TPS/MGSD Activities and Information | |
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Taylor Prairie and MG Spirit Wear Order
Taylor Prairie is offering another Spirit Wear order! The Spirit Wear store has several clothing options, including Taylor Prairie Wear and Monona Grove Wear. The Spirit Wear store can be found here. The ordering window will remain open until Monday, November 13th at 11:59 pm. Please read below for more information on ordering.
All orders will be processed and delivered to Taylor Prairie about 3 weeks after the order window closes. You can anticipate orders to arrive and be sent home in your learner’s backpack early-October. If able, please consider placing a donation for $5, $10, or $20, as part of your order to support families that need assistance in purchasing Spirit Wear for their learner. If you need assistance in purchasing Spirit Wear for your child, please contact Taylor Prairie’s School Counselor, Elise Rucker, at [email protected] or 608.839.8515.
Please contact Allison Wojta ([email protected] or 608.839.2145) or Sara Steine ([email protected] or 608.839.2149) with any questions.
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Managing TV Shows, Videos, and Apps with Young Kids
In MGSD, we leverage technology to enhance learning; we strive to empower learners to create (and not consume) while using technology at school. We also know that it’s culturally appropriate to consume media sometimes - but as educators and parents, we can approach media carefully. Each family has unique needs and expectations related to television, phones, or tablets at home. You might wonder if it's harmful to let your young child watch a little television or play with your phone. You also might wonder how to get dinner on the table if you don't let your child watch some TV or play with your phone! In the upcoming months we will share tips to support your family in navigating technology use at home.
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Notes from the Health Team
Dear Parents,
As the season has changed please send a weather appropriate extra set of clothes for your child. Pants, shirts, sweatshirts, underwear and socks for colder weather. Thank you!
With the cold, cough and flu season right around the corner, I just wanted to ask parents to please monitor your student for signs and symptoms of illness. If your child has cold symptoms, please consider having your student wear a mask at school, especially if a cough is present. We do have a supply of masks at school for students to use. Unfortunately, there are still cases of Covid-19 circulating and if you are in need of at-home Covid-19 tests, please reach out to the health office @ [email protected] and we can arrange for tests to be sent home with your child or available to pick up in the main school office. A friendly reminder, if your child has a fever of 100.0 or greater, they will need to stay home from school. Students with a fever must be fever free for at least 24 hours and fever free without the use of fever reducing medication. If vomiting or diarrhea are present, it must be at least 24 hours since the last episode of vomiting or diarrhea before your child may return to school. They should also be back to their normal diet as well. Please reach out to Margit Frisch in the health office at Taylor Prairie if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you.
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Student Services Spotlight
Elise Rucker, School Counselor & Kelsy Dieckhoff, School Psychologist
Types of Play: Games with Rules!
At Taylor Prairie our work is play! We believe play gives children what they need right now in their development, which will help them develop various aspects of social, emotional, and cognitive development in later years. The essential elements of play fall into different categories. Throughout the year, we will share information on each category of play, why it’s important, what it looks like and how you can practice in the home setting. Games with rules is one type of play.
Read more: What are games with rules and why are they important.
Watch more: A 7 year old talks about the importance of back-and-forth interactions (play) with adults in forming a child's brain.
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Social and Emotional Learning
Social and emotional learning (SEL), is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. SEL is an integral part of education and is included within our 4K-12 curriculum and MGSD strategic plan. The Department of Public Instruction states that “explicitly teaching and promoting SEL skills in Wisconsin schools is one step on the path to student success.”
SEL lessons will often include elements of social justice, which is the principle that society should never withhold rights and opportunities because of a person’s identity and should aim to create a society where everyone has access to the resources and opportunities to develop their full capacities, and everyone is welcome to participate.
SEL can be a powerful lever for creating caring, just, inclusive, and healthy schools that support all young people in reaching their fullest potential. In the context of SEL, equity and excellence refers to every student—across race, ethnicity, family income levels, learning abilities, home language, immigration status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other factors—engaging in high-quality educational opportunities and environments that best promote their healthy social, emotional, and academic development (CASEL.org).
Sources:
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November SEL
This month, students will build off of their knowledge of the Zones of Regulation and learn to use body language and context clues to figure out when someone is feeling different emotions. They'll practice looking at the person's face and body, as well as thinking about what's going on in the situation.
Try this at home with your child!
- Encourage them to notice when others around them feel sad, mad, happy, ect. Have them practice using body language and context clues to figure out when family members, friends, or characters in books, movies, or on TV might be feeling different emotions!
