This next week, October 24 - 28, is national Red Ribbon Week. The 2022 theme is Celebrate Life. Live Drug Free.
Wisconsin Heights Elementary School is focused on celebrating all aspects of our lives! We are celebrating our community, our teams, our futures, our dreams, and our healthy choices. Students may be participating in classroom discussions around making healthy choices and decisions, learning how to withstand peer pressure, and how to make goals for a healthy future.
#VanguardPride
Check out these MOOvelous 🐮dairy cows!
#VanguardPride 4th graders are learning all about ❤🤍Wisconsin🤍❤ agriculture and agribusiness. Students researched and drew a breed of dairy cow.
The AP Biology students were busy preparing samples for their osmosis and water potential experiment.
Sounds interesting!
#VanguardPride
Personal Finance students practiced budgeting skills by planning a vacation to a randomly chosen state in the United States for a family of 4 for 8 days. They each had $2,000 to spend. Many were surprised by the cost of lodging, transportation, & attractions!
#VanguardPride
NHS INDUCTS NEW MEMBERS
The #VanguardPride Wisconsin Heights Chapter of the National Honor Society welcomed a new class of inductees at a ceremony held on Monday night.
22-23 inductees:
Zoe A.
Cara B.
Violet B.
Felicity C.
Mckindsey C.
Alexis E.
Cora S.
Makayla W.
Every Friday, Ms. Bilskemper's #VanguardPride Child Development class visits Ms. Updike's 4K class in the elementary school and spends their class period with them. 💚
Currently, they follow the 4K schedule but eventually, the high schoolers will create and teach lessons 👩🏫👨🏫 to the 4Kers.
What a great experience for all involved!
Reminder - No school on October 19, 20, 21.
Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on October 19th.
#VanguardPride
#VanguardPride Wisconsin Heights Athletics Week of October 17 - October 22 https://bit.ly/WisHeightsAthletics
It's postseason for Volleyball, Soccer, & Cross Country. Football has their last game in Neenah. If you can't make it, send the students good vibes & good luck!
Fire Prevention Week brought a fire truck from Mazomanie and the Green Machine from Black Earth to our elementary school.
The #VanguardPride students loved seeing the trucks and asking important questions of the fire personnel.
Thank you Mazomanie and Black Earth Fire Departments for sharing the trucks and answering all the fire related questions!
Key messages behind this year’s “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape” theme:
-Make sure your home escape plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
-Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.
-Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.
-Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet.
-Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night.
Thank you to Wisconsin Heights #VanguardPride community members for purchasing a mattress on October 2nd at the high school! 💚
Custom Fundraising Solutions presented a check to high school band students in the amount of $4,285.00 on October 12!! These funds will be used towards the high school trip to Florida🌴 in February, where band, choir, and drama students will attend performing arts workshops at Walt Disney World.
Construction classes recently participated in Madison Area Builders Association’s Fall 2022 Career Day in Fitchburg. #VanguardPride students were able to tour residential homes in several different phases of construction. Many contractors were on hand to talk about careers in the construction trades and students enjoyed the hands-on activities that were available.
Students began at a completed home and discussed the building process with a new home specialist and realtor, then moved from land surveying through rough framing to finish carpentry. In total, students toured eight homes and saw demonstrations including concrete foundations, framing and exterior siding, plumbing, drywalling, and trim carpentry.
5th grade artists are doing a wonderful job in art class 🎨!
They are working hard and becoming printmaking wizards! 🧙🏼 Just look at these amazing prints! Way to go!
#VanguardPride
A huge Thank You to the Knights of Columbus! They donated $500 to the Special Education Intellectual Disabilities program.
Pictured: Student Services Director, Dr. Matt Green; Knights of Columbus Council Member, James Kartman, District Administrator, Dr. Jordan Sinz
October is National Principals Month!
It's a time to honor principals for their impact on the success and well-being of our students. In addition to leading their schools, principals bring their compassion, creativity, and connection-building to strengthen the #VanguardPride community.
Today we celebrate Wisconsin Heights Middle/High School Principal, Liz Dostal!
Thank you, Principal Dostal, for your contributions to Wisconsin Heights Middle/High School and the District!
October is National Principals Month!
It's a time to honor principals for their impact on the success and well-being of our students. In addition to leading their schools, principals bring their compassion, creativity, and connection-building to strengthen the #VanguardPride community.
Today we celebrate Wisconsin Heights Elementary Principal, Scott Moore!
Thank you, Principal Moore, for your contributions to Wisconsin Heights Elementary and the District!
Angie Wolf - School Board Member
"I grew up outside of Richland Center and graduated from the Ithaca School District. My dad worked on a dairy farm and my mom in a factory. We spent a lot of time at the farm where we learned about animals, crops, tractors, and hard labor. Later, we moved to a dairy farm where I learned more about the dairy industry. I have one older sister and two younger brothers.
My graduating class was all of 17 students, so I know first-hand the benefits of having smaller class sizes. Our school was a one-campus location where all students were in the same building. There were many opportunities for students to participate in many extracurricular activities and also be dual athletes at the same time. I was in band and sports and took drama and medieval classes where we were able to go to APT frequently to see plays.
