Huskies Have HEART Newsletter
August 30, 2026
Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year!!
Hello Central Heights families! We are excited to get school started this week! Remember that our school day will run from 8:25am - 3:40pm this school year! Our doors will open at 8:10am each day for breakfast! Throughout the school year, our weekly newsletter will be in your inbox around 10:00am on Sunday mornings.
Here are a few important dates to keep in mind as the school year begins:
Tuesday, September 1st: First day of school!
Wednesday, September 2nd: Picture Day!! Picture Day Informational Flyer
Planning for Student Chromebooks Coming Home
During the week of September 8, students will start bringing home their school-issued device to charge every night. The Chromebook rollout schedule is as follows:
September 8 - 8th grade
September 9 - 7th grade
September 10 - 6th grade
In preparation for this, students are receiving two Chromebook orientation lessons that go over the expectations for care and use of the device that is on loan from the Sun Prairie Area School District. All of these expectations are outlined in the Middle School Student Digital Device Agreement that students will sign and commit to in order to have a device for learning.
The bottom line of the agreement is that students are only allowed to use this device for learning with the direction of their teachers, and they need to keep it safe. Students who are struggling to follow those two agreements will receive support to help build the skills they need in order to be able to follow them.
As caregivers, we appreciate your partnership around Chromebook expectations and use. In preparation for devices coming home, if you could please do the following:
Get the Securly Home app for monitoring and controlling your student’s Chromebook use on nights and weekends. Here are the directions to get you started.
Discuss a routine for charging the Chromebook each night and returning it to school the next day. (If this routine has the device charging in the student’s bedroom, please set up the controls in your Securly home app to turn off wifi to the device at their bedtime to prevent overnight use.)
Discuss that this Chromebook is on loan from the school district as a learning tool only, and that you support it being used as such.
Note: Even though they will be bringing a Chromebook home to charge, they should not have a lot of use for it in the evenings. We want students to get outside, exercise, play with friends and family, read books they enjoy, enjoy their sports and activities, and relax in the evenings, preferably off screens as much as possible. If your student is reporting they have lots of homework that requires the use of the Chromebook at night, please check in with their teachers about that.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your student’s school-issued Chromebook, we are here to support you! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Mindy Grant, the Central Heights Library Media Specialist, at any time at mlgrant@sunprairieschools.org or 608-318-8000 ext. 5824.
Calendar Check:
Tuesday, September 1st: First day of school!
Wednesday, September 2nd: Picture Day!! Picture Day Informational Flyer
Friday, September 4th - CHMS First Friday dress up days for the year.
To start off September we encourage 6th graders to dress in gray, 7th graders teal, and 8th graders black OR students can wear any Husky gear they have to show school spirit. We can't wait to see students each month in their themed attire!
In order to call your student out absent/excuse them from school, please call our attendance line: 608-318-8020.
Please keep your child home if they have symptoms of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, such as cough, fever, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea. Let us know (by calling: 318-8020) if they test positive for any communicable disease, such as COVID, influenza, strep, or pertussis. Your school's health assistant can provide guidance on when your child can return to school after testing positive.
Free and Reduced Meals and Fee Waiver Information
If you would like to apply for Free or Reduced status, please fill out the application for free or reduced price school meals. Please see the links below for directions, the application, and frequently asked questions document. You only need to submit one application per household, even if your children attend more than one school in Sun Prairie. The application must be filled out completely to certify your children for free or reduced price school meals. Be sure to list each of your children on the application form. If at any time you are not sure what to do next, please contact the Sun Prairie School District, Nutrition Department, 501 S. Bird St., Sun Prairie WI 53590 or email nutritiondepartment@sunprairieschools.org or call (608) 834-6544.
If you want to share your Free and Reduced status with Central Heights in order to request fee waivers for things like athletic fees, activity and club fees, course fees, and or summer school fees, please contact our school social worker, Matt Jahnke at (608) 318-8009 or mtjahnk@sunprairieschools.org
Comidas gratis y a precio reducido e información sobre exención de tarifas
Si desea solicitar el estado Gratis o Reducido, complete la solicitud para comidas escolares gratuitas o de precio reducido. Consulte los enlaces a continuación para obtener instrucciones, la solicitud y el documento de preguntas frecuentes. Solo necesita presentar una solicitud por hogar, incluso si sus hijos asisten a más de una escuela en Sun Prairie. La solicitud debe completarse en su totalidad para certificar que sus hijos reciban comidas escolares gratuitas o de precio reducido. Asegúrese de incluir a cada uno de sus hijos en el formulario de solicitud. Si en algún momento no está seguro de qué hacer a continuación, comuníquese con el Departamento de Nutrición del Distrito Escolar de Sun Prairie, 501 S. Bird St., Sun Prairie WI 53590 o envíe un correo electrónico nutritiondepartment@sunprairieschools.org o llame al (608) 834-6544.
Preguntas Frecuentes Sobre Comida Escolar Gratis y a Precio Reducido
Formulario de Solicitud Gratis y Reducido (descargar para completar)
Si desea compartir su estado Gratis o Reducido con Central Heights para solicitar exenciones de tarifas para cosas como tarifas deportivas, tarifas de actividades y clubes, tarifas de cursos o tarifas de la escuela de verano, comuníquese con nuestro trabajador social de la escuela, Matt Jahnke al ( 608) 318-8009 o mtjahnk@sunprairieschools.orgzoom_out_maphow in original size
Please scan the QR code to apply to volunteer in our schools!
