The Rise Up Family Newsletter

Greetings PPA Caregivers, Families, and Friends,

I must say, this is one school year where we hit the ground running!!! We have had a Community Talk, 9th -11th graders took the Pre-ACT Local assessment, we have shared nachos, and we are more than halfway through our first round of workshops. There has been plenty of excitement, joy of learning, and scholars holding themselves accountable for their future! All of this success has been supported by the phenomenal staff at PPA.

Just a few upcoming dates.

• Upcoming dates:

*Friday - Sept. 27, 2024 - Chilling and grilling with SPPD

*Tuesday - Oct. 1, 2024 - Pre-ACT Local make up day

*Friday - Oct. 4, 2024 - No school for students

*Friday - Oct. 11, 2024 - End of workshop round 1

*Monday - Oct. 21, 2024 - Picture Retake Day

I look forward to sharing more positive information about PPA with all of you!!!

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. I will be making calls when students leave without a guardian's permission.

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

Homecoming Dance:

SPWHS - October 12, 2024 7pm - 10pm $15 a person

SPEHS - October 19, 2024 8pm - 11pm

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.

Child care information!

• Teddy’s Place at PPA is underway!!!!! If you are not aware.. Teddy’s Place is a childcare facility in Sun Prairie that will have a place in PPA in support of our school-aged parents. We are truly excited to have an opportunity to support students and remove barriers.

Great African Civilizations This week, our Great African Civilizations class is taking a culinary adventure through East and Southern Africa. So far, we have explored the rich history, culture, and traditions of Kenya, South Africa, and Madagascar through their delicious cuisine.

Exploring New Flavors As we delve into the diverse flavors of these regions, we'll learn about the unique ingredients, cooking techniques, and cultural significance behind each dish. This week, we'll be focusing on two iconic recipes:

• Fir Fir: A hearty beef stew from Eritrea, known for its spicy and savory flavors.

• Pudding Cake: A delightful dessert from Tanzania, combining the richness of pudding with the lightness of cake.

By learning to cook these traditional dishes, we're not only expanding our culinary horizons but also gaining a deeper appreciation for the vibrant cultures of Africa.

In the Lego workshops students are working in small groups to create some pretty cool lego sets! The sets are coming together and the students are having fun!

In algebra we have been looking at how expressions and equations relate to work in the medical field. We converted dosages and were pharmacists for the day! Students calculated the correct dosages for different situations and then were able to distribute them (using candy and gatorade).

The past couple of weeks we focused on leadership, GNAP(Greeting,Name,Affiliation,and Purpose),and mental health. Ask your scholar why GNAP is important and when we use it!! NAMI(National Alliance on Mental Illness) came to PPA to educate, support, and listen to the scholars at PPA. Ms. Ayanna and I also had the opportunity to take a student to Westside Elementary to observe the different levels; the students' DREAM is to be a teacher.

We have some exciting opportunities coming up for our scholars:

HOPE(Health Occupations and Professions) 10/2:is a program run by UW Health Career Pathways designed to expose 10th-12th grade students to various career paths and professions in healthcare. The day is packed with hands-on learning facilitated by healthcare professionals.

Career Counsel 10/2:The goal is to meet the students where they are at and give them a plan that ultimately gets them to Apply and Accept a YA position.

Mobile Lab Learning 10/24:Students will learn more about Careers in Energy and do hands on activities at PPA

I’m looking forward to working with all of our GEDO2 students this year. Reminder: GEDO2 runs each day from 9:00-12:00 (doors open at 8:30). Students can eat lunch afterwards if they’d like, in which case they’d be done at 12:35.

-Ryan Lenard

For those participating in abeyance, it is at PPA from 1:00-3:00, Monday through Thursdays (during days we have school). There is no school for abeyance students on Fridays.

September is Suicide Prevention Month. Here are some quick resources for you:

• Behavioral Health Resource Center: Call to get help in finding mental health services covered by your insurance in Dane County. Call 608-267-1746 between 7am and 7pm. Interpretation services are available. For Spanish, call the main number and select option 2.

• 988: National Mental Health Crisis Helpline. Call, text or chat.

• If you have concerns about your student’s mental health, please reach out to a member of student services (Ellie Donaldson, Annetta Wright, or Stacey Billings-Hughes).

We are partnering with Journey Mental Health again this year to provide the REST program. Screening will occur next month. Click here for more info.

• !!!YOU ARE INVITED!!! Community Talk October 2nd, 2024 starting at 3:45pm-5pm. The topic will be on our 1st Month Review: A deep dive into PPA’s progress!

• !!! YOU ARE INVITED!!! Caregiver Crafting Expedition (Mini Camp) October 10th, 2024 starting at 3:45pm-5pm come explore a Sugar Skull activity in appreciation of Hispanic Heritage Month!Email- ashale@sunprairieschools.org if you would like to have access to the Pantry/Clothing closet!

On November 5th, the district will have a question on the ballot. Please make sure that you are informed so that you can vote. Here are some ways to do so.

• Read the mailer which was sent to your home mailbox

• Check out the referendum webpage

• Visit one of the upcoming open house events

• Follow the district on social media

• Watch the referendum videos posted on the webpage and social media

Email your questions to ref2024@sunprairieschools.org

Kobussen has a Lost & Found for items left on the bus. The driver keeps the lost item on the bus for a few days, then turns it in at the Kobussen terminal. If your child has a lost item don’t forget to check with Kobussen. Feel free to stop by the terminal at 1500 Forward Drive, Sun Prairie or call (608) 825-8700.

Autobús perdido y encontrado Kobussen tiene un Lost & Found para artículos dejados en el autobús. El conductor guarda el objeto perdido en el autobús durante unos días y luego lo entrega en la terminal de Kobussen. Si su hijo tiene un artículo perdido, no olvide consultar con Kobussen. No dude en pasar por la terminal en 1500 Forward Drive, Sun Prairie o llame al (608) 825-8700.

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