TASD HOWL: Fall 2022

MESSAGE

Welcome, everyone, to the 2022-2023 school year at Tomah Area School District! We’re excited to begin the new school year with all buildings in session and Lemonweir Elementary School leading us off through their 45-15 calendar on July 13th! On behalf of the board of education and our dedicated team of educational professionals employed with our school district; I want to express our sincere gratitude for the opportunity to serve the children of Tomah Area School District focusing on our mission – High Quality Student Learning! Every Child! Every Day! Thank you for your support and partnership each day this year as we work together creating meaningful lifelong educational opportunities for our students!

Commitment to academic excellence and enriching the educational experiences of our students through co-curricular activities at all grade levels has been a hallmark at Tomah Area School District for decades. We’re very proud of where we’ve been and look to the future through opportunities for continuous improvement. Just as our students move along their school journey from Pre-K through Senior year; our district moves along its journey of continuous improvement through three leadership goals embedded in our strategic plan.

As we look ahead to the 2022-2023 school year, I wanted to share three key leadership journeys connected to several Pillars of Excellence established in our strategic plan – Workforce Engagement: Our ongoing commitment to improving the workplace environment for our Tomah Area School District family of employees. We’ll be reviewing data from a recent employee engagement survey and building action steps forward to attract and retain employees in all operations. Finance and Operations: Leadership focused on strategic planning and stewardship of fiscal resources dedicated to moving our district structure forward. Along with building stronger communications opportunities with our district patrons, the board of education is discussing the potential renewal of the current operational referendum. Student Achievement: Preparing our students to succeed each year and in their future post-secondary education and the career of their choice through transformational educational opportunities ensuring the Tomah Area School District remains a school district of choice for students and their families. We’re going deeper with our implementation of the Professional Learning Community (PLC) process at all buildings in the district with focus on student learning, and a collaborative approach dedicated to improving achievement results.

The Tomah Area School District Board of Education meets for their regular meeting the third Monday of every month at Robert Kupper Learning Center beginning at 7:00 p.m. for discussion and action on leadership priorities focused on High Quality Student Learning. Every Child. Every Day. We hope to see you at board meetings and community engagement opportunities to learn more and be our partners as we all work together empowering our students along their educational journey! Thank you!

Dr. Mike Hanson District Administrator Tomah Area School District

MESSAGE FROM OUR NEW EXECUTIVE STAFF MEMBERS

My name is Angie Plueger and I am the new Curriculum and Instruction Director for the Tomah Area School District. This year I will be entering my 22nd year in the field of education. In my new role I am excited to continue the work of becoming a Professional Learning Community. I am committed to continuous school improvement to get better results for our students. This year we will focus on the three big ideas of PLC at work which are: a focus on learning, building a collaborative culture, and creating a results orientation. Good luck to our teachers and students, you will be brilliant! I wish you a bright and successful school year!

Angie Plueger

Director of Curriculum & Instruction

Tomah Area School District

My name is Michelle M. Clark and I am the new Business Manager for the Tomah Area School District. This year I am entering my 27th year in the field of education with 22 of those years with Tomah Area School District. I have been fortunate to be able to work in a district like Tomah that values their employees, student learning, and community involvement. Together we have been providing a quality education for all children and I am dedicated to continuing to ensure all students reach their learning potential and our staff have the resources needed to provide that education. I would like to thank our families for trusting us with their children. I also want to thank all the different programs that ensure our children find success at school. Along with our teachers and support staff members in the buildings, thank you to our food service, buildings and grounds, technology, and transportation department personnel for all they do each day to contribute to our success! Make it a great year!

Michelle M. Clark Business Manager Tomah Area School District

JAG IS TURNING HEADS AS OUR OWN JAG CAREER SPECIALIST BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO THE PROGRAM

JAG is a classroom opportunity for students (beginning freshman year) to improve and build upon performance competencies and soft skills to prepare them for success in the workplace, post-secondary education, military service, and any other postgraduation plans they dream of. Mrs. Julianna Scott works with her students to establish a “Map of my Dreams” plan (a program requirement) where they will answer the question “What do I want for my life?” This map will span through the course of their high school career and into their post-high school ventures and work as a guide on how to achieve their goals. Students who seek these services apply for the program and must also pass an interview process. The success of students relies heavily on their motivation and resiliency, as well as staff collaboration. The class benefits from relevant guest speakers and field trips as well as employer engagement opportunities. These offerings create professional connections and references that may benefit them later in life.

