January 2026 MGNS Newsletter

School Director Corner

Happy New Year MGNS Family!


We all hope that you had a wonderful time off and a fun holiday time! We are excited to get back to school and start PLAYING!


January is full of lots of fun events at MGNS. First up- we hope all of our families will join us for Family Bingo on January 24! All the details are below, but it is going to be a great family event to help raise money for our school.


Does it seem like we are raising money all the time? We are. Our board is working hard to do it in a variety of ways and types of events because we know that some things work for some people- but yes. We have a large debt from our move to our new home, we have plans for the future, and we want to keep our child centered, play based, screen free school available and accessible to all for many years to come. So, participate when you can-we appreciate it!


We also hope that all of our families will stay with us next year, and help spread the word about our openings. See below about information about our Yard Sign Extravaganza coming up! Believe it or not, the huge number of yard signs that pop up for a few weeks before our Open House drives a lot of people to us- we appreciate your yard hosting one to add to the support!


Please read on for details about registration, skating, lunch bunch, camp, box week, grandparents week, and BINGO! So much happening at our school. Keep your eyes and ears open and thank you for being a part of our family.


Sue

Staff Announcements


  • REMINDER! After our winter break, our schedule flips - Starfish and Penguins will start their days on the playground, and Sea Otters and Dolphins will end their day on the playground.


  • BOX WEEKS! Please remember to save your big boxes for us. You can bring them in, folded down, anytime! Our kids love BOX week!




  • NEXT YEAR! Yes we are already planning for our 26/27 school year. During the week of January 9-15 our Toddler Time kids will be welcomed to "visit" for a few minutes in either our preschool room or our 4K room.


  • YES! Lunch Bunch will be starting again on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays in March through the end of the year. LB begins at 11:45 and ends at 12:45. Enrollment preference will be given to 4K students. Here is the google form to sign up. Sign up will close at midnight on January 16th and if there are too many applicants on any given day, we will have a lottery.


  • SKATE AFTERNOON! MGNS has rented the Lake Ridge Bank River Rink on the afternoon of Thursday, February 5th from 4:30-6:30. The sign up is HERE and it is first come, first serve! There is also a waitlist. Come skate with us!


  • YES! A couple of weeks of summer camp is on the horizon. Juli and Sue will be leading it- and details and a sign up will be forthcoming, but right now we are looking at mornings during the weeks of June 15 and 22.

MGNS Events & Announcements

Open House and Enrollment for 26-27:

We are so excited to be starting our enrollment process for the 26-27 school year. We hope that you will all be able to stay with us for preschool, 4K or Toddler Time!


FIRST - we have an Open House on Saturday, February 14th from 9:30-12:30. We would love for all of you to invite any families that might be interested in our school to come and join us! You can also help by spreading the word--sharing our event on your social media platforms, in your neighborhood groups, and by participating in our Yard SIgn Extravaganza.


SECOND - current families may register for next year on Monday, February 16th starting at 8 am. There is the option to apply online will open on our website at 8 am, and I will be at school to take paper applications also at 8 am.


THIRD - if you have any questions - ANY questions - please email me. I am happy to chat with you about the options at MGNS for you next year, or options for you if this is your last year at MGNS and you need advice! I can help with it all! Please reach out- director@mgns.org.




From our Advertising Coordinator!

YARD SIGN EXTRAVAGANZA:

We are organizing a fantastic and fun way to kick off enrollment for the 2026/2027 school year! The Yard Sign Extravaganza is a community-wide effort to promote MGNS by placing bright, eye-catching purple and white yard signs in local yards. This helps raise awareness and excitement about the school as enrollment begins. Here's a breakdown of how it works:


What is the Yard Sign Extravaganza?

It's a campaign where MGNS families, friends, and supporters place purple and white yard signs in their yards to spread the word about the school and kick off enrollment for the 26/27 school year. The signs will be displayed for a few weeks, starting in late January.


Key Dates:

Yard Signs will be delivered or available for pick-up: Week of January 26.

Signs need to be returned: After February 23.


How to Participate:

1. Sign Up: Fill out the below linked Google Doc form to either:

Pick up your sign from the school.

Request a drop-off if you prefer the sign to be delivered to your yard.


2. Display: Once you have your sign, proudly display it in your yard to help get the word out

about MGNS!


3. Return: After the yard sign extravaganza wraps up, you'll return your sign to MGNS in

February, or we will come by and pick it up!


Why Participate?

