JUNE 2013
• INSPIRE • CHALLENGE
• EMPOWER
Middle school projects
ready to break ground
It was cloudy and there was even some
rain, but that didn’t dampen the spirits
of the approximately 500 people who
attended the grounding ceremonies for
the middle school building projects on
Thursday, June 6.
More than 225 sixth-graders and another
50-75 community and staff members
attended the ceremony at Glacier Creek,
2800 Military Road. The event began at
1:30 p.m. with the Glacier Creek band
performing three songs.
The Glacier Creek ceremony took place
southeast of the school in the area where
the new fifth-grade wing will be added.
Groundbreaking will officially begin next
week and construction is expected to be
completed in August 2014.
Seven speakers -- Superintendent Don
Johnson, Board of Education member
Annette Ashley, Yes Committee co-chair
Kathy Nieber-Lathrop, Findorff vice
president Brian Hornung, Bray Architects’
Matt Wolfert, Glacier Creek principal Tim
Keeler and sixth-grader Jason Yang -addressed the crowd for approximately 15
minutes.
Ashley, who has three children in the
district, thanked a number of groups.
“I’d like to give a heartfelt thank you
to my community as a parent and for all
the other parents in our district whose
children will feel the positive effects of
the referendum,’’ she said. “Thank you for
making education a priority.’’
She reminded the audience that the two
questions passed with the largest winning
margin in the history of the state for a
referendum that size. In November, more
than 68 percent of voters approved a $59.8
million referendum question to expand
Glacier Creek and expand and remodel
Kromrey. In addition, nearly 64 percent of
voters approved a $797,000 operational
question.
“It symbolizes a community that believes
education provides opportunities,’’ she
said. “It symbolizes a community that
understands that investing in education in
our future as well as our children’s future.
And it symbolizes a community that is
vibrant and growing.’’
Following the short speeches,
those seven along with Assistant
Superintendents George Mavroulis and
Tom Wohlleber, BOE president Ellen
Lindgren and Community Relations
Specialist Perry Hibner participated in a
formal groundbreaking event.
A second ceremony was held at Kromrey
starting at approximately 2:30 p.m. More
than 100 sixth-graders came out to watch
the festivities along with at least 100 adults
that included Yes Committee supporters.
Among those in attendance were City
Administrator Mike Davis, Dane County
Board of Supervisor Sharon Corrigan and
Middleton Police Chief Brad Keil.
Johnson, Ashley, Nieber-Lathrop,
Hornung and Wolfert all addressed the
audience, along with Kromrey principal
Steve Soeteber and student council
members Brandon Dunk and Bryson Bauer.
The Kromrey band also performed three
songs before the ceremony began.
“At Kromrey we are excited and
thankful,’’ Soeteber told the crowd. “When
construction equipment started to arrive
on site this morning, the reality of a new
school building took our excitement
about the future to an even higher level. The Kromrey that all these talented and
supportive people have envisioned has
gone from being on paper to reality.’’
The biggest cheers at the Kromrey event
were reserved for Wolfert, who reminded
the sixth-graders that by December 2014
continued on page 5
Groundbreaking Ceremony
Sixth-grade students participate in the groundbreaking ceremony at Kromrey Middle
School on Thursday, June 6. Another ceremony was held at Glacier Creek earlier in the day.
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53562
MIDDLETON-CROSS PLAINS AREA SCHOOLS
2013
Graduation
The Middleton High School Class of
2013 participated in commencement
exercises on Sunday, June 9 at the
Alliant Energy Center Veterans
Memorial Coliseum. The class has 450
students. Left: Jake Bunz poses for his
graduation photo. Below: Elinor Slater
receives a hug from Christie Cheng. See
story and more photos on the last page
of this newsletter.
Sunset Ridge to receive addition
The Board of Education approved the
expansion of Sunset Ridge Elementary
for the 2013-14 school year at its regular
meeting on Monday, Feb. 11.
Classrooms for art and music will be
placed on the east side of the building
near the gymnasium, while two
classrooms would be placed on the west
end of the building.
District administrators met with
architects and the construction firm in
advance of the BOE meeting to refine
the plans and the cost. The total cost
is estimated at $1.387 million. That is
slightly less per square foot than what the
District paid for its expansion of Northside
Elementary in 2008. Brian Hornung of J.H.
Findorff & Son, the construction firm that
provided the estimate, believes there are
additional savings to be found.
“This is definitely a maximum number,’’
Assistant Superintendent of Business
Services Tom Wohlleber said.
The plan is to start as soon as children
finish the current school year. Hornung
said by doing so there shouldn’t be any
problems having it ready to go by the
start of 2013-14 school year.
The money will come from fund
balance. Before the regular meeting,
the finance committee talked about
committing to putting $75,000 each year
back into fund balance to replenish it. There
seemed to be a consensus that plan would
help keep the District’s Triple A rating with
Moody’s, the District’s credit rating agency.
The proposal is intended to alleviate
overcrowding at the school. Sunset Ridge
is 33 percent over-capacity this year with
more than 550 students. Principal Todd
Mann said he expects enrollment to
continue to climb in large part because the
school was named a national Blue Ribbon
winner last year.
The Board did ask why this wasn’t
included as part of the successful
November referendum to expand Glacier
Creek Middle School and expand and
rebuild Kromrey Middle School. That plan
also means fifth-graders will move to the
middle schools starting in 2014-15 to help
alleviate overcrowding at all six elementary
schools.
Superintendent Don Johnson said
he believed the 2009 referendum failed
because voters thought the District asked
for too much. The goal this time was to
have a simpler proposal and not ask for
more than was absolutely necessary.
“I think we were pretty cautious about
not making the same mistake a second
time,” he said.
Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District
Mark Your Calendar!
2013-14 school calendar dates
Student information dates
Aug. 13
Glacier Creek
Middle School
Grade 6
8 to 10 a.m.
Grade 7
10 a.m. to noon
closed 12-1
Grade 8
1 to 3 p.m.
Elementary Schools: Park, Sunset Ridge West Middleton
Any grade
level
3 to 5 p.m.
2-6 p.m.
Aug. 14
Kromrey
Middle School
Grade 7
8 to 10 a.m.
Grade 6
10 a.m. to noon
Grade 8
1 to 3 p.m.
Elementary Schools: Elm Lawn, Sauk Trail, Northside
2-6 p.m.
Aug. 15
MHS
Prepaid Only
Grades 9 and 10
8:30-11:30 a.m.
Grades 9 and 10
1 to 4 p.m.
• Closed between
sessions
Aug. 16
MHS
Prepaid Only
Grade 11 and 12
8:30-11:30 a.m.
Grades 11 and 12
1 to 4 p.m.
• Closed between
sessions
Aug. 19
MHS
Registration for students who did not preregister or missed
the Aug. 15 and 16th sessions. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
CSCS
All students register at CSCS 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Aug. 28
Monday, Sept. 2
Tuesday, Sept. 3 Thursday, Oct. 24 Friday, Oct. 25 Friday, Nov. 1 Monday, Nov. 4 Monday, Nov. 11 Wednesday, Nov. 27 Thursday, Nov. 28 Friday, Nov. 29 Monday, Dec. 2
Tuesday, Dec. 3 Friday, Dec. 20 Labor Day - No School
First Day of School, First Quarter/First Trimester begins
No School – Professional Development day
No School
End of First Quarter
Second Quarter begins
No School – Parent-Teacher Conferences
No School -Teacher work day
No School - Thanksgiving
No School - Day after Thanksgiving
End of First Trimester
Second Trimester begins
Last day of school before Winter Break
Winter Break – Saturday, Dec. 21 through Wednesday, Jan. 1
Thursday, Jan. 2 Monday, Jan. 20 Thursday, Jan. 23
Friday, Jan. 24
Monday, Jan. 27 Monday, Feb. 17 Friday, Mar. 7 Monday, Mar. 10 Friday, Mar. 21 Students return to school
No School (MLK Day)
Second Quarter/First Semester Ends
No School - Professional Development day
Third Quarter begins
No School - Professional Development day
End of Second Trimester
Third Trimester begins
Last day of School before Spring Break
Spring Break – Saturday, March 22 through Sunday, March 30
Sunset Ridge
Open House 6 to 8 p.m.
