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Stoner Prairie News
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9th Edition, November 20th, 2023
Principal Connection
Enjoy your upcoming time and thank you!
This week we will welcome scholars on Monday and Tuesday and then enjoy some time with family and friends. Please know that there will not be a family newsletter next week (11/27) due to our shortened time together this week. Our next, 10th edition, school newsletter will be delivered to your mailbox on December 4th.
This is a time of year when many of us reflect and share thanks. I am looking forward to spending a few days with my family this week. My girls will be joining me along with my extended family members - we have much to be thankful for. A tradition that we launched when my girls were very little was taking time to write and share our gratitudes with each other. Now, as adults, my family appreciates reading these notes - from their own younger perspectives as well as from those loved ones who are no longer with us to share in person including their dad. Please take time to share gratitude with those you love in the days ahead...it matters.
One of my gratitudes that I will share this year is the opportunity to serve you, our scholars and our school community as the Stoner Prairie Principal. I am sincerely appreciative for working in the Verona Area School District at this incredible school with amazing staff that are working together to support our scholars success - it is a fantastic team!! My time at our school has been spent focusing on our strengths and building, repairing and restoring relationships with our students, staff and community members to support our shared goals for a successful school year. For me, as your Principal, I want to make a difference for our scholars - it's not about my role, but it is about OUR goal. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity.
Please enjoy your time and safe travels to those hitting the road.
Teacher Newsletters: Click here to see your child's newsletter
Stoner Prairie Elementary PTO News
Have you heard that Jersey Mike’s is coming to Fitchburg? You may have been to their State Street, Gammon Road or Sun Prairie locations, or just heard of their amazing rosemary Parmesan bread or Italian subs!
During their opening week, Dec 6-10, Jersey Mike’s is partnering with Stoner Prairie PTO in a fundraiser where 100% of the funds go to the PTO. Watch for coupons to come home with your student and please consider participating by bringing the coupon to the new Jersey Mikes location (near Taco Bell on McKee) and making a minimum $2 donation in exchange for a regular size sub.
Rusty Dog Coffee & Tea Pick-Up! Stop by Stoner Prairie on Dec 10 from 3-5 pm or Dec 12 from 5-7 pm to pick up your coffee & tea order.
Mark your calendars! The next PTO meeting is 1/9 from 6-7 pm in the Stoner Prairie Library. All are welcome! Reach out to stonerprairiepto@gmail.com with any questions, concerns, or suggestions or to be added to our email list.
It is that time of year, when we start thinking about honoring our teachers and staff at Stoner Prairie! We are gathering the Staff's wish lists and will post them in our FB group (Stoner Prairie PTO) and here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/102eK74u71736PscJr65e4XfkLTLgMjdC/view?usp=drivesdk. Check them out to get a personalized gift for staff!
We are hoping our classroom teachers will feel appreciated and loved from all their students this holiday season. But what about our amazing support staff? Using the staff wishlists PTO volunteer Tricia Gulman will coordinate support staff gifts. If you want to adopt a non-classroom teacher staff person let her know at tricia.gulmen@gmail.com. For example, if you adopt the school nurse, you would purchase something from her wish list, like the emergency medical backpack from her list, along with some small treats, and make a card. Or you contribute to a general fund through Venmo (@triciagulmen - 2504 are last 4 digits) and she will work with her team to purchase gifts for all support staff and include your name on the donation list. A small donation can go a long way to provide our 40 support staff with a gift.
Thanks for helping make Stoner Prairie a great place to work and teach!
Important Updates & Upcoming Dates
Attendance reminders:
Call us when your scholar is unable to be at school. To report an absence, you may:
- Call 608-845-4203 (English attendance line) or 608-845-4200 (main line with Spanish option) or
- Email sp-attendance@verona.k12.wi.us (English and Spanish) with all attendance changes.
Contacting the attendance office directly is important!
Gratitude for Patrols!
This week you may have been greeted with some amazingly energetic fifth grade patrols providing reminders to slow down and have a great day at our school drop off. This is important as we will soon entertain snow and ice in our parking lot. Thank you to those helping support safety for all our scholars and families!
Also, now that patrols are in place, your child may line up at the front door starting at 7:10. Doors will open at 7:15. If temperatures permit and you feel your scholar will be safe lining up on our front sidewalk, then please drop them off knowing that the school doors will open at 7:15.
Thank you Ms. Dyche
Katherine Dyche has been our long-term substitute in fourth grade as Ms. Gratz welcomed her baby this Fall. Ms. Dyche's last day is tomorrow, 11/21/23. Thank you to supporting our scholars this Fall Ms. Dyche - we hope that we see you again soon at Stoner Prairie!
Friday Dance Party
On Fridays, we celebrate the end of the week with a dance party in our entry! Here you will see scholars from across the grades as well as teachers and staff joining in to greet the day with dance - Ms. Kelly serves as our resident DJ. What a great way to greet the day!
Stoner Prairie Food Drive to benefit Badger Prairie Needs Network 11/20 to 12/20.
We are joining the district in a drive for needed items at Badger Prairie Needs - please consider sending in items - donations will be picked up weekly. Donate whatever you would like - canned green beans, masa flour, white rice, sugar, dry beans, etc to shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, toilet paper, and toothpaste. Bring items to the labelled trash barrel located near the office.
