#PointerNation News

#PointerNation is thrilled to announce that Cindi Nothem, High School Math Teacher, and Callie Pierce, High School Senior, have earned prestigious honors from the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation! Read more here: https://mineralpointschools.org/2022/04/nothem-and-pierce-are-kohl-award-winners/ (Nothem photo by Empire Photography, Pierce photo by Lifka Bennett)

Mineral Point High School is very proud to announce our Top Scholars for the Class of 2022. Congrats to Valedictorian Callie Pierce and Salutatorians Jazmine Cool, Eloise Chambers, and Drew Hottenstein! Read more about these high achievers here: https://mineralpointschools.org/2022/04/class-of-2022-top-scholars/ (Pierce & Hottenstein photos by Lifka Bennett, Cool photo by Bekah Peplinski, Chambers photo by Kira Runde)

Let's hear it for our place winners from the State Skills USA Contest in Madison last week!

Gold State Champs:

-- Mackenzie Aurit & Madisyn Heim, Television (Video) Production

-- Kelsie Toay, T-Shirt Design

Bronze:

-- Tarrin Riley, Criminal Justice

Read about all of our competitors here: https://mineralpointschools.org/2022/04/state-skills-usa-produces-champions/

18! That's how many students earned gold medals Friday at the Wisconsin High School Forensic Association - WHSFA State meet in DeForest! In addition, #PointerNation had nine students earn silver and four win bronze. Jazmine Cool was also honored as one of only 24 students in Wisconsin to earn a perfect score at State each year of high school. Great job, everyone! Enjoy a few photos and read more here: https://mineralpointschools.org/2022/04/gold-medals-earned-at-state-forensics-2/

Café Con Amigos made its glorious return Friday at Cafe 43! This is a great opportunity for some of our Spanish students to practice their conversation skills with other Spanish speakers in the community.

Lucky for us, Officer Pilling stopped in to read recently! We've missed his company!

Our high school choir had a fun time attending the UW-Platteville production of "Something Rotten!" Two brothers set out to write the world’s first musical in this hilarious mash-up of sixteenth-century Shakespeare and twenty-first-century Broadway.

Great discussion last week on "The Twin Thieves" book, leadership, our community, and our schools!

Did you know the motto of chess is "Gens una sumus" which is Latin for "We are one people?" Chess Club is back at the elementary Wednesday afternoons!

The Mineral Point High School Introduction to Business and Marketing Class attended the UW Platteville Business Challenge Wednesday, March 30! Students were divided into groups to network with other area schools and work together to complete a marketing simulation. They finished off the day with a workshop given by UWP Business faculty, a tour of the campus, and an awards presentation for their work in the simulation. Haydn Marr and Kelsie Toay were on the team winning the Business Challenge each earning a $500 scholarship to UWP. Hayden Bakken and Hope Wilson were on the 2nd place team, and Colton Dochnahl was on the 3rd place team. Great job, everyone!

In December, 2nd graders hosted a school-wide holiday store. Mrs. Gorgen’s class chose to donate its earnings to two extremely important places in our community, the Mineral Point Fire Department and the Mineral Point Rescue Squad.

From the store, each department will receive $300. Said the class, "It would be so amazing if we could give even more. Here’s what we’re thinking. Would anyone like to join us in donating to one or both of these valuable components of our town? Our class would be grateful for any amount you can give."

Please send/drop off checks or cash at the Elementary School (611 Cothern St.) made out to Mineral Point Schools (Attn: Denise Gorgen). If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. Gorgen at denise.gorgen@mp.k12.wi.us.

Thanks for your kindness and generosity.

A big congratulations to our #PointerNation Volleyball team which has earned the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association All-Academic Team Award for the 2021 season! The criteria for a team to achieve the All-Academic Award is to have an average team GPA of 3.4. Our girls crushed it with a 3.81 average team GPA! Individual criteria for the WVCA All-Academic Award is any individual who had a first semester GPA of 3.5 or above, of which we had 14 girls earn this honor.

