MV Weekly Newsletter

This newsletter can be translated into many languages by clicking the "TRANSLATE" button in the upper right corner and selecting the desired language.

• Bản tin này có thể được dịch sang nhiều ngôn ngữ bằng cách nhấn vào nút "DỊCH" ở góc trên bên phải và chọn ngôn ngữ mong muốn.

• Cette newsletter peut être traduite en plusieurs langues en cliquant sur le bouton "TRADUIRE" dans le coin supérieur droit et en sélectionnant la langue désirée.

• Este boletín se puede traducir a varios idiomas haciendo clic en el botón "TRADUCIR" en la esquina superior derecha y seleccionando el idioma deseado.

• Lub npe no tuaj yeem pab los ntawm ntau lub lug ntawm ntawv daim "DICH" ntawm txoj cai hauv tsev kawg uas siv tau thiab xaiv cov lug xov no.

Dear Otter Families,

As 2024 comes to a close, we are filled with gratitude for the incredible support and partnership you’ve shown throughout the year. Our Otters have grown so much—not just academically, but also in embracing and living the “Otter Way”: Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Kind. We couldn’t be prouder of their hard work and dedication!

This is our final newsletter of the year as we prepare for winter break from December 23rd to January 3rd. School will resume on Monday, January 6th, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back.

In the meantime, our amazing SCO and student leadership teams have planned a variety of fun activities to celebrate the season and close out the year on a joyful note. Be sure to check out the details below so you don’t miss a thing!

I want to take a moment to wish each of you a holiday season filled with love, laughter, and time well spent with family and friends. Thank you for making Meadow View such a special place for all of our Otters to thrive.

Un abrazo,
Mrs. Bell

Wednesday, December 18 | Hot Chocolate/Cookie Party

• Volunteer sign-up here

Friday, December 20 | Lil' Shoppers Shop

• Volunteer sign-up here

December 23 - January 3 | WINTER BREAK

Upcoming Events

• First Day Break from Break | January 6
• SCO meeting | January 14
• Glow Stick Dance Party | January 17
• No School (4K-12) | January 20
  
• End of 2nd Quarter | January 24

Hello Caregivers,

As we are wrapping up the first semester of the school year, our team wanted to again stress how important attendance is for your student(s) academic success! At this point in the year, some families have received attendance letters and we wanted to clarify and give a little information about attendance policy below:

Excused Absences: Your student(s) have a total of 10 excused absences that are allocated for the school year. When a student misses 7 days a letter will be sent home informing the caregiver. When the student reaches 10 excused absences, another letter will be sent home and a meeting with the school may be required, as well, on how we can best support your student/family.

Tardies: If your student arrives at school past 7:40 they receive a tardy. There will be a letter sent when a student has reached 7 tardies and another one when the student has reached 10 tardies. After this, a meeting with the school may be requested. If a student reaches 15+ tardies there will be a letter sent and a meeting will be required as well.

Unexcused Absences: If your student is absent and a caregiver does not call the front office that is considered an unexcused absence. If a student has 3 unexcused absences, there will be a letter sent home and a possible meeting with the school requested. If a student gets 5 unexcused absences, there will be a letter sent home and a meeting required.

Next Steps: If attendance has not improved after meeting with the school team, caregivers may be required to attend an Attendance Review Board meeting at the district office and could be subject to a truancy fine.

Note: It is always best to call the front office at (608) 478-5000 to communicate when your child will be absent or tardy.

Thank you for all your hard work and collaboration on ensuring that your students are at school!

If you have any questions about this process, or the letters, please contact Olivia Bambach (School Social Worker) or Lindsay Earhart (Associate Principal).

Olivia Bambach: ombamba@sunprairieschools.org, (608) 478-5020

Lindsay Earhart: lmearha@sunprairieschools.org, (608) 478-5002

The Meadow View SCO is excited to host a Hot Chocolate & Cookie Party for all students as a special thank-you for their amazing efforts during the Otter Trot fall fundraiser!