Thanksgiving Event
As it gets closer and closer to the holiday season, help us get the word out about our upcoming free Thanksgiving events for 2023.
Sina Davis Community Meal: Individuals & families can register to join us for an in-person cooked meal on Thursday, November 23rd from 11 AM - 2 PM at our Allied Club (4619 Jenewein Rd, Fitchburg).
Registration is HERE, and any questions can be directed to community@bgcdc.org.
Personal Device Use Policy (Cell Phone, i-watch, etc.)
Please know that students may bring personal devices to school daily; however, devices must remain in backpacks during school hours (or they may be stored in the classroom with teachers). This supports our focus on academics during school hours.
Wearable devices, like i-watches, may be worn at school - however similar to phones, we do not permit their use during the school day. If a student would like to contact someone during school hours, scholars need to let an adult in the building know they are using their device and why.
These practices support our teaching scholars appropriate use of devices while also maintaining a focus on our education. Thank you for helping support our school in wise use of devices and please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
A note from Mr. Vergeront - Rollerblading time!
Stoner Prairie students are about ready to start rolling-on in-line skates. Beginning Monday, November 27th and for a total of 3 weeks, Physical Education classes will be involved in an in-line skating unit right here in the Stoner Prairie gym. We have been able to purchase skates and safety equipment thanks to the generous contributions from the PTO’s of our Elementary Schools. Students will learn basic in-line skating skills including forward and backward skating, cornering, stopping and a variety of skating games and activities.
A few reminders:
- To guarantee that skates do not damage the gymnasium floor, we must provide all the skates.
- Helmets are required for this unit. I strongly advise students to bring their own helmets. Please make sure their helmet fits tight to their head.
- Wrist guards are also required to wear. We have pairs for students to borrow and students may bring their own if that is more comfortable for them.
- Send socks - Families are encouraged to send a pair of long socks with their children (please label).
I am very excited to have this opportunity to skate with the students and feel very fortunate to have such a generous PTO!
Hold the date for Monday, December 11th for our skate night! I will send out a sign up closer to the event. -Mr. Vergeront (SP Phy. Ed)
What will our teachers and staff be doing later this week...
Mrs. Thompson is looking forward to having all of her children at home at the same time and spending time with them and extended family in Minneapolis/ St. Paul.
Mrs. Durnen is looking forward to having all three of her kids home for Thanksgiving.
Miss Reed (K teacher) is looking forward to her annual family Christmas tree cutting day and a Badger win against Minnesota!
Ms. Browman is looking forward to riding her horse and snuggling with her cats in front of a fire!
Mrs. Knoll is looking forward to a fabulous feast with her family, some holiday shopping with her daughter and sister, and decorating the house for the holidays.
Ms. Neary is looking forward to going to the Milwaukee Public Museum with her family!
Mrs. Baumann is looking forward to spending time with her 3 nephews from Minnesota that she doesn't get to see very often!
Ms. Dyche is looking forward to having a game night with her family :)
Mrs. Schiefelbein and her family are looking forward to showing their foreign exchange student what Christmas decorating in the United States looks like!
Mr. Vergeront is looking forward to participating in the Berbee Derby 5k with his family!
Ms. Gerlach is looking forward to long hikes, playing cards and eating comfort food during her family get together.
Ms. Folberg is looking forward to spending time with family and friends.
Miss Nesheim is looking forward to spending time with her family and eating some good food!
Mrs. Emmy is looking forward to eating lots of yummy food with her family on Thanksgiving and looking forward to the Battle of the Axe Football Game this Saturday! Go Badgers!!
Ms. Confer is looking forward to spending time with family and friends. Reading more and getting fresh air and exercise.
Ms. Bender is looking forward to learning how to make paella with her husband for Thanksgiving with her new Mother-In-Law. Wish her luck (she will have a back up turkey dinner from Miller's & Sons just in case)!!
Mrs. Page is looking forward to spending time with her family and helping out at a craft fair!
From the City of Fitchburg Parks Department - Help inform our parks plan!
Dear Stoner Prairie Park Neighbors,
The Parks, Recreation & Forestry Commission is working to implement the approved Stoner Prairie
Park Plan and needs your help.
Two big components of this plan are the playground structure and open-air shelter. The City’s Park designer, EOR, has been hired to help create park development plans and assist in bidding this project in 2024.
Towards that work, EOR has created playground options and open-air shelter options for feedback and
review. These options can be found at the following URL https://bit.ly/spdesignoptions and below QR code. If you are interested in a printed version, please contact me.
The Park Commission is looking for your thoughts in ranking your top two playground proposals and
top open-air shelter proposal. Based on the feedback from the neighbors, the Park Commission will
select the preferred designs at their December 7 th , 2023 meeting.
Please return your votes and feedback by end of workday Friday, December 1, 2023, to:
Fitchburg Parks Department
5520 Lacy Road
Fitchburg, WI 53711
Or by leaving a message either by phone (608-270-4288) or e-mail scott.endl@fitchburgwi.gov.
Top two playground choices:
1. (Top Choice) – Option # _______
2. (Second Choice) – Option # _______
Top open-air shelter choice:
(Top Choice) Option # _______