Students, Staff, Community Building Better Schools ... · PDF fileStudents, Staff, Community...

Students, Staff, Community ... Building Better Schools Together!

Volume 4, No. 1November 2017

MHS Renovation Hits MilestonesThe Mukwonago High School construction project reached sev-

eral important milestones recently with some additional newly constructed and renovated areas to be completed in the very near future. This work was made possible when the residents of the Mukwonago Area School District voted to approve a $49.5 million referendum in spring 2016. Construction started approx-imately nine months ago on the project that will add 100,000 square feet of new space and renovate 130,000 square feet of the school, which houses over 1,600 students.

Visitors to the second floor will find a complete transformation of the educational spaces. Gone are the dark, narrow hallways lined with brown tiles. New classrooms are significantly larger with improved lighting. The classrooms are also equipped with technology and furniture that will enable students to communi-cate, collaborate, and problem solve more effectively as 21st-cen-tury learners. The highly successful I.T. Academy has a new home, and students and staff are utilizing the major improvements made to the library, Academic Resources Center for tutoring, art studio, robotics lab, and mass media instructional areas.

Mukwonago residents who have driven on West Veterans Way likely noticed the two most dramatic spaces that bookend the high school — the new performing arts center in the southeast and gymnasium in the west. Both spaces will be enclosed before the winter weather arrives, allowing interior construction to con-tinue. Fine arts students will enjoy new band, orchestra, and choir classrooms when they return after winter break on January 2, 2018. The performing arts center will be completed by the end of February, with a grand opening planned for the first weekend of April. The new gym should be ready for school and commu-nity activities in May.

Despite the tremendous amount of construction taking place, disruptions have been held to a minimum. According to Superintendent Shawn McNulty, “We’ve been very fortunate to work with outstanding partners, Bray Architects and C.G. Schmidt Construction. Both have a wealth of experience working on high schools across the state of Wisconsin.” McNulty also expressed

(continued on page 6)

Mukwonago High School’s new gymnasium and performing arts center may be the most dramatic changes passersby will see, but interior renovation projects are impressive as well.

WHAT’S INSIDE? • Clarendon Holds Wacky Olympic Day �� 2

• Ex-Packer Joins Section for Fitness ��3

• Raptor News Gets a Reboot ��3

• Eagleville Preps Monarch Waystation ��4

• A New Approach to Writing ��4

• MHS’ ACT Scores Shine ��5

• PVMS Offers New STEM Courses ��5

• WWII Vet Shares Living History ��6

• Panther PAD Excites Prairie View ��7

• Tennis, Anyone? ��7

• Alumni Spotlight �� Back cover

TheTRIAD Stud

ents Staff

Community

Community Newsletter of the Mukwonago Area School District

2 The TRIAD: Welcome to the Mukwonago School District

www.masd.k12.wi.us @masdschools facebook.com/masdschools #masdschools

Last spring, Clarendon Avenue Elementary School held its first Wacky Olympic Day. The event was coordinated by fifth-grade teacher Kevin Wright and physical educa-tion teacher Tracey Portz to create an end-of-the-year celebration that included the entire school community.

Wacky Olympic D a y w a s a high-energy, K-6 event in which stu-dents participated in a variety of fun-f illed and comi-cal competitions, including the rubber chicken launch, sack races, quick change relay, and cup stack-ing. Prior to the event, an all-school assembly kicked off the games and reminded students of Clarendon’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) initiative, Cougar Character Counts. Then, students rotated through nine silly events, tailored to each individual grade level’s motor abilities and interests.

Students enthusiastically cheered on their classmates as they rolled a car tire while racing down the field. They took turns balancing a ball on top of a plunger

while running as fast as they could. The tug-of-war was a favor-ite with the older students, while the younger grades loved

the hippity-hop races.Keeping in line with the uniqueness of the day, stu-dents were treated with a picnic-style bag lunch,

including a hot dog and chips, specially pre-pared by MASD’s central kitchen. The Clarendon Student Council got involved, too, purchasing custom-made sunglasses for every student to wear on this special day. Donations from the Clarendon PTG, Home Depot, and Clarendon

staff helped the school obtain needed materi-als to make this great event a reality.

The day was considered a huge success by both staff and students alike and is being planned again for the end of this school year. Patricia B e n n e t t , a current f if th grader, said, “Wacky Olympic Day was excit-ing and really fun. It was like a competition in which everyone was a winner!”

- Contributed by Sara and Kevin WrightTeachers, Clarendon Avenue Elementar y School

Clarendon Holds First Wacky Olympic Day

Wacky Olympic Day participants at Clarendon Elementary bounce, roll, and stack their way through the day’s fun events.

