Welcome to 2025! We hope that your winter break has been safe, restful and renewing. We know that break and the holidays can also bring a variety of emotions and experiences for all and we are excited to come back together as a community this week to support one another and launch a fantastic 2025 as a One West Community. This week we are all in on finishing the semester strong. A reminder that ALL late work is due on January 10th, that's this FRIDAY! There are also important information for Sophomores and Seniors regarding STEM Academy and FAFSA/Scholarships. Please also check out a whole lot of celebration from before break. Here's to a great 2025 and a strong end to 1st semester.

In this week's Howl:

• Greetings Wolf Pack!
• Upcoming Events
• Semester Finale
• Sophomores!
• Juniors!
• Seniors!
• Winter Celebration
• SP30 Food Drive Competition
• HOSA Fundraiser
• Student and Classroom Spotlights
• In Case you Missed It!

January 6th- First day back from Winter Break. Welcome Back!

January 7th- SENIORS- College Goal Wisconsin- SP EAST Library

January 9th- HOSA Fundraiser at Noodles 4-8pm

January 10th- Last day for missing assignments and assessments

January 11th- Trivia Night to Benefit Girls Soccer

January 13th- Badger Precollege Registration Opens

January 14th- Course Expo at EHS (Snow date- January 27th)- if you can't make West's feel free to go to East's

January 15th- An Evening of Scenes- 6:30pm- at SP West Small Theater

January 20th- No School- Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Day

January 21st- Course Expo at WHS (Snow date- January 23rd)

January 22nd- STEM Info session for SOPHOMORE families at EAST LMC 6:00-7:00pm

January 24th- End of 1st Semester!

January 27th- No School- Professional Development

January 29th- STEM Info session for SOPHOMORE families at WEST 1202 6:00-7:00pm

February 4th- Course Requests Due!

February 26th- STEM Applications Close for 10th grade

March 1st- Deadline for Early College Credit and Start College Now

May 10th- Prom!

It's GO TIME! As we head back, hopefully recharged and renewed, from break the end of the semester is UPON US.

Some important reminders as we begin approaching the end of the semester:

• ALL missing work (formatives and summative) are due THIS FRIDAY, JANUARY 10th. Please talk to your teachers TODAY to make arrangements to make up summatives and get those formatives turned in.

• Students must attempt half or more of their summatives to pass.
• Examples:
• If there are 5 summatives in your English class you must have completed 3.
• If you only attempted 3 out of 7 of your history summatives you will not pass.

• SP30
• There are three lessons for each grade level to complete for the semester. ALL THREE MUST BE COMPLETE TO PASS.

• Semester grades are what go on your transcript:
• They are what decides if you receive credit for graduation (if you fail the class you do not get credit).
• These are the grades shared with colleges
• Determine your GPA (Grade Point Average)
• Any failing grades at the semester result in athletic semester.

• Resources available!
• Remember that we are here to support you.
• Sign up for WIN to get help and complete your missing work and make up summatives.
• Visit Wolf Study Lounge for help after school.

The Early College STEM Academy is an amazing opportunity to get a head start on your STEM career by spending your junior and senior year at Madison College as a full time college student while still being a WOLF. Applications are available NOW. See important dates below including in person information sessions.

Attention Juniors! There will be a junior class meeting for any junior who wants to help plan prom. Please sign up for WIN Time on 01/29 with Ms. Peters or Ms. Foster. The meeting will take place in 3611. See you then!

Save the date: PROM- May 10th

SENIORS - Do you need FAFSA help? College Goal WI is Tuesday, January 7, at 6:00 p.m. in SP East’s LMC. Financial aid experts will be available to offer support as you fill out the FAFSA. All attendees are entered into a drawing through College Goal WI to earn a scholarship!

It is highly recommended that both the dependent student and a parent/caregiver attend the event together so that the FAFSA can be submitted that evening. Things to bring with you:

• Your own device (chromebook or laptop)

• FSA IDs for both the student and parent/guardian. You must have this before completing the FAFSA. You can create one here.

• 2023 Federal Tax Return and W2s.

• 2023 untaxed income records (if applicable)

• Driver’s license

• Social Security Number, Alien Registration Card or Permanent Resident Card

• Date of birth for parents

• Month and year of parents’ marriage, divorce or separation

* If you can’t attend College Goal WI, check out these resources and video guide for filling out the FAFSA form

It's time! Start applying for scholarships TODAY. Please be on the lookout for WIN opportunities to apply for scholarships with others. The application is open now for the Local Scholarship Application which is due on February 28th at 4:00pm. Also, check out our scholarship page where we will continually update scholarship opportunities as they come in.