Sept. 3
Elementary schools/
Kromrey
All elementary schools and Kromrey Middle School have
a regular school day. No orientation days with parents.
Kindergartners follow a special schedule every other day.
Glacier Creek
First day of school for sixth grade only
MHS
All new-to-district students and ninth-grade students
should report for the morning; all students should report
for the afternoon.
Monday, March 31 Students return from Spring Break
Friday, April 4 End of Third Quarter
Monday, April 7
Fourth Quarter begins
Friday, April 18
No School
Monday, April 21
No School – Professional Development day
Monday, May 26 No School - Memorial Day
Tuesday, June 10 Last Day of School/end of 4th Quarter/2nd Semester/3rd
Trimester
MCPASD students fare very well on standardized tests
Middleton-Cross Plains Area School
District students performed significantly
better than their peers on the most recent
Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts
Exam (WKCE),. MCPASD students in third,
fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and 10th
grades took tests in reading, mathematics,
language arts, science and social studies
last fall. Statewide 36.2 percent of students
were proficient in advanced in reading
compared with 54.8 percent of MCPASD
students. Statewide 48 percent of students
were proficient in math compared with
74.8 percent of MCPASD students.
Below is a chart that breaks down
averages for those subject areas by
grades for 2012-13 (the state averages are
rounded to the nearest percentage):
Reading
Grade
MCPASD
State
3rd
55.6
34.0
4th
46.7
32.0
5th
54.4
34.0
6th
50.4
34.0
7th
58.4
37.0
8th
60.2
39.0
10th
58.0
38.0
Mathematics
Grade
MCPASD
State
3rd
73.4
47.0
4th
70.6
48.0
5th
79.1
50.0
6th
74.3
51.0
7th
77.7
47.0
8th
74.5
44.0
10th
75.0
44.0
Assistant Superintendent for Educational
Services George Mavroulis pointed out
that district math students have benefited
because staff have gone through a
curriculum renewal process in that subject
area. Reading has begun its first curriculum
renewal process.
Those numbers are lower than in past
years because the state raised the bar
last year for what qualifies as proficient
or advanced in reading and math tests.
Tougher standards were not applied to
language arts, science and social studies.
The change reflects the more rigorous
standard for proficiency similar to what
is used for the National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP). That test is
administered to a sample of students in
each state every other years and is referred
to as the nation’s report card.
“Adjusting to higher expectations will
take time and effort,’’ State Superintendent
of Public Instruction Tony Evers said in
a statement. “But these are necessary
changes that will ultimately help our
schools better prepare all students to be
college and career ready.’’
More than 79 percent of MCPASD
students were proficient or advanced in
language arts, while the state average
was 69.6 percent. In science, 84.9 percent
of MCPASD students were proficient or
advanced, while the state average was
76.8 percent. In social studies, 88.8 percent
of MCPASD students were proficient or
advanced, while the state average was a
little above 84 percent.
MCPASD students also had the highest
scores in every area in the Big Eight
Conference. The next closest school district
in reading was Verona at 47.8 percent. Sun
Prairie had the next best score in math with
62.2 percent. Verona was also the secondbest district in language arts (78.2 percent)
and social studies (88.5 percent), while
Sun Prairie was second in science (84.4
percent).
Among 16 Dane County school districts,
MCPASD had the highest averages in math
in fifth, eighth and 10th grades along with
10th grade in reading.
“I’m glad the standards have been raised
by the statute because they were too low,
but this interim year, hopefully people
won’t panic too much,’’ Board of Education
president Ellen Lindgren told the Wisconsin
State Journal. “The public has been
sold on the idea that we’re failing in our
educational system and I just don’t believe
that’s true.’’
The district sent out multiple
communications over the past few
months to families and staff about the
rigorous scoring standards in reading and
mathematics.
“We did that because we didn’t want
anyone to be surprised when these
numbers came out,’’ Community Relations
Specialist Perry Hibner said. “Our students
continue to be some of the highestachieving in the state and we believe we
are well-position with our curriculum
renewal process to see even better results
in years to come.’’
More than 430,000 Wisconsin students
took the WKCE and the Wisconsin Alternate
Assessments for Students with Disabilities
this school year. Next fall will be the last
year students in grades 3-8 and 10 will
take the WKCE math and reading tests.
Starting in 2014-15, Wisconsin is part of a
coalition of more than 40 states planning
to administer a new computer-based test.
MHS sees record number of National Merit winners
Four MHS seniors were selected as
National Merit Scholarship winners in the
college-sponsored scholarship category:
Alexander Goodsett, Suzy Kim, Laura
Knutsen and Megan Phillips.
The college-sponsored awards give
between $500 and $2,000 per year for up
to four years of undergraduate study at
the college financing the scholarship.
Meanwhile, all 13 MHS National Merit
nominees were named finalists.
MHS has had 13 semifinalists in 2013
and 2011. Approximately 270 MHS
students took the Preliminary Scholastic
Aptitude Test (PSAT) last year.
The 13 students are: Evan Bauch, Christie
Cheng, Elizabeth Couser, Christopher Eom,
Alexander Goodsett, Michael Hoot, Casey
Hutchison, Rebecca Jin, Suzy Kim, Laura
Knutsen, Megan Phillips, Victoria Wang and
Kimberli Ward.
Approximately 15,000 students in the
nation were named finalists of the 1.5
million students who took the PSAT/
National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
last year.
MHS ranked third in state by Newsweek
MHS it is the third-ranked public high
school in the state, according to Newsweek
magazine.
Newsweek annually ranks the top 2,000
public high schools in the nation. The list
is based on six components: graduation
rate (25 percent), college acceptance rate
(25 percent), Advanced Placement (AP),
International Baccalaureate (IB) or Advance
International Certificate of Education (AICE)
tests taken per student (25 percent), ACT/
SAT scores (10 percent), average AP, IB or
AICE) scores (10 percent) and percentage
of students enrolled in at least one
Advanced Placement course (5 percent).
MHS had a 94 percent graduation
rate, 90 percent of students are college
bound, an average ACT score of 25.5 and
an average SAT score of 1,879. The MHS
average of 3.27 was behind only Brookfield
East (3.39) and Cedarburg (3.29) among
Wisconsin high schools.
“It is wonderful that the staff and
students at Middleton High School are
being recognized for the outstanding
teaching and learning that takes place
at our school on a daily basis,’’ MHS
principal Denise Herrmann said. “An
accomplishment such as this can only
happen as a result of a school community
working collaboratively to increase student
achievement for all students.’’
MHS also ranked 412th in the nation.
The next highest area high school was
New Glarus, which was 14th in the state
and 896th overall. No other Dane County
high schools were listed among the top
50 in the state. The only other Big Eight
Conference high school in the top 50 was
Janesville Craig at 36th.
More than 5,000 high schools were
asked to participate in the survey this year
and nearly 2,500 responded. All public
schools in the United States are eligible.
“Although the criteria above is certainly
not a full measure of what we do as a
total high school program, it is a reason
to celebrate one more piece of evidence
regarding the quality programming that
is present at MHS,’’ Superintendent Don
Johnson said.
Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District
Honors and accolades
Casey Hutchison (Congressional
Debate), juniors Caroline Liu and Adam
Jordahl (Public Forum Debate) and
junior Kristil Rabbideau (Humorous
Interpretation) are the first from MHS
to ever qualify for the National Forensic
League National Tournament on June 1621 in Birmingham, Ala. More than 3,000
students are expected to compete.