Julianna responded to a job posting a few years ago promising the incumbent will influence and support vulnerable students needing extra guidance. Her eight years of English teaching experience and passion for student care made her a great candidate for the Tomah JAG program. Julianna said, “I am building a program at THS that will give students stability and an educational space to explore their goals and passions. This isn’t about just meeting academic standards; it’s about helping these students find security in all aspects of their life (work, education, housing, self-advocacy, etc.).” Julianna was clear in explaining this program is not denounced for the “bad” kids. JAG is for all students- anyone looking for resources, connections, and extra help setting themselves up for the most success. Julianna’s passion is driven by the developmental breakthroughs her students experience while in her class.

JAG is clearly gaining the interest of Tomah’s students as Julianna’s class roster is anticipated to grow by 31 students this year. In 2022, 12 of the 14 registered THS seniors graduated with their high school diploma. Julianna has secured other means for the remaining two students to achieve their GED this year. Wisconsin is preparing for 100 new programs to be established across the state by the fall of 2023. These results are telling; JAG is an incredibly valuable student resource! We feel especially fortunate to have Julianna as our JAG Career Specialist as she was selected for the JAG Outstanding Specialist Award (much like the notable “Teacher of the Year” award) for the state of Wisconsin. She was bestowed this recognition in Las Vegas this summer at the National JAG Conference by JAG VP, Janelle Duray and Founder and President, Ken Smith. Tomah was one of the nine Wisconsin JAG programs to be collectively awarded for meeting five of five performance metrics for their multi-year programs.

Reaching this success has only given JAG momentum moving forward. Julianna aspires to grow community partnerships (especially in the trade fields) with more local businesses and organizations. She invites any interested parties to reach out to her to discuss involvement opportunities. She will continue to best serve her students and catch them from falling between the cracks through careful collaboration with fellow teachers, pupil services, employers, parents, and other resources. Watch for more stories celebrating Tomah JAG this year as our students continue to succeed.

JAG Students use their time to give back to the community, too. Last year, the class made nearly 20 blankets and donated them to the Tomah PD. They also held a largely successful clothing drive for the local area.

For partnership opportunities, email Mrs. Julianna Scott at juliannascott@tomah.education

Mrs. Julianna Scott JAG Career Specialist, Tomah

Resources

The TASD Tech Department has been busily coordinating the migration from Infinity to Infinite Campus. One of the best features of Infinite Campus is the expansive and thorough Help Center platform. This easy-to-use database will help you navigate the new program and get you answers quickly.

There are a few functions only our staff is able to enable or reset for you; those are noted in the help tutorials so you will know when you need to reach out to your building office.

As an additional resource, we have a web page for updates and information concerning this migration. Emails will also be sent with all updates and information as well.

We appreciate your patience while we work through this process district-wide. We are confident this switch will bring benefits to all staff, students, and parents. We hope you take the time to familiarize yourself with the functions of the program to maximize its advantages.

Infinite Campus can be accessed by parents and guardians by going to “Programs & Resources” and “Parental Web Access” at the top of our district homepage.

Aerial photo from Cardinal IG

YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP BENEFITS THS STUDENT AFTER GRADUATION

Eric Erdman is a ’22 THS graduate who recently began his post secondary education at UW Madison in the Computer Sciences degree program. Eric found the IT opportunity at Cardinal through their own advertisements. Eric coordinated with Mrs. Dawn Pierce, the THS Career and Technical Education Coordinator, to establish the apprenticeship through the Western WI Youth Apprenticeship Consortium program. Mrs. Pierce is creative in how she connects employers with students and student with employers. She uses her connections with employers to match their needs to a student with related interests. Sometimes it works the other way; no matter, she makes the connection. Students are able to carry out the Youth Apprenticeship during the school day and receive educational credits for their work. Mrs. Pierce averages 45 students in her YA program each year. This program provides foundational classroom and technical instruction with workplace experience to equip them with the tools to choose a pathway after high school. Eric was mentored through tasks such as language programming, HTML, coding projects, and handson software and hardware applications. “I was a part of multiple projects as a large building expansion was taking place [at Cardinal]. I set up computers along the production line, and some of the software, as well as the wiring. I was able to gain a broad variety of knowledge from every project I did.”

Eric was able to gain experience and relative knowledge in his field of interest. He’s beginning his post secondary schooling with hours of work experience under his belt already. He’s a great example of how TASD is sending prepared, and well-rounded graduates into the world to make a difference.

Family Shares Japanese Culture with TAMS Classmates

The children take a photo with Yuki’s mother in front of the temple where Yuki’s grandmother “sleeps”.

Yuki and Christopher Upshaw met while he was stationed in Guam on military orders. Together, they’ve traveled the world and have had two children – Ace and Alice. The two children have attended TAMS for the duration they’ve lived in our area. The family is nearing another transition to a new duty location, but they will be returning to Tomah soon from an extended visit to Yuki’s family in Japan. The family is generously keeping their classmates apprised of their adventures through Facebook video tours, photos, and stories. Ace (in TAMS E-1 class), attended public school in Japan. He had the unique opportunity to experience this culture first hand with children his own age. He made several friends during his attendance and enjoyed his classmates coaching him through the school day. As field trips, Ace and his overseas classmates went to the local post office and supermarket.

Alice (in TAMS Children’s House) has taken an interest in the language. Yuki often speaks Japanese with the children, but Alice particularly enjoys the language. The children participated in swimming lessons at the local pool and have been taking other trips with their mother and grandmother to temples and shrines.

The TAMS family of students and faculty look forward to the Upshaw’s return in a few short weeks. The family is giving their classmates cultural souvenirs, traditional games, and toys to be kept in the classrooms for student use; the TAMS PTO funded this initiative ahead of time. This is not the family’s first time sharing cultural artifacts with their classmates. Yuki has brought in Yen (Japanese currency) for the students to examine during their money skills unit. The family plans to present to the schoolhouse of their travels and experiences.

This is a great example of how our military ties make our district exceptional in our cultural diversity and acceptance. We look forward in sharing more on this story as we welcome the family back and into the schoolhouse to share their travels.

The children wear summer styles of the traditional Kimono made of unlined, light-weight linen.

INDUCTEES ANNOUNCED

Congratulations to the Distinguished Alumni Class of 2022! The Tomah Area School District Distinguished Alumni Committee voted Gary Grovesteen (class of ‘59) and Elizabeth Hein (class of ‘96) as the 2022 TASD Distinguished Alumni Inductees. These individuals are being recognized as two of Tomah’s highest-achieving graduates. The nominations were examined and considered in their humanitarian service, academic and professional credentials, military service, and other service contributions to their community. More infomation about our inductees is available on our distinguished alumni webpage.

It is our hope this program will inspire our current students, instill pride in our community, and celebrate the successes of our alumni population. Although nominations are always welcome, the deadline for a nomination to be considered for the following school year is May 31st. The nomination form is available on our website or at our District Office. Nominations may be mailed to the attention of Communications or emailed to communications@ tomah.education.

As the Warrens Cranberry Festival draws near, we take a minute to recognize the significance of this Tomah-area tradition. For – years, Warrens Elementary has found itself immersed in the commotion of the highly attended crafter’s haven festival. It’s interesting to think about the connection our outlying schoolhouse has to ‘Cran Fest’. The second addition of the school house was partially funded by the festival as a pair of exterioraccessible restrooms was added to the building for festival use. Before modern-day crisis caused an increase in building security, the schoolhouse would host quilt judging, food judging, and other smaller offshoots of the festival.

As the festival has grown in popularity, the school grounds have become the staging location for more vendors and festival goers. The crowds, more like masses, of visitors cause Principal, Mr. Tim Genewikow to go on high alert. He was sure to start with that he enjoys the energy, excitement, and commotion that the festival brings. But after seeing the accompanying surprises over the last nine festivals, he knows better than to let his guard down. The school adjusts its’ pick-up and drop-off procedures to a heightened hand-to-hand exchange. Vendors are not permitted on the premiss while students and faculty are still conducting school business. Local police are available to ensure our students remain safe during the school day and undistracted by the extra activity in their quiet community. In a drastic act of security, the school district decided in the early 2000’s to adjust our academic calendar to adapt to the festival’s duration. We release our students early on Cran Fest Thursday, and do not hold school or school-events on Cran Fest Friday.

The Warrens Elementary PTO saw opportunity in the consumer traffic on their front lawn. They have been selling cranberry fritters since approximately 1978. They are able to raise enough funds to sustain their initiatives for the year in two Cran Fest days! Molter’s Fresh Market bakes the fritters and sells to the PTO at a discounted price. The PTO sets up tables and flag markers at the front door of the school house and sells nearly 2,000 fritters in just a few hours Saturday and Sunday of the festival. Parents will contribute to the fundraiser by donating beverages to sell with the fritters. The elementary school isn’t the only school-affiliated group to join in the hubbub. THS Limited Edition Show Choir is set to perform throughout the weekend, the Tomah Grid Iron Football Club assists with field parking, the THS Marching Band performs in the parade, and new this year- the Warrens 5th Graders will ride through the parade on a float to celebrate their last festival while at Warrens Elementary.

The partnership of the school and the Cranberry Festival is very much mutual and generous. The Festival Board Committee donated new, adjustable basketball hoops to the elementary gymnasium (’18), and picnic tables on the playground (’19). The board also donates $100 to each Warrens 5th Grader to go towards their Safety Patrol Trip in Washington D.C. This is in addition to the collective effort of students, faculty, parents, and families working together with Cran Fest Staff to prepare their community to accommodate over 120,000 fest goers.

