Cardinal Call

A snow day in March? Please be safe on Monday. We look forward to starting off this short week before spring break on Tuesday. On Friday, Student Council is hosting our annual student vs staff basketball game, and we will be running our assembly schedule that day. Additionally, this week's newsletter will cover the next two weeks due to spring break.

Sincerely,

Jim Ertel

Principal

On this wintery Sunday we wanted to share a taste of spring. Our photography students Chris Howse and Eviel Hanger took this picture of a bluebird on campus last week.

For school safety drills and actual events Sun Prairie uses a set of practices called Standard Response Protocol. Teachers and students have been trained on these practices in professional development and SP30. The slides linked here are what was covered in SP30. Every school year we must hold two lockdown drills, one in fall and one in spring. Now is a great time to refresh your memory if you may have missed any of the SP30 lessons.

Students will have the opportunity to play Rochambeau (rock, paper, scissors) on Thursday 3/19 & Friday 3/20. More information can be found at THIS LINK!

On Friday, 3/20, we will be hosting our annual student vs staff basketball game. If you would like to participate, please use the QR code below. The staff are the title holders from 2025, so we will see if the students can get the championship back this year!

Thank you to all who attended the Helping Bodies Thrive Educational Event! We had a great time hosting caregivers for a deep dive into nicotine and THC trends, their effects on the developing body, and our interactive "Hidden in Plain Sight" exhibit. It was a pleasure seeing you all there!

On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, we will administer the PreACT Secure exam to all 9th & 10th grade students during the school day.

Why the PreACT?

The PreACT Secure is a state-mandated assessment that helps monitor students’ academic readiness for college and careers. There is no cost for participation. In addition to providing data to our educators to inform future instruction, it also provides valuable information to support student growth. The assessment helps students:

• Identify academic strengths

• Spot areas to improve

• Gain experience with ACT-style questions

• Plan for college and career readiness

What’s on the PreACT Secure?

• English – 35 minutes | 48 multiple-choice questions

• Math – 45 minutes | 36 multiple-choice questions

• Reading – 40 minutes | 33 multiple-choice questions

• Science – 35 minutes | 36 multiple-choice questions

Testing Location

• 9th and 10th grade students will test at their primary school of enrollment

• JEDI Virtual students will test at the Prairie Phoenix Academy location

Test Day Details

• Students will begin testing at the regular school start time. Dismissal will be at 1:00PM. Students with individualized testing schedules will receive additional communication from assessment coordinators.

• Bring your fully charged device, a water bottle, and a snack (you may access your snack during break). All other testing materials will be provided. It is optional to bring an ACT-approved calculator.

• Room assignments will be posted in common areas.

• To maintain a secure testing environment:Large bags, cell phones, smart watches, and other electronics are not permitted in testing rooms

• Bus routes will run as usual for students testing that day. Students who arrive after testing begins will be scheduled for a make-up session.

Students approved for testing accommodations will receive additional information about their individualized schedules. If you have questions, please contact your school’s assessment or student services team:

• Sun Prairie East: Amy Kohl (504) or Mallory Long (Student Services)

Preparing for the PreACT Secure

Students are encouraged to explore preparation resources, tutorials, and practice questions to become familiar with the testing experience.

• Learn more about the PreACT Secure here:

ACT High School Assessments Information for Families - English

ACT High School Assessments Information for Families - Spanish

ACT High School Assessments Information for Families - Hmong

• The PreACT mirrors the ACT, so these materials can double as preparation for both assessments: Test Prep & Kaplan Test Prep & PreACT Secure Practice Tests

• All students also have access to free ACT & SAT prep through a program called Methodize that students can find under the Resources tab on Xello (an academic & career planning application on school issued devices).

We appreciate your partnership in supporting this important milestone. The PreACT Secure provides valuable insight into student progress and helps schools ensure every learner is on a path toward postsecondary success.

Additional details, including testing schedule and room assignments, will be shared as the testing date approaches.

Thank you for your continued support of our students.

Sincerely,

Beth Butler

eabutle@sunprairieschools.org

Our spring academic awards night will be held on Wednesday, April 15 at 7 PM. More information will be sent out to students and families prior to spring break.

If you have lost anything or believe any of your belongings may be in the lost and found, please check it before spring break. During spring break we will wash and donate all unclaimed items. Thank you!

Please be advised that there is a planned outage for Infinite Campus beginning the afternoon of Wednesday, March 18 and continuing through the early morning of Thursday, March 19.

During this time, access to all parts of Infinite Campus will be unavailable. This includes the student portal, parent portal, and any related features. This will also impact access to Infinite Campus for any staff member. We appreciate your patience and understanding as this scheduled update is completed.

Linked below is the March French Newsletter.

Linked below is the Band program newsletter.

March is Women's History Month! Women have been leaders, not only in securing their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement, the industrial labor movement, the civil rights movement, and other movements, especially the peace movement, which create a more fair and just society for all. We celebrate and recognize all the contributions women have made to the success of our schools and community. The 2024 Proclamation in Recognition of Women’s History Month was signed by the School Board on February 26, 2024.

Join us for District Movie Night: Hidden Figures on Monday, March 30th, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Prairie View Middle School Cafetorium! This is a a free, family-friendly event - popcorn and water will be provided. All are welcome! Please contact Bri’ana Kurlinkus at bmkurli@sunprairieschools.org for more information. Flyers ENG ESP

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.

Current Juniors and their families are invited to participate in this virtual info session hosted by the UW System on Monday, March 16 at 6:00 p.m. Topics covered include:

• How Direct Admit Wisconsin streamlines the college admissions process

• What it means to be directly admitted to participating UW universities

• How students can take the next steps toward enrolling in a program that matches their goals and interests.

• Click Here to Register.

Versión en español

Student athletes, please make sure to check in with your spring coaches as you may have adjusted practice times due to spring break.

Jenna Boberg, CAA

Athletics & Activities Director

Spring sports registration is now open! If your student is interested in any of the following sports make sure you get signed up on Infinite Campus!

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

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:

• 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

Please see the linked information for upcoming contests.

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