Cardinal Call

Welcome to semester two! Students, please review your schedules prior to class on Tuesday. Classes may have been adjusted since you looked at your schedule at the start of the year. This week 9th-11th graders will be requesting classes for the 2026-2027 school year. Students, please prioritize SP30 attendance so that staff members can help you through this process. Students service staff members will also be in the LMC during that time should any questions come up. Stay warm!

Sincerely,

Jim Ertel

Principal

Requestfest begins on January 20, 2026. Academic planning details for students in 9th - 11th grade will be shared throughout the next two weeks. This includes course offerings and instructions on how to request and plan in Infinite Campus. You can also learn more on the district website. Below is a timeline of block and SP30 lessons. The deadline to complete course requests is February 4, 2026.

As we are getting close to the beginning of Second Semester, here are some scheduling reminders:

• Make sure that students check Infinite Campus for their most up to date schedule. We continue to make adjustments based on a variety of factors, and a screen shot from the beginning of the year is probably no longer accurate.

• If there is something amiss with a student’s schedule and they need a change, please fill out this schedule change form.

• A reminder: Schedules can only be changed within the first 10 days of the semester and a schedule change request is not a guarantee.

• Schedules will NOT be changed for the following reasons (Student and Family Handbook Page 16):

• Student wishes to change to improve grade point average.

• Student states that the class is getting too hard.

• Student states that they have changed their mind.

• Student has concerns with the teacher assignment.

• Student is unhappy with the lunch period assignment.

• Student has concerns relating to members of a given class.

• Student wishes to change schedule due to employment or extra-curricular activity.

• Student wishes to drop year-long class, mid year.

• Student wishes to rearrange current classes.

School Board Reps: Want to become a Student School Board Representative and interact with your school and community on a whole new level? Apply now to become the next Sun Prairie Student Representative!

Every year the Urban League of Greater Madison celebrates the achievement of outstanding young people across Dane County in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Each high school is asked to nominate two students per grade to be recognized at a breakfast in January. Pictured here are a group of our scholars who were celebrated: Kaleb Burdick, Mackenzie Carpenter, Kiera Place & Fatoumatta Fatty.

Other nominees not pictured: Isaiah Bell, Colette Barrett, Jay’Maree Hamilton, Priscilla Aweke & Kya Dixon.

Due to safety concerns based on inclement weather conditions, Pizza with a Purpose on Saturday, January 24th will be postponed and will be rescheduled to a future date. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and a rescheduled date will be posted soon. Thank you for your understanding and we are wishing everyone a safe and warm weekend.

Debido a las condiciones meteorológicas adversas y por motivos de seguridad, el evento "Pizza with a Purpose" programado para el sábado 24 de enero se pospone y se reprogramará para una fecha posterior. Lamentamos las molestias que esto pueda ocasionar y anunciaremos la nueva fecha próximamente. Gracias por su comprensión y les deseamos a todos un fin de semana seguro y agradable.

Black History Month: ​100 Years of Celebration!

In February 2026, we are proudly celebrating Black History Month with this year’s theme as Threads of Tradition: A Century of Black History Commemorations. Nearly 100 years ago, Dr. Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week in 1926, planting the seeds for what we now celebrate as Black History Month. What began as a courageous act of truth-telling has grown into a powerful tradition that honors our past, affirms our identity, and inspires our future. For a century, the commemoration of Black history has been both memory and movement—a living legacy carried forward through scholarship, art, music, faith, storytelling, and activism. Each generation has added its voice and its brilliance, strengthening our collective story and ensuring that the contributions, resilience, and humanity of Black people are never erased, silenced, or forgotten.

The district-sponsored Black History Month event will be the Annual Soul Food Dinner held on Friday, February 27 at Sun Prairie East High School from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Complimentary food tickets will be available for the first 250 guests or until supplies are exhausted. All are welcome to attend the celebration. This year’s entertainment is DJ Ree and the Prairie View Dance Team, with their advisors Jamiyah Garner and Madi Riste from Prairie View Middle School. Spread the word and join in on the fun!

A huge THANK YOU goes out to GM, Waukesha County Technical College, and Wisconsin Auto and Truck Dealers Association for the donation of a 2017 Chevy Malibu to our ASE National Certified Auto Facility at SP East High School. Students are learning from/on the vehicle in the first week it was in the lab!

Linked below is the January French Newsletter.

Linked below is the Band program newsletter.