I attended MATC and received my Associates Degree in Administration. My first full-time job was at the UW Hospital in the Transplant Department. After that, I was a Securities Trader at an Investment Management firm in Madison where I worked for 19 years. Now I work with my husband, Chris, in an Account Management/Sales/Drafting position. This career change has allowed me to spend more time with my family and attend school and sporting events.
Chris is a Heights graduate and we have 4 boys. Bailey, a 2022 WH graduate, who is a Freshman at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott, AZ; Peyton, a Junior; Grayson, a 6th grader; and Cody, a 3rd grader, all at Heights. We have two Great Dane pups, Minnie and Tinkerbell, and live on my husband’s family farm, 2 minutes from the school. We enjoy vacationing at Walt Disney World. We are a sports family and there is only a short window during the year where we have weekends and weeknights free!
I wanted to be on the school board for a few reasons. 1. I have students in the district, in all levels of education, and it is important for me to bring my experiences as a mother and a community member to the table. 2. I wanted to be involved in the processes, functions, and inner workings of the school and help make those hard decisions, challenge decisions when needed, and bring new recommendations/options to keep our students learning, growing, and exceeding. 3. I want to fully support our small school district. Coming from a small school district, I want to do all I can to support ours and keep it growing, exceeding expectations, and creating a learning environment that will pave the path for the future leaders of this community and this country. "
Thank you #VanguardPride School Board Member, Angie Wolf!
Matt Crowe - School Board Member
"I attended a small rural public school district in Ohio. My dad was a school principal and helped my grandparents on their farm. My mom was a physical therapist and her parents farmed, too. While growing up, I was in 4-H and FFA, and graduated in a class of 65 people. Due to the school size, I was able to play sports, participate in student council, had leadership opportunities, and was in the school musical.
When I went to college, I went with the intention of having a career teaching history but changed my mind and went to med school. I selected the University of Wisconsin as the place to do my residency and moved to Wisconsin! I looked around for a school district that felt like home. Wisconsin Heights had so many similarities, I moved to the district from Madison.
With my dad being a principal for 40 years and our family spending so much time at school events, the school was a second home for me growing up. The unobstructed opportunities to participate at a small school and the excellent teachers set me up so well for my career and life skills.
I wanted to be on the school board to perpetuate that opportunity for future generations - highlighting the great benefits of supporting small rural public schools for producing great citizens with well-rounded experiences and a community feel to their approach to life."
Thank you #VanguardPride School Board Member, Matt Crowe!
Did you know there is a National Yearbook Week? Well, there is! And it's this week!
First, a huge shout-out to those individuals who work on our yearbooks, and to our advisor, Ms. Van Den Bergh! There is a lot of work that goes into getting all those photos that will spark a memory and setting up the pages for each yearbook and we appreciate it! 👏
#VanguardPride yearbooks will be given out to students by the end of the school year. Seniors will receive their books prior to graduation.
To order an Elementary or Middle School Yearbook, go to https://bit.ly/EMSYearbook
Elementary Yearbook Code - 12485023 Price per book starts at $13
Middle School Yearbook Code - 12484823 Price per book starts at $11
For a High School Yearbook, go to https://bit.ly/WHYearbook
Price per book starts at $49 - But don't wait! The deal is only valid until October 21st!
#NationalSchoolYearbookWeek #SchoolYearbookWeek #NationalYearbookWeek #YearbookWeek
James Kartman - School Board Member
"My name is James Kartman. I live in the Village of Mazomanie with my wife Nicole and three children Ivy (20), Ian (17), and Adi (14). I have been serving on the Wisconsin Heights School Board for over eight years. I have held the position of President, Vice President and Treasurer. My occupation as a Dane County Deputy assigned to Black Earth is serving the same community I represent as a School Board Member. I am also a Member of the Wisconsin Heights Optimist Club, American Legion and Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus Council 7811 for Black Earth/Mazomanie.
I originally ran for school board because I wanted to become more involved in the community. I grew up in Cassville, Wisconsin, which is a small district in southwestern Wisconsin. My wife also attended a small school, Ithaca, Wisconsin. I attended the University of Dubuque and graduated with a degree in education. I then served in the military on active duty for four years.
When my wife and I moved to the Mazomanie area we both found Wisconsin Heights attractive due to the many opportunities for students to become involved. I believe, in a large school you are often just a number but in a small school you are an opportunity waiting to happen. After the past eight years as a school board member, I still feel this way. I enjoy the work I do to help make Wisconsin Heights a better place. "
Thank you #VanguardPride School Board Member, James Kartman!
Mary Beth Schall - School Board Treasurer
"Though not a native of the Wisconsin Heights area, I was so fortunate to have it become one of my favorite places! So much so that we moved here.
After being the school nurse for many years, I wanted to continue my ties to this wonderful school district. I currently live in the Town of Mazomanie, but next year will live in the village.
Wherever I live, I am heavily invested in the success of our students. It gives me a great deal of pleasure to see the exceptional staff that I worked with continue to give so selflessly.
It will be my wish come true if in a few years, my grandsons will be students here. We offer everything students and staff need to excel in an intimate, no student falling through the cracks, setting."
Thank you #VanguardPride School Board Member, Mary Beth Schall
