Huskies Have HEART Newsletter

Hello Central Heights families!

Remember that our school day will run from 8:25am - 3:40pm this school year! Our doors will open at 8:10am each day for breakfast! Throughout the school year, our weekly newsletter will be in your inbox around 10:00am on Sunday mornings.

In order to call your student out absent/excuse them from school, please call our attendance line: 608-318-8020.

• Please keep your child home if they have symptoms of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, such as cough, fever, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea. Let us know (by calling: 318-8020) if they test positive for any communicable disease, such as COVID, influenza, strep, or pertussis. Your school's health assistant can provide guidance on when your child can return to school after testing positive.

Free and Reduced Meals and Fee Waiver Information

• If you would like to apply for Free or Reduced status, please fill out the application for free or reduced price school meals. Please see the links below for directions, the application, and frequently asked questions document. You only need to submit one application per household, even if your children attend more than one school in Sun Prairie. The application must be filled out completely to certify your children for free or reduced price school meals. Be sure to list each of your children on the application form. If at any time you are not sure what to do next, please contact the Sun Prairie School District, Nutrition Department, 501 S. Bird St., Sun Prairie WI 53590 or email nutritiondepartment@sunprairieschools.org or call (608) 834-6544.

• How to Apply for Free and Reduced Price School Meals

• Household Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals

• Frequently Asked Questions and Information

• If you want to share your Free and Reduced status with Central Heights in order to request fee waivers for things like athletic fees, activity and club fees, course fees, and or summer school fees, please contact our school social worker, Matt Jahnke at (608) 318-8009 or mtjahnk@sunprairieschools.org

Comidas gratis y a precio reducido e información sobre exención de tarifas

• Si desea solicitar el estado Gratis o Reducido, complete la solicitud para comidas escolares gratuitas o de precio reducido. Consulte los enlaces a continuación para obtener instrucciones, la solicitud y el documento de preguntas frecuentes. Solo necesita presentar una solicitud por hogar, incluso si sus hijos asisten a más de una escuela en Sun Prairie. La solicitud debe completarse en su totalidad para certificar que sus hijos reciban comidas escolares gratuitas o de precio reducido. Asegúrese de incluir a cada uno de sus hijos en el formulario de solicitud. Si en algún momento no está seguro de qué hacer a continuación, comuníquese con el Departamento de Nutrición del Distrito Escolar de Sun Prairie, 501 S. Bird St., Sun Prairie WI 53590 o envíe un correo electrónico nutritiondepartment@sunprairieschools.org o llame al (608) 834-6544.

• Cómo Solicitar Comidas Escolares Gratis y a Precio Reducido

• Preguntas Frecuentes Sobre Comida Escolar Gratis y a Precio Reducido

• Formulario de Solicitud Gratis y Reducido (descargar para completar)

• Si desea compartir su estado Gratis o Reducido con Central Heights para solicitar exenciones de tarifas para cosas como tarifas deportivas, tarifas de actividades y clubes, tarifas de cursos o tarifas de la escuela de verano, comuníquese con nuestro trabajador social de la escuela, Matt Jahnke al ( 608) 318-8009 o mtjahnk@sunprairieschools.orgzoom_out_maphow in original size

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Are You Eligible for Fee Waivers?
Are you eligible for Free and Reduced lunches? If you share your eligibility for Free and reduced lunches with your student’s building administration, you can request fee waivers for sports and other school activities. Please complete this form if you want to request fee waivers.

Planning for Student Chromebooks Coming Home

During the week of September 8, students will start bringing home their school-issued device to charge every night. The Chromebook rollout schedule is as follows:

September 8 - 8th grade

September 9 - 7th grade

September 10 - 6th grade

In preparation for this, students are receiving two Chromebook orientation lessons that go over the expectations for care and use of the device that is on loan from the Sun Prairie Area School District. All of these expectations are outlined in the Middle School Student Digital Device Agreement that students will sign and commit to in order to have a device for learning.

The bottom line of the agreement is that students are only allowed to use this device for learning with the direction of their teachers, and they need to keep it safe. Students who are struggling to follow those two agreements will receive support to help build the skills they need in order to be able to follow them.

As caregivers, we appreciate your partnership around Chromebook expectations and use. In preparation for devices coming home, if you could please do the following:

• Get the Securly Home app for monitoring and controlling your student’s Chromebook use on nights and weekends. Here are the directions to get you started.
  
