T H EMUSTANG ROUND-UP ROUND-UP
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT:
SuperintendentWelcome
DistinguishedAlumni
TheKeytoStudentSuccess
ExtracurricularOfferings
ROUND
UP ROUND-UP
Ourstaffandstudentsshowupandworkhardeveryday.Together,wehavehada greatstart,andwhilewehaveonlyamonthbehindus,thisyearisprovingtobea positiveonetomakeanincredibleimpact.
OurworkisfoundedinourMission:LittleChuteAreaSchoolDistrictisdedicatedto fosteringacommunityoflearnerswherewemeettheacademic,social,and emotionalneedsofallstudentsOuractions,ourallocationofourresources,andour timeareguidedbyourBluemprintforBrillianceWemeasureourprogressonour districtgoalseveryJuneandJanuary,andyoucanviewtheseupdatesonour website
Aswebegintheschoolyear,wearesharinghighlightsinourschools.Thisnewsletterisaglimpseintowhatis happeninginourschools,classrooms,andonourschoolgrounds.Comeoninandseetheteachingand learningandalloftheopportunitiesLCASDhastooffer. WithGratitude, Heidi Schmidt
DistrictAdministrator Welcome
Student Success Starts with Attendance Student Success Starts with Attendance
Regularattendanceisthefoundationofstudentsuccess. Whenstudentsareinschoolconsistently,theybuild academicskills,developfriendships,andgainthe confidenceneededtothrive.Researchisclear:when studentsareabsentoften,learning,mentalhealth,and graduationoutcomessuffer
AcrossWisconsin,chronicabsenteeismremainsa challenge,withnearly18%ofstudentsmissing10%or moreoftheirschoolyear LittleChute’sabsenteeismrateis betterthanstateaverages,butwe’retakingactionnowto keepourstudentsconnected,engaged,andontrack
Ourattendancecampaign,“Showup|WorkHard|
Repeat,”ismorethanaslogan Thisyear,ourdistrictwill sharetheimportanceofschoolattendancethroughsocial media,posters,yardsigns,andothereffortstokeep attendanceattheforefrontforourstudentsandfamilies Wewanttomakeitclear:showingupeverydaymatters
Justasimportant,wewillbecelebratingstudentswith strongattendanceandpositivebehaviorsthroughoutthe year.Celebratingstudentswhoshowupeverydayreminds usthatsmall,steadyhabitsadduptobigachievements nowandinthefuture.Together,families,staff,and communitycanmakeeverydaycount.
Lookforcontinuedcommunicationaboutattendanceon theLittleChutesocialmediapagesandintheprincipal newsletters
Community Communityconversations conversations
Tocontinuetobuildontherichhistoryof LittleChute,BeauBernhoft,LittleChute VillageAdministrator,andHeidiSchmidt, DistrictAdministrator,shareagoalto continuethetraditionofcollaborationand extendhowtheypartnertoservethe community.
Herearesomerecenttopicsand collaborationsduringtheirmonthly meetings:
UpdatesontheVillage,suchasthe firestationprojectandother developments
InvolvementintheLCBAtocontinue growingpartnershipsand opportunitiesforourstudents.
ThetransitionofourPSLasOfficer JeffNettReires OfficerRandy Lefeberhasstartedservinginthe roleinourdistrict
Trafficsafetypatterns,inparticular, theonesaffectedbyCountyRoad 00 Wewillcontinuetomonitorand educateourstudentsanddriversto ensurewearefollowingthesafe routes
Monthlymeetingsallowthetwoofthemto grow,challenge,andsupportoneanotherin theirrolesandresponsibilitiesthrough brainstormingsolutionsandprovidinga soundingboardforideas
SCREENINGS
TheLittleChuteAreaSchoolDistrictisoffering preschoolscreeningsforchildrenages3–4wholive inthedistrict Screeningsassessdevelopmental progressandprovideparentswithhelpfulgrowth information
Congratulations, Distinguished Alumni!
