Giving.
Additional community resource:
Mrs. Zweifel, School Counselor
Bullying Prevention
As part of the Sun Prairie School District Bullying Prevention Initiative, it is our goal to educate all caretakers around bullying prevention. Below you will find several resources including a brief presentation focused on bullying prevention, the Sun Prairie Area School District Bullying Report Form and the Electronic Safety Tip Line. Please take a few minutes to review these resources and educate yourself around the policies and procedures utilized in Sun Prairie to help keep ALL students feeling safe and valued in our community.
- Bullying Prevention Presentation for ALL caretakers
- Bullying Presentation Google Slides
- Bullying Report Form
- Electronic Safety Tip Line
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
SCOTS Meeting - November 14th
Tuesday, November 14th from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
This meeting will be held in person in the LGI as well virtually via Token Springs/Zoom
SCOTS Rosati's Share Event - November 28th
Fundraiser event at Rosati's! 20% of the subtotal purchases will be donated to Token Springs SCO. See Rosati's Share Flyer for details.
SCOTS Family Movie Night - December 1st
Join us on Friday, December 1st from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. for a showing of Disney's Elemental. This is a great opportunity to connect with the whole family and have fun outside of school hours! Refreshments will be available for purchase. Bring blankets, dinner, or your own snacks and drinks. The movie will be shown in the gym and cafeteria. We hope you can make it, and enjoy the night out with us.
Token Springs FUNdraiser
By participating in this fundraiser, you eliminate the need for multiple fundraising efforts throughout the year and the associated donation requests. We're streamlining our fundraising efforts to make it more convenient for our families.
Fundraising Goal
Our goal this year is to raise $10,000 in funding for Token Springs. If we surpass this amount, we would be delighted to extend this support to our larger community. Building on the experience and feedback from last year's fundraiser, we are confident that with your support, we can achieve and possibly exceed this goal. This will enable us to continue providing fantastic events for our whole community.
Online Pledge Platform
To make your contribution and support these valuable initiatives, please click here: http://fundly.com/token-springs-fundraiser to access the online pledge platform.
Cafeteria Connection - November 2023
Did you know that you don’t have to take a milk with lunch? We offer 5 food groups at lunch every day. They are grains, meat or meat alternatives, fruits, vegetables and milk. All students must take three of the five items offered to qualify as a meal. One of the three items must be a half cup of fruit or vegetable.
For example - on November 3 we are having cheeseburgers, sweet potato fries, salad bar, applesauce and milk. If you take the cheeseburger you already have the two items - grains (bun) and meat (burger). Now you still have to take a ½ cup fruit or vegetable, so you take the applesauce. That’s all you need to make a meal. You can still add the milk, but if you don’t like milk, you don’t have to take it. You can take everything listed on the menu if you’d like but to reduce food costs and waste, we hope you will only take what you will actually eat.
Be adventurous and try something new - like the sweet potato fries! We think you will really like them.
Now that the school year is well underway - it would be a great time to check your students' food service account. We appreciate you trusting us to feed your students healthy meals!
Here are some helpful links:
How to Make a Food Service Payment
Free or Reduced Price Meal Application
If you have any questions regarding your students food service account please contact us at nutritiondepartment@sunprairieschools.org.
The Sun Prairie Neighborhood Navigators program serves as a connector in the community, ensuring that all members of the Sun Prairie Community have a support system, have a voice for change and have access to resources. Click here to learn more!
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.)