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SPARTA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
A Newsletter for the Sparta Community
April 2014
In This Issue
Upcoming Dates








April 7: No School, spring break

April 7: DECA Chickencue, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Hardware Store

April 8: Classes Resume

April 14: Finance and Facilities committee meeting, 5:30 p.m.; Personnel and Educational Initiatives committee meeting, 6:30 p.m.; both in the AEC

April 15: Purple UP! Military Kids Day

April 22: Early Dismissal, students dismissed two hours early

April 28: Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m., AEC

May 2: Treasures on the Green, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, Lakeview Montessori

May 9: Dia de los Ninos Children's Diversity Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sparta High School

 

The Sparta Area School District is always looking for ways to increase communication with students, staff, parents and community members. To do so, we use social media to tell the stories and share photos of the great things happening in our elementary, middle, high and charter schools as well as staff initiatives. On our school district website, Facebook page, Twitter account, and Blog, you'll also be able to find highlights from our fantastic co-curricular offerings. Check out the links when you get a free minute. Our Spartans are always up to something!

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Non-Discrimination Statement

The Sparta Area School District does not discriminate against persons on the basis of sex, race, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability or handicap in its education program or activities. It is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on any basis prohibited under state or federal law.

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:: 608-269-3151
District Administrator
John Hendricks

 Each year the month of April is set aside to recognize the unique needs, contributions and sacrifices of children of active military families. This year, in addition to activities that will take place within individual schools, the Sparta Area School District will sponsor a luncheon to celebrate these students.

 

State Superintendent Tony Evers; the Wisconsin Commissioner for the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children Shelley Joan Weiss; author Karen Panier; Fort McCoy representatives; and others will join military families at the Month of the Military Child lunch program that will be held Thursday, April 16, at Meadowview Schools, 1225 N. Water St., beginning at 11:30 a.m. with a brief social time.

 

According to Sparta District Administrator John Hendricks, "It is exciting for us to have the State Superintendent of Public Instruction in attendance to honor the achievements and challenges faced by children of military families. Dr. Evers has been a strong advocate for these students."

 

During lunch, guests will enjoy a couple of musical performances and student speakers, followed by messages from our dignitaries. The luncheon will finish at 1 p.m.; however, there will be an opportunity for adults to stay for a discussion regarding the unique educational needs of military children locally and on a state level.

 

The Sparta Area School District has a strong presence on the Wisconsin's Commission overseeing the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, including Hendricks, Lt. Col. John Blaha, and Fort McCoy School Liaison Officer Becky Walley. 

 

The Sparta Area School District has more than 160 children of military families in its schools. Military families may still make a reservation to attend the luncheon on April 16 by contacting the District office at (608) 269-3151 or emailing cbaumbach@spartan.org before Friday, April 10.


If you have any questions about this, or other District matters, please do not hesitate to contact me.

EDGE students are quilting for kids

 

Students in the Sparta Area School District are quilting for the community, and they are funding their project by recycling aluminum cans.
 
Quilts for Kids, a joint effort of EDGE (Embracing Diversity, Generosity, and Excellence) and Innovations STEM Academy, has made more than 20 quilts since it started in December. The students have donated quilts to Mayo Clinic Health System for young patients who receive emergency or ambulance services, and they continue to work on the community service project daily.
 
"The students measure and cut fabric, sew and tie blankets, but most importantly give something back to citizens in the community," said Teresa Lakowske, alternative education teacher.

 

Fourth grade students from Meadowview Intermediate recently participated in the first Kids in the Kitchen. They worked with Farm to School Chef Jason Boris to make Marinated Black Bean Salad that they served to their classmates, measuring and cutting the ingredients.

 

All SASD students were able to taste the tasty salad when it was served as Harvest of the Month tasting for March. Among the veggies in the salad were beans and corn from Wisconsin and Minnesota. Kids in the Kitchen started in March through the USDA Implementation Grant received by the Sparta, Tomah and Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton school districts. The program will continue through the duration of the grant providing more fourth graders the opportunity to be in the kitchen with Chef Jason.

 

Click here for the Harvest of the Month Marinated Black Bean Salad Recipe!


Seven Sparta High School students have advanced to the International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Fla. The students qualified at the 2015 State Career Development Conference March 10 and 11 at the Grand Geneva Resort.

 
Those advancing to ICDC are:
  • Madi Blaha, Madison Westfpahl and Paige Weiner, School Based Enterprise Manual, Gold
  • Whitney Page and Tori Hanson, Learn and Earn project, 4th place
  • Lydia Hone, Principles of Marketing, 2nd place and travel scholarship of $100
  • Jackie Page and Madi Blaha, Travel and Tourism team event, 3rd place
  • Jackie Page, Entrepreneurship Innovative Project, second place
During the conference, Jackie Page was elected to serve as Wisconsin DECA State Officer of Event Management. She is the first Sparta High School student to serve as a DECA State Officer.

The Sparta Free Library is developing a new strategic plan. As part of this effort, the Library is conducting a survey to collect opinions and ideas from the public.  In the spirit of cooperation, our organization has agreed to help the Library get out the word about the survey.  Following is a link to the survey. It should take about five minutes to complete. Please help the Library be the very best it can be by participating in this brief survey.  Thank you!

 

Two Sparta Area School District teams recently placed in the top five at the state Battle of the Books competition.
The Meadowview Middle School team of Viviana Campos, K'Lynn Friemoth, Nathan Modjeski and Toby Mohr and qualifying alternate Carson O'Neil placed first. The team from Innovations STEM Academy, Ethan Anderson, Izak Anderson, Lily Schmitz and Natalie Spencer placed fourth.

To qualify for the state competition, Meadowview Middle School and Innovations had 29 teams participate in in-school battles in the Middle School LMC. The state bound teams competed with their knowledge of 20 titles from the Battle of the Books list that included such titles as Divergent, The False Prince, The Bully Book, Serafina's Promise, Truce, and March.

The Meadowview Middle School team had a perfect tiebreaker, getting all of the 10 additional questions correct.