Huskies Have HEART Newsletter
April 7, 2024
Greetings Central Heights Students and Families,
Monday, April 8th is an A-day. Remember, students do not have school on Friday, April 12 as it is a professional development day for staff. Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter! If there is ever anything you would like to see in our newsletter or questions you have about school that may help other families learn more about school, please be sure to reach out and ask!
If your student has solar eclipse glasses, please have them bring their pair to school on Monday. Here is more info regarding the Solar Eclipse: You may already know that we expect a total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024. Although we aren't located on the path of totality, we will observe a partial eclipse in our area, which is anticipated to occur at approximately 2:06 p.m. This phenomenon allows our students to interact with a critical astronomical occurrence.
Solar Eclipse Safety Precautions:
Protective Eyewear: CHMS will have a small number of solar eclipse glasses for students to share. If your student brings their own pair, please have them bring them to school.
Supervised Viewing: Various staff members will oversee all eclipse viewing sessions. Students can only view the eclipse with appropriate supervision and eye protection.
Indoor Streaming: If students prefer or are advised to stay indoors, some teachers may offer live eclipse broadcasts, ensuring everyone can participate safely in this educational experience.
Educational Activities: Various teachers have prepared lesson plans revolving around solar eclipses. This initiative provides students with an understanding of this event.
Guidelines for Parents/Caregivers:
If parents/caregivers wish for their children to experience the eclipse outside school premises, please ensure that they are equipped with suitable solar viewing glasses and are instructed on safe viewing practices. Students must understand the risks of looking directly at the sun without proper protection.
We strongly encourage you to discuss with your child the importance of adhering strictly to the school's safety protocols. These measures have been implemented to ensure that all students can safely enjoy the eclipse.
Kind Regards,
Office of Student Policy and School Operations
SCO News:
Educator Appreciation Week is May 6-10. Our SCO is looking for help to show our Central Heights Staff some appreciation. Check out this sign up genius to contribute.
Central Heights SCO Caregiver Social
Wednesday, April 17 5:30pm- ?
Let's get together! The SCO thought it would be fun to plan a social event for parents and caregivers (adults only, please) to get to know one another.
Prairie Lanes has a Happy Hour from 3-6:30pm and offers $1 off drinks and 90 cent wings.
Please help spread the word. We hope to see you there!
https://www.facebook.com/events/772428158162164?ref=newsfeed
Attention Central Heights families! Your chance to buy a yearbook for this year is quickly coming to an end. Please use this link to order a copy today. Extras will be limited and we often sell out of them. Secure your copy now! https://shop.yearbookmarket.com/centralheightsmiddleschool
Please remind your student to bring their chromebook home each night after school AND charge it. Students are struggling to keep their chromebooks charged, which creates a lot of distractions in learning. As a reminder, here is the Digital Device Agreement that students signed at the beginning of the year: Student Digital Device Agreement
Thanks for a great week of FORWARD testing; overall, students did a great job! The FORWARD Exam will have 3 make-up days. Students who are absent during testing days can utilize make-up days of sessions they missed. These will take place in the CHMS library:
Monday 4/8/24
Tuesday 4/9/24
Wednesday 4/10/24
Is your student currently in 8th grade and interested in 9th grade athletics? Please note the following start dates (shared below) as fall sports begin in August (before school starts):
Check out the Cafeteria Connection which shares some fun pictures and information about how we celebrate National School Breakfast Week.
FREE or LOW-COST FAMILY FUN!
From April 20 – 28, 2024 over 5 dozen organizations will open their doors to offer over 250 free or low-cost learning activities for families and youth at over 50 sites throughout the region as part of Wisconsin’s “Remake Learning Days: Badgerland” festival.
like Free Family Fun Night Celebration at the Madison Children’s Museum on Thursday, April 25
and more!!
Summer School Information (for students and families):
When will registration take place? April 1, 2024, starting at 8:00 a.m. Registration is open until midnight of April 19, 2024
Semester Grades & Summer School Information:
Summer School will run June 17th - July 18th 2024 (Mondays-Thursdays) from 8:00am-1:00pm
Location for students in grades 6-8 will be Central Heights Middle School
Semester grades should be posted for your student(s). On these grades, you’ll notice the comments: “Your child is recommended to participate in Summer School math. Please register them for grade level math during Summer School registration” and/or “Your child is recommended to participate in Summer School literacy. Please register them for grade level math during Summer School registration”.
If you see a number (like a 1) in that box, with a comment below it, then your child IS recommended for summer school in that area.
If you see N/A in that box or the box is blank, then your child is NOT recommended for summer school in that area.
Here is the link to our summer school webpage for more information.
International Cuisine Explorers meets every other Wednesday in room 515 after school from 3:40pm-4:40pm. Students must be signed up in Infinite Campus in order to participate.
