IMMS Family Flier

Dear Indian Mound Middle School Students and Families,

We are nearing the end of the 24-35 School Year... can you believe it? We are planning for end of the year activities. The money unit will come to an end for 6th grade with the auction as the grade finale. The 7th grade will be celebrating with their end-of-year carnival. And, the 8th grade as their recognition ceremony/dance, and field trip!

Thank you to those who volunteered for the 8th grade track meet are signed up to volunteer in the meets this week. The weather looks like it will be gorgeous. In the next few days, students will continue their learning all while cleaning out lockers and turning in Chromebooks. Please take a moment to read this newsletter as it contains important end of year information. Here are some dates to remember:

Thank you for all you do to support our school community!

• Library Materials Due: May 30 (book club books due June 3)
• Chromebooks and chargers are collected: June 4 (see details below)
• 8th grade rec/dance: June 4
• Last day of school: June 5 (8th graders release at 1:00 pm)

Warm regards,

Jamie Thomas, Principal

Brett Jondle, Associate Principal

1. PTO All Parent Meeting at IMMS on May 28th 6PM

2. 6th Grade Band Concert on May 29th at 7PM at the PAC

3. 6th and 7th grade track meets this week (looking for a few more volunteers for 7th grade HERE)

4. 8th Grade Families- see below end of year info

5. Library books due May 30

2-hour delay schedule

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

McFarland RADAR (Relevant Alcohol & Drug Awareness Resources) Coalition Newsletter

IMMS Athletics Calendar

Family information on IMMS Expectations

IMMS Sports and Clubs Eligibility Criteria

May 29: 6th Grade Band Concert 7:00 @ PAC

June 4: 8th Grade Recognition / 8th Grade Dance

June 5: Last day of school (full day for 6th and 7th ; early release for 8th grade.. more info to come)

We want to make you aware of an important update to after-school pick-up procedures on ​F​riday, May 30, due to a large track and field event being hosted in the area.

Increased Bus Traffic:

• Starting around 2:30 PM, team buses will be arriving to drop off visiting athletes and coaches. These buses will be using the IMMS drop-off circle, which may cause increased congestion in that area.

• We encourage families to plan for possible delays during pick-up and to use extra caution in the parking lot and surrounding areas.
• If possible, consider arriving a few minutes later than usual or using an alternate pick-up location nearby to help reduce congestion.

Bus Parking Information:

• Some buses may be parked at the bottom of the IMMS drive during the event.

• Others will be returning to park on the IMMS drive after 4:30 PM.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we welcome student-athletes and families from other schools. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

1. Welcome to the Physical Education Grade Level Track Meet Sign Up! Each year students get to take part in a track meet with others in their grade. To help make this a success, we need your help in the areas of high jump, long jump, shot put, discus and timers. Stay for part of the time, or whole time. No experience necessary!

Please see the Sign Up Genius to join us for this super fun event!

The end of our 24-25 school year is upon us and summer break is right around the corner! We will be collecting your learner’s CHARGER and CHROMEBOOK on June 4th. Before chromebooks are collected they need to be placed into “storage mode.”

To make our collection process run smoothly, we are asking that you please follow these steps:

Steps to put Chromebooks put into storage mode:

1. Charge your Chromebook to at least 80%

2. Connect the device to a charger and turn it on.

3. Hold Refresh and Power buttons at the same time

4. While holding these two keys, remove the power cable and then release the two keys. The device should shut down and remain off.

5. Attempt to power the Chromebook on by pressing the power button. If the Chromebook powers back on, you should repeat steps 2 thru 4. If the device does not power on, you have successfully completed the steps.

6. Here is the LINK to video instructions

We are very excited to share the students’ last day details to allow for you to plan accordingly!

The last day of school will be Thursday, June ​5! This last day is an opportunity for us to celebrate the successes of a wonderful school year! The most important thing for you to know is that sixth and seventh grade students are dismissed at 3:​30pm, while eighth grade students with approved permission to leave early will be dismissed at ​1:​00pm​ (or whenever they return from their field trip!).

