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
2024 Education Foundation Inspiration Grant
Open now through October 31, 2024
Learn more on page 7
View the application here
Grow Your Own Program
Applications opens on October 14, 2024, and close on November 8, 2024.
Learn more on page 8
View the application here
Flu Clinics
The District will host three Flu Clinics this fall Please mark your calendars and expect details on these clinics coming soon:
October 8 at Glacier Creek Middle School from 3:30 p.m.- 6 p.m.
October 9 at Elm Lawn from 3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
October 22 at Middleton High School from 3:30 p m - 6 p m
Payroll Checklist For Teachers and 10-Month Staff
The first Payroll of the 2024-2025 school year for Teachers and 10-month Support staff was completed on September 13, 2024.
Learn more on page 13
School Lunch Order Form
Did you know Nutrition Services offers special staff meals that can be delivered to your school? Order lunch today!
Learn more on page 11.
aff Stars
Recognizing Excellence in Education
Beth Bergman
Northside Elementary
We are excited to give a shout-out to 1st Grade Teacher Beth Bergman! Beth is a champion of positivity and inclusivity. Thanks to her great work, students and staff alike are welcomed into a warm and inviting classroom. Thank you, Beth, for being a friend to all!
Ann hague
Glacier creek Middle school
We are excited to share a well-deserved kudos to team player and Social Studies Teacher Ann Hague! She is always ready to lend a helping hand and find fun new ways to keep her students engaged. Her patience and kindness speak volumes both in and out of the classroom. Thank you, Ann, for your diligent work and positivity!
Give a shout out
There is a lot of invisible work that goes into making our District great, and we want to share our appreciation! Take a few minutes to complete our shout-out Google form to give someone you know kudos for their great work and passion for our students and staff!
The form will remain open all school year, so be sure to give your team some love all year round!
Articles
We were thrilled to welcome our newest staff members at the recent New Educator Induction Event!
Throughout the week, they participated in a series of seminars, received training on the latest tools and technology, and had valuable opportunities to connect with their individual school teams.
As they begin their first school year at MCPASD, we are confident that these talented educators will bring fresh perspectives and make a lasting, positive impact on our students, schools, and community. We look forward to seeing the incredible contributions they will make in the classroom and beyond!
Mr. Peanuts Begins His 60th Year At Park Elementary
As the 2024-2025 school year begins, Park Elementary and the MCPASD community are celebrating the 60th anniversary of Rodney "Mr Peanuts" Esser’s service Mr Peanuts began his long-standing career at Park Elementary on February 1, 1965. With a background in farming, Mr. Peanuts’ expertise proved invaluable in maintaining the school, both inside and out. His connection to the land where the school now stands led to his hiring as Park Elementary’s custodian.
Now, at 84, Mr. Peanuts has no plans to retire and continues to be an integral part of the school. His dedication, joyful spirit, and love for the students and community have made him a beloved figure. Over the years, he’s shared cherished memories, such as reigning in loose chickens from a classroom and hosting Polka shows to support special education and music programs. As we honor his 60 years of service, we celebrate the lasting impact he’s made on generations of students, staff, and families. Thank you, Mr. Peanuts, for your extraordinary commitment to Park Elementary!
Celebrations
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month | September 15-October 15, 2024
Our District is proud to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! Together,we honor the rich diversity and cultural heritage of the Hispanic/Latinx community. This month, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering inclusivity, understanding, and appreciation for the experiences and perspectives of our students, families, and staff members. Lets take this opportunity to learn, celebrate, and uplift the voices and achievements of Hispanic/ Latinx individuals, both within our District and beyond. Together, we continue to build a community where everyone feels valued and empowered
We are proud to also debut both the Engagement, Equity, and Belonging webpage as well as our Hispanic Heritage Month webpage! This is a great resource for both our staff and families to find valuable information including events and resources in our area, and celebrate the culture and diversity within our District community.
We are excited to continue updating these pages throughout the school year We also encourage staff to share resources and ideas with us! How are you finding meaningful ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month and diversity in your classroom?
Share photos, brief descriptions and more with Director of Student, Family, and Staff Engagement Tony Dugas. | tdugas@mcpasd.k12.wi.us
Celebrations
Welcome Cassidy Ruchti |School Resource Officer
We are excited to introduce Officer Cassidy Ruchti as the temporary School Resource Officer (SRO) for Kromrey Middle School, Northside, Sauk Trail, and Elm Lawn during Officer Julie Carbon’s maternity leave
Officer Ruchti brings a wealth of experience and passion to her new role She first interned with the Middleton Police Department in the summer of 2021 and knew that Middleton was where she wanted to build her career. After starting her law enforcement journey with the Oregon Police Department, Officer Ruchti returned to Middleton in February 2023 as a full-time officer.
Reflecting on her role, Officer Ruchti said, "What I enjoy most about being a School Resource Officer is building strong relationships with students. I love that I get to be a mentor, public safety educator, and police officer all in one. My goal is to ensure that students feel safe and supported while also guiding them to make positive life choices!"
When she’s not working, Officer Ruchti enjoys spending time with her black Lab, Yuvee, and is looking forward to their first duck hunting season together this year. Her favorite food is steak, her favorite color is yellow, and she is a very proud dog mom!
We are thrilled to welcome Officer Ruchti to our schools and look forward to her positive impact on our students and community!
International IT Professionals Day | September 17, 2024
Join us in giving our MCPASD Technology Department a well-deserved shout-out! We appreciate the amazing work they do behind the scenes to ensure that our District runs smoothly.
From troubleshooting device problems and supporting our families to helping keep our students and staff safe online, they do it all! This special day is another opportunity for us to show our appreciation!
Celebrations
Thank you for your hard work
A special thank you goes to our outstanding team members in Registration, Employee Services, and Business Services. Over the summer, they went above and beyond to ensure that our new employees and families were warmly welcomed to the District and had all the information and resources they needed to succeed
Your hard work is appreciated not just during the summer but all year long!
Reminders
2024 MCPASD Education Foundation Fall 2024 Inspiration Grants
The Education Foundation Inspiration Fund supports MCPASD teachers and staff, offering inspiring learning opportunities to students in the District The Inspiration Fund also supports efforts to create equitable access to those inspiring opportunities.
All teachers and staff in the District are encouraged to submit requests. Amounts range from $250 to $2,500 and can cover the full cost of a project or partial costs. The Foundation has awarded over $155,000 to 155 applicants since 2013
The Foundation is looking to fund ideas that are inclusive, innovative and inspiring. We do not want to replace what the District would normally fund but rather enhance already great projects or help your ideas become reality.
Process and timeline
Applications are open September 20-October 31, 2024.
View the application here
Complete this request form and send it to your principal or administrator for their recommendation.
Complete the Google Form, or E-mail your request and recommendation to:
Kathryn McLeod at kathryn.mcleod39@gmail.com
Amber Kiggens-Leifheit at akiggens-leifheit@mcpasd.k12.wi.us.
Award announcements and funding will be debuted in December 2024.
r a great resource to have on hand, be sure to check out the ons for our MCPASD community to explore, including stores,
Grow your own
The District is proud to announce the relaunch of the Grow Your Own (GYO) Program for the 2024-2025 school year. The MCPASD GYO Program was designed to recruit and train staff in our District to bring racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity and skills such as bilingualism to schools In addition to diversifying our workforce, GYO will also support staff willing to obtain licensure in hard-to-fill areas such as bilingual and special education
The GYO application process will open on October 14, 2024, and close on November 8, 2024. All applications must include:
Two letters of recommendation
Professional/ Academic - one professional reference that speaks to your experience with youth Community/Volunteer - one community-based reference that speaks to your level of commitment to your community
Written essay
What has led you to want to become an educator? In what ways have you successfully worked with students who come from racially diverse backgrounds?
Interview
In-person interviews will be scheduled during the week of November 18, 2024
A virtual GYO informational session will be held on Monday, October 21, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. via Google Meet. If you would like to participate in this session, please submit this registration form no later than Friday, October 18, 2024. All staff registering for this event will receive a calendar invite with a meeting link. If you are unable to attend the virtual session but would like to receive the information shared during the presentation, please complete the form and I will share the slide deck with you
Applicants who are selected to participate in the Grow Your Own Program will be informed of their placement no later than December 13, 2024 If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Sherry Smith, Talent Recruitment and Retention Specialist at ssmith5@mcpasd.k12.wi.us.