CongratulationstoSue(VanderWyst)Bischel,oneofour2025DistinguishedAlumniAw 1970graduate,Sue'sremarkablecareerasaCircuitCourtJudgeandlifelongadvocatef embodiestheLittleChuteAreaSchoolDistrict'svalues Herjourneyisatestamenttothepowerofourdistrict's goals,showcasinghowourgraduatesbecomeSocietalContributors,ProblemSolvers,andEffective Communicators.
Throughouthernearly40-yearcareer,Suehasdedicatedherlifetopublicservice,atrue societalcontributor AsthechiefprosecutorforallchildabusecasesandlaterasaCircuit CourtJudge,shetirelesslyworkedtoprotectthemostvulnerableinourcommunity Her commitmentdidn'tendwithherretirement;shecontinuestoserveasareservejudge andvolunteerfornumerouschildadvocacyorganizations.
Sue’scareerpathwasfilledwithchallenges,frombeingoneofthefirstfemalelaw studentsinthe1970stonavigatingcomplexlegalissues,demonstratingexceptional problem-solvingskills Whetherfindingsolutionstoprotectabusedchildrenormaking difficultsentencingdecisionsasajudge,sheconsistentlyshowedresourcefulnessandresolve
Finally,Sue’ssuccesshingesonherabilitytobeaneffectivecommunicator.Sheoftensaysthatbeingagood listeneristhemostimportantpartofherjob,payingattentiontobothwordsandnon-verbalcues.Thisskill wascentraltoherwork,ensuringjusticewasdispensedfairlyandcompassionately SueBischel’slifeofservice trulyreflectsthevaluesandgoalswestrivet i tilli t d t W ' i dibl dt llh f ourown
Substitute Teachers & Aides
Little Chute Area School District is in search of passionate individuals interested in
Board of Education Board of Education
President:SteveAndres
VicePresident:ShannonPomeroy
Treasurer:RobEiting
Clerk:BetsyZemlock
Member:LeonBiesterveld
LittleChuteAreaSchoolDistrict BoardofEducationencouragesyou tobecomeinvolvedintheDistrict
YouareinvitedtoattendBoardof Educationmeetings Meetingsare heldattheDistrictOffice: 1402FreedomRoad LittleChute,WI54140
Meetingsaregenerallyheldonthe secondandfourthMondayofthe monthat4:30p.m.
Foragendasandpastmeeting minutes,visittheLCASDwebsite.
BEYOND THE BELL
Theimportanceofextracurricularinvolvementisacritical componentoftheoverallhealth,wellness,andsafetyofour students Assuch,theextracurricularcommittee,asub-committee oftheboardofeducation,worksdiligentlytohelpvetandapprove extracurricularopportunitiesthatbenefitourstudents Inthepast8 years,7newextracurricularshavebeenformedtoserveour studentsatthehighschoollevel,3atthemiddleschoollevel,and 1attheintermediatelevel
2025-26 Extracurricular participation rates
ACTIVITIES AND ATHLETICSat a Glance
President
TaraStrasburg
VicePresident
JoshMcQuillan
Secretary/Treasurer
JenniferVanThiel
Members
DawnGrenzer,AimeeRecla, ShaenaVanHandel,Jacob Schmieder,LisaBreaker
Councilmeetingsaregenerally heldonthefirstMondayofthe monthat5p.m.
Foragendasandpastmeeting minutes,visittheLCASDwebsite.
Welcome, New Staff!
JessicaLaBerge,ElementarySchoolPsychologist
ABonduelHighSchoolgraduate,JessicaearnedherBachelorofArtsinPsychology fromUW–WhitewaterandaMasterofScienceinEducationfromUW–EauClaire She wasdrawntotheLittleChuteAreaSchoolDistrictforitspositiveatmosphereand strongreputation,andsheenjoysspendingherfreetimeoutdoorsexploringnature
AmyVosters,K-12MathCoach
ALittleChutegraduate,AmyearnedherBachelorofScienceinElementaryEducation andaMaster’sinCurriculum&Instruction.ShepreviouslyworkedintheNeenah SchoolDistrictandlooksforwardtosupportingstudentsandstaffinherhometown. Outsideofschool,sheandherhusband,Ryan,staybusycheeringontheirthree childreninactivitiesandsports.
