Staff Newsletter | December 2023

Check Out what is happening at

MCPASD 2023-24 Staff newsletter Focus On Literacy

Must Know On The Go On a time crunch? Check out this page for all your 'need to know' information this month. We invite you to read further when you are able to check out all of the awesome things happening within our District!

Key Dates

Winter Break December 25-January 2nd All buildings will be closed -- Have a great break!

Witnessing Whiteness Series The 10-week series is meticulously crafted for white individuals committed to anti-racism work. The series aims to build a community with a shared grasp of privilege, whiteness, and racism, enhancing your ability to initiate, support, and deepen racial justice efforts. Learn more on page 8.

Board Of Education Meeting Recap Stay connected and informed by receiving the latest updates from the MCPASD Board of Education meetings! Learn more on page 4.

MCPASD Employee Health Clinic opens January 3 MCPASD Staff and their families on district insurance will be able to use the clinic at its temporary location at the District Operations Center. Learn more on page 10.

District Services Center | Polling Location The District Services Center is now available as a polling location for Middleton residents. Learn more on page 8.

Learn more on page 10.

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Staff Stars

Recognizing Excellence in Education

We are thrilled to present 'Staff Stars: Recognizing Excellence in Education'! Our aim with this campaign is to shine a bright spotlight on the exceptional dedication and outstanding contributions of our staff members.

To nominate a Staff Star, we invite you to fill out a simple form, and they will be featured on the second page of each newsletter. This month, we are proud to announce our Staff Stars from Park Elementary School!

Nicole Kartman

Jessie Brown

First, let us introduce Mrs. Nicole Kartman, an exceptional educator currently serving as a first-grade teacher at Park Elementary School. With an impressive tenure of 15 years at Park, Mrs. Kartman has consistently made a lasting impact on her students and colleagues. She initially joined the Park community as a math specialist and reading teacher, showcasing her diverse expertise. Prior to her arrival at Park Elementary, Mrs. Kartman gained valuable experience in various school districts, including one in Texas. Beyond work, Mrs. Kartman has a fondness for sweets, with a particular love for dark chocolate. She also enjoys the delightful combination of chips and salsa!

Next, we have Jessie Brown, affectionately known as Mrs. Brown by her students at Park Elementary. Mrs. Brown has been a dedicated member of the Park staff for nearly a decade. As a 4th-grade teacher, she finds joy in teaching and is passionate about helping her students learn and grow.

Previously, Jessie also served as the Math Intervention teacher at Park. Outside of school, Jessie cherishes quality time with her family. She, her husband, and their two kids adore activities like fishing, camping, hiking, and having cozy bonfires in their backyard. While she appreciates a variety of cuisines, anything related to pasta holds a special place in her heart. Additionally, Jessie has developed quite the nightly obsession with popcorn, and she's switched to minibags as a result.

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Staff Snap Shots

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Articles My School Story Campaign | Northside Elementary The Communications Department recently finished collaborating with Northside Elementary on their 'My School Story Campaign!' Together, they spotlight all the aspects of Northside that make it so special, including their outstanding sense of community! Staff, students, and family members shared touching testimonials in the marketing video, further promoting the welcoming nature and support extended to all who join the Northside team. The Northside campaign also included a welcome sheet for new families and website updates, including a website banner refresh! Stay tuned as the communications team meets with Clark Street Community School next!

MCPASD School Board Meeting | December 18, 2023 Stay connected and informed by receiving the latest updates from the Board of Education meetings! Our Director of Information and Public Relations ensures that everyone in the district stays in the loop by sending recap emails to all staff after each meeting.

To make it even more convenient, all previous recaps are available on our website for easy access. And not just that, our dedicated team also shares these recaps on all our social media platforms.

Don't miss out on any important information - stay connected with us through our email recaps and follow us on social media for even more updates!

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Articles Up Close and Musical Experience | Sauk Trail and Northside Elementary School Our staff offer amazing learning opportunities that go beyond the classroom! Shout out to music educators John Becker and Jennifer Christian for leading the “Up Close and Musical” experience for K-3 level students at Sauk Trail and Northside Elementary School! While the program is not new, this is the first year that they have been able to offer the full program since 2019!