The party will be held on Wednesday, December 18th, from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. We’d love your help to make this event extra sweet! Volunteers are needed to make and serve hot chocolate, pass out cookies, and assist with cleanup.

Check the schedule for your student’s grade level time, and sign up to join the fun. Let’s make this celebration as warm and delightful as the treats themselves!

Volunteer signup here

The Meadow View SCO is thrilled to bring back the beloved Holiday Shopping Event on Friday, December 20th! During the school day, students will have the special opportunity to shop for gifts—no peeking from loved ones allowed!

We need your help to make this magical experience a success. Please consider signing up for a time slot to volunteer. This event was a huge hit last year, and the kids absolutely loved picking out their own surprises for family and friends. Let’s make it unforgettable again this year!

Thank you for your support—we can’t wait to see the joy this event brings to our students!

Volunteer signup here

November: Kindergarten and first graders have been hard at work learning about the parts of a book and learning how to tell the difference between authors vs illustrators. Second grade learned more about how to navigate and use Chromebooks while staying safe online. Third grade has also been learning about safe device use and understanding the importance of not plagiarizing other people's work. Fourth grade learned about one of our databases (Britannica) available to use for research projects by participating in an online database scavenger hunt. Fifth grade practiced placing holds on books through our library catalog system and also practiced citing their work/information through books, videos, and websites. We also shared many great read alouds together for November.

December: December is all about coding! All grades are learning to code or continuing their coding journey through lessons on code.org and/or Ozobot coding robots.

The Sun Prairie Wellness Coalition is hosting a screening of the film Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age. Registration is required and once an individual or group registers, they will have a two week window, from December 1st through 15th, to view it in your home whenever you want!

Screenagers explores parental struggles over social media, video games, academics and internet addiction and offers solutions to help kids find balance. Registration is required and once an individual or group registers, they will have a two week window, from December 1st through 15th, to view it.

We are excited to announce a new initiative that celebrates and encourages acts of kindness within our school community – the Uplift Kindness Wall. This vibrant space will showcase the kind gestures, words, and actions of our students, staff, and families. Whether it's helping a classmate, sharing a smile, or offering a word of encouragement, every act of kindness makes a difference!

The Uplift Kindness Wall will serve as a visual reminder of the positive impact we can all have when we choose kindness. It's an opportunity for everyone in our Meadow View family to uplift each other, create a stronger sense of community, and model empathy and compassion.

We invite all stakeholders to support this initiative by submitting messages to recognize acts of kindness! Use the following link to access the Uplift Kindness eWall and submit your message. Together, we can create a ripple effect of kindness that spreads far beyond our walls!

Let’s continue to uplift kindness and celebrate these small but powerful moments that shape our school’s culture!

From Kelsey Klug | kjklug@sunprairieschools.org

Hello MV parents/caregivers,

If your child will be absent from school OR has an appointment during the day, please call the attendance line (608.478.5000, #1). If you email your student's teacher about their absence or appointment, please include me in your email so I can get the message in a timely manner and forgo giving you a safety arrival call; or have your student in the office ready for you if you need to pick them up for an appointment. We always appreciate you letting us know in advance.

Thank you!

We wanted to provide some guidelines regarding birthday treats and appreciate your cooperation in ensuring the well-being and inclusivity of all students. Please take a moment to review the following reminders:

1. Accessibility and Allergies: When bringing in birthday treats, please ensure that the food labels are easily accessible to Kelsey and Madhu, our staff members at the front desk, who are responsible for allergy awareness. This allows them to check for any potential allergens that may affect students in the class.

2. Individually Packed Items: We kindly request that you consider providing individually packed items for birthday treats. This helps with portion control and ensures convenience for distribution. Individually packaged treats also minimize the risk of cross-contamination and promote cleanliness.

3. Non-Food Treats: We encourage you to explore the option of non-food treats for birthdays. Non-food items can be equally enjoyable and are a great way to celebrate while accommodating various dietary preferences and restrictions. Examples include small toys, stickers, pencils, or bookmarks.

