The Howl

Welcome to March! It is hard to believe that the ACT is just over one week away and that we are 3 weeks from Spring Break. Early Spring is in the air. Winter sports and activities are having a tremendous end to their seasons and spring sports are starting soon. Sign up TODAY in Infinite Campus. This week we celebrate all the amazing things that are coming up soon for Women's history month, share details about tomorrow's active threat drill, reminders about Chromebooks and much more. Check out this week's Howl:

• Greetings Wolf Pack!
• Upcoming Events
• Women's History Month
• Mid-Year Celebration
• Active Threat Drill
• Chromebooks
• Skills USA Fundraiser
• College Visits this Week
• Snacks for the ACT
• Donations Needed
• Latex Free
• JUNIORS!
• SENIORS!
• Classroom and Student Spotlights
• Wolf Study Lounge
• In Case you Missed It!

March 5- Free breakfast for ALL students

March 6- Madison College visit during WIN Time- sign up in FlexiSched with Mrs. Griffin

March 6, 7, 8- Murder's in the Heir- Spring Play- 7pm

March 6- Robotics Team Meeting, 4:30pm in 1203

March 9- Murder's in the Heir- Spring Play- 2pm

March 10th-

• Boys and Girls Track Begins
• Youth Apprenticeship Information Meeting, 6:00pm at West, Room 1202

March 11th- Youth Apprenticeship Information Meeting, 6:00pm at East, LMC

March 17th- Softball, Boys and Girls Lacrosse Begin

March 17th-March 21st- Women's History Month Dress-up Days

March 24th- Baseball, Girls Soccer Begin

March 24th-March 28th- SPRING BREAK NO SCHOOL!

March 31st- Boys Tennis, Boys Golf Begin

April 8th- TEDx Sun Prairie 4:30-7:00pm

May 10th- Prom!

June 12th- Last day of school

June 13th- Graduation!

The National Women’s History Alliance (NWHA) proudly established March as National Women’s History Month, ensuring diverse women’s voices and contributions are recognized and celebrated. Since 1980, when NWHA (then the National Women’s History Project) successfully advocated for the recognition of Women’s History Week, we have been amplifying the stories of all women who shaped history. In 1981, Congress passed a resolution officially establishing the week, with President Jimmy Carter issuing a proclamation. By 1987, NWHA’s continued efforts led Congress to expand the recognition to the entire month of March, creating the National Women’s History Month we honor today. For 2025, the National Women’s History Alliance (NWHA) proudly presents the theme “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.”

Check out all the awesome ways that Women's History Month will be celebrated at SP West over the next several weeks.

This past Tuesday members of our Guiding Coalition attended our Spring SP100 day planning. The day was grounded in reviewing data, identifying areas of celebration and areas of continued focus and growth. This year our two hyper focus goal areas as a team are: increasing the percentage of our Black students that have 90%+ attendance, as well as, increasing the rate at which staff are reporting they have been acknowledged/affirmed for their practice in the last week.

• Attendance: Last spring 47% of our students who identify as Black/African American had an attendance rate of 90% or better. We are currently at 64%! While we still have significant work and growth to do to ensure that EVERY student has 90%+ attendance we are proud of the intentional actions that have led to this significant increase including: creating welcoming and inclusive classrooms through restorative practices and community building, focusing on the connections between students and teachers, consistent and high expectations and high support of the best place for students is in the classroom.

• Recognition/Affirmation. The percent of employees who answer “agree” or “strongly agree” with the Employee Engagement survey question "Over the past week, I've been acknowledged or recognized for my efforts, behaviors, and performance." From last Spring until now we have seen exponential growth from 38% to 69%. This was through intentional efforts of creating a culture of care and acknowledgement from adults to adults. We know that adults are best able to serve our students when they feel seen, known and valued.

As we continue through the Spring semester we are meeting weekly with our Student Senate, who is also reviewing the data, our action steps and providing student feedback on our progress and areas of growth.

