![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/u/backgrounds/custom_bg-5f8dca64ee4d7d0b86a22bca-13ce97cad0c5.jpg)
Terrapin News
March 2024
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.
Hello Terrapin Families,
Our theme for March is showing respect for, honoring, and celebrating our diversity, one of our directly-named Terrapin Values.
The ability to respect others' differences is a skill that will benefit children throughout their lifetime. When recognizing others' differences, it is important to not only recognize similarities but it is even more key to celebrate what makes each of us different and unique. By recognizing the diversity that makes up our world, relationships with others are strengthened and individual self worth and identities are developed. It is through these differences that our ideas and perspectives evolve, and overall lives are enriched. It is important to teach children to respect and stand up for people who may seem different from them and that everyone deserves to be treated with respect, care and kindness.
Ways to teach children about the similarities and differences around them:
Talk about the many similarities and differences between them and their classmates, teammates or neighbors
Show empathy and respect to others around you who are different
Expose children to new or unfamiliar experiences
Read books that address and celebrate differences
Click here to hear a read aloud I recorded a few years ago, reading one of my favorite books on the topic, Just Ask! by Sinia Sotomayor
Keep the conversations open and ongoing
Happy March!
Michael Marincic, Principal
608-478-5101
Token Springs Sun Prairie Food Pantry Challenge
March 4 thru March 22
Cousins Share Night
Tuesday, March 12
4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
SCOTS Meeting
Tuesday, March 12
6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Virtual on Zoom
SCOTS Paint Night (registration required)
Thursday, March 14
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Celebrate Differences Week
March 18 thru March 22
TS Yearbook Ordering Deadline
Friday, March 22
Spring Break
Monday, March 25 thru Friday, March 29
End of 3rd Quarter
Tuesday, April 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.
Sun Prairie Food Pantry Challenge
This year Token Springs will join other elementary schools in the district participating in The Sun Prairie Food Pantry Challenge. Our Student Leadership Team will be collecting food and donations from March 4th-March 22nd. Students will be receiving a plastic bag to bring in any donations during this time.
We are tying a few incentives with this food drive:
800 food items = extra recess
1,000 items = popsicles
1,400 items = a student from each ecosytem will have the opportunity to PIE Mr. Marincic in the face!
Money may also be donated. Each $1.00 will be equivalent to 2 donation items.
Donations items most needed include: cereal, canned meals, canned fruit, canned soup, ground coffee, Hamburger Helper, Ramen Noodles, olive oil, applesauce pouches, fruit leather, baking mixes
Thank you for helping us support the Food Pantry!
Token Springs Student Leadership Team
Token Springs Field Trips
Our terrapins have a lot of exciting field trips coming up in the next few months! As a reminder, your permission was given during online registration for your child to participate in local one day field trips. Please make sure to check your student(s) field trip fees which are located in Infinite Campus. These fees can be paid via:
- credit/debit card payment through Infinite Campus
- cash given to your student's teacher or the front office
- check payable to SPASD given to your student's teacher or the front office
All chaperones must have a completed criminal background check on file prior to the field trip event. Please note it can take up to two weeks for background checks to be processed.
Last Call for Yearbook Orders!
Please visit the Empire Photography Yearbook Ordering website to place your 2023-2024 Token Springs Yearbook(s). Soft cover yearbooks are $16.00 and Hard cover yearbooks are $29.00. Yearbooks will be distributed the last week of school. The deadline to order your yearbook is Friday, March 22nd.
Volunteer Terrapin Program Updates
As a building, we like to send a few reminders throughout the year about our Volunteer Terrapin program, one of the many ways we work to make our school a welcoming and inviting place for not just for our students, but for our families as well. As a refresh, the Volunteer Terrapin program is meant to provide a more inclusive opportunity for our Token Springs' community to help out in the building, inviting the many parents, caregivers, and other important adults that matter most to our students. You can access volunteer opportunities here, with the different days of the week living as tabs at the top.
Here are just a few reminders we ask that you review and follow:
- A reminder that all Volunteer Terrapins must complete the District Volunteer Application prior to volunteering at Token Springs. Here is the online application: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/MTk1MDplbi1VUw==
- Please refrain from bringing siblings and/or other non-school-aged children with you if your volunteering involves working in the classroom and/or directly with students. If you are helping organize the ecosystem libraries or volunteering in other areas of the building away from students, this is not a problem. As much as we love our extra cute visitors, they do provide a possible distraction we are hoping to avoid.
- As much as possible, please stick to your scheduled slot so our teachers and staff can better plan your visit.
- To protect student privacy, please do not photograph or video any students.
If you have any feedback and/or suggestions as to how we can continue to improve this program, please let us know!
Celebrating Our Diversity
Let's celebrate our diverse community by sharing stories, resources, and knowledge! Your personal experiences, recommended resources, and/or expertise absolutely help to contribute to a more inclusive environment at Token Springs!
Ways to Participate:
- Share Your Story: Write about a personal experience or family tradition that celebrates differences.
- Recommend Resources: Share books, movies, websites, or other resources promoting diversity and inclusivity.
- Offer Expertise: Contribute your insights related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Submit your contributions directly to your child(ren)'s classroom teacher and we will be compiling them into a collection accessible to all on our webpage.
Thank you for helping us live out one of our Terrapin Values, showing respect for, honoring, and celebrating our diversity!
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.
Advanced Learner Program Updates
Click here to see upcoming events for ALPS including:
- Math 24
- District and Regional Math Meet Competitions
Please feel free to reach out with any questions!