  

• Discuss a routine for charging the Chromebook each night and returning it to school the next day. (If this routine has the device charging in the student’s bedroom, please set up the controls in your Securly home app to turn off wifi to the device at their bedtime to prevent overnight use.)
  
  

• Discuss that this Chromebook is on loan from the school district as a learning tool only, and that you support it being used as such.

Note: Even though they will be bringing a Chromebook home to charge, they should not have a lot of use for it in the evenings. We want students to get outside, exercise, play with friends and family, read books they enjoy, enjoy their sports and activities, and relax in the evenings, preferably off screens as much as possible. If your student is reporting they have lots of homework that requires the use of the Chromebook at night, please check in with their teachers about that.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your student’s school-issued Chromebook, we are here to support you! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Mindy Grant, the Central Heights Library Media Specialist, at any time at mlgrant@sunprairieschools.org or 608-318-8000 ext. 5824.

Please click on the link below to see what is happening in your students 8th grade core classes.

"8th grade core class monthly newsletter"

Please scan the QR code to apply to volunteer in our schools!

Are You Eligible for Fee Waivers?
Are you eligible for Free and Reduced lunches? If you share your eligibility for Free and reduced lunches with your student’s building administration, you can request fee waivers for sports and other school activities. Please complete this form if you want to request fee waivers.

Interested in tennis?
Join the club! Tennis club will meet on Wednesday after school, starting September 16th until 4:40 (activity bus home is available). In order to participate, club members will need a physical on file and to have paid the $10 club fee. We provide the equipment! No experience necessary, we just want to take advantage of our amazing facilities! Contact Mr. Herman at tjherma@sunprairieschools.org or Mr. Hartman at nchartm@sunprairieschools.org@sunprairieschools.org for more information.

Join Our Cross Country and Running Club Team!

Cross Country sign-ups opened August 1st through Infinite Campus! If you're ready for an exhilarating season of running, teamwork, and personal growth, this is the perfect opportunity for you.
We're extending a warm welcome to all sixth graders to participate in the running club. Running club will practice with the Cross Country team but will not compete in official meets. 6th graders will have the chance to develop their skills, build endurance, and lay the foundation for future seasons as official cross country members!

Get a Head Start

To all aspiring athletes, we encourage you to get a jump start on your season by incorporating run/walk sessions into your routine before our first practice! Also be sure that you have an up-to-date physical form on file with the school. You can access a copy here and send it electronically to your athlete's doctor if they've had a physical in the past year.

Athletes can only participate in practice once the office has their physical form on file. Be sure to get this done before school starts so there is no delay for your runner!

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to be a part of our Cross Country family. Sign up now on Infinite Campus and let's make this season one to remember!

Directions for Infinite Campus sign up and paying the fee can be found in the Volleyball section.

Cross Country Meet Schedule

For any questions or inquiries, please contact

Cross Country:

April Lawler aslawle@sunprairieschools.org

James Gutsch jogutsc@sunprairieschools.org

Running club:

Kelly Murphy ktmurph@sunprairieschools.org

Let's get ready to run!

The Central Heights fall sports season is around the corner, and we’re excited for Girls Volleyball!

All 7th and 8th grade students are welcome, no prior experience needed.

** Practice Information

Start Date: Wednesday, September 2nd

** Game (and practice) Schedule link-

7th grade/8th grade Schedule

To participate in any sport, items 1-3 need to be completed

1) Sports Physical Form

• Must be turned in to the main office or sports coordinator Tim Herman (hard copy), or emailed to tjherma@sunprairieschools.org

• Physical must be dated on or after April 1, 2025

• If your child does not have a current physical, please schedule one with your doctor.

• Form must be signed, dated, and stamped by a physician

• Appointment summaries, vaccination reports, or MyChart printouts are not accepted

• Physical form- Physical 2026 2027.pdf. More information- Sports physical

2 and 3) Sign up on Infinite Campus and pay the sport’s fee ($20 per sport)

• Must be done from a caretaker IC account- athletes cannot sign themselves up.