* * * * * * * * *
Anders Burck, a sixth-grader at
Kromrey Middle School, was one of three
area middle school students to advance
to the State Spelling Bee.
Burck finished third at the District
Spelling Bee in January. The top eight
finishers at that meet advanced to the
regional meet. Other MCPASD students
who competed in Stoughton were: Colin
Butler, Graham Butler, Olivia Aumann,
Nicholas Rawling, Madhu Gowda, Jacob
Rozum and Ian Bohachek, who replaced
Linnea Dahmen.
* * * * * * * * *
Fifteen elementary school students
participated in the Math 24 Competition
this Spring at Union South. It was the
first time Park and Sunset Ridge began
Math 24 clubs at the respective schools,
advanced learning teacher MaryJo
Nelson said. The teams practiced for
several months and even held some
scrimmages, Nelson said.
Three fourth-grade teams and two
fifth-grade teams were selected to
represent the schools at the Math 24
Competition.
Park’s William Grosspietsch won a
first-place trophy in the fourth-grade
competition, while Ashton Johnson, a
fifth-grader at Sunset Ridge, won a blue
ribbon for having the District’s top score.
Members of the teams included:
Fifth-graders: Cheyanne Bodenstein
(Park), Max Helmke (Park), Amanda
Roesch (Park); Ashton Johnson (Sunset
Ridge), Shruti Parthasarathy (Sunset
Ridge)(, Anaka Srinivas (Sunset Ridge).
Fourth-graders: William Grosspietsch
(Park), Michael Gustafson (Park), Lane
LaBoda (Park), Jackson Pertzborn (Park),
Sawyer Pertzborn (Park), Maddie Pfaneuf
(Park); Austin Peterson (Sunset Ridge),
Ian Squire (Sunset Ridge), Sohail Shaik
(Sunset Ridge).
* * * * * * * * *
A record 13 MHS students qualified for
DECA International Career Development
Conference in Anaheim, Calif.
The students were: Brian Keenan
and Brandon Olstad (entrepreneurship
innovation plan team); Stephanie Reiss
and Marissa Nelson (business law team
event); Colin Masnica and Tristan Schultz
(financial services team event); Shannon
Murphy and Julie Rickert (marketing
communications team event); Kirstin
Kravik and Bennett Miyagawa (marketing
communications team event); Ivraj
Seerha (human resources management);
Randy Perez (sports and entertainment
marketing); Madeline Guyette (hotel and
lodging management).
* * * * * * * * *
More than 200 players participated
in the SLAM DUMP 3-on-3 basketball
tournament this spring. Senior Joshua
Bunting, junior Jed Munson and
sophomore Ben Hershberger organized
this year’s event, which raised more
approximately $6,800 for Amor, Fe,
y Ezperanza (AFE), an organization
dedicated to providing children of the
city dump in Tegucigalpa, Honduras with
education, food and technical skills. The
title means “Love, Faith and Hope” when
translated into English.
“We had a lot of fun doing this,’’ said
Hershberger, who also returned to
Honduras this past summer along with
Munson to build a house for one of the
families living in the dump.
* * * * * * * * *
Destination Imagination teams from
Glacier Creek and Northside both
placed in the top 12 in their respective
tournaments at the Global Finals in
Knoxville, Tenn.
The Glacier Creek team of Nic Draves,
Nick Chiaverini, Nareg Megan, Sam
Roquitte, Leo Rossmiller, Tyler Tran and
Michael Chiaverini, who goes to Sunset
Ridge, finished 11th out of more than 80
teams in their division.
The Northside team of Lily Baird, Miles
Boswell, Nicholas Ferderer, Sarah Healy,
Owen Mosely, Serena Raval and Addy
Spence placed 12th out of the 55 teams
that competed in their division. The team
also finished first at state.
* * * * * * * *
Thirteen MHS students were
recognized with Exemplary Soloist
awards at the Wisconsin School Music
Association State Festival at UWPlatteville on April 27.
MHS students performed in more
than 120 music events. State Festival
Adjudicators select the most exceptional
student soloists at each of the WSMA
State Festival sites. Each adjudicator may
only select two soloists out of the 40 or
so they hear during the day.
The 13 MHS students recognized were:
Nick Ashley, Baritone/Bass, Nathaniel
Corey, Viola, Liza Couser, Soprano,
Caroline Dillon, Soprano, Jordan Foster,
Trumpet, Eden Girma, Soprano, Mike
Hoot, Alto Sax, Anja Pustaver, Soprano,
Chance Stine, Alto Sax, Julia Tibbetts,
Piano, Matt Wakai, Alto Sax, Teddy
Williams, Percussion, Michelle Xie, Piano,
and Adam Yeazel, Alto Sax.
* * * * * * * * *
Nine members of the Glacier Creek
Student Council were named the state
middle school winner for the Verizon
Innovative App Challenge.
Co-captains Fiona Lynch and Emily
Satterlund along with Kiley Spahn,
Courtney Spahn, Hannah Zuengler,
Rachel Steiner, Jessica Wang, Priyanka
Tomar and Paola Lara Santiago put
together a three-minute video for
the contest. The Verizon Innovative
App Challenge was created to ignite
students’ interest in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Satterlund came up with the idea of a
mobile application when she wanted to
find a book based on her interests but
couldn’t easily find one on her phone.
Her team thought it was a great idea for
a smart phone application,
The students named the app the “Nifty
Noveller: The Book Generator.” Teacher
Michelle Schreier said the students
drew about 300 pictures and took about
1,600 photos along with using multiple
software devices.
* * * * * * * * *
MHS senior Rebecca Jin took second
place at the Wisconsin Chamber
Orchestra Young Artist Concerto
Competition Feb. 2.
Jin received a $500 scholarship. By
placing second, she also was able to
perform Greig Concerto in A minor
on the piano with the WCO as her
accompanist at a Youth Concert at the
Performing Arts Center March 6.
Students in grades 9-12 were eligible
to compete. Five students were honored
in all, including MHS senior Sonia Nicole
Urquidi, who was one of three highly
commended performers for her work on
the clarinet.
MHS Biomedical sciences students
Seniors in the Capstone Principles of Biomedical Sciences students had a wonderful
opportunity to travel to do some cell culture and STEM cell differentiation experience at
Madison College. “It was a wonderful day!’’ MHS Project Lead the Way coordinator Terri
Tessmann said. “We were certainly honored and humbled to be the high school targeted.’’
Madison College is the only two-year college in the United States to have a stem cell
capability for their students. Diana Brandner, who is on the Project Lead the Way advisory
board, invited MHS students to visit.
Students learn dangers of texting and driving
Nearly 400 MHS seniors learned about
the dangers of texting and driving and
were urged to sign a pledge to never text
behind the wheel during an event this
Spring. Middleton High School teamed up
with AT&T, AAA, the Wisconsin State Patrol,
the Dane County Sheriff’s Department
and State Rep. Dianne Hesselbein in a
public awareness campaign to urge the
school’s students, and all drivers, that text
messages can – and should – wait until
after driving.
“Our young people too often think
they are invincible, but they need to
know that texting while driving is very
dangerous and can be deadly,” Middleton
High School Head Principal Dr. Denise
Herrmann said. “As prolific texters and
inexperienced drivers, teens are particularly
at risk. We are proud to join in this effort
to spread the word about the dangers and
urge all of our students to pledge never to
text and drive.”
The assembly was part of a series of
high school events being held around the
state by AT&T, AAA and the Wisconsin State
Patrol to drive home the dangers of texting
behind the wheel. Two students were given
the chance to experience firsthand the
dangers of texting while driving in a safe
setting through AAA’s distracted driving
simulator. They were also shown a powerful
AT&T documentary called “The Last Text”
that shares real stories about lives altered
or ended by someone’s decision to text and
drive.
