School District of Baraboo

🌟 Interim Superintendent Steve Considine Invites Families, Staff, and Community Members for an informal Meet-and-Greet on Monday, February 24th at Al Behrman Elementary School from 4:00 to 5:30 pm. 🎈

🌟 AVID in Action! 🌟 This week, our current AVID freshmen returned to JYMS to share their experiences with our 8th graders! AVID—Advancement Via Individual Determination—fosters a supportive and collaborative learning environment, setting students up for success in high school and beyond. Our 8th graders got to hear firsthand how AVID has helped with organization skills, course planning, and study strategies as they transition to high school. Additionally, it has offered students the opportunity for college tours during their first year of high school. The freshmen also shared their best tips and tricks for navigating high school life. A huge thank you to Ms. Whitehurst for her role in supporting this opportunity for our students! We love when former students come back to visit and inspire the next generation of AVID students! 💙📚

🎉🎈 100 Days of Fun & Friendship in First Grade! 🎈🎉 Can you believe it’s already been 100 days of learning, fun, and friendship at East School?! Our amazing First Graders celebrated this milestone in style with a Friendship/100 Day of School Party 👫💖 🖍️✨ Special guests came in and decorated student’s desks. From counting to 100 to making unforgettable memories, it's been a fantastic year so far. Here's to many more days of fun ahead! 🌟

The 8th grade Construction and Manufacturing classes at JYMS wrapped up an incredible semester, learning valuable skills through hands-on projects like building a model house, wiring a switch, creating cutting boards, and 3D printing phone stands. These students gained a solid foundation in construction and manufacturing that will set them up for future success. The 7th grade Tech Ed students dove into interior design, CO2 car construction, and stop motion filmmaking while mastering new tools. The 6th grade students explored wood carving, 3D modeling, and coding to create awesome projects. Outstanding work all around, JYMS students!

🌟 BIG shout out to our amazing morning crossing guards! 🌟 A huge THANK YOU to Scott Pionke, Mark Klang, Bryce Ziegler, Jori Ruff, Anna Stephenson, Ryan Ewing, Emma Capener, Angie Gabrielson, and Jamie Carney for braving the cold and making sure our students got to school safe and sound! 🙌 You all went ABOVE AND BEYOND today, showing what true dedication and care looks like! 💙❄️ We are SO grateful for your commitment to safety and for making sure our kiddos start their day with a smile!

The Superintendent Search is underway! Check out the Information Page to view up-to-date information, survey links, timelines, press releases, and schedules as they are released. https://www.baraboo.k12.wi.us/page/superintendent-search

National FFA Week is this week! Support our local chapter by dining at Culver's tomorrow (Tuesday, February 18th) between 4 pm and 8 pm ! Other activities will be taking place this week at both the High School and Middle School!

🎉 Celebrating Excellence at Jack Young Middle School! 🎉 We are so proud of the incredible achievements of our students at the Second Quarter Awards Assembly! 🏆 From perfect attendance to outstanding achievements in winter sports, our students continue to shine! 🌟 ✨ Special Highlights Include: Principal's Award 🏅 iReady Enthusiasts - students who showed tremendous growth 📈 School Resource Officer Award 🚓 Spelling Bee Champions 🧠 Most Improved Students as voted by teachers 📚 Student Leadership Award 💪 Forensics and National History Day Winners 🔍 Teachers of the Month - Celebrating dedication to excellence! 🍎 At Jack Young Middle School, we are building a future of leaders, scholars, and athletes who excel in every way. Our commitment to student success and growth is at the heart of everything we do! 🏫💫 We’re creating a learning environment where every student can thrive, and we’re seeing tremendous progress across the board. Parents, if you’re looking for a school that nurtures growth, celebrates hard work, and prepares students for a bright future, Jack Young is the place to be!

Wisconsin School Bus Driver Appreciation Week: February 10 - 14.

Child Development Day for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 year olds. At West Elementary, 707 Center Street, Baraboo on Wednesday, February 19th from 2 pm to 4:30 pm, and on Thursday, March 6th from 4 pm to 6 pm.

4K Registration for the 25-26 School Year is coming up February 19th from 2 pm to 4:30 pm and March 6th from 4 pm to 6 pm. It will be held at West Elementary School, 707 Center Street, Baraboo.

