Back to School Info 2021-2022

Email: prairie_attendance@waunakee.k12.wi.us
Website: waunakee.k12.wi.us/prairie/
Location: 700 N. Madison Street, Waunakee, WI 53597
Phone: 608-849-2200

Dear Prairie Elementary Student and Family:

We hope that your family has been able to take time together this past summer to relax, refresh, and connect with other family and friends. The journey that we have all endured over the past year with COVID has not only provided us with new opportunities to navigate through, but has also enlightened us with new approaches that have proven to be effective and efficient. Those “silver linings” continue to move us forward with our thinking with new energy and opportunity. It is exciting to share that some of the changes that we have instituted in response to the pandemic have helped us look outside of the box and will continue to be a part of our regular operations. We are committed to providing an engaging environment that captivates the “wonder of learning” for all students.

We are very excited to welcome everyone back and happy to welcome a few new staff members. Mrs. Catherine (Katie) Schmuck (Associate Principal), Ms. Katerina (Kat) Hartigan (School Psychologist), Ms. Brittany Phelps (LMTC Director), Ms. Cassandra (Cassie) Roberts (Educational Technology Specialist) and Mrs. Tara Meffert (permanent building substitute). We are fortunate to continue to add these great people to our exemplary staff. Additionally, Mrs. Julie Tepp will be shifting to 1st grade at Prairie, Mr. Steven Helmke has transitioned to Heritage as a 3rd grade teacher, Ms. Julia Staubhaar has transitioned to Heritage as a 4th grade teacher, and Ms. Melissa Hlavacka has shifted to 3rd grade at Prairie.

District Online Registration information was emailed to you through Infinite Campus on July 29th. Step by step directions for completing the online registration is available by clicking here. Please contact Julie Gengler by email juliegengler@waunakee.k12.wi.us if you have any questions about the online registration process. We truly appreciate all your efforts in getting this important information to us. Thank you!

Updates and information specific to Prairie Elementary are included in this message. Please read the S’more message and the Back to School Reference Guide for information on paying school fees and updates on conferences, photo day and other important back to school information.

We look forward to another great year. Thank you for your collaborative commitment as we provide the best educational experience for each child at Prairie Elementary. Please feel free to contact us in the Prairie Office to ask questions at any time. Thank you for making Prairie a great school.

Sincerely,

Mr. Kaminski and Mrs. Schmuck

Please click here for a 1 page document that highlights important back-to-school items.

Daily Going Home Form:

English--Click Here

Spanish--Click Here

Unexpected Early Dismissal Form:

English & Spanish--Click Here

Please pay your 2020-2021 School Fees by logging into your parent portal in Infinite Campus.

• For Grade 4 pay: Registration Fee, Assignment Notebook, Recorder for Music Class (available to purchase in the Infinite Campus Store for new Prairie students or replacement for lost/damaged recorder)

• For Grade 3 pay: Registration Fee, Assignment Notebook, Recorder for Music Class (Please purchase online in the Infinite Campus School Store)

• For Grade 2 pay: Registration Fee, Assignment Notebook

• For Grade 1 pay: Registration Fee

• For Kindergarten: Registration Fee, Rest Mat (on school supply list)

Morning milk/water is an optional item that can be purchased through the Infinite Campus School Store. If you have any questions regarding morning milk or your student's lunch account, please contact Taher at 608-849-2185.

If you think your family may qualify for Free or Reduced fees, please click on this link for application materials. If you have questions or need help with the paperwork, please contact Ms. Biddick at rebeccabiddick@waunakee.k12.wi.us

There have been changes to our Electronic Payment System and which fees have been assigned to your student's account. This year you will need to re-enter your payment method, and possibly purchase certain supplies (recorders) through the Infinite Campus online store. Please click here to see the memo from our Business Office regarding these and other changes.

Click here for the school supply lists for all grades.

If you ordered a School Supply Pack for the 2021-22 school year, you will be able to pick up supplies at Meet & Greet night in your child’s classroom. If you can not make it to Meet & Greet and need to make alternate arrangements for pick up, please contact the Prairie Office. 608-849-2200

We need volunteers again to help supervise our playgrounds at lunchtime and to clean student desks for lunch in the classrooms. It is important that your volunteer background check form is up-to-date prior to volunteering in our schools. If you submitted your information last year, you do not need to resubmit for this year. If you are not sure if you have a background check on file, please contact the Prairie Office at 608-849-2200.

Please click here to see the Volunteer Sign Up Genius. Thank you!!

School Photos will be taken by Lifetouch Photography on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 during normal school hours. Photo information will be sent home in your child’s Thursday folder on September 2, 2021. Additional ordering information will be available in the Weekly Peek. Picture retake day is currently scheduled for Thursday, October 14, 2021.

Note: All students MUST get their photo taken, but you are not required to purchase a package.

If your child is going to be missing instruction or changing their going home plans, please email the teacher and the attendance email prairie_attendance@waunakee.k12.wi.us

For your convenience, our attendance line has a 24/7 voicemail and an email address that you may use anytime. You may call the attendance line at (608)849-2200 ext 1 or email at prairie_attendance@waunakee.k12.wi.us to leave a message with your child's name, teacher's name, reason for absence and your name & phone number in case we need to reach you.

If there is a last minute change, please call the office at 608-849-2200 ext. 1.

If you'll be seeing a medical provider, please obtain a note and forward it to the attendance email and we'll be happy to code the absence as medically excused.

We are asking that all in-person students bring a LABELED & FILLED water bottle with them each day when they come to school. Please make sure your student can use the bottle on their own and the bottle is shatterproof, plastic preferred.

All water fountains (bubblers) will be turned off and are non-functioning.

Face masks will be required for ALL staff and students in all district buildings beginning on August 16, 2021. According to school board guidelines, masks must be:

• A piece of cloth or other material that is worn to cover the nose and mouth completely

• The material must be at least 2 ply (gaiters are not approved coverings)

• The material must not see through

• There shall be no valves or openings

Click here for the monthly lunch menus.

Back to School Letter English 2021-22

Free and Reduced Meal Application Instructions English 2021-22

Back to School Letter Spanish 2021-22

Free and Reduced Meal Application Instructions Spanish 2021-22

Contact:

Kelly Regali, 849-2185 ext.1 for Lunch account questions

Jessica Dargenio, 849-2185 ext. 2 for Free and Reduced Meal Information

Connie Vacho, 849-2185 ext. 3 Director of Food Services

Prairie Elementary School, 700 N. Madison Street, Waunakee, WI 53597

Main office: 608-849-2200 ext 0

Attendance: 608-849-2200 ext 1

Health Office: 608-849-2200 ext 2

Fax Number: 608-849-2255

Dean Kaminski, Principal, deankaminski@waunakee.k12.wi.us

Katie Schmuck Associate Principal, catherineschmuck@waunakee.k12.wi.us

Erin Mayrand, Administrative Assistant, erinmayrand@waunakee.k12.wi.us

Shelley Finnel, Administrative Assistant Attendance, shelleyfinnel@waunakee.k12.wi.us

Attendance Email, prairie_attendance@waunakee.k12.wi.us

Diane Laubenstein, Health Assistant, dianelaubenstein@waunakee.k12.wi.us