Rising from the Prairie

Feb. 6, 2026

Dear PPA Community,

I am writing to share my gratitude and my renewed focus as I return to my role as your Principal. The past several months have been a period of significant reflection for me. This time has reinforced my dedication to the work we do together and my commitment to serving the students and families of PPA and our district to the absolute best of my ability.

My primary goal is to ensure that PPA remains a space where safety, academic achievement, and personal growth are at the forefront of everything we do.

Our Core Focus Areas for the Remainder of the Year:

• Safety & Stability: Strengthening the physical and emotional safety of our learning environment so that every student and staff member feels supported.

• Academic Support: Enhancing our instructional strategies to ensure every child is meeting their learning milestones and feeling challenged in the classroom.

• Family Partnership: Building stronger bridges between the school and our homes to ensure your voices are heard, and your children are supported.

• Building Community with students and staff.

I am committed to the hard work ahead. I believe in the potential of our students, the talent of our staff, and the strength of this community. I am ready to listen, to lead, and to move forward with a focus on excellence for every student.

Thank you for your partnership and for the warm welcome back, PPA.

Sincerely,

Mr. Barrett

Dear SPASD Parents and Caregivers,

In response to recent activity impacting students, families, and school communities, we want to reaffirm our district’s mission, vision, and commitment to equity and remind our community of existing district policies related to access to education, protection of student information, and interactions with immigration enforcement.

Our School Board’s Equity Statement affirms:

"We stand by all of our students, staff, and families. We celebrate and value our diverse community and support all students, staff, families, and community members of all races, ethnicities, faiths, national origins, immigration statuses, political viewpoints, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities. All children will be safe and loved in our schools… Every Child, Every Day."

We want to assure you that all students, families, and staff regardless of immigration status continue to be welcome and safe in our schools. We are committed to standing together and ensuring all members of our community feel seen, supported, and protected. We want to remind families of several important district policies:

• Access to Education: All students, regardless of immigration status, have the legal right to attend school under federal law.

• Protection of Information: The district does not collect social security numbers of students or families, for purposes of enrollment. Student data is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and district policy restricts law enforcement investigations or interviews in schools.

• Immigration Enforcement: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is not allowed to enter our buildings without a judicial warrant. Any ICE activity or inquiries will be handled by district leadership and our school district legal counsel.

To help families stay informed and connected to resources, we encourage you to visit our Resources for Immigrant Students & Families webpage.

Thank you for being our partner in making SPASD schools a safe and welcoming place for every student, family, and staff member. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Feb. 26 - Caregiver/Teacher conferences 4pm-8pm

Feb. 27 - Caregiver/Teacher conferences 7am-12pm

The PPA School Store is open now through February 17. Be sure to stop by and get your school gear before it closes!” Here’s the sign-up!

Attendance line: 608-834-6900 Line 1

Please use this number when calling in a student for an absence, illness or an appointment.

You can call the office at 608-834-6900 ext. 5507 for any reason that your student will be absent. Please call the attendance line or the office at 608-834-6931 if your student needs to leave early. Calls will be made home when students leave grounds without a guardian's permission.

School day is from 9:00am - 3:20pm.

Follow PPA on Facebook! See our events, photos of activities, and other important updates and information. https://www.facebook.com/PPASunPrairie/

Attention Seniors: As we begin the second semester, please review your graduation plan and connect with your advisor. Conversations about graduation have resumed, and your school community of educators has been reviewing your academic progress.

You will be meeting with staff to discuss where you stand and what steps you need to take to stay on track toward graduation. This is your time, stay proactive and take ownership of your path.

Caregivers: We need your support. As we all know, it takes a village to ensure our scholars are successful. Please encourage your senior to meet with their advisor, review their graduation plan, and stay focused during this final stretch.

Let’s finish strong together.

We want to hear your voice! We are currently seeking students to join our leadership team and help build a stronger, more united school community.

• Student Senate: Help plan events, advocate for your peers, and shape our school.

• HOW TO JOIN: Stop by the Main Office today to put your name on the sign-up sheets!

