Sennett PTO information

Thank you to everyone who attended and/or volunteered for our Culver's Night fundraiser in January! We appreciate your support; it was great to see so many familiar faces and we raised money to support our school!

Mark your calendars - the February PTO meeting will be Wednesday, 2/7 at 6PM via Google Meet. Please use this LINK to join. We will have updates on things that are happening at school as well as what the PTO is up to. All are welcome! Spanish interpretation will be provided.

The PTO is planning a dinner for staff during conferences coming up on Feb. 8-9. The PTO will be providing pizza on the evening of Feb. 8, and we are looking for donations of salad, chips, soda and dessert to round out the meal. If you would prefer to contribute money towards purchasing the pizza you can also send a donation via our Paypal (@sennettpto) or Venmo (@Sennett-PTO). Food donations can be dropped off in the office on Feb. 7 or 8 during the school day. See the Signup Genius link to sign up.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0449AFAE2FAAFE3-47660417-staff

Want to help the PTO but don't have time to volunteer? Here is a way to help! We are looking for donations of gift cards as part of a thank you program for staff who help cover classrooms during their planning periods when there are not subs available. We are looking for $5-$10 gift cards to McDonalds, Starbucks, Wendy's and Subway. Gift cards can be dropped off in the main office.

Join the PTO Board. We're always looking for parents or family members to join our board. The board meets monthly, about a week before the full PTO meeting, and we'd love to have your voice at the table. If interested, contact us using the information below.

Contact the PTO with your questions, ideas and suggestions at sennettpto@gmail.com — or join the Sennett Middle School PTO Facebook group.

MSCR After School Clubs and Sports INFO

Hello Sennett MSCR Families,

Update with MSCR & New school time policy:

MSCR sports and programming will continue the original schedule placed for the remainder of the school year. Programming will continue to end at 6pm. 

Ski club participants:

Below are the trip dates for the year:

Saturday Feb 3. going to Tyrol Basin 

Friday Feb 23. Going to Tyrol Basin 

Please look out for additional information and announcements from Ms. Ames!

Students must fill out both an online form and the necessary paperwork provided by Ms. Ames. 

Please look out for additional information and announcements from Ms. Ames!

Boys Basketball practices will be every Mon, Wednesday and Thursday from 4:30pm-6pm. Below is the basketball schedule. Please note that some of these games will be subject to change. All Monday games begin at 4:45pm. All Wednesday games begin at 5:30pm.

• Wednesday 01/31 @ Toki Middle School 
• Monday 02/05 @ Ezekiel Gillespie Middle School
• Wednesday 02/21 vs O'keeffe Middle School
• Monday 02/26 vs O’keeffe Middle School

• Saturday 3/2 Tournament @ East Highschool

Times and schedule TBD

Is your scholar new to MSCR?

Students and families will receive a mandatory google form that needs to be filled out and turned into Mr. Robinson. If your student is interested in a sport please fill out the following intake form and the google form that will be sent out after your student attends a meeting/practice.  

Updated Club List:

• Art Club: Wednesdays 4:45pm-5:30pm
• BSU: Thursdays 4:30pm-5:30pm 
• Boys Basketball: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 4:30pm-6pm
• Boardgaming Club: Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:30pm-5:30pm
• Dungeons and Dragons: Mondays 3:00pm-4:00pm
• FCS Club: Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:30pm-5:30pm
• GSA Club: Mondays 4:00pm-5:00pm
• Guitar Club: Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:30pm-5:30pm
• Math Club: Tuesdays and Wednesdays 8am-9am
• Juventud: Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:30pm-5:30pm
• Lego Club: Wednesdays 4:30pm-5:30pm
• Spanish Language Club: Mondays and Thursdays 8:00am-8:50am
• Tutoring Club: Mondays, 2:50pm-4:30pm Wednesdays & Thursdays 4:30pm-5:10pm
• Winter Cross Country: Mondays 2:50pm-4:00pm

All clubs will meet in the cafeteria after school!

