Rising from the Prairie

August 28, 2025

Welcome to the 2025–2026 School Year!

Dear Families,

Welcome to a brand-new school year! As we begin the 2025–2026 school year, I would like to take a moment to share our excitement about partnering with you in supporting your child’s growth and success.

This year, we are focused on building strong relationships, creating joyful and engaging learning environments, and ensuring that every student feels valued and supported. Our staff has been preparing to provide challenging, meaningful learning experiences while also nurturing students’ social-emotional well-being.

A few reminders as we start the year:

• First Day of School: September 2, 2025
  
  

• Arrival & Dismissal: School starts at 9:00 am and dismissal is at 3:20 pm
  
  

• Communication: We will keep you informed through [newsletters, website, school app, etc.]. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns.
  
  

We know that when schools and families work together, students achieve their full potential. Thank you for entrusting us with your child’s education. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow alongside them this year.

Let’s make 2025–2026 a year of learning, connection, and success!

With gratitude and excitement,
Nehemirah Barrett
Principal of Prairie Phoenix Academy and alternative programs

August 28 - Back to school night 4-6 pm

Sept. 2 - First day of school

September 10th- Hmong Family Welcome Back Night, East High School, 5-7 pm

September 16th-

• Juniors! Deadline for signing up for the PSAT.

Please reach out to your PPA school counselor, Lisa Yang, to get signed up!

Sept. 19 - Picture day

September 23rd- PreACT testing for 9th–11th graders with a 12:30 p.m. early release. This release time has been updated from the printed calendar—there is no school for 12th graders. More details coming soon.

Oct.1 Start College Now Applications due to school

Link to view classes that are available at MATC - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TpmsmabXC4pJQdS4fCm88te7st0-Di65a5Z0SiuaGBQ/edit?usp=sharing

Oct. 2 Wisconsin Education Fair at SP West! Swing by Miss. Yang’s office to sign up! For now, only 11th-12th grade students

October 13th-17th- Homecoming Week!

October 22nd- PSAT (Optional test for Juniors- pre-registration required)

Dear Prairie Phoenix Students & Families,

Quick reminder that our Open House is Thursday, August 28 from 4:00–6:00 PM on campus. Come meet teachers, tour classrooms, pick up key info for the year, and connect with our support teams.

When: Thu, Aug 28 | 4:00–6:00 PM
Where: Prairie Phoenix High School
What to expect: teacher meet-and-greet, schedules & resources, clubs/athletics info, tech/logins help.

Food will be provided. We are grilling out.

Questions? Call the main office at [608-834-5503]. We can’t wait to see you!

As a reminder, this year, we’re making a significant change to help everyone stay more focused, connected, and ready to learn. We’ll be implementing a schoolwide cell phone and electronics policy with clear, consistent expectations in every classroom, and we will enforce it throughout the school day and the entire school year.

You’ll hear three universal phrases:

• Off and Away – Devices, including AirPods, are stored out of sight in class (in a pocket, backpack, or locker).
  
  

• Teacher Directed – Devices are used for a specific, teacher-approved activity. Music is set, then the phone stays face down.
  
  

• Phone Break – A short, teacher-announced break where you can use your device freely.
  

This week, our staff met to discuss the impact of cell phones in the classroom and how they can interfere with learning and the connection between students and teachers. We want students fully engaged in their education, and to that end, we will be implementing clear expectations and steps if students are not in compliance with our cell phone policy:

• First Reminder: The Student will be asked to put the phone away.
  
  

• Second Reminder: The Phone will be held by the teacher until the end of class.
  
  

• Repeated Non-Compliance: Phone will be turned in to the office, and a parent/guardian will be contacted to pick it up.
  
  

Students will still have break times built into the school day. They will receive time after lessons and work completion, along with a combined lunch and break period totaling one hour. Outside of those times, we expect students to be “all in” during the remaining five hours of learning each day.

Before consequences are issued, students will be given several opportunities to make positive choices through our restorative practices and student support services. This approach enables us to redirect students, teach them responsibility, and keep them in class whenever possible.

We ask for your partnership in reviewing the cell phone policy with your child. This is not only a school practice but also a School Board policy; families and staff must work together to ensure students are ready to learn.

Additionally, if you are traveling to the East or West, students will need to follow the respective cell phone policies for those schools. Here’s more info.

NoCellBell-to-Bell

As we approach the start of the school year, we are excited to support teachers, students, and our classroom communities as they engage with one another and learn with fewer distractions. No Cell Bell-to-Bell. Phones down. Futures up. Is designed to focus on in-person connections, strengthen community within classrooms, deepen learning while supporting students with life-long skills in regulating their use of phones/technology.

Students will be able to access their phones during passing time and lunch, but phones will be off and away from bell-to-bell, every block, every class, every day. Check out this story from NBC15 this week.

Sun Prairie High School enforces a stricter phone policy

This school year, there will be consequences for cell phone usage during class at Sun Prairie East and West High Schools.

As we all prepare for our fall schedules, starting the first day of school on September 2nd, our building hours are as follows:

• The building opens at 8:30. Students may enter the building at 8:35 and will remain in the Cafeteria from 9:00. Students may eat breakfast and socialize in the Cafe. At 8:45, students may begin to move to their classes.

• Suppose your transportation situation makes it impossible to drop off your students later than 8:30. In that case, they will be allowed to stand in the vestibule (between the glass doors) until 8:35, particularly on inclement weather days.