RobertMurray,HighSchoolEnglishTeacher
AnAppletonNorthgraduate,RobertrecentlycompletedhisBA inSecondarySocial StudiesEducationfromUW–EauClaireandhisMS inCurriculum&Instructionfrom UW–Madison Excitedtobeginhisteachingcareer,hewasdrawntoLittleChute’s strongcultureofcollectivegrowth Inhissparetime,Robertenjoystrivianights,board games,andwatchingJeopardy!
MorganBertoia,7thGradeScienceTeacher
Morgan,agraduateofAppletonEast,earnedherBachelorofScienceinBiology EducationandBroadfieldSciencefromUW–LaCrosseandwillfinishherMasterof ScienceinEducationthisDecember.Shebringsthreeyearsofexperienceteaching middleschoolscienceinCashtonandwasdrawntoLittleChute’sstrongsenseof community.Morganenjoystraveling,reading,andstayingactivewithsportsandcrafts.
EmilySzutkowski,Computers/DigitalLiteracyTeacher
OriginallyfromEland,EmilyearnedherdegreeinElementaryEducationfromUW–StevensPointandpreviouslytaughtatMapleGroveCharterSchoolinAthens Shewas drawntoLittleChute’swelcoming,community-centeredatmosphere Inherfreetime, Emilyloveshiking,kayaking,andsoakingupthesunwithherdog,Waffles
ShannaSobieck,4thGradeCo-Teacher
ShannaearnedherdegreeinElementaryandSpecialEducationfromUW–Oshkoshand previouslytaughtintheGreenBayAreaPublicSchools ShewasdrawntoLittleChute’s commitmenttotheco-teachingmodel Outsideofschool,Shannaenjoyscrafting, gardening,kayaking,andfamilytimewithherhusbandandtwochildren
mmermann,DistrictLibraryMediaSpecialist
nAppletonNorthgraduate,earnedherdegreeinEarlyChildhoodEducation GreenBayandhasexperienceasaclassroomteacher,STEMcurriculum andSTEMteacher.ShewasdrawntoLittleChute’scollaborative,studentultureandenjoysspendingtimewithherhusbandandtwochildren whether cheeringthemonatactivities,headingupnorth,orworkingoncraftandhomeprojects.
Educational Enrichment Fund Supports Innovative Learning
ThankstotheLittleChuteAreaSchoolDistrictEducationalEnrichmentFund,the districtisabletomakelearningprojectspossiblewiththegeneroushelpof individualsandbusinesses Thedistrict’soperatingbudgetislimitedandcannot supporteveryinnovativeideathatourteachers,administrators,andsupportstaff havetoenrichourstudents’learning.Establishedwithsupportfromlocal businessCrystalPrint,Inc,thegrantprogramprovidesprivatefundingfor scholarships,innovativeprojects,andcreativeprogramsnotincludedinthe operatingbudget
Thispastspring,representativesfromourschoolsjoineddistrictadministrators toreviewapplicationssubmittedbyteachersandawardgrantmoneybasedon specificcriteriathatmustbemet.Twoprojectsbroughtforwardbystaff memberswereawardedmoney
GinaMullenandMarandaMuellerwereawardedfundstopurchase3 TimeKettles,whicharehandheldinterpretationdevices TimeKettlewillallow officestafftointeractwithfamilieswhospeakalanguageotherthanEnglish, withouthavingtocallforaSpanishinterpreter Thisisespeciallyimportantfor ourfamilieswhodon'tspeakEnglishorSpanish.Thisproposalisalignedwiththe OperationsareaoftheBlueprintforBrilliancebecauseitallowsustohave communicationwitheveryonewhoentersourbuildings.Italsoalignswith ProfessionalLearningbecauseweareintroducinganothertoolforstaffto increasetheircapacityforcommunicatingwithALLofourfamilies.Italsofitsin withthevisionintheareasofeffectivecommunication,problemsolving,and utilizingtechnology.