FBLA attended the Regional Leadership Competition this past Saturday at Fennimore High School and we came out with some amazing results! There were 24 schools and over 500 competitors at the competition. Our members learned about the power of introductions and handshakes with the keynote speaker from CESA 3, took 1st in a shark tank workshop, learned how to build soft skills, how to craft conversations from the state FFA treasurer and the importance of mental health/wellness from Grant regional health Center. They went up against tough competition during events and tests and through it all represented BHS in the best ways by participating and being engaged the entire time (even though we left school at 5:45am). The following that qualified for state: G. Bates & M.Sullivan placed 1st in Business Ethics L. Kierzek, G. Landrum & J. Szweda placed 1st in Public Service Announcement K. Reichhoff placed 2nd in Accounting 1 L. Bradley placed 2nd in Securities & Investments T. Bell & K. Cerda placed 3rd in Digitial Video Production C. Knowles placed 3rd in Introduction to Business Communication M. Farmer placed 3rd in Website Design We have the following that if places 1-3 do not want to go to state could possibly be eligible: S. Dobush & I. Thola placed 4th in Introduction to Business Presentation S. Stucyznski placed 4th in Personal Finance M. Barahona placed 5th in Introduction to Business Procedures Others have placed as follows: S. Lins placed 6th in Introduction to Business Communication G. Schacern placed 6th in Into to Public Speaking V. Maguire placed 6th in Journalism C. Zittlow placed 6th in Sales Presentation G. Cater placed 6th in Social Media Strategies A. Wyttenbach placed 7th in Graphic Design E. Creighton placed 7th in Intro to Business Procedures B. Kaufman placed 8th in Human Resource Management A. Hughan Placed 9th in Marketing C. Birrenkott placed 10th in Agribusiness B. Brown & E. Mayer placed 10th in Sports & Entertainment Management E. Pichler placed 10th in Health Care Administration. There are also some straight-to-state competitions for the chapter that will make some that didn't make state eligible to go. Congratulations to all who participated and to their amazing advisor, Mrs. Mueller.

🏫 What is the April 1 Referendum? On April 1, 2025, Baraboo voters will consider a revised and phased facilities referendum to update elementary schools with no tax impact. 📌 Key Improvements: ✅ Renovating & expanding Al Behrman, East, and Gordon L. Willson ✅ Enhancing safety & security ✅ Replacing aging infrastructure ✅ Accommodating early learners 📌 A commitment to neighborhood schools: This plan maintains existing elementary school attendance boundaries, keeping students learning close to home in their communities. 📅 Learn more: baraboo.k12.wi.us/page/referendum

SUMMER KID STOP INFORMATION Enrollment for the Summer Kid Stop program begins on Monday, February 3, 2025. Information and registration forms will be available on the District website to print off or paper copies will be available at all elementary school offices and the East, GLW and West Kid Stop sites. Completed enrollment forms may be submitted by scanning to the Kid Stop Coordinator’s email address at pgavin@barabooschools.net or by dropping your form off at the Gordon L. Willson Elementary School office during business or Kid Stop hours. Any questions, please contact Pat Gavin at the above email address.

Child Development Day and 4K Registration will be held at West Elementary School on Wednesday, February 19th from 2 pm -4:30 pm and Thursday, March 6th from 4 - 6 pm . Child Development Day is for children age 2.5 to 3.5 and 4K Registation is for children who will be 4 years old by September 1, 2025. For more information, please contact our Student Services Office at (608) 355-3918.

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is required by state statute (Wis. Stat. 115.385) to generate a school report card and district report card for every publicly funded school and district in the state. The report cards are intended to help schools and districts use performance data to celebrate successes and improve their efforts to prepare students for their futures. Click to view our most current report card. https://www.baraboo.k12.wi.us/page/wisconsin-accountability-school-report-cards

We're ecstatic to announce the reopening of the BHS School Store! Thanks to the hard work of our Marketing classes, the Store is back in action after weeks of dedicated planning. Two Marketing classes played a pivotal role in this project, beginning with a student survey to curate the products you'd love to see in the Store and set prices accordingly. Our students also crafted marketing materials, generating immense excitement. Explore our revamped School Store, browse our fantastic product range, and meet our diligent student team. Currently open during 3rd block lunchtime, and during winter sports season, we'll also be open at home games with support from FBLA.

Dear Thunderbird Community, We are thrilled to announce a significant development in our ongoing journey towards educational excellence. The 2023-2026 Strategic Plan for the School District of Baraboo is now accessible for review on our district's website (https://www.baraboo.k12.wi.us/page/strategic-plan-framework) What to Expect in the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan: This comprehensive blueprint outlines our strategic focus areas, which encompass Learning & Academics, Finance & Operations, Safe & Healthy Schools, and Engagement & Communications. Each of these areas has been meticulously crafted to ensure the best possible educational experience for our students.

Mrs. Charles and Mrs. Gulden welcomed their new kindergarteners to GLW! Both kindergarten classes have been working to get to know each other and to strengthen social skills such as sharing and kindness through cooperative play. Both classrooms read the book "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?" by Carol McCloud and are working to be "bucket fillers" not "bucket dippers." They have also been learning about shapes and counting through Bridges Math Workplace stations. The first couple of weeks of school have been a great time for these new GLW students to get to know each other, learn how to treat others with kindness, and to get to know their new school.

One week ago today was the first day of school in the BSD and we have had a great first few days of school! Students and staff are excited to embark on a new school year, ready to embrace the spirit of curiosity and inclusivity. This year, we encourage each and every one of you to let your curiosity run wild. Ask questions, seek answers, and never stop learning. Whether you're a kindergartener discovering the alphabet or a senior preparing for graduation, the journey of curiosity knows no bounds.