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UPCOMING EVENTS
For a complete calendar listing, please visit us here:

6th Grade Orientation
Date: August 22
Time: 8-11:45 a.m.
Place: Jack Young Middle School large gym

6th Grade Informational Parent Meeting
Date: August 22
Time: 5-6 p.m.
Place: Jack Young Middle School
Note: this meeting is for parents of students who will be in 6th grade during the 2019-20 school year.

Join us as we celebrate a nation of diverse readers with these recommended books, authors, and teaching resources that represent an array of experiences and cultures from the National Education Association.

Title: Julián Is a Mermaid
Author:  Jessica Love
For: Elementary readers
Summary:  After seeing three women spectacularly dressed up as mermaids, Julián makes his own mermaid costume from Abuela's curtain and potted fern. What will she think of the mess-and of Julián the mermaid?

COMMUNITY LINKS

The mission of Hope House is to prevent abuse and provide support to victims of domestic and sexual violence.
Toll-free 24-Hour Confidential Helpline:
1-800-584-6790
Street Address:
720 Ash Street
Baraboo, WI 53913
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday 8:00AM to 4:30PM

The Baraboo Public Library offers a safe and welcoming environment, providing area residents and visitors with confidential access to cutting edge, high quality resources.    

Riptide is a summer swim program for ages 5 to 18. Registration is open for the spring stroke clinic and summer season.

Online registration. Ages 6-18. Certified, trained coaches. Spring and Fall seasons. Email BarabooSoccerClub@gmail.
com with questions.

Baraboo School District E-Newsletter
June 14, 2019
Congratulations, Graduates!
Click here to view the Class of 2019 Tribute Video
On Friday, May 31, Baraboo High School held a graduation ceremony in honor of the Baraboo High School Class of 2019. 

Principal Glenn Bildsten opened the evening by reflecting on the 2018-19 school year.  "How fun it was to open a completely revitalized and newly renovated Baraboo High School just in time for the Class of 2019 to enjoy for their senior year," he said, adding that this is the first time ever celebrating graduation in a fully air conditioned gymnasium. " The Class of 2019 broke ground as we ushered in a new grading system and as the first class to successfully complete the Senior Exit Interview Portfolio process. You all put a tremendous amount of work into those amazing portfolios which served to showcase your many talents, accomplishments and future aspirations."

"What stands out to me the most about the Class of 2019," Principal Bildsten continued, "are all of the remarkable examples of giving back to our school and our community. Your selfless spirit of giving overwhelmed me." He cited examples, including the second annual Food for Kidz Project which raised $10,000 and packed 70,000 meals at Baraboo High School on just one Saturday morning; The Spirit of Excellence Award for Baraboo High School through student council; The Baraboo High School Food Pantry started this year; and The BHS Bandana Project to help recognize and provide support for those struggling with mental illness. " Enjoy the achievement, but remember that it is only the beginning."

The spirit of the event focused on reflecting on the past, but focusing on the future. Student speakers Rosemary Philip and Jack Wilson spoke to their classmates on moving past comfort zones and learning from mistakes in order to grow.

Rosemary Philip told her fellow graduates, "Tonight is a big night. Stop for a moment and celebrate all of your accomplishments during these past four years. But after tonight and for the rest of your lives it's about getting outside of your comfort zone. It's about putting yourself in unfamiliar situations to make you stronger. ...Comfort zones are great for building a foundation for your life. It's not necessary to avoid your existing comfort zones. However, they are not meant to last. Use them, embrace them, but ultimately take a leap outside of them and enjoy all of the new possibilities that will come your way."

Jack Wilson continued the sentiment of looking to the future, acknowledging that mistakes lead to growth. " It's impossible to do anything without being wrong a couple of times. But that's ok; it's not wrong to be wrong. In fact, it's a good thing. When learning something new you should embrace failure instead of fearing it. If you do this, it will become much easier to learn because instead of being discouraged at every wrong step, which there will be many, you will realize that everything you're doing is necessary for growth."

