Cardinal Call

Dear SPEHS Students and Families -

It looks like we'll have a beautiful week for homecoming. Please review all of the great events planned for this week on the homecoming website (QR code below), and remember that students do not have school this Friday due to staff professional learning.

Let's have a safe and fun homecoming week!

Sincerely,

Sarah Dianich, Long-Term SPEHS Principal Substitute

As we get closer to our homecoming celebration, please keep a lookout for communication around guest forms and ticket sales. In the meantime, here are our celebration dates:

• September 21 - Homecoming Guest Forms are available in the main office
• October 1 at 4:00 pm - Guest Forms Due

• October 5 at 8 am - Homecoming Tickets go on sale via GoFan

• October 7 - Homecoming Parade, 6 PM
• October 8 at midnight - Ticket Sales End
• October 9 - Homecoming Football Game, Kickoff 7 PM
• October 10 - Homecoming Dance, 7 PM - 10 PM

Student clubs have painted several windows along and near Main Street: Nitty Gritty, Glass Nickel, Paramount Performance, MCV Salon, Carpe Diem Boutique, Andy Eyers State Farm, Forever Yours Jewelry, Fusion Dance Academy, Salvatore's, Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. Rudd's Barbershop. Check them out this week!

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) offers a Driver Education Grant that can help eligible students cover the cost of driver education, including classroom and/or behind-the-wheel instruction.

The next application period opens Monday, October 12, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Grants are first come, first served, so eligible families are encouraged to apply promptly.

Students may qualify if they:

• Are a Wisconsin resident

• Are eligible for or receiving free or reduced-price lunch

• Have not previously held a driver license

Important: Grant funds cannot be used to reimburse services that have already been paid.

Families can apply beginning October 12, while grant funding remains available, or sign up now for an email notification through the Wisconsin DMV Driver Education Grant Program webpage.

Additional clarification about the requirement for students to wear their IDs has been provided to high school administration. Starting in October students will be required to wear their IDs on their person.

• This means student will not have to wear their ID around their neck on a lanyard, but could if they prefer.
• Lanyards have already been purchased by schools so they will be provided to students if they would like one, for free.
• Plastic ID badge holders have also been purchased by schools and they will also be provided to students if they would like one, for free.
• Students do have the option to purchase a lanyard or badge clip of their choosing if they would like.
• East plans to provide SP30 lessons for students on what this could look like at the end of September, and we will continue to provide updates on this policy as they are provided.

Linked below are this week's band updates.

Linked below is this month's French Newsletter.

AP Students & Families: Over the last several years, Sun Prairie East High School has been left with a large bill of unpaid AP exam fees. In an effort to become more fiscally responsible and ensure that our AP exam order accurately reflects students’ plans, we are changing the date of when AP exam fees are due. This year, AP exam fees will be posted to students’ Infinite Campus accounts by October 1st, 2026. Each AP exam costs $99, and payment for AP exam fees will be due by November 1st, 2026. Please be aware that students whose AP exam fees have not been paid by the deadline will not have an AP exam ordered for them. For students who are on free or reduced lunch programming, AP exam fees are waived due to Wisconsin state law (Wis. Stat. sec. 120.12(22)). Please reach out to Beth Butler, AP Coordinator, at eabutle@sunprairieschools.org or 608-834-6700 ext. 5778 with questions.

Sun Prairie Area School District schools are closed campuses, which means students may not leave school property during the school day for lunch and must adhere to the excused absence procedures previously outlined.

Students may leave school only with permission from a parent/caregiver and only for excused activities. Parents/caregivers should not excuse their students from school to leave campus to have lunch offsite. Caregivers are welcome to drop off food for their students in the main office, but please do not utilize delivery services such as Door Dash.

Information on our closed campus can be found on pages 23-24 of the student handbook.

Before and after school tutoring is kicking off on September 10th. If you feel like you need any extra support in class, please stop in!

If you have a cross-site class and need to take the shuttle, the schedule is below. Please note that there will likely be some stop adjustments at the middle schools as class enrollments are finalized.

If you would like to order a yearbook for the 2026/2027 school year or have questions about how to do so, you can find the information here!

Attention seniors! There will be many senior-specific due dates and deadlines as we move through the year towards graduation. You can find senior class information on the senior website. Linked here.

10/1 at 4:00 pm - Guest Forms Due

10/5 at 8 am - Homecoming Tickets go on sale via GoFan

10/7 - Homecoming Parade, 6 PM

10/8 at midnight - Ticket Sales End

10/9 - Homecoming Football Game, Kickoff 7 PM, Staff Professional Development Day - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

10/10 - Homecoming Dance, 7 PM - 10 PM

10/22 - Caregiver Conferences, 4 PM - 8 PM

10/23 - Caregiver Conferences, 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM, NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

AP Students & Families:

AP exam fees are now live in Infinite Campus! Please note that the due date for AP exam payment has been moved up this year, and is now due November 1st, 2026. Each AP exam costs $99, and any AP exam that is not paid for by November 1st will be removed from our school’s exam order. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our school’s AP Coordinator (Beth Butler, eabutle@sunprairieschools.org).