School safety is our top priority here and we’re writing to inform you that tomorrow, Monday, March 3 during Block 1, we will be initiating our second of two required Active Threat Drills for the 24-25 School Year. Teachers in Block 1 classes will be reviewing this lesson around ALICE practices at the beginning of Block 1 on Monday with students. Our focus this Spring will be on barricades within the classrooms. As with all Active Threat Drills, there will be a heavy police presence here during Block 1.

We also recognize that any Active Threat Drill can cause many emotions for students, staff and families. Particularly with this being our first Active Threat Drill following the local tragedy at Abundant Life Christian School this winter we want to ensure that all students, staff and families have advanced warning and resources to seek emotional support. If your student may benefit from a check-in with student services please reach out to their team.

Please also reference our school safety resources here. As always, we are here to support you and your Wolf. Reach out with any questions.

Chromebook issues? No problem! Check out these Chromebook tips about Chromebook care and troubleshooting issues! More questions? Stop by the LMC and Ms. Walters or Mr. Coe will help you out. A reminder it is an expectation that every student have their Chromebook and charger in every class. Need help? We've got you... stop by.

SkillsUSA is hosting an online fundraiser. The following wall hangings were designed by students, and will be built to order. Product information and delivery information is available on our Square web store. We anticipate 1-2 weeks for product manufacturing after the sale ends.

Sign up in Flexisched tomorrow to meet with Madison College representatives on Thursday during WIN time.

We’re looking for volunteers to provide snacks for scholars to have during the ACT test on March 11th. If you’d like to contribute, please sign up using the SignUpGenius link below. Our goal is to provide grab-and-go snacks that will help students stay focused throughout the exam. If you have any questions, please contact Nehemirah Barrett. Sign-up Thank you for supporting our scholars!

Do you have items you are looking to donate including clothing and personal items? We need the following items for our SPW CARES closet in Student Services! Students may access our pantry when they need a change of clothing, extra items for home/moving around, or to support personal hygiene often when times are tough. Our SPW pantry functions 100% through donation. We are also thankful for community partners to meet greater needs!

Clothing should be in good shape - without stains, rips, or damage

Clothing:

• Mens sweatpants / joggers (prefer neutral colors) S - XL

• Mens t shirts S - L (prefer SP shirts, sports, plain black)

• Girls leggings S - XL (prefer neutral colors)

• Gender neutral or womens tshirts S - L (prefer SP shirts, sports, brands, plain)

• Sweatshirts S - XL (prefer SP, sports, brands, plain)

Hygiene Products (unopened):

• Face wash

• Laundry detergent (pods, liquid, or powder are all great!)

• Dishwasher detergent

• Shampoo and conditioner (especially for natural, textured, & curly hair)

• Toothpaste

• Antiperspirant Deodorant (mens & womens)

• Lotion (sensitive skin preferred)

• Acne stickers / patches

• Toliet paper

Other:

• Men’s wallet

• Backpacks

• Athletic / small duffle bags

These items can be dropped off to the Front Office or Student Services!

Interested in supporting our over 300 students experiencing homelessness in the Sun Prairie Area School District?

• Check out our Amazon Wishlist!

• Please fill out this form if you do purchase items from the Amazon Wishlist and you will receive information for your taxes.

If you have other items that you are looking to donate or have questions, reach out to our School Social Workers!

Susi Sirianni (last names A - K) at sesiria@sunprairieschools.org

Caitlin Fahey (last names L- Z) at cmfahey@sunprairieschools.org

Did you know all SPASD campuses are latex free? PROCEDURE KG-R PUBLIC USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES- H.5 Latex balloons are not allowed in any SPASD facility. If participating in/decorating for a celebration please make sure only mylar balloons are used. Thank you.

Are you a member of the Junior class? Help with Prom Planning! Come to a Junior Class Meeting on Wednesday, 03/05 during WIN Time in room 3611

If you want to help but can’t make it to the meeting, please email Ms. Foster or Ms. Peters. Can’t wait to see you in room 3611!

