TalonTimes

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As we move through this holiday season, I hope it brings your family connection and moments of joy. Here at Southern Door, the 2025–2026 school year is off to an inspiring start. Our fall sports teams and extracurricular groups wrapped up their seasons with tremendous finishes, and our winter activities are well underway. We are also proud to share that this year’s DPI Report Cards for our elementary, middle, and high school—and for the district as a whole—show continued growth from the previous year.
These successes reflect something special: a school community that cares deeply about students. Every day, our dedicated staff, families, and community partners work together to foster a warm, challenging, and uplifting learning environment where young people can thrive academical-
Community Input Driving the Path Forward
As mentioned in the Superintendent’s note, the Southern Door County School District continues its thoughtful planning for an operational referendum, informed by strong participation in the recent Strategic Priorities Survey. A total of 654 individuals—including students, families, employees, and community residents—shared their perspectives on what matters most for the future of our schools.
This collective input provides more than data; it offers a community-driven roadmap. These insights will directly support the Board of Education and administrative team as they determine both the need and appropriate financial scope for a potential referendum this spring.
What We Heard: Key Themes From the Survey
Respondents were asked to rank ten priority areas. While each stakeholder group had its own perspective, several themes rose to the top across the district.
When looking at the results from All Respondents, the top five strategic priorities show a strong commitment to both the well-being and operational health of the district. This overall ranking aligns very closely with the priorities identified by our Parents/ Community Members and District Employees groups. In fact, these three groups (All Respondents, Parents/Community Members, and District Employees) identified the exact same five areas as their top priorities, differing only slightly in the specific ranking order. This strong consensus across most adult groups highlights a unified vision for key op-
ly, socially, and emotionally. I am deeply grateful for the strength of these partnerships.
As we celebrate these accomplishments, we must also look ahead with clarity and purpose. The funding provided through our current operational referendum expires at the end of this school year. To maintain strong programming, staffing, and the high-quality learning experiences our students deserve, we must secure additional funding to bridge the gap between rising costs and lacking state funds. The additional funding will also help us avoid deficit spending that has been required for several years, depleting our reserves to a dangerously low level, and forcing us into shortterm borrowing to support cash flow needs.
erational and foundational needs.
Our students brought forward a distinct focus, prioritizing Athletics & Extra-Curricular Programs as their number one priority, followed by Fine Arts & Co-Curricular Programs as their fifth. This highlights the high value students place on the activities and experiences that complement their core academic learning.
Importantly, however, the student list still shares a significant overlap with the non-student groups: three of the students’ top five priorities are also on the top five list for every other group. This overlap shows that while students prioritize the vibrancy of school life, they are equally invested in a safe, functional, and financially stable learning environment.
The recently completed Strategic Priorities Survey gave the Board of Education and administrative team valuable insight as we begin shaping the scope of a potential referendum. The community’s voice is helping guide this work— ensuring that our financial planning supports both the district’s long-term stability and the educational excellence that defines Southern Door.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our students and schools. Together, we are building bright futures—today and for years to come.
Dr. Kevin Krutzik
Superintendent
The survey results are an essential building block in the district’s preparation for the potential April 7, 2026 voting date. Several important steps are ahead:
• December 2025 – Board Planning: The Board will review progress to date and begin shaping the potential referendum question, including the financial scope and estimated impact on the tax/mill rate.
• January 2026 – Board Action: The Board is scheduled to consider taking action on approving the official referendum resolution and ballot language.
To support clear communication and responsible planning, the district is organizing its work around four core pillars:
1. District Points of Pride Highlighting district accomplishments, high-performing programs, and student achievements.
2. Cost-Saving Measures Implemented Previously Outlining cost-saving measures already implemented, past budget reductions, and ongoing needs that cannot be addressed without additional funding.
3. Operational Referendum Investments and Programming Presenting the proposed operational referendum amount, priority allocations, and projected mill rate effects.
4. Reductions if Referendum Does Not Pass Identifying the reductions that would likely be necessary if the referendum does not pass.
Moving Forward Together
We are grateful for the involvement, care, and candor shown through the community survey. Your voices continue to guide the important work ahead. As the operational referendum planning progresses, the district will share updates and opportunities to stay informed.
Thank you for being an essential part of the Southern Door story—and for helping ensure that our students, families, and community continue to experience the high-quality education they deserve.
The Southern Door County School District is pleased to announce that the district and all 3 three schools have met or exceeded expectations on the Report Card from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for the 2024-25 school year. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our staff, students, and parents/guardians, who should all take great pride in this success. The state accountability report cards summarize student performance and engagement for each school and the district overall. The report card includes four priority areas — Achievement, Growth, Target Group
and On-Track to Graduation— each of which is scored. The district and each school within it have also been assigned an accountability rating and overall score.
Southern Door County School District - DPI Report Card
According to the State of Wisconsin DPI Report Card Achievement Priority Area Score:
• Southern Door County School District performed the same or higher than 84.7% of all districts in the state (82.6% in 2023-24 and 81.3% in 2022-23)
• Southern Door Elementary School performed the same or higher than 70.5% of all K-5 schools in the state (76.3% in 2023-24 and 78.6% in 2022-23)
• Southern Door Middle School performed the same or higher than 87.1% of all 6-8 schools in the state (83.9% in 2023-24 and 80.5% in 2022-23)
• Southern Door High School performed the
same or higher than 78.6% of all 9-12 schools in the state (69.1% in 2023-24 and 67.9% in 2022-23)
As Southern Door celebrates the dedication and accomplishments of our students and staff, we are reminded that education is a continuous journey of growth and improvement. Our strong results reflect not only the hard work happening in our classrooms, but also the collective commitment of our entire school community. At Southern Door, we remain focused on refining our practices, expanding opportunities, and ensuring every student is supported in reaching their fullest potential. We are deeply grateful for the trust, partnership, and encouragement of our families, staff, and community members, whose support makes these successes possible and drives us forward together.