• Sixth grade ​students will be having Related Arts classes, watch a movie in their Homeroom class, and then have their Money Unit Auction!

• Seventh grade students have core classes (cores one, two, five, six,​ and eight) and within these classes will be watching a movie, receiving the PE track meet awards, and having their annual seventh grade carnival!

• Eighth grade students will have their class trip to Urban Air before returning to IMMS at ​1:​00pm. Upon returning to IMMS, eighth grade students (who have had parent/guardian permission) may leave at ​1:​00pm​ (or whenever they return from their trip!).

Last but not least, we want to thank you for your continued involvement in your child's education during this school year. We are grateful for the partnership we have between all of you and all of our staff. We truly can't thank you enough. We are looking forward to another great school year during the 202​5-202​6 school year. For those of you with eighth graders heading off to McFarland High School (or other area schools), know that you will be missed, but certainly never forgotten.

• 8th Grade Recognition Wednesday, June 4th. LINK for detailed information.
• Students arrive at High School A gym at 5:30 pm
• Recognition Ceremony: 6:00-7:00 pm (High School gym B)
• 8th Grade Dance Wednesday, June 4th after the recognition.
• The dance is immediately following the recognition from 7:00-8:30.
• Students can walk up the path to IMMS. There will be light refreshments, DJ and open gym.
• Students must be picked up promptly at 8:30.
• Chaperones are needed for supervision, serving food and clean up. Please see Sign Up Genius LINK
• Last Day of School Thursday, June 5th:
• Field Trip - The 8th grade students will be taking a field trip together to Urban Air. Please see this LINK with the detailed information about the day. Deadline for sign up, permission forms and payment is 5/28/25.

• There has been a long standing tradition that our eighth-grade students have the opportunity to leave earlier than the sixth and seventh graders on the last day of school. This year, the 8th grade students will be dismissed at 1:00 pm on Thursday, June 5th upon the return of their field trip, unless the student’s parent/guardian wants them to stay at school until regular dismissal at 3:30 pm. Our bus times will remain at the typical time for all students. If eighth graders do leave upon return from the field trip at 1:00 pm, they will be expected to be picked up from school or leave school grounds at that time.

  Please fill out this form if you do NOT want your eighth grader to leave school at 1:00 pm on June 5th and wish to have them dismissed at regular dismissal time (3:30 pm).

• Chaperones are needed for supervision, serving food and clean up.
• Please see Sign Up Genius LINK

Did you know?
Reading just five books over the summer can help prevent literacy decline when students return to school in the fall (Home Libraries Research Foundation).

Here are a few simple, engaging ways to support your child’s literacy development this summer:

• Let kids choose what they read – and talk with them about it.

• Read what they’re reading and share texts with them – and have conversations about it together.

• Visit the E.D. Locke Public Library and check out their teen programs.

• Try audiobooks – students will continue to have access to SORA this summer.

• Talk about current events, hobbies, or projects – these informal conversations build background knowledge.

• Let kids cook – following recipes promotes reading comprehension and sequencing.

• Encourage journaling or scrapbooking – great ways to integrate writing into daily life.

• Use educational apps and games like IXL to build skills in a fun way.
  
  

IXL Summer Access
For the past two years, students have used IXL in their ELA classes to practice grammar and mechanics. They will continue to have access this summer and can use it to build a wide range of literacy skills.

• Mobile Access: Search for IXL in the App Store.

• Login following these instructions:

• ELA Teachers will provide students with their launch cards (usernames and passwords).

• Be sure students sign in using their full username: username@indianmoundms

• If you're having trouble signing in, contact Erin Fischer, 6–12 Literacy Coordinator, at fischee@mcfsd.org.

