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MOSINEE LINK
The
Volume 30, Number 4
February, 2015
A link between the district and its citizens.
Carattini Wins Second Local National Geographic Bee
Participants in the local
National Geographic Bee
competition were: front row
(l to r) Brandon Weyer, Trent
Stepan, Kade Stepan, and
Kateri Andersen.
Back row: Payton Carattini,
Olivia Donohue, Brennan
Shaughnessy, Hailee Mackoway
and Will Abendroth.
Payton Carattini,
an eighth grade student at
Mosinee Middle School has
won the school-level com-
petition of the National Geographic Bee for the second
year in a row. He has earned
a chance at a $50,000 col-
lege scholarship, a lifetime
membership in the National
Geographic Society, and a trip
to the Galápagos Islands. The
local Bee, at which students
answered oral questions on
geography, is the first round
of the National Bee. The
school winners will now take
a written test, with up to 100
of the top scorers competing
in the State Bee. The NGS
will provide an all-expensespaid trip for state champions
and their teacher escorts to
the National Championship
in Washington, D.C. on May
11-13. Good luck, Payton! v
Math Improvement Focuses on Critical Thinking and Math Fluency
The Mosinee School District's goal of improving student
performance in math is focused on critical thinking and math
fluency. Math fluency is defined as responding accurately,
quickly, and without hesitation. According to the Principles and
Standards for School Mathematics, students need to be flexible
in the methods of recalling facts they can understand and to
use methods that are efficient in doing so.
Experts agree the ability to recall basic math facts fluently
is a necessity for students to attain higher-order math skills.
Becoming efficient with math facts happens not only through
memorization; but also through an understanding of numbers,
frequent use of numbers, and their relationships. Before fluency
can take place, students need number sense to determine the
fact answer, strategies to build on, and finally, automaticity for
MMS Donates
to the AHA
MMS fourth and
fifth grade students
raised an amazing
$3,995.45 for the
American Heart
Association through
their annual Jump
Rope and Hoops for
Heart events.
the fact to take place. There are several strategies that can be
used to help students become more fluent in their facts. Activities where students are encouraged to use multiple senses (hear
it, say it, touch it, see it, do it, make it) help facts make sense
and help students connect what they are doing in math to the
real world. Flash cards are not the only way to learn math facts,
it can happen while driving and asking your child questions
related to distance and how long it might take to get to your
destination, or while setting the table and asking “if each person
needs two utensils and five people are coming to dinner, how
many utensils will we need?” Most importantly draw your child
into using math on a daily basis.
If you are interested in math games to help your child learn
their facts, please contact their teacher or school. v
Students Visit School Forest
Throughout the school year, Mosinee
Elementary School students are visiting the
Mosinee School Forest to learn more about
the great outdoors. Some of the topics they
are studying are animal habitats, seasonal
changes, and the characteristics of the
whitetail deer.
(Right) Kindergartner Ireland Plisch holds
a deer skull found while on a nature walk
with her class in search of deer sign.
The Mosinee Link - page 1
Mosinee School District Welcomes 38 New Staff Members
Kara Bartz
Angela Baumann
Eric Krause
Kayla Bird
Cary Napiwocki
Whitney Nechuta
The Mosinee School District welcomes 38 new staff members this year. This month's issue features new staff at Mosinee
Elementary School and Mosinee High School.
Kara Bartz is the a new kindergarten teacher at MES. Originally from Wausau, she earned Bachelors degrees from both
UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stevens Point. Kara previously taught
4K in the Marshfield School District. She enjoys playing with
her pets, seeing movies, and spending time at home relaxing.
Angela Baumann joins MES as a third grade teaching assistant. A native of Pardeeville, she holds an Elementary/Early
Childhood degree from Edgewood College and Marian University. She previously worked as a 4K teacher in the Madison area
for 10 years and with Newman Catholic Schools for two years.
Angela's interests include crafts, reading, writing, and helping on
the family farm. She and her husband Andy, have three children,
Briggs (6), Bristal (4), and Blakelyn (1).
