The Howl
October 19, 2025

February 22nd, 2026
📆 Upcoming Events
February 23rd- Our History, Our Plate - BSU Soul Food - 6PM - 8PM
February 23rd-26th- Black Spirit Week 💚💛💖
February 25th- BSU Showcase - 6PM - 8PM
February 26th- Spring Parent Teacher Conferences - 4PM - 8PM
February 27th- No School - Spring Parent Teacher Conferences - 7AM - 12PM
March 10th- ACT - JUNIORS ONLY, NO SCHOOL FOR 9TH, 10TH, 12TH GRADE
March 17th- ACT Make Up Day
March 23rd-27th - No School - Spring Break
🎓 Verona Area High School is Hosting a Spring Wisconsin Education Fair (WEF)!
Join us on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 for this exciting opportunity! Students and families are welcome to attend on their own.
📌 Event Details
👥 Who: Area High School Students (Junior class highly encouraged!)
🏫 What: Wisconsin Education Fair
📅 When: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Where: Verona Area High School Field House
(234 Wildcat Way, Verona, WI)
🎓✨ We are bringing 70+ representatives from colleges, universities, trade schools, and the Military directly to your students!
📱🔎 Scan & Connect
We want students talking, not writing!
Students should register online to receive a personal barcode.
📲 Print it or keep it on their phone to be scanned by representatives—
🚫 No more filling out dozens of paper interest cards!
Student Registration: WI Education Fair Registration
Library Updates and Information 📖
Students, check out the updates and reminders from the library for this semester. Please stop in if you have any questions!
“Our History, Our Plate”
Join SP West’s BSU for a shared meal on Monday, February 23rd, as we celebrate a cuisine that is close to our hearts: Soul Food. This event will take place from 6 to 8 PM in the Commons, where we will enjoy food, listen to music, and build community together. The cost per plate is $15. Please fill out the information below to reserve your seat in advance. For any inquiries, reach out to Shay Pollard at sjpolla@sunprairieschools.org. We can't wait to see you there!
BSU Showcase
📍Location: SP West PAC
⏰Time: 6PM - 8PM
💲Admission: $5
On Tuesday, March 10, all SPASD 11th grade scholars will participate in the ACT during the school day. Students will test at their primary school site (Sun Prairie East, Sun Prairie West, or PPA for JEDI scholars).
The ACT is Wisconsin’s state-required assessment for juniors, is free to students, and is an important opportunity for students to demonstrate their learning and readiness for college and career pathways.
🎯 Why the ACT?
The ACT allows students to:
Demonstrate academic learning and skills
Show college and career readiness
Decide whether to share scores with colleges and scholarship programs
ACT results are also used for:
State and district accountability reporting
Schoolwide reflection on strengths and growth areas
📝 Registration
Students will pre-register at school during the week of March 2 utilizing a personal email
📚 Test Preparation & Resources
Free ACT Prep is available through Methodize in Xello
(Students Log in → scroll to the bottom → select Methodize Test Prep)Additional ACT preparation resources will be shared by school staff
🔍 Test Day Details (March 10)
What to bring:
Picture ID
Fully charged Chromebook and charger
May bring ACT-approved calculators
What not to bring (Items will be secured in a locked/supervised location):
Backpacks or large bag
Cell phones, smart watches, or other electronics
Food or drinks
Important notes:
Students arriving after testing begins will be scheduled for the make-up test on March 17
Dismissal will be at 1pm. Students with individualized testing schedules will receive additional communication from assessment coordinators.
ℹ️ Additional Information
Testing room assignments and schedules will be shared closer to the test date
Students testing with accommodations through an IEP, 504 Plan, or Multilianguage Learner Plan will receive additional details
Family resources:
📊 Results
Scores will be available in myACT several weeks after testing
Paper score reports are mailed 3–8 weeks after testing
Students choose whether to send scores to colleges and may add schools in myACT up to two days after testing (as long as they pre-register); students can make selections as part of the pre-registration process during the week of March 2
Thank you for partnering with us to support our 11th grade scholars during this important milestone. We look forward to a smooth, supportive testing experience for all students.
With appreciation,
SPASD Assessment Team
YA Information Meetings
Dane County is hosting a virtual Youth Apprenticeship Information Meeting on March 11. More information and a link to register for the information session can be found HERE.
*All students interested in a Youth Apprenticeship with UW Health or in Biotech (BTCI) must attend the meeting on March 11.
*** Sun Prairie will host Work Based Learning informational meetings on:
* Tuesday, March 17 at 6 p.m. in SP West Small Theater
* Wednesday, March 18 at 6 p.m. in SP East LMC
🕐 WIN Time
Sophomores and Juniors interested in taking college courses in Fall 2026 should submit applications by March 1! Applications are available in Student Services
College Rep Visits
Representatives from the following college will be in Student Services during SP30 this week.
Thursday, February 26 - Madison College
📗 Classroom Corner
AVID
AVID 11 students have been busy preparing for the ACT on Tuesday, March 10th! We’ve had several content experts join us to teach us specific strategies to use for taking each test. Thanks to Ms. Rogers, Mr. Annen, Ms. Griffin, and Ms. Koeppel for visiting and sharing your expertise!
