IMMS Family Flier

Dear Indian Mound Middle School Students and Families,

Welcome to February! We’re excited for a busy and fun month ahead. Be sure to join us for Honk Jr. the Musical on February 5–7, our students have been working hard and can’t wait to perform! Family conferences are coming up on February 11 and 12, and report cards will be available in Infinite Campus on February 3. You’ll also see a brief update below about our new 8th-grade hallway and pass expectations, designed to support learning time and student success. Thank you for your continued partnership as we head into the second half of the school year.

Thank you for your continued partnership.

Warmly,
Jamie Thomas
Principal, Indian Mound Middle School

Brett Jondle, Associate Principal

• Honk Jr. the Musical Feb 5-7
• Conferences are coming Feb 11th and 12th
• New 8th-grade hallway/pass expectations
• Report Cards Available on IC 2/3/26
• 8th graders are planning for high school.

• February 4th: : MHS counselors visit 8th Graders at IMMS re: Registration

  February 11th: MHS Advising night

  February 20th: Registration due

  February 16th and 17th: 8th grade tours the high school to see elective course classrooms

• February 4: World Read Aloud Day
  
• February 5-7: Honk Jr. Musical @ PAC
• February 6: Monthly Celebration Assembly 8:30
• February 11: Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences
• February 12: No School/ Afternoon Parent/teacher conferences
• February 13: No School
• February 7th-12th Jazz Ensembles 7:30
• February 26: Family Fun Night 5:30-7
• February 28: Orchestra String Fling Concert 5:45
• March 6: No School

• 25-26 IMMS Sports: LINK

Report Cards Available to View on February 3rd.

We are excited to share that it is time for our 2nd quarter / Semester 1 report cards. The purpose of grades in the McFarland School District is to communicate the learning, growth, and achievement of individual students about necessary academic standards with a focus on critical thinking, creative thinking, and communication skills. In addition to the ongoing communication that teachers and families have throughout the school year, we formally communicate four times yearly on your child's academic, behavioral, and social progress: twice at Parent/Teacher Conferences and twice with semester report cards. Our Q1 and Q3 report cards are an opportunity to share a snapshot of your child's progress toward learning standards each year, and spring report cards are now available on the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Note: If the class is a 9-week long class, the grades at each quarter are the final grades.

***HERE is a 90-second video on how to check your scholar’s grades on IC.

Final Grades for 9-week classes: The following courses are only 9 weeks long and the grades are final: Art, Family and Consumer Sciences, Futures, General Music, Technology, and Engineering.

Final Grades for other classes: All remaining courses have final grades that reflect student progress throughout the first half/second half of the school year, with the most recent evidence (assessments) being the most important.

There are three areas assessed for student progress:

• Conduct: Reflecting our empathy and respect goals.

• Effort Reflecting achievement and responsibility regarding completed/ missing/ late work and effort in participating in class activities and learning.

• ELO Standards: These reflect the course's academic standards (“Essential Learning Outcomes”).

Student progress is reported using the following scale:

Extending the standard (ES) My performance extends the standard at this time. I consistently apply and/or extend a thorough understanding of the concept or skill being assessed.

Meeting the standard (ME) :My performance meets the standard at this time. I consistently demonstrate an understanding of the concept or skill being assessed.

Approaching the standard (AP):My performance is approaching standard at this time. I demonstrate a basic understanding of the concept or skill being assessed. I may need more time to practice before becoming independent.

Significantly below the standard (SB):My performance is significantly below standard at this time. I demonstrate a limited understanding and/or misunderstanding of the concept or skill being assessed. My performance indicates significant gaps in understanding that are needed to meet the grade level standard at this time. I need more time and support before becoming independent.

Not Assessed or Blank (NA)The standard is not assessed at this time.

Not enough evidence (NE): I have not yet provided enough evidence of understanding at this time.

• Not assessed NA The standard is not assessed at this time.

• For the conduct grade and the effort grade, students' goal is to perform at the “ME” level. If your child is not meeting these expectations, please talk to them and their teachers about how to improve.

• For final grades, the goal for students is to be performing at the “ME” level at the end of the semester/school year

• You should not expect to see grades of “ES” as this is an extremely high standard and not the equivalent of an A in a traditional grading system. Please understand that teachers are doing their best to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate higher levels of learning as they build their foundational skills.

• Not all ELO’s are assessed at a given time. ELO’s not assessed enough for a teacher to assign a score are either left blank or listed as “NA” for “not assessed.

• Should you have questions about your child’s grades, please contact their teacher for that course directly.

