IMMS Family Flier

Dear Indian Mound Families,

What a wonderful week it has been at Indian Mound! The warm weather has given our students plenty of energy, and it’s been exciting to see so many of them participating in after-school activities like volleyball and cross country. Their teamwork and school spirit shine through in all they do.

We’re also looking ahead with excitement to Banner Day and Wacky Olympics on September 25th! During ARRE time, students will be preparing together as teams, building community, and getting ready for a fun-filled day of games and activities. These traditions are a special part of what makes IMMS such a connected and spirited place to learn and grow.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We are proud of our students and look forward to sharing more great moments in the weeks ahead.

In Service,

Jamie Thomas, Principal

Brett Jondle, Associate Principal

1.Picture Retakes Sept 23 at IMMS

2. Lockdown Drill at IMMS on September 24.

3. Banner Day and Wacky Olympics on September 25

4. No School Friday, September 26

5. Save the date: Family Conferences Oct 22 and 23 (more to come in upcoming newsletters)

• September 23: IMMS Picture Retakes 8:30 - 11:00 am
• September 24: IMMS Lockdown Drill
• September 25: Banner Day/Wacky Olympics
• September 26: No School
• October 3: Monthly Celebration Assembly 8:30am
• October 6-7: Timber-lee trip for 6th graders
• October 8: 6th Grade - No School
• October 18: Trunk or Treat sponsored by the EC-8 PTO 1-3
• October 22 (evening) and October 23 (afternoon): Family Conferences
• October 23 & 24: No School
• 25-26 IMMS Sports: LINK

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!

As a reminder, on Wednesday, September 24, IMMS will engage in a Lockdown Drill. More information can be found here.

Ways to Submit a Doctor’s Note for Absences:

• Text a screenshot of the MyChart appointment or document to (608) 579-0991

• Email a screenshot or document of the MyChart appointment/doctor’s note to immsattendance@mcfsd.org

• Bring a physical copy to the IMMS front office

If your child is sick but does not see a doctor in person, you can use the MyChart message center to submit your child’s symptoms and request a doctor’s note.

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 at school from 8:15am-3:30pm.
• 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

McFarland High School athletes enjoy positive support from their fellow students, parents, and the community. We continue to welcome elementary, intermediate and middle school students to the high school games and we want to create the best possible circumstances for their safety.

In order to maintain a safe environment at our home games, the following practices will be enforced:

• Elementary, intermediate and middle school students need to be accompanied by an adult in order to gain entrance into the stadium. Adults bringing elementary and intermediate students must sit with those students during the game. Middle school students accompanied by an adult can sit at the top of the designated student section or sit with the adult that brought them.

• “Carry-ins” by all spectators will not be allowed. Items include bottled or canned beverages, soda fountain cups, footballs, frisbees, etc.

• All students are expected to be in the stadium seats cheering for the Spartans unless they are using the restroom or concessions. For everyone’s safety, no football games or similar activities that would encourage running and throwing of objects are allowed. It is expected that our students are NOT playing on the IMMS playground or running around the IMMS school grounds. Re-entry to the event is NOT allowed.

It's important to remember that while our high school football games are a wonderful community event, they are intended as an opportunity to support our Spartans by watching and cheering for the team.

Our 6th grade students will have an outdoor education experience at Camp Timber-lee on October 6 and 7. We will be spending one night at Camp Timber-lee! We will leave school on the morning of Monday, October 6th, and return to school in the evening on Tuesday, October 7th. Please reach out to your scholar's 6th grade teachers with any questions.

Level 1 Archery Workshop

Ready to take aim? MRAP is partnering with NASP® to offer a beginner-friendly archery workshop for grades 4–8. Learn fundamentals of technique, focus, and concentration with certified instructors Chris Duerk (MHS PE) and Cyndy White (MSD Outdoor Education). All equipment provided—no experience needed!

Fri, Oct. 24 (No School Day) • 9–11 AM
MHS A-Gym
$45 Res / $58.50 Non-Res • Min/Max: 8–24
Register by Mon, Oct. 13 at MRAPNews.com

Run by McFarland Recreation, Aquatics & Play (MRAP). For questions or special accommodations, contact MRAP@mcfsd.org or 608-838-4666.

More to come...

• McFarland Spartan Youth Soccer Camp - September 23

• MHS DECA Tailgate - September 26

• DECA Pink Out Volley For a Cure, Black Out to Block Out Cancer - Sept. 23 and 27

• Free Sales for Families Event - October 4

• McFarland Community Ice Arena Hocktober Fest - October 4

• WI Association for Talented & Gifted Facebook Group

• Southern WI Skating School Learn to Skate Program - September 6-October 25

• Futura 2025-26 Spanish Program at MPS and WIS

• 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

• E.D. Locke Library Teen S.T.E.A.M. - Third Thursdays

• Free Triple P Positive Parenting Online Program for WI Families

Join McFarland students and community members in the McFarland Parade on Sunday, September 28!
Celebrate by wearing traditional clothing from our Hispanic countries or something that represents your culture—such as a T-shirt, national flag, hat, or musical instrument. You’re also welcome to bring candy to share with children along the parade route.

Bridging Brighter Smiles Dental Clinic will be back at IMMS on Wednesday & Thursday October 1st & 2nd for their fall visits! It's not too late to enroll! See flier information for more details and how to enroll; as well as the MSD Health Service website for additional Dental Resources.