MCPASD Health clinic
The MCPASD Employee Health Clinic has consistently been near or over 100% fill rates since March! This means we need to add clinic staff to ensure they can support our employees and their families
You’ll also see new, extended hours:
Monday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday: 7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday: 8 a m - 6 p m
Friday: 7 a m - 4 p m
We also are excited to welcome a new provider, Kate Blank, PA-C. Kate is an experienced PA with over 15 years of experience. She is excited to partner with the MCPASD Health Clinic. She is the proud mother of two creative girls She enjoys biking, swimming, gardening, music, and traveling in her spare time. We’re grateful to have Kate.
The District will host three Flu Clinics this fall Please mark your calendars and expect details on these clinics soon:
October 8 at GCMS from 3:30 p.m.- 6 p.m.
October 9 at Elm Lawn from 3:30 p.m.- 6 p.m.
October 22 at MHS from 3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
We’ll be providing five weekly yoga practices this year. The schedule is below, and you may sign up using this link. We are still working on adding additional fitness classes More information will be available when those classes are finalized If you are interested in leading a class or have an idea, please feel free to reach out to wellness@mcpasd.k12.wi.us
Tuesdays 3:15 p.m.- 4 p.m. @ DSC Conference rooms A, B, C
Tuesdays 4:15 p.m. - 5 p.m. @ MHS Room 1701
Thursdays 4:15 p m - 5 p m @ MHS Room 1701
Thursdays 4:15 p m - 5 p m @ Park Elementary Cafeteria
Fridays 6:15 p.m. - 7 a.m. @ MHS 1701
Monthly Wellness challenges
As always, we’ll have several monthly wellness challenges this year To learn more and sign up, click here
Back to school wellness winners
We hope you all enjoyed some time on the morning of August 28 to do what was best for you and your wellbeing! Congratulations to the following Back to School Wellness Winners who won the gift card raffle by participating in a wellness activity that morning:
Jenessa Anderson (WM) for doing a Peloton workout
Jess Reynolds (MHS) for getting in a round of golf
Michelle Villareal (GCMS) for kayaking with friends
Andrew Close (DSC) for learning about using AI for meal planning
Tia Gueu (CSCS) for taking a nice run through Pheasant Branch
Staff
Did you know Nutrition Services offers special staff meals that can be delivered to your school? We offer customizable salads, sandwiches, and more! To see what we offer and to order, please view the Staff Lunch Order Form.
If you have any questions, please contact Rhonda Kalscheur at rkalscheur@mcpasd.k12.wi.us.
Access to fitness centers for FREE
View the guidelines and link for the Public School Works training necessary to complete annually to use the facilities here.
Employee Benefits
Viewing your benefits enrollments on skyward
If you have ever wondered what benefits you carry, you can access that information in Skyward using the following steps:
Go to your Skyward home page, click on Online Open Enrollment
There will be a section for Current Coverages Each group shows some different benefits Health, dental, vision and STD will show in the first group.
FSA, HSA, LegalShield and Pet Insurance will show in the CAL or CY group. Life insurance has its own group
This page can also show you what your current monthly premium rate is for your benefits.
You will not be able to see long-term disability or WRS here.
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at benefitsmailbox@mpasd.k12.wi.us
Your gross per check amount:
Salaried staff:
ee Personnel
r for teachers & 10-month
support staff
Teachers and 10-month Support staff was completed on and why: roll payments?
op tab) > Personal Information (menu option > Personnel (lefto-the-left’ of position title > click ‘arrow-to-the-left’ of ‘Payroll
e 20 or 24S (24J for those who received pay starting 7/15) 0
Your total salary (stated on your contract) divided by 20 or 24 (your pay frequency)
Support staff with Annualized pay (Paraeducators, PSSP, Custodians):
Compute your annualized pay using information from your Letter of Assignment:
Hourly rate x Hours per day x Days per year = Annualized Pay
Divide Annualized Pay by 20 or 24 (pay frequency)
Support staff hourly (Food Service, Bus Drivers)
Hours worked from the 1st to the 15th = Paid on the last day of the month
Hours worked from the 16th to the last day of the month Paid on the 15th of the month
Deductions:
Check your pay stub to make sure al preparing your income tax return to r Go to Skyward: Most employees have a ’ Favo paycheck details.