As part of the program, two violinists, one violist, and one cellist from the Madison Symphony Orchestra visit four times a year to host mini music lessons for each classroom and finish up the day with a school-wide mini concert!

Later this spring, students will get to attend a field trip to the Overture Center to hear the entire Madison Symphony Orchestra!

Thank you to John and Jennifer for offering this unique experience for our students!

John Becker

Jennifer Christian

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Celebrations MCPASD has a successful 2023 United Way of Dane County Campaign Great news! We would like to express our gratitude to all those who contributed to this year's United Way of Dane County Campaign. Together, we raised an astounding $6,560, which is a remarkable accomplishment. This amount will go a long way in supporting our local community and non-profit organizations. Additionally, we exceeded our initial target of $5,000, which is fantastic! Thanks again to each and every one of you for your generosity and support.

Kromrey Middle School Principal Dom Ricks Named One Of Wisconsin’s 51 Most Influential Black Leaders for 2023 Congratulations to Dom Ricks on this incredible honor! Together, he joins 50 other influential Black leaders being recognized for the outstanding talent and commitment they bring to their community. This well-deserved honor speaks to the positive impact Dom has had on Kromrey Middle School. You can learn more about Dom and his incredible accomplishments here.

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Reminders Winter Break As a quick reminder, all school buildings will be closed December 25th-January 2nd. We hope you have a wonderful winter break and enjoy some well deserved rest!

Catastrophic Leave Bank | Support Staff According to section 13.08 of the Employee Handbook, the Catastrophic Sick Leave Bank (CSLB) is now available to support staff who are in need of leave due to catastrophic circumstances.

If you would like to donate leave, please complete this form.

Food safety and wellness policy reminders We want to ensure the safest environment possible for all of our students and employees. In order to do that, we need to be sure that the wellness policy is being adhered to. A similar message has also been sent to families in the district.

As a reminder: No home-baked foods are allowed to be shared with students at any of our schools.

All foods shared with students must comply with the USDA Smart Snack guidelines (including candy).

All food items brought into school to share with students must be prepackaged with an ingredient list.

Additionally, in order to include all staff members in our buildings, please remember that food that is shared with each other should include healthy food options as well, such as fruits and/or vegetables. This simply means that you’re more than welcome to share food with coworkers at school but please be sure to include an option of fruits or vegetables so everyone can be safely included.

Click here to view more information on the policy as well as resources to help you meet the policy.

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Reminders Polling Location At District Services Center The district has signed a 5-year contract with the City of Middleton to utilize the District Services Center (DSC) as a polling location for Middleton residents. Please note that DSC conference rooms 1 &2 located to the right of the main entrance doors, will be occupied on the following dates: February 20 April 2 August 13 November 5

Witnessing Whiteness Series You are invited to embark on a transformative journey called Witnessing Whiteness. It is a 10-week series meticulously crafted for white individuals committed to anti-racism work. Using the powerful Witnessing Whiteness book and curriculum, you'll engage in weekly chapters, followed by dynamic online gatherings with a small group of no more than 20 participants. In this affinity space for white attendees, we foster an environment of profound exploration through experiential activities, group discussions, breakout rooms, and interactive learning.

The series aims to build a community with a shared grasp of privilege, whiteness, and racism, enhancing your ability to initiate, support, and deepen racial justice efforts. Moreover, it is designed to cultivate leadership capacities in the realms of diversity, inclusion, and race. Seize this incredible opportunity to contribute to meaningful change.

The course runs from January 29 - April 1, 2024.

If you are interested, please follow this link and sign up. Please note that there is limited space. Join the class and be part of the journey toward a more equitable future.

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Insights from Soly: Multilingual Support Hello MCPASD Family, I wanted to take a moment to update you on the progress we have made with translation/interpretation support for our staff as we near the end of 2023.

I am excited to announce that we have a new addition to our team. Starting on January 5, 2024, Ari Aranada will be joining us as our language support specialist. Ari comes to MCPASD from Madison schools and brings a wealth of knowledge, not only as a teacher but also as an interpreter/translator.

Ari strongly believes in the power of education as a tool for social justice. With her experience and passion, she will be able to provide valuable support to our secondary level students and families, ensuring that language is not a barrier to their academic success.

