DECEMBER 2022

Curriculum and School Information

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..

Read the article (same as at left) and then watch the video to learn more ways to help your child play!

Notes from the Health Office

Cold and flu season are ramping up and we are seeing numerous illnesses throughout the school. If your child is sick, please keep them home! The following is a list of symptoms that warrant students staying at home and communicating with their physician. 

• Fever (100° or higher), chills or shaking chills.  Must remain at home until 24 hours fever-free without the use of fever reducing agents
• Nausea or Vomiting. Must remain at home for 24 hours from last episode of vomiting
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Headache (in addition to other symptoms)
• Fatigue (in addition to other symptoms)
• New loss of taste or smell
• Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies)
• Muscle or body aches
• Cough (not due to other known causes, such as a chronic cough)
• Sore throat
• Eye Drainage that is green/yellow and crusty
• Rash on hands, feet or mouth not due to exposure to allergen

If you have any questions, please contact Margit Frisch at 608-938-8647 or email 

margit.frisch@mgschools.net. 

Winter Gear Tips!

With a few cold, snowy weeks in, we are asking for help! Please find time to have your learner PRACTICE putting on winter snow pants and boots, and zipping up winter coats!

Make it a game! Grown-ups, please only assist in showing or telling - not doing - the tasks! This is time for them to practice and improve doing this independently. We have staff supervising this at school, but if every child needs help, the classes will never get outside to recess!

Also, students may also soak through their winter gear, please replenish their extra clothes kept at school when one is used. We have extras if needed but not enough for everyone. If your child has borrowed clothes from the health office please wash and return them. (And please send back reusable ice packs if they have accidentally ended up in backpacks.) Thank you!

School Nutrition - Harvest of the Month

Click the Farm to School(F2S) Program tab on the MG School Nutrition Page to check out this month's F2S newsletter! Make sure your student continues to plan on school lunch during December to enjoy our Harvest of the Month. It is a special seasonal berry that will be offered each Thursday and will be sourced from local farmers. Each newsletter is loaded with education, F2S happenings, recipes, fun facts, and more!

Makerspace is a Great Space!

Makers gonna make! Learners love expressing their curiosity and creativity in the Taylor Prairie Makerspace. 4K and Kindergarten classes use the space weekly for hands-on exploration of materials, fostering collaboration between peers and perseverance through difficult tasks (those tricky block towers tend to fall down!). 

Our space is not accepting donations of  recyclables (ex. food containers or paper tubes). If you are interested in donating items to the Makerspace, you can email Mrs. W. at elizabeth.wodzinski@mgschools.net for a list of craft items that are popular with learners. Thanks!

School-Related Activities and Events

Super Simple ways to support CG PTO:

• Buy SCRIP cards! Do you purchase gift cards for others? Through SCRIP, you can get those same gift cards with the FULL value, and a percentage of the business's proceeds is donated back to CG PTO. Most are between 5-15% and it adds up!

• Shop with Amazon Smiles! If you are an Amazon customer, check out Amazon smiles, which allows you to choose an organization for some proceeds to go to. (Please select Cottage Grove Schools Parent Teacher Organization.)

Community Connections

Cottage Grove PTO

There are many things going on with CG PTO this year! 

Stay up to date on that event - and all future events - by visiting: 

• Cottage Grove PTO
• CG PTO Website
• SCRIP Form
• SCRIP Online Purchase
• Meet the PTO 

CG Parks and Rec

The Fall/Winter Community Guide is available online. There are many opportunities for you and/or your child to become involved! 

• Community Guide
• Parks and Rec website 

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:

• Bookmobile Schedule
• Monona Public Library
• Monona Family Page
• Digital Story Room
• Calendar of Events

5301 Monona Drive, Monona, WI 53716  Phone: (608) 221-7660  Fax: (608) 221-7688