Patrick Lynch and Mark Greene from the Lynch Family of Dealerships present the initial pay-ment of $20,000 for the Lynch Stadium Project. They presented the check to Shawn McNulty, District Superintendent, and Chris Walker, President of Friends of Mukwonago Athletics (FOMA). Also attending were school board members, district officials, and the FOMA Board of Directors.

Lynch Dealerships Sponsor MHS StadiumEarlier this fall, Mukwonago High School

announced that the naming rights to the Mukwonago High School stadium were awarded to Lynch Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Chevrolet of Mukwonago. “Lynch Stadium” will feature a new arched main entrance and two new ticket booths beginning in spring 2018.

“The Lynch family has a long history of giv-ing back to the communities they serve,” said Mark Greene, general manager of Lynch Family of Dealerships.

“We are grateful to the Lynch Family of Dealerships for their continued generous support of Mukwonago schools,” said Superintendent Shawn McNulty.

As part of the MHS renovation, there are addi-tional sponsorship opportunities in academics, arts, and athletics, such as the new three-sta-tion gym, MHS library/media center, and state-of-the-art biology labs. For more information, visit www.masd.k12.wi.us/district/masdspon-sorship.cfm.


3

Ex-Packer Tony Fisher Joins Section Students for Fitness Focus

- Contributed by Bob SlanePrincipal, Section Elementar y School

Section Elementary School started the school year with the exciting news that it had been selected to participate in National Football League’s (NFL’s) Play 60 activity - Green Bay Packer Youth Football Outreach Camp.

Former Green Bay Packers running back Tony Fisher spent the day with students as they participated in various stations

focusing on speed, agility, and fun. Second- through sixth-grade students caught passes, dodged blocking bags, leaped for touchdowns, and even attempted place kicks. About 20 parent volunteers helped set up the course and lead activities.

Physical education teacher Mickey Neumann, who was responsible for organizing this event for the school, said, “What better way of reminding students to stay active for 60 minutes a day

than through participation in an official NFL Play 60 event.” NFL Play 60 is designed to help combat childhood obesity, as

students are encouraged to be active for at least 60 minutes daily. Students were refreshed at the end of the program with milk

provided by the Wisconsin Dairy Council. Fun, focused fitness, and a healthy snack … a winning combination for Section students.

The new school year brought exciting changes to Raptor News, Rolling Hills’ student-led video news project. Installation of a new green screen wall in the RHES Learning Lab opened the long-time newscast to many new possibilities! Students not only report the news, but use this new technology to take students to Cairo, Egypt, while reporting weather from around the world; visit the library from Harry Potter for the Raptor Book Review; and pres-ent on stage during the Classroom Spotlight.

This project originated during the 2003-’04 school year from a summer curriculum proposal entitled The Video Announcement Project, submitted by RHES teachers Becky Bachhuber, Nicole

Napierala, and Sue Perkins.

“It was the very first video news program in the district,” Bachhuber said. Funded by a gen-erous grant from the

Mukwonago Educa-t i o n F o u n d a t i o n , Rollin’ Raptor News was designed to “enhance te chnology sk i l ls , increase leadership abilities, improve com-munication within the school setting, and offer a showcase for origi-nal and creative chil-dren to demonstrate their talents” using live streaming.

Raptor News has gone through many changes, and when teach-ers Melissa Barton and Tiffany Coopman took over production in 2007 and 2012, respectively, they built on the program’s success. During their tenure, they not only brought Raptor News into the classrooms of RHES each week, but also to the homes of anyone with an internet connection through streaming video.

To access upcoming shows, check out the Raptor News web page each Monday: http://www.masd.k12.wi.us/ rhes/families/raptor-news.cfm.

Raptor News Gets a Reboot

Clockwise from left:

Former Packer Tony Fisher pauses from playing for a photo with Section Phy Ed teacher Mickey Neumann and son Jack.

Section classmates are ready for their turn at one of Section’s Play 60 Activity day events.

Students had an opportunity to show off their agility in a variety of physical challenges.

- Contributed by Mike MarincicPrincipal, Rolling Hills Elementary School

Today’s technology, including tablets and green screens, adds to the production of the weekly news program at Rolling Hills.

The Raptor News tech crew has always been a vital part of the program’s success.



- Contributed by Mark DoomePrincipal, Park View Middle School

MHS students continue to outper form their peers across the state in recently released ACT r e s u l t s f r o m t h e Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for the 2016-17 school year. MHS juniors scored significantly better than other Wisconsin juniors and improved over last year’s results.