THURSDAY, APRIL 23RD | 5:00–7:00 PM
Get ready to blast off into creativity! Mark your calendars for our annual district-wide Art Show and fundraiser - this year’s theme is “Out of This World!” Our halls will be transformed into a galaxy filled with imagination, color, and incredible student artwork.
Families are invited to explore interactive art stations, view stunning displays from all grade levels, and celebrate our talented young artists. From painted planets to cosmic creatures, this is a night you won’t want to miss!
Come support our student artists as they shine bright like stars— hope to see you there!

BY AVA SCHMILING, SDHS FRESHMAN
Ava Schmiling, a student at Southern Door High School, attended the Junior Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C., this past summer. The conference, held at the University of Maryland, provided students with opportunities to learn about leadership, communication, and public speaking.
During the conference, Ava visited several historical sites including Mount Vernon, the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, and many more. She particularly enjoyed seeing the Capitol and visiting
the House floor. Each day included lessons and simulations focused on leadership skills and creating action plans to impact the community.
Ava shared that her favorite part of the trip was meeting people from across the country and creating lasting memories. She gained valuable insights into becoming a good leader, improving communication skills, and mastering the fundamentals of public speaking. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity, calling it the highlight of her summer.

BY JUDY JESSE, SCHOOL ARCHIVES COORDINATOR
Did you know that the Southern Door School District is home to an amazing collection of historical photos, artifacts, and stories about our school system’s early days? Not many school systems are fortunate enough to have such a special collection!
These treasures are preserved thanks to the hard work of retired teachers, support staff, and local citizens who understood the importance of saving Southern Door School’s unique history.
What’s New and Coming Soon
Take a moment to enjoy the constantly changing School Archives display located by the Eagle Gym!
This year’s display begins with the growth of our present school campus.
• The New Year will feature a display about our school’s “hidden treasures”— items many other schools aren’t able to share with their students.