• Directions for sign up- https://www.loom.com/share/23eb95a3b1dd45ebbf02e4219c7beacf

• Log into Infinite Campus from a CARETAKER account (students cannot sign up)

• Left side options. Select ‘School Store’

• Click on Central Heights ‘Shop’ button

• Select the sport you are signing up for, click ‘View’

• Pick your athlete. Add it to the cart

• Scroll up. Find items in your cart in the upper right hand corner. Click ‘My Cart’

• Click on the blue ‘Submit’ button on the bottom of the page

• Confirm and submit payment, click ‘Yes’

• You will get a receipt emailed from Infinite Campus

• Fee waivers are available for eligible students here
  
  

If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out. We’re happy to help! Thank you, and we look forward to a great season!

Tim Herman

Central Heights Sports Coordinator
tjherma@sunprairieschools.org

Important Safety Update: District Launches Speak Up Speak Out Reporting Tool

Fostering a culture of safety, accountability, and mental health support is essential to the Sun Prairie Area School District. To enhance our campus safety protocols, our district is transitioning to use a reporting system called Speak Up Speak Out (SUSO) for all safety concerns. In the past, we used SUSO specifically for reporting threats of school violence. Now, we are transitioning to use it for any safety-related concern.

What is Speak Up Speak Out?

Speak Up Speak Out is a comprehensive, confidential safety reporting system supported by state safety resources.

Students and families can use SUSO to report a wide range of concerns, including:

• Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Harassment

• Threats of School Violence or Weapons

• Peer Mental Health & Crisis Situations (e.g., self-harm, severe distress, depression)

• Drug or Alcohol Misuse

• Any Other Safety or Campus Concerns

SUSO has many benefits that helped us make the decision to transition away from other electronic reporting systems:

• Empowers Student Voice: Gives students a direct, secure option to speak up when they notice concerning behavior online or in person.

• 100% Confidential Option: Removes the fear of social retaliation by allowing students to submit tips confidentially.

• Round-the-Clock Monitoring: Reports are monitored 24/7/365 to ensure urgent threats or mental health crises receive immediate attention.

• Collaborative Intervention: Connects school administrators, counselors, and local safety teams to provide targeted supports.

Accessing the Speak Up Speak Out portal is quick and straightforward:

• District Website: Click the Speak Up Speak Out link located on the main page of our district and school websites.

• Web Search: Search "SUSO Wisconsin" in any browser to reach the main reporting site.

• Bookmark this link so you have quick access if you ever need to use it.

We ask that you review this tool with your student and reinforce the message that reporting a concern can save lives, help our schools be safer spaces, and support peers in crisis.

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our schools safe.

Please click here for the Elective Classes newsletter

We hope your 2026-27 school year is starting off amazing! Nominations are opening for our Operation Homefront hosts the Military Child of the Year® Awards on SEPTEMBER 2ND!!

Every year (now in its 19th year) Operation Homefront hosts the Military Child of the Year® Awards. The awards are open to military children between the ages of 13-18. There are 7 recipients, 1 child from each branch of service and each recipient receives $10,000 CASH, a laptop, other donated goodies, and a 3-day trip to Washington, D.C. with us and their families.

Children are entered by nominations. Anyone that knows a military child can nominate any military child. So, you may nominate your students, friend’s children, children can nominate their siblings and best friends and so on. The awards are open to Active Duty, reserves, Gold Star, National Guard, AND retired military children. The program is entirely FREE and exclusive to military children, and you do not need to create an account to submit a nomination.

If you know a military child, we would love to hear their story!! We would also appreciate if you would help us get the word out there to your military communities and families!

If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to respond to this email or call the number below. And thank you for supporting military community

SCO HUSKY Gear Order Information:

Order your Central Heights Husky Gear at this link! Proceeds will go towards the CHMS SCO and are used throughout the year to help support and celebrate our students! The store will be open until September 13th @ 11:59PM! Get your orders in now!

https://centralheightsfall26.itemorder.com/

The Sun Prairie Wellness Coalition in partnership with the Sun Prairie Department of Transportation is holding a Bike to School Day event before school at Central Heights Middle School on September 9th, 2026 from 7:45-8:20am. This is an opportunity to celebrate students who are biking and walking to school although anyone is able to stop by our tables! We will have healthy snacks, educational materials, and goodies to hand out related to the coalition and biking in Sun Prairie.

Did you know that you can utilize Campus Portal to receive alerts when your student is marked absent or tardy? Here’s a video on how to set your campus portal notifications to receive these alerts