Are You Eligible for Fee Waivers?
Are you eligible for Free and Reduced lunches? If you share your eligibility for Free and reduced lunches with your student’s building administration, you can request fee waivers for sports and other school activities. Please complete this form if you want to request fee waivers.
Join Our Cross Country and Running Club Team!
Cross Country sign-ups opened August 1st through Infinite Campus! If you're ready for an exhilarating season of running, teamwork, and personal growth, this is the perfect opportunity for you.
We're extending a warm welcome to all sixth graders to participate in the running club. Running club will practice with the Cross Country team but will not compete in official meets. 6th graders will have the chance to develop their skills, build endurance, and lay the foundation for future seasons as official cross country members!
Get a Head Start
To all aspiring athletes, we encourage you to get a jump start on your season by incorporating run/walk sessions into your routine before our first practice! Also be sure that you have an up-to-date physical form on file with the school. You can access a copy here and send it electronically to your athlete's doctor if they've had a physical in the past year.
Athletes can only participate in practice once the office has their physical form on file. Be sure to get this done before school starts so there is no delay for your runner!
Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to be a part of our Cross Country family. Sign up now on Infinite Campus and let's make this season one to remember!
Directions for Infinite Campus sign up and paying the fee can be found in the Volleyball section.
For any questions or inquiries, please contact
Cross Country:
April Lawler aslawle@sunprairieschools.org
James Gutsch jogutsc@sunprairieschools.org
Running club:
Kelly Murphy ktmurph@sunprairieschools.org
Let's get ready to run!
The Central Heights fall sports season is around the corner, and we’re excited for Girls Volleyball!
All 7th and 8th grade students are welcome, no prior experience needed.
** Practice Information
Start Date: Wednesday, September 2nd
Time: 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM
Days: Monday–Thursday
** Game (and practice) Schedule link-
To participate in any sport, items 1-3 need to be completed
1) Sports Physical Form
Must be turned in to the main office or sports coordinator Tim Herman (hard copy), or emailed to tjherma@sunprairieschools.org
Physical must be dated on or after April 1, 2025
If your child does not have a current physical, please schedule one with your doctor.
Form must be signed, dated, and stamped by a physician
Appointment summaries, vaccination reports, or MyChart printouts are not accepted
Physical form- Physical 2026 2027.pdf. More information- Sports physical
2 and 3) Sign up on Infinite Campus and pay the sport’s fee ($20 per sport)
Must be done from a caretaker IC account- athletes cannot sign themselves up.
Directions for sign up- https://www.loom.com/share/23eb95a3b1dd45ebbf02e4219c7beacf
Log into Infinite Campus from a CARETAKER account (students cannot sign up)
Left side options. Select ‘School Store’
Click on Central Heights ‘Shop’ button
Select the sport you are signing up for, click ‘View’
Pick your athlete. Add it to the cart
Scroll up. Find items in your cart in the upper right hand corner. Click ‘My Cart’
Click on the blue ‘Submit’ button on the bottom of the page
Confirm and submit payment, click ‘Yes’
You will get a receipt emailed from Infinite Campus
Fee waivers are available for eligible students here
If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out. We’re happy to help! Thank you, and we look forward to a great season!
Tim Herman
Central Heights Sports Coordinator
tjherma@sunprairieschools.org
Important Safety Update: District Launches Speak Up Speak Out Reporting Tool
Fostering a culture of safety, accountability, and mental health support is essential to the Sun Prairie Area School District. To enhance our campus safety protocols, our district is transitioning to use a reporting system called Speak Up Speak Out (SUSO) for all safety concerns. In the past, we used SUSO specifically for reporting threats of school violence. Now, we are transitioning to use it for any safety-related concern.
What is Speak Up Speak Out?
Speak Up Speak Out is a comprehensive, confidential safety reporting system supported by state safety resources.
Students and families can use SUSO to report a wide range of concerns, including:
Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Harassment
Threats of School Violence or Weapons
Peer Mental Health & Crisis Situations (e.g., self-harm, severe distress, depression)
Drug or Alcohol Misuse
Any Other Safety or Campus Concerns
SUSO has many benefits that helped us make the decision to transition away from other electronic reporting systems:
Empowers Student Voice: Gives students a direct, secure option to speak up when they notice concerning behavior online or in person.
100% Confidential Option: Removes the fear of social retaliation by allowing students to submit tips confidentially.
Round-the-Clock Monitoring: Reports are monitored 24/7/365 to ensure urgent threats or mental health crises receive immediate attention.
Collaborative Intervention: Connects school administrators, counselors, and local safety teams to provide targeted supports.
Accessing the Speak Up Speak Out portal is quick and straightforward:
District Website: Click the Speak Up Speak Out link located on the main page of our district and school websites.
Web Search: Search "SUSO Wisconsin" in any browser to reach the main reporting site.
Bookmark this link so you have quick access if you ever need to use it.
We ask that you review this tool with your student and reinforce the message that reporting a concern can save lives, help our schools be safer spaces, and support peers in crisis.
Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our schools safe.
Did you know that you can utilize Campus Portal to receive alerts when your student is marked absent or tardy? Here’s a video on how to set your campus portal notifications to receive these alerts