There is no available transportation for afterschool, so please set up a way home for students.

Please contact Mr. Robinson (dkrobinson@madison.k12.wi.us ) or Ms. Grethe (meblum1@madison.k12.wi.us) if you have any questions.**

Thank you!

New Tardy Policy at Sennett

Hello Families,

This year when our Quarter 2 schedule began we took in feedback from staff and students and completely rearranged our master schedule and extended our passing time from the district requirement of 3 minutes to 4 minutes to allow students ample time to get their needs met and get to class on time. 

As an educational environment that works diligently to guide and support our scholars, we know that punctuality, consideration of others and an understanding of community are foundations for developing sound and capable citizens of the world. Across nations, institutions and all types of meeting spaces respecting ones' own time and the time of others is paramount in fostering positive relationships and admirable work ethic. To continue to model these opportunities within the educational setting and to continue to hold our Sennett Stars to habits of excellence we have implemented our mid-year tardy improvement strategies, consequences and grade level incentive.

Timeliness Passing Time Strategies

We assessed and monitored for another quarter (Q2) to allow students to get acclimated to this adjustment and practice getting to class on time with the additional minute each passing period. As the end of first semester draws near, we are vigilantly tracking and managing scholars' tardiness as being late directly impacts their loss of academic minutes required by Wisconsin DPI Academic mandates and creates a safety risk for all students. Being in halls once classes have begun while staff are in classrooms or offices is not permitted. 

We are now implementing a tiered approach to address consequences for tardiness as follows: 

• > 2 Tardies same day students will be given a warning and strategies to ensure tardies don't progress throughout the day. Multiple days of 2 or less tardies will not result in a school consequence. 
• 3 Tardies in a day, students will receive lunch detention.
• 4+ same day, students will receive half day in school suspension and parent contact.
• After 3 lunch detentions and/or 2 half day ISS, if tardies persist, students will receive a full day ISS with parent contact and the school will request a parent conference to problem solve around habitual tardiness.
• After a full day ISS, the student will receive a 1 day out of school suspension and an in person parent meeting will be required for re-entry. 

Thank you for continuing to support your scholar each and every day! We see you and we appreciate you. It takes a village; all of us united to be diligent in holding our students to habits and expectations of excellence. Our desire and commitment is to keep all students safe, in class learning and Sennett #1! 

Please note: Parents if you have not yet added the Infinite Campus App it will send you notifications in real time on your phone if your student is marked tardy or absent for class. Additionally, you may log into IC at anytime to monitor your scholars' attendance information. 

Thanks!

Notes from the FCS Room

6th grade students ended their first semester in FCS strongly, sewing their own Potbelly creations. While it is sad to see them move on to a new encore, I welcome new 6th grade students into the space. We will begin with Clothing and Textiles 3rd quarter before moving on to Food and Nutrition. 

7th and 8th grade FCS is a year long class. Students will continue their Clothing and Textiles unit and focus on using sewing machines to create an apron. We will also explore a Financial Literacy Unit using an online program.

Contact Mrs. Kanvik at hkanvik@madison.k12.wi.us with questions

7th Gr Upham Woods Field Trip

Hi 7th grade families,

We are planning to attend Upham Woods Environmental Education Center from March 18-22. DLI students will be going 3/18-3/20, while ELI students will be going 3/20-3/22. Please fill out the permissions as soon as possible and return them to Sennett by February 9th. 

If you are unsure of your child will attend, please fill out and return the forms! This way you can continue to discuss as a family over the following month and your child will still have the option to attend if that’s what you decide. If forms are not returned by the 9th, unfortunately the opportunity will not be available to students. 

Thank you. Please reach out to your child’s homeroom teacher or Ashley Foxborn (afahlborn@madison.k12.wi.us or 608-535-9863) with questions. 

2023-2024 Yearbook

Still Time To Order

If you haven't purchased a yearbook yet for this school year it is not too late! The cost is $15.00 and they will be delivered and handed out at the end of the school year.

