Welcome to May... Maycember! May is an incredible time of year full of celebrations as we wrap up an outstanding school year and prepare for summer. Check out the list of Upcoming Events to mark your calendar for all of the things! Enjoy this musical parody calling out all that is Maycember. We can't wait to see you at all of the events coming up. We also celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander month and honor Mental Health awareness month with the celebration of Mental Health Awareness Week this week. Read on to meet Officer Anderson, our SRO for the remainder of the year and celebrate Officer Sessums on the birth of his twin baby girls.

There's a lot in this week's Howl. Check it out!

• Greetings Wolf Pack!
• Upcoming Events
• AANHPI Heritage Month
• Mental Health Awareness Week
• Celebrate Mr. Branch!
• Mental Health Awareness Week
• Prom Tickets on Sale!
• Educator Appreciation Week!
• AP Exam Season is Here
• College Visits
• FFA Plant Sale
• Welcome and Congratulations!
• Summer Celebration
• SENIORS!
• Spotlights!
• Wolf Study Lounge
• In Case you Missed It!

May 4th- Jazz Band Send-Off Concert to New York 7:30pm

May 5th-8th- Prom tickets on sale for SP West Juniors and Seniors only through Go Fan- closes 11:59pm on May 8th (HARD DEADLINE).

May 5th- 16th- AP Testing

May 6th- Mr. Branch Celebrated on NBC15 during 6pm newscast as an honorable mention for Crystal Apple

May 8th- SP West Blood Drive 9am-2pm

May 8th- Housing is Wellness Renting 101 Fieldtrip

May 10th- Prom!- 8pm-11pm- Monona Terrace- More details to come!

May 11th- Last day to order from the GSA fundraiser: https://sppride2025.itemorder.com/shop/home/

May 14th- Senior Celebration Night 6:00-8:00pm, West PAC, Free SP West Senior Yard Signs given out that night

May 20th- STEM Academy Graduation Celebration- Mitby Theater- 4:30-7:00pm- 1701 Wright St. Madison

May 23rd- NHS Induction Ceremony- West PAC- 7:00pm-8:00pm

May 27th- AVID Senior Night Class of 2025- West PAC 6:00-8:00pm

June 6th- May-ttendance Celebration- Food trucks during lunch

June 10th- Senior Walks- Details to come

June 11th- Summer Celebration- 2:30-3:45 for all students

June 12th- PPA Graduation

June 12th- Last day of school- 12:15pm release

June 13th- Graduation!

This past Friday we commemorated the end of Hmong Heritage month for the year and kicked off Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander month with a schoolwide SP30 lesson highlighting the history of the celebration and celebrating the contributions and voices of members of this important communities. Check out the SP30 slides and a couple of the videos that students watched on Friday. We had several SP30s that were led by their Hmong or AANHPI students, sharing their voice and their story while going through the lesson. This is what One West looks like!

Mr. Caryscine Branch is one of our incredible Special Education Assistants at West. In addition to helping our awesome scholars day in and day out over the last three years he has also been seen welcoming in ALL of our Wolves in the morning at the front doors, ALWAYS volunteering at Adapted Sports and greeting EVERY student with a smile. He is being honored this week as an Honorable Mention for the Crystal Apple Award Tuesday Night, May 6th during the 6pm news cast on NBC 15. Please join us in celebrating Mr. Branch.

SPW Student Services is celebrating a week of wellness for Mental Health month! Sign up for WIN activities in Flexischedule! Juniors and Seniors can also attend a field trip to Sunshine Place on Thursday to learn about renting and housing basics! Students can sign up HERE while space lasts, before Wednesday!

Questions? Reach out to your School Social Worker!

• Susi Sirianni (last names A - K) at sesiria@sunprairieschools.org
• Caitlin Fahey (last names L- Z) at cmfahey@sunprairieschools.org

Prom tickets are on sale May 5th-May 8th and available for West Juniors and Seniors through Go Fan. Ticket sales stop at 11:50pm on May 8th. Hard deadline. No tickets will be sold after that time. The code it asks for when buying tickets is your student ID number.