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Summer Orchestra program in McFarland, Aug 4-7 and 11-14 - Grades 5-8

Summer Band program in McFarland, Aug 4-7 and 11-14 - Grades 6-8

We've become aware of some concerning TikTok trends that encourage inserting graphite or other metal objects into the USB ports of Chromebooks, often with the intent to cause sparks. If you haven't done so yet, please have a conversation with your child about the serious damage this can cause to their school-issued devices and the potential safety hazards involved. It's crucial to understand that any damage resulting from such intentional misuse will lead to families being charged for the necessary repairs and lead to additional school consequences. We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring the proper care and safe use of these valuable learning tools.

Oh The Places You Go:

• We know some families ask teachers to write in the Dr. Suess book "Oh The Places You'll Go" at the end of the school year to save for graduation. Our teachers love to take part in this tradition but are asking that if you are requesting them to write a note in the book for your child, could you please get the book to the teachers ASAP. Sometimes, the requests come in the last few days of school and it is often difficult for our staff to give them the attention they deserve. Thanks so much!

Below you will find "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.

• Madison Mallards MSD Night - June 4

• GEHC Girls STEM Camp - Register by May 30

• McFarland Learn to Skate Summer 2025 - Register by end of May

• Future 2025-26 Spanish Program at MPS - Early Registration by June 6

• Futura 2025-26 Spanish Program at WIS - Early Registration by June 6

• McFarland Soccer Club Fall/Spring Soccer - Register by June 20

• MHS Juneteenth Celebration - June 22

• Stoughton Health Safe@Home Program - June 24

• Stoughton Health Safe Sitter Program - June 28

• Dane County Humane Society Camp Wildside 2025 Day Camps and Summer Camp

• E.D. Locke Library Grades 3-5 Graphic Novel Book Club - September-May

• McFarland Soccer Club Summer Camp - Register Through June 20

• Hamline University Summer Reading Skills Programs

• UW Madison Summer Anxiety Group for Kids Grades 2-4 - June 17-July 17

• McFarland Summer Orchestra Program Grades 5-8 - August 4-14

• Camp Jorn YMCA Performing Arts Specialty Summer Camp

• Dane County Humane Society Summer Camp Pawprint

• Free Triple P Positive Parenting Online Program for WI Families

• WI School of Business - Grade 8 & 9 Free Precollege Summer Camp: Business Basics

• Badger Bots Kids Summer Camps

McFarland Recreation Aquatics & Play (MRAP) and the McFarland Performing Arts Center (MPAC) offer a wide variety of recreation and aquatics programs for community members of all ages. To learn more, visit MRAPNews.com

Questions about specific MRAP or MPAC programs?

Reach out to the staff contacts listed below:

Stu Schaefer, Director of Community Services

schaefs@mcfsd.org | 608-838-3168

Kayla Eliasson, Aquatics Supervisor

eliassk@mcfsd.org | 608-838-3168

Alisha Fix, Recreation Supervisor

fixa@mcfsd.org | 608-838-4666

Zachary Franczak, Performing Arts Supervisor

franczz@mcfsd.org | 608-838-4461

Summary from the 5/19/25 School Board Meeting:

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

• Board Members reviewed the 2025-26 family handbooks.

• Aaron Tarnutzer shared the results of the recent staff survey.

• The Board discussed the recent Village Board/School Board Joint Planning Committee meeting.

• Aaron Tarnutzer gave an update from the recent WVA Board retreat.

• Jeff Mahoney provided a budget and staffing update.

• Action items that were acted upon included:

• Approval of the process to select student representatives to the Board of Education for the 2025-26 school year.

• Approval of Start College Now request

• Approval of 2025-26 McFarland Employee Handbook

• Approval of 2025-26 fee schedule

• Approval of 66.0301 Dane County New Teacher Project shared services contract.

• Approval of open enrollment applications for the 2025-26 school year.

COMING UP:

The next School District of McFarland School Board meeting is scheduled for June 2, 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.

May is...

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Mental Health Awareness Month

May 26th - Memorial Day

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.