Here are some helpful tips and videos that may be useful:

• How to log-in to Infinite Campus (38 second video) or HelpDoc

• How to check your scholar’s missing assignments (2 min. video) or HelpDoc

• What are Conduct and Effort Scores? (2.5 min. video)

• How to check your scholar’s Conduct and Effort Scores (3 min. video) or HelpDoc

• IMMS Standards Based Grading Presentation

How to view grades on Infinite Campus:

1. Log into the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

• If you do not have an Infinite Campus portal account, please contact Gina Pili at pilig@mcfsd.org or 838-4580 and request your Portal Activation code.

• If you have forgotten your username and/or password and previously set your Security Preferences, you can click the orange HELP button on the portal login screen and choose either 'Forgot your password?" or "Forgot your username?'

• You can also send an email to Eversomm@mcfsd.org for help with either of these issues.

2. Select your child from the “Select a student” drop-down menu at the top. If you have only one child in the district, this won’t be necessary.

3. You have 2 options to view the final grades and in-progress grades.

a. Grades Tab:

• Go to the top left 3 bars to bring down the menu and select Grades and Term 2

• You will notice some grades are “in progress” and those that are final grades are in bold.

b. Documents Tab:

• Go to the top left 3 bars to bring down the menu and select Documents, Report Card, IMMS Report Card.

• Please note that only final grades are on the report card (versus in-progress grades

• Select Progress Report " to see the current "in progress" grades in your child's other classes.

Join us for our 2026 Family Fun Night. This is an incredible event to bring our school and community together. Check out the flier below.

We are looking for some volunteers to help the event run smoothly. Please sign up to volunteer here: Sign-up genius

Honk! Jr., is a contemporary and comic re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling. This heartwarming musical follows “Ugly,” a young duckling who looks a little different from his family and must find his way home after getting lost. Along the way, he discovers his true beauty, love, and acceptance in all its forms. Full of laughter, catchy songs, and a touching message about celebrating what makes each of us unique, Honk! Jr. is a family-friendly show for all ages.

Free Ticket for Staff:

Visit McFarlandPAC.com to purchase tickets.

Feb 5 at 7:00 pm

Feb 6 at 7:00 pm

Feb 7 at 1:00pm and 7:00 pm

Dear 8th Grade Parents and Guardians,

We are writing to share a small update to one of our schoolwide expectations for 8th-grade students at Indian Mound Middle School. Our expectation is that students leave class with permission and a clear “Pass and a Purpose.”

This change is directly related to an increase in students leaving class without a clear purpose, being out longer than intended, and/or leaving multiple times during instruction. This can interrupt learning and create supervision challenges. As we prepare our 8th graders for high school, our goal is to protect instructional time and maintain clear, consistent expectations.

What’s Changing?

Passing Time

• We will pilot an increase in the passing time to 6 minutes between core academic classes only (not related arts) for 8th grade only

• This allows time to use the restroom and fill water bottles between classes, greatly reducing the need to leave during instruction for urgent situations only

• Students with medical needs or urgent situations will always be allowed to use the restroom.

Tardies

• With the additional passing time, tardies will be closely monitored.

• Students will need to be in their seats at the start of class

• Students who receive three or more tardies in a week will make up time during one lunch period the following week where students will reflect on what is causing them to be late.

• If the tardies continue, families will be invited to a problem-solving meeting with their student and administration/student services.

• Families will receive a daily email with the number of tardies your scholar has during the day

Cell Phones

• Any time a student leaves class during instructional time, they will leave their cell phone with the teacher.

• This supports focus, discourages misuse of passes, and aligns with high school expectations.

Timeline:

• These procedures will begin February 2.

• Expectations will be explicitly taught and reviewed with students.

• We will evaluate the effectiveness of this pilot weekly.

If you have questions, concerns, or your child has medical needs that require more frequent restroom use, please contact Jamie Thomas, Principal (thomasj@mcfsd.org) or Brett Jondle, Assistant Principal (jondleb@mcfsd.org).

Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

The 8th grade scientists have been hard at work building earthquake proof towers. Then they put their engineering skills to the ultimate test to see if they would survive the Earthquake Simulation Challenge. There was cheering and celebrations of the surviving towers and also excitement over the dramatic collapses/explosions. So much fun!

Parenting is HARD! David is interviewed by Dharma Lab and Richie Davidson. They explore what the adolescent brain really needs and how parents can help their children grow. Listen HERE!

Key concepts from the episode:

• Most parents default to one of two styles (and not the one we need to start embracing more called the “mentor”)

  • Enforcer: high demands, low support (“toughen up,” “no excuses”)

  • Protector: high empathy, low expectations (removing challenges to avoid distress)
    Both come from love, and both can unintentionally shut teens down.

• What teens are actually wired to need
  Adolescents are especially driven by pride, dignity, and respect…and deeply averse to humiliation or shame. When they feel talked down to, they stop listening.

• Why this stage is uniquely hard right now
  Puberty is starting earlier than ever, while the brain systems that support emotional regulation won’t fully mature until the mid-20s. This widening gap makes misfires more likely for teens and parents.

• The problem with “grownsplaining”
  When adults assume their experience makes them the unquestioned expert, teens hear disrespect; even when advice is well-intentioned. That dynamic fuels resistance rather than growth.

• The mentor mindset offers a different path
  High standards with real support. Less lecturing, more curiosity. Asking questions instead of delivering answers. Allowing discomfort without removing expectations.

• Discomfort isn’t always a sign something is wrong
  Anxiety, frustration, and even tears can mean a young person is stretching toward something meaningful - not failing. What matters is whether distress comes with support or shame.

• Small tools that make a big difference

  • Do-overs: repairing moments when we miss the mark without lowering standards

  • Reframing stress: helping kids interpret nerves as a sign of doing something important

  • Letting kids resolve conflicts: building independence instead of reflexively intervening

• A surprising takeaway for parents
  How we relate to our children’s struggles often mirrors how we relate to our own inner discomfort. Learning to be a mentor to ourselves matters too.

Winter conferences are coming soon! Below is important information about scheduling a conference with your scholar’s teacher(s). Thank you for your ongoing involvement. A strong home-school partnership has always been critical to student success.

Conferences will be held on February 11, 2026, after school, 3:30-7:00, and on February 12, 2026, from 2:30-6:30.

6th Grade Families: For conferences, you will meet with your scholar’s “cored pair” (the two teachers that teach science/math and social studies/English language arts).

7th and 8th Grade Families: To streamline and simplify the middle school conference experience, each family that signs up for conferences will meet with their scholar’s core 2 teacher. The core 2 teacher will share information about academic progress in all core classes. If you feel it is important to meet with a teacher other than your scholar’s core 2 teacher, please email the teacher you wish to meet with directly

Related Arts & other specialists: Some teachers will be available for drop-in conferences (no appointments required) on February 11, 2026 after school and February 12 from 2:30-6:30. Also, some related arts staff will be available at our IMMS Family Fun Night on February 26th. If you prefer to schedule a conference with a Related Arts teacher rather than dropping in, please email them to schedule a time. Here are the emails for Related Arts Staff.

How to sign-up: You will receive an email from either your child’s cored pair (6th grade) or your child’s Core 2 teacher on January 28, 2026. The sign-up platform will be Google Appointments. The sign-up for conferences will close on February 3rd at midnight. This deadline is important in order for our teachers to prepare.

To help make the conference efficient and effective, please communicate any questions and/or concerns to teachers before the conference. Sending this information in advance allows teachers to be better prepared to provide answers and/or strategies during the conference.

If you have signed up for a conference and something comes up within 24 hours of the scheduled time/day and cannot attend, please contact the teacher directly.

Winter Conferences are not mandatory, but we hope you can join us. As a reminder, we have many opportunities to communicate student progress with families throughout the year.

• Two family conferences. One is in the Fall, and the other is in the Winter/Spring. Families are encouraged to communicate with teachers beyond these scheduled conferences.
  
  

• Report cards are available on Infinite Campus after each semester (or quarterly for Related Arts classes).
  
  

• Infinite Campus is available for families to check on student progress

• Here are Infinite Campus “How to” videos and screenshots that may be useful:

• How to log in to Infinite Campus (38-second video) or HelpDoc

• How to check your scholar’s missing assignments (2 min. video) or HelpDoc

• What are Conduct and Effort Scores? (2.5 min. video)

• How to check your scholar’s Conduct and Effort Scores (3 min. video) or HelpDoc

Last week, we held a virtual session to assist families in navigating Infinite Campus, Canvas, and Standards Based Grading. If you missed it and would like to get the info, please see the links below.

Here is a LINK to the recording

Here is a LINK to the slides

Send a beautiful card to a loved one and help stop hunger!

The IMMS Art Ambassadors have designed Valentine’s Day postcards! This year, there are two different design packs to choose from. Each pack is only $7, and all proceeds will support McFarland’s Food Pantry.

You can purchase postcards through the Classmunity fundraiser link or by contacting Sandra Schoen directly. Cards will be available for pickup in the IMMS lobby starting January 20, Monday–Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or they can be sent home with an IMMS student.

Use this LINK to order!