Kayla Bird is a new resource teacher at MES. Originally
from Eau Claire, she earned a BS from UW-Oshkosh. She previously taught in the Oshkosh Area School District. Kayla enjoys
spending time with her family, the outdoors with her dog Lucy,
hiking, reading, baking, and watching the Packers and Badgers.
Dawn Carlson is a new special education teaching assistant at the elementary school. An Everest grad, she attended
Northcentral Technical College and previously worked for the
Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota. Dawn has one daughter and
enjoys gardening, reading, and crafts.
Warren Fristed joins the housekeeping staff at the elementary school and district office. A native of Webster, WI, he
holds a small engine diploma. He enjoys hunting and fishing.
Warren and his wife Teresa have two sons, Wes and Brax, six
grandsons, and two granddaughters.
Valerie Janikowski is a new CDS Special Education
teacher at MES. A native of Ogema, she graduated from UWStevens Point. She previously worked at the Wisconsin Lions
Camp, served as a Personal Care Worker for adults with disabilities, studied abroad in Africa teaching special education,
and subbed in the Stevens Point and Mosinee School Districts.
Valerie's interests include time with family, books, music, other
cultures, and animals. She and her husband have two cats.
The Mosinee Link - page 2
Dawn Carlson
Warren Fristed
Jamie Steliga
Valerie Janikowski
Tom Streich
Eric Krause is the new School Resource Officer. Originally from Merrill, he earned an Associate degree in Criminal
Justice from Northcentral Technical College. Prior to joining the
Mosinee Police Department, he worked for the Lincoln County
Sheriff's Department for eight years. Eric enjoys spending time
with family, traveling, and working on retro arcades. He and
his wife Jami have two sons, Grayson (2) and Benton (5 mos.).
Cary Napiwocki is a new kindergarten assistant at the
elementary school. Originally from Edgar, she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from UW-Eau Claire. She previously
subbed in the Mosinee district for six years. She enjoys camping,
gardening, and attending her children's sporting events. She
and her husband Dan have three children, Aaron (13), Emily
(13), and Leah (11).
Whitney Nechuta joins the housekeeping staff at MES. A
Mosinee alum, she previously worked in housekeeping at an area
hospital. She enjoys spending time with her children, hunting,
fishing, sewing, and the outdoors. She and her husband Nathan
have two children, Carter (5), and Addison (3).
Jamie Steliga is the new Discipline Support Room assistant
at the high school. Originally from Pickerel, she holds a BS in
Psychology from UW- Stevens Point. She previously worked in
the Wittenberg School District as a special education assistant.
Jamie has two sons, Seth (15) and Ethan (10). Her interests
include fishing and following her sons' baseball teams.
Tom Streich joins the housekeeping staff at the elementary
school. An Everest grad, he previously worked at Lietz's Auto
Service and Convenience Store. Tom's interests include hunting,
fishing, camping, and the Civil War. He and his wife Mardy, have
three children, Nathan, Maesa, and Adam. v
MMS Students Tour Birds in Art Exhibit
Mosinee Middle School gifted and talented students have
been studying rainforests and exploring the reasons the forests
are disappearing so quickly, why they should care about this
issue, and what they can do to make a difference. In conjunction with the unit, students visited the Birds in Art exhibit at the
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum and created watercolors
and clay models of rainforest birds and animals. v
District Shorts . . .
