IMMS Family Flier

Dear Indian Mound Middle School Students and Families,

As we welcome Semester 2, we want to say how proud we are of our students and grateful for the partnership we share with our families. This new semester is a fresh start—full of opportunities to learn, grow, and try new things.

We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming musical, Honk Jr. Our students and staff have been working hard, and we can’t wait for you to enjoy this fun and joyful performance.

Family Conferences are also coming up soon. These conversations are an important time to connect, celebrate progress, and talk about goals for the rest of the year. We look forward to seeing you.

Staff Learning: On Friday, January 23rd our staff participated in professional development around Explicit Instruction and Designing for Diversity. We always enjoy learning and growing together.

8th Grade Families: This coming week, we will be sharing information via email about a reset of some of our hallway/bathroom expectations for our 8th graders. We have noticed that learning time has been affected by the amount of students and frequency of students leaving the class during instructional time. We will be rolling out this important reset this week via email. More to come...

Thank you for being such a supportive and engaged school community. We’re excited for all that Semester 2 has in store!

Thank you for your continued partnership.

Warmly,
Jamie Thomas
Principal, Indian Mound Middle School

Brett Jondle, Associate Principal

• Honk Jr. the Musical Feb 5-7
• Conferences are coming Feb 11th and 12th

Feb. 4: World Read Aloud Day

Feb. 5-7: Honk Jr. Musical @ PAC

Feb. 6: Monthly Celebration Assembly 8:30

Feb. 18: 7th-12th Jazz Ensembles 7:30

Feb. 26: Family Fun Night 5:30-7

Feb. 28: Orchestra String Fling Concert 5:45

• 25-26 IMMS Sports: LINK

Honk! Jr., is a contemporary and comic re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling. This heartwarming musical follows “Ugly,” a young duckling who looks a little different from his family and must find his way home after getting lost. Along the way, he discovers his true beauty, love, and acceptance in all its forms. Full of laughter, catchy songs, and a touching message about celebrating what makes each of us unique, Honk! Jr. is a family-friendly show for all ages.

Free Ticket for Staff:

Visit McFarlandPAC.com to purchase tickets.

Feb 5 at 7:00 pm

Feb 6 at 7:00 pm

Feb 7 at 1:00pm and 7:00 pm

School safety is a priority in the McFarland School District. At Indian Mound Middle School (IMMS), we take several steps to ensure your child is safe and our school is secure. This week (January 26-30), IMMS will conduct a Secure Drill. We have been preparing your child for the drill during our school announcements, also allowing for students to follow up with their teachers about any questions that they may have before the drill.

As with each of our safety drills, prior to the drill, we will make an announcement that clearly explains to students that a drill will be occurring. The entire procedure should last around 10-15 minutes. Students are reminded (as we will do during each of our drills and safety discussions) that schools are often some of the safest places to be and that these skills students and staff learn about safety can be applied anywhere, both in school and out of school. Our goal is always to make this experience a useful practice of the procedures, without alarming students.

If you have any questions about the drill, please feel free to contact Ms. Thomas or Mr. Jondle at any time at 838-8980.

Winter conferences are coming soon! Below is important information about scheduling a conference with your scholar’s teacher(s). Thank you for your ongoing involvement. A strong home-school partnership has always been critical to student success.

Conferences will be held on February 11, 2026, after school, 3:30-7:00, and on February 12, 2026, from 2:30-6:30.

6th Grade Families: For conferences, you will meet with your scholar’s “cored pair” (the two teachers that teach science/math and social studies/English language arts).

7th and 8th Grade Families: To streamline and simplify the middle school conference experience, each family that signs up for conferences will meet with their scholar’s core 2 teacher. The core 2 teacher will share information about academic progress in all core classes. If you feel it is important to meet with a teacher other than your scholar’s core 2 teacher, please email the teacher you wish to meet with directly

Related Arts & other specialists: Some teachers will be available for drop-in conferences (no appointments required) on February 11, 2026 after school and February 12 from 2:30-6:30. Also, some related arts staff will be available at our IMMS Family Fun Night on February 26th. If you prefer to schedule a conference with a Related Arts teacher rather than dropping in, please email them to schedule a time. Here are the emails for Related Arts Staff.

How to sign-up: You will receive an email from either your child’s cored pair (6th grade) or your child’s Core 2 teacher on January 28, 2026. The sign-up platform will be Google Appointments. The sign-up for conferences will close on February 3rd at midnight. This deadline is important in order for our teachers to prepare.