By hosting a yard sign, you're helping MGNS spread the word to potential new families in your community, all while showing your support for the school! Plus, it’s a fun and easy way to get Involved.


Ready to Sign Up?

YES! I want to help MGNS by hosting a yard sign in my yard! Click here!

Thank you for your support in helping make this event a success and generating excitement for the upcoming school year!


From our Fundraising Team:

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Chipotle! What a delicious and easy way to support our school!


Next up: Coffee Fundraiser!

This month we will be hosting our annual Colectivo Coffee Fundraiser! For every bag of coffee, tea, or hot cocoa you order - a portion will go to MGNS. The sale runs from January 12th to January 23rd, 2026. Please include one check made out to Monona Grove Nursery School with your order form. Orders will be placed in cubbies during the week of February 9, just in time for Valentine's Day!


RaiseRight Gift Cards  

RaiseRight Gift Cards are an extremely easy way to do your everyday shopping, while also supporting our school! It’s simple: buy gift cards through the RaiseRight app to use at the stores you are already planning to shop at, and a portion of every purchase goes directly to MGNS. Over 750 different stores including: Amazon, Target, McDonald’s, InstaCart, Walmart, Disney, Mobil, Kwik Trip, and more! 


Getting started is easy:

1. Download the RaiseRight app from the App Store or click here 

2. Select JOIN A PROGRAM and enter our enrollment code: MI4H2NT9PFDB.

3. Start shopping with gift cards and raising money for MGNS

 __________________


Papa John’s Pizza Fundraisers: have your pizza and support MGNS too!

We have teamed up with with Papa John’s for two ways to support MGNS:

LIMITED TIME: We are still selling Papa John's Peel Cards! Each card includes 12 coupons for various deals:

  • Free Large Pizza (1 coupon)
  • Any pizza BOGO (3 coupons)
  • Buy 2 Specialty Pizzas, 3rd pizza free (2 coupons)
  • Buy any large, get a medium pizza free (3 coupons)
  • Free Cheese Sticks with purchase of large specialty pizza (3 coupons)

Over $150 in value! Valid at all participating Papa John's locations in Wisconsin. 

Thanks to the generosity of Papa John’s, all proceeds go directly to our capital campaign to help repay our renovation costs.


COST: $30 each, or 2 cards for $50. 

**We have a limited supply of Peel-a-Deal cards. Click below to order. First come, first served. Form will close when cards are sold out. 

ONGOING: Papa John's Discount Code: When you order pizza with Papa John's, use the coupon code MGNS2010 and you'll be both saving money AND supporting MGNS. This code gets you 20% off your entire order with 10% (half your savings) going directly to MGNS. Valid at all participating Papa John's locations in Wisconsin. Spread the word to family, friends, and neighbors!


Together, these fundraisers help us keep our community thriving—thank you for being part of it!


Same Heart, New Start!

MGNS Party Bingo! - Saturday, January 24 (3-5pm)


Join us for our next big event to support our Same Heart, New Start capital campaign - Party BINGO! Saturday, January 24th from 3:00- 5:00pm in Good Shepherd Hall (sometimes referred to as “Yoga Hall” by the kids 🙂). All are welcome to attend this event! Families, kids, friends, neighbors - anyone who loves to Bingo! We will have concessions for sale, great prizes, and some good tunes to get you moving between Bingo rounds!


Cost:

  • $3 for 1 card
  • $10 for pack of 5 individual cards
  • $20 for a pack of 12 individual cards


10 rounds total - play just once, all ten, or anything in between!


Spread the word about this fun family-friendly event coming up in just a few weeks!


Let's Get Ready to BINGO!


Complete this RSVP form to let us know you'll be there so we have a general idea of how many players to expect:


(RSVPs appreciated but not required.)

As always, thank you for your support. It means the world.

Upcoming MGNS Events

January 5 - School resumes

January 9-15 - Toddler Time Visit Week

January 24 - Starfish Saturday at School 9-10 am

January 24 - Family Bingo Day at MGNS! 3-5 pm

January 26- Yard Sign Extravaganza Begins!

January 12-23 - Colectivo Coffee Sale

February 14 - OPEN HOUSE at MGNS 9:30-12:30

February 16 - Registration Day for CURRENT MGNS families

February 23 - Registration Day for NEW MGNS families

MMSD Activities

Our good friends at the Madison School District provide us with some family outreach each month of school. Feel free to print and follow this January Calendar, and the attached activities for some skill building fun with your kids!