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Huskies Have HEART Newsletter
April 14, 2024
Greetings Central Heights Students and Families,
Monday, April 15th is an A-day. 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!
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. Orders are due 4/15 - so this is your last chance! 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
We’ve noticed that a lot of students are bringing large quantities of sugary snacks to consume throughout the day and wanted to share this resource with you: The Negative Impact of Sugar on the Brain and 5 Tips to Reduce Sugar Intake
Research shows that sugar has detrimental effects on our brains, impacting both memory and
mood. Elevated sugar in the bloodstream can result in slowed cognitive function, deficits in memory, and problems with attention. It may also affect emotional processing, increase anxiety, and raise the risk of depression. Studies have shown that individuals with higher sugar consumption are more likely to be diagnosed with a mental disorder. [1]
It is important to reduce sugar intake to optimize learning and overall health. The American Heart Association recommends that "kids ages 2-18 should have less than 25 grams, or 6 teaspoons of added sugar daily." To put this in perspective, a 12 oz can of Coca-Cola has 39 grams of sugar and a Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bar has 7 grams of sugar per bar. You can see how quickly it adds up!
Fortunately, there are a lot of simple steps your family can take to improve everyone’s overall well-being!
Here are some tips to consider:
Start small to make it less overwhelming! Pick a certain meal or snack time to start with instead of focusing on changing everything at once. For example, to start with breakfast, replace sugary cereals with options that have more protein, such as hard-boiled eggs or Greek yogurt with some berries.
Pay attention to labels when grocery shopping. Added sugar is hidden in so many places, including bread, salad dressing, and pasta sauce.
Understand that sugar is addicting, but it becomes easier to reduce your intake if you stick with it. Your taste buds will likely change after eating less sugar for a while, making you more appreciative of the natural sweetness in foods, such as fruit.
Reduce the number of sugary drinks consumed each day or choose healthier options, such as water infused with lemon, lime, or berries to give it a boost of flavor.
Bake your own muffins or other baked goods instead of eating store-bought and experiment with reducing the sugar. Many recipes taste similar when using up to one-third less sugar, but you can always reduce by lower amounts and work up to this.
References: [1] Fuhrman, J., MD. (2022). Negative effects of sugar on the brain. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/how-sugar-affects-the-brain-4065218
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):
Hello Future 9th grade Athletes and Families,
Below you will find information regarding sign-ups for high school girls volleyball. Please look below and find the high school your athlete will be attending and complete any relevant information. Thank you for your interest in High School Volleyball at our Sun Prairie Schools.
Sun Prairie East
Welcome to Sun Prairie East Girls Volleyball. We are excited for all of our 8th grade middle school families to join the high school next year. Please fill out the SPE Interest Form to be included on any future communications regarding volleyball. Summer opportunities will include open gyms and summer league. Tryouts will begin on August 19th. Specific schedules will be sent via email in the next few weeks to those who completed the interest form. Any questions can be directed to varsity coach JC Madorin at jcmador@sunprairieschools.org.
Sun Prairie East Volleyball Booster Club is also a vital piece to the volleyball program. They help organize fundraising, events, and much more. Without volunteers to help organize some of these activities some events may not be able to occur. Please help where you can and if you are interested in assisting with the Booster Club please reach out to sunprairievb@gmail.com.
Thank you all for your support and help for Sun Prairie East Volleyball.
JC Madorin & SPE Volleyball Staff
Sun Prairie West
We are very excited for the upcoming girls volleyball season at Sun Prairie West. On Sunday, May 19, 2024, at 4:30pm in the SP West HS Commons (enter through the main entrance,) we will be hosting our annual Parent/Player Meeting where you’ll learn more about the program, summer activities, and our booster club. It is not mandatory to attend, but highly recommended. If you can not attend, please send an email to one of the contacts below and also fill out the Sun Prairie West Contact Form. We will be sending out information throughout the spring and summer.
Key points of discussion at the meeting: Open Gyms, Contact Days, Summer League and Tournaments, Fundraising, Donating, Youth Clinic and more.
Mackenzie Walter, Head Varsity Coach, mswalte@sunprairieschools.org
Caitlyn Logsdon, Assistant Varsity Coach, cclogsd@sunprairieschools.org
SPW Booster Club, spvolleyballwest@gmail.com
We look forward to meeting you soon!
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 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.
Calendar Check:
No school Friday, May 17th (this is a PD day for staff)
No school Monday, May 27th (Memorial Day)
Wednesday, June 5th: 8th grade celebration (during school hours at Sheehan Park)
Friday, June 7th: Last day of school - ½ day.
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.