MHS students win 18 Scholastic Art awards
Eleven MHS art students received
18 awards at the Scholastic Art Awards
Wisconsin competition earlier this year.
Seven students – Carys Abramson, Tyler
Anlauf, Meron Aydiko, Anitra Isler, Kelli
Kalscheur, Tiffany Tran and Hailey Wrasman
– received gold awards. Aydiko, Isler and
Wrasman actually won two gold awards.
“It is a joy to work with so many
dedicated and talented students at MHS,’’
art teacher Chris Willman said. “One thing
we stress to our students is that being
a good artist is much more than having
a ‘gift’ or an innate skill. Every worthy
intellectual endeavor takes effort, practice
and time. I am thrilled to see that our
students’ efforts have received recognition
on a state and national level.’’
Aydiko took her first digital photography
class as a sophomore. She recently
graduated and won six Scholastic art and
writing awards over the years.
“Going to the Milwaukee Art Museum
and being amongst hundreds of other
winners was such a special experience.
It wasn’t until the awards ceremony that
I realized how privileged I was to be a
part of something bigger than just an art
class. Scholastic gave me the sense of how
important art is to the world around me.’’
The Gold and Silver Key award-winning
works were displayed at the Milwaukee
Art Museum from Feb. 2 to March 17. One
state Gold Key award-winning work, a
photo by Anitra Isler, received a Silver Key
at the national competition.
Isler was invited to the National
Celebration Events in New York City in May.
The Wisconsin competition is one of 75
regionals held across the country. Students
from 104 schools throughout the state
entered the competition.
Anitra Isler: Overlay Eyes
The list of MHS state winners includes:
Carys Abramson: Gold Key (Drawing)
Tyler Anlauf: Gold Key
(Film and Animation)
Elise Armani: Two Honorable
Mentions (Mixed Media; Design)
Meron Aydiko: Gold Key and
Honorable Mention (Photography
Portfolio; Photography)
Rosie Brandenburg:
Honorable Mention (Painting)
Rachel Gunder:
Honorable Mention (Drawing)
Anitra Isler: 2 Gold Keys, Silver Key,
Honorable Mention (Photograph)
Kelli Kalscheur: Gold Key
(Film & Animation)
Tiffany Tran: Gold Key and Honorable
Mention (Photography)
Emma Werntz: Silver Key (Drawing)
Hailey Wrasman: 2 Gold Keys
(Digital Art)
Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District
District releases external designs of middle schools
The exterior designs for the expansion
of Glacier Creek and the remodel and
expansion of Kromrey were made public
in April at the Board of Education meeting.
A large portion of the superintendent’s
report at the April 22 meeting was
devoted to an update on the exterior
renderings of the Glacier Creek and
Kromrey building projects. Matt Wolfert
and Steve Kuhnen from Bray Architects
handled the presentation.
Wolfert reminded the Board that both
projects are on schedule to start this
summer.
The current north playground at Glacier
Creek will be developed into a bus dropoff area with car traffic being routed to
the front. There is also a new entry for
students who take the bus in the back of
the school along with extra parking on the
east side of the building.
There will be three storm-water
retention areas south of the school along
with a small amphitheater. The plan is to
match materials and finishes and make it
look like a regular addition to the building.
“It’s a very important project even
though it sometimes feel like it comes
second to Kromrey,’’ he said.
Kuhnen said there has been some
additional parking added to south side of
Kromrey. The floor plan has really come
along and it’s been quite some time since
any major changes have occurred.
He explained that a base of natural
Wisconsin limestone would be used on
the exterior. Limestone will also be used in
areas where the building juts out, such as
science rooms. The brick will be a darker
color and architects and J.H. Findorff & Son,
the construction firm for the project, are
looking at samples right now, Kuhnen said.
He explained wood would be used with
some interior beams and ceilings and there
is a lot of glass to bring in natural light.
“On a sunny day like we had today, I’d be
surprised if you had to turn on 20 percent
of the lights,’’ he said.
Superintendent Don Johnson also
informed the Board that a number of
district administrators, along with Bray and
Findorff officials, visited Chicago recently
to consider furniture options for the
buildings. They spent quite a bit of time
evaluating the best furniture to use in the
collaboration spaces outside of the regular
classrooms.
Both middle schools will be adding fifthgraders for the 2014-15 school year. That
should help alleviate overcrowding at all
six of the district’s elementary schools.
The Glacier Creek project will add a
fifth-grade addition to the southeast
corner of the current building. Another
gymnasium with two courts will be added
to the east side of the building and three
extra classrooms for music, art and career
and technology will go on the north of the
building. The project should be finished by
August 2014.
Kromrey will be completed over three
phases. The first will include a two-story
fifth-grade wing, along with a cafeteria
and other core facilities. That should be
completed by August 2014. Phase Two
includes a three-story wing that will
house sixth, seventh and eighth grade
students. That should be completed
in December 2014. The final phase
involves demolishing a large portion
of the current school and building a
new gymnasium with three courts. That
should be ready to go by the fall of 2015.
Kromrey
Aerial perspective from northwest
Glacier Creek
Exterior perspective from northwest (facing Donna Drive)
Aerial perspective from northwest
Exterior perspective from southeast
Exterior perspective from south
Inaugural Relay for Life raises more than $40,000
The inaugural Relay for Life held at
Middleton High School raised $41,137 for
the American Cancer Society, Key Club
adviser Allison Warner said.
More than 300 students and 80-plus
staff, parents and community members
participated in the first Relay for Life high
school event held in Dane County. The
event began at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April
21 and ended 12 hours later. Students
spent months leading up to the event
raising awareness about cancer and
securing funds.
“It was a smashing success,’’ said
Warner, who coordinated the event with
fellow Key Club adviser Mandi Maurice.
The 32 teams of students had a least
one team member walk the track in
the MHS Field House the entire 12
hours. Students also camped out in the
concourse, listened to Fine Arts Week
Performances, and held basketball and
volleyball tournaments in the Varsity
Gym.
“They laughed through the fun
laps (Olympic speed walking, Mario
Karting, Harry Potter, Pirates, and more)
and comforted each other during the
remembrance laps,’’ Warner said. “They
remembered their loved ones who lost
their fight with cancer and honored those
still living.’’
Students also heard from James
Helmuth’s family and Karyn Baxter. A lap
was held for cancer survivors and another
for caregivers at the start of the event.
The Helmuth family, whose youngest son,
James, died in March, participated in the
opening ceremonies and returned at 10
p.m. for a special lap in honor of James.
More than 175 white laminaria bags
lit the perimeter of the MHS Field House
as students and adults walked and
considered how affected we all are by
cancer, Warner said.
Warner also said the goal was to raise
$20,000 this year.
“I’m so pleased that we doubled our
original goal,’’ she said. “That’s unheard
of in a first year event. Our students
and community are amazing. I want to
congratulate all of the students who
participated in this event for being a part
of something that has and will continue
to make a huge impact in our community
and beyond. ... We are truly blessed to have
students who are making a difference
in the world. We are so lucky to have a
community that cares so much and can
have a great time while doing it.’’
BOE incumbents roll
to easy wins in April
Jim Greer, Diane Hornung and
Ellen Lindgren were re-elected to the
Middleton-Cross Plains Area School
District Board of Education April 2.
Hornung received 4,174 votes (72.2
percent) to retain her seat in Area III. Fred
Zietz ran against Hornung and received
1,565 votes (27.1 percent). Hornung, the
BOE vice president, was first elected in
2001 and will be serving her fifth term.
“I’m grateful for the confidence that the
community has placed in me, and I will
continue to fulfill my promise to support
public education and our students in a
fiscally responsible way,’’ Hornung said.
Greer received 4,677 votes (91.6
percent) to retain his seat in Area I. David
Dahmen received 395 votes as a write-in
candidate. Greer first was elected in 2010.
