Address: 1223 West Main Street PMB 174 Sun Prairie, WI 53590
Recent Activities at BEP
Adopt-a-Class
Every 4th grade classroom in the Sun Prairie Area School District is given a BEP partner who will visit 6 times a year (roughly 30+ minutes each time) to co-teach a lesson developed in conjunction with the district’s “Second Step” Social & Emotional Learning curriculum. The 4th grade lessons focus on goal setting, kindness, conflict resolution, and career choosing, all while creating a sense of community with the BEP partner.
SEE (Student Employee Excellence) Awards
On October 22, 2024, the BEP honored student employee Emersen Dennis at Prairie Kids Club, giving her the Student Employee Excellence Award. Nominated by her employer, Emersen is an exemplary employee who is willing to learn every aspect of the business, has a positive & caring attitude, and has a strong work ethic, all things that her employer values. Emersen started as a student mentor to the youngest cheerleaders and has grown over the years into a Class Lead, developing curriculum and assessments for classes and even training the coaches. She is highly respected by her peers, and the customers love her. Jen Mead, the owner of Prairie Kids Club, is also the proud momma of Emersen!
Nominated by employer Prairie Kids Club, student employee Carson Stanfield was honored by the BEP on Saturday, November 2, 2024, with the receiving of the Student Employee Excellence Award. Carson started at Prairie Kids Club as a sophomore as a Party Coordinator, and he has become the party staff member who receives the most shout-outs! Carson has developed a strong work ethic with an incredible customer focus. He is dynamic in his engagement with the kids at the parties and really connects with them to find a way to make their birthdays special. Congratulations, Carson on your well-deserved recognition!
Reading Buddies 2024-2025
Starting in September, our community partners will read a book each month to their Reading Buddies in a paired classroom! Every first grade student in the Sun Prairie Area School District and Sacred Hearts School goes home with 8 books courtesy of the community partner and the BEP, and then with an additional book donated by Sun Prairie Utilities.
Adopt-a-Class
This is the first year of this new program. Every 4th and 7th grade classroom in the SPASD is given a BEP partner who will visit 4 times a year (roughly 30+ minutes each time) to co-teach a lesson developed from the district’s “Second Step” Social & Emotional Learning curriculum. The 4th grade lessons focus on goal setting, kindness, conflict resolution, and career choosing, while the 7th grade lessons center on learning from mistakes, career exploration, understanding emotions, and understanding others’ perspectives.
SEE (Student Employee Excellence) Awards
On September 27, 2023, the BEP honored student employee Peyton Metz at Pro Health+, giving her the Student Employee Excellence Award. Nominated by her employer, Peyton is an exemplary employee who is willing to learn, has a positive & caring attitude, and has a strong work ethic, all things that her employer values. Even Peyton’s family was in on the surprise!
On Friday, February 23, BEP members surprised student employee Megan Burke at Buck & Honey’s Restaurant, giving her a Student Employee Excellence Award. Nominated by her employer, Megan is very hardworking, reliable, and driven within her expo, food running, and hosting positions. She always goes beyond her job duties and always does it with a smile. Megan’s family proudly joined in on the surprise!
Reading Buddies 2023-2024
Gearing up for the new school year and all 32 first-grade classrooms, we started in September with our first book and are planning to send another ten books home this year for every first grader. In November, local author Mary Kaufmann read one of her books to all first-graders in all 9 SPASD schools and Sacred Hearts School, and then handed out a copy of the book to each student, courtesy of the BEP.
Reality Rocks: Upcoming events this year are November 20, December 11, and April 23.
The next Reality Rocks event is on Weds., November 20, at Prairie Phoenix Academy, an additional location this year. We will need close to 50 volunteers for this event, hosting 75 students. Then again on Wednesday, December 11, 100 volunteers are needed at Sun Prairie East High School to help 300 students experience the ups and downs of the “real financial world” in this simulation. Our last event of the year will be held at Sun Prairie West High School on Weds., April 23, requiring 100 volunteers for another 300 students.
Student Job Fairs in March and April
Student Job Fairs are held at Prairie Phoenix Academy on Weds., March 12; at Sun Prairie East High School on Weds., April 2; and at Sun Prairie West High School on Weds., April 9. Student Job Fairs are held in conjunction with the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce – contact the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce to participate – https://business.sunprairiechamber.com/contact
Reality Rocks: Upcoming events this year are December 6, 2023, and April 24, 2024
The next Reality Rocks event is on Weds., April 24, at Sun Prairie East High School. We will again need 100 volunteers to host over 300 students as they experience the ups and downs of the real financial world in a simulation. The fall event this year, held at Sun Prairie West High School on December 6, served just under 300 students.
Job Fairs: These will be held again in Spring 2024 in conjunction with the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce.
In 2024, the dates for this year’s events are Weds., April 10 (Prairie Phoenix Academy), May 8 (Sun Prairie West HS) and tentatively set for May 22 (Sun Prairie East HS). Student Job Fairs are held in conjunction with the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce – contact the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce to participate – info@sunprairiechamber.com
Annual Breakfast Meeting & 35th Anniversary Celebration!
On October 8, 2024, at WPPI Energy, the BEP held its Annual Breakfast Meeting in conjunction with celebrating its 35th Anniversary! Memories of events and people over the years were shared, and most notably recently passed icon Nancy Everson was honored with moving words by Dan McIlroy of ProAdSpec, Inc and the announcement of the Nancy Everson Memorial Scholarship.
The BEP annual awards for Outstanding Service by its members were announced: Outstanding Business – Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce (accepted by Christina Williams); Outstanding Educator – Theresa Wisden, SPASD; Outstanding Individual Member – Sharlot Bogart of Teddy’s Place Child Care; and Outstanding Board Member – Ray Koepcke, Park Bank.
Elementary School Recognitions
The BEP started a new initiative where they are looking for something simple and special to do at each elementary school that can have a big impact on students. Responding to this call, Craig Coulthart, principal at Eastside Elementary and former BEP president, asked BEP partners to participate this year in Eastside Elementary School Shout Outs!
On November 1, 2024, the BEP visited Eastside Elementary School to help congratulate students who received special recognition by the staff there. BEP partners attending included Craig Coulthart (principal at Eastside), Melissa Ratcliff (WI State Representative), Maya Rodrigues (SP East HS student & former Eastside Elementary student!), Craig Butler (Hausmann Group), Betsy Butler (SPHS retired teacher), Joel Coyne (SP East HS teacher), and Lori Ewoldt (Sun Prairie Utilities). About 50 students were recognized.
