The Rise Up Family Newsletter

Greetings PPA Caregivers, Families, and Friends,

Welcome to semester two of your scholar's academic journey!! We are at the halfway point!! Be on the lookout for progress reports, updated grades, and more. Ask your scholars about grad plans, advisory, capstone projects, portfolios, and artifacts? These are terms that are regularly used in the building to support and show their academic growth. Also feel free to reachout to their advisors for any wanted updates.

As well, you may have received information in regards to summer school from the school district. Any student that is currently enrolled in PPA is able to attend summer school PPA. Below you will find a survey linked to share your interest or not for your child to attend summer school at PPA.

Summer school interest form

Woohoo.. We have a new addition to our PPA community. Whitney Higley will begin at PPA on February 3rd, she is the new Student Service Team Administrator Associate.

I look forward to partnering with you for the second semester!

Continue to scroll down for more information.

Be well,

Ms. Sconiers

Attendance line: 608-834-6900 Line 1

Please use this number when calling in a student for an absence, illness or an appointment.

You can call the office at 608-834-6900 ext. 5507 for any reason that your student will be absent. Please call the attendance line or the office at 608-834-6931 if your student needs to leave early. Calls will be made when students leave grounds without a guardian's permission.

School day is from 9:00am - 3:20pm.

Follow PPA on Facebook! See our events, photos of activities, and other important updates and information. https://www.facebook.com/PPASunPrairie/

PPA Specific information to keep in mind:

As a reminder, students that are driving should review this information. It is important for our student drivers to continue to be safe for themselves and others in our parking lots and on the roads. Please note that students that do not park in the designated student parking session:

First offense- a verbal warning and ask to move their vehicle to the proper area

Second offense- parent communication

Ongoing offenses will be discussed with families and hopes of a resolution

Scholars should be prepared to learn everyday! Chromebooks should be with students daily. To reduce students transporting their wonderful Chromebooks they have the opportunity to leave the CB’s at PPA to be charged. Those that turned in Chromebooks will be able to pick them up from the main office. We will not issue a Chromebook to students if they have one or more already checked out to them. Please have your scholar return any damaged Chromebooks to the main office. We have a limited number of Chromebooks that students may use as loaners but that is on a first come basis.

Therapy in Schools at Prairie Phoenix Academy

In the Sun Prairie Area School District, we have different ways to support students' mental health. These include activities to help everyone build relationships and learn social-emotional skills, small group support for some students, and one-on-one help for others. At Prairie Phoenix Academy (PPA), we provide all these levels of support to meet the social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs of our students.

PPA recently partnered with Crossroads Counseling Center in Sun Prairie to offer therapy at school for a small number of students. These students may have challenges that make it hard to get this kind of help outside of school. Rochell Floyd, MA, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 10 years of experience working with adolescents and families in mental health care. She comes to PPA one day a week to provide therapy to students during the school day.

The PPA Student Services Team and Principal have created a process to identify students who may need this service. This process includes talking with caregivers and getting their permission. No student will receive therapy without their consent and their caregiver’s permission.

Rochell is also available at PPA to talk with staff and provide information about mental health and related services. She may help staff and students during difficult situations. These brief interactions don’t require caregiver consent because they are short and focused on the moment. If these interactions become more frequent or involve ongoing support, caregivers and students will be asked for consent.

If you have any questions about these services, please contact Principal Sconiers at nsconi@sunprairieschools.org. We’re excited to welcome Rochell to the PPA community!

Please visit the SPASD Local and Support Resources website for more information about community resources. https://www.sunprairieschools.org/district/reopeningtogether/support-resources?post_category_id=

Winter Clothing

It’s getting cold! If you need winter gear, we have some in our free closet at school! Please reach out to Ellie, Ms. Ayanna, or other school personnel. Additionally, you can request to shop at CARDS closet for the winter season through Ellie, please reach out and STAY WARM!

PPA Students, are you interested in taking a second-semester course at your boundary school or taking an online course through JEDI? Please contact Ms. Annetta Wright. Parent, and Principal approval is required.