District Administrator Dr. Lori Mueller address the Class of 2019, telling them that the Class of 2019 will always have a special place in her heart. "This is it," she said . "In a few minutes you will cross the stage and join the Baraboo Community as a graduate of Baraboo High. We are sending you out beyond these walls to commence your next journey. I hope that you will leave here tonight with a commitment to kindness, gratitude and forgiveness. 
Kindness.  Each and every one of you has the gift to be kind. Please give that gift willingly every day. Be kind, and in doing so make your hearts whole. 
Gratitude. It took selfless acts of love and kindness to get you all to this moment tonight. There were individuals acting to give you the tools needed for success. Please make time to express your gratitude to those who deserve it and be grateful for the ones who love you and stand by you. 
Forgiveness. There are, and there will be, transgressions that make us angry and hurt along the way. The hardest path is one of forgiveness. ...Please consider making the world one you want to live in by giving people the opportunities to make things right.
Always Onward. The Thunderbird, our school logo, is a symbol of the Ho-Chunk. It is believed that the Thunderbird flies the highest of all birds. The Thunderbirds were made powerful so that they might watch over the earth. They are to protect and make peace. So, Baraboo High School Thunderbirds, let's soar higher than others and use our power of kindness, gratitude and forgiveness to create a more peaceful world as we move forward. Have grit, be bold, and forever keep moving forward. This is what it means to be Baraboo Proud. Kindness, gratitude, forgiveness. Always Onward, Baraboo High. Always Onward, Baraboo Thunderbirds."

We are #BarabooP roud of our seniors, and as they go on to the next chapters of their lives they can do so knowing they will always have a home at Baraboo High School. Once a Thunderbird, Always a Thunderbird! 

For 400+ more photos of the BHS Class of 2019 Graduation, click here! (These photos are available for parents/guardians/students to download and print!)

VIDEO: Tribute to the 2019 Retiring Educators
The Baraboo School District honored our retiring teachers at the end of the 2018-19 school year. Please join us in showing our appreciation for these 8 amazing educators who have a combined 230 years of teaching experience within our district. Always Onward, Always Thunderbirds!



SUMMER Custodial & Maintenance Positions Available!

Looking for a summer job? Need flexible hours? We are hiring a number of summer custodial & maintenance positions! 

These positions will begin on or about June 10, 2019. Part-time and full-time schedules between 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday are available. 

Summer cleaning crew must be age 16 or older. Summer maintenance crew must be 18 or older and must possess a valid driver's license. Successful candidates will be able to perform medium-heavy work, exert force and lift up to 75 pounds and constantly stand and walk, with or without a reasonable accommodation.  

Applications can be found online at  www.baraboo.k12.wi.us/district/jobs.cfm. Applications can also be picked up and submitted to: District's Maintenance Shop; 1210 Berkley Blvd; Baraboo, WI, 53913. Questions should be directed to Dan O'Brien, Director of Buildings and Grounds  at 608-355-3985. 

East School Families Focus on 'Ambition'
East Elementary School held its final School Families lesson at the end of May. The focus word of the month for May was 'ambition.' 

The lesson the School Families addressed was to create a list of ambitious activities they could each individually tackle this summer. Their 'bucket lists' included things like: be kind to my baby sister, walk our dog, help my parents around the house, read more, stop playing video games when my mom tells me to stop, and all sorts of outdoor activities.  

Students in each of the 13 school families created meaningful lists with a genuine focus on the word ambition and how that would fit into their summer goals.  We are so proud of our East School Panthers and hope they are ambitious this summer.

BHS Students Attend "Construction Management Day"
On Wednesday, May 22nd, a group of Baraboo High School students traveled with Mr. Ethan Engevold to UW-Platteville for the inaugural "Construction Management Day" hosted by CG Schmidt

Students received a tour of buildings on campus, an overview of the construction management program, safety and rigging demonstrations, a meet-and-greet with industry professionals and UW-Platteville professors/alumni and a tour of the new outdoor learning center with hands-on demonstrations with cranes and excavators. It was a lot of fun and provided students with a great learning experience and knowledge towards whether or not they'd be interested in the field of construction management or other related careers. 