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Notice and praise your child when they recognize and label feelings, their own or other peoples. You can say, It does look like that person feels mad. Good job paying attention to their face and body and what's going on!
November Monthly Observance: National Native American Heritage Month
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November's Safety Drill Information
Taylor Prairie School will hold a lockdown drill on November 9th for all students and staff.
The safety of our students is a top priority which is why it’s important for students to be present for monthly drills. A lockdown drill is designed to familiarize students with responding to an active threat. In all cases of a safety drill, our staff will inform students beforehand of the drill and what they can expect so they are fully prepared. We follow best practices to use trauma sensitive language and exercises to mitigate fear and anxiety during the drill.
What your student will experience: Staff will prepare students by explaining the purpose of the drill, what they can expect and what they will need to do during the drill. The drill will begin when an announcement is made over the speakers that a lockdown drill has started. Staff and students will use the methods of listening for information and the method of Lock, Lights, Out of Sight. Classrooms will be encouraged to practice creating a barricade if safe to do so. Throughout the drill students will be reminded of different ways to manage stress and anxiety (eg: deep breaths, counting to 10, focus on the task, stay in the present, etc.). Doors may be tested during the drill, but students and staff will be alerted of any tests before they occur. After the drill is complete, staff will use trauma sensitive language to help students process the experience.
Students with sensory and other special considerations will be accommodated according to their needs.
We encourage families to communicate with your student(s) about the importance of safety drills. You can find resources on our website to help guide those conversations.
Read the full message on safety communication practices on our website.
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MGEF - Monona Grove Education Foundation
Did you know that the MGEF invests on average $28/student during the school year? Some of the broad reach items are the Weekend Snack Pack Program, which currently provides food for 150 MG students who experience food insecurity when not in school. The Pay It Forward personal hygiene supplies at MGHS, GDS and Winnequah offer students free access to basic hygiene needs (shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant). The Starting Line Fund just provided funding for the new Fishing Club at MGHS to purchase additional equipment and supplies giving access to students to participate in an activity they may not otherwise have. These are just three examples of the many things the Monona Grove Education Foundation does for the Monona Grove School District. There are many students who need additional support for various reasons and MGEF continues to partner with the Monona Grove School District to meet those needs. Please consider supporting the MGEF, so that we can continue helping the students of MG.
The MGEF is in the middle of its CARES Campaign. This is the only fundraising campaign for the MGEF which supports the students and teachers of Monona Grove via the 5 programs we offer. Students and Teachers have access to funding via the Pay It Forward Program (PIF), MGEF Weekend Snack Pack Program, Starting Line Fund, Summer Scholarships and Teacher Innovation Grants. As a 501(c) 3 organization run by volunteers all proceeds from the CARES Campaign are used for the operations of these programs. You can find out more about the individual programs, volunteer opportunities and support these initiatives by going to www.supportmgef.org.
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Notes From the Office
The new school years brings many informational items. Here are a few reminders for you!
Have you...
- logged into Infinite Campus?
- added money to your food service account (for school breakfast/lunch)?
- paid your child's school fee?
- reviewed other information to be sure everything is up to date?
- added important/no-school dates to your family calendar?
- checked out the MGSD website so you know where to find info such as breakfast/lunch menus and digital flyers?
Take some time to familiarize yourself with the items above, and as always, contact the Taylor Prairie Office with any questions you have!
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CG PTO says "THANK YOU to our families!"
This year's Fall Festival raised over $14,000 and will be used to fund teacher requests, cultural arts events, and other school needs for grades 4K-5. Please join us November 2 at 6:30 at Oakstone for our fall Parent: Teacher Meeting. Save the Date for Saturday, December 16 4:30-7PM for the Annual Winter Candlelight Night Hike with a StoryWalk and winter readings in the school prairie and forest.
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MononaGo App
There’s a new, convenient way to watch Monona Grove school concerts, sports, and other school and community events while you need to be mobile. The MononaGo app can be downloaded free from the App Store or Google Play for iOS and Android phones and other mobile devices.
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Cottage Grove PTO
Stay up to date on all future events - by visiting:
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CG Parks and Rec
The Spring/Summer Community Guide is available online. There are many opportunities for you and/or your child to become involved!
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Dane County Library
Our TP students are becoming amazing readers and they love to hear stories, look at books, and participate in activities that center on literacy. Here are links for local connections:
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5301 Monona Drive, Monona, WI 53716 Phone: (608) 221-7660 Fax: (608) 221-7688 | | | | |