There are 2 ways to order a yearbook:

• In Office: Just have your student bring $15 cash or check to the Sennett Middle School Main Office

• Online: Email the Sennett Middle School Main Office at sennett@madison.k12.wi.us and we will add the yearbook fee to your student account. You can then log on to Infinite Campus and pay online.

If you are unsure if you already purchased a yearbook for the year please email the Sennett Office at sennett@madison.k12.wi.us and we can look up that information for you.

The deadline to purchase a yearbook is April 20, 2024

If you have any questions feel free to reach out.

Winter Parent/Teacher Conferences

Thursday, 2/8/24 & Friday, 2/9/24

Conferences are taking place February 8 (4:45pm-8:00pm) and February 9 (8:00am-4:00pm. The purpose of winter conferences is to meet with students who demonstrate academic and behavioral needs. Please look for communication from your student’s teacher if a conference is recommended.  If you would like to schedule a conference, please email your teacher.

NO SCHOOL DAYS

IN FEBRUARY

Friday, 2/9/24 - NO SCHOOL - Middle School Parent/Teacher Conferences

Friday, 2/16/24 - NO SCHOOL - Staff Only Day

Open Enrollment 2024-25 School Year

The regular open enrollment application period for the 2024-25 school year will be open from February 5, 2024 through 4:00 pm on April 30, 2024. 

Approved open enrollment applications are required for those families who wish to attend an MMSD school but live outside of the MMSD attendance area.

Those who apply for open enrollment to the Madison Metropolitan School District will be notified via email the week of June 7th if they have been accepted or denied.

Click on HERE for additional information

Quarter 2 Grades Available in Infinite Campus

Quarter 2 grades are available to view in Infinite Campus Parent Portal

Here are instructions on how to view reports in Parent Portal. 

How To View Report Cards in Parent Portal 



If you have any questions or need help please contact the Sennett Middle School Main Office at sennett@madison.k12.wi.us or 608-204-1920

PEOPLE and ITA Precollege Program Application Windows Open Through Feb. 19

The application windows for two exciting precollege program opportunities are now open! School Counselors and 8th grade staff have been sharing information with 8th grade students across all MMSD middle schools. For more information, or support with the application process, please reach out to your student’s middle school counselor. 

The Precollege Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence (PEOPLE) is “UW-Madison's premier college pipeline scholarship program designed for low-income and potential first-generation college students. PEOPLE prepares them to be a viable college candidate, apply for admission to, and enroll at the University of Wisconsin System institution, with an emphasis on UW-Madison. We offer a full tuition scholarship to UW-Madison and continued support services for eligible students.“ The application window for PEOPLE is January 22 through February 19.

For more information and to access the application, go to: https://peopleprogram.wisc.edu/apply/ 

The Information Technology Academy (ITA) is a pre-college program that provides high school students from the Lac du Flambeau, Madison, and Oneida communities (and surrounding areas) the opportunity to reach their full potential through hands-on technology coursework, college preparatory academics, and personal wellness development that supports their successful completion of high school and matriculation into higher education. A primary goal of the ITA program is to prepare students to be competitive applicants for UW-Madison. Upon completion of the ITA program and acceptance to UW-Madison, graduates become People Scholars, and are eligible to receive a four-year, undergraduate tuition-only scholarship to UW-Madison. The application window for ITA is January 22 through February 22.

For more information and to access the application go to: ita.it.wisc.edu.

Goodbye Message from Ms. Earleywine

Dear Families, 

I am currently the school psychologist at Sennett and I have been supporting our 8th grade ELI students since their 6th grade year. It is with many emotions that I share that I am leaving Sennett as of Friday February 2nd. This is entirely a personal decision, and I am taking a position at an elementary school within MMSD where my own children will attend school soon. I am incredibly sad to be leaving and also looking forward to a new opportunity.