• Keep an eye out for an upcoming display focusing on the early School Boards who were instrumental in shaping our distinct educational system.
The Little One-Room School House
Have you ever wondered about the little one-room school house located in front of our Elementary School? This historic building (called Waniger School) offers many opportunities for students, groups, reunions, and curious visitors! It


Grant Pieschek, Southern Door High School Senior, has been recognized as a Semifinalist in the highly competitive 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program! This extraordinary honor places Grant among the top academic achievers in the nation, with more than 16,000 students earning semifinalist status from an initial pool of 1.3 million test-takers. Grant’s hard work, dedication, and passion for learning have propelled him into this elite group of scholars, taking him one step closer to winning a share of the nearly $26 million in scholarships to be awarded next spring.
To earn this recognition, Grant excelled on the Preliminary SAT better known as PSAT, which is the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test and met a rigorous cutoff score. As a semifinalist, he will now submit an in-depth scholarship application, which includes details about his academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, community service, and leadership experiences.
the
was saved, preserved, and is now shared with the community thanks to the efforts of generous local
Get Involved!
The School Archives are coordinated by Judy Jesse. If you would like to get involved, have items you wish to donate, or would like more information, please contact Judy Jesse at 920-743-9730, or reach out to our District Office.
Please join us in congratulating Grant Pieschek on this remarkable achievement!
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), established in1955, is a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds, and by approximately 280 business organizations, higher education institutions and individual donors to honor the nation’s scholastic champions and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence


BY ATTYSON WILSON, SDHS SENIOR
The National FFA Convention is a week out of each year where members from across all 50 states are able to meet and find inspiration for the future. This year, Southern Door had six lucky participants that got to go to Indianapolis for the 2025 National FFA Convention and Expo. During these four days, they were able to cover an immense amount of ground. Students were able to visit agricultural businesses throughout the whole trip including Fair Oaks Farm, a dairy farm that integrates rotary and robotic milking systems
into use; Heartland Growers, a wholesale greenhouse where students were taught how to plant in a controlled environment; and lastly Ozark Fisheries, producing over one hundred million fish a year, they had some insightful knowledge on breeding fish.
It doesn’t stop there with the education, as students attended workshops where they learned about different subjects, including how to run a successful business, and visited the expo center where there were over three hundred vendors teaching about different

farming equipment, promoting colleges, creating hands-on experiences, and most importantly, hosting dance parties.
Not only were the workshops and expo empowering, the sessions that they attended taught them life lessons that these students will hold with them forever. These lessons included self reflection on actions towards others, and breaking the box that we surround ourselves within. Students also participated in some activities outside of the convention as well. They were able to attend an Ernest
and Ella Langley concert and visit the Indianapolis State Capitol, where they sat in the Indiana House of Representatives and State Supreme Court Room.
All in all, the 2025 National FFA Convention and Expo was unforgettable. Students attended amazing sessions and workshops, met unnumbered amounts of people, and learned life lessons that will last a lifetime. The empowerment they left with reaches higher than ever!


Southern Door High School students performed their fall musical All Shook Up: School Edition in the Southern Door Community Auditorium on November 13-16. We dearly appreciate all volunteers that helped out with the show: students, friends and families put in more than 700 hours of work – constructing and painting the set and props, as well as supervising, feeding and costuming the cast! This year we had a unique modular set, featuring 9 moving pieces that rearranged into more than 10 different configurations to create various scenes and locales throughout the show.
In the summer, students also attended a production of Door Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, the loose inspiration for the plot of All Shook Up: School Edition. The director of the production and an actor/stage combat coordinator workshopped with the students to introduce them to Shakespearean themes, answer questions and discuss professional theater
with them. Additionally, we invited theatre professionals from Northeast Wisconsin (including from Third Avenue Playworks, Peninsula Players, Door Shakespeare and Northern Sky Theater) to a dress rehearsal, where they watched a full run and provided feedback to the students and production team.
We had more than 60 students involved in the cast, crew and pit orchestra, and almost 1,600 people attended the four performances. We would like to thank the community for their support. We hope you enjoyed the show! Bravo, everyone!