A huge shout out to everyone that made our 2nd annual Winter Celebration a huge success. A deep appreciation and gratitude for Carrie Hirst who made the magic happen. Students participated in events ranging from basketball, cookie decorating, to games and quiet social time. Pep rallys are one way that High Schools build community and spend time together. Our biannual celebrations are another way that we lean into community and give students a wide variety of ways to spend time, celebrate and build community.

Wolf spirit was also being poured out to start the day and Winter Break energy and vibes were embodied as students tried to spot JP the Elf throughout the day, throughout the school.

Throughout the week staff sent positive notes of affirmation to one another as "Wolves on Watch".

It was a great week and now we are rested up and ready for 2025!

The annual 9th Grade Network Food Drive was once again a huge success! We donated 1,391 lbs of food to the SP Food Pantry. Thank you to all of the 9th grade families who donated!

A huge shout out to our FFA and other clubs that partnered together to host a 10-12th grade competition to supplement the 9th grade competition. Congratulations to the GOATS of the 10th-12th grade competition the 3600 den.

The week back from break can be busy and exhausting! Why not take dinner off of your “to do” list on Thursday, January 9th and get take out from Noodles and Company!

Our HOSA student organization is fundraising to support their efforts in gaining valuable experiences in the health sciences! The funds raised will assist students in attending competitions and acquiring hands-on experience to better prepare them for the future. Take a look!

A few students enrolled in the Sports Officiating class have begun their officiating journeys. T.J. Jackson, A.J. Jalloh, and Jayden Ornelas have been working as referees for the Fast Break Basketball League in Sun Prairie this past month. Congratulations to these students for taking the first steps in their officiating careers!

A HUGE shout out to our own Varsity Assistant Coach Sgt. Tommy Foy for being recognized by Madison365.com as one of the 40 Most Influential Black Leaders in the State of Wisconsin. He is an incredible asset to our community. Congratulations Coach Foy!

Congratulations to the cast of Murder's in the Heir, our spring play.

Congratulations to the Cast of Seussical for ALL their nominations for this year's Jerry Awards.

Physics students demonstrated their knowledge of momentum, impulse and collisions by building and testing their egg drop containers.

Chemistry students completed a flame test lab to learn about what electrons do when they get “excited.” They now know that each element emits its own unique emission-line spectra and they can write electron configurations to show the locations of each element in an atom.

Check out this year's class of teachers that were appreciated at the teacher appreciation event.

We need YOUR input too! Do you have an idea of something that should be included in the Howl? Your ideas are always welcome. Email our Admin Associate to the Principal, Jordain Blank at jnblank@sunprairieschools.org.

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.

We strive to keep The Howl as streamlined as possible with all of the important information for our community. To the end once something has appeared in The Howl, it will move here to the "In Case you Missed It!" section. Take a moment to peruse and make sure you have not missed important info!

Hey parents/caregivers!

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!

Over the next several weeks you will be starting to receive information about Course Requests for next year. Course requests are your opportunity to help chart out your academic career in High School and take advantage of incredible opportunities from Career and Technical Education to AP Classes to classes at Madison College or UW. Over the next several weeks we will be starting to highlight the process, timeline and information so that as a family you can begin to discuss what next year will look like for your scholar.

Four Year Overview:

• 9th Grade- As you start high school in 9th grade you experience an opportunity for choice and electives and many graduation requirements will fill the majority of your schedule.
• Math- Next year- Math 1
• Science- Biology (other options available but most students take Biology)
• Social Studies- World History or AP Human Geography (AP Hug)
• English - English 9
• PE- Foundations of PE
• Electives:
• World Languages- Spanish, French or German- Many colleges want students to have had 2 years of the same language
• Begin to explore the awesome worlds of: art, tech ed, family and consumer science, business and marketing, agriculture, computer science and so much more at the high school level

• 10th Grade-
• Continuing through your graduation requirements and options begin to open wider with AP Seminar for 10th grade English, second levels of courses like Drawing, Foods, languages, etc.