For More Information

Contact: Sandy Schoen

608 838-4500 ext. 4805

SchoenS1@mcfsd.org

We may not be jumping into a frozen lake, but we are gearing up for an icy good time to support Club Unified & Special Olympics! Instead of the traditional Polar Plunge, we’ll be taking on water balloons, ice buckets, &/or super soakers – because why freeze alone when we can share the chill?

If you’d like to support our brave (and slightly crazy) participants, we’d love donations! Every dollar helps us continue building an inclusive community at IMMS. Click HERE to donate.

Thanks for helping us make a splash for a great cause!

Stay warm (we won’t),

Heather, Katie & Club Unified Members

Attention ALL 8th Graders

Every year we join forces with the American Legion to provide an opportunity for our 8th grade students to participate in an essay writing contest. Eventually, two 8th graders receive the American Legion Award. All 8th graders are eligible to participate. All students who complete an essay will receive an honorable mention certificate and the 2 winning students will be invited to participate in the Memorial Day parade.

To apply for this award, students need to write an essay based on the tenets of the American Legion: Courage, Honor, Leadership, Patriotism, Scholarship, and Service. THIS google slide presentation will shown to 8th graders during Social Studies class and THIS google document gives details about the essay contest.

You can reach out to the 8th grade counselor, Ms. Noriega, with any questions about the essay contest.

We are excited to see our students showing school pride at athletic events! Attending games is a privilege and a great opportunity to support our teams. We ask all students to help create a safe, respectful, and fun environment by staying in assigned areas, watching the game, and following directions from game supervisors and staff. Showing good sportsmanship including cheering positively and respecting opponents, officials, and fans helps represent our school in a way we can all be proud of. As a reminder, elementary and middle school students attending high school events/games should be accompanied by a responsible adult (age 18 or older) to each of these events. Thank you for partnering with us to make every game a positive experience for everyone.

bartmaf@mcfsd.org

One of the most exciting things about IMMS is that we have multiple clubs and activities for students to be a part of. Check out our Daily Announcements LINK for clubs and co-curriculars. Try something that interests you!

Call to action: Families who collaborate with the school are 5 times more likely to improve their student’s attendance than families who don’t collaborate.

Below, you will find the "Hubs" (aka Task-List) for each grade level and Related Arts. You can click on the "Hub" to get information on what your scholar is doing in class, assignments, and assessments. As always, please use Infinite Campus to look up progress grades and turned in assignments.

Here are some helpful tips and videos that may be useful:

• How to log-in to Infinite Campus (38 second video) or HelpDoc

• How to check your scholar’s missing assignments (2 min. video) or HelpDoc

• What are Conduct and Effort Scores? (2.5 min. video)

• How to check your scholar’s Conduct and Effort Scores (3 min. video) or HelpDoc

• IMMS Standards Based Grading Presentation

• Be on Time! School starts at 8:20am. Students who arrive after 8:20am (without a medical note/appointment note, etc.) will be marked as tardy. After five tardies in one quarter, a check in meeting with the student, as well as contact home will occur to partner on ways to get the student to school on time.
• Off and Away! Cell phones and headphones must be off and away starting at 8:15am.
• Caffeinated Drinks: students may not consume caffeinated drinks while at school.
• Respect the Bubble: An area of focus this year is to teach and re-teach the importance of having students keep their hands, feet, and objects to themself. If you see this behavior, please continue to reinforce the "Respect the Bubble" expectation

More to come...

• The Anxious Generation Community Read - February 7 and 25

• Optimist Club of McFarland Free Family Bingo - February 13

• Madison Ballet: Pointes of View - February 13-15

• McFarland Dance Team Winter Kids Clinic - February 18-21

• Unjust Deeds Historical Exhibit & Program - February 21

• McFarland Youth Baseball - Registration Open through March 1

• McFarland Youth Softball - Registration Open through April 1

• McFarland Youth Soccer Referee Training Session - April 11

• Tri 4 Schools 2026 Event Series May-August

• MG Youth Lacrosse - Registration Open

• WI Association for Talented & Gifted Winter Book Club

• Madison Ballet 2025-26 Academic Year Information

• Futura 2025-26 Spanish Program at MPS and WIS

• E.D. Locke Library 500 Books Before Middle School Program

• E.D. Locke Library K-2 Magic Tree House Book Club - 2nd Tuesdays

• E.D. Locke Library 3-5 Graphic Novel Book Club - Third Tuesdays

• E.D. Locke Library Teen Snack & Chat - Mondays

• E.D. Locke Library Teen UnBook Club - First Thursdays

• E.D. Locke Library VolunTeen Program - Third Tuesdays

• Free Triple P Positive Parenting Online Program for WI Families

In January 2026, federal updates to childhood immunization schedules were announced. We want to provide clarity for our families regarding these changes and what they mean for your children in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Guidance – Despite the federal government's decision on January 5, 2026, to reduce the number of universally recommended childhood vaccines from 17 down to 11, the Wisconsin DHS continues to endorse the full, evidence-based schedule established by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Wisconsin health officials emphasize that:

• Science-Based Decisions: There is no new scientific data to justify cutting the previously recommended vaccines.