MattVanThielwasawardedfundsforanIMSPollinator Thisprojectwillprovideaspaceforscience studentstogoandobservemorediversewildlifehereoncampuswhilealsosupportingourlocal pollinatingorganisms TheareaofourBlueprintforBrilliancethatthisfulfillswouldbetheHealth, Wellness,andSafety Thisgardenwillallowourstudentstoworktogethertodevelopsomethingspecial hereoncampusforfutureclassestoenjoy.Itwillhelpstudentsdevelopasenseofbelongingbyworking togetherandknowthattheywereapartofcreatingthisgardenthatwillservethenextgenerationsof LittleChutestudents.
Ifyouareinterestedindonatingtothisfund,youcanlearnmoreonourwebsite underCommunity>EducationalEnrichmentFundorscantheQRcode.
OurVision
LittleChuteschoolswillbelearningcommunitiesinwhichstudentsexpressagenuinedesiretolearnin awelcomingandsecureenvironment.Wewillchallengealllearnerstobecomeengineersoftheirown futurebynurturingtheircreativeandintellectualgrowth.Wewillprovidethelaunchpadforstudents toexcelinanyfieldofinterestbydevelopingthewholechildinadiverseandtechnicalsociety.
Inordertobegoodstewardsoftaxpayerfunds,acost-effectivebulkmailing servicewasusedforthispublication.Therearelimitationstotheservice,andwe cannotfullymatchthemailinglistwithourschooldistrictborderswithoutadding significantcost.IfyoudonotlivewithintheLittleChuteAreaSchoolDistrictand receivedthispublicationduetothislimitation,weaskforyourunderstanding.
CENSUS INFORMATION
TheLittleChuteAreaSchool Districtmaintainscensus informationforallresidents, frombirththroughage18,that livewithinourdistrict’s boundaries.Thisinformationis usedforprojectingfuture enrollmentandfor communicatingaboutdistrict programsandregistration.Do youhaveorknowachildthatis notcurrentlyenrolledin LCASD,butfallsintothisage group?Areyounewtothearea orknowsomeonewhoisand couldbenefitfrominformation fromtheDistrict?Pleaseshare thisinformationorvisitthe District’sRegistration& Enrollmentpageandclickthe linkatthetopofthepagetofill outthecensusinformation form.
Schedule of Events
9/29PowerPuffFootballGame,?
10/3PreschoolScreening,8-10am 10/4HomecomingDance,8pm 10/6GovernanceCouncilMeeting,4:45pm 10/13BoardofEducationMeeting,4:30pm 10/22Parent/TeacherConferences 10/23-10/24NoSchool 10/27BoardofEducationMeeting,4:30pm 10/29Parent/TeacherConferences 10/31EndofTerm1
Sept/Oct November December January
11/3GovernanceCouncilMeeting,4:45pm 11/5K-12EarlyRelease,1:45pm 11/5BoosterClubMeeting,6pm
11/10BoardofEducationMeeting,4:30pm 11/13-11/15HighSchoolMusicalPerformance 11/19LCCPAAsynchronousDay 11/19K-12EarlyRelease,1:45pm 11/24-11/28FallBreak,NoSchool
12/1GovernanceCouncilMeeting,4:45pm 12/3K-12EarlyRelease,1:45pm 12/3BoosterClubMeeting,6pm 12/8BoardofEducationMeeting,4:30pm 12/112 GradeConcert nd 12/15ChoirConcert
12/17LCCPAAsynchronousDay 12/17K-12EarlyRelease,1:45pm 12/24-1/2WinterBreak,NoSchool
1/5StudentsReturnBacktoSchool
1/5GovernanceCouncilMeeting,4:45pm 1/7K-12EarlyRelease,1:45pm 1/7BoosterClubMeeting,6pm 1/9PreschoolScreening,8-10am 1/12BoardofEducationMeeting,4:30pm 1/16EndofTerm2 1/19NoSchool
1/21 LCCPAAsynchronousDay 1/21K-12EarlyRelease,1:45pm 1/26BoardofEducationMeeting,4:30pm 1/28Parent/TeacherConferences 1/30-2/1HighSchoolPlay