As I am writing this, we are currently still hiring for a replacement to fill the psychologist position. If you need any support for special education or 504 Plans, please contact our Program Support Teacher, Amanda Boldon (aboldon@madison.k12.wi.us). If you need any support from Student Services, please contact Nicky Najacht (nnajacht@madison.k12.wi.us), our school counselor, and she will ensure you get connected with the right staff member. Lastly, my email address (amearleywine@madison.k12.wi.us) will still be active and the best way to contact me. If you need anything, please feel free to reach out.

I wish all the best for our Sennett Scholars! It has been my pleasure to be part of our Sennett family for so many years. 

Best, 

Ally Earleywine

Sennett Health Office - Donations Needed

The Sennett Health Office is looking for donations of Leggings/Pants for Students. If you have anything you can donate please bring it to the Sennett Middle School Main Office. Thank you for your support.

Winter Weather Information

Winter is coming, and when weather is severe, we want you to know how we will make decisions about closing any in-person programming in MMSD buildings. We follow a set of guidelines to make decisions about whether school will be open or closed.

The district must make a decision that is the best for all students. We realize, at times, our decisions may not fit with individual circumstances. Therefore, we encourage and strongly support families in making the decision that is best for the health and safety of their child(ren). 

Learn More Here

NEW This Year: Adjusting How Students Learn During Winter Weather

“Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things; just look what they can do when they stick together.” Vesta M. Kelly

As we get closer to colder temperatures, snow, and ice, we want to ensure that your student's learning remains uninterrupted even during a school closure due to inclement weather. We have traditionally enjoyed "snow days" when schools were closed for these reasons. However, we are implementing new strategies to enable continual learning during such closures this year.

On days when we do not have advanced notice of inclement weather, such as an unpredicted snow storm, we will continue to observe traditional snow days, allowing students and families to enjoy the unexpected break. We have three instructional snow days built into our district calendar this school year. 

However, in cases where we do have advance notice of inclement weather, we are committed to ensuring that learning continues outside the classroom. We are preparing for this new way of working over winter break, in the event weather impacts us in early January.

• For 4K through 5th-grade students, packets will go home prior to winter break. Each instructional packet carries the potential to spark learning and ignite the imagination and knowledge of our students. These packets should be completed only if a snow day is called immediately after winter break and we decide to continue with learning for that day.

• For students in grades 6 through 12, learning activities will be provided through Google Classroom to be completed and submitted to their teacher digitally. We understand that some families might need access to the internet and to support them, please know that we have hotspots that students may check out if needed. These hotspots are available through your school library. 

While we hope such closures will be rare, this proactive approach will help maintain educational continuity for all of our students.

We understand the importance of consistent learning and academic progress and are committed to working with you to minimize any disruptions caused by inclement weather. We appreciate your support and cooperation as we strive to provide your student with the best possible educational experience.

Sincerely,

Cindy Green

Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning

Madison Metropolitan School District 

FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM

The Sennett Student Services team is once again coordinating the Family Support Program, which supports our Sennett families who need help accessing basic needs. Those wishing to support the program can purchase gift cards in $15, $20, and $25 amounts to grocery stores like Woodman's, Walmart, Metro Market; as well as gas stations like Kwik Trip. These gift cards are collected and delivered to families in need during the year and over school breaks. If you'd like to donate this year, you can drop off gift cards at Sennett Middle School, or contact Nicky Najacht at nnajacht@madison.k12.wi.us or 608-204-1929 for more information.

We appreciate your generosity!

The Amazing Chemistry Show hosted by Door Creek Church 

Door Creek Church is an exceptional Adopt-a-School partner to Mendota, Sandburg, and Black Hawk. On Friday, February 16 from 5pm to 8pm they are hosting The Amazing Chemistry Show and Family Experience. A science event where kids can explore hands-on exhibits from 5-7pm, followed by the Amazing Chemistry Show at 7pm. A repeat performance is also scheduled for Saturday, February 17  High Point Church from 2-5 pm (hands-on exhibits from 2-4 pm and show beginning at 4 pm).