BY DILLAN ZALESKI (CURRICULUM SUPPORT SPECIALIST/DAC)
In our last update, we shared the “what” and “why” of our district assessments and professional development.
Now, as we move deeper into the school year, we are excited to share “how” these tools are actively shaping your child’s daily learning experience. We are moving beyond simply collecting data to using it to personalize instruction and empower our students.
High School: Turning Data into Student Goals

PreACT Results & Extended Learning Time (ELT) We have recently completed the administration of the PreACT for grades 9-11. While scores are important, we believe the true value of assessment lies in what we do after the test. We are now using the detailed item analysis from the PreACT to drive our Extended Learning Time (ELT) specifically in ELA.
Launching Student Assessment Portfolios We are also proud to continue year 2 of our Student Assessment Portfolio initiative. We believe high school students must be the drivers of their own academic journey. To begin this work, students in grades 9-11 are currently using their PreACT results to complete their first Goal-Setting Sheets.
Instead of just receiving a score report, students are analyzing their own performance.
• They are identifying personal strengths and areas for growth.

• They are setting concrete, manageable goals for the remainder of the year.
These sheets serve as the first artifact in a portfolio that will track their growth through graduation, aligning with our commitment to graduating students who are self-reflective and college-ready.
The PreACT Task Force
To ensure our assessment data drives meaningful change in the classroom, Southern Door has launched the PreACT Task Force. This solutions-oriented group brings together a cross-curricular team of educators from Math, ELA, Science, Social Studies, and Career & Technical Education (FCS).
Meeting during district inservice days, this team has gone beyond surface-level scores to “dig deep” into our fall PreACT data and uncover the “stories behind the scores”. Based on this rigorous analysis, the Task Force has developed specific Action Plans focused on high-impact teaching strategies. These plans are designed to improve instructional practices in grades 9-11 immediately, with the primary objective of seeing measurable growth on the upcoming spring state assessments, including the PreACT Secure and the ACT.
Professional Development Spotlight
Our teachers are currently engaging in rigorous professional development to ensure our instruction is as effective and inclusive as possible.
Southern Door Alumni Association Announces 2025 Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees
The Southern Door Alumni Association is proud to announce the four distinguished individuals who were inducted into the Southern Door Alumni Hall of Fame Class of 2025. These honorees were selected for their significant contributions to their professions and communities, serving as inspiring role models for current and future students. The Alumni Hall of Fame ceremony was held on September 26, 2025 during the school day, with a follow-up recognition announcement at the football game that evening.
Samuel Alexander, Class of 1976 - Military and Government Service Southern Door graduate Samuel Alexander is being inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame for his distinguished career in military and government service. After graduating, he went on to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Secret Service, and the United States Attorney’s Office. His work included protective, investigative, and intelligence assignments, where he held a Top Secret security clearance for 34 years. In response to the September 11, 2001, attacks, he became an Intelligence Specialist to combat terrorism, ensuring information sharing among local, state, and federal law enforcement officials to better protect citizens.
Dr. Thomas F. Berns, Class of 1968 – Healthcare Radiology
Dr. Thomas F. Berns, a distinguished radiologist, is being inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to healthcare. A Southern Door valedictorian, he was named one of Milwaukee’s “Top Doctors” in