To help make the conference efficient and effective, please communicate any questions and/or concerns to teachers before the conference. Sending this information in advance allows teachers to be better prepared to provide answers and/or strategies during the conference.

If you have signed up for a conference and something comes up within 24 hours of the scheduled time/day and cannot attend, please contact the teacher directly.

Winter Conferences are not mandatory, but we hope you can join us. As a reminder, we have many opportunities to communicate student progress with families throughout the year.

• Two family conferences. One is in the Fall, and the other is in the Winter/Spring. Families are encouraged to communicate with teachers beyond these scheduled conferences.
  
  

• Report cards are available on Infinite Campus after each semester (or quarterly for Related Arts classes).
  
  

• Infinite Campus is available for families to check on student progress

• Here are Infinite Campus “How to” videos and screenshots that may be useful:

• How to log in to Infinite Campus (38-second video) or HelpDoc

• How to check your scholar’s missing assignments (2 min. video) or HelpDoc

• What are Conduct and Effort Scores? (2.5 min. video)

• How to check your scholar’s Conduct and Effort Scores (3 min. video) or HelpDoc

Last week, we held a virtual session to assist families in navigating Infinite Campus, Canvas, and Standards Based Grading. If you missed it and would like to get the info, please see the links below.

Here is a LINK to the recording

Here is a LINK to the slides

Send a beautiful card to a loved one and help stop hunger!

The IMMS Art Ambassadors have designed Valentine’s Day postcards! This year, there are two different design packs to choose from. Each pack is only $7, and all proceeds will support McFarland’s Food Pantry.

You can purchase postcards through the Classmunity fundraiser link or by contacting Sandra Schoen directly. Cards will be available for pickup in the IMMS lobby starting January 20, Monday–Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or they can be sent home with an IMMS student.

Use this LINK to order!

For More Information

Contact: Sandy Schoen

608 838-4500 ext. 4805

SchoenS1@mcfsd.org

We may not be jumping into a frozen lake, but we are gearing up for an icy good time to support Club Unified & Special Olympics! Instead of the traditional Polar Plunge, we’ll be taking on water balloons, ice buckets, &/or super soakers – because why freeze alone when we can share the chill?

If you’d like to support our brave (and slightly crazy) participants, we’d love donations! Every dollar helps us continue building an inclusive community at IMMS. Click HERE to donate.

Thanks for helping us make a splash for a great cause!

Stay warm (we won’t),

Heather, Katie & Club Unified Members

Attention ALL 8th Graders

Every year we join forces with the American Legion to provide an opportunity for our 8th grade students to participate in an essay writing contest. Eventually, two 8th graders receive the American Legion Award. All 8th graders are eligible to participate. All students who complete an essay will receive an honorable mention certificate and the 2 winning students will be invited to participate in the Memorial Day parade.

To apply for this award, students need to write an essay based on the tenets of the American Legion: Courage, Honor, Leadership, Patriotism, Scholarship, and Service. THIS google slide presentation will shown to 8th graders during Social Studies class and THIS google document gives details about the essay contest.

You can reach out to the 8th grade counselor, Ms. Noriega, with any questions about the essay contest.

We are excited to see our students showing school pride at athletic events! Attending games is a privilege and a great opportunity to support our teams. We ask all students to help create a safe, respectful, and fun environment by staying in assigned areas, watching the game, and following directions from game supervisors and staff. Showing good sportsmanship including cheering positively and respecting opponents, officials, and fans helps represent our school in a way we can all be proud of. As a reminder, elementary and middle school students attending high school events/games should be accompanied by a responsible adult (age 18 or older) to each of these events. Thank you for partnering with us to make every game a positive experience for everyone.

bartmaf@mcfsd.org

One of the most exciting things about IMMS is that we have multiple clubs and activities for students to be a part of. Check out our Daily Announcements LINK for clubs and co-curriculars. Try something that interests you!

Call to action: Families who collaborate with the school are 5 times more likely to improve their student’s attendance than families who don’t collaborate.

Below, you will find the "Hubs" (aka Task-List) for each grade level and Related Arts. You can click on the "Hub" to get information on what your scholar is doing in class, assignments, and assessments. As always, please use Infinite Campus to look up progress grades and turned in assignments.