The average composite score for MHS juniors rose from 21.7 to 21.8, which was more than 1.5 points higher than the state average. MHS juniors also improved their English and read-ing results by 0.3 points over 2016-17, outperform-ing Wisconsin juniors by more than 1.5 points in those areas as well. MHS juniors performed 2 points better than Wisconsin juniors in math and over 1.5 points better in science.

Many factors contribute to continued student suc-cess, said Superintendent Shawn McNulty.

“Our outstanding student achieve-ment is the result of our students,

staff, and community work-ing together. This data

continues to show Muk wonago stu-

dents are ready for whatever college or

career path they wish to choose,” he said.

For the third consecutive year, a l l W i s c o n s i n

juniors were required to participate in the ACT as part of the

Wisconsin Student Assessment System. The ACT is the premier college readiness test in the country.

Caught in the ACT: MHS Test Scores Shine

The start of the 2017-18 school year has provided many new and exciting course opportunities for our middle-school students. A number of these offerings are related to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and use curriculum from Project Lead the Way (PLTW).

Included in the offerings are five new courses: • Computer Science for Innovators and Makers (CSIM)• Energy & The Environment• Flight & Space• Green Architecture• Medical DetectivesCSIM joins two established PLTW

courses (Design & Modeling and Automation & Robotics) as a required explor-atory course. The remaining four classes are available to interested students as electives. All courses are taught by PVMS teachers, who completed an intense, week-long training during the summer. An additional computer science course enti-tled App Creators is being planned as an elective offering begin-ning with the 2018-19 school year.

PLTW’s Gateway to Technology middle-school curriculum is designed to engage students in activities that build knowledge and skills in areas such as computer science, engineering, 3D design, robotics, and biomedical science. In addition, it also assists learn-ers with development of essential skills, including problem solv-ing, critical and creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and perseverance. The PLTW middle-school curriculum currently consists of ten course offerings, eight of which will be offered at PVMS. Our recent and future expansion of STEM course offerings has propelled PVMS to the forefront of STEM education opportu-nities in Waukesha County and beyond!

Additional information, including more in-depth course descrip-tions, is available within the 2017-18 course catalog on the PVMS website (via the Family Communications tab) or by visiting the PLTW website (www.pltw.org).

PVMS Offers Exciting New STEM Courses

Subject 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

Composite 21.2 21.7 21.8

Reading 21.4 21.4 21.7

English 19.7 20.6 20.9

Math 21.8 22.2 22.0

Science 21.3 22.1 22.1

MHS ACT Average Score by Year, Annual Wisconsin Testing

Below: As part of the new courses at Park View Middle School, students have an opportunity to explore cir-

cuits and programming.

Bottom: Students from Kelly

Arenz’s Flight and Space course check

out the effects of their

experiment.

PLTW is a non-profit organization.


5

New Panther PAD Excites Prairie View Students

- Contributed by Stephanie BluePrincipal, Prairie View Elementar y School

Prairie View Elementary has an exciting new area in the library for students to apply math and science concepts that are part of the K-6 curriculum. The “Panther PAD” (Plan and Design) will inspire future engineers, developers, and inventors by engaging students in 21st-century critical thinking and col-laboration skills. Their knowledge across many subjects will be deepened by engaging in high-interest topics for exploration.

In this new space, students are collaborating, creating, and researching as they learn about 3D printing, coding, virtual reality, electronics, robotics, circuits, and more. Designed in the summer of 2017 by Library Technology Specialist Christine Perkins, the area has a three-year implementation plan and was designed to meet the needs of science, technology, engi-neering, and math (STEM) education.

PVES is fundraising during the 2017-18 school year to pur-chase additional items for students to explore during their library and computer lab time.

Milo Williams, a fifth grader at Prairie View, is excited about the new space. “There’s nothing else that’s like working with

technology. I love feeling like I can create any-thing. You can learn things from STEM projects that you might not be able to from a book. I hope I work with technology all the way until sixth grade and forever!”

Long-term plans include students access-ing items such as Spheros, Ozobots, and Makey-Makeys in school, with the eventual plan allowing them to take the items home to extend their learn-ing. Two 3D printers were added in September thanks to a grant from the GE Additive Education Program. To learn more about what students have been doing in this space, check out Perkins’ website at www.perkinslibraryblog.weebly.com.

On August 18, the MHS Varsity Girls Tennis Team, along with school board members and district administrators, officially opened the new tennis courts at the high school. This marked the first of many grand opening events that will be held as part of the MHS renovation project.