Milwaukee Magazine. Dr. Berns served as President of the Wisconsin Radiological Society, and was elected as a Fellow to both the American College of Radiology and the Radiological Society of North America. His professional career included serving as Chief of Radiology Resident at the Medical College of Wisconsin and establishing an MRI Screening program to detect cancer at Columbia St. Mary’s.
Patricia Vickman, Class of 1972Educational Leadership
A distinguished alumna and valedictorian, Patricia Vickman is being inducted for her lifelong commitment to education. After beginning her career as a teacher, she served in high-level administrative roles in the Oshkosh Area School District before returning to lead the Southern Door County School District as Superintendent. Vickman is also a leader in her community, serving as Chairperson for the Door County Medical Center
and Door County Big Brothers and Big Sisters. She received numerous accolades, including the Volunteer of the Year and School Administrator of the Year awards, and is the founder of the Southern Door Alumni Hall of Fame.
Hugh Zettel, Class of 1976Healthcare Diagnostic Imaging
Hugh Zettel is being inducted into the Southern Door Alumni Hall of Fame for his significant impact in healthcare and diagnostic imaging. During his 36-year career with GE Healthcare, he was instrumental in developing the world’s first high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. He was also granted eleven patents in the U.S. and internationally for innovations in radiology imaging, remote service management, and computer-assisted surgery. Additionally, he served on Governor Doyle’s eHealth Quality and Patient Safety Board and is currently a Door County Supervisor.


BY ATTYSON WILSON, SDHS SENIOR
as well. All in all, the 2025 Animal Day was a day filled with joy, laughter, and education!

Grades 6-12 Science: Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Our secondary science departments have dedicated their professional learning to Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL is an educational framework based on scientific insights into how humans learn. The core concept is simple but powerful: design lessons to remove barriers from the start.
Our next step is practicing this framework in one of our already-built lessons.


Grades K-5 Math: The “Building Thinking Classrooms” Journey As mentioned in our previous update, our elementary team is deep into their study of Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl. We are now seeing these concepts come to life! If you walk through our hallways, you will see students standing at vertical whiteboards, working in random groups, and loudly discussing mathematical strategies.
We are shifting the classroom culture from “mimicking the teacher” to “thinking through problems.” Early feedback suggests that students are building resilience—they are less afraid to make mistakes and more willing to try new strategies to solve complex problems. This work is creating a buzz of energy in our math blocks that is truly exciting to witness.

BY MS. JODY NELSON, MS/HS SCHOOL COUNSELOR
On October 14, Southern Door 8th graders were invited to attend the 2025 Career Day which was held at NWTC in Sturgeon Bay and coordinated by DCEDC. The DCEDC’s Business and Education Partnership Committee did receive a grant from the Green Bay Packer Foundation for this. THANK YOU to everyone in our community who helped put this great event together and presented for our students!
The sessions offered were divided into 8 career clusters: AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND NATURAL RESOURCES, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE, ARCHITECTURE AND CONSTRUCTION, GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, HEALTHCARE, HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM, LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY and MANUFACTURING. Students were able to rank their choices of which career cluster discussions they were interested in participating in and the schedule allowed each student to visit three different career cluster areas, for 15 minutes each. There was a YA (Youth Apprenticeship) table and an NWTC table in the lobby as well for students to explore.
Students were provided great information from various people in these professions about topics such as what different career/educational pathways can lead to these careers, what education/training do they need for this career, what responsibilities do they have and what does a typical day look like, along with much more great information. The feedback from our 8th graders about career day was very positive with an overall opinion that they would have liked even more time to chat with these professionals!

Show Success! Thank You for Supporting
Athletics BY TINA NELLIS, SOUTHERN DOOR BOARD OF EDUCATION TREASURER
The Eagles Athletic Booster Club held its annual Craft Show on November 2nd. This event, along with home-event concessions, is one of our biggest fundraisers and makes a significant impact on supporting Southern Door athletics. We sincerely thank all the vendors, community members, and especially the students who volunteered their time - your participation and generosity made this year’s event a tremendous success. Funds raised from the Craft Show directly support equipment, uniforms, and opportunities for our student-athletes.
BY ELISE JACKSON, SDHS JUNIOR
As snowflakes begin replacing the last of autumn’s falling leaves, Southern Door is celebrating the accomplishments of its fall sports teams and looking ahead with excitement to the upcoming winter seasons. From standout postseason runs to record-breaking performances, student-athletes across the district showcased determination, growth, and school pride.
The volleyball team performed very well, with a conference record of 4-4, finishing 6th in the conference. With a strong postseason performance, they advanced through the first round of regionals, falling to Valders in the regional finals.
While the football team may not have had the same success as years prior, they undoubt-

edly experienced growth and a building period for the young team. Finishing fifth in the conference with a 2-5 record, they were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round.
The cross country team rose to new heights of success this season, with both teams finishing as runner-ups in the conference. As well, Malaina Veeser (freshman) and Emma Bousley (senior) helped lead the girls team to a third place finish in the sectional–only one place away from a state run. Veeser broke the school record, with a blazing time of 19:41.6.

The Door County United swim team continued strong success from past years, placing third in the conference. Southern Door had multiple athletes qualify for the state champi-
The Southern Door School District is proud to offer the Talon Community Fitness Center as a hub for health and wellness in our community. A special reminder: all district residents age 62 or older are eligible for a FREE annual membership.

Memberships run on a July 1 – June 30 cycle, but can be purchased at any time throughout the year ($150 annual fee). Memberships purchased after January 1 are reduced in price by $25. This flexible option ensures that community members can join when it works best for them.
The Talon Community Fitness Center provides top-tier amenities in a welcoming, community-focused environment, including:
• Full weight room with strength and cardio equipment
• Indoor Turf Facility
• Eagle Gym (when not in use by school teams/ groups)
Member Access Hours (via the Verkada Pass app):
• Weekdays: 4:00 AM – 7:00 AM & 5:00 PM –10:00 PM
• Weekends: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM Staffed Weight Room Hours:
• School Days: 5:00 AM – 7:00 AM & 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Weekends: 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Take advantage of this opportunity to stay active and connected. District residents 62+—don’t forget your membership is completely free!
To learn more or to get started, visit the Talon Community Fitness Center page on the Southern Door website or call the Southern Door High School office at 920-825-7333

Contributors: Steve Bousley, Dave Desmond, Mary Hall, Sue Ann Hubbard, Elise Jackson, Judy Jesse, Ben Kline, Heather Kraeuter, Kevin Krutzik, Tina Nellis, Jody Nelson, Morgan Phipps, Ava Schmiling, Nikki Trusova, Marc Vandenhouten, Cory Vandertie, Dan Viste, Alyssa Walton, Madeline Wilkins, Attyson Wilson, Dillan Zaleski
Sponsored by: Peninsula
onships, including Kailyn Neville in the 200 freestyle and 400 free relay, Hazel Monfils in the 400 free relay, and Quinn Sperber as an alternate in the 400 free relay.
The following students were recognized for their outstanding conference performances:
Volleyball Defensive Player of the Year: Alanna Paye (12)
1st Team



Charitable contributions support and enable the Southern Door Community Auditorium to showcase amazing, innovative and professional performances. Become a donor and know you’ve made a meaningful contribution to the arts, quality of life, and educational opportunities in our community. Every amount helps!
Gifts made in support of the Southern Door Community Auditorium are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
For further information about charitable and/or in-kind giving, general support, event sponsorship, and marketing opportunities at SDCA, please email cvandertie@sdsd.k12.wi.us or call 920-676-1920.


STEEM “For Kids From 1 to 92!” December 21, 2025 at 3pm
The Fiddler’s Farm Band January 17, 2026 at 7pm
Darci Lynne & Friends: Up Close & Personal Tour January 30, 2026 at 7:30pm
Miss Door County Scholarship Program February 7, 2026 at 4pm
Disney’s Finding Nemo, Jr. March 6-7 2026 at 7pm & March 8, 2026 at 2pm
The Looney Lutherans - “Livin’ La Vida Lutheran” March 15, 2026 at 3pm
I Am, He Said: Celebrating Neil Diamond April 12, 2026 at 4pm
No Can Do: A Tribute to the Music of Hall & Oates April 17, 2026 at 7pm
The Four C Notes: Music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons April 26, 2026 at 3pm
SING, Door County May 30, 2026 at 7pm
The Little Mermaid - Missoula Children’s Theatre June 19, 2026 at 3:30pm & 6pm
Swingin’ Door Big Band June 25, 2026 at 7pm