Music
Cellists in our Chamber Orchestra are shown here working in sectionals to perfect their ensemble. It paid off because Chamber Orchestra received a 1* rating on their performance and are headed to State Solo Ensemble in April. Congratulations!
🎉 Student Recognition
Students from East and West Drama Departments were celebrated this week by the SP Optimist Club!
🚩 In Case You Missed It
Dear Sun Prairie West High School Students, Parents, and Caregivers,
We are writing to provide an update on the hiring process for the next principal of Sun Prairie West High School. The position will be posted this week, and our goal is to recommend a candidate to the Board of Education this spring.
To identify and select the best candidate, we are designing a multi-round interview process that will take place in the coming weeks.
Your perspective is invaluable in this process. We invite you to complete a brief survey to share your thoughts and provide input into the hiring process. Additionally, the survey includes an option to express interest in joining our interview teams, which are tentatively scheduled for April 3rd and April 7th during school hours. Please note that, depending on the number of interested students, parents, and caregivers, we may be unable to accommodate all who volunteer. Invitations for selected participants will be sent in March. We are also planning for a community session open to all interested during the evening of April 7th.
Thank you for your time and consideration. We appreciate your support as we work together to hire the next leader of Sun Prairie West High School.
Best regards,
Dr. Sarah Chaja-Clardy
Director of Secondary - Teaching, Learning, and Equity
UW Madison Precollege Business Events
The following opportunities are being offered by the UW Madison School of Business and Precollege Programs. Event information and application materials are included in the linked handout:
Her View, Her Voice: Exploring Business - April 11, open to all grade levels (applications due March 13)
Precollege Summer Camp: Business Basics - June 15-18, for current freshmen (applications due by April 30)
Precollege Summer Camp: Junior Business Basics - June 22-25 OR June 29-July 2, for current sophomores and juniors (applications due by April 30)
UW Madison Engineering Summer Program
UW Madison is hosting an Engineering Summer Program from July 11-July 31. Current sophomores and juniors can apply by March 2. More information and application links can be found on this website.
Senior Cap and Gown
Seniors: Remember that you need to place your order for your Senior Cap and Gown for graduation. Orders can be placed through the Midwest Scholastic store linked here.
Running as a PACK
We continue to run together as a PACK. Our universal expectations are that we approach everything we do in our community with Pride, Accountability, Collaboration and Kindness.
Follow Us on Facebook
Donations
We kindly invite you to support our school community by contributing to student recognition, staff appreciation efforts, and cap-and-gown assistance for graduating seniors. Your generosity helps us celebrate hard work, honor dedication, and ensure every student can walk proudly at graduation. Thank you for making a meaningful difference! Donations can now be made through the Infinite Campus school store. Donation Link
Event Guideliness
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 West students will need their student ID or if they have not yet received their 25/26 student ID, they will need to look up their Infinite Campus profile. This can be done in advance and screenshotted for quick access.
Building Hours
- Building opens at 8:05: Students may enter the building at 8:05 and will remain in the commons 8:20. Between 8:05-8:20 students may eat breakfast and socialize in the commons. At 8:20 students may begin to move to their classes.
- If your transportation situation makes it impossible to drop off your students later than 8:05 they will be allowed to stand in the vestibule (between the glass doors) until 8:05, particularly on inclement weather days
- Building Closes at 4:00: At 4:00pm the building closes daily. All students must be with an adult (coach, club/activity, 5th hour tutoring, etc) or leave the building for safety as we do not have supervision available after 4:00pm.
Please plan rides, drop off/pick up accordingly.
Schedules
Our A/B Day Schedule and our Regular Bell Schedule. The A/B Day schedule is set for the year and will not change even if we have snow/cold days. Please note that Semester 1 starts and ends on an A Day and Semester 2 starts and ends on a B Day.
Statement of Nondiscrimination
STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION
No student may be unlawfully discriminated against in any school programs, activities or in facilities usage because of the student’s sex (gender identity, gender expressions, and non-conformity to gender role stereotypes), color, religion, profession, or demonstration of belief or non-belief, race, national origin (including limited English proficiency), ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, homelessness status, sexual orientation, age, or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability. Harassment is a form of discrimination and shall not be tolerated in the District. It is the responsibility of administrators, staff members and all students to ensure that student discrimination or harassment does not occur.
If a student or parent/caregiver would prefer to have this information translated into Spanish, please contact us at 608-834-6620. Si un estudiante, padre ó guardian prefiere tener esta información traducida en Español, por favor contactenos en el 608-834-6620.
If a student or parent/caregiver would prefer to have this information translated into Hmong, please contact us at 608-834-6630. Yog tus me nyuam lub xiv los yog niam thiab txiv/tus neeg muaj cai saib xyuas tus me nyuam xav tau qhov ntawv ntawm no ua lus Hmoob, thov hais rau peb paub rau ntawm 608-834-6630.