In terms of funding for Ari's position, we want to assure you that it will be sourced from various areas, including reallocating resources from KMS, discontinuing outsourced Spanish translation and interpretation services, and utilizing the operating budget.

Additionally, I wanted to share an interesting statistic with you. Over the past five years (between 2018-2019 and 2022-2023), we have seen a significant 45.49% increase in the number of students whose parents require Spanish interpretation. This highlights the growing need for language support within our community.

Thank you for your continued support as we work towards providing the best possible resources and services for our students and families.

Best regards, Soly Rodriguez

Ari Aranda Language Support Specialist She,her,hers

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MCPASD Employee Health Clinic Opens January 3 Beginning January 3, 2024, MCPASD employees and their family members who are on district insurance will be able to use the clinic temporarily located at the District Operations Center (DOC) | 2130 Pinehurst Drive, Middleton. The DOC Clinic hours will be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. To schedule an appointment, please call 608-8299009 after the clinic opens on January 3. We’re hopeful to be in our permanent location, on West Middleton Elementary School property in the beginning of March. For more details on the clinic, click here.

Dean Living Healthy Rewards Get your $150+ from Dean Living Healthy Rewards before 12/31/23! Here’s a handout to help guide you and here’s a video to walk you through the process.

Tip: Set a calendar invite for yourself at the beginning of each month to check in and do a handful of tasks to earn living healthy rewards. Copy and paste the login link into your calendar reminder to make it easier for you.

Get living healthy rewards: Log in here.

Monthly Wellness Challenge Winners: Congratulations to Krista Rossing (Sunset Ridge), Ciji Colegial (DSC), Amy Imoehl (GCMS) and TJ McKee (Transportation) for completing the MOVE-mber physical activity challenge! You’ll be contacted shortly to pick out your prize. If you’d like to participate in our upcoming Digital Detox challenge, sign up here.

Wellness Care Package From Dean Wellness Care Package Healthy Holiday Treats: Made from Scratch December addition Wellness Webinars: Short webinars in all eight dimensions of wellness Sign up for the Wellness Webinar: The Winter Blahs on December 20

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Employee Benefits Navigating Health Insurance Navigating health insurance can be tricky. What is covered? Do I need authorization for services? MCPASD wants to help you find the answers to your questions and solutions for your insurance problems.

Where can I find answers about my health insurance?

District benefits webpages: MCPASD Employee Benefits - Health Insurance Find a Summary of Benefits, Plan Summaries, and a Schedule of Benefits for each plan under Plan Options Find resources and links under Dean Health Plan Resources Dean’s Member portal: Dean Member login (requires account) View or order an ID card Download member documents View your claims and Explanation of Benefits Dean Customer Care Center Monday - Thursday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Phone: 1.800.279.1301 OR Email The Customer Care Representative may ask for your plan number HMO – 33770 POS – 17ICVS6 HDHP – 17LWWO1 You can also find these numbers on your ID card

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Employee Benefits What can I do if I have a health insurance claim that is denied?

Start with Dean Customer Care Center: Phone: 1-800-279-1301 Website Message Request Monday - Thursday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm | Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm If Dean does not have an answer or you disagree with their determination, please contact USI Benefit Resource Center. This resource is free for staff to use and is independent of Dean Health Plan. USI Benefit Resource Center can help with: Eligibility and claim problems with carriers Information about claim appeals & process Claim escalation, appeal & resolution & more If you are unable to receive answers from Dean or USI Benefit Resource Center, please do not hesitate to contact a MCPASD Benefits Specialist.

MCPASD Benefits Specialists Chris Acker Phone 1-9027 cacker1@mcpasd.k12.wi.us Navid Kempka Phone 1-9044 nkempka@mcpasd.k12.wi.us General Inbox benefitsmailbox@mcpasd.k12.wi.us

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Employee Personnel Skyward Tips/Tricks: Skyward Mobile App Did you know you can do these things on your phone using the Skyward Mobile App: View your pay stub Submit a time off request Supervisors can approve timesheets and time off requests, and more!

Too many staff members think the Skyward Mobile App is only for clocking in/out and submitting time sheets, but it has features all staff will find valuable. Here are instructions for loading the free app: 1.) Search “Skyward Mobile” in your Google Play or App Store and download the application titled “Skyward Mobile Access” 2.) Open the app and locate/select Middleton-Cross Plains by searching by Zip Code (53562) 3.) Select Business Management at the prompt.