2024 - 2025 Senior Planning Presentation

UPCOMING FAFSA NIGHT AT PPA!

• Thursday, February 27, 2025: During Family/Teacher Winter Conferences

• Set up FAFSA Accounts here (parent and student should set up separate accounts at least 3-5 days prior to FAFSA Night)
• Laptop (Let us know if you need one)
• An email address with login information
• Social Security number

• Birth, death, marriage, and divorce dates

• Tax returns/W-2s for the prior-prior year to the FAFSA

• Current bank account balance(s)

• Other income amounts (social security, child support, unemployment, etc.)

• Value of any other assets

Madison College Application Dates at PPA! (12:40 pm - 2:35 pm)

• Wednesday, February 19, 2025, 12:40 pm - 2:35 pm

• Wednesday, March 5, 2025, 12:40 pm - 2:35 pm

Students interested in taking Start College Now courses for the 25 -26 school year, please contact Annetta Wright. Applications are due March 01, 2025.

Attention Students: Register for 2025-2026 Courses!

• It’s time to choose your courses for the 2025-2026 school year at your boundary school! See Annetta Wright to complete your course selection. Remember, parent or caregiver permission is required. Don’t miss this important step in planning your future!

Sophomores, the applications for the STEM Academy at Madison Area Technical College are available. Please see Annetta Wright for more information. Click here for the STEM Academy Application

Attention PPA and GEDO Students: Explore Virtual Courses!

• Interested in taking one or two courses online? See Annetta Wright to browse over 700 available options! Parent or caregiver permission is required, so be sure to get their approval. Don’t miss this chance to plan for your future!

• Want to learn more about how to become a firefighter? Interested in taking courses to become a firefighter or an Emergency Medical Responder?

• Come to the information session - Feb 5, 2025; 1:30 - 3 pm

We are still accepting applications for our FREE Summer camps! The Wisconsin School of Business offers FREE, Precollege Programs for high school students interested in exploring a career in business through one day workshops and weeklong summer camps. WSB Precollege Programs is available for all high school students, but we will prioritize enrolling students who identify as first generation (first in immediate family to attend four year college/institution) and students who qualify for free or reduced school lunch. Students who do not meet these preferences will be waitlisted.

Attached you will find our 2025 summer camp flyers in English, Hmong, and Spanish. *Please note that precollege summer camps do not offer housing or transportation. Precollege programs will provide snack, lunch, activity supplies, and cover all field trip expenses including transportation and admission fees.

Please review the benefits of our program and consider sharing our summer camp flyers with your students!

Benefits of participating in WSB Precollege programs include:

• Career Exploration: Participants will learn about different business majors and participate in business exploration activities including entrepreneurial challenges and job shadowing field trips. *Job shadowing opportunities are available for 10th and 11th graders participating in the Junior Business Badgers Summer camp.*

• Community: Participants will build meaningful relationships with business-minded students through interactive community building activities. They'll also have the opportunity to learn from college mentors and top business professors and faculty at the Wisconsin School of Business.

• Scholarship Opportunity: Participants who participate in our precollege program will receive preference for the Business Emerging Leaders(BEL) Scholarship. The BEL Scholarship recipients will receive a minimum of $10,000 per year for 4 years. Students can apply for the scholarship during their senior year of high school. Consideration will also be based on students' acceptance to UW-Madison, direct admittance to the Wisconsin School of Business, and completion of the BEL Scholarship application materials. To learn more about the Business Emerging Leaders Scholarship, click here to sign up for one of our Spring, Precollege and BEL virtual info sessions.

Please reach out to myself or our WSB Precollege Program team at wsbprecollege@wsb.wisc.edu, if you have any questions!

• ACT 11th grade Testing - March 11th

• ACT 11th grade Makeup Test - March 18th

INTERESTED

Please refer folks to the Summer School website. All public facing communication is posted on the site.