“I am honored that the citizens of our
community have chosen me to represent
them again,’’ Greer said. “I will continue to
work with the board to make our district
the best that it can be and to do what is
right for our children.’’
BOE president Ellen Lindgren ran
unopposed in Area IV and received 4,887
out of 5,009 votes cast in that race. She
has been on the Board since 1994.
Each year, three seats on the ninemember BOE are up for election. Citizens
residing in the areas are eligible to run.
Middleton Cross-Plains Area School District
Groundbreaking Ceremony
continued from page 1
they will be eighth-graders and moving
into the third floor of the middle school
wing.
“You literally will be on top of the world,’’
he said to the students.
Lindgren was able to attend both
ceremonies, while BOE member Leeanne
Hallquist, who has a child at Kromrey
and another at Elm Lawn, attended
the Kromrey celebration. Lindgren was
still buzzing 24 hours later about the
groundbreaking ceremonies.
“This is another reminder of what a
great, supportive community we have
here in MCPASD -- lots of work went in to
getting this referendum passed, but these
ceremonies were all smiles and laughter
and thanksgiving,’’ she said. “Though the
weather was gloomy, we were all alight
with delight. Let the construction begin.’’
Fifth-graders will begin attending both
schools in September 2014. This will also
help alleviate overcrowding at all six of
the district’s elementary schools. Glacier
Creek will also get a new gymnasium, more
cafeteria space and extra classrooms. A
three-story middle school wing is part of
the Kromrey remodel. When that opens,
most of the old school will be demolished
and a new gymnasium and field will go in
that area.
Board members and community members took part in the groundbreaking ceremonies.
The Speakers
Ashley
Hornung
Wolfert
Johnson
Keeler
Yang
Nieber-Lathrop
Bauer
Dunk
Soeteber
Board approves bond sale for construction
The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School
District Board of Education on March 11
approved the sale of $59,860,000 in bonds
to fund construction projects at both
middle schools.
The bonds were sold to Piper Jaffray &
Co. of Minneapolis for a true interest cost
of 3.09 percent. This is consistent with
estimates prepared prior to the election. The District sold the bonds through a
competitive bidding process, facilitated
by Ehlers & Associates, the District’s
independent financial advisors. Ehlers
received seven bids for purchase of the
bonds from underwriting firms across the
country. The low bid from Piper Jaffray &
Co. resulted in a savings to taxpayers of
more than $2.3 million when compared
with the highest bid of 3.35 percent.
“The district’s excellent reputation and
strong credit rating created a lot of interest
in purchase of the bonds and helped us to
obtain very favorable bids,” Ehlers financial
adviser Jeff Seeley said.
Prior to the bond sale, Moody’s Investors
Service assigned a Aaa rating on the
bonds. This is the highest rating that
Moody’s assigns, and only six Wisconsin
school districts currently have a Aaa rating. Moody’s cited a number of factors that
contributed to the strong rating, including
the strength of the Madison-area economy,
the district’s conservative budgeting
practices, healthy financial reserve levels,
and growth in population and enrollment.
“You should be really proud of the
Aaa rating,’’ Seeley said. “That’s quite an
accomplishment.’’
Proceeds of the bonds will be used
to fund additions and improvements at
Kromrey and Glacier Creek middle schools.
A referendum to expand and rebuild the
middle schools passed last November
with more than 68 percent of the vote. The
District expects that all construction will be
completed by the end of 2015.
The impact on the 2014 tax rate resulting
from the bonds is estimated at 55 cents for
every $1,000 of property valuation. That is
the same estimate district officials used in
advance of the referendum vote.
Bond rates have crept up in the last
few days, in large part because economic
indicators are getting stronger, Seeley said.
He thought it was smart for the District to
lock in rates now.
“We were very pleased with the results
of the sale,’’ Assistant Superintendent for
Business Services Tom Wohlleber said. “The
favorable interest rates will benefit the
district’s taxpayers for the next 20 years.”
Ehlers is abased in Roseville, Minn., and
is ranked second nationally in the number
of competitive sales advised.
Glacier Creek sixth graders get a chance to shovel dirt.
Middle School Building Projects Key Dates
• June 2013: Construction begins at Glacier Creek and Kromrey.
• August 2014: Glacier Creek construction completed. Fifthgrade addition opens, along with new two-court gymnasium
and three extra classrooms.
• August 2014: Kromrey two-story, fifth-grade wing, cafeteria
and other areas completed and ready to open.
• December 2014: Kromrey three-story middle school wing
for grades 6-8 completed. Students move into the area when
return from winter break.
• January-February 2015: Older portions of Kromrey demolished.
• Fall 2015: Kromrey second gymnasium with three courts and
fitness area completed and ready to open.
Nondiscrimination Notice
It is the policy of the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District that no person be denied
admission to any public school in this district or be denied participation in, be denied the benefits
of, or be discriminated against in any curricular, extracurricular, pupil services, recreational or
other program or activity because of the person’s sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed,
pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning
disability as required by section 118.13 of the state statutes.
Parents and community members were among the crowd attending the groundbreaking
ceremonies.
Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District
Education Foundation awards
$3,200 in teacher grants in May
It was a special and historic day for the
MCPASD Education Foundation.
The Education Foundation announced
its six grant winners for the spring 2013
cycle on Wednesday, May 1. The six staff
members -- Park’s Amy Callies, West
Middleton’s Pernille Ripp, Sauk Trail’s Anne
Gustafson, Kromrey’s Kerry Burke, Clark
Street’s Erich Eifler and Middleton High
School’s Larry Martin -- received grants
totaling more than $3,200.
The 2-hour yellow bus tour included
stops at the six schools. Seventeen MHS
band members played “On Wisconsin”
in each of the schools before chair
Courtney Ward-Reichard presented each
recipient with flowers donated by Copps,
a certificate and an Education Foundation
pin.
“It was great to have the band members
be a part of this,’’ Ward-Reichard said. “It
made an already special day even more
special.’’
Other Foundation board members who
attended part or all of the celebration
included Don Johnson, Ellen Lindgren,
Tom Kobinsky, Stephanie Moen-Mueller,
John Selbo, Shawna Bertalot and Charlie
Saeman.
“The best part was finally being able
to give money to our grant winners,’’ said
Moen-Mueller, who coordinated much of
the event. “Days like this make the hard
work of asking for money worthwhile.
It’s amazing to think that we started with
not much more than good intentions –
and now we’re funding programs that
will really make differences in many
classrooms and even the way teachers and
students approach their learning.’’
Callies received a $250 grant to
spearhead a project to enhance the Park’s
selection of books for K-2 students to take
home and use to enhance their reading
skills. She was not at school on Wednesday
but was honored at an all-school assembly
on Friday morning.
Ripp, a fifth-grade teacher at West
Middleton, will receive a grant of $461 to
purchase an iPad for use by students in
her classroom. The students will create
podcasts, contribute to classroom’s
existing blog and use other applications
designed to enhance learning.
Sauk Trail art teacher Anne Gustafson
received a $300 grant for an Environment-
in-Art project. During the project, students
will create photos, drawings, paintings
or poems based on their exploration of
the environment around their school. The
grant will support the purchase of digital
camera equipment, photo printing and
materials for display.
Burke, a counselor at Kromrey, wrote
a grant for the one-day Youth Frontiers
Courage Retreat that all seventh-graders
participate in. The retreat helps children
learn to accept others, resist following
the crowd and act with moral courage.
The Foundation’s $1,000 grant will help
Sauk Trail art teacher Anne Gustafson is surprised by a visit from the members of the
ensure the continuation of this valuable
Education Foundation, including chair Courtney Ward-Reichard, left, on Wednesday, May 1.
opportunity.
Eifler, a substitute teacher at Clark Street
Community School, received a $250 grant
for the Build Club to purchase tools for
projects that will allow students to express
what they have learned through hands-on,
practical learning.