Mosinee Board of Education Notes
At the January 20, 2015 regular Board of Education meeting, the Board approved the following:
• minutes from the December 16, 2014 Board meeting
• December voucher list and treasurer's report
• Open Enrollment resolution
• first reading of newly created School Board Policy 462 - Higher
Educational Technical Excellence Scholarship
• Summer School principal
• acceptance of retirement letters from Ron Mueller, Mike
Sherfinski, Peter Hoover, Desta Krueger, and Barb Simon
In other business, the Board:
• heard reports on WASB, CESA 9, student issues/events, the
Wisconsin Public Service high school natural gas meter and
electric usage, and volunteer procedures
• honored Jessica Pince as the MES Teacher of the Year
• received a $21,000 check from the Mosinee PTO to be divided
equally among the three schools and used for student enrichment activities
• heard updates on the MCAA sports complex, the facilities
study, new extra-curricular hires, and an increase in a special
education assistant hours
• discussed employment, compensation, and performance
evaluation data of a public employee and performance concerns for an employee in Closed/Executive session
The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, February
17, 2015, at 7:00 pm in the District Educational Service
Center. The public is invited to attend. v
PTO Corner
At its January meeting the PTO:
•heard staff presentations and approved multiple requests for
special funds CD monies
•reviewed DJ bids for the 4K-3rd Grade Sock Hop
•approved the 2014-15 scholarships
•approved funding for the Healthy Snacks Program at MES
•drew the January winners of the Support the Classroom
program: Jenny Bruening, Dana Kamke, Tricia Splinter,
and Kristine Alston
Upcoming events: Boxtop Dance for 4K-3rd Grade on January 23, 2015, 4-5 Fun Night on February 13, 2015, 4K-3rd Grade
Sock Hop on April 10, 2015.
The next PTO meeting is Monday, February 9, 2015
at 6:00 pm, in Room C124 of the elementary school. v
Mosinee Summer School Dates Set
Mosinee Summer School dates have been set. Session One
is June 15-July 2, 2015. Session Two is July 13-30, 2015. Classes
run from 7:55 am to 12:10 pm, Monday through Thursday.
Parents may drop their children off beginning at 7:15 am. Registration information will be available at a later date. Parents
may contact the YMCA Summer Camp and KIDStown programs
to arrange before/after school care for participating students.
Please contact Michael Harbert at the YMCA (715-849-2267) or
Monica Suroviak at KIDStown (715-297-1691), for details. v
Open Enrollment Dates - Feb. 2 - Apr. 30
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI)
has announced the dates for public school Open Enrollment
for the 2015-16 school year. If you would like your child to attend a different public school next year, you must apply to the
school district of choice between February 2 and April 30,
2015. Late applications will not be accepted. Parents may
apply in one of two ways: online at http://oe.dpi.wi.gov or via
paper application obtained from the DPI. For more information
contact: DPI, P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707; toll free at 888245-2732; email at: openenrollment@dpi.wi.gov; or visit their
website at: http://oe.dpi.wi.gov. v
MES Students Use iPads with Pen Pals
Students in Mrs. Skutak’s first grade class have been using
the new iPads, purchased with boxtop rewards and district
funds, to communicate with their pen pals in Coopersburg,
PA. Each month the students correspond via Dropbox, Skype,
or by sending letters. In December, using Skype, the students
sang a holiday song to each other, made each other Christmas
ornaments, and exchanged an ornament that represented their
state. The students are excited to write and share with their pen
pals thanks to the new technology available in the district. v
MMS Students Take Heavy Metal Tour
Mosinee Middle School eighth graders participated in the
Heavy Metal Tour to learn about the world of manufacturing
and the skills and knowledge they will need to be prepared for
post-secondary education and careers. Students visited Sulzer
Manufacturing, Applied Laser Technologies, and NTC, where
they observed manufacturing processes, products, and environments. Manufacturing personnel stressed the skills needed
to be successful in the world of work. The tour was arranged
by NTC and travel expenses were paid for by the North Central
Work Force Development Board. v
Golf Program Receives Grant
MMS Food Drive
The Mosinee High School golf program has been selected
to receive a $500 grant from the Wisconsin State Golf Association Foundation. The Foundation will be awarding 50 Wisconsin
high school golf programs a total of $57,000 in special financial
grants. At present over 90% of the funds dispersed are donated
by members of private country clubs in Wisconsin who want to
support high school golf. Thank you, WSGA! v
MMS senators, Lauren
Kaiser and Megan
Priest pack up the 1,931
lbs. of food collected for
the Community Center
of Hope and Circle of
Joy food pantries.