It's Educator Appreciation week! This week we celebrate our Educators and ALL that they do day in and day out for our scholars. Please help us celebrate them. Here are some ideas:

• Donate items for our Grab and Go Breakfast tomorrow morning to the Front Office between 7:30am-8:00am
• Send hand written notes/cards to your teachers. STUDENTS- teachers particularly LOVE these from you.
• Stop by the front office and give a cash or check donation to support teacher celebration events.
• Submit a Google Form SHOUT OUT below...

AP scholars... the time has come! You have prepared for this... you are ready. Over the next two weeks you have the opportunity to show off your knowledge and skills on the National Exam. You are more than a test score and regardless of how the exam goes you have grown, learned and developed as a learner and a leader this year. Do your best and let it rest.

A huge shout out to Amy Cassiday for ALL of the work that goes into all that is the logistics of AP exam scheduling. We have HUNDREDS of students that will be taking not just one but often 2, 3 or more tests over the next two weeks.

Wolves- A reminder that there may be students taking tests in conference rooms and other settings based on their individualized plans. Please be respectful of these scholars as they test.

A rep from Madison College will be here on Thursday, May 8 during WIN time. Sign up in FlexiSched with Mrs. Griffin.

A HUGE SHOUT OUT to Ms. Herman and ALL of our Ag teachers for their work with the annual Plant Sale on Saturday. Not only is this an incredible fundraiser that allows the FFA Program to thrive with trips and competitions but it is an incredible community event. Missed it or forgot something? Have not fear!

From Monday 5/5 to Thursday 5/8 at the Sun Prairie East Greenhouse we will still be selling our plants! You can stop by from 4-6pm each day to buy any last minute plants and browse our wonderful selection. All proceeds help support our FFA chapters. See the image below for what to expect!

Please join us in giving a warm Wolf welcome to Officer Shamika Anderson who will be joining us for the rest of the school year and a Wolf congratulations to Officer Sessums who welcomed twin baby girls on Friday. Babies Imogene and Normagene were born Friday afternoon and everyone is happy, healthy and doing great!

Officer Anderson has been with us for the last two weeks getting to know our community as she prepared to take over for Royse for the remainder of the school year while he is spending time with his family. She will now be our SRO for the remainder of the school year. Get to know Officer Anderson more here: My name is Shamika Anderson, I have currently been with the Sun Prairie Police Department for approximately 3 years as a Patrol officer. I was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and I have three adorable children: twin girls 12 and an 18-year-old son. I am very passionate about mentoring children and bridging the gap between law enforcement and the community. “My vision is to build relationships with children through transparency, I want them to know me on good terms and not just when I am investigating an incident involving them or their family.” I am looking forward to working as a School Resource Officer and building relationships.

When: Wednesday, June 11th in the afternoon

What: Outdoor Activities w/ Students & Staff, Cookout, & Food Trucks!!!

Time: 2:24pm - 3:45pm – bell schedule

Where: Athletic Fields & Outdoor Spaces

Purpose: To come together as a West Community before we leave for the summer, and to strengthen relationships and celebrate the year.

Donations: We are gearing up for our annual End of the Year Celebration! Details are being planned as we speak. This annual tradition is a wonderful way to celebrate teachers and students on a job well done throughout the year, and to kick off summer.

Please consider donating items in the form of food and/or cash donations. We will be accepting:

• Hotdog/brat buns - bring in perishable items the week of June 9th

• Condiments: ketchup, mustard, pickles etc.

• Assorted chips and/or snacks

• Bottled waters

• Water flavorings: crystal light packets, gatorade packets etc.

• Plastic silverware: forks, spoons, knives

• Plates

• Napkins

*Please bring all items, and cash donations to the SP West Front Office anytime from 7:00 am - 3:45 pm. Starting now until June 10th. Your contributions are vital to keeping our programs running, and celebrating our students! We greatly appreciate all your help and support!

