Wow! What an incredible week it was. This past week our Women's Studies class hosted an incredible panel of Women Leaders. Students from a variety of 1st Block classes were able to listen to and learn from their lived experience. Students also then had the opportunity to stay and participate in a smaller group session in which they were able to interact with the panelist in a slightly smaller session entering a Q and A. Also this week we hosted the annual Sun Prairie Choir Festival. Incredible voices from elementary through high school filled a PACK competition gym celebrating the power of music across the ages. Our forensic team became STATE RUNNER-UP this weekend, earning 2nd place in the state! Our Spring Sports are in full swing and starting competitions.

This will be the last Howl for two weeks in honor of Spring Break! We hope that Spring Break can bring you a chance to regroup, recharge and come back ready to finish the year STRONG! A reminder that grades are due the week we get back! This is a grading deadline that has IMMEDIATE athletic consequences for grades that are not passing (including SP30), so please connect with teachers THIS WEEK to make sure you are in great shape going into break. The next Howl will be published on April 7th.

Check out everything in this week's Howl. Especially make sure to checkout this week's Highlights, there is A LOT to celebrate:

• Upcoming Events
  
• Daily Announcements
• March- Women's History Month
• Hmong Heritage Month- Coming Soon
• Staff Updates
• Three-Sided Approach- SP30 Focus
• Quarter Ending- Grades Due Soon!
• Student Senate
• JUNIORS- ACP Lesson
• Coin Hunt Final Week
• Summer Opportunities at UW
• SP West Game Day Flag
• SP West "Ugly" Sweatshirt
• AVID Mod Pizza Night
• Classroom and Student Spotlights
• Forensics! State Runner-Up
• African American History Bowl Challenge
• Human Rights Presentations
• All City Choir Festival
• AP Physics
• Biology
• Academic Decathlon
• Big 8 AD of the Year
• Mock Trial
• FFA
• In Case You Missed It!
• Important Parking Expectations

• March 1st-31st- Women's History Month

• March 25th-29th- No School- SPRING BREAK!!!

• April 9th- Freshman and Sophomores (9th and 10th Grade) ONLY- Pre-ACT Secure Testing
• May 18th- Junior Prom (open to juniors and seniors)

We are celebrating Spring and ALL the accomplishments of our students, Women's History month, school spirit and planning for joy this Friday afternoon. We will operate on a modified schedule on Friday. If your scholar is NOT planning on attending the assembly on Friday, please call them out ASAP this week. ALL students will be expected to attend in the competition gym or exit the building (having been called out). Looking forward to a great community celebration.

Have you ever walked by the screens while in the building at West and thought, I want to make sure my student knows about that? Here are our student announcements so that parents/caregivers can have the same information to remind and encourage student involvement.

This past week we welcomed in an INCREDIBLE panel of Women to share their story with our students. The panel included State Representatives, State Senators, Former School Board Representatives, Entrepreneurs. This incredible leaders shared their successes, challenges, goals, intersectionality and words of wisdom and inspiration for our scholars. Students attended with their 1st Block class and then students with interest in diving deeper had an opportunity to stay for SP30 where they were able to have a question and answer session with the panel.

Tomorrow all students will engage in a Women History Trivia Contest during SP30. The winners will compete in the finals during Friday's Pep Assembly!

Got ideas for next year's Women's History month? Still not too late to share your ideas!!!

Hmong Heritage month is right around the corner! Order your Hmong Heritage month Swag TODAY!

As we head into the final quarter of the year we would like to share some staffing updates with you. We wish Dr. Chai Lee and Mr. Felix Giboney well as they pursue new opportunities. Dr. Lee has accepted a Head Principal position at Jack Young Middle School in Baraboo. His last day will be this Friday, March 22nd as he transitions to lead Jack Young. Mr. Giboney's last day was March 4th. We are grateful for incredible Wolf educators who are stepping in an interim role the rest of the school year. Welcome to new roles: Mr. Rob Gilkey-Meisegeier- Dean of Students (A-Le), Ms. Kellie Miesbauer- Associate Principal (student support Li-Z) and Mr. Isaac Dennis- Youth Advocate.

As a staff we have been reflecting on our areas of strength and our areas of growth. The five focus areas of growth that we have identified for the remainder of the year are all interconnected: attendance/hallways, bathroom vandalism, communication loops, accountability for students and staff and culture. As we continue to build our SP West culture as a new comprehensive high school our culture is impacted by all of these other factors and it truly takes all of us, each staff member, each student, each parent/caregiver to create One West.

Earlier this year we have identified the three-sided approach: adult accountability, student accountability and root cause analysis as our approach to supporting students learning in class from bell-to-bell.

Friday students received reteaching of expectations around bathrooms and attendance. We know that attendance and bathroom vandalism are closely connected. If our scholars are in class and engaged in their learning then there is less opportunity for inappropriate bathroom behavior in the form of vandalism (and vaping). Our bathrooms must be safe places for ALL students to meet their needs. A focus on attendance in class and sweeping bathrooms will help this become a reality.