The Mosinee Link - page 3
MHS Voice of Democracy winners: (l to r) Jim Riedel (VFW), Zoe Sippl
(1st), Rachel Lemke (2nd), Jake Marshall (3rd), McKenna Zuleger
(4th), and Jim Morris (VFW).
MMS Patriot's Pen winners: front (l to r) Caitlyn Lassa (1st), Hailee
Mackoway (6th), and Jaelyn Thomas (3rd). Back: Jim Riedel (VFW),
Mrs. Mulry, Adam Mauer (4th), Hailey Lemke (5th), Kali Wiesman
(2nd), Mrs. Kamke, and Jim Morris (VFW).
Community Outreach Classes
For more info contact Michelle Pozorski at 693-2550 Ext. 3696.
Class
BeginsDaySess. Time Loc.
Nature's Medicine
2-9 M 1 5:30-7:30 MHS
Beg. DSLR Photography 2-11 W 2 6:00-8:00 MHS
Oil Pulling
2-11 W 1 6:00-7:00 MHS
Yoga Body Bootcamp 2-17 Tu 6/12 4:00-5:00 MMS
Yoga Body Bootcamp 2-17 Tu 6 6:00-7:00 MMS
Houseplants
2-17 Tu 1 6:00-7:30MHS
Yoga Body Bootcamp 2-19 Th 6 4:00-5:00 MMS
Zumba Exercise
2-23 M 6/12 6:15-7:15 MES
Strength Training 50+ 2-24 Tu 6/12 5:00-6:00 MMS
R.I.P.P.E.D.
2-24 Tu 6/126:15-7:15MES
Zumba Exercise
2-25 W 6 6:15-7:15 MES
Vinyasa Yoga
2-25 W 6 6:30-7:45 MHS
Nature's Medicine
2-25 W 1 5:30-7:30 MHS
R.I.P.P.E.D.
2-26 Th 6 6:15-7:15MES
Strength Training 50+ 2-26 Th 6 5:00-6:00 MMS
"
VFW Presents Writing Awards
February
Calendar of Events
MOSINEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
2 NO SCHOOL - District Inservice
9 PTO Meeting - ES Rm. C124 - 6:00
17 Board of Education Meeting - Blvd. 7:00
MOSINEE MIDDLE SCHOOL
3 7th Gr. (B) GBB - Wisc. Rapids (H) 4:00
8th Gr. (B) GBB - Wisc. Rapids (A) 4:00
7th Gr. (A) GBB - Wisc. Rapids (H) 5:00
8th Gr. (A) GBB - Wisc. Rapids (A) 5:00
5 7th Gr. (B) GBB - Marshfield (A) 4:00
8th Gr. (B) GBB - Marshfield (H) 4:00
7th Gr. (A) GBB - Marshfield (A) 5:00
8th Gr. (A) GBB - Marshfield (H) 5:00
10 7th Gr. (B) GBB - Ben Franklin (H) 4:00
8th Gr. (B) GBB - Ben Franklin (A) 4:00
7th Gr. (A) GBB - Ben Franklin (H) 5:00
8th Gr. (A) GBB - Ben Franklin (A) 5:00
12 7th Gr. (B) GBB - Horace Mann (A) 4:00
8th Gr. (B) GBB - Horace Mann (H) 4:00
7th Gr. (A) GBB - Horace Mann (A) 5:00
8th Gr. (A) GBB - Horace Mann (H) 5:00
16 7th Gr. (B) GBB - Wisc. Rapids (A) 4:00
8th Gr. (B) GBB - Wisc. Rapids (H) 4:00
7th Gr. (A) GBB - Wisc. Rapids (A) 5:00
8th Gr. (A) GBB - Wisc. Rapids (H) 5:00
17 7th Gr. (B) GBB - Antigo (A) 4:00
8th Gr. (B) GBB - Antigo (H) 4:00
7th Gr. (A) GBB - Antigo (A) 5:00
8th Gr. (A) GBB - Antigo (H) 5:00
24 7th Gr. (B) GBB - Ben Franklin (A) 4:15
8th Gr. (B) GBB - Ben Franklin (A) 4:15
7th Gr. (A) GBB - Ben Franklin (A) 5:15
8th Gr. (A) GBB - Ben Franklin (A) 5:15
26 7th Gr. (B) GBB - Rhinelander (A) 4:00
8th Gr. (B) GBB - Rhinelander (A) 4:00
7th Gr. (A) GBB - Rhinelander (A) 5:00
8th Gr. (A) GBB - Rhinelander (A) 5:00
28 District Solo/Ensemble (A) Everest MS
MOSINEE HIGH SCHOOL
3 Gymnastics - Lakeland (H) 5:45
Boys Hockey - Waupaca (A) 7:00