• Comprehensive Protection: The AAP schedule is specifically designed to protect children from diseases common in the United States, including the flu, hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, and meningitis—vaccines that were recently reclassified at the federal level.

• No Changes to School Requirements: Wisconsin's school and child care immunization requirements remain unchanged.

• Wisconsin Immunization Requirements (English, Spanish)

• Immunization Student Record (English, Spanish)

What Parents Should Know

• Talk to Your Doctor: We encourage you to consult with your pediatrician or healthcare provider, who continues to follow the evidence-based AAP schedule to ensure your child has the best protection possible.

• Insurance Coverage: Wisconsin law requires most health plans to cover all recommended immunizations from birth with no cost-sharing.

• Health Insurance Resources

• Check Status: Use the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) to view your child's records and see which vaccines are currently recommended. Dane County Public Health In partnership with SSM Health, GHC, UW-Health, and Madison Metropolitan School District is offering free vaccine clinics to get and keep students up to date on school vaccines. Please see the flyer , appointments strongly recommended.

For further reading, you can view the official statement: DHS Continues to Endorse Childhood Vaccine Recommendations of American Academy of Pediatrics. Thank you in your partnership to ensure safe and healthy learning for all our students!

The mix of snow, rain and cold can cause for some wet uncomfortable feet! We are looking for some donations of new socks in the health office to provide students in need. Please send in items with your student or drop off in the front office. Thank you!

Lauren Neesam, IMMS/MHS School Nurse is no longer in district, we wish her luck in her future endeavors and a big thank you to all the care she provided to our students and staff!

Please continue to reach out to all Krisy Oestreich, IMMS Health Assistant Oestrek@mcfsd.org Office# 608-838-4672 and in the interim Stephanie Peplinski, MPS/WIS School Nurse Peplins@mcfsd.org Office# 608-838-4679 with any future student needs and questions. Thank you!

Application Window: February 2 – April 30, 2026

Wisconsin’s Open Enrollment program allows families to apply for their child(ren) to attend a public school district outside of the district in which they live.

McFarland does have spots available in 4K, K, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 10th grade as well as at the Wisconsin Virtual Academy.

If you know someone who lives outside of our district and is considering open enrolling in McFarland, please direct them at our website here: https://www.mcfarland.k12.wi.us/district/prosp-open-enroll.cfm or have them contact:

• McFarland School District: Emily Broome, (608) 838-4581 or broomee@mcfsd.org

• Wisconsin Virtual Academy Schools: Jessie Buhrow at (608) 838-9482 ext. 8021, jbuhrow@wivcs.org

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction: https://dpi.wi.gov/open-enrollment?rdt=oe

Dear McFarland Families,

I am writing to share a reminder about the McFarland School District’s approach to any contact with immigration officials and, most importantly, to reaffirm our commitment to providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all students and families, regardless of immigration status.

The District developed clear guidelines in January 2025 to ensure student safety and protect family privacy. These procedures were reviewed again recently with our district safety team and local law enforcement.

At this time, we are not aware of any attempts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enter K–12 schools. While ICE has been reported near schools in some other cities, we have no reason to believe our district is a target. Even so, we believe preparation is essential and want you to know that we are prepared.

Our Commitments

• 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).

• ​Legal Access to Schools:​ The District will 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 are signed by an ICE official and are different. The McFarland School District would not comply with an administrative warrant and would deny entry, consistent with District Policy 5540- The Schools and Government Agencies. in order to preserve the educational environment of the school.

• 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. Local law enforcement would be contacted.

• 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 someone you know needs assistance.

Our schools remain focused on what matters most: teaching, learning, and caring for students. Families are valued members of our community, and we will continue to do everything within our authority to ensure schools remain places of safety, stability, and belonging.

If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at tarnuta@mcfsd.org.

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership.

Aaron Tarnutzer, Superintendent
McFarland School District

The School District of McFarland and E.D. Locke Public Library invite you to join a community book discussion.

Daily Schedule

Daily Announcements

Day A/Day B Schedule

Student Services Support Contacts

McFarland School District Website

McFarland School District App

McFarland Youth Center Website

IMMS Athletics Calendar

The McFarland School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, sex, (including gender status, change of sex or gender identity), or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability (Protected Classes) in any of its student program and activities.