Consistent searching of students who are suspected of vaping in bathrooms is being implemented. If an adult sees a large group of students gathering in the bathroom or multiple students who are in a stall together, it is likely that they are vaping. Students will be escorted to an office and searched. If no evidence is found the student will be given a pass back to class. If vapes or other school inappropriate items are found, consequences are applied.

Starting this week we are focusing specifically on attendance during SP30.

What that means is that this week we are going to have ALL ADVISORY this week. No WIN time. This means that students are in their assigned HOMEROOM with NO PASSES being issued for students to travel to other locations. This will allow us to connect with students who are NOT in their advisory.

Students who are NOT in their advisory will interact with a member of the ADMIN TEAM, have a behavior referral and phone call home and an option to engage in restorative practices to identify the root cause of why they are not in advisory. If the behavior continues to repeat it will result in in-school or out-of-school suspension for repeated refusal to follow school rules.

Third quarter ends on April 2nd. This marks the halfway point of 2nd semester! Grade reports will be available in Infinite Campus by the beginning of the following week (April 8th-ish). This progress report has immediate athletic consequences for ANY failing grade and is different than the other progress reports where there is a grace period for student-athletes to bring up their grades. Students who are failing at this progress report will serve a 15 school day/night suspension. Students- please check your grades and connect with your teachers to ensure you are good to go going into break. Parents/caregivers- please connect with your students to make sure they know what they need to complete. Teacher/Coaches- please reach out to students and parents/caregivers with concerns. A reminder: THIS INCLUDES SP30!

This week Student Senate will be meeting to review the SP100 plan that was created with student input two weeks ago and review the implementation of Week 1 of SP30 focus to help determine next steps following Spring Break.

On Friday March 15, 2024 during Advisory, Junior students met with the counselors and CCLR for their annual Junior ACP Presentation in the PAC. This presentation provided students information needed to prepare for their last year and a half at SPWHS and beyond. Topics included:

• Graduation requirement review

• Academic opportunities for senior year

• Transcripts & GPA

• ACP & Xello

• 2/4 Year Colleges

• NCAA

• Apprenticeships

• Specialized Training School

• Years of Service/GAP year

• Military

• Workforce

• AND a Senior snapshot

The full slideshow is available on our Student Services website and can be viewed HERE.

. Juniors are encouraged to set up individual Academic and Career Planning meetings with their counselors. Students should fill out the form in the presentation if interested.

Students! The Student Council Coin Hunt is in it's final week! Keep hunting for that silver and gold!

High School is an exciting time for students to learn more about things they love and explore new topics. Whether or not a student knows what they want to do in their future education or career, there are a wide variety of ways to enhance learning and invest in your future success.

Each summer Badger PreCollege offers low-risk, high-reward opportunities that build foundational skills for future college success. Our programs help students:

• Gain insight into university level academics and explore research labs and maker spaces

• Develop independence, learn how to navigate a college campus, and build resilience and autonomy.

• Find a community of instructors and mentors who can support their academic and career goals

• Meet new friends from around the world

Applications are open! We invite all high school students completing grades 9-12 to join us at the UW-Madison campus this summer.

Support our boys baseball program and get your very own SP West Game Day flag to support any and all teams when it's GAME DAY! Order today! Store open until April 7th.

Did you see it? Throughout January and February did you see individuals wearing a fabulous, ugly or fabulously ugly SP West sweatshirt and thought... I NEED one of those? Please share your interest here and we are working to get an order going sooner rather than later so it can get tucked away and be ready for the holiday season next winter. Please complete one form for each Sweatshirt you would be interested in.

No need to cook tomorrow night! Visit Mod Pizza and support the SPASD AVID program, supporting students toward their college dreams.

FORENSICS TEAM: SECOND PLACE IN THE STATE!

Congratulations to the West HS forensics team, the STATE RUNNERS UP!

Saanvi Kandanelli earned a state championship in expository speaking!

State runners-up included Reethu Teegala (oratory), Yogitha Rajkumar (informative speaking), Kara Bekkedal (oral interp of literature), and Mrinank Panda (special occasion speaking).

Other finalists included Shreya Bharaga, Suhani Pandey, Asha Sundaram, Pragnya Vella, Leela Bourenane, Molly McArdle, Haley Rollins, Ethan Flood, Abhishek Jerome, and John Kudrle.

Semifinalists included Savannah Sandridge, Taylor Sandridge, Jojo Knauss, Nicole Meier, and Juanita Duarte.

Ethan Flood was also awarded a senior scholarship!

CONGRATULATIONS to our African American History Bowl scholars and their coach, Brittany Herrera on winning our local competition and advancing to the regional final this past Friday night. Although our Wolves are not heading to Nationals we are incredibly proud of their work and an incredible showing in our first year.