(Graphic uses a photo taken by Ann Gorgen)

Results are in from the School Board election (please note these are unofficial and have not yet been canvassed). William Harris and Christie Johnston have been elected to three-year terms. Thank you to all of our candidates -- your willingness to serve our district is very much appreciated. More info here: https://mineralpointschools.org/2022/04/harris-johnston-earn-school-board-seats/

#PointerNation will once again mark Mental Health Matters Month during May! Activities to raise awareness around the importance of mental health and mindfulness will be planned, with students and staff encouraged to wear these special shirts each Friday in May. If you'd like to order, please do so by 4/17. Link: https://mineralpointmentalhealth22.itemorder.com/shop/sale/

You are invited to be a part of our Career Fair!

• When: Wednesday, April 20 from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
• Where: Mineral Point High School Gymnasium (705 Ross St., Mineral Point, WI 53565)
• Other details:
• Lunch will be provided
• We are inviting a variety of local employers, apprenticeships, colleges, and military recruiters to allow our students to see, learn and explore the many opportunities for them after high school.
• RSVP and Questions: Contact Erika Brunson, MPHS School Counselor at erika.brunson@mp.k12.wi.us or by calling 608-987-0732

On Wednesday, May 4, Mineral Point High School will be partaking in an annual Community Service Day in which students go around cleaning up the town! This year we are hoping to make the event more individualized, so we are asking for any names and addresses of people in need. If you, or anyone you know, would like some help raking leaves, cleaning yards, etc., please provide the following information in the form link below. If people don't have internet access, they are welcome to call the high school office at 608-987-0730 to get on the list. This event is being organized by the MPHS Key Club. Deadline to sign up is Monday, April 18. Sign up link: https://forms.gle/LUaFR2tntAca1RZM6

#PointerNation is searching for multiple Summer School teachers -- join us! Application link: https://wecan.waspa.org/Vacancy/137228

#PointerNation events coming up this week: (Please note these schedules are always subject to change)

Monday, April 11

-- School District/Community Book Club meeting 6 pm in middle/high library

-- School Board meeting 6:30 pm: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Organization/2067

-- JV & Varsity Softball at Southwestern 5 pm

-- Track & Field at Mount Horeb 4:15 pm

-- Varsity Girls Soccer at Galena, IL 5 pm

Tuesday, April 12

-- Girls Soccer vs. Richland Center (Varsity 5 pm, JV to follow)

-- Varsity Baseball at Riverdale 4:30 pm

-- JV Baseball vs. Riverdale 4:30 pm

-- Girls Basketball banquet 7 pm at Dodge-Point CC

Wednesday, April 13

-- Early release 2 pm (every Wednesday)

-- SWAL Math Contest at Boscobel

Thursday, April 14

-- Softball vs. Boscobel (Varsity 4:30 pm, JV to follow)

-- Varsity Baseball vs. Southwestern 4:30 pm

-- Track & Field at Lancaster 4:15 pm

-- Girls Soccer at Prairie du Chien (Varsity 5 pm, JV to follow)

Friday, April 15

-- No Classes

Saturday, April 16

-- MPHS Key Club/Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt at Care Center 10 am sharp

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated indicators for monitoring COVID-19 and guiding the implementation of prevention strategies, which is now supported by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and Wisconsin Department of Public Instructions (DPI). The focus is now on minimizing severe disease and disruptions to our healthcare systems versus eliminating spread. The new CDC guidance does NOT change the current quarantine (if you are exposed) or isolation (if you are symptomatic or test positive) guidance. The Mineral Point School District COVID MITIGATION PLAN still requires a negative COVID-19 test or 5 day home isolation period, followed by masking at school on days 6-10, prior to returning to school for students and staff who meet symptom criteria. Please refer to the Health Screening Checklist and let the school know if your child is exhibiting any of these symptoms, to determine if testing is necessary. COVID-19 rapid antigen and PCR tests are still being offered at school.

The new COVID-19 Community Levels are determined based on three key metrics:

1. New COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population in the past 7 days.
2. The average percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients in the past 7 days.
3. The number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days.

You can find all Wisconsin counties' levels here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html

If you have any questions, please reach out to Nurse Lindsey at jayne.lindsey@mp.k12.wi.us.

Est. 1829

"Grounded by our history as one of the oldest publicly supported schools in Wisconsin, Mineral Point Unified School District is the heart of a small community that educates and inspires our students for a bright future in a big world."

Email: joelle.doye@mp.k12.wi.us
Website: mineralpointschools.org
Location: 705 Ross Street, Mineral Point, WI, USA
Phone: (608) 987-0740
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MineralPointSchoolDistrict