CG Schmidt and UW-Platteville are already planning next year's event and Baraboo is excited to take more exceptional students there that are also interested in the program. 
Students: Mitchell Hamm, Jack Hyland, Aaron Kamla, Aliyah Whitrock,  Brandon Walrath
Teacher/Chaperone/Advisor: Mr. Ethan Engevold

JYMS Students Make Hurricane-Proof Structures 
Jack Young Middle School students in Ms. Sarah Roth's math class worked on a hurricane engineering project at the end of the year. The challenge was to design a structure - using limited materials - that would hold a tennis ball through wind and rain tests. 

Groups competed to design the tallest structure that would withstand fan wind speeds at various levels. The creativity and ingenuity of the students shone through during the project!

BHS Biology Students Collaborate with Community Partners 
Baraboo High School biology students completed their unit on disturbances to ecosystems by carrying out a mitigation plan in the wooded area in between UW Platteville - Sauk County and Jack Young Middle School.  

Students collaborated with community members from the Baraboo Range Preservation and the Nature Conservancy to research the problems facing the area including the impacts of invasive species, erosion, low biodiversity, and poor water quality. Through collaboration with these agencies the students designed and carried out mitigation plans to improve the ecosystem. 

Biology students in Karen Olson's, Michelle Bartman's, Spencer Rohlinger's, and Claire Gillick's classes placed signs in the area to inform hikers to stay on trails, planted native wildflowers, removed hundreds of invasive species, diverted water causing erosion, and planted 400 young oak trees!  

Special thanks to Todd Persche from the Baraboo Range Preservation and Karina Cardella and Elizabeth Vind from the Nature Conservancy for working with our students and donating the oak trees!

NF Clowns Around at Circus World
North Freedom 3rd graders, along with teacher Mrs. Rochelle Van Den Heuvel and numerous parent volunteers, attended all the shows Circus World had to offer on Thursday, May 30 th , including a demonstration on how to be a clown, circus instruments and music, elephants, a juggler, and some balancing acts.  Prior to the field trip, students learned about the history of the Ringling Brothers' Circus for several weeks.  It was a great closure to their social studies unit!
BHS Students Focus on the "Anatomy" of a Book
Baraboo High School students in Ms. Kari Nelson's  Literary Themes & Composition class read non-fiction choice books this semester. 

On June 6, they unveiled their original T-shirts and completed book-talks. In addition to the creative aspects of the project, Ms. Nelson spent a lot of time front-loading this reading assignment, helping students choose books they would stay with and remember, and with the help of BHS Library Media Specialist Lawrence Gillick, BHS Literacy Coach Jackie Amant and a full classroom library, most kids landed on a book that truly engaged them.

The project was entitled, "Anatomy of a Book" because I modeled it after the tee-shirts students make in Anatomy class to learn the body's internal organs. Our "anatomy" included:
  • a heart = title & author
  • a spine = story/timeline
  • arms = characters
  • lungs = book themes + supporting evidence/explanations
  • stomach = text connections (to self, another text, and world) 
  • collarbone/collar area = overall book rating
Thank you to Golden Needle in North Freedom for generously donating the 80 plain white T-shirts for the project!

GLW Partners with National Guard for Field Day
Gordon L. Willson Elementary students were treated to something really special at their annual Field Day event this year! Sergeant Rocco Sylvester and two fellow National Guard representatives brought in some extremely large inflatables, and the kids could not have been more excited. The students raced one another as they leapt through holes, dodged in between obstacles, climbed rope ladders, and finished on the giant slide. Even some of the GLW staff joined in the fun! 

The serviceman also brought some inflatable football and basketball toss games that were huge hits with the children. What phenomenal memories for the kids as they completed another school year.

This opportunity was brought to the students following GLW Kindergarten teacher, Liz Gulden's experience at a first-ever Educator Leadership Rendezvous sponsored by the National Guard this past summer as part of her role as the 2019 Wisconsin Elementary Teacher of the Year. At this event, Gulden realized the benefit of developing a partnership with our local National Guard representatives to build strong relationships with some of our youngest Baraboo Thunderbird students. 

