Cardinal Call
Greetings, Cardinals!
Semester one is almost complete! With that comes some important check points. Seniors, if you are graduating early please check out the information linked below. Also, if you are interested, please fill out the scholarship application form; this spring we will be evaluating applications for scholarship recipients. For 9th,10th, and 11th graders it will be a busy three weeks as we wrap up semester one and move through the registration process for the 2026/2027 school year. Our department chairs have been working to improve the registration process and are excited to help you chart out what comes next in your high school journey. If you have questions as we work through this process, please feel free to connect with student services. Let's have a great week!
Sincerely,
Jim Ertel
Principal
Announcements
End of Semester 1 Deadlines
Listed below are important dates for both students and families to be aware of:
- January 16 - Last day for new content semester 1 summative assessments.
- January 23 - End of semester 1.
Attention Early Grads
If you are a senior that is graduating at semester, there are some important steps to complete before your time with us is complete. Please review the following links to make sure devices are handed in, fees are paid, and you have your Google drive transferred to a non-SPASD account. Congratulations, and see you in June!
- Here is the Letter for Early Grad Students & Families.
- Here is the Google Takeout Instructions for transferring their files.
Request Fest is Coming
You’re Invited to Our Course Expo - THIS TUESDAY!
Students and families—join us for an exciting Course Expo where you can explore course offerings, meet instructors, and learn about the opportunities ahead!
Whether you’re planning for the upcoming year or just curious about what’s available, this is a great chance to ask questions, get inspired, and make informed choices together.
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Location: Sun Prairie East High School
We look forward to seeing you there! Feel free to share and invite others who may be interested.
ACT 95 Focus Group
The ACT 95 student working group will be soliciting feedback about ACT 95 tie breaking criteria. If you are interested in participating in our student focus groups please sign up for the ACT 95 Focus Group WIN session on Monday. The working in group is hoping to finalize a proposal to take to the school board this month. Thank you!
Students & NextPath Access
Students can now view attachments within their own NextPath account! This is great timing as high school buildings prepare to engage students in goal setting right after Winter Break. Students log in just like they do when taking their SEL Competency Survey “Glimpse” and instead/now also see an additional option (Files) towards the bottom of their home screen. They will then be taken to their attachments list - where they can find (all) assessment results attachments including the most recent PreACT fall administration.
French Newsletter
Linked below is the January French Newsletter.
Reminders for Students and Families
5th Hour Tutoring
5th Hour Tutoring is up & running for 2025-2026! 5th Hour Tutoring runs Tuesdays - Thursdays from 3:50-4:40PM in the LMC, with teachers from English, math, science, social studies, art, and more available to work with students. Students are able to take the activity bus (which leaves at 4:45PM) home after 5th Hour tutoring.
Student Services Information
Local Scholarship Application Now Open!
Seniors: The local scholarship application is now open. The deadline to complete is January 30th. This is a great opportunity to be considered for scholarships that are only available to Sun Prairie students. Click here to access the application.
Athletics & Activities
Spring sports are going to be here before we know it. High School Spring Sports Sign Up open on February 1, 2026 on Infinite Campus. The following sports are offered:
Track - Boys and Girls starts March 09, 2026
Lacrosse - Boys and Girls (CO-OP) starts March 16, 2026
Softball starts March 16, 2026
Baseball starts March 23, 2026
Soccer - Girls starts March 23, 2026
Golf - Boys starts March 30, 2026
Tennis - Boys (CO-OP) starts March 30, 2026
Jenna Boberg, CAA
Athletics & Activities Director
Semester Grades and Athletics
Once semester grades are transcripted after January 23, athletes with an F in any class must serve a 15 school day and night athletic suspension. This includes SP30 grades and Xello lessons. If you have questions about this policy, please speak with your coach. If you need additional follow up, please reach out to the athletic office.
Student Feature
Sun Prairie East student Manny Abreu was featured on Spectrum News last week. You can check out the story here. Congrats Manny!
East vs West Games
Support our Cardinal athletes this season as they face the West Wolves!
Athletic Pass
As winter sports kick off, now is a great time to secure your athletic passes if you don’t have one! If you plan to attend multiple games this season, a pass is the easiest and most cost-effective way to enjoy all the action.
Monthly Name Image Likeness (NIL) Masterclasses
Our athletes and families are invited to join Influential Athlete’s monthly virtual NIL Masterclasses to learn how to navigate NIL safely while maximizing opportunities and building skills for life after sports. Sessions take place on the last Tuesday of every month (except December) at 6 PM CST.
2025 – 2026 Schedule:
Jan 27, 2026: Pitching & Negotiating NIL Deals
Feb 24, 2026: Protecting Yourself in NIL Deals
Mar 31, 2026: Financial Management for NIL Athletes
Apr 28, 2026: Maximizing Media Exposure
May 26, 2026: Life After Sports – Using NIL to Build Your Future
This Week's Events
Please see the linked information for upcoming contests.
School Wide Links
Contact Information
Sun Prairie East High School
Principal: Jim Ertel
Asst. Principal: Pang Khang, Rachel Looper
Main Office: 608-834-6703
Website: https://www.sunprairieschools.org/east-high
Location: 888 Grove Street, Sun Prairie WI 53590