IMMS Family Flier

• Dress up/Spirit week
• School Dance Wednesday, December 17th after school until 5:00pm
• Monthly Celebration Assembly (MCA): December 19 starting at 8:25am

• Dec 15-18: Spirit Days
• Monday: Wear fun patterns
• Tuesday: Crazy socks
• Wednesday: Red, White, Green, and warm hats
• Thursday: Warm and Comfy Clothes
• Friday: Spartan Colors
• Dec 15: Girls Basketball Registration Meeting
• Dec 17: School Dance
• Dec. 19: Monthly Celebration Assembly
• Dec. 22 - Jan. 2: No School - Winter Break
• January 14: 7th/8th Band Concert 7:00
• January 19: No School - MLK Day
• January 21: Virtual Event: Learning about IC/Canvas 6:00-6:45
• January 22: End of 2nd Quarter
• January 23: No School
• January 26: Start of 3rd Quarter
• 25-26 IMMS Sports: LINK

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.

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 (December 15-19), IMMS will conduct a Hold Drill. We will prepare 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.

As the weather continues to cool down and the seasons change, we wanted to provide a few reminders that we will/have been sharing with your scholar:

• Students should take their coats/sweatshirts/hats with them to lunch to avoid having to have to go to their locker/backpacks after being dismissed from lunch to recess
• To allow students the chance to eat at their own pace, there are two waves of dismissal from lunches. The first wave of dismissal happens 15 minutes into lunch (for those who are finished and want to get outside right away). The second wave of dismissal occurs twenty minutes into lunch (lunch/recess is thirty minutes total).
• The expectation is that at this point, all students must go outside for recess. Please continue to encourage this with your scholar
• Recess is held indoors whenever the temperature (or windchill) is below zero.

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!

Click on the link below.

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.

Parents will often ask for ways to support the staff here at IMMS. If you are someone wishing to do just that, we have a great idea for you. Please consider providing caffeinated ground coffee or K-cups for our staff. You can either pick some up and drop it off at the main office at school or purchase it off of our registry on Amazon. Here is a link to our Staff Coffee Donations List on Amazon.

Thank you in advance.

Happy Caffeinated IMMS Staff = Happy Students

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...

• Madison Ballet: The Nutcracker - December 12-21

• E.D. Locke Library Teen Gift Making After Hours Event - December 19

• MGBB Little Spartan Dribblers - Register by Dec. 20

• SVO Winter Volleyball Camp - December 30

• Goals for Grace Hockey Tournament - January 2

• MHS Sticks Up for Cancer Game - January 6

• The Anxious Generation Community Read - February 7 and 25

• WI Association for Talented and Gifted Holiday Gift(ed) List

• 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 K-5 Lego Club - 2nd and 4th Wednesdays through December

• 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

The health and wellness of our students and staff are top priority. With the season for viral gastroenteritis (often called the "stomach flu" - Norovirus, Rotavirus) upon us, we wanted to remind everyone of some guidelines and resources. This illness is highly contagious and causes symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Please help us prevent further spread by reviewing the following guidelines with your student.

Prevention Tips – The best way to stop the spread is through proper hygiene.

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom and before eating or preparing food. Note that alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not as effective against the stomach flu as soap and water.

• Avoid touching your face (eyes, nose, and mouth) with unwashed hands.

• Do not share eating utensils, cups, or water bottles.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home (doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures) using a bleach-based cleaner.

• Wash laundry (sheets, towels, clothes) in hot water if they might be contaminated.

Treatment – Most stomach bugs run their course in a few days, and the primary focus is hydration and rest.

• Stay Hydrated: Offer small, frequent sips of fluids. Oral rehydration solutions (like Pedialyte) are best for replacing lost electrolytes. Avoid sugary drinks, which can worsen diarrhea.

• Eat Bland Foods: Once the child can keep liquids down, introduce easy-to-digest foods like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.

• Seek Medical Advice if symptoms are severe, such as bloody diarrhea, high fever, or signs of dehydration (dark-colored urine, dry mouth, weakness, no tears when crying).

When to Stay Home – Please keep your child home if they are sick to protect others. Students must stay home until they are symptom-free for a specific period:

• Fever: Fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.

• Vomiting/Diarrhea: Symptom free (no vomiting or diarrhea) for at least 24 to 48 hours after symptoms have stopped. See DHS Wisconsin Communicable Disease chart for specific exclusion criteria (Norovirus 48 hours symptoms free, Rotavirus 24 hours symptom free).

• General Malaise: Feelings of fatigue, discomfort, weakness or muscle aches that prevent participation in school activities.

Additional Resources –

• MSD Guidelines for Sending your Child to School
• What’s causing my vomiting and diarrhea? | Public Health Madison & Dane County
• Norovirus | Wisconsin Department of Health Services

If you have any questions please contact the school health office or your healthcare provider. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school community healthy and safe!

Welcome to winter in Wisconsin! With the cold weather here, the Health Services Team wants to remind families of some cold weather safety tips. You can help by reminding your student of the importance of wearing weather-appropriate clothing, especially in these below zero temps. Your student should be wearing several layers of clothing on very cold days including a coat, hat, mittens/gloves and water-resistant boots. Please see the following links for more information and resources. Reach out to Health Services with any questions. Stay warm!

Children’s Wisconsin - Cold Comfort: Eight Tips for Keeping Kids Safe This Winter

WI DHS - Climate and Health: Winter Weather and Extreme Cold

WI DHS - Cold Weather-Related Health and Safety Tips (Hypothermia)

CDC - Winter Weather: Before, During, and After

National Weather Service - Understanding Cold Weather Alerts

Dear Families,

We appreciate your efforts in making sure your child attends school regularly, especially during the Winter months. As long as your child is healthy, please encourage their attendance in all classes when school is in session.

Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as to connect to their peers and teachers.

• Missing school even 10% of the time has a significant impact on reading and math achievement as children progress through school.

• Students with good attendance performed better in math and reading. Children who had good attendance in Kindergarten through Grade 2 were more than twice as likely to score proficient on state math tests by the time they reached Grade 8 as their peers who missed more school. In reading, there were similar results.

• Good attendance starts early. Research has shown that the attendance habits established Kindergarten through Grade 2 have lasting effects on students throughout their education: children with high attendance in the early grades continue to have good attendance; and students with low attendance in the early grades are more likely to have low attendance—and lower academic performance—throughout their elementary and middle school years.

If your family or your child needs support, please reach out to the social worker at your child’s school

• MPS: Amber Booth (608)-838-4610

• WIS: Emily Gierl (608)-838-4646

• IMMS: Lauren Noriega 608-838-4578

• MHS: Leslie Gilmore (608)-838-4541

We appreciate your partnership in your child’s education.

Sincerely,

Aaron Tarnutzer

District Administrator

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

“Did you know you can earn money for your child’s school by grocery shopping?” Simply upload your receipts to the Box Top$ For Education App and select your McFarland school of choice! Any money earned goes to the PTO and back into the schools! Friends and family can participate too! Check the image below for written instructions!

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.