Terrapin News
November 2024
Hello Terrapin Families,
November offers a wonderful chance to express GRATITUDE. This quality encompasses being thankful and ready to show appreciation and kindness to others. It invites us to pause and recognize the often-overlooked positive aspects of our lives. Practicing gratitude not only enhances our appreciation for those around us but also fosters positive emotions and enriches our experiences. Research shows that gratitude can boost our health, help us navigate challenges, and strengthen our relationships, all things that help our building continue to positively live out our Terrapin Values.
Here are some ways to get your student(s) in the habit of expressing gratefulness at home:
Model Gratitude
- In your daily interactions, model saying thank you to others and encourage them to do the same.
- Help younger children write a thank you note to someone they know with pictures or dictated sentences.
- Older children can write their own thank you cards or make thank you gifts for others who have touched their lives.
Each family member can write or draw something they are grateful for on a small piece of paper a few times a week. These can be small things or big events. At the end of the week, dedicate time to read the slips together as a family.
Here are some simple prompts that your family can journal about together at home:
- What are three activities that you enjoy doing on your own?
- Name three friends you have made at school. What is your best memory with each of them?
- Who were the last 5 people you said thank you to? Why did you say it?
As a family, make it a ritual to share three good things that happened during the day. This is a perfect way to connect during dinnertime or bedtime by simply asking each other, “What made you happy today?” or “What were three glows for the day?” And don’t forget to share your own reflection as well.
Happy November, Terrapins!
Michael Marincic, Principal
608-478-5101
Stay Connected with the SPASD App
This app allows students, staff and caregivers to access information quickly and easily. It provides access to school blackboard connect notifications, school menus, calendar, District news, Peachjar flyers and more. Students and caregivers can also access Infinite Campus via the app, which provides information regarding attendance, grades and more. To download the app, visit either the iPhone App Store or the Google Play Store.
Winter is On the Way!
With colder weather soon to come, please make sure your student(s) are dressed appropriately for outside recess!
- Hats
- Gloves or Mittens
- Fall/Winter Coat
- Boots (don't forget a change of shoes for afterwards)
**We get A LOT of lost and found items! Please make sure your student's name is on any clothing or items that may get misplaced**
SPASD Winter Guidelines for Recess
Students will stay indoors during inclement weather or when the air or wind chill temperature is at or below 0°F. The school principal will check local weather websites for temperature and wind chill factors.
Token Springs Reminders
Door Buzzer
When visiting the school, please continue to use our door buzzer system (located at the far right of the main entrance with a red sign). This is a district-wide protocol that will continue to help ensure the right people are in our building for the right reasons. Thank you for helping to keep our students safe!
Wellness Policy
Baked goods that are served or provided in the classrooms must be purchased, not homemade, and be in a wrapper which contains nutrition information and expiration date. For more information on the Sun Prairie Area School District's wellness policy, please click on the following links: Policy JHK, JHK-R
Planning on Chaperoning or Volunteering?
Are you planning on chaperoning field trips or volunteering at Token Springs this year? Criminal background checks are now completed online. If you have not had a criminal background check completed in the last 3 years, please take a moment to fill out the online criminal background check.
It can take up to two weeks for your background check to be approved. If you are planning on chaperoning any upcoming field trips or volunteering in the school, please take a moment to fill out the online criminal background check so that you are ready to go when these events occur.
Volunteer Terrapin Program
We are excited to bring back our highly successful Volunteer Terrapin program for the 2024-25 school year! Our educators will continue to populate opportunities as they settle into the school year, in the meantime, take a look at our sign-up and check out our current volunteering opportunities starting Monday, November 4th. You must have an approved criminal background check on file prior to being a volunteer terrapin.
Vision & Hearing Testing - November 18th
This fall, all students in Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th grades will have a vision screening done at school. Kindergarten students will also have a hearing screening done at this time. If you have a child in another grade that you would like us to screen or you do not want your child screened, please call the school health office at 608-478-5106.
Thank you for all the clothing donations! We could still use new, unworn underwear for boys sizes 4 and 6 and socks for girls, and sweat pants/leggings.
Barb deVenecia, School Nurse
bhdeven@sunprairieschools.org
The Spirit of Giving 2026
Click here to visit the Sunshine Place website for more information regarding the Spirit of Giving.
Bus Delays and Emergencies
Please remember that buses may be slightly delayed when we are experiencing snow and icy conditions. Anything within 5 minutes of the scheduled arrival time is considered “on time.”
If your child’s bus is delayed and/or evacuated for any reason (bus breakdown, emergency, etc.) students must stay with the driver and wait for further instructions. If another bus is dispatched, students are to ride that bus and only get off at their assigned stop.
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Recuerde que los autobuses pueden retrasarse un poco cuando estamos experimentando condiciones de nieve y hielo. Cualquier cosa dentro de los 5 minutos de la hora de llegada programada se considera "a tiempo".
Si el autobús de su hijo se retrasa y/o es evacuado por cualquier motivo (avería del autobús, emergencia, etc.), los estudiantes deben quedarse con el conductor y esperar más instrucciones. Si se despacha otro autobús, los estudiantes deben viajar en ese autobús y solo bajarse en la parada asignada.
Token Springs Elementary School
Website: https://www.sunprairieschools.org/token-springs-home
Location: 1435 North Thompson Road, Sun Prairie, WI, USA
Phone: (608) 478-5100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TokenSpringsElementary/