4K Early Learning News

Our WINTER/SPRING conferences will take place the week of FEBRUARY 24th.

Conferences are a great time for families and teachers to touch base. You will have the opportunity to hear about your child's progress, catch up on what they have been doing, and address any questions you may have.

Conferences will be held in person or via Zoom! Keep an eye out for specific dates and times your teacher is holding conferences. The times and dates will vary by site and by the teacher.

If you do not hear from them reach out and check to see how they are holding conferences this February.

REMINDER THERE IS NO SCHOOL ON FEBRUARY27 and 28.

Enrollment has started for the 2025-26 school year!

If you, a friend, or a neighbor have a child who will be 4 by September 1, 2025 please follow the link (https://www.sunprairieschools.org/sp4k/enroll) or the QR code to start the enrollment process! We look forward to welcoming our communities youngest scholars into the SP4K program.

Any questions reach out to the SP4K office, 608-478-5145

From birth, children use their senses to understand the world around them. Babies and toddlers touch everything and put everything into their mouths. They experiment with coos and gurgles and stare at their fingers and toes as they wiggle around. All of their senses TOUCH, SIGHT, SOUND, SMELL, TASTE are fully engaged as they learn about the world.

That bin of sand, or foam, or colorful rice is more than just another way to keep kids busy. It is a bustling factory of developmental growth. As we talk with them about what they are observing and sensing we are building language as well as supporting cognitive concepts specific to the experience

Sensory play contributes in crucial ways to brain development. Stimulating the senses sends signals to children’s brains that help strengthen neural pathways important for all learning. The materials children work with at the sand and water table have many sensory attributes — they may be warm or cool, wet or dry, rough or smooth, hard or soft, textured or slimy. Discovering and differentiating these characteristics is a first step in classification, sorting- an important part of science learning and discovery.

In addition, sensory play builds language and social skills as the children negotiate with one another to share tools, create stories- building dialogues. Both small/fine and large/gross motor development gets a boost as well, as the children manipulate the medium and tools of the day. Creative, divergent thinking is displayed as the children are invited to explore new ways to use the materials. Cognitive skills are also fostered as the children learn about specific concepts pertinent to the bin’s contents.

Clean Mud

• Grate 2 bars of ivory soap and mix with two rolls of ripped toilet paper.

• 2 cups of warm water.

• Mix with hands

Oobleck

• 1-part water
• 2-parts cornstarch.
• Mix together.

This suspension turns into a solid, however, when touched it turns into a liquid. Add food coloring color. (do not cover or store– when done put in the garbage not down the drain)

Cloud Dough

• 2 Cups Flour
• 1 Cup Baby oil (or vegetable oil)
• Mix together

You may need to adjust ingredients to get the right consistency. You can add a scent with essential oils that are safe on the skin.

Later this month your second book will be coming home with some additional activities.

We hope that you will enjoy these books. Read them together, read them over and over, act them out, ask questions about the story, ask your child to find things on the pages, and ask them if they remember what happens next. Our wish for you is summed up in another quote from children’s author, Mem Fox, “When I say to a parent, “read to a child”, I don’t want it to sound like medicine. I want it to sound like chocolate”

SCHOOL CANCELATIONS:

If it becomes necessary to call off school because of poor weather conditions or other reasons, an announcement will be made before 6:30 a.m. on the district website, sunprairieschools.org, and on local radio and television stations.

If poor weather or any other building problems cause the school to be closed, a taped message will be left on the school closing information line, 834-6688, Ext. 2561. Families will also be notified through the “Blackboard Mass Notifications'' system. Phone calls, emails, and text messages will be sent directly to parents/ or legal guardians at the time the decision is made. Please do not call the SP4K site or the bus company.

DELAYED START:

When the start of the school day is delayed for 1-2 hours, there will be no morning session of SP4K. It is important that students enrolled in the afternoon session do not arrive at school until the stated starting time.

WEATHER RULES

SP4K programs provide outdoor playtime to give students the opportunity to practice motor and social skills. All students are expected to participate in outdoor playtime, so please send appropriate gear every day. It’s important that caregivers assist their children with dressing appropriately for the day’s weather.

If a student needs to remain indoors when coming back to school after an illness or injury, please provide written verification from your child’s health care provider.

Students will stay indoors during inclement weather or when the air or wind chill temperature is at or below 0°F.

• As a 4K student, your child has automatically been enrolled in kindergarten at your assigned elementary school.
• Please make sure that the 4K office has your new address! Your kindergarten enrollment is based on the address we currently have on file for 4K.
• In January you will start getting information from your elementary school about kindergarten.
• If you have any questions or need to share a new address call the 4K office at 834-6672

Please be aware that EVERY Thursday is Early Release for AFTERNOON 4K classes. (Morning class times do not change)

Please be ready to pick up our child or meet the bus at an earlier time...

AFTERNOON Classes Times on THURSDAYS:

• Creekside, MeadowView, Northside, Token Springs- 11:42-1:30
• All other Community-Based sites- 11:32-1:20

This app allows students, staff and caregivers to access information quickly and easily. It provides access to school blackboard connect notifications, District news, Peachjar flyers, COVID updates and more. Students and caregivers can also access Infinite Campus via the app, which provides information regarding attendance, grades and more. To download the app, visit either the iPhone App Store or the Google Play Store.

The Sun Prairie Neighborhood Navigators program serves as a connector in the community, ensuring that all members of the Sun Prairie Community have a support system, have a voice for change and have access to resources. Click here to learn more!

Dane County Food Pantry Network

Sunshine Place

DeForest Food Pantry

The River Food Pantry

Waunakee Food Pantry

The best place is to always start with your child’s teacher. They have close contact with your child and have a deep understanding of their program and can most quickly address any of your concerns. The next step is to contact your 4K site director. They have a wealth of knowledge and can answer ques-tions about the many site specific policies and procedures.

You can also contact the 4K Program Super-visor to answer questions from a 4K- Sun Prairie School district perspective and help you navigate the school district in general.

SP4K Program Supervisor

Email: elknudt@sunprairieschools.org
Website: www.sunprairieschools.org
Location: 1435 North Thompson Road, Sun Prairie, WI, USA
Phone: 608-478-5176

Early Childhood Special Education Program Manager

Email: rcpenti@sunprairieschools.org
Website: sunprairieschools.org
Location: 1435 North Thompson Road, Sun Prairie, WI, USA
Phone: 608-478-5178

Email: csschmit@sunprairieschools.org
Website: https://www.sunprairieschools.org/sp4k
Location: 501 South Bird Street, Sun Prairie, WI, USA
Phone: 608-478-5145

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 expression 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 pa-rental status, homelessness status, sexual orientation, age, or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability. (SPASD Policy JB)

If a student or parent/guardian would prefer to have this information translated into Spanish, please contact us at 834-6620.

Si un estudiante, padre ó guardian prefiere tener esta información traducida en Es-pañol, por favor contactenos en el 834-6620.

If a student or parent/guardian would prefer to have this information translated into Hmong, please contact us at 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 834-6630.