Tennis, Anyone?

All students get the chance to engage in meaningful STEM-based activities in the Prairie View library, including the use of a 3D printer, robotics, and circuits.



Big Bend Elementary sixth graders are treated to an annual experience with living his-tory. To culminate their World War II unit, 6th grade teacher Betsy Dukatz invited World War II veteran Ray Byrne to discuss his experiences with students. Byrne served two tours of duty with the Marines in 1944-’46 and 1951-’52.

“I want our students to honor the history and honor the past,” Dukatz said. “When he is in front of our students, they see ‘living history.’ You can hear the emotion and tone in his voice through his stories. You can’t put a price tag on that, and you definitely can’t acquire that same feeling from reading a text or watching a video.”

Byrne began his partnership with BBES 10 years ago and is one of two remaining WWII vet-erans from the New Berlin chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He looks for-ward to visiting the 6th-grade students each spring.

“I love talking to the kids because they’re interested,” Byrne said. “They want to know, not because I’m telling them any-thing unusual, but I’m telling them some-thing different: what people were actually going through at that time. There is no way you can put all of this in a textbook.”

While Byrne went on to become an FBI agent, his inter-est in teaching keeps him coming back. “If I wasn’t an agent, I would have loved to have been a teacher,” he said. “I don’t know if I would have been a good one, but at least I would have enjoyed doing it!”

Friend of Big Bend Elementary School and WWII veteran Ray Byrne was a guest of honor to help dedicate a flag September 11 as BBES recognized Patriot Day.

Veteran Ray Byrne Brings “Living History” to Big Bend

- Contributed by Shawn WallerPrincipal, Big Bend Elementar y School

gratitude for district Project Supervisor Curt Wiebelhaus and MHS Principal Jim Darin. “This is a huge project, and they’ve done a fantastic job working with all the stakeholders. The communica-tion, organization, attention to detail, and thus our progress has been fantastic!”The school year will end June 1 and construction will continue throughout the summer. The two major projects that will be com-pleted during that time are the cafeteria expansion and Technical Education spaces. The expanded cafeteria will enable the high school to move away from the seven-period day to a new master schedule that will afford students the opportunity to take more elective courses. Some of those electives will most certainly come from the improved art and technical education area.

“Employers are desperate for workers in the trades, and our welding, construction, manufacturing, and engi-neering labs will be redesigned and improved. We want more of our students to take courses that expose them to these opportuni-ties for great jobs and careers,” said MASD School to Work Coordinator Dustin Lehman. These two pieces of the project will be completed in September in time for the start of the 2018-19 school year.

- Contributed by Shawn McNult ySuperintendent of Schools

MHS Renovation ... continued from page 1


Left: As part of the new curriculum’s focus, students engage in extended periods of time to write.Right: Sharing writing is a critical component of the district’s new Writer’s Workshop approach for grades 3-6.

During the 2017-18 school year, MASD is implementing a new writing curriculum for students in grades three through six. Commonly referred to as Writer’s Workshop, the curriculum was developed by Teacher’s College at Columbia University in New York City.

Each writer’s workshop block begins with a mini lesson, during which the teacher introduces the students to a new writing skill or strategy. This lesson, often per-formed with the students sitting on a carpet around the teacher, takes about ten minutes. Once students learn the new concept, they spend most of the remain-ing time writing independently. This extended time allows them a chance to apply the new learning.

Students are given a great deal of choice so they can write about topics that interest them. During independent time, teachers confer with individual stu-dents and with small groups to target instruction. Often, the teacher provides a mid-workshop reteaching point so stu-dents stay focused on the day’s lesson, and each session con-cludes with time for students to share their writing.

Michele Baumann, a third-grade teacher at Prairie View Elementary, has already seen the impact of workshop in her classroom. “Writer’s Workshop is powerful because of the

components and structure of workshop,” she said. “[It] provides students with explicit teaching of writing strategies and skills,

time to be engaged in sustained, uninter-rupted independent writing, and person-alized writing instruction. Writers grow by having the time to do the writing, and that is just what writer’s workshop pro-vides for all students!”

During the year, all students will partic-ipate in units for narrative, informative, and persua-sive writing. They will work on composing pub-lished pieces during the year, which involves revis-ing and editing selections started during their daily journal writing.

“I really like Writer’s Workshop because it gives me time to write a lot and it helps me be a great writer,” said Lilly Rittmann, a third grader at Prairie View Elementary. “I like that I can write stories and also share my writing with oth-ers during partner writing.”

