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TEACHING, LEARNING & EQUITY
The SPASD has an explicit focus on student achievement, student personal development, academic growth, gap closing, and postsecondary readiness for Every Child, Every Day.
Task Force on Student Behavior and Bullying
In February of 2019, the Board approved the recommendations from the Task Force on Student Behavior and Bullying. The task force made a total of 36 recommendations to the School Board, 7 being identified as priority recommendations. The community can view updates on the initiatives developed by the task force on the website.
Youth Apprenticeship Program
Building Sun Prairie West High School
Sun Prairie High School students Andrew Dohm and Will Schrandt participated in our High School Youth Apprenticeship Program and have had the opportunity to help build Sun Prairie West High School with JH Findorff & Son Inc.
Meet One of Our Youth Apprenticeship Students
Sophia Green
“Participating in the Youth Apprenticeship Program has greatly enhanced my position as a preveterinary student and affirmed my career aspirations. Not only do I learn clinical skills and apply my classroom education to my career, but I have the amazing opportunity to work on the frontline of veterinary medicine while still being in high school. This program has been beyond beneficial for college applications, scholarships, and future work placements.”
Eastside Elementary had dress-up days in honor of Pride Month 2021. Teachers also read students books about the LGBTQIA+ community.
Advanced Placement Pacesetter Schools
Cardinal Heights Upper Middle School and Sun Prairie High School were recognized by the Wisconsin Advanced Placement Advisory Council (WAPAC) for student participation and performance on the 2020 College Board Advanced Placement Exams.
Sun Prairie High School was recognized as a Level II Advanced Placement Pacesetter School, which means that 20% of the school’s students took at least one AP exam and at least 65% of these students passed the exam.
Cardinal Heights Upper Middle School was recognized as a Level III Advanced Placement Pacesetter School, which means at least 10% of students participated in at least one AP exam and 60% or more earned a passing score.
Cardinal Heights E House
Sun Prairie High School Construction Students Build a House for Habitat for Humanity
Our high school students helped build a house in the Vandenburg Heights neighborhood through Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization helping community members obtain stable housing. Our students gained hands-on experience in construction while making a difference in the lives of others.
“My favorite part of this opportunity was getting to work with my classmates and seeing how impactful the work we did was.” —Caleb Benjamin
Sun Prairie High School Students Complete Madison College's STEM Academy
Sixteen Sun Prairie High School students completed Madison College’s STEM Academy, a dual-enrollment program that allows students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Math to earn credits toward high school graduation and college simultaneously.
Throughout their junior and senior years, these students were sent to Madison College’s Truax Campus full time, taking two to four classes each day. This program was free for students and their families. The Sun Prairie Area School District also provided students with textbooks.
The STEM Academy allows students and their families to potentially save thousands of dollars, and for students to explore their interests, learn time management skills, and graduate from college sooner.
“I honestly had no idea how I was going to pay for four years of college and then continue on to pursue my dreams of medical school. I never really considered UW–Madison as an option, even though I had the grades for it, because of financial barriers, but STEM has made me feel like it is possible. Now, next year I will be attending UW-Madison and majoring in microbiology.” —Chloe Tumpach, STEM Academy Graduate
SPASD Receives a Gold Healthy Kids Healthy School Award
SPASD receives a Gold Healthy Kids Healthy Schools Award from the Healthy Kids Collaborative of Dane County. This award recognizes the work our school does to promote the health and well-being of staff and students, including providing a healthy salad bar in the cafeteria, access to the playground before and after school, and stretch breaks during class time!