My thanks to all of you for your ongoing input, involvement, and support. Let me know if you have any questions.

Ladies, are you interested in coming together with other young women of various ethnicities and cultures to foster a sisterhood that encourages unity, and wellness, while addressing issues and problems concerning young girls of color? Join us in the Dry Lab on Tuesdays at 1:25 pm. See Mz. Annetta for more information.

PHOENIX PRIDE TRIVIA!!

Last week's winner is…… Kelly Tomilnson

-Parents/Caregivers you all have an opportunity to enter our Trivia and win a prize!

-”HOW DO YOU ENTER”?: Click the link below. Answer the following questions and the family that has the closests answer to the real definition wins!

-NO ANSWER IS A WRONG ANSWER! MS.SCONIERS & MRS.AYANNA WILL GO OVER ALL ANSWERS TOGETHER.

-WINNER WILL BE CONTACTED AND THE NEXT TRIVIA WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER (February 15th, 2025)

Phoenix Pride Caregiver Trivia

"Fueling Up for Learning: Why School Lunches Need Fruits & Veggies"

Hey parents!

Did you know that the government has rules about what makes a "complete" school meal? It has to include fruits or vegetables at breakfast and lunch. This is because healthy food helps kids learn better!

Here's the deal:

• Complete meals = Government funding: When your child takes a complete meal (with fruit or veggies), the school gets money from the government to help cover the cost.

• Incomplete meals = Costs for you: If your child refuses the fruit or veggies, the school doesn't get that funding. This means we might have to charge your account, even if your child gets free or reduced-price meals.

• Lots of tasty options: We offer a variety of fruits and veggies every day, including fresh salads and always at least two fruit choices.

Why it matters:

• Healthy bodies = Healthy minds: Fruits and veggies provide essential vitamins and minerals that help kids grow and learn.

• Fighting childhood obesity: Eating healthy foods helps kids maintain a healthy weight.

Let's work together to make sure our kids are getting the nutrition they need to succeed in school! Encourage them to try something new from the salad bar or fruit options.

Remember: Hungry kids can't learn!

Bus Driver Recognition Week

February 10-14, 2025 is School Bus Driver Recognition Week in the State of Wisconsin. We

encourage families to go the extra mile to show appreciation to the men and women that work

hard to get our students to and from school safely every day. Please take a moment to thank

them or consider having your child make a token of appreciation.

Your kind words, cards, etc., will surely make the driver’s week brighter!

Crossing Guard Recognition Week

February 17-21, 2025 is Adult Crossing Guard Recognition Week in Wisconsin. Please take a

moment to thank the hard-working men and women who help ensure the safe passage of our

youngest, most vulnerable children walking between home and school every day.

_________________________________________________________________________

Semana de reconocimiento para conductor de autobús

Del 10 al 14 de Febrero de 2025 es la Semana de reconocimiento a los conductores del

autobús escolar en el estado de Wisconsin. Alentamos a las familias a hacer un esfuerzo

adicional para mostrar agradecimiento a los hombres y mujeres que trabajan arduamente para

que nuestros estudiantes vayan y regresen de la escuela de manera segura todos los días.

Tómese un momento para agradecerles o considere que su hijo haga una muestra de

agradecimiento.

¡Sus amables palabras, tarjetas, etc., seguramente harán que la semana del conductor sea

más brillante!

Semana de reconocimiento de guardias de cruce

Del 17 al 21 de Febrero de 2025 es la Semana de Reconocimiento de la Guardia de Cruce de

Adultos en Wisconsin. Tómese un momento para agradecer a los hombres y mujeres

trabajadores que ayudan a garantizar el paso seguro de nuestros niños más pequeños y

vulnerables que caminan entre el hogar y la escuela todos los días.

Email: nsconi@sunprairieschools.org
Website: https://www.sunprairieschools.org/prairie-phoenix-academy-home
Location: 220 Kroncke Drive, Suite 13 Sun Prairie, WI 53590, USA
Phone: 6088346901