A New Approach to Writing for Grades 3 Through 6

- Contributed by Ron SchlichtPrincipal, Eaglevil le Elementar y Char ter School

Through a cooperative effort between parents and staff, the Eagleville Elementary butterfly garden and sur-rounding school forest have been reg-

istered with the Monarch Watch Organization as a Monarch Waystation Habitat.

“Our habitat provides multiple species of plants for monarch and other

caterpillars to help facilitate successive generations of butter-flies, along with providing a variety of nectar plants that give energy to

adult monarch butterflies to help sustain them during their epic migratory journeys,” said Dan Pawlak, Eagleville

parent and MASD Parent Volunteer of the Year 2016-17.Being registered as a Monarch Waystation Habitat also means

that Eagleville must incorporate a variety of sustainable man-agement practices. Eagleville already refrains from using pesti-cides in its school gardens, and the students and staff compost daily. In addition, EECS removes invasive plant species from the school forest annually.

The Monarch Waystation network was developed to help encourage schools to use their butterfly gardens as places of learning and emphasize the importance of introducing monarchs

and other pollinators into the school curriculum. This project was created to encourage learning, admiration, and awareness of the plight of monarch butterflies and other pollinator species, whose numbers are quickly decreasing.

Eagleville parents like Staci Stewart, Lyndsey Woodhaven, and Dan and Christine Pawlak give signifi-cant support to the project. Through their work, Eagleville students learn the process of planting and maintaining a natural Lepidoptera garden; identif y-ing and removing invasive plant spe-cies from the school forest; maintaining a garden; and rais-ing, tagging, and releasing monarchs through all stages, larval to adult. Students are also able to witness the impact we can have as responsible human beings in maintaining these important habitats.

- Contributed by Stephanie BluePrincipal, Prairie View Elementar y

Students at Eagleville work together to care for the plants in the school’s Lepidoptera garden.

Eagleville Students Prepare Monarch Waystation

The TRIAD: Welcome to the Mukwonago School District 7

385 East Veterans WayMukwonago, WI 53149www.masd.k12.wi.us Superintendent: Shawn McNultyBoard President: Mary D’Amour

Mukwonago Area School District

LocalPostal Customer

Alumni Spotlight

Scan the QR Code or go online to visit http://goo.gl/forms/9z76MbLdQ1You could win two tickets to a district sporting event or fine arts performance of your choice.

Thoughts about THE TRIAD?

Becky SimpkinClass of 2003

Pediatrician Sandhills Pediatrics Moore County, N.C.

Favorite Teachers: Jasonn Weber, Marian Schraufnagel

Memorable MASD Classes/Experiences:The variety of rich experiences I was able to enjoy within the Mukwonago School District helped me explore my inter-ests and expand my horizons. Running cross country and track, playing in the orchestra, participating in the school musicals, building rockets and kites in physics class, and traveling to Germany are some of the many experiences that made my education worthwhile.

Advice to current students: Work hard, but find time to enjoy life. Try new things, and don’t be afraid if you haven’t yet found your passion. It will come. Finally, hang in there. It gets better.

Linnea (Janowski) HarringtonClass of 1997

Founder of Linnea’s Pops & Liqkers and More for 4 Foundation

Stage 4 breast cancer survivor

Favorite Teacher: John Becker

Memorable MASD Classes/Experiences:I have many great memories from my years at MHS, but some of the best timTes were spent cheerleading for football and basketball, especially the 1995-96 boys varsity basketball team, who went all the way to the State Championship!

Advice to current students: Don’t be afraid to be creative and imagine big. Life won’t go as planned, good does come out of chaos, and despite what we all think at your age, you don’t know everything.

Ben VoelkelClass of 2005

Communications Director for U.S. Senator Ron Johnson

Washington, D.C.

Favorite Teachers:Rod Vick, Tom Kossoris

Memorable MASD Classes/Experiences:More than anything else, Mr. Vick’s journalism class and working for the student newspaper sparked an interest that led me to study journalism and write for the student news-paper in college. I interact with journalism in a different way now, but the things I first learned there – an understanding of what reporters are looking for and what makes a good quote or a good story – are still relevant.

Advice to current students: In almost every situation things aren’t make or break. There is no perfect move. Pick your path, make the most of it, and see what new opportunities come your way.

We are proud to recognize our alumni! Please send candidate nominations to [email protected].

Comments/Questions?(262) [email protected]

Editing/DesignJulie LeBlanc Nick ReichhoffBen KossowLee Bromberger

Printer: United Press & Graphics, Har tland, WI

Have a story idea for THE TRIAD? Please let us know!

Email [email protected]

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