Three of our Wolves spoke this past week in the Nation's Capital about the impact of our public schools in their lives.

• Ishaan
• Kate
• Leela

Sun Prairie Area School District has kicked off its inaugural robotics team season. Sun Prairie robotics has met twice, and has already designed, programmed, and tested the first moving robot! We are fortunate to have mentors from the UW-Madison Engineering Department! If you are interested in supporting or learning more, reach out to Curt, Director of Technology cdmould@sunprairieschools.org

This winter season of Sun Prairie United Esports has been a whirlwind of excitement. We have two teams this Winter competing in Mario Kart and Fortnite.

Our Fortnite team made it to the WIHSEA State Championship, which was held virtually last night Wednesday February 26th. Our team finished with an outstanding 5th place in the State Fortnight Playoffs! Congratulations awesome team. Please congratulate any of the following team members; Ethan Lea (West), Ava Dunkel (West), Genaro Mendaz Aranda (West) and Ellyson Wos (West).

We have also had an outstanding season for Mario Kart. We are heading into the WIHSEA State Championship currently ranked #2 in the State. The State Championships are being held this Saturday March 1, at Madison College Truax Campus for the top four teams will be competing at 9:00 A.M. for the State title. This is an open event to all community members, please come and help support our team. Please congratulate and send luck to our following Mario Kart team members; Owen Gouldthorp (West), Colin Girton (West), Azure Wyatt (East) and Sam Filter (East)

It was an extraordinary night on the ice! Our Cap City Cougars are moving on to State. Well done!

Our forensics team continues to DOMINATE!

Our HOSA scholars also qualified for STATE!

FFA students heading to sectionals

Our SP United Adapted Hockey team traveled to West Salem for their first invitational tournament. Way to go Wolves and Cardinals!

New Year, Same Supports! We’re excited to share some updates to our before and after school tutoring support program to better support your learning:

• Afternoon Study Lounge Relocated: The afternoon study hall has been moved to a new space—the Library—to provide a more focused and resource-rich environment.

• Additional Teacher Support: We’ve added more teachers to our tutoring sessions to ensure students get the help they need.

Be sure to take advantage of these new changes and set yourself up for success this year!

Let’s make this a fantastic year of learning and growth!

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!

9th, 10th and 12th graders, wondering what to do on March 11th while the juniors take the ACT? Check out the STEM Open House at Madison College. This is ALL of their STEM programming (not the STEM academy). Register HERE

As the year continues we continue to focus on having safe, healthy and open bathrooms at West. This is a combined effort between students, parents/caregivers, teachers, student services, and our "floor team". It truly take ALL of our One West community to ensure that our bathrooms are safe and open for ALL students. Our interventions include:

• Following up with and searching students who are in the bathroom when vape sensors go off or when there is a report of vaping.
• Following up with students who enter the bathroom in large groups (going to the bathroom is an individual activity)
• Following up with students who are more than one student to a stall
• Bathroom checks to start and end every day and every block with checking cameras and following up with students who are in the bathroom during time frames that vandalism takes place.
• Searching toilet paper holders, paper towel holders, ceilings and other places that High School youth try to hide vapes at school

We have also launched a group education model as follow up for students who have a behavior referral for vaping at school as a restorative approach in collaboration with consequences. Check out these statistics:

• Student Feedback Quotes:

• It was nice to talk to someone about nic/weed and not be judged - 10th grade student
• “It was very student based. I was actually engaged in the group and felt like I was safe to talk about it with other people who are going through the same thing as me” - 12th grade student
• It was cool to learn all the ways nicotine and cannabis harm your brain and body - 9th grade student

• Upon the first meeting Students reported:

• 8% want to quit immediately

• 42.3% of students expressed they want to reduce use

• 33.7% stated they are ambivalent about change

• 8% reported never wanting to use

• 8% stated they aren’t interested in any change (no interest in reduction / quitting)