“This is so great,’’ Eifler said. “Not only
will Build Club -- and all of CSCS -- have
access to a nice starter kit of tools, but
now we can start to design and build the
job box that they will be kept in. That’s
another exciting project. This gift is truly
appreciated.’’
Finally, Martin wrote a grant for the
Response to Intervention Behavior
Committee. The program focuses on
ways to acknowledge students and staff
members as the Positive Behavioral
Seveteen members of the MHS band helped the Foundation surprise the six schools that
Interventions and Supports program
received grants in the spring by playing “On Wisconsin” at each stop.
is implemented at MHS. All 1,900-plus
students at MHS will be impacted by the
$1,000 grant.
Here’s a great option for making a gift
at a guaranteed annual rate of return. The
The grants are the first awarded by the
to the MCPASD Education Foundation’s
lifetime annuity payments can also extend
Foundation since it was established in
endowment fund.
to the life of a second person, usually the
2011. The Foundation has raised more than
It’s called a Charitable Gift Annuity. It’s
donor’s spouse.
$110,000 thanks to generous contributions a wonderful way for people who want
The paperwork to establish a CGA is
by corporate partners J.H. Findorff & Son,
to make a gift, while receiving a steady
very simple, consisting of a two-page
BMO Harris, HR Imaging and the MGE
stream of income for life.
agreement between MCF and the donor.
Foundation. In addition, MCPASD staff
It offers an immediate tax deduction and
The annuity payments are paid via direct
members have contributed more than
the option of deferring annuity payments
deposit to the donor’s bank account. MCF
$15,000, while Madison Community
until you are in a lower tax bracket. Capital
issues a 1099 form every year, informing
Foundation gave the Foundation’s
gains can be reduced – and a non-earning
the donor and their tax preparer of the tax
endowment fund a $35,000 grant in May.
asset such as stock or real estate can be
consequences of the annuity payments.
The six recipients were honored at the
turned into a stream of income.
Upon the donor’s death, MCF gives
Foundation’s inaugural Spring Celebration
Here’s how it works: A donor makes
the remaining assets to the Education
on Sunday, May 19.
an irrevocable gift of $25,000 or more
Foundation.
to Madison Community Foundation
To receive your personal CGA
earmarked for the MCPASD Education
calculation of the annuity payment and
Foundation. A tax deduction can be taken
potential tax deduction simply contact
at that time for the charitable portion of
Ann Casey at Madison Community
the gift, based on rates prescribed by the
Foundation, (608) 232-1763 or acasey@
IRS. MCF agrees to make payments to the
madisoncommunityfoundation.org.
donor, for the remainder of his or her life,
Income for you, with a Foundation donation
Elm Lawn holds 100th birthday party
Elm Lawn students and staff, along
with 13 very special guests, celebrated
the 100th anniversary of its school May 3.
The original Elm Lawn was built in
1912 at the current site of the District
Administrative Center on South Avenue
and opened in early 1913. It originally
had five classrooms. The original building
no longer exists. There were additions to
the building in the 1930s and again in
1951. The second Elm Lawn was housed
at the current District Administrative
Center, 7106 South Ave. The current Elm
Lawn opened in 1987. It currently has
more than 530 students.
Thirteen former staff members spoke
to the audience, including former
principal Pat Kinney. ”You are in one of
the greatest schools in the world and
we are all lucky to be a part of that,’’
said George Mavroulis, the assistant
superintendent for educational services
for the district and Elm Lawn’s principal
from 1992 to 2002.
Current principal Mike Pisani said his
favorite part of the assembly was hearing
that the original Elm Lawn cost $12,000
to build and $27,000 to tear down. He
also got a kick out of the fact the original
Elm Lawn was built with purple bricks.
Pisani gave a short presentation about
the history of the school. After students
sang Happy Birthday, each grade showed
off something it had done .
Here’s why your friends and neighbors give to the Foundation
* Kindergartners did a video about what
it means to be 100.
* First-graders read a poem about what
each letter in Elm Lawn stands for.
* Second-graders read stories about why
they love Elm Lawn.
* Third-graders made a quilt that was
displayed on the gym’s west wall.
* Fourth-graders talked about a time
capsule and what they will put in it. Among
the items will be a brick that Mr. Kinney has
from the original Elm Lawn.
Fifth-graders did a fun video that had
the entire audience laughing.
What will Elm Lawn look like in 2113?
“I think learning will be very
individualized and technology will be very
important and will not look like what we
think of it now,’’ Pisani said. “But I still think
the teacher will be the most important part
of student learning.’’
•
Charlie Seaman, State Bank of Cross Plains and Foundation board member:
I want to do my part to elevate the quality of our educational environment. An
exceptional experience means so much more for the future of our children and
grandchildren. I firmly believe its an investment worth making.
•
Ed Neumueller, President/CEO, Standard Imaging: As a technology based
company, Standard Imaging understands the importance of having the proper
tools to learn and grow. We contributed to MCPASD Education Foundation to
support their efforts in providing these tools for all students.
•
Rodney “Peanuts” Esser, facilities team: I have an infectious love for kids and
if my small donation makes for a better life for future generations, I’m all for it!
MCPASD kids have been my life for going on 50 years. I see the need on a daily
basis. I am proud to contribute!
•
Erich Eifler, Clark Street Community School: We used our Education Foundation
to buy hand tools that have already been put to good use as part of a service
learning day at Heartland Sanctuary Farm. This is a small grant that is making a
big difference!
•
Amy Callies, elementary teacher: We used the grant for a project to allow kids to
take home a book every night for family reading. The books are leveled so student
progress in their abilities. The books also connect learning at school to learning
and practice at home.
•
Pernille Ripp, elementary teacher: 270,490 is the number of unique visitors
my students and their blog has had since they started letting the world in to our
classroom three years ago. From discussing field trips with students in Egypt,
explaining Thanksgiving to students in London, to sharing book recommendations
with students in Singapore, my kids will use the grant for a new iPad to continue
bringing the world to us.
Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District
District celebrates employee milestones at breakfast
More than 40 staff members were
honored at the annual Employee
Recognition Breakfast on Tuesday, May 14
at the Hilton Garden Inn.
Superintendent Don Johnson and Board
of Education president Ellen Lindgren
spoke at the event. Staff members being
recognized were introduced by their
building principal or supervisor and also
offered some brief remarks.
Twenty-five district employees are
scheduled to retire at the end of the school
year. They were honored along with staff
members who have worked 20, 25, 30 or
35 years in the district.