• Building Closes at 4:00 PM: The building closes daily at 4:00 PM. All students must be accompanied by an adult (coach, club/activity, 5th hour tutoring, etc.) or leave the building for safety, as we do not have supervision available after 4:00 pm.

Please plan rides and drop-off/pick-up accordingly.

As we enter year 4 of an SPASD community with three high schools in Sun Prairie (Sun Prairie East, Sun Prairie West, and Prairie Phoenix Academy), we are united in our high expectations and high levels of support for students. Please grab a cup of coffee, refill your water or favorite beverage, and carefully review our Student Handbooks. This includes a wealth of important information, ranging from academic resources to student/parent/caregiver support, to school nutrition and student fees.

DOORS OPEN

BREAKFAST

ADVISORY

WORKSHOP 1

WORKSHOP 2

ON CAMPUS BREAK

LUNCH (CLOSED CAMPUS)

WORKSHOP 3

ADVISORY (WINN/SP30)

WORKSHOP 5/PERSONALIZED LEARNING

Attendance line: 608-834-6900 Line 1

Please use this number when calling in a student for an absence, illness or an appointment.

You can call the office at 608-834-6900 ext. 5507 for any reason that your student will be absent. Please call the attendance line or the office at 608-834-6931 if your student needs to leave early. Calls will be made home when students leave grounds without a guardian's permission.

School day is from 9:00am - 3:20pm.

Follow PPA on Facebook! See our events, photos of activities, and other important updates and information. https://www.facebook.com/PPASunPrairie/

PPA Specific information to keep in mind:

As a reminder, students that are driving should review this information. It is important for our student drivers to continue to be safe for themselves and others in our parking lots and on the roads. Please note that students that do not park in the designated student parking session:

First offense- a verbal warning and ask to move their vehicle to the proper area

Second offense- parent communication

Ongoing offenses will be discussed with families and hopes of a resolution

Student parking areas are circled in red.

Scholars should be prepared to learn everyday! Chromebooks should be with students daily. To reduce students transporting their wonderful Chromebooks they have the opportunity to leave the CB’s at PPA to be charged. Those that turned in Chromebooks will be able to pick them up from the main office. We will not issue a Chromebook to students if they have one or more already checked out to them. Please have your scholar return any damaged Chromebooks to the main office. We have a limited number of Chromebooks that students may use as loaners but that is on a first come basis.

Meet your new staff members.

Direct Admit

Direct Admit season is upon us. If you are not interested in your Junior (11th grade) scholar being a part of the Direct Admission process, please fill out the Opt- Out Form linked below.

SPASD Direct Admit Opt-Out form

Linked below is the district website about Direct Admission information:

Direct Admission district website information

Xello Reminder

XELLO is the SPASD Academic and Career Planning software tool used to help students plan for their future. Students can access XELLO by logging in to MySP and clicking on the Xello icon, or by clicking the link provided. Each year and grade level, lessons are released in XELLO that need to be completed. You do not have to go back to complete lessons from prior grades, only the grade you are currently in.

Medications at School

EpiPens/Inhalers:

The schools and physicians recognize the importance of students being allowed to carry an asthma inhaler and Epi-Pen. However, we need an Inhaler/EpiPen Release Form to be completed and signed by the parent/guardian.

Over-the-counter medications:

Over-the-counter medications (e.g., cold preparations or pain relieving medications) that you want available for school personnel to administer must have the Non-Prescription Medication Consent Form completed and the medication supplied in the original bottle in order for the school to administer.

Prescription medications:

Prescription medications must be in the original bottle labeled by a pharmacist, with the directions for administration matching the doctor's order. To comply with the law, school employees are not allowed to administer prescription medications, without a doctor's written order and parents' written permission. This is the form that will need to be completed, the Prescription Medication Administration Form

All medications to be given in school must have the following information printed on the original container:

1. Student’s Full Name

2. Name of the drug and dosage

3. Time to be administered

4. Physicians name

These forms must be completed and in the school office BEFORE the school staff can legally give your child medication.

If you have any questions please email slbilli@sunprairieschools.org

Medication Administration Form

Preliminary transportation information is viewable in Infinite Campus by logging into Campus Parent, clicking on ‘More’, then choosing the Transportation tab. If the bus stop does not look accurate, please contact Kobussen. Pickup and drop-off times are continually changing as new students enroll and other students move out of the district.

This year, High School students will NOT receive bus tags. Students will need to be able to show their bus assignment through Infinite Campus when asked. Once the bus information is available, take a picture of it and add it to your favorites for easy access.

Please contact Brinda Thompson at brinda.thompson@kobussen.com or (608) 825-8700 ext. 5509 if you have questions or concerns about your child’s bus route or stop. If you have any other questions related to busing, please contact either Lisa Sprindis at lasprin@sunprairieschools.org or Rhonda Page at rspage@sunprairieschools.org. If your child is NOT going to ride the bus but is eligible, please stop by the bus table at Registration or reach out to one of the people above.

At PPA, we have a pantry with household grocery options, including fridge/freezer selections! Families are welcome to access the pantry.

We also have a clothing closet that is OVERFLOWING! Come shop for clothing for the warmer seasons.

Please reach out to Ayanna Hale, ashale@sunprairieschools.org, or call (608) 834-6900 to ask about shopping.

Email: nsconi@sunprairieschools.org
Website: https://www.sunprairieschools.org/prairie-phoenix-academy-home
Location: 220 Kroncke Drive, Suite 13 Sun Prairie, WI 53590, USA
Phone: 6088346901