Emily Miller, Advanced Learner Teacher
Phone: 608-478-5167
We are still surging with a multitude of sicknesses at school. Please be aware that we are seeing an influx of Strep and the stomach flu. We are also still battling pink eye, ear infections that don't seem to have a cause and diarrhea. Remember that when put on medication for strep or pink eye they will need to be on it for 24 hours before they are no longer contagious.
We are also still in need of New boys underwear size 4 to 6.
Barb deVenecia, School Nurse
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
Please reach out with any questions or concerns.
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 Liaison - Kristen Lubenau
SCOTS Meeting - March 12
Next Meeting:
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
This meeting will be held virtually via Token Springs/Zoom
Cousins Share Night - March 12
Join us on Tuesday, March 12 from 4 - 8 p.m. for dining with a cause! 15% of all sales will be donated to Token Springs SCO! See flyer for details.
SCOTS Paint Night - March 14
Join us on Friday, March 14th from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria for our 2nd annual Token Springs/SCOTS Sponsored Pain Night. Students will be painting a seascape created by Mrs. Acker and her student teacher! A guided painting lesson will be presented for our Token Springs' students to follow along with or, if they prefer, they can create a painting without following the lesson.
Space is limited! For those interested and able to commit to the date and time, click here to access the SignUp Genius. Please note, this sign up is for the number of children (students and siblings are invited) participating. For this "hands on" style of event to be successful parents/caregivers should be present to assist their student(s), rather than painting themselves.
A tisket, a tasket, you can help make Spring Fling FANTASTIC!
Hello from SCOTS! With the success of our raffle baskets at past Spring Flings, we have decided to expand the selection and we need YOUR help. We have assigned each grade a theme and SignUp Genius links for each class to help with ideas (there are spaces for whatever creative ideas you and your kiddo(s) come up with, too). There is a bin in the classroom to collect items from Feb. 26th to Apr. 2nd.
The money we raise will go directly back to the school to support 5th Grade Graduation, Field Day, Teacher Appreciation, and all of the events that make our Token Springs Community so fun!
We look forward to seeing all of your creative ideas! Please feel free to reach out to Christy Tubbs with any questions: ctubbs0508@gmail.com or 630.272.8765. Thank you so much for your support!!
New Student Registration - 5K thru 12th Grade
Enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year will be open on February 1st! New students to SPASD are able to enroll online HERE after February 1.
Please note that as a 4K student, your child is already enrolled in kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year. You will begin receiving information from your elementary school in the month of January.
Your kindergarten enrollment is based on the address we currently have on file for 4K. If you have moved during the 2023-2024 school year please make sure that the 4K office has your new address! If you have any questions or need to share a new address call the 4K office 834-6672
4K Registration
Enrollment into SP4K 2024-2025 will be open on February 1st! New students to SP4K can follow the two-step enrollment process HERE after February 1st. Please contact the SP4K office at (608)834-6672 with any questions.
Kobussen News - March 2024
Bus Discipline Procedures
Discipline shall be assessed on a progressive scale and shall depend upon the student’s age, severity of the offense, and the student’s bus discipline history. Any single incident of a serious nature will be handled in accordance with the appropriate step on the discipline scale.
For Levels 1-5 below, the principal or designee shall inform the parent/guardian of the offense.
Level 1: The principal shall discuss with the student the nature of the offense, alternative choices in behavior, and advise the student of potential consequences in the event of future misconduct.
Level 2: The principal shall discuss the situation with the student and suspend the student from transportation services for a period of one (1) day.
Level 3: The principal shall discuss the situation with the student and suspend the student from transportation services for a period of two to three (2–3) days.
Level 4: The principal shall discuss the situation with the student and suspend the student from transportation services for a period of four to five (4–5) days.
Level 5: The principal shall discuss the situation with the student and suspend the student from transportation services for a period of five (5) days.
Level 6: The Principal and Business Services Manager will consider suspending a student’s bus riding privileges to the end of the semester or end of the school year. The student
and his/her parent/guardian shall have the right to a hearing.
Cafeteria Connection - March 2024
Did you know children who eat breakfast are more likely to…
Reach higher levels of achievement in reading and math
Score higher on standardized tests
Have better concentration and memory
Be more alert and maintain a healthy weight
But when the school week gets busy, it’s easy for students to rush out the door in the morning without having a nutritious meal. That’s why school breakfast is such a great option! In fact, students who participate in school breakfast tend to have better attendance rates and fewer behavioral problems.
In celebration of National School Breakfast Week, March 4-8, we are offering free breakfast to all students on Thursday, March 7! Creekside’s free breakfast is on Friday, March 8. All week we will have special guest servers, mascots, special menus, dress-up days, and fun giveaways. Join us for the fun!
If you have any questions regarding your students food service account please contact us at nutritiondepartment@sunprairieschools.org.
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
School districts in Wisconsin are required to ensure that homeless children have access to the same educational opportunities as non-homeless children, including opportunities to meet the same challenging state academic standards.
If you are currently homeless and need assistance you may contact the Sun Prairie Area School District's McKinney Vento Coordinator: Claire Bergman at 608.834.6509 or email cebergm@sunprairieschools.org.
For further information on this program including your rights and eligibility, please visit the SPASD McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act page.
Wisconsin Wayfinder: Essential Children's Resources
A newly developed, statewide, user-friendly website and toll-free number, 877-WiscWay (877-947-2929), provides families with convenient, direct access to compassionate and knowledgeable children’s resource guides. Click here to access the Wisconsin Wayfinder webpage.
Sun Prairie Neighborhood Navigators
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!
Child Find Notifications
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. Please click on the documents below for more information.
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.)