Retirees
• Ellen Anderson
Glacier Creek; teacher
• Rebecca Bertalan
West Middleton; teacher)
• Jane Brooks
Sauk Trail; teacher
• Janet Ruszala-Coughlin
Northside; teacher
• David Dahmen
Glacier Creek; teacher
• Connie Finnegan
Middleton High School; teacher
• Kevin Green
Kromrey; teacher
• Maryann Harker
Middleton High School; teacher
• Sherry Hummel
MHS; paraeducator
• Susan Huntenburg
Elm Lawn; teacher
• Tom Kaufman
Middleton High School; teacher
• Mika Mitmoen
Elm Lawn; teacher
• Susan Moen
Glacier Creek; teacher
• Paul Olson
Glacier Creek; teacher
• Roxanne Piller
Kromrey; teacher
• Steve Powers
West Middleton; teacher
• Connie Prochnow
Northside; teacher
• Pete Ring
Middleton High School; teacher
• Timothy Schlicht
District Operations Center;
supervisor
• Julie Smith
Elm Lawn; health assistant
• Barb Stirn
Elm Lawn; teacher
• Barb Szydel
DAC; business office
• Mary Wirch
•
•
Park; teacher
Cheryl Whitaker-Bailey
Sauk Trail; paraeducator
Nancy Wyngaard
DAC; director
20 Years
• Julie Corstvet
Northside; health assistant
• Tara Franklin
Sunset Ridge; teacher
• Linda Hutchinson
DAC; PSSP
• James Mathews
Clark Street School; teacher
• Rita Mullen
Kromrey; teacher
• JoAnn Orr
West Middleton; paraeducator
• Brett Perkins
Middleton High School; teacher
• Michelle Schreier
Glacier Creek; teacher
• Sue Soloninka
Glacier Creek; PSSP
• Kent Taplin
Transportation; mechanic
• Nancy Whitinger
Middleton High School; teacher
• Chris Willman
Middleton High School; teacher
• Ellor Wilson
Glacier Creek; teacher
• Nancy Wyngaard
DAC; director
25 Years
• Lauri Blakley
Park; teacher
• Ted Helleckson
Transportation; driver
• Elsa Morrick
Sunset Ridge; paraeducator
• Pat Motiff
PAC; director
30 Years
• David Dahmen
Glacier Creek; teacher
• RoseAnn Maier
DOC; food service
• Anna Ohlrogge
Sauk Trail; teacher
35 Years
• Ellen Anderson
Glacier Creek; teacher
• Maryann Harker
Middleton High School; teacher
• Mike Phillips
Northside; custodian
• Barbara Szydel
DAC; business office
Distinguished Educator Award
winners ‘wow’ BOE members
The Board of Education issued its first
Distinguished Educator Awards to Kathy
Hiteman and MHS teachers Kate Arnold,
Kristin Brown, Ann Morstad and David
Piovanetti in May.
“There are so many wonderful things
going on in the district,’’ BOE president
Ellen Lindgren said. “We’re thrilled to be
giving out these awards.’’
Hiteman, a sixth-grade science teacher
at Kromrey, was honored at the May 13
meeting, while Arnold, Brown, Morstad
and Piovanetti were recognized at the May
20 meeting. Lindgren has dubbed them
the “Wow” awards. Each teacher received
a framed certificate along with a pen-andpencil set.
Hiteman was recently honored along
with four other state teachers for the
Presidential Awards for Excellence in
Mathematics and Science Teaching.
She also received the Rothwell Award
for helping student-teachers from the
University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“She’s a great role model for all of us.
We want to recognize her for all of her
efforts and being a great representative for
Middleton-Cross Plains,’’ Superintendent
Don Johnson said.
Kromrey principal Steve Soeteber and
associate principal Bill Deno also attended
the May 13 meeting.
“Kathy is a positive force at Kromrey,
within her team, within her block and
for the entire school and student body.
It’s great to have her at Kromrey,’’ said
Soeteber, who also attended a luncheon
with Johnson where Hiteman was honored
earlier in the spring.
This was the first year MHS held the
legislative sessions as part of the U.S.
Government and Politics class. One session
was held each semester. Kate’s father,
Steve, developed the legislative sessions 20
years ago in Illinois and helped MHS with
its program.
“We’re honored,’’ Piovanetti said.
He said it took about four years to
develop the sessions as part of the district’s
curriculum renewal process. One common
question was what should students know?
They all agreed government is important.
“We thought this gave students the most
opportunity to dig in and figure things
out,’’ he said. “They wowed us.’’
Elm Lawn Principal Mike Pisani shares a story about special education teacher Sue
Huntenburg at the Employee Recognition Breakfast at the Hilton Garden Inn in May.
Fifteen MCPASD staff members who are retiring after the 2012-13 school year were able
to attend the annual Employee Recognition Breakfast. First row: Connie Prochnow , Susan
Huntenburg, Mika Mitmoen, Julie Smith, Nancy Wyngaard, Janet Ruszala-Coughlin. Second
row: Barb Szydel, Tim Schlicht, Connie Finnegan, Jane Brooks, Barb Stirn, Tom Kaufman, Mary
Wirch, Steve Powers, and Ellen Anderson.
District Staff Recognized
Ted Boyett, the manager of the
Middleton-Cross Plains Area Indoor
Pool, received the Paragon Award at the
International Swimming Hall of Fame
induction ceremonies last weekend in Fort
Lauderdale, Fla.
Boyett has been involved in recreational
swimming for more than 50 years. He
oversees the entire aquatic operations,
including budget, personnel, programs,
marketing and maintenance. In his first
year the pool saw a 10 percent budget
surplus due to increased revenue from
additional programming and participation.
The Paragon Award is a lifetime
achievement award given annually to
individuals who have provided above and
beyond service to the aquatic profession
behind the scenes. The award is sponsored
by Paragon Aquatics, an industry leading
manufacturer of Aquatic equipment for
more than 50 years.
Boyett also assists the MHS physical
education department coordinator
teaching Lifeguard Training and Water
Safety Instructor classes. He also helps
teach third- and fifth-graders from all six
of the district’s elementary schools.
“I wish I could give pieces to the
students, parents and staff at Park School
because it is the hard work and support I
receive from everyone that helps me be
the best teacher I can be,’’ she said. “As I
tell my students often, ‘Do your best -- the
best you can do is all you can do and that
is what I do everyday.’ ‘’
* * * * * * * * *
The rest of southern Wisconsin learned
in March what students and staff at Park
have known for some time: Jenniper
Hylbert is one top-notch teacher.
Hylbert, a fifth-grade teacher in her first
year full time in the district, was honored
as WISC-TV Ch. 3’s Top-Notch Teacher for
March. Reporter Rob Starbuck visited
the school on Feb. 21 and stayed for
more than an hour doing interviews and
shooting footage.
“When I found out that I had won, I was
a little taken back,’’ she said.
Hylbert was nominated for the award
by one of her students, Jessica Pientka.
Hylbert has also coached her in soccer.
“When I found out that Jessica had
nominated me, I wasn’t surprised,’’
Hylbert said. “She is one of the hardestworking students in my class. I have
marveled at what a positive role model
she is to the class. … She tells me
everyday how much fun she has in class.’’
Callies wins Crystal
Apple Award
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Park kindergarten teacher Amy Callies
has enjoyed a lot of great moments in her
career. There’s no doubt that the morning
of May 3 was one of them.
Callies was presented with a Crystal
Apple Award from WMTV-Ch. 15 anchor
Leigh Mills at an all-school assembly.
She was one of five area teachers to be
honored this year.
Northside’s Sharon Brown received a
Crystal Apple Award a year ago.
Callies, who has been an elementary
teacher for more than 20 years, admitted
she was honored to win the award.
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West Middleton staff member Judy
Ellickson received the Outstanding
Service Award from the Wisconsin
State Reading Association at its state
convention earlier this year at the Delta
Center in Milwaukee.
“I was please just to be nominated
for the award and very excited about
receiving it,” she said.
Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District
2013 Graduation Ceremony
Tears, hugs, cheers, inspiration and
laughter were all part of the Middleton
High School graduation ceremony on
Sunday, June 9 at Alliant Energy Center
Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
A crowd of more than 3,000 watched
more than 450 seniors participate in the
ceremony. After a brief welcome by class
president Christie Cheng, three seniors
– Casey Hutchison, Stephen Kolison
and Mercedes Fowler – gave speeches
sandwiched around a performance of “The
Parting Glass” by senior vocalists Meron
Aydiko, Liza Couser, Eden Girma, Sonia
Urquidi and Cheng.
The commencement address was given
by MHS social studies teacher Brian Byrne.
A record may have also been set for
the number of times noted author Kurt
Vonnegut was referenced during the
95-minute ceremony. It was also pointed
out that more than 20 MHS staff members,
not counting administrators, attended the
ceremony, which is believed to be a record.
“We made it through high school
relatively intact and unscathed. … We
should slow down to stop and smell the
roses,’’ Cheng said.
Hutchison told the audience about the
accomplishments of this class in athletics,
academics and service learning. She also
quoted Vonnegut, who talked about
true terror being waking up one day to
find your graduating class is running the
country.