• 11th Grade-
• Incredible opportunities begin to open:
• Start College Now
• Early College Credit
• STEM Academy
• Fire Academy
• EMR Academy
• Youth Apprenticeship
• Work Based Learning
• Teaching Academy

• 12th Grade-
• It is our goal that by senior year EVERY Wolf would have a dual credit, certificate or off-site experience. Senior year is an opportunity to bridge into the world after high school while still having your Wolf support network. The opportunities are VAST including: becoming a certified nursing assistant while still in High School.

As we begin to talk about course requests for next year start thinking not only about what you want next year to look like but where you are and where you are going on your four year plan to get you to your post-high school plans.

Did you know that you can be a full time Madison College student your Junior and Senior Year studying STEM while still being a Wolf? The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Academy is an INCREDIBLE opportunity for students thinking about entering those careers and wanting a jumpstart on the next step of their education. This program is FREE and includes additional supports as you transition to the college level. Sophomores, apply today!

At Badger Precollege, we create innovative programs for students in grades 2–12 who want to explore their academic interests, learn more about the college experience and meet new friends. Our programs support educational and social growth by challenging students’ curiosity and expanding their academic interests. Summer 2025 program registration opens January 13

We offer a range of courses, from engineering and computer science to art and psychology. You can explore all of our summer 2025 courses at the link below. Choose a subject you already know and love, or pick something new to explore in a low-risk environment!

Registration for all summer programs opens on January 13, 2025. Courses fill up on a first-come, first-served basis, so mark your calendars and apply early. Limited need-based scholarships are available.

We look forward to seeing you next summer!

Search Badger Precollege classes

Nourishing Our Future: Enhancing School Meals. The Sun Prairie School Nutrition Department is committed to providing nutritious and delicious meals that fuel your child's growth and learning. We are excited to share some of the ways we are improving our school meals program:

1. Fresh, Local Ingredients:

• Farm-to-School Partnerships: We are partnering with our distributors, Gordon Food Service and V. Marchese to bring fresh, seasonal produce to your child's plate. Every Middle School and High School in the district has a Hydroponic growing tower and supplies us with fresh Romaine lettuce for our entree salads and salad bars.

• Reduced Processed Foods: We are minimizing the use of processed foods and artificial additives. Our homemade roasted vegetable recipes are well liked by the students and contain small amounts of olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic. These include roasted fresh broccoli, butternut squash and green beans.

2. Diverse and Flavorful Menu Options:

• Cultural Cuisine: We are offering a variety of cultural dishes to introduce your child to new flavors and cuisines. New recipes this year include Asian seasoned rice, long grain and wild rice, taco meat made from scratch and more.

• Vegetarian and Vegan Options: We are expanding our vegetarian and vegan menu options to cater to diverse dietary needs. This year at our High Schools and Middle Schools we have plant based chicken nuggets and buffalo wings, spicy black bean burgers, black eyed peas and rice, along with many cheese entrees and salad options.

3. Educational Initiatives:

• Nutrition Education Programs: We are meeting with classes, student council groups and student clubs to share nutrition information and receive feedback from students as to what they would like to see offered for breakfast and lunch at their schools.

• Taste Testing: We are involving students in taste-testing new menu items to encourage their input and preferences.

We believe that healthy eating is essential for a child's overall well-being. By providing nutritious and delicious meals, we are supporting your child's academic success and future health.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely, Barb Waara, Director of School Nutrition

bmwaara@sunprairieschools.org 608-834-6527

State Report Cards are one measurement of success and areas of growth for a school. It is by no means a full picture of who we are as a community, however, it is one way to assess our current state.

This week the 23-24 State Report Cards were released and we received our first State Report Cards as a One West community. Our first school year we were evaluated under an alternative measurement as a new school. This year we were evaluated alongside all of the schools in Wisconsin. In our second year of existence we exceed state expectations and achieved the highest possible score (100) for ELA growth and exceeded the state average for both ELA and math achievement and growth. We are in the top 20% of all 9–12 high schools in the state.

We know that the first two years of launching our school community had their fair share of challenges. If we can accomplish this amidst those challenges, the sky is the limit for us as a One West community. Can't wait to see what this year and beyond has in store.

Our before and after school tutoring is up and running!!! Schedule out time this week to stop by the Wolf Study lounge to get help, catch up, or study for your classes.

• Morning Tutoring: 8:05 AM – 8:35 AM

• After-School Tutoring: 3:50 PM – 4:40 PM- Activity bus available at 4:45pm
  

Questions? Reach out to Nehemirah Barrett @ntbarre@sunprairieschools.org

Great work on the progress made! Keep up the great work.