• By the 4th session Student reported:

• 27.3% report they have quit

• 9.1% want to quit

• 45.6% have already reduced

• 9% want to reduce

• 9% might consider reducing

• 0% reported no interested in making any changes

• Student Reported Goals Post SBIRT or My Healthy Future Group:
• To cut back on the use of substances
• Continue to be clean
• Not to use at school
• no goal
• I quit
• not feeding into that urge
• Nun your business
• I’ve quit
• I want to quit using it on my own but use it occasionally with friends.
• Spend less money on weed

If your student is interested in participating in one of these groups please reach out to Ms. Caitlin Fahey or Ms. Susi Sirianni. We will accommodate self-referrals as much as space is available in the program. Students must opt in and agree to participate in the program.

Bus Drivers will be checking students' Bus Tags to ensure they are riding their assigned bus. Students with no bus tag or a bus tag with a different bus number will not be allowed to board the bus. If you need a new bus tag, please see Miss Andi in the front office right away Monday morning.

Westopoly is BACK and live NOW! What is Westopoly? Westopoly is library programming available to ALL SP West Wolves. How does it work? Swing by the library for your day roll of the dice to learn what activity you land on. Earn tickets for completion of activities and use tickets to be eligible for prizes. Start playing TODAY!

Support our SP West CARES Closet & Pantry! Do you have items you are looking to donate including clothing and personal items? We need the following items for our SPW CARES closet in Student Services! Students may access our pantry when they need a change of clothing, extra items for home/moving around, or to support personal hygiene often when times are tough. Our SPW pantry functions 100% through donation. We are also thankful for community partners to meet greater needs!

Clothing should be in good shape - without stains, rips, or damage

Clothing:

• Mens sweatpants / joggers (prefer neutral colors) S - XL

• Mens t shirts S - L (prefer SP shirts, sports, plain black)

• Girls leggings S - XL (prefer neutral colors)

• Gender neutral or womens tshirts S - L (prefer SP shirts, sports, brands, plain)

• Sweatshirts S - XL (prefer SP, sports, brands, plain)

Hygine Products (unopened):

• Face wash

• Laundry detergent (pods, liquid, or powder are all great!)

• Dishwasher detergent

• Shampoo and conditioner (especially for natural, textured, & curly hair)

• Toothpaste

• Antiperspirant Deodorant (mens & womens)

• Lotion (sensitive skin preferred)

• Acne stickers / patches

• Toliet paper

Other:

• Men’s wallet

• Backpacks

• Athletic / small duffle bags

These items can be dropped off to the Front Office or Student Services!

Interested in supporting our over 300 students experiencing homelessness in the Sun Prairie Area School District?

• Check out our Amazon Wishlist!

• Please fill out this form if you do purchase items from the Amazon Wishlist and you will receive information for your taxes.

If you have other items that you are looking to donate or have questions, reach out to our School Social Workers!

Susi Sirianni (last names A - K) at sesiria@sunprairieschools.org

Caitlin Fahey (last names L- Z) at cmfahey@sunprairieschools.org

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County’s College Night: This event is designed to provide valuable insights, primarily for students in 9th-11th grade, into the college application process, financial aid options, and finding the right college fit.

Here are the event details:

• Date: Wednesday, February 26th, 2024
• Time: 6:00–8:00 PM
• Location: Allied Club (4619 Jenewein Rd, Madison, WI)

Students who attend will have the chance to:

• Learn about financial aid, scholarships, and grants
• Get tips on the college application process
• Connect with representatives from UW-Madison, Madison Area Technical College, UW-Milwaukee, Edgewood College, and more
• Explore resources from various colleges and financial institutions
• Enjoy free food and enter a gift card raffle!

We are grateful for our volunteers and visitors at SP West! Here are some reminders of our visitor procedure. If you are going to be interacting directly with students please make sure you fill out the volunteer form. Background checks are taking 2-3 weeks to process. Once you have filled it out it is good for 3 years at all SPASD schools.