For the past few weeks, English 9 students have been participating in book clubs while researching and creating a case study on a human rights issue of their choice. Last week, these students presented their case study to a panel of staff, students, and community members.

The All-City Choir Festival was a great night of music as students in 4th–12th grade sang for a full house! Thank you to our music and choir educators for creating this wonderful experience for our students, and thank you to our parents, caregivers, families, and community members for supporting music in our schools! A shout out to Mr. Andy Vosters our West Choir Teacher, all of our student musicians and our very own Associate Principal Ed Ford who provided guitar accompaniment.

Students in AP Physics recently used their knowledge of energy conservation for closed systems to attempt to stamp an egg with an ink stamp attached to a bungee cord! They calculated the length of the bungee cord based on principles of energy conservation and put their calculations to the test in an exciting way. Some eggs broke, a couple were stamped successfully, but everyone had a great time!

Recently our Biology students have been engaged in dissection. Check out students dissecting a catfish!

Congratulations to our Sun Prairie United Academic Decathlon team! They made it to state competition in Green Bay. They are Coached by Cheryl Andreasen and Tim Keal.

Congratulations to our very own Eric Nee on winning Big 8 Athletic Director of the year!

Congratulations to our incredible Mock Trial scholars and a extra special congratulations to Ellyson Wos who was in the TOP 10 for Witness at State and Pragnya Vella who was in the TOP 10 for Attorney at State! Congratulations on a FANTASTIC season.

Daniel Reid , member of the FFA Chapter of Sun Prairie - East High School, and Lillian Nichols, member of the FFA Chapter of Sun Prairie - West High School, were recently presented the Louis M. Sasman Award by Gerald Schwoch, President-Elect of the Kiwanis Club of Downtown Madison. They are joined by Abe Aberle, Chair of the Kiwanis Club’s Agricultural, Conservation and Environment Committee. The Sasman Award is given annually to an outstanding student from each of the FFA Chapters at Dane County High Schools. Mr. Sasman was the State Supervisor for Vocational Education for 36 years and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Downtown Madison for over 40 years.

If you don't already, please follow SP West on Facebook!

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.

Information from previous Howls that's too important to miss!

Do you have the Infinite Campus app on your phone? If not, please download it today! See the directions below on how to access Parent Portal.

Why is Parent Portal important?

• Get real time updates on grades
• Get real time updates on attendance
• Set notifications to keep you up to date on your students progress

Infinite campus is our Number 1 communication tool with parents/caregivers. Have it right at your finger tips!

1. Go to the Sun Prairie Area School District web page

2. Click on Infinite Campus

3. Click on Campus Parent

4. Enter your Username and Password (if you’ve already logged in to Campus Parent Portal

previously/have a username and password)

5. Click on New User? (if you have not set up your Infinite Campus Parent Portal

6. I need to obtain my Activation Key: Please email: enroll@sunprarieschools.org

7. Once you’ve received your Activation Key, copy and paste it directly into the Activation Key

area. You will be prompted to move forward with setting up your Campus Portal Account.

1. Search your app store for Campus Parent
2. Enter your Username and Password (if you’ve already logged in to Campus Parent Portal
3. previously/have a username and password)
4. Click on New User? (if you have not set up your Infinite Campus Parent Porta
5. I need to obtain my Activation Key: Please email: enroll@sunprarieschools.or
6. Once you’ve received your Activation Key, copy and paste it directly into the Activation Key area.
7. You will be prompted to move forward with setting up your Campus Portal Account

A few important parking reminders and expectations as we continue to have situations that are unsafe for students.

• When dropping off students ONLY use the RED Student Drop Off Zone. We are seeing many parents/caregivers dropping students off in the YELLO Bus Loading Zone, Student Parking and Visitor Staff Lots. This creates situations in which there are moving cars where others are trying to park, blocked parking spots and student being nearly hit by cars when trying to walk through designated areas.
• Do NOT pull into light blue designated accessible parking, or block these spots, for any length of time if you do not have a government issued tag/license plate. We have students that require the use of these spots and on a regular basis are having their access limited due to others blocking or being in the locations.
• The DARK BLUE service road behind the building is for Emergency Use only. Prepare for these gates to begin being closed as we have seen an increase in individuals using this back road at the end of the day in an attempt to avoid traffic. Unfortunately this creates unsafe circumstances and a student was nearly hit last week.
• The gray circle near the end of the staff parking and service road is designated for specialized transportation pickup only. The only pick up that should take place in this location is specialized buses and parent/caregivers working with their student's IEP team.
• Finally, students a reminder to park in your student designated parking spot in the GREEN LOT.

We are working to have an increased presence in these locations with our School Resource Officer and Administration to enforce these important safety measures, warnings and tickets may be issued for infractions.

We know that drop-off, pick-up and parking can be difficult and busy times at a comprehensive High School. Please ensure that you are planning ahead with appropriate time. If we all work together the system will work and keep everyone safe.