4. No Class-Wide Food Items: To maintain a balanced and inclusive approach, we kindly ask that you refrain from providing class-wide food items such as pizzas or hot dishes. This helps prevent any potential disruptions to the regular meal routine and ensures that dietary restrictions are respected.

5. No Balloons: While we understand that balloons are often associated with celebrations, we kindly request that you refrain from bringing balloons to school. This is to maintain a safe and distraction-free environment for all students.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in following these guidelines. By working together, we can create inclusive celebrations that ensure the well-being of every student. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.

Parents and Caregivers,

There have been some changes this summer from the CDC with new guidelines for when your child is sick and should stay home from school. Please see the following:

CDC Guidance

If someone has the following symptoms, they should stay home because their illness could affect their ability to participate in the school and there is concern that they might spread an infection to staff and other students.

• Fever over 100.4 or higher, and/or fever with a new rash
• Vomiting more than twice in the preceding 24 hours
• Diarrhea that causes "accidents", bloody, or results greater than 2 bowel movements above what the student normally experiences in a 24 hour-hour period.
• Skin sores that are draining fluids on an uncovered part of the body and are unable to be covered with bandages.
• Respiratory virus symptoms that are worsening or not improving and not better explained by other causes such as seasonal allergies.

The timeline for when a student can return depends on the nature of the illness. In general, a student returning to school should be well enough to participate in school (can adequately manage improving cough and congestion on their own and not overly fatigued) and care of the returning student should not interfere with the school staff's ability to teach or care for other students.

Parents and caregivers should consult their child healthcare providers with specific questions about their child's condition or recovery.

For the general symptoms described on the stay-at-home-when-sick section, policies can allow return to the school setting when:

• Student has no fever and is not using fever-reducing medicine for at least 24 hours.
• Fever with a new rash has been evaluated by a healthcare provider and fever and resolved.
• Uncovered skin sores are crusted and the student is under treatment from their provider.
• Vomiting has been resolved overnight and the child can hold down food/liquids in the morning.
• Diarrhea has improved, the student is no longer having accidents or is having bowel movements no more than 2 above normal per 24 hours period for the child. Bloody diarrhea should be evaluated by a healthcare provider prior to return.
• Respiratory virus symptoms are getting better overall for at least 24 hours.

Thank you for your assistance to help keep our students healthy throughout the school.

If your student has a fever or is feeling ill, please keep them home and call the attendance line for their absence. 608.478.5000, #1

On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday our school day ends at 2:40; Thursday is at 1:30. Students need to be picked up promptly after dismissal.

Teachers are working very hard to keep students engaged, and always provide a safe and loving environment. Please remind your students to keep practicing the Otter Way:

Be Safe

Be Responsible

Be Kind

“These Parent/Caregiver Curriculum Guides, available in English and Spanish, were created in collaboration with teachers, school social workers, school counselors and administration to provide guidance about child development, end of year learning goals, and how families can support learning through activities outside of school. We welcome our families. We honor what you bring to our learning community. We want to partner with you in ways that help your child.”

• 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 the District’s 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.

NOTICE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICIES ON SEX DISCRIMINATION, THE DISTRICT’S TITLE IX COORDINATOR, AND PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING OR FILING A COMPLAINT OF SEX DISCRIMINATION

• The District does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits all forms of unlawful sex discrimination in any education program or activity that the District operates. Title IX’s requirement not to discriminate on the basis of sex in any education program or activity includes, but is not limited to, discrimination affecting students.

To access the relevant policy and procedures you can go to the District’s website. For inquiries regarding how Title IX and the federal Title IX regulations apply to the District please contact the District’s Title IX Coordinator, (the Director of Student Policy & School Operations, 501 S. Bird Street, Sun Prairie, WI 53590, 608-834-6624 or by email at titleixcoordinator@sunprairieschools.org.) (SPASD District Policy AC)

Meadow View Elementary School

200 N. Grand Avenue

608.478.5000