If you do not have that, Go t menu box, select ‘Check Hist
If you have questions, please email employe
ustaff
f for the 2024-2025 school year
ether for the 2024-25 school year to provide excellent been working diligently to recruit and onboard new from Teachers On Call to help prepare us for this year
taff has some tips/tricks for entering absences into accepting assignments:
for yourself or your building), please utilize the “notes” assignment will entail Substitutes can view this prior to ed to accept when given a brief overview of ecial Education Paraeducator positions. We cannot share can share the grade level, caseload, structure of the position, lifting requirements, one-on-one/small group work with students, alternative assignments for prep periods, etc The more information you share, the better prepared the substitute will be, and it is more likely to be a successful experience for all
2. Entering absences and sharing lesson plans with as much notice as possible. It is understood that most last-minute absences are difficult to fill; however, reaching out to substitutes whom you or your colleagues have used recently may be more successful. New Edustaff substitutes are working to build their connections and relationships with you in the hopes that you will call/text when you ’ re in a pinch
Please see the following options below for MCPASD Employees to submit absences into Frontline:
Web Browser
Frontline App
Call in: Dial 1-800-942-3767, enter your (followed by the # sign)
Edustaff Excellence Awards Program
Edustaff is excited to implement a new program with MCPASD, the Edustaff Excellence Awards Program! Please join us in recognizing some of our outstanding Edustaff substitutes serving throughout MCPASD. Edustaff would like to collect nominations from all faculty and staff members around the District to determine two substitutes who will receive an Edustaff Excellence Award at the end of the fall semester (there will also be two winners selected at the end of the spring semester ) The winners will receive a certificate of recognition and a $50 e-store credit from Edustaff. Please review the nomination form. - Click here.
To qualify, the Edustaff employee must:
• Exemplify Excellence in all they do!
• Serve Wholeheartedly
• Have worked during the month they are nominated.
• Have no pending disciplinary action.
More information will be sent to your buildings shortly, and you will likely see flyers in the staff lounge. Nominations will be collected via the accessible online form and are due by December 15, 2024. Winners will be selected, announced, and presented their awards in January Nomination categories for this award include all substitutes who are employed by Edustaff, including substitute teachers, Paraeducators, Special Education Paraeducators, and clerical staff. We are encouraging all MCPASD staff to participate in nominating an Edustaff substitute who deserves recognition!
Edustaff is continually looking to hire substitute teachers and paraprofessionals for MCPASD. If anyone you know would be interested in working as a substitute teacher, please encourage them to apply on the Edustaff website.
Any questions regarding the application or onboarding process can be directed to Natalie Graham, District Manager for MCPASD.
ngraham@edustaff.org
1-877-974-6338 ext 1360
Touching Base With Teaching and Learning
Welcome Back to the New School Year!
We are grateful for the start of another school year in the company of such wonderful students, staff, and community! I hope you had a great summer break and that you were ready for more structure in your life. I certainly do! I have had the opportunity to visit every school in the last weeks, and the joy was palpable I saw engaged and joyful students and staff I talked to staff who shared being excited/nervous about the new K-8 curricular resources and relieved to know they are doing it with support of their school principal, instructional coaches and as part of a team. We are all learners this year. How amazing that we can model persistence, relishing being part of team, and celebrating our wins!
I have the honor to welcome three new members to our T&L team: Jan Chynoweth is our new Director of Secondary Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment; Andrew Close is our new Data and Assessment Coordinator; and Cielo Rodriguez Romero is the new Administrative Assistant to the Deputy Superintendent and me. Join me in welcoming them.
Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need anything
dr Silvia Romero Johnson | Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning
Student services
We are excited to welcome everyone back to MCPASD for another year of learning and growth. Our Student Services Department is here to support our students, families, and staff and our team includes social workers, psychologists, counselors, health services, three coordinators, and two intensive support specialists.
Here are some updates as we begin the new school year: Expanded Student Mental Health Support
We’re pleased to announce the expansion of our partnership with Children’s Wisconsin (CW). Previously, CW mental health providers were available at MHS, CSCS, KMS, GCMS, WM, and ST This year, we ' ve extended these services to all schools, helping to reduce waitlist times and increase access to mental health support for students.
Intensive Support Specialists
Chris Mand | Director of Student Services
Our Intensive Support Specialists are now available to assist your school teams and students For more information on how they can support your efforts, please reach out to a student services team member.
