#PointerNation News

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the dedication of Scott Schmitz Community Gym at Tuesday night's #PointerNation Wrestling match! As Coach Schmitz stated in his speech, he is "blessed to be a Pointer." Thanks for everything over the years, Scott! To read more on his legacy, and the ceremony, visit: https://mineralpointschools.org/

Let's hear it for high school science teacher Tom Steger! Mr. Steger was recognized as a nominee for Most Valuable Educator in Wisconsin by TDS Telecommunications LLC and the Green Bay Packers. He was presented with this honor by TDS Senior Administrator of Field Marketing, Grace Faulkner. #PointerNation is proud!

Congrats to Elliott Webb (tuba) who had the honor of performing as part of the Governor's Mansion Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony this weekend in Madison! Elliott was chosen as a featured member of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras (WYSO).

Our Middle School Student Council is helping make the holidays brighter for families in need! They hosted a food drive prior to Thanksgiving and delivered the items to SWCAP in Dodgeville. Great job!

Kudos to our #PointerNation Boys Basketball team which clocks in at #3 in WisSports.net's Week 1 Division 4 state rankings! Read more: https://www.wissports.net/page/show/8333530-week-1

1st graders traveled to Mexico to learn about their Christmas traditions! Students found out they are very similar to many of ours.

4K started their next unit “stores” last week. They are loving buying groceries and checking their friends out!

Run! Run! Fast as you can! You can’t catch me! I’m the Gingerbread man! Kindergarten had fun rhyming with the gingerbread man.

1st graders are bringing in an ornament from home to help decorate the class tree!

It was most beautiful night of the year in Mineral Point Saturday! Thank you to our students who visited the Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce to make hundreds of luminaries for Candlelight Shopping!

The first winter recess is always SNOW much fun!

Mrs. Heimsoth's 5th graders will be spotlighting Brewery Pottery in their upcoming holiday ads! Students enjoyed their recent visit to learn more about their featured business.

Mrs. Soots' 1st graders will be spotlighting Farmers Savings Bank in their upcoming holiday ads! Students enjoyