The Howl

Greetings Wolf Pack! As I continue through my second week, I am very excited and am reaching out to provide a quick update. The building is looking great and our team continues to make progress! There are so many things happening to prepare our West community for our official launch this fall to create a West community in which all of our students are seen, known and valued. Here are some highlights of what is happening this summer:

• Students are celebrating the end of a very successful summer school experience, participating in summer work outs, Sound of Sun Prairie and many other wonderful opportunities.
• Systems, structures and procedures are being developed for how we will work together to serve all students.
• Relationships are being built and time is being spent getting know each other so that we can center on our humanity as we launch this school year together.
• We are finalizing our last hires to ensure we have the best possible staff to serve our students, families and community.
• Physically, the building is making progress every day as we prepare to welcome our Wolves in fall
• Staff are taking much needed time to renew, reconnect with their families and rejuvenate.

I look forward to meeting you and partnering with you as we create our West community! Look for more updates and information as we enter August. Excited to be a Wolf! ~Jen Ploeger jrploeg@sunprairieschools.org

I was born and raised in Iowa City, IA and have been in the Madison area for the last 10 years. Before Madison, I taught in two school districts in Iowa (my career started in an 8/9 upper middle school in Johnston, IA) and then spent three years in Chicago Public Schools at Benito Juarez in the Pilsen Neighborhood. My time in Chicago is when I became passionate about bilingual/bicultural education and truly started my equity journey. I served as a bilingual Biology teacher and teacher leader for 7 years at Madison East High School and 3 years as an Assistant Principal at La Follette High School. My driving focus is: how do we create a community and learning environments where EVERY person is seen, known, valued and belongs so that they can thrive.

My "why" is in the picture above! I have two wonderful children: Jacob (almost 12 and headed to 8th grade) and Emma (they/them/theirs pronouns, 8 and headed into 3rd grade). Both kids are swimming and diving for the Goodman Waves this summer so we are spending A LOT of time at the pool! If we're not at the pool my husband, Matthew, and I are with the kids hiking, biking/mountain biking, off on an adventure, or on a road trip listening to a good audiobook (always accepting recommendations).

One of the top questions I get: is it Jen? Jenny? Jennifer? Jen or Jenny is great. With students I usually go by: Ms. P.

• Friday, August 26th- Staff return to work to prepare for students!
• Sunday, August 28th- 3:00-5:30pm West High School Grand Opening Event
• Monday, August 29th- 12:00-3:00pm Keys to Success (Please register here)
• Monday, August 29th- evening- 9th Grade Orientation (details to come)
• Tuesday, August 30th- evening- 10th Grade Orientation (details to come)
• Wednesday, August 31st- evening- 11th Grade Orientation (details to come)
• Thursday, September 1st- evening- 12th Grade Orientation (details to come)
• Tuesday, September 6th- First day of school!

50 Years of Sound of Sun Prairie Saturday night the parents/caregivers, friends, students and staff of Sound of Sun Prairie celebrated 50 years of summer marching band. It was a beautiful night of celebration and music. Now they are off to Florida to perform at Walt Disney World.

5ummer Workouts Our athletes are working hard in the summer sun from 2:00-6:00 at Sun Prairie East! It has been great seeing their dedication and comradery as they push themselves, each other and seek to be their very best. Great work Wolves!

Do you have a highlight? Do you know of something great happening in the Wolf community this summer? Please let me know at jrploeg@sunprairieschools.org so I can include it in the next addition of The Howl.