Screening Tools
We will continue to use our universal screener for students in grades 4, 7, and 9 to gather important insights into their social-emotional and mental health strengths and needs Additionally, our trauma screener will remain in use for grades 3 and 6, as well as 9th grade at CSCS
Community Partnerships
Our department is committed to strengthening our partnerships with community agencies, including Dane County Human Services, RCC: Sexual Violence Resource Center, FACE-Kids, and Journey Mental Health These collaborations are essential in providing additional resources and support to our students, families, and staff
Narcan in Schools
All MCPASD school buildings are now equipped with Naloxone (Narcan) nasal spray for emergency response to narcotic overdoses. Health Services Nurses are providing the necessary training to ensure staff members are equipped and legally protected when administering Narcan The training includes both a knowledge section and a practical demonstration
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
As September is Suicide Prevention Month, we encourage everyone to review the Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) Annual Notification of Youth Suicide Prevention Resources, along with additional resources provided below. It’s important to know the signs and to reach out to any of your Student Services colleagues if you have questions, concerns, or need student support.
Annual Model Notice for Suicide Prevention
WI DPI Suicide Prevention Resources
WI DPI Youth Suicide Prevention
Special education
We are welcoming new students into our buildings every day. It sometimes takes awhile to figure out supports and schedules as we welcome back returning students and new students Please be patient with one another as we implement programming and build routines.
This year, we have continued our WestEd partnership to provide specialized professional development for our special educators and coteaching partnerships at the high school level. We have also introduced a new resource for our Paraeducators called Para Bytes. This is an ondemand professional development resource that includes many bite sized videos to support the learning and growth for our Paraeducators
Multilingual services
We are excited to welcome over 500 new and returning multilingual learners (MLs) to the District! Bilingual resource teachers are busy screening our newest students to determine supports, and so many of you are taking extra steps to make sure our MLs have what they need and feel welcome in our schools We all have important roles to play in the education of our MLs, and we are grateful to everyone for this work!
Our oldest cohort of two-way immersion (TWI) students is in seventh grade this year While we are currently supporting the rollout of the seventh grade curriculum, we continue to review and revise bilingual courses in grades K-6 and plan for high school level programming to begin in fall 2026.
We are also pleased to announce a partnership with the Center for Applied Linguistics, who will be conducting evaluation of our multilingual programs and services this fall. Please watch for more information on how you can be engaged in this process!
Cindy Malcheski | Director of Special Education
Mandi Sersch-Morstad | Director of Multilingual Services
Elementary & secondary curriculum, instruction, and assessment
We are grateful for the engagement of our teachers, instructional coaches, specialists, and administrators in our work of curriculum renewal. We are excited about our areas of focus for this school year.
Curriculum renewal work for 2024-2025:
K-8 ELA Implementation and Professional Development
9-12 ELA Curriculum Renewal Year 1
World Language Year 2
CTE 6-12 Year 1
Music K-12 Year 1
We have changed our Teaching and Learning structure for this year to enhance our focus on curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Jan Chynoweth (Secondary) and MaryBeth Paulisse (Elementary) are partnering to lead teams through the renewal process
You can expect updates on curriculum, instruction, and assessment through building updates, instructional coaches, and newsletters. Furthermore, you can also gain updates by accessing the curriculum and renewal hub from the staff portal.
In Partnership, Jan & MB
Dr. MaryBeth paulisse | Director of ELEMENTARY curriculum, instruction, and assessment
dr jan chynoweth| Director of SECONDARY curriculum, instruction, and assessment
Data & Assessment Coordinator | Andrew Close
I’m Andrew Close, the new District Data and Assessment Coordinator. For the last six years I was teaching mathematics, working with a large variety of student groups and had opportunities to work in various schools in the area. It has been a pleasure to meet so many friendly and welcoming people around the District in group meetings and at schools that I’ve been a part of thus far. I’m looking forward to helping make assessments run smoothly and make data interpretation easy for everyone
With that said, a big thank you to School Assessment Coordinators for your distribution of Forward results to families Next, we have the STAR assessment fall window coming up, it will be September 17-30, please make sure your login is working correctly before the window begins and plan time in your classes to complete this.
Please visit the MCPASD assessment calendar for upcoming assessment dates and our site for more details on administration. If you note any challenges with any of your assessment software please submit a helpdesk ticket!