“I remain full of hope,’’ she said. “True
terror would actually be waking up and
finding anyone but the class of 2013 is
running the country.’’
Kolison talked about aspirations
and limitations. He also reminded his
classmates that limits don’t have to exist.
“I once thought I could be an engineer
but then I realized
I was a terrible
math student,’’
he said to laughs.
“High school is
unique for every
individual. It
helped mold us.
We are no longer
the same person
we were four
Mr. Brian Byrne
years ago.’’
Fowler shared an anecdote about a
stranger she met at a coffee shop recently
and how he inspired her to finally
write her speech. She encouraged her
classmates to be bold, a phrase her father
has often said to her. That belief taught
her how to feel uncomfortable, which she
said isn’t a bad thing.
“I sure am greater than I used to be,’’
she said. “We’ve seen how we have all
grown. Our four years here are a vital part
of us.’’
Byrne, who also talked about
Vonnegut, had the audience laughing
throughout much of his address,
even though he began by informing
everyone he knew lots of jokes but not
a single one was appropriate for such a
large crowd. He also shared six lessons
Senior vocalists include Christine Cheng, Eden Girma, Liza Couser, Sonia Urquidi
and Meron Aydiko.
for the graduates, including raise your
expectations of yourself and others and
help people find their path.
“It has been an amazing four years with
these people,’’ he said. “I have a 7-year-old
daughter and I hope she grows into the
type of person you are. … I expect all of
you to be great.’’
Board of Education president Ellen
Lindgren, MHS principal Denise Herrmann
and Superintendent Don Johnson also
spoke at the ceremony. Lindgren reminded
the graduates that they will receive lots
of unsolicited advice from grownups and
most if it will be contradictory.
“No one and everyone of you is special
today,’’ she said while pointing out that
3 million seniors will graduate from U.S.
Christie Cheng
Stephen Kolison
high schools this year. “We all expect you
to go out and change the world. Embrace
the contradictions. My hope is that you
will learn how little you actually know and
keep on learning.’’
BOE members Lindgren, Anne Bauer
and Bob Hesselbein, along with Assistant
Superintendent of Educational Services
George Mavroulis, handed out diplomas to
the graduates. Mavroulis’ daughter, Taylor,
was among the graduates.
“It’s a very special experience to hand a
diploma to your child,’’ he told the Board of
Education the next night. “So stay on the
Board until your child graduates.’’
Added Hesselbein: “I thought the
enthusiasm was contagious. I’m thrilled to
have been a part of it.
Casey Hutchison
Mercedes Fowler
Superintendent Don Johnson congratulates Alexis Barbian.
2013 Scholarship Recipients
Seventy-one MHS seniors received
awards at the annual Scholarship Night
on Wednesday, May 15 at the Performing
Arts Center.
In all, approximately 50 sponsors
handed out more than $53,000 worth of
scholarships during the 2-hour program.
There were seven new scholarships
available to students this year: Helping
Hand Healthcare Scholarship, Middleton
Chamber Educational Excellence
Scholarship, Greg Motl Memorial
Scholarship, Dewey Stendahl Memorial
Scholarship, Cross Plains Area Chamber
of Commerce Scholarship, Lina Vergara
Memorial Scholarship and the Middleton
United Soccer Club Scholarship.
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Adam Phillips Memorial Scholarship:
Andrew Walther
Adonis Seiser McLain Scholarship:
Elizabeth Couser
Cardinal Booster Club Scholarships:
Darcy Dean and Derek Ott
Cardinal School and Community
Service Scholarships: Madeline
Viegut, Victoria Wang and
Sadie Strassman
Clarke Tanner Memorial Music
Scholarship: Samuel Lyons
Cross Plains American Legion Flag
Scholarships: Jacqueline McGinley
and Kelli Kalscheur
Cross Plains Area Chamber of
Commerce Scholarship: Cassidi Goll
Cross Plains Optimist Club
Scholarship: Rebecca Jin
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CUNA Mutual “Growing in the
Right Direction” Scholarship: Paige
Gundrum and Matthew Oswald
Dewey Stendahl Memorial
Scholarship: Lucas Carr
Drew “Goldberg” Utterback Memorial
Scholarship: Sophie Tallard-Sklare
Erin Elisabeth Rice Memorial College
Scholarship: Emily Pomykalski
Friends of the Performing Arts Center
Scholarship: Sonia Urquidi
Roger & Suzanne Gmur Friends of the
Performing Arts Center Scholarship:
Stephen Kolison
Fritz Kaumpf “Just Ducky” Foundation
Scholarship: Rebecca Ehnert
George Solner Memorial Scholarship:
Haliey Wrasman
Gilsie Techam Memorial Scholarship:
Abigail Fink
Greg Motl Memorial Scholarship:
Nathaniel Corey
Helping Hand Healthcare Scholarship:
Xiang Fang
Holo Art Scholarship: Elise Armani
Howard A. Morey/EAA Chapter 1389
Aviation Scholarship: Evan Bauch
Joe Kuehn Memorial Scholarship:
Christopher Eom
Julie Zdeblick Memorial Art
Scholarship: Tyler Anlauf
Kiwanis Club of Middleton
Scholarship: Danielle Cunningham
Lina Vergara Memorial Scholarship:
Martha Meyer
Middleton Chamber Education
Excellence Scholarship: Suzy Kim
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Middleton Education Association
Scholarships: Katerina Stephan and
Alexander Goodsett
Middleton Education Association/
Ralph Christensen Memorial
Scholarship: Christie Cheng
Merlin Voss Bluebirds Scholarships:
Joclyn Tiedt, Riley Eklund and
Maxwell Waelti
Middleton Fire Department
Scholarship: Joshua Coyne
Middleton Ionic Lodge 180 Free
and Accepted Masons Scholarships:
Jennifer Grooms and Leen Bnyat
Middleton Jaycees Community
Leaders Scholarship: Michael Hoot
Middleton Lions Club: Brian Koontz
Memorial Scholarship:
Elena Thompson
Middleton Lions Club
Laurie Bakken Memorial Scholarship:
Sarah Sindberg
Middleton Optimist Club Scholarship:
Abby VanAartsen
Middleton-Cross Plains Area Retired
Educators Scholarships: Carolyn
Scudder, Claire Gussel, Emily
Cottingham and Carly Kirkpatrick
Middleton United Soccer Club
Scholarship: Ian Geocaris
Mike Eller Memorial Scholarship:
Joshua Kampe
Monsanto/Agracetus Campus
Scholarship : Julia Boles
Nancy Backus Memorial Art
Scholarship: Paul Perepel
Nel Ferstl Memorial Scholarship:
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Emma Werntz
Nick Butzek “Race to the Finish
Lifeline” Scholarship:
Cecille Nevarez
Paul Kinne, Gingras, Cates & Luebke
Attorney Scholarship:
Katheleen Blakeslee II
Sam Clay Memorial Scholarship:
Jacob Stampen
Scott Ingham Golf Scholarship:
Jackson Rutledge
Senior Class Scholarship “The All
Around” : Amanda Morris
Senior Class Scholarship “The Classy
Cardinal”: Trenor Seals
Senior Class Scholarship “The
Worker Bee” : David Singer
Senior Class Scholarship “The Mr. or
Ms. Middleton” : Sarah Perreth
Sertoma Club of Middleton
Scholarship: Derek Hoot, Taylor
Mavroulis and Meron Aydiko
Standard Imaging Scholarship:
Kelly Watson
State Bank of Cross Plains
Scholarship: Anna Landgraf
Steve Hurd Memorial Scholarship:
Ethan McLeod
The Burke Smile Scholarship:
Casey Hutchison
UW-Health Cross Plains Scholarship:
Elizabeth Zeker
UW Provisions Scholarship:
Alexandra Caldwell
West Towne Rotary Robert Jones
Memorial Scholarship:
Joshua Bunting