Boys Basketball - Witt./Birn. (A) 7:30
5 Boys Hockey - Rhinelander (A) 7:00
6 Boys Basketball - Medford (H) 7:15
Girls Basketball - Medford (A) 7:15
7 Wrestling - GNC Tourn. RHS (A) 10:00
Girls Hockey - Onalaska (A) 1:00
9 Boys Basketball - Newman (H) 7:30
10 Gymnastics - Chequamegon (H) 5:45
Boys Hockey - Wisc. Rapids (H) 7:00
12 Boys Hockey - Antigo (H) 7:00
"The Mosinee Link" is published monthly to promote
communication and cooperation between district residents and the schools.
Link Coordinator
Cindy Olson
Editorial Board
Ann Schultz
Kim Fandrey
Heather Skutak
Dana Kamke
Ann Kedrowski Tricia Splinter
Kathy Klingenberg
Reporters
Administrators, Staff, and Students
Address comments and
inquires to:
Superintendent of Schools
Mosinee School District
591 W. State Highway 153
Mosinee, WI 54455
715-693-2530
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Girls Hockey - Wisc. Rapids (A) 6:00
Boys Basketball - Tomahawk (A) 7:15
Girls Basketball - Tomahawk (H) 7:15
Wrestling - Regionals (A) TBA
Girls Hockey - Hudson (A) 3:00
Girls Hockey - Jamboree (H) 10:00
Boys Hockey - Regionals (A) TBA 7:00
Boys Basketball - Rhinelander (H) 7:15
Girls Basketball - Rhinelander (A) 7:15
Boys Hockey - Regionals (A) TBA 7:00
Girls Hockey - Regionals (A) TBA
Boys Basketball - Antigo (H) 7:15
Girls Basketball - Antigo (A) 7:15
Girls Hockey - Regionals (A) TBA
Wrestling - Sectionals (A) TBA
Gymn. - GNC Tourn. LUHS (A) 10:00
Boys Hockey - Sectionals (A) TBA 7:00
Girls Basketball - Regionals (A) TBA 7:30
Boys Basketball - Lakeland (H) 7:15
Girls Basketball - Regionals (A) TBA 7:30
Girls Hockey - Sectionals (A) TBA
District Solo/Ensemble (A) Everest MS
Boys Hockey - Sectionals (A) TBA 7:00
Girls Basketball - Regionals (A) TBA 7:30
Girls Hockey - Sectionals (A) TBA
MES Miracle Tree
In lieu of gift exchanges, MES
students brought in a variety
of non-perishable items which
were donated to the Mosinee
Community Center of Hope.
Pictured: (l to r) Chase Hoernke,
Janetta Ramsay, George Ahles,
and Carter Fandrey.
The Mosinee School District shall not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, handicap or physical, mental, emotional
or learning disability or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law in the educational programs or activities which it operates or in employment practices. All inquiries or complaints regarding discrimination under
Title II, Title IX, Section 504 or other state or federal law shall be directed to Richard Lind, Director of Instructional Programs, Mosinee School District, 591 West Highway 153, Mosinee, WI 54455 at 715-693-2530.
Mosinee School District
591 West State Highway 153
Mosinee, Wisconsin 54455
www.mosineeschools.org
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit No. 19
Mosinee, Wisconsin 54455
LOCAL POSTAL PATRON
ECRWSS
The Mosinee Link - page 4