• If you see a fee for an AP exam that you do not want to take, please reach out to Beth Butler to let her know you want to cancel this exam. If an exam is cancelled after November 1st, you will be charged a $40 cancellation fee by AP.

• If you are missing a fee for an AP exam that you want to take, this means you have not signed up for that AP exam yet. Please reach out to Beth Butler to get yourself signed up ASAP.

• If you see AP exam fees on your account but believe you are eligible for a fee waiver, please reach out to Beth Butler for the fee waiver form.

High school seniors and their families are invited to learn how Direct Admit Wisconsin can simplify the admissions process to the Universities of Wisconsin, and get questions answered by the Direct Admit Wisconsin team, at these 45-minute virtual sessions.

Monday, October 19 @ 6 p.m. REGISTER

Junior Class ACP Presentation

On Friday, October 2nd, all Juniors met with the counseling team in the PAC to review their fall ACP presentation. Topics included steps students can take now to set themselves up for success, Sun Prairie opportunities specifically for juniors and seniors, career and college planning, and more. Families can access the presentation here.

We encourage every eligible senior to file the FAFSA® as early as possible.

Even if you believe that you will not qualify for federal financial aid, many scholarships and grants still require a FAFSA® for consideration.

1. Students and Caregivers can now create their FSA IDs.
   

2. All users/contributors must have an FSA ID and password to fill out the FAFSA®, even those without a Social Security Number (SSN).
   Processing an FSA ID can take up to 5 business days, so we recommend creating it at least a week before starting the FAFSA®.
   Once you have your FSA ID, you can complete and submit the FAFSA®

3. Here are some great resources provided by Federal Student Aid (FSA):

• "Who counts as a parent on the FAFSA® form?" Wizard – A tool to help students and families determine who will need to provide contributor information on the 2027–28 FAFSA®.
  

• Federal Student Aid YouTube Channel: FAFSA® Videos – Videos to help students and families understand the importance of the FAFSA® form, who is a FAFSA® contributor, and what happens after submitting the form.
  

4. Save the date - College Goal Night is October 14, 2026, from 6-8 p.m. We will have experts here at East to help you complete your FAFSA!

Thinking about life after high school? Whether college, technical school, military, or other options, the Wisconsin Education Fair (WEF) is a great place to start!

Event Details:

📅 Thursday, October 15th, 2026

📍 Sun Prairie West High School

👥 Juniors & Seniors ONLY

What’s WEF?

Meet reps from 4-year colleges, 2-year/technical schools, military branches, and career programs. Get info on admissions, financial aid, housing, and more—all in one spot!

How to Attend:

● Juniors/Seniors must complete this Google Form: WEF 2026 Google Form Sign-Up

● The deadline to Sign-up is: Friday, October 2nd at 3:45 PM (No late forms accepted!)

Important:

● This is an authorized school trip with school transportation and supervision.

● Students may NOT drive themselves, except STEM Students.

● Bus Departure: 9:45am

● Bus Return: 11:30am

● This is an optional field trip, students will be expected to make up any work that was missed

during their absence from class.

Don’t miss this chance to explore your future! Questions? Please reach out to Mrs. Thao at

pthao@sunprairieschools.org

Representatives from the following colleges will be in Student Services this week. See. Ms. Johnson in Student Services for a pass.

Upcoming College Visits

• UW Milwaukee- October 16th During 2nd Block

• John Hopkins- October 20 during 4th Block

• St. Olaf College - October 22nd during 1st Block

• Marquette- October 22nd during 4th Block

• UW Whitewater-November 5th during 1st Block

Madison College - Ongoing visits on 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month from 9:30 am-11:30 am

Facebook: Sun Prairie East Athletics

Instagram: spathleticsandevents

Twitter/X: @SPCardinals

We are so excited to invite adapted soccer players to join the East Cardinals Adapted Soccer Team again this year! ⚽️❤️

If you’re wondering whether adapted soccer is a good fit for your child, please keep reading and watch the video below! We’d love for your child to be part of the team.

⚽️ Why Adapted Sports?

Adapted sports provides students with opportunities to:

• 💙 Build confidence, connection, and pride in themselves, their school, and their community

• 🤝 Create meaningful social interactions with students with and without disabilities

• 💪 Be physically active twice a week with great coaches and volunteers

• 🏅 Represent their school and community and have the opportunity to earn a Varsity Letter

• 🏫 Participate in a safe, supportive after-school activity

Watch this short video to learn more about adapted sports:
Adapted Sports Video. You can also check out the Sun Prairie Adapted Sports League to see what the league is all about.

We are excited to have our fall sports in full swing. We have already started to host home events. Please review the SPASD event guidelines. Our athletes are ready to take the field, stage, pool, court, pitch, course and so much more this school year. Together we will continue to make these fantastic, safe and enjoyable events for all.

All East students will need their student ID or if they have not yet received their 26/27 student ID, they will need to look up their Infinite Campus profile. This can be done in advance and screenshotted for quick access. Also, please download GoFan to purchase digital tickets to our events.

Below is the SPASD carry-in policy for school district events. If you have questions regarding this policy, please reach out to the athletics and activities office.

Please see the linked information for upcoming contests.