Scholars should be prepared to learn everyday! Chromebooks should be with students daily. To reduce students transporting their wonderful Chromebooks they have the opportunity to leave the CB’s at PPA to be charged. Those that turned in Chromebooks will be able to pick them up from the main office. We will not issue a Chromebook to students if they have one or more already checked out to them. Please have your scholar return any damaged Chromebooks to the main office. We have a limited number of Chromebooks that students may use as loaners but that is on a first come basis.

Basics of Sewing students have been busy practicing and learning about basic hand stitches. Next, we amped it up and learned how to thread a sewing machine. The first projects completed were beautiful pillows!

Decade Deep Dive workshop students have selected their decade of choice and their anchor pillar to focus research. This week we are focusing on the ripple effects of historical events and objects by making connections between facts and creating impact statements.

In the History of Cooking class, we aren’t just following recipes—we’re basically "hacking" our favorite foods to see what happens when we go off-script.

If you’ve walked past the kitchen lately and smelled something delicious, you’re smelling our experimental cooking class. We are taking the classics—stuff like mac and cheese, brownies, and cookies—and turned them into one giant culinary experiment.

This week was the ultimate showdown: the brownie. But instead of everyone making the same boring batch, every group had to change one thing to see if it actually made the brownie better.

One group decided to go for a homemade caramel topping strategy. If you haven't tried it, it’s a gamechanger. You basically melt the butter and add brown sugar and stir on low heat until it turns golden and smells like toasted nuts. The result? A cookie that tasted like it came from a fancy bakery instead of a plastic package. Another group experimented with making their own butterscotch icing from scratch for a "grown-up" vibe.

The verdict? Most of us are never going back to the "back of the bag" directions ever again.

Mac and Cheese, But Make It Fashion

This Friday, we have the Mac and Cheese lab. Students were all encouraged to bring in family recipes with the goal being to "elevate" our next meal into something better than you can find in a blue box.

Which team will triumph? Will someone go "chaos mode" and top theirs with crushed Takis and lime? It sounds weird, but maybe the spicy crunch actually works. Maybe a tiny bit of mustard powder and smoked paprika— may just make the cheese flavor go from "mid" to "amazing."

PPA students are basically proving that you don't need a $50 steak to make a great meal. You just need to know how to use what’s in your pantry. The best part about this class isn't just the free snacks. It’s the fact that we’re learning how to actually cook and collaborate without being scared of the kitchen.

Direct Admit

Direct Admit season is upon us. If you are not interested in your Junior (11th grade) scholar being a part of the Direct Admission process, please fill out the Opt- Out Form linked below.

SPASD Direct Admit Opt-Out form

Linked below is the district website about Direct Admission information:

Direct Admission district website information

Xello Reminder

XELLO is the SPASD Academic and Career Planning software tool used to help students plan for their future. Students can access XELLO by logging in to MySP and clicking on the Xello icon, or by clicking the link provided. Each year and grade level, lessons are released in XELLO that need to be completed. You do not have to go back to complete lessons from prior grades, only the grade you are currently in.

Every Wednesday, Ms. Yang will be hosting Financial Aid, Scholarship and College Applications in the SRC room, come by and get help!

An infinite amount of scholarships are available outside of Sun Prairie.

Check out Mrs.Yang's scholarship website for many resources!

FREE Websites for Scholarship Searches

• Unigo
• 50+ Scholarships for Minority Students
• Fastweb
• BIG Future by College Board
• ScholarshipPoints
• StudentScholarships.org
• WEOP (Wisconsin Education Opportunity Programs)
• ScholarsApp

Juniors and Seniors who are interested in taking college classes in the Fall Semester, APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN! Please connect with Ms. Lisa.

DEADLINE- March 1st, 2026

The Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program is a transformative opportunity for high school juniors and seniors to unlock their potential and shape their future.

By combining school-based education with hands-on work experience, YA empowers students to develop essential employability and professional skills. Working under the guidance of a business mentor, students gain invaluable real-world experience while getting paid. Students also learn in the classroom, earning credits towards graduation.

For employers, YA is a chance to shape and inspire the next generation of talent, contributing to a thriving local economy and workforce needs. Youth Apprentices are selected and hired by the employer based on best fit. Once hired, students split their time between the classroom and the job, gaining real-world experience and industry skills.

Please visit the SPASD Local and Support Resources website for more information about community resources.