There will be a Graduation Information Meeting on Friday, May 16th during SP30 (10:08-10:38). We will discuss the logistics of the ceremony and frequently asked questions. The slideshow will be shared out in the HOWL following the event for students who cannot attend.

If you have questions in the meantime, please refer to our graduation website and FAQ document.

Sun Prairie West defeated Waunakee on Thursday night, final score 19 to 15. It was a great game, go Wolves!

Last week, we celebrated Children's Day with a festival at SP West! There was food, dancing, art, and community resources. Thank you to our staff and community partners for making this event possible and to everyone who attended!

Last week, students in Economics participated in Reality Rocks! This is a personal finance simulation where students have a household profile with an income that they will use to manage their expenses for the month. Thank you to the Business Education Partnership (BEP) for their partnership and sponsorship of this incredible event. We have many community volunteers who run the businesses and economic activities in Reality Rocks! and students gain valuable personal finance experience. A special thank you to Ms. Andreasen, Mr. Cook, Mr. Thompson, and Ms. Foster for running this amazing event.

Students in Ms. Herrera’s World History class are doing a station activity learning about different events that occurred during the Cold War and determining which had the greatest impact on the world.

New Year, Same Supports! We’re excited to share some updates to our before and after school tutoring support program to better support your learning:

• Afternoon Study Lounge Relocated: The afternoon study hall has been moved to a new space—the Library—to provide a more focused and resource-rich environment.

• Additional Teacher Support: We’ve added more teachers to our tutoring sessions to ensure students get the help they need.

Be sure to take advantage of these new changes and set yourself up for success this year!

Let’s make this a fantastic year of learning and growth!

We need YOUR input too! Do you have an idea of something that should be included in the Howl? Your ideas are always welcome. Email our Admin Associate to the Principal, Jordain Blank at jnblank@sunprairieschools.org.

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.

(SPASD District Policy JB)

If a student or parent/guardian 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/guardian 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.

We strive to keep The Howl as streamlined as possible with all of the important information for our community. To the end once something has appeared in The Howl, it will move here to the "In Case you Missed It!" section. Take a moment to peruse and make sure you have not missed important info!

Support our SP West GSA Club by purchasing some apparel to wear during Pride Month (or every month!). Store is open until May 11th, and orders will be ready for delivery around May 23rd. For each item purchased $2 will be donated to Sun Prairie Pride fest. Thank you for your support!

Yearbook distribution is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, May 20th through Thursday, May 22nd. Students who preordered a book can pick theirs up before school (8:05–8:35 AM), during their scheduled lunch, or after school (3:45–4:00 PM). Just bring your Student ID Number to pick up! Early graduates, STEM, and apprenticeship students are more than welcome to stop by during these times as well. If you're unable to pick up during distribution, books will be available in the Main Office the following week.

Still need a yearbook? We have fewer than 40 copies left! Order yours now while supplies last: Yearbook Purchase Link

If you have any questions, please reach out to Natalie Fowler at nefowle@sunprairieschools.org

Attention Incoming Seniors! It’s time to start thinking about your senior portraits! Many of you will be scheduling sessions over the summer, so please keep in mind that all senior portraits must be submitted by Friday, October 31st. An upload link will be shared at the beginning of the school year to make submitting your photo easy and convenient. Be sure to plan ahead and capture a portrait that reflects you!

Cap and Gown Delivery

Midwest Scholastic delivered caps, gowns, cords, and other supplies to Sun Prairie West last week.

• Unpaid orders were NOT left at school. These will be delivered after payment and will incur special handling costs.

• Paid orders were left at school and can be picked up in the front office.

Any questions regarding your payment? Please email Midwest Scholastic at payments@mwscholastic.com.

Any questions regarding the graduation ceremony? Please see the FAQ sheet on the Sun Prairie West Graduation website.

Cords and Stoles

Graduates who earned honor cords also received them with their caps and gowns. These are based on student’s GPAs after the first seven semesters. Below you will find a table explaining the colors:

Some students will also wear stoles at the ceremony. Graduation stoles are fabrics that drape on the shoulders and can represent many different things. Sometimes stoles are referred to as sashes--these are the same product.

Stoles that are acceptable to wear at graduation include:

• Perfect 4.0 Achievement

• National Honors Society

• Approved Sun Prairie Educational Programs (AVID, STEM Academy, Madison College programs)

• Representations of cultural identity (BSU, kente stoles, serape stoles, paj ntaub, etc.)

Stoles that are not acceptable to wear at graduation include:

• Images/messages that are not school appropriate

• Stoles that do not follow the approved guidelines.

• Other celebrations can be shown on cap decorations.

Sun Prairie West High School will be giving every graduate a yard sign at the Senior Awards Night in May. If students cannot attend this event, they can pick one up in the front office at a later time. This yard sign is FREE and is NOT the same yard sign sold by Midwest Scholastic seen in their email last week.

We are teaming up with the @Wisconsin Department of Transportation to encourage students, staff, and families to take the Buckle Up Phone Down pledge! Over 9,000 crashes a year in Wisconsin involve distracted driving, and cell phones are one of the biggest distractions.

The challenge is on! Pledge to always wear your seat belt and put your phone down while driving at: wisconsindot.gov/bupd/spsd. Choose your high school so we can see which school gets the highest percentage of pledges!

We all have a role in keeping our roads and communities safe!

#BUPD #BuckleUpPhoneDown

This spring there have been measles cases in several states. Measles is a very contagious virus. It spreads easily and quickly when people cough and sneeze. If you haven’t had the measles vaccine, just being in a room with someone who has measles can make you sick.

Measles can be a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and even death. It can be prevented by the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.

• The vaccine is safe and effective. The best protection against measles is measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

• Most people are vaccinated as young children because two doses are required to go to school. One dose is usually given at 12-15 months of age, and a second dose is given before the start of kindergarten at 4-6 years of age.

• Most people who get measles are unvaccinated. When the measles finds a group of unvaccinated people, it can spread very quickly.

Check your immunization records

You can check your child’s immunization record on the Wisconsin Immunization Registry or with your healthcare provider.

If our school records do not show that your child has received two doses of the MMR vaccine you will receive additional communication from the school.

Get Vaccinated

• If you have health insurance: reach out to your healthcare provider to make an appointment.

• If you don’t have health insurance or if your child is on BadgerCare: You can make an appointment with Public Health Madison Dane County by calling (608) 266-4821.

Watch for Measles Symptoms

Measles symptoms begin with a fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes, followed by a rash that usually spreads from the head to the rest of the body. If you or your child has these symptoms, call your healthcare provider. Do not go to a clinic, urgent care, or emergency room without calling first.

For more information on measles, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/measles/

Senior Celebration is on Wednesday, May 14th from 6:00pm-8:00pm. ALL Seniors and their Parents/Caregivers are welcome! Students who are being recognized at the event will receive an individualized invitation via email closer to the date. We will be celebrating the Class of 2025 through: Academic Awards, Local Scholarship Announcements, Department Awards with refreshments provided by our ProStart students. Excited to see you there!

Midwest Scholastic will be delivering caps, gowns, cords, and other supplies to Sun Prairie West on Thursday, April 17th during lunches (12:11-1:30pm) in the PAC Lobby. This is the only time Midwest will be at our school.

• Unpaid orders will NOT be left at school. This will be delivered after payment and will incur special handling costs. If you would like to pay prior to delivery day, you may do so with a credit card by visiting mwscholastic.com and click on ‘Pay Invoice’ at the top of the page.

• Paid orders will be left at school and can be picked up in the front office.

Any questions regarding your payment? Please email Midwest Scholastic at payments@mwscholastic.com.

Any questions regarding the graduation ceremony? Please see the FAQ sheet on the Sun Prairie West Graduation website.