Wednesday, April 3rd: Pita Pizzas (Middle Eastern & Mediterranean)
Wednesday, April 17th: Flammkuchen (Germany & France)
Wednesday, April 24th *March 13th make-up date*: Gallo pinto (Costa Rica and Nicaragua)
Wednesday, May 1st *Final meeting date of the year*: Rabanada (Brazil)
All recipes will be nut free, but may include wheat, eggs, and/or dairy.
Please reach out to Ms. Towey with any questions - estowey@sunprairieschools.org
Bus Evacuation Drills: April 23 & 24, 2024 The district is required to practice bus evacuations twice a year per state law. Bus evacuation drills will be held April 23rd at the middle and high schools and April 24th at the elementary schools. Please note that buses could be delayed on these days.
Sometimes it could become necessary to exit the school bus by the back door. Please talk with you children about doing these steps safely:
Keep calm
Listen to the driver’s instructions
Beginning with the last seats, move to the back door
Do not push or shove
When you get to the back door, sit on your bottom and scoot to the edge
Slide off the edge slightly pushing yourself out away from the bus
Keep your knees bent
Walk quickly away to the safe spot designated by your driver
Wait for further instructions from your driver
Parents, please remember that if your child’s bus is evacuated for any reason (bus breakdown, emergency, etc.) students are not allowed to leave the scene. Students must stay with the driver and wait for further instructions. If another bus is dispatched, students are to ride that bus and only get off at their assigned stop.
There are many summer opportunities available to students. Here is a list from the Greater Dane County Advanced Learning Network. Feel free to reach out to Renea Boguszewski with any questions, rjbogus@sunprairieschools.org.
Morning Drop-Off Reminders:
If you are someone who drops off students at the main entrance in the morning, please be sure that you follow our procedures:
Pull all the way up to the blue arrow below (there is a sign here in the actual drop off lane). After 8:00 am, there is no parking and waiting in the drop-off lane; your students should get out of the car and wait near the main entrance. We cannot have cars sitting and waiting in the red drop-off area below. We need to ensure that drop-offs are efficient and that we aren’t causing a delay in the system.
Students should only be dropped off at the curb closest to the school; please do not drop them off in the curb/lane that is closer to Ashley Stadium. We do not want students walking in between cars.
Cars should not weave around one another once you are in the red curve below as this is dangerous for students.
As we have staff available, we will be out to remind people of these expectations.
Calendar Check:
No School Friday, April 12th.
In order to call your student out absent/excuse them from school, please call our attendance line: 608-318-8020.
Please keep your child home if they have symptoms of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, such as cough, fever, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea. Let us know (by calling: 318-8020) if they test positive for any communicable disease, such as COVID, influenza, strep, or pertussis. Your school's health assistant can provide guidance on when your child can return to school after testing positive.
Free and Reduced Meals and Fee Waiver Information
If you would like 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. Be sure to list each of your children on the application form. 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.
If you want to share your Free and Reduced status with Central Heights in order to request fee waivers for things like athletic fees, activity and club fees, course fees, and or summer school fees, please contact our school social worker, Matt Jahnke at (608) 318-8009 or mtjahnk@sunprairieschools.org
Comidas gratis y a precio reducido e información sobre exención de tarifas
Si desea solicitar el estado Gratis o Reducido, complete la solicitud para comidas escolares gratuitas o de precio reducido. Consulte los enlaces a continuación para obtener instrucciones, la solicitud y el documento de preguntas frecuentes. Solo necesita presentar una solicitud por hogar, incluso si sus hijos asisten a más de una escuela en Sun Prairie. La solicitud debe completarse en su totalidad para certificar que sus hijos reciban comidas escolares gratuitas o de precio reducido. Asegúrese de incluir a cada uno de sus hijos en el formulario de solicitud. Si en algún momento no está seguro de qué hacer a continuación, comuníquese con el Departamento de Nutrición del Distrito Escolar de Sun Prairie, 501 S. Bird St., Sun Prairie WI 53590 o envíe un correo electrónico nutritiondepartment@sunprairieschools.org o llame al (608) 834-6544.
Preguntas Frecuentes Sobre Comida Escolar Gratis y a Precio Reducido
Formulario de Solicitud Gratis y Reducido (descargar para completar)
Si desea compartir su estado Gratis o Reducido con Central Heights para solicitar exenciones de tarifas para cosas como tarifas deportivas, tarifas de actividades y clubes, tarifas de cursos o tarifas de la escuela de verano, comuníquese con nuestro trabajador social de la escuela, Matt Jahnke al ( 608) 318-8009 o mtjahnk@sunprairieschools.org
Here are some community resources we would like to share:
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.
18 Rickel Rd, Sun Prairie
Hours of operation:
Mon/Wed/Fri 12:00pm - 3:30pm
Tues/Thurs 5:00pm-7:00pm
Saturday 9:00am-11:00am
Individuals can use the pantry every 2 weeks, personal care items also available
For more info, call 608-478-0510 or visit their website
Please visit the SPASD Local and Support Resources website for more information about community resources.
Take care and be well,