For more information, see this website or learn more about Josh Denhart and Kidmin Science at https://kidminscience.com.

The Campus Parent app is a confidential and secure app where you can get current information about your student such as:

• Accessing student grades
• Review attendance and absences
• Seeing assignments due or upcoming exams
• Pay student fees
• See student schedules
• Transportation information

Download the Campus Parent app today by searching "Campus Parent" in the App Store or Google Play. Learn more about the app's features on our website.

For help setting up and using the app: contact Ashley Foxborn

For username and password: use the help link and fill out the form (it will send an email immediately) or contact Liz Reagan or Melea Richardson

School Lunch: Accessing Meal Balances on School Cafe

Dear Sennett Families,

As we settle into a new school year, we want to remind you of resources to access and maintain your student’s meal balances. MMSD utilizes School Café to connect families with all Foods and Nutrition related information, including access to school menus, payment options and the free and reduced lunch application.

In addition to paying previous meal balances, School Cafe also allows families to proactively deposit funds into your student’s account. As a reminder, costs are published on the Foods and Nutrition website annually:

• Breakfast: $1.60 in elementary schools, $1.85 in middle and high schools.
• Lunch: $2.95 in elementary schools, $3.35 in middle schools, and $4.15 high schools
• Reduced price is $0.40 for lunch in all grade levels. Your child may qualify for free or reduced-price meals if your household income falls within the limits on the Federal Income Chart.

Once you have created or logged into your School Cafe account, click “make a payment” to pay fees or deposit funds via credit card or bank account information. Alternatively, you can send a check or cash ($50 limit) with your student to school, where they can add funds to their account with the food service staff. Students can take the check or cash to the point-of-sale station in the cafeteria and it can be deposited on their account when they purchase a meal or they can just take cash or check to the point-of-sale station to deposit the funds. 

Please note, we serve meals to students at school regardless of their balance, in order to support equitable access to full, nutritious meals for all scholars. A la carte purchases, including milk, are only allowable with a positive fund balance or cash.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or MMSD Foods and Nutrition staff at studentfees@madison.k12.wi.us.

Thank you, 

Sarah Fink & Dominic Maurice

Social Workers

Free & Reduced Meal Program

What is the Free & Reduced Meal Program?

The National School Lunch/Breakfast Program is a federally subsidized program that is designed to help eligible children receive complete, nutritious meals at reduced or no cost. Families that qualify for free or reduced priced meals can confidentially participate in both the USDA Lunch and Breakfast Programs at their schools. Each school year, a new application needs to be filled out and only 1 application per family is necessary.

New Food And Nutrition, Free and Reduced Meals System

MMSD is using the service School Café to connect families to MMSD School Nutrition. Creating an account is quick and easy and will offer access to school menus, account balance, payment options, and the ability to apply and see the status of your free and reduced lunch application.

• Create your account on School Café. You will need your students school ID number to create an account. Please reach out to you school for this information if you are unable to locate it.

• Log back in to your School Café account

• Click the Free and Reduced Lunch application link in your School Café account 

REGISTER NOW

Please visit the MMSD Food and Nutrition Website for additional information and instructions

MMSD Food & Nutrition Website

Sennett Spirit Wear Store

You may order Sennett Spirit Wear to show your Sennett pride at https://www.sennettspiritwear.com/.The items in this store will be available all school year and we will announce promotions on items every couple of months! 

New Online Work Permit Application

The Department of Workforce Development has implemented a NEW online Work Permit Application.

If your student is in need of a work permit everything can be done online. Payment is made directly to the department through the application, using a credit or debit card or by ACH direct withdrawal. Once the permit application process is complete, the Department mails a paper copy of the permit directly to the employer.

Please follow the instructions linked below. 

Online Work Permit Instructions 

Any questions can be directed to workpermits@dwd.wisconsin.gov.