Spartan Scoop Feb 3

All students and families are invited to MHS Advising Night, Wednesday February 5th from 4-7pm at MHS. Course registration information for next year, over 50 colleges and employers at the college and career fair, and presentations on financial aid, planning for life after high school and more! It's the biggest event of the year. See you there!

Spring is state testing time! Please note the following dates and ensure your student is in school for test days. More information will be shared at a later date.

• March 11 - ACT - Juniors only will attend school. The exam will conclude at approximately 12:45 pm.
• April 1 - 4 - Wisconsin Forward Exam - All sophomores will take the test during their World History classes. Everyone attends school these days.
• April 16 - PreACT Secure - Only freshmen and sophomores attend school. The exam will conclude at approximately 11:30 am.

Contact Kim Wink (winkk@mcfsd.org), Testing Coordinator, with any questions.

This year we have been focusing a lot on improving our attendance and behavior efforts. To help mitigate that we started the Spartan Reset program where students lose privileges based on their attendance and behavior. Based on these efforts we have decreased our number of tardies by 58% and behavioral referrals by 20%.

We want to highlight dance criteria for the second semester since there is our winter dance on March 15th and Prom on May 10th. We will be reviewing attendance and behavior data for eligibility for attending each dance within the following date range.

Winter Dance (March 15th): Feb 17- March 14

Prom (May 10th): April 14 - May 9

We know that prom is especially a big financial commitment which is why we are going to send this reminder weekly. Please help your students get to school on time, call if they are not present, and support them in making positive behavioral choices. We will be reviewing the data weekly and provide student check-ins and parent communication along the way if your student is in jeopardy of losing this privilege.

Big congratulations to our 16 newly Certified Microsoft Office Associates!

To earn this title, these students crushed the PowerPoint, Word, and Excel certification exams—proving their skills in essential workplace tools!

Celebrating all of the fabulous work of our school counselors during National School Counseling Week and beyond!

Orchestra Concert at 7:30 PM in the PAC

No School - Conference Release Day

We are excited to announce that on February 27th we will have a special guest speaker present to all MHS students in the Performing Arts Center. Tom Farley, brother of the famous comedian and actor Chris Farley, will share about the tragic passing of Chris who died from a drug overdose. He'll share how this experience has guided his passion for educating others on the importance of connection and looking out for those around you who may be struggling. Tom's focus on connection and community align with our views as a district and we are excited to welcome him!

We recognize many of our students may not be familiar with Chris Farley in 2025, so we invite students to talk to their parents about the impact he had on movies and television and pop culture.

We will be running an adjusted schedule on February 27th.

Thank you,

-MHS Admin & Student Services

Parents, PLEASE REPORT ALL ATTENDANCE IN INFINITE CAMPUS. You are able to enter your request directly into IC at any time of day, even for short notice or late requests. (Instructions). If you are concerned that the office staff is not receiving your IC absence request, please make sure you allow push notifications for the Infinite Campus app on your phone. Once the IC request is processed you will get a notification.

As a back-up, you can leave a message on the attendance line, 608-838-4657, or email mhsattendance@mcfsd.org.

• MHS DECA Superhero Training Camp - February 8

• Spartan Headquarters Vintage Sale to Benefit McF Food Pantry - February 11 & 13

• McFarland Optimist Club Free Family Bingo Event - February 14

• E.D. Locke Library Teen Beginner Sewing Class - February 14

• E.D. Locke Library Self-Defense Classes - February 15

• E.D. Locke Library Teen After Hours Karaoke Party - February 21

• CESA 2 MHS Driver Education Program

• ACT Prep Plus - Registration Open

• E.D. Locke and Galin Education Free ACT Diagnostic Test Day - March 11

• McFarland Youth Baseball Organization 2025 Season Registration Open

• McFarland Youth Softball 2025 Season Registration Open

• i9 Sports 2025 Spring Season - Register by March 28

• McFarland Soccer Referee Course - April 19

• E.D. Locke Library Teen Dungeons and Dragons One-Shot Adventures - January-April

• E.D. Locke Library VolunTeen Program - January-April

• E.D. Locke Library Teen S.T.E.A.M. - January-April

• E.D. Locke Library Teen Hangout - January-April

• E.D. Locke Library Teen UnBook Club - January-April

• E.D. Locke Library Teen Snack & Chat - January-April

• Free Triple P Positive Parenting Online Program for WI Families

Parents and Families: as a reminder, please do NOT send any medication to school with your child-this is a safety risk and is not allowed. The only medication that students can carry with them at school are emergency medicines such as an EpiPen or Inhaler. Even then, the health office must be notified of this and have signed documentation by the student's physician and parent/guardian (Medication Consent Form: Prescription, Over the Counter). OTC medication such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen are stocked in the health offices for student use if needed. Please call or email with questions about this or if you would like your student to take medication at school.

Vaccine Clinics: Public Health Madison & Dane County is partnering with Madison Metropolitan School District and SSM Health to offer more school vaccine clinics to get students up to date on their school vaccines. These clinics will take place at the below dates and times in Madison.

• Saturday, February 8th – 10am-2pm – at Holtzman Learning Center

• Saturday May 17th – 10am-2pm – at Holtzman Learning Center

To find out more information and to schedule an appointment, see the attached flyer, or visit publichealthmdc.com/schoolclinics

• WI Student Immunization Law by Age/Grade Requirements
• Student immunization record (English, Spanish)

MHS Dance: CONGRATULATIONS to our dance team for taking FIRST PLACE in their Jazz Routine at the WACPC State Competition in LaCrosse this past Saturday. They are Division 2 STATE CHAMPS in their Jazz performance.

Girls Basketball: Had a very busy week with a nice win over conference opponent Portage but tough losses to Lakeside and Baraboo.

Boys Basketball: Had 2 nice wins this week over Edgewood and Turner.

Boys Hockey: Had another good week with wins over Monroe and Stevens Point Pacelli.

Girls Hockey: Had two losses this week against Metro Lynx and Badger Lighting.

Boys Wrestling: Had a nice win over DeForest in a Dual.

Girls Wrestling: Had a nice win over DeForest in a Dual.

Boys Swimming: Had nice wins over Sun Prairie West, Appleton West and Mount Horeb in a home quad. They also had a nice win over Edgewood in a dual as well.

In February we celebrate Kindness Month. During Kindness Month we want to emphasize the powerful connection between kindness and the prevention of bullying. This year, we are not only celebrating acts of compassion but also taking a stand against bullying in all its forms.

Kindness and bullying exist on opposite ends of the spectrum, and by promoting kindness, we aim to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported.

Kindness Month is dedicated to fostering a culture of empathy, understanding, and support. It is a reminder that small acts of kindness can have a profound impact on individuals and our collective well-being.

Here are some ways we can tie in the theme of anti-bullying with our celebration of Kindness Month:

💓Random Acts of Kindness: Encourage your children to perform small, unexpected acts of kindness for their classmates, teachers, and neighbors. Whether it's a note, a simple compliment, or helping someone in need, these gestures go a long way.

💓Kindness Pledges: Encourage your children to take a kindness pledge, committing to treat each other with respect and empathy. This pledge can serve as a powerful tool to unite our community against bullying and create a culture where kindness is the norm.

💓Gratitude Challenge: Start a family gratitude journal where each member can jot down something they are thankful for every day. This practice promotes mindfulness and helps us appreciate the positive aspects of our lives.

💓Community Service: Consider volunteering as a family or participating in local community service projects. Whether it's cleaning up a park, assisting at a food bank, or organizing a charity drive, contributing to the community fosters a sense of connection and shared responsibility.

💓Be an Ally: If someone is being bullied, don’t stay silent, speak up! Address the situation calmly but firmly. Let the person know their behavior is unacceptable and support the person being bullied. Report instances of bullying to the administration.

We believe that by embracing kindness, we not only create a more nurturing environment within our school but also contribute to a more compassionate society at large.

Let's make Kindness Month a memorable and impactful experience for our students. Together, we can inspire a wave of positivity that lasts far beyond the month of celebration.

Thank you for your commitment to cultivating a culture of kindness.

COMING UP:

The next School District of McFarland School Board meeting is scheduled for February 3, 2025.

Click HERE for a link to the McFarland School Board agendas and minutes.

Click HERE for a link to the McFarland School Board meeting recordings and upcoming YouTube live streams.

Black History Month

Kindness Month

Career & Technical Education Month

• February 3 -7 National School Counseling Week
• February 5 - World Read Aloud Day