4.) Login using your district User ID and Password (do not enter a description), then <save>.

5.) When prompted, enter your 4-digit Employee ID # (twice).

6.) If prompted with a cell phone icon and a computer icon, select cell phone.

7.) Once logged into your account you will be able to log your hours, enter time off, approve time off, and approve requisitions.

Want to know more? Here’s a Skyward 60 second Mobile App video

DPI License renewals: If you have a Lifetime License, you will need to submit a request for a background check at least once every 5 years via the online educator licensing portal (ELO). The deadline to submit a request is June 30 of your fifth year.

PLEASE NOTE: If your Lifetime License was originally obtained or renewed in 2019, this is the time to submit for a background check.

Please ensure that DPI has an email on file that you actively check so you are receiving the reminders they sent out.

You can visit the ELO website and check out the related tips, videos, and technical assistance at Apply for an Educator License. If additional assistance is needed, please get in touch with the ELO Help Desk and explain your issue. DPI will respond to questions and requests for help in the order they are received and will try to do so within three business days.

If you are having trouble logging into ELO, you can use the ELO Log-in Resource Guide to troubleshoot your problems.

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Touching Base With Teaching and Learning

Elementary Our literacy/biliteracy curriculum renewal team continues to meet. We have developed a rubric that will be used to evaluate materials. We are looking to evaluate materials in January. You can stay updated on the renewal progress on the staff hub.

LETRS training will begin in January. We are excited to be able to engage in this powerful learning opportunity on our professional development days. We are grateful to the staff willing to become certified as LETRS trainers!

Secondary On Dec. 5, 2023, the MS team presented at the BOE meeting and gave its annual update. Some highlights from the report include literacy professional development, the use of data discussions around the Analyzing Student Learning tool shared, and a variety of student engagement activities happening at both schools (advisory lessons, cultural celebrations, SEL lessons, SaberCat Cash, Cougar Connections, and so much more). Feedback from the BOE included positive comments on many of those mentioned above and shared a desire to increase literacy and math minutes at grades 7 and 8. The team will explore options as to how this can be accomplished.

On Dec. 8, 2023, the HS teams presented at the BOE meeting and gave its annual update. Some highlights from the report include data on student progress in the Principles of Literacy course (literacy intervention), a MHS CAPS update, additional information on Development Designs implementation at MHS and Clark Street Community School goals (creating Sustaining Excellence Days and creating space for personalized projects for each student).

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Touching Base With Teaching and Learning

Multilingual Bilingual Resource staff are busy coordinating and proctoring state- and federally-mandated ACCESS testing for all multilingual (English) learners.

ACCESS is an annual measure of English language proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

It aids us in: Measuring individual student English language proficiency growth over time Determining when individual students are “fully English proficient” and eligible to exit services Measuring program effectiveness We thank all school staff for your support and flexibility during this testing window! Please encourage any multilingual learners you know to do the very best they can and remind them that they are brilliant!

Internally, we do our best to finish testing by January 26. In Wisconsin, the ACCESS testing window officially closes on February 2.

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Touching Base With Teaching and Learning

Student Services It is with great enthusiasm that we announce the hiring of Marcia Moe, our new Health Services Coordinator!

Marcia comes to us with years of experience as a Registered Nurse, Charge Nurse, Nurse Educator, Program Coordinator, Care Coordinator, Supervisor, Clinic Administrator and Clinic Manager. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management and a Master of Business Administration.

Here is an intro from Marcia: “I’m excited for this opportunity at Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District to join the Health Services Department. I am passionate about health equity, nursing leadership, and performance improvement. My biggest joy in life is being the mother of four amazing daughters 23, 21, 19, and 10 years. In my free time, I enjoy running and playing pickleball. We are usually fostering kittens through the Humane Society because I cannot turn down the adorable photos they share on the site. This past year, I coached track and cross country and hope to continue coaching in some capacity with MCPASD.” Marcia’s started her new role on Monday, December 18th.

Welcome, Marcia!

Student Services For information about our major assessments, please visit our MCPASD assessment site!

Keep an eye on our assessment calendar!

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