Sophomores, sign up now for a free ACT diagnostic test! While the juniors are taking their ACT, get a head start for your own test. The Sun Prairie Public Library is partnering with Galin Education to offer a realistic ACT experience. This diagnostic test will help you work out some test-taking jitters as well as help you focus your studying. Please bring a calculator if you have one. Advance registration is required.

• Sun Prairie Public Library Community Room
• Tuesday, March 11, 2025
• 9:30am - 1:00pm

Register HERE

SP West Student Senate is BACK! After meeting a couple of times this fall our SP West Student Senate is back in full swing. Last week students met to dive into our SP100 goals and analyze data from 1st semester.

Students analyzed our 1st semester overall data trends identifying areas of celebration (9th graders- YOU ARE ROCKING IT) and areas of growth (juniors and seniors we have a ways to improve) and identifying next steps including student-to-student conversations to understand why this is happening and how we can improve as a One West community to reach our goal of 90%+ attendance for EVERY Wolf.

This past Friday in SP30 all students in 9th-11th grade reviewed their Pre-ACT scores from this fall and began goal setting for the spring Pre-ACT or ACT for our 11th graders.

Each student received a personalized email with detailed information about their scores from the fall and then as an SP30 they reviewed how to interpret this information.

We laid the foundation to begin preparation for Spring Pre-ACT and ACT testing.

And students began goal setting for their spring tests.

• What are you the proudest of from your fall Pre-ACT test?
• What area do you hope to improve in this most from the fall test to the Spring?
• How can I best support you in that process?
• Let's look over the email you received late last week with detailed information about your fall test.

We want our families to stay informed and connected to resources. If you need information or support visit Resources for Immigrant Students & Families webpage.

Sun Prairie Schools are a welcoming place for all students and families, regardless of their immigration status.

At the Sun Prairie Area School District:

• We stand by all of our students, staff, and families.
• The Sun Prairie Area School District celebrates and values our diverse community. We support and are inclusive of all students, staff, families, and community members of all races, ethnicities, faiths, national origins, immigration statuses, political viewpoints, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities.
• We stand by our immigrant students and families. All are welcome and safe in our schools regardless of immigration status.
• All children will be safe and loved in our schools…..Every Child, Every Day.
• Important Information

Gun safety is a shared responsibility that affects the well-being of our entire community. Visit the district’s Gun Safety Resource page for more information.

Dear Sun Prairie Community Members,

As the Superintendent of Sun Prairie Schools and the City Administrator of Sun Prairie, we want to express our shared commitment to gun safety in our community.
Gun safety affects all of us, and it is our shared responsibility to work together to protect our families, schools, and neighborhoods. Proper firearm handling and secure storage are essential to establishing a culture of safety. It is crucial for everyone to understand how to safely store firearms and what to do if they encounter one.

For our students, gun safety means having a safe place to learn and grow. We want to teach young people what to do if they see a gun, and we want them to feel comfortable telling an adult if something seems unsafe.

Parents and caregivers play a significant role and can help protect the community by ensuring secure firearm storage, recognizing potential dangers, and knowing how to respond responsibly in unsafe situations.

We support initiatives like the Gun Safety Education Project, led by the Sun Prairie Youth & Families Commission, which promotes public awareness of firearm safety by offering education on secure firearm storage, reporting lost or stolen firearms, distributing gunlocks, and more.

We understand this can be a difficult topic, but we believe by working together—parents/caregivers, educators, law enforcement, and all community members—we can make a difference and make our community safer for everyone.

We need your help to promote gun safety. We encourage you to talk to your family, explore available resources, and share information with your neighbors. Together, we can continue building a culture of responsibility, set a positive example for our kids, and keep our community safe for everyone. Thank you for being part of this important effort.

Sincerely,

Brad Saron, Superintendent
Aaron Oppenheimer, City Administrator

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