#PointerNation News

Our December Students of the Month for the 2022-23 school year were honored Tuesday at a Mineral Point Kiwanis meeting -- a big congrats to Alana DuBois and Kennedy Kabat! Read more about these star Seniors here: https://mineralpointschools.org/2022/12/dubois-kabat-are-students-of-the-month/

Let's have a round of applause for 4th Grade Teacher Livia Doyle who has been named a winner of Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation's 35 Under 35 Award! Livia is the winner of the Sustainable Future category, which recognizes individuals who are setting up the next generation for success, both on and off the farm. Read more here: https://wfbf.com/farm-bureau-news/top-individuals-announced-in-wfbfs-inaugural-35-under-35-program/

Several Wisconsin middle school student groups, including one of our own from Mineral Point, will have a unique opportunity to make their mark on their communities after being awarded with Character Playbook Community Impact Grants from the Green Bay Packers and Brown County United Way!

Student groups were invited this fall to develop a service project to help their school, neighborhood or surrounding community. After the project proposals were submitted and reviewed, 13 group project ideas were selected to receive a grant.

Groups selected will receive grant awards up to $500 through funds from the NFL Volunteerism Grant or Brown County United Way to help fund implementation of the project.

To ensure that students feel belonging and connectedness, Mineral Point Middle School will create a Kindness Club to create welcome kits for new students, bring families and students together through game nights and create community service opportunities.

Four students from Mineral Point Middle School Student Council came together to write this grant application. Brynn Swenson, Carver Potterton, Blake Robb, and Rachel Heisner brainstormed ideas for ways to create connectedness at Mineral Point Middle School and to give back to the community. Since their grant application was in the top 20 schools, they were invited to present their ideas via zoom to a panel of grant reviewers. Their goals are:

-- Promote kindness at MPMS by creating a Kindness Club

-- Create welcome kits for new students at MPMS

-- Create a sense of belonging through creating a Game Club

-- Create community service opportunities

Congratulations, all!

We have four students whose art will be on display Wednesday, December 14 at the Regional Statewide Teen Art Mentor Program High School Art Show in the Harry & Laura Nohr Gallery at UW-Platteville! Congrats to Libby Dunn, Joss James, Morgan Palzkill, and Brianna Rideout! Read more info here about the event: https://www.uwplatt.edu/news/nohr-gallery-celebrate-regional-high-school-artists

Mrs. Niehaus' 3rd graders spotlighted Aspen Ridge Home & Garden in their holiday ads! Students enjoyed their recent visit to learn more about their featured business.

Mrs. McGuire's kindergarteners spotlighted Berget Jewelers in their holiday ads! Students enjoyed their recent visit to learn more about their featured business.

Mrs. Edwards' 5th graders spotlighted the Mineral Point Opera House in their holiday ads! Students enjoyed their recent visit to learn more about their featured business.

1st graders are "traveling" the globe learning about holiday traditions in other countries! Students visited Germany and learned about their traditions such as the importance of the Tannenbaum (tree), advent wreath, gingerbread items, and the pickle ornament.

1st graders are "traveling" the globe learning about holiday traditions in other countries! Students enjoyed their visit to Israel for Hanukkah and played the dreidel game.

1st graders are "traveling" the globe learning about holiday traditions in other countries! They visited Mexico to learn about Las Pasadas. The poinsettia and piñatas were the highlights! Feliz Navidad!

The countdown to Christmas is on! Kindergarten students were visited by high school buddies to help them create these chains that will countdown to the big day!

We are excited to celebrate students who are participating in our School to Work program! Say hello to Koby Filardo who is working at the City of Mineral Point in the Streets & Parks Department!

A group of our choir students set the mood for Candlelight Shopping sharing their sounds of the season!

Thank you to Kwik Trip Kares for donating $500 in gift cards to the Mineral Point Middle/High School Care Closet! These funds will be available to help families needing extra support throughout the school year.

If you would like to donate to the Mineral Point Middle/High School Care Closet, please reach out to Social/Emotional Learning Coach Dani Robb (dani.robb@mp.k12.wi.us) or School Counselor Erika Brunson (erika.brunson@mp.k12.wi.us). We are in need of snacks for students and personal hygiene items. Monetary donations will also be accepted which will be used for specific student and family needs.

