Rising from the Prairie

Dear PPA Community,

As we head into Spring Break next week, it’s important to take a moment to recognize the hard work and dedication of our scholars and staff throughout this school year. This upcoming break is a well-deserved opportunity to rest, recharge, and return ready to finish the year strong.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve had some powerful conversations with our scholars during workshops. One of the key themes that emerged was a shared desire to strengthen our school-wide systems so that every student can maximize their learning while in school. I appreciate the honesty, ownership, and commitment our students have shown in these discussions.

In response, we’ve taken intentional steps to reset and reinforce our school expectations. This includes revisiting what it truly means to be a scholar and showing up each day prepared, engaged, respectful, and committed to growth. These expectations are not just about rules, but about building a strong, focused learning environment where all students can succeed.

As we move into the final stretch of the school year, we will continue to build on this momentum. Together, we are creating a school culture rooted in accountability, support, and high expectations for every scholar.

I wish all of our families a safe, restful, and enjoyable Spring Break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back, re-energized and ready to finish the year with excellence.

Principal Barrett

March 23-27 - Spring Break

April 6 - End of quarter 3

April 7 - PreACT Secure Testing 9&10 grades

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/

Parents and caregivers, please update emergency contact information in Infinite Campus using these directions.

Attention Seniors: As we begin the second semester, please review your graduation plan and connect with your advisor. Conversations about graduation have resumed, and your school community of educators has been reviewing your academic progress.

You will be meeting with staff to discuss where you stand and what steps you need to take to stay on track toward graduation. This is your time, stay proactive and take ownership of your path.

Caregivers: We need your support. As we all know, it takes a village to ensure our scholars are successful. Please encourage your senior to meet with their advisor, review their graduation plan, and stay focused during this final stretch.

Let’s finish strong together.

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.

For school safety drills and actual events, Sun Prairie uses a set of practices known as the Standard Response Protocol. Teachers and students will be shown the refresher after the break. The slides linked here are what will be covered. Every school year, we must hold two lockdown drills, one in the fall and one in the spring.

The PreACT Secure 9th-10th grade is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7th. Makeup testing will happen on Tuesday, April 14th. Staff and newsletter communications continue on March 29th or 30th from our high schools. Our planning team will hold a final work session on Tuesday, March 31st at 8am.

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.

Every Wednesday, Ms. Yang will be hosting Financial Aid, Scholarship and College Applications in the SRC room, come by and get help!

An infinite amount of scholarships are available outside of Sun Prairie.

Check out Mrs.Yang's scholarship website for many resources!

FREE Websites for Scholarship Searches

• Unigo
• 50+ Scholarships for Minority Students
• Fastweb
• BIG Future by College Board
• ScholarshipPoints
• StudentScholarships.org
• WEOP (Wisconsin Education Opportunity Programs)
• ScholarsApp

Please visit the SPASD Local and Support Resources website for more information about community resources.

Picture Packet Vouchers- If you would like to order a printed picture packet of school pictures, we have vouchers available to cover the cost of a small packet! Please email Ellie Donaldson at ehdonal@sunprairieschools.org!

Reaching Out for Resources - In light of the potential of some federal benefits pausing soon, I would like to remind our families that they are always welcome to reach out to discuss resources they may need. As our social worker, my job is to help address barriers to education, including economic, social, and cultural hardships that many of us are feeling. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at (608) 501-1506 or ehdonal@sunprairieschools.org.

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

Other resources:

https://sunshineplace.org/

https://energyandhousing.wi.gov/Pages/AgencyResources/energy-assistance.aspx

https://danebhrc.org/

https://publichealthmdc.com/documents/food_resource_guide_eng.pdf

This week, both East and West High Schools held Work-Based Learning / Youth Apprenticeship Info Nights for next year. Over 80 people attended each session! PPA will be holding a similar event after spring break.

• All current information sent to families is available on the Summer School website. Please check under announcements for the most current information sent to families.

• Please note the Summer School Timeline that has been sent to families and is posted under announcements.

• PK-8 Summer School Registration will be open from April 1-30. Thursday, April 30 is the closing date.

March is Women's History Month! Women have been leaders not only in securing their own rights to suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist, emancipation, industrial labor, civil rights, and peace movements, which create a fairer 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.

To help spread the celebration, the Department of Systemic Equity and Inclusion will send posters, buttons, and stickers to all sites through the District Pony—display them proudly to show your support!

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 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

Sun Prairie Community Schools are among the sponsors of Wisconsin's first-ever Limb Loss and Limb Difference Resource Fair, Adaptive Sports Fair. [Flyers ENG ESP] The event will take place on Saturday, April 18 from 10 am - 4 pm at Central Heights Middle School. You can order shirts and merchandise at the LIMB LOSS AND LIMB DIFFERENCE AWARENESS shop to show your support and if you order by noon on Wednesday, March 18, you can pick up your order at the fair on Saturday, April 18. You can also place orders through the Heritage & Awareness Month Store all year round.

The Community Schools Site Leadership Team has been leaning into the work around our target population this year: students and families with disabilities. We are excited to offer a disability resource fair for the entire district called Pathways to Success. [FLYERS]

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.

Email: ntbarre@sunprairieschools.org
Website: https://www.sunprairieschools.org/prairie-phoenix-academy-home
Location: 220 Kroncke Drive, Suite 13 Sun Prairie, WI 53590, USA
Phone:608-834-6900 ext. 5210