We are so appreciative of our local National Guard recruitment office and representatives. This is an amazing partnership that we look forward to growing even more at GLW. Thank you for your service to our country and community!

Civics Students Learn the Proper Way to Fold the Flag
Baraboo High School's social studies teacher Mr. Jake Boll led a lesson on how to properly and respectfully fold the American flag to his students in Civics class in the last days of the semester.  

2019-20 Fall JYMS Athletics Registration Information
Parents Meetings
The football parent meeting will be held on Monday, August 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the JYMS cafeteria/auditorium.
Cross Country and Volleyball meetings will be held on Monday, August 26 at 5:30 pm in the JYMS Auditorium.
If you cannot attend the meeting you must contact one of the coaches listed below AND Kevin Catterson (kcatterson@barabooschools.net) to get the information you need before the first day of practice.

Physicals
  WIAA Physical Form - physicals taken after April 1 are good for the following two school years. Physicals performed before April 1 are good for the remainder of that school year plus one more school year. For the second year of a physical you will need to complete an Alternate Year Card .  

If you are in need of a physical there is an option to have a WIAA physical at Wilz Drug in Portage. They provide physicals at no charge on a first-come, first-serve basis from 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. each Wednesday. No appointment is needed.

Online Registration
Beginning June 1st, registration will be open and available online. You must register online in the Parent Portal in Infinite Campus before the date of the parents meeting. You and your child will sign the Code of Conduct and Concussion forms electronically there. The participation fee of $30 can be paid at the parents meeting or in the JYMS main office. If you would like to pay online please contact Jim Langkamp at jlangkamp@barabooschools.net in advance to have the fee added to your child's account.

Communication
Jack Young Middle School Athletics uses Remind to communicate directly with parents. If you have a smartphone, you are strongly encouraged to sign up to receive timely and important information via text or email. You can sign up for an account at Remind.com or download the Remind app. This is how coaches will communicate with parents.   Click here for instructions regarding how to register, how to download the app onto your phone, and how to join a sport page and begin receiving messages. Another way to join is to use your phone to text the corresponding message below from your sport to the number 81010.

Remind codes:
7/8th Grade Football: @b8fdbb
7th Grade Volleyball: @k734f84
8th Grade Volleyball: @4b26kf4
6/7/8th Cross Country: @e769kd

Additional Websites

Summer Strength and Conditioning Sign-Up:

First day of practice
Football: First day of practice is August 12th @ JYMS. Time to be determined. Afternoon practices
begin August 26th Mon - Thurs  from 3:30 - 5:30 pm with games on Tuesdays. Game schedules will be
handed out at the parent meeting and can be found at http://www.badgercentralyfl.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1085007 .
Cross Country & Volleyball:  Sept. 3 at 3:30 p.m. (First day of school);  Practice schedules and game schedules are found on www.badgerconference.org or https://baraboo.rschoolteams.com/ .

Coaches Contact Information
7/8th Grade Football:  John Scrabeck   jscrabeck@barabooschools.net  
6/7/8th Cross Country: Terry Kieck    tkieck@barabooschools.net
7th Grade Volleyball:  Melissa Van Enkenvort mvanenkenvort@barabooschools.net
Jo Fielitz   fielitz21@gmail.com
8th Grade Volleyball:  Kelsey Fish kmjensen7@gmail.com

District Offering FREE Summer Breakfast & Lunch

#BarabooProud
Dear Members of the Baraboo Community,

We want you to know that we are dedicated to all students.

We are committed to upholding a community that values differences of identities, beliefs and perspectives. We are proud to support students, families and staff of different races, faiths, national origins, immigration status, political viewpoints, abilities, sexual orientation and gender identity. Every student and family is a valued member of our community. We continue to be dedicated to supporting the maximum growth of each student, enabling each to succeed in and contribute positively to a continuously evolving world.

Ultimately, we believe that diversity and inclusion makes us stronger as a school community.

Sincerely,

The Baraboo School District 
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