Here are some helpful tips and videos that may be useful:

• How to log-in to Infinite Campus (38 second video) or HelpDoc

• How to check your scholar’s missing assignments (2 min. video) or HelpDoc

• What are Conduct and Effort Scores? (2.5 min. video)

• How to check your scholar’s Conduct and Effort Scores (3 min. video) or HelpDoc

• IMMS Standards Based Grading Presentation

• Be on Time! School starts at 8:20am. Students who arrive after 8:20am (without a medical note/appointment note, etc.) will be marked as tardy. After five tardies in one quarter, a check in meeting with the student, as well as contact home will occur to partner on ways to get the student to school on time.
• Off and Away! Cell phones and headphones must be off and away starting at 8:15am.
• Caffeinated Drinks: students may not consume caffeinated drinks while at school.
• Respect the Bubble: An area of focus this year is to teach and re-teach the importance of having students keep their hands, feet, and objects to themself. If you see this behavior, please continue to reinforce the "Respect the Bubble" expectation

More to come...

• PICADA - Dangers of Human Trafficking - January 28

• The Anxious Generation Community Read - February 7 and 25

• Optimist Club of McFarland Free Family Bingo - February 13

• Madison Ballet: Pointes of View - February 13-15

• McFarland Dance Team Winter Kids Clinic - February 18-21

• McFarland Youth Baseball - Registration Open through March 1

• McFarland Youth Softball - Registration Open through April 1

• McFarland Youth Soccer Referee Training Session - April 11

• MG Youth Lacrosse - Registration Open

• WI Association for Talented & Gifted Winter Book Club

• Madison Ballet 2025-26 Academic Year Information

• Futura 2025-26 Spanish Program at MPS and WIS

• E.D. Locke Library 500 Books Before Middle School Program

• E.D. Locke Library K-2 Magic Tree House Book Club - 2nd Tuesdays

• E.D. Locke Library 3-5 Graphic Novel Book Club - Third Tuesdays

• E.D. Locke Library Teen Snack & Chat - Mondays

• E.D. Locke Library Teen UnBook Club - First Thursdays

• E.D. Locke Library VolunTeen Program - Third Tuesdays

• Free Triple P Positive Parenting Online Program for WI Families

In January 2026, federal updates to childhood immunization schedules were announced. We want to provide clarity for our families regarding these changes and what they mean for your children in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Guidance – Despite the federal government's decision on January 5, 2026, to reduce the number of universally recommended childhood vaccines from 17 down to 11, the Wisconsin DHS continues to endorse the full, evidence-based schedule established by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Wisconsin health officials emphasize that:

• Science-Based Decisions: There is no new scientific data to justify cutting the previously recommended vaccines.

• Comprehensive Protection: The AAP schedule is specifically designed to protect children from diseases common in the United States, including the flu, hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, and meningitis—vaccines that were recently reclassified at the federal level.

• No Changes to School Requirements: Wisconsin's school and child care immunization requirements remain unchanged.

• Wisconsin Immunization Requirements (English, Spanish)

• Immunization Student Record (English, Spanish)

What Parents Should Know

• Talk to Your Doctor: We encourage you to consult with your pediatrician or healthcare provider, who continues to follow the evidence-based AAP schedule to ensure your child has the best protection possible.

• Insurance Coverage: Wisconsin law requires most health plans to cover all recommended immunizations from birth with no cost-sharing.

• Health Insurance Resources

• Check Status: Use the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) to view your child's records and see which vaccines are currently recommended. Dane County Public Health In partnership with SSM Health, GHC, UW-Health, and Madison Metropolitan School District is offering free vaccine clinics to get and keep students up to date on school vaccines. Please see the flyer , appointments strongly recommended.

For further reading, you can view the official statement: DHS Continues to Endorse Childhood Vaccine Recommendations of American Academy of Pediatrics. Thank you in your partnership to ensure safe and healthy learning for all our students!

The mix of snow, rain and cold can cause for some wet uncomfortable feet! We are looking for some donations of new socks in the health office to provide students in need. Please send in items with your student or drop off in the front office. Thank you!

Lauren Neesam, IMMS/MHS School Nurse last day was Friday, we wish her luck in her future endeavors and a big thank you to all the care she provided to our students and staff!

Please continue to reach out to all Krisy Oestreich, IMMS Health Assistant Oestrek@mcfsd.org Office# 608-838-4672 and in the interim Stephanie Peplinski, MPS/WIS School Nurse Peplins@mcfsd.org Office# 608-838-4679 with any future student needs and questions. Thank you!

Join us at the next MSEC Meeting on January 28!

The School District of McFarland and E.D. Locke Public Library invite you to join a community book discussion.

Daily Schedule

Daily Announcements

Day A/Day B Schedule

Student Services Support Contacts

McFarland School District Website

McFarland School District App

McFarland Youth Center Website

IMMS Athletics Calendar

The McFarland School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, sex, (including gender status, change of sex or gender identity), or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability (Protected Classes) in any of its student program and activities.