Welcome to the November 2023 Episode of the Monthly Update With Monogue!
We would like to begin by recognizing November as National Native American Heritage Month. Our district occupies the ancestral lands of the Ho-Chunk people. We respect the survival, resistance, and resilience of the Ho-Chunk and their descendants in the region. Please join us in honoring the Native American Community and the land we stand upon.
We also wish to acknowledge our staff and the hard work they do each and every day in our schools and facilities. Being an educator is really challenging. It is one of the most complex professions that demands creativity, persistence, passion, resilience, ongoing learning, compassion, and commitment. Our students and their families are so lucky to have such talented people working in our district. Our entire community is grateful for their work and for the incredible people they are.
Speaking of staff, we have a few exciting staff shoutouts to share!
Congratulations to Middleton High School Custodial Night Lead Laura Waite for winning the 2023 Safety Room Challenge at the custodial and maintenance conference earlier this year! Laura and her team successfully identified and corrected the most safety hazards in a simulated scenario. We are lucky to have staff members like Laura who are committed to putting in the work to keep both our students and staff members safe at school.
Sauk Trail Elementary Special Education Teacher Amy Heatherman recently enjoyed a well-deserved surprise earlier this month after being nominated as a Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) Educator Of The Year!
Amy has served as an educator for over 28 years and has made lasting impressions on students, staff, and families. The Sauk Trail parent who nominated Amy cited that she is a true team player and gives students the support they need to grow. As an additional surprise, she was honored at a Badger home game on November 11th.
Congratulations to both Laura and Amy!
Did you know that November 6th marked School Psychology Week? We were proud to celebrate our outstanding school psychologists and the work they do to support our students' success. They are champions for children, families, and schools, working hard to apply their knowledge about mental health, learning, equity, and systems to address challenges that thwart progress. Join us in thanking them for all that they do!
Did you happen to see the great news story about Elm Lawn Elementary Principal Lisa Rust and Bus Driver Cody Bratton? Together, they found a great way to help students learn about bus safety expectations by having Principal Rust hop in the rider's seat along with her students! Click here to view the full story!
Earlier this month, our district celebrated Dia De Los Muertos! A few of our multi-language learner friends and bilingual SAFE staff helped educate the Kromrey Middle School Community about the celebration by creating their own Ofrenda! An Ofrenda is a special display that honors loved ones who are no longer with us. Great job to our KMS team for making a beautiful tribute!
Great ideas are worth sharing! Three cheers to Glacier Creek Middle School Librarian Christina Makos and her team of Library Helpers, who recently presented to librarians from across the state at the Wisconsin Library Association conference earlier this month! Together, they discussed the GCMS Library Helper Volunteer Program. Students explained the program, what motivates them to volunteer, and how they look forward to growing into more responsibilities. The team did a fantastic job, and hope to present again at the conference in the spring!
It was a great season for Middleton High Fall Athletics and the Marching Band and Color Guard!
We are excited to share that two of our MHS boys teams hold the title of State Champions! Congratulations to the Boys Soccer and Volleyball teams on this outstanding success!
A congratulations is also in order for the Girls Swim and Dive Team, who recently won the D1 State Championship!
Shout out as well to the MHS Marching Band and Color Guard! We are proud to share that they recently took home 4th place at the Wisconsin School Music Association Marching Band Championship and the Color Guard took home first place! Great Job, everyone!
Middleton High School Theatre has been on a roll! We would first like to congratulate the cast and crew of the comedic musical ‘Urine Town’ on an outstanding performance. Secondly, congratulations to the one-act performers of The 146 Point Flame and their success at the Wisconsin State Theatre Festival!
Watch out Starbucks, there is a new coffee shop in town! Our friends at the Cardinal Academy have opened their own made-to-order coffee stand at the Cardinal Academy/ Early Learning Center building. Our rock-star baristas are in the beginning stages of their shop but hope to expand with time, including custom aprons, name tags, and even a delivery service! Great job all!
Lastly, our communications team has recently finished up their work with Kromrey Middle School as part of the My School Story campaign! Head over to the Kromrey website to check out their new website banners, my school story page, and view a video that shares what makes Kromrey special. Stay tuned as our team moves forward with Northside Elementary School up next!