Door 6 or the driveway just to the left after you pull into the parking lot off of HWY N is open for drop off and pick up before and after school. Utilizing door 6 allows for less parent traffic outside the main entrance as students are entering and exiting the student parking lot. Please use door 6 if you are dropping off or picking up your student before and after school.

There are no classes available to add new students to Behind the Wheel training. Students who are eager to complete their license should pursue a Private Driving School.

Funds for income eligible students, ages 14.5-19, to take driver training coursework and/or behind-the-wheel are now available through the Driver Education Grant Program. Students should visit Wisconsin Department of Transportation Driver Education Grant Program to enroll.

The funds will be made available to eligible applicants on a first come, first served basis, until the available funds for each quarter are depleted. Students will present the school with the DMV-provided coupon. Schools enrolled as a WisDOT vendor will enter the student’s name and coupon identifier into the Driver Education Completion (DEC) system. Funds will be paid directly to the driver training schools. Students unable to receive funding should visit Wisconsin Department of Transportation Driver Education Grant Program to re-enroll each quarter.

5th Hour Tutoring is up & running for 2025-2026! 5th Hour Tutoring runs Tuesdays - Thursdays from 3:50-4:40PM in the LMC, with teachers from English, math, science, social studies, art, and more available to work with students. Students are able to take the activity bus (which leaves at 4:45PM) home after 5th Hour tutoring.

Seniors: The local scholarship application is now open. The deadline to complete is January 30th. This is a great opportunity to be considered for scholarships that are only available to Sun Prairie students. Click here to access the application.

Spring sports registration opens February 1 on Infinite Campus. All student-athletes must have a valid sports physical on file before participating in practices or competitions. Physicals dated after 4/1/24 are valid for the 2025–26 school year, and physicals dated after 4/1/25 are valid for both the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years. Physicals must be signed, dated, and stamped by a physician; electronic copies are accepted only if electronically signed by the doctor.

Jenna Boberg, CAA

Athletics & Activities Director

When Quarter 2/Semester 1 grades are posted, any winter athlete or student participating in activities who has a posted “F” or “INC” will enter an automatic 15 school day and night suspension period.

During this suspension, students may continue to attend and participate in practices, but may not participate in any athletic or activity competitions, games, or events. This suspension is enforced upon grade posting and is not a probationary period.

The 15 school day and night suspension must be served in full. Grades for SP30 assignments are included when determining eligibility.

All athletic event cancellations due to weather will reflect on our athletic schedules.

HERE is our district policies on weather related school closings.

Hundreds of varsity basketball student-athletes from Big Eight Conference schools gathered to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day by reflecting on leadership, diversity, and the responsibility of being role models in their schools and communities. The event emphasized balancing academics and athletics while carrying Dr. King’s legacy beyond the game.

Inspired by a true story, BRIGHT STAR is a sweeping, heartfelt musical featuring a Tony®-nominated score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. Set against the vibrant backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and 1940s, this deeply emotional tale explores love, loss, and the transformative power of redemption. When literary editor Alice Murphy meets a young soldier just home from World War II, he awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Haunted by their unique connection, Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past—and what she finds has the power to transform both of their lives.

With its stunning melodies and richly developed characters, BRIGHT STAR weaves an uplifting and poignant journey through time, filled with hope, heartache, and the promise of second chances. A beautifully genuine and soul-stirring musical, BRIGHT STAR captivates audiences with its deeply moving story and lively bluegrass score.

Tickets are available at https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=sppac

Support our Cardinal athletes this season as they face the West Wolves!

Our athletes and families are invited to join Influential Athlete’s monthly virtual NIL Masterclasses to learn how to navigate NIL safely while maximizing opportunities and building skills for life after sports. Sessions take place on the last Tuesday of every month (except December) at 6 PM CST.

2025 – 2026 Schedule:

• Jan 27, 2026: Pitching & Negotiating NIL Deals

• Feb 24, 2026: Protecting Yourself in NIL Deals

• Mar 31, 2026: Financial Management for NIL Athletes

• Apr 28, 2026: Maximizing Media Exposure

• May 26, 2026: Life After Sports – Using NIL to Build Your Future

Please see the linked information for upcoming contests.

Sun Prairie East High School

Principal: Jim Ertel

Asst. Principal: Pang Khang, Rachel Looper

Main Office: 608-834-6703

Website: https://www.sunprairieschools.org/east-high
Location: 888 Grove Street, Sun Prairie WI 53590