Spartan Scoop Jan 27

• Start of second semester. Be sure to check IC for your Term 2 schedule.

The parking timeline has been adjusted slightly. Please see below:

• There will NOT be a lottery drawing. No additional student parking spaces are available.

• Fees have been entered into IC and the parking rules and regulations google form has been emailed to approved students.

• Only students will be able to access the form using their school google account. Parents will not receive this email nor will they have access to the form. The student must complete the form and agree to abide by the parking rules and regulations.

• Students must pay the $35 fee and submit the google form prior to picking up the parking pass. NO EXCEPTIONS.

• ALL passes must be picked up or arrangements for pick up made no later than January 31st at 3:30 PM. Passes will not be held past 3:30 PM on January 31st unless the fee has been paid AND the form has been completed.

• Any passes not picked up or stalls not signed up for will go into a lottery for underclassmen.

Eligibility

As stated in the MHS 2024-25 Family Handbook:

PARKING – STUDENTS

Student parking at MHS is by permit only and parking stalls are allocated as follows:

1. Parking permits are issued twice during the school year, in August valid through semester 1, and in January, valid through semester 2.

2. A parking permit can be revoked at any time by the administration for behavioral referrals, multiple SBs (significantly below standard expectations) in Conduct and Effort grades, and/or unsafe driving in the HS parking lot.

Students may purchase a permit in accordance with the following criteria:

• No outstanding referrals.

• No unexcused absences for the previous semester.

Students who have questions regarding their number of unexcused absences may inquire in the MHS office. Parking permits are $35.00 per semester, and seniors meeting the criteria may purchase permits online on a first-come-first-serve basis. Specific information regarding online sign-up will be sent to parents via Infinite Campus.

Nice work on finishing 1st semester.

Just a reminder that all students must attend their full A & B day schedule before any schedule changes can occur.

At the end of the day on Tuesday, an electronic schedule change form will be sent to you. Keep an eye on your email & fill that out to request a change. You must follow your schedule until you receive an email that the change could be made or not. We will not change classes based on teacher preferences or lunch.

If you have an error on your schedule (e.g. an empty block) please e-mail mhs-studentservices@mcfsd.org ASAP.

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.

The Urban League of Greater Madison celebrates the achievements of outstanding youth across Dane County each year in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Students were honored at the 41st annual MLK Youth Recognition Breakfast!

The terrific adults in our 18 to 21-year-old program enjoyed a fantastic visit to Grace Coffee to practice many different life and community skills!

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has picked up the article about milling lumber at MHS written by HNG News Reporter Peter Lindblad!!

https://forestrynews.blogs.govdelivery.com/.../lumber.../

Orchestra Concert at 7:30 PM in the PAC

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!

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.

• Spartan Headquarters Donations for Feb. Vintage Sale to Benefit Food Pantry

• E.D. Locke Library Teen Crochet Party - January 30

• CESA 2 MHS Driver Education Program

• ACT Prep Plus - Registration Open

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

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

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

• 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

Welcome to winter in Wisconsin! With the cold weather here, the Health Services Team wants to remind families of some cold weather safety tips. You can help by reminding your student of the importance of wearing weather-appropriate clothing, especially in these below zero temps. Your student should be wearing several layers of clothing on very cold days including a coat, hat, mittens/gloves, boots. Please see the following links for more information and resources. Reach out to Health Services with any questions. Stay warm!

WI DHS - Climate and Health: Winter Weather and Extreme Cold

WI DHS - Cold Weather-Related Health and Safety Tips (Hypothermia)

CDC - Winter Weather: Before, During, and After

National Weather Service - Understanding Cold Weather Alerts

Your student’s school health assistant will be sending out email notifications shortly for students who are still in process or not compliant with WI School Immunization Requirements, in preparation for the 2025-26 school year. Please follow up with your Primary Care Provider to ensure that your child becomes up-to-date with vaccinations for their age/grade for next school year, WI Student Immunization Law by Age/Grade Requirements. If you have updated immunization information or would like access to a waiver (for personal, religious or health reasons - see step 4) please submit a student immunization record (English, Spanish) to your students school health office.

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.

Girls Basketball: Had a competitive game vs. Sauk Prairie this week.

Boys Basketball: Had a competitive game vs. Fort Atkinson in the Badger Challenge.

Boys Hockey: Had 2 nice wins over DeForest and Madison West, and congratulations to Coach Winger and Mrs. Winger for the birth of their baby girl on Saturday.

Girls Hockey: Competed well against the Coulee Region team.

Boys Wrestling: Had a very impressive conference win over Milton, this is their first win over Milton since our co-op started. They also took 4th place at the Sparta Invite.

Girls Wrestling: Had a very impressive conference win over Milton, this is their first win over Milton since our co-op started.

Boys Swimming: CONGRATULATIONS to our boys swim team for winning the Shorewood invitational also known as small school state.

MHS Dance: CONGRATULATIONS to our dance team for advancing to the WACPC State competition in Poms and Jazz, also congratulations to Julia Jones and Sarai Krogman who advanced to state competition in solo dances.

Dear Families,

Recent national conversations regarding immigration enforcement may have raised concerns within our community. I want to assure you that the McFarland School District is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all students and families, regardless of immigration status. To uphold this commitment, I am writing to clarify the district’s approach to handling requests from immigration officials:

1. Commitment to Privacy and Safety:
   The McFarland School District values the privacy of its students, families, and staff. We will not share information about a student’s or family’s immigration status unless required by law (e.g. valid judicial warrant or court order).

2. Access to Schools:
   Even though the Trump Administration has rescinded previous guidance that prohibited federal immigration officials, such as those from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), from arresting individuals in schools, schools can still prohibit ICE from accessing school property unless they have a valid judicial warrant. A warrant is considered valid if it is signed by a Judge or U.S. magistrate and specifies access to the school to apprehend named individuals. Administrative warrants signed by an ICE official are different and schools may comply with an administrative warrant. If this were to occur here, we follow District Policy 5540- The Schools and Government Agencies and not comply in order to preserve the educational environment of the school.

3. Clear Protocols:
   If an immigration official contacts or visits a school, district staff have been instructed to notify the superintendent’s office immediately. Legal counsel will be consulted to ensure all actions comply with federal and state laws while protecting the rights and safety of students and families.

4. Support for Students and Families:
   We understand that immigration concerns can affect our students’ ability to learn and thrive. We will continue to provide counseling and support services for those impacted. Please reach out to your school’s principal or student services staff member if you or your child need assistance.

The McFarland School District remains steadfast in its commitment to education and equity for all students. We stand together as a community to ensure that our schools remain safe spaces where every child can succeed.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at tarnuta@mcfsd.org.

Sincerely,

Aaron Tarnutzer, Superintendent
McFarland School District

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.

January is...

Reflection and Motivation

• January 29 - Lunar New Year