Mankato Clinic Thrives Fall 2022

The Krusemarks are Back to School. Big-Time

After a recon trip to Italy for the Mankato West Music Club, a family road trip out West, lake time and a relaxed summer schedule, teachers Brady and Kristin Krusemark are refreshed, ready and recharged for the school year.

“We invest so much in our students and pour so much of our heart into them. Summer helps us recharge and provide that for next year’s students,” Kristin said. “My favorite thing about the summer are mornings because I don’t have to be out the door. I get up early, have a cup of coffee.”

“You feel renewed when you get back. Certainly we’re thinking and reflecting on the past year and coming year,” Brady said.

Kristin teaches fourth grade at Roosevelt Elementary and Brady is band director for Mankato West High School and director of the Mankato Area 77 Lancers Marching Band. With three children, ages 11, 7 and 5, life ratchets up when school starts.

This school year will be a big one for the Krusemarks. The Lancers have switched from the summer to fall marching season and Brady is co-leading the Mankato West Music Club trip to Italy in June 2023.

Ciao Italy Brady and Kristin kicked off summer with a trip to Italy to firm up logistics for the West Music Club’s Italy tour. About 125 band, choir and orchestra students and chaperones are going. A friends and family tour is also planned to let parents attend concerts and split up for sightseeing.

Brady and the Mankato West High School choir director, met with the tour company to view hotels, plan sightseeing stops and choose performance venues.

Brady was inspired by a concert by the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony in a venue where they will perform. “It was a random Thursday night in Rome and 600-800 people were at the concert. There was a sign out front and people just go because of the classical music culture there. We expect to have a lot of locals at our performance. It’s a way for our community to share with another culture across the world.”

The West Music Club is flying into Rome and heading south through Naples, Pompeii, Assisi and Isle of Capri. In Rome, it’s the Sistine Chapel, Coliseum and Pantheon. The 10-day tour combines sightseeing with 3-4 concerts.

“Travel is enhanced so much when you go with a purpose. Our purpose is sharing our music and our culture. We’re able to give and not just take when we visit new places. Our students will be able to experience a broader world and gain the perspective that our world is bigger than Mankato,” Brady says.

While touring the ruins of Pompeii, the ancient city destroyed by Mount Vesuvius, Kristin made a language arts lesson plan. Their tour guide will join her class for a Greek and Latin Roots and Stems lesson. Talking with an Italian speaker will help students better understand the role Latin roots play in language and her students will get to learn about the connections between Ancient Rome and the world today.

“I have a hard time turning school off. I’m always thinking of what I can bring back or how to make this part of a lesson. Definitely my students benefit from me being able to travel,” Kristin says.

She also encourages her students to explore. Kristin ends each school year with an Every Kid Outdoors activity. Through Every Kid Outdoors, all fourth grade students get a FREE pass to bring their families to national parks, lands and waters for an entire year!

In July, the Krusemarks took a two-week road trip west to Teddy Roosevelt and Glacier national parks. Ben was the fourth grade MVP, getting the family into both parks! Then it was on to Alberta, Canada. For the pass, visit everykidoutdoors.gov.

Mankato Lancers

Under the direction of Brady Krusemark, the Mankato 77 Lancers brings together students from District 77 and private high schools. The Lancers are marching into fall at Mankato East and West football games, marching band festivals and competitions.

“We are excited to present a similar product in a new format to new audiences,” Brady says. “It will be the Lancers, revamped.”

Highlights for the kids will be marching in the Minnesota State Fair Parade and at U.S. Bank Stadium.

If you go to the Mankato East-West Jug Game, you’ll see the Lancers perform their “Our Town” show at halftime. Listen for the songs “We Built this City” by Jefferson Starship and “Come Together” by the Beatles.

“Our show is a celebration of Mankato. It’s about unity and bringing East and West high schools together. People who are familiar with marching band will love it. People who have never seen it before will love it too. Our show is geared to any audience and designed to be competitively successful as well,” he said. For the schedule, visit 77lancers.com. ■

Taking Care of Each Other

As the primary care provider for the Krusemarks and their extended family, Dr. Alyssa Stitt is grateful for their friendship and for the positive role they have played in teaching her own three children at Roosevelt Elementary and Mankato West High School!

“It’s why being in a community this size is awesome. I take care of them and they take care of my kids,” Dr. Stitt said. “You have all your patients you take care of and you see them out in the community. And they are taking care of yours and you are collaboratively working together.”

Mrs. Krusemark taught Jonah and Zoe in third and fourth grade. And Mr. Krusemark is Noah’s band director at West High School. In fact, Dr. Stitt's family is going on the West Music Club trip to Italy – Noah and Zoe as band and choir students while the rest will be joining the friends and family tour.

“They are both so kind and enthusiastic and you know they are taking good care of your kids and they have a passion for teaching,” Dr. Stitt added.

When the family headed to Washington, D.C., for their summer road trip, they stopped at Indian Dunes National Park because Jonah had his Fourth Grade park pass from Mrs. Krusemark’s class.

Jonah said Mrs. Krusemark is very enthusiastic. Zoe added, “She’s good at making learning fun and engages the students in creative ways.”

Mr. Krusemark teaches in a way that makes teenagers love music. “Mr. Krusemark has a good rapport with the high school students. He’s so calm and chill and loves music. He’s easygoing,” Garron Williams, Dr. Stitt’s husband, said.

This family friendship between the Krusemarks and Dr. Stitt began 10 years ago when the children were in daycare together! Brady’s mom has a daycare and watched Dr. Stitt’s children part-time while Garron was building their home. Naturally, the Krusemarks and their extended family gravitated to Dr. Stitt for medical care.

“She has a really kind demeanor. She’s someone we can trust,” Brady said.

Dr. Stitt is truly honored to be their family physician!

School Year Survival

“I have to be very good about time management,” Kristin says.

After school, she spends about a half hour making sure everything in her classroom is ready to go for the next day. Then she exercises and de-stresses – sometimes at the YMCA – before picking up the kids.

Meal planning is key to surviving and thriving during the school year. She suggests finding a friend to prep easy freezer and slow cooker meals for the week.

“I like to know what I’m having for dinner each night. On a good week, I try to plan ahead for the week, get the grocery shopping done and some meal prep on the weekend,” Kristin says.

Expert Advice

Dr. Alyssa Stitt, Mankato Clinic Family Medicine

Getting a good night’s sleep and establishing a good sleep routine so children are well rested and ready to go in the morning is huge. My advice is being really thoughtful about screen time especially phones. I’m a big believer in getting the phone out of the room at night or setting the downtime restrictions so they’re not up after a certain hour.

For younger kiddos, you can help out your teachers by not allowing screen time in the morning. Morning shows and cartoons can over-activate their brains and make it harder to get them out of the house too. Stick to getting ready for school and eating breakfast.

Establishing healthy eating habits as a family is really important. Make sure you’re eating the rainbow: greens, reds, oranges and blues. It’s an easy way for kids to remember to get a little more nutritious foods. Also eat around the outside of the grocery stores

where fruits, veggies, proteins and dairy foods are. Make water the go-to drink at home and on-the-go! Remember, nothing is forbidden, but a good rule of thumb is ‘We have everyday foods and sometimes foods.’

As always, teach your children to wash their hands often while singing “Happy Birthday.” If they’re sick, keep them home from school.

I also encourage you to consider the COVID-19 vaccine for your children. The vaccine is now available for all children ages 6 months and older. Stay up-to-date on boosters as recommended.

Be sure to get the flu vaccine in the fall too!

To learn more, visit mankatoclinic.com/family-medicine