Picture Packet Vouchers- If you would like to order a printed picture packet of school pictures, we have vouchers available to cover the cost of a small packet! Please email Ellie Donaldson at ehdonal@sunprairieschools.org!

Reaching Out for Resources - In light of the potential of some federal benefits pausing soon, I would like to remind our families that they are always welcome to reach out to discuss resources they may need. As our social worker, my job is to help address barriers to education, including economic, social, and cultural hardships that many of us are feeling. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at (608) 501-1506 or ehdonal@sunprairieschools.org.

At PPA, we have a pantry with household grocery options, including fridge/freezer selections! Families are welcome to access the pantry.

Other resources:

https://sunshineplace.org/

https://energyandhousing.wi.gov/Pages/AgencyResources/energy-assistance.aspx

https://danebhrc.org/

https://publichealthmdc.com/documents/food_resource_guide_eng.pdf

February 16–20, 2026 is Adult Crossing Guard Recognition Week Our crossing guards play an important role in keeping our youngest students safe as they travel to and from school each day. Rain or shine, they greet students with a smile and provide a watchful, caring presence at busy intersections.

We encourage everyone to take a moment to show their appreciation for all they do. A simple “thank you,” a smile, or a small, heartfelt note or drawing from your child can go a long way in letting our crossing guards know how much they are valued and appreciated by our school community.

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Del 16 al 20 de febrero de 2026 se celebra la Semana de Reconocimiento a los Guardias de Cruce de Adultos

Nuestros guardias de cruce desempeñan un papel importante en la seguridad de nuestros estudiantes más pequeños mientras se trasladan hacia y desde la escuela cada día. Llueva o haga sol, reciben a los estudiantes con una sonrisa y brindan una presencia atenta y solidaria en las intersecciones más concurridas.

Animamos a todos a tomarse un momento para mostrar su agradecimiento por todo lo que hacen. Un simple “gracias,” una sonrisa o una pequeña nota o dibujo sincero de su hijo puede significar mucho y ayudar a que nuestros guardias de cruce sepan cuánto son valorados y apreciados por nuestra comunidad escolar.

Bus Driver Recognition Week

February 9–13, 2026 is School Bus Driver Recognition Week in the State of Wisconsin. This is a special time to recognize and thank the dedicated men and women who safely transport our students to and from school each day.

Families are encouraged to take a moment to share their appreciation; whether through a kind word, a note, or a small token made by your child.

Thoughtful gestures like these can truly brighten a bus driver’s week and let them know how much they are valued!

Semana de reconocimiento a los conductores de autobús escolares

Del 9 al 13 de febrero de 2026 se celebra la Semana de Reconocimiento a los Conductores de Autobuses Escolares en el estado de Wisconsin. Este es un momento especial para reconocer y agradecer a los dedicados hombres y mujeres que transportan de manera segura a nuestros estudiantes hacia y desde la escuela todos los días.

Se anima a las familias a tomarse un momento para expresar su agradecimiento, ya sea con unas palabras amables, una nota o un pequeño detalle hecho por su hijo(a).

Gestos considerados como estos pueden realmente alegrar la semana de un conductor de autobús y hacerles saber cuánto se les valora.

Preliminary transportation information is viewable in Infinite Campus by logging into Campus Parent, clicking on ‘More’, then choosing the Transportation tab. If the bus stop does not look accurate, please contact Kobussen. Pickup and drop-off times are continually changing as new students enroll and other students move out of the district.

This year, High School students will NOT receive bus tags. Students will need to be able to show their bus assignment through Infinite Campus when asked. Once the bus information is available, take a picture of it and add it to your favorites for easy access.

Please contact Brinda Thompson at brinda.thompson@kobussen.com or (608) 825-8700 ext. 5509 if you have questions or concerns about your child’s bus route or stop. If you have any other questions related to busing, please contact either Lisa Sprindis at lasprin@sunprairieschools.org or Rhonda Page at rspage@sunprairieschools.org. If your child is NOT going to ride the bus but is eligible, please stop by the bus table at Registration or reach out to one of the people above.

Email: ntbarre@sunprairieschools.org
Website: https://www.sunprairieschools.org/prairie-phoenix-academy-home
Location: 220 Kroncke Drive, Suite 13 Sun Prairie, WI 53590, USA
Phone:608-834-6900 ext. 5210