If you find yourself in the Cran Fest crowds, be sure to get to Warrens Elementary early to grab a fritter!

The school lawn becomes a maze of vendors and shoppers.

Warrens Elementary Principal, Tim Gnewikow, and a few of his students find a quiet place to break from the crowds in the school’s entrayway at their Cran Fest Fritter Sale Fundraiser.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

September:

9/19/22: BOE Meeting 7pm @ RKLC

9/22/22: Early Dismissal (Staff PD); No 4K

9/23/22: No School (Cran Fest)

October:

10/7/22: THS Homecoming (Parade @ ; FB Game @ 7:00pm)

10/7/22: No School (Collab Day)

10/8/22: THS Homecoming Grand March 7pm @ THS

10/17/22: BOE Meeting 7pm @ RKLC

10/20/22: PM Parent Teacher Conferences

10/21/22: No School (AM Parent Teacher Conference)

10/21-10/22: THS Play Production 7pm @ THS

10/25/22: THS Fall Choir Concert 7pm @ THS

10/28/22: THS Marching Band Concert @ FB Half Time

November:

11/3/22: End of 1st Quarter

11/3/22: Miller Elementary Gr. K2 Concert 6:30pm @ THS

11/4/22: No School (Grading/Collab)

11/8/23: Wyeville Elementary Concert 6:30pm @ THS

11/10/23: LaGrange Elementary Gr. K-2 Concert 6:30pm @ THS

11/21/22: BOE Meeting 7pm @ RKLC

11/23-11/25: No School (Thanksgiving Break)

December:

12/2-12/3: TMS Musical Performance 7pm @ THS

12/4/23: TMS Musical Performance 2pm @ THS

12/9/22: TMS Winter Band Concert 7pm @ THS

12/15/22: TMS Winter Choir Concert 7pm @ THS

12/17/22: THS Winter Band & Choir Concert 7pm @ THS

12/19/22: BOE Meeting 7pm @ RKLC

12/22-12/30: No School (Winter Break)

January:

1/14/23: THS Show Choir Spaghetti Dinner

1/16/23: No School (MLK Day)

1/16/23: BOE Meeting 7pm @ RKLC

1/20/23: End of 2nd Quarter

1/23/22: No School (Grading/Collab)

February:

2/1/23: 4K & 5K Enrollment Opens for the 23-24 School year

2/13/23: No School (Collab Day)

2/16/23: THS Winter Jazz Band Concert 7pm @ THS

2/20/23: BOE Meeting 7pm @ RKLC

2/23/23: PM Parent Teacher Conferences

2/24/23: No School (AM Parent Teacher Conferences)

2/24/23: Elementary Musical Production (see web for more info)

March:

3/3/23: HS & MS Show Choir Concert 7pm @ THS

3/9/23: Band-O-Rama Concert (Gr. 6-12) 7pm @ THS

3/17/23: Spassabend Performance

3/20/23: BOE Meeting 7pm @ RKLC

3/23/23: Camp & Oak Elementary Concert

3/24/23: End of 3rd Quarter

3/27/23: No School (Grading/Collab)

3/30/23: LaGrange Elementary Gr 3-5 Concert 6:30pm @ THS

April:

4/4/23: Warrens Elementary Concert 6:30pm @ THS

4/7-4/10: No School (Spring Break)

4/11/12: Miller Elementary Gr. 3-5 Concert 6:30pm @ THS

4/17/23: BOE Meeting 7pm @ RKLC

4/28-4/29: THS Musical Production 7pm @ THS

4/30/23: THS Musical Production 2pm @ THS

May:

5/2/23: Lemonweir Elementary Gr. K-2 Concert 6:30pm @ THS

5/4/23: TMS Spring Choir Concert 7pm @ THS

5/8/23: Senior Scholarship Awards Ceremony 7:30pm @ THS

5/9/23: TMS Jazz Band Concert 7pm @ THS

5/11/23: THS Spring Choir Concert 8:00pm @ THS

5/12/23: No School (Collab Day)

5/15/23: TMS Spring Band Concert 7pm @ THS

5/15/23: BOE Meeting 7pm @ RKLC

5/18/23: Lemonweir Elementary Gr. 3-5 Concert 6:30pm @ THS

5/20/23: THS Spring Band Concert 7pm @ THS

5/25/23: Last Day of TimberPUPS 4K

5/27/23: THS Graduation

5/29/23: No School (Memorial Day)

June:

6/2/23: Last Day of School

6/19/23: BOE Meeting 7pm @ RKLC