⭐New this school year 2025-26, no cost for all students due to a grant fund for BBS!

• Online Enrollment Form – Spanish – Bridging Brighter Smiles

• Online Enrollment Form – English – Bridging Brighter Smiles

Attention 6th-Grade Families,

We are beginning our preparations for all-things Timber-lee, occurring on Monday, October 6th- Tuesday, October 7th. If your child will be taking medication during this trip, a medication consent form must be completed (all sections for prescription medicines and sections 1 and 3 for non-prescription medicines) and returned to the health office prior to Monday, September 29th. If your child currently receives medication at school during the day, this will be brought from school and given during the trip. If we have not received a medication form for your student with a parent/guardian signature and/or Physician signature, we cannot administer medication during the trip. Please review the Medication Consent Form Directions for more details and contact the IMMS Health Office with questions.

Lauren Neesam, School Nurse: neesaml@mcfsd.org

Krisy Oestreich, Health Assistant: Oestrek@mcfsd.org

Every school in Wisconsin is required by law to report their student’s vaccination status to the local health department 30 days after the start of school. See WI Student Immunization Law by Age/Grade Requirements (Spanish). Your student’s school health assistant will be sending out legal notices at that time if the school has no record or if your student’s immunization status is “behind schedule”. If you are not sure if your student is up to date with immunizations, you can contact your doctor's office/My chart, view on Infinite Campus, or you can look them up on the Wisconsin Immunization Registry using your child's social security number and/or Medical ID. If you need access to a waiver (for personal, religious or health reasons) for any vaccination, please utilize the student immunization record (English, Spanish) see step 4 and return it to your student’s health office.

Vaccine Clinics: Public Health Madison & Dane County is partnering with neighboring School Districts and SSM Health to offer school vaccine clinics to get and keep students up to date on their school vaccines. These clinics will take place at the below dates and times in Madison.

• Wed, October 1st: 3:00-7:00 pm: Professional Learning Center, Sun Prairie

• Sat, October 4th: 12:00-4:00 pm: Savannah Oaks Middle, Fitchburg

• Tues October 7th: 4:00-7:00 pm: Sugar Creek Elementary, Verona

• Sat, October 11th: 10:00-2:00 pm: Holtzman Center, Madison

• Fri, October 17th: 10:00-2:00 pm: Holtzman Center, Madison

• Sat, October 18th: 10:00-2:00 pm: Holtzman Center, Madison

• Mon, October 20th: 8:00-12:00 pm: Holtzman Center, Madison

To find out more information and to schedule an appointment, see the attached flyer, or visit publichealthmdc.com/schoolclinics.

September is Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide can affect anyone of any age, gender, or background. It’s the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-34.

Know the Signs

Suicide doesn’t usually happen out of the blue—most often, there are warning signs for others to see or hear. Get the FACTs (Feelings, Actions, Changes, Threats) and know the signs of suicidal thinking in your students, friends, and family members.

Feelings: Hopelessness, Rage, Uncontrolled anger, Seeking revenge, Feeling trapped, Having no sense of purpose in life

Actions: Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, Withdrawing from friends, family, society, and typical activities, Increased use of alcohol or drugs, Giving away prized possessions

Changes: Decline in quality of school work, Dramatic mood changes, Anxiety, Agitation, Change in eating/sleeping habits

Threats: Threatening/talking about hurting self

If you are interested in learning more about suicide prevention the Department of Public Instruction has many resources including emergency resources on their website.

The Be SMART campaign was launched to raise awareness that secure gun storage—storing guns locked, unloaded and separate from ammunition—can save children’s lives

“Be SMART” and take these simple steps to help prevent shootings by children:

Secure all guns in your home and vehicles

Model responsible behavior around guns

Ask about the presence of unsecured guns in other homes

Recognize the role of guns in suicide

Tell your peers to be SMART.

This simple act of keeping guns unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition can help keep our

children, teachers, staff, and community safe.

Visit https://besmartforkids.org/ for more information about this important topic.

COMING UP:

Summary from the 9/15/25 School Board Meeting:

In addition to their regular duties of approving minutes, staffing, and expenses, here are some highlights from the meeting:

• Dean Swanlund shared the McFarland High School student report.

• Dr. Sara Cutler, WVA Head of Schools provided a WVA annual performance report.

• Jeff Mahoney gave a budget update and discussed the upcoming annual meeting.

• Action items that were acted upon included:

• Approval of WIAA Boys Volleyball Cooperative Team Sponsorship

• Approval of MSD-McFarland Community Ice Arena Agreement

• Approval of first reading of policies

The next School District of McFarland School Board meeting is scheduled for October 6, 2025.

Click HERE for a link to the McFarland School Board agendas and minutes.

Click HERE for a link to the McFarland School Board meeting recordings and upcoming YouTube live streams.

Attendance Awareness Month

Suicide Prevention Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month September 15-October 15

• September 1 - Labor Day

• September 1-5 - National Payroll Week

• September 11 - 9/11 Remembrance Day

• September 16 - Mildred Fish-Harnack Day

• September 16 - National IT Professionals Day

• September 17 - US Constitution Day

• September 17 - Wisconsin Day

• September 19 - POW-MIA Recognition Day

• September 22-24 - Rosh Hashanah

• September 28 - Frances Willard Day

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.