If you would like to donate to the Elementary Students in Need Fund, please reach out to School Psychologist Katelyn Oellerich (katelyn.oellerich@mp.k12.wi.us) or School Counselor Alex Welsh (alex.welsh@mp.k12.wi.us). We are in need of boys pants children’s sizes 4T up to 14/16 and undergarments for boys and girls in all children's sizes 4T up to 14/16. We are also in need of snacks for students and monetary donations which will be used for specific student and family needs.

The MP Student Store/Skills USA will be making candles for the holiday season! If you are interested in ordering, please check out the form: MP Student Store Order Form (google.com)

You can contact Mr. Kyle Carey with questions at kyle.carey@mp.k12.wi.us

The Mineral Point Excellence in Education Endowment Fund will be hosting a Snack Drive at our Winter Concerts!

Why a Snack Drive? Our students get hungry between breakfast and lunch. Many have the resources to bring their own snacks. However, for others this is a challenge. Having additional snacks on hand helps to support our students with meeting their basic needs so they are more available for learning throughout the day.

Not sure what to donate? Some great snack choices include:

• Individually packed non-perishable items such as:

• Granola bars

• Applesauce pouches

• Crackers (plain, cheesy, and peanut butter sandwiches)

• Fruit snacks

• Trail mix

Please bring donations to the following events when you join us to celebrate the sounds of the season:

-- Middle/High School Concert: Monday, December 12 at 7 pm

-- Elementary Concert: Wednesday, December 21 at 12:30 pm

Both concerts will be held in the middle/high school gym.

If you are unable to attend these events, but would like to help, snacks can be dropped off with attention to:

-- Katelyn Oellerich (School Psychologist) located at the Elementary (611 Cothern St)

-- Dani Robb (Social/Emotional Learning Coach) located at the Middle/High (705 Ross St)

Thank you for your support!

Mark your calendar for the fourth annual Mineral Point Basketball Hall of Fame induction Saturday, December 17! Kudos to our inductees -- Joe Bolan, Parker Doney, Amy Edge, Sam Graber, Brian Murphy, Cari Schaaf, and Tom Speich. Read more here: https://mineralpointschools.org/2022/04/fourth-basketball-hall-of-fame-class-selected/

Mineral Point Wrestling will induct its 2022-23 honorees to the Allen E. Bauman Wrestling Hall of Fame Friday, December 23 at the home match vs. Lodi. Congrats to Nate Chambers and Bill & Chris Mester! Also recognized will be 2021-22 inductees Donald and Carole Wasley. Please come and join in the celebration!

Mineral Point Elementary is searching for a part time Instructional Assistant. Come join the great place that is #PointerNation! Application link: https://wecan.waspa.org/Vacancy/159379

Our middle/high school has an immediate opening for a substitute custodian during the day shift. Come join the great place that is #PointerNation! Contact Dave DeVoe, Maintenance Director, at dave.devoe@mp.k12.wi.us or 608-987-0740 if interested.

#PointerNation events coming up this week -- join us! (Please note these schedules are always subject to change)

Monday, December 12
-- School Board meeting 5 pm (note earlier time): https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Organization/2067
-- Middle/High School Winter Concert 7 pm in gym.

Tuesday, December 13
-- Boys Basketball at Prairie du Chien (JV 6 pm, Varsity to follow). Livestream (subscription required): https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/prairie-du-chien-high-school-prairie-du-chien-wi
-- Girls Basketball at Southwestern (JV 6 pm, Varsity to follow). Livestream (subscription required): https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/southwestern-high-school-hazel-green-wi

Wednesday, December 14
-- Early release 2 pm (every Wednesday)

Thursday, December 15
-- Varsity Boys Basketball at Riverdale 7 pm. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@riverdaleschooldistrict1580

Friday, December 16
-- Girls Basketball vs. Boscobel (JV 6 pm, Varsity to follow). Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@mptvpointers
-- Wrestling at Black Hawk (JV 6:30 pm, Varsity to follow).

Saturday, December 17
-- Boys Basketball vs. Platteville (JV2 12:50 pm, JV 1 pm, Varsity to follow) -- Hall of Fame induction. Radio: 1590 am. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@mptvpointers
-- Gymnastics at Prairie du Chien 10 am. Livestream (subscription required): https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/prairie-du-chien-high-school-prairie-du-chien-wi
-- Girls Varsity Wrestling at Alliant Energy Center Madison 10 am
-- JV Wrestling at Elkhorn 9 am

Please be aware of other companies claiming to livestream our games, especially if there are links different than posted above and ask for credit card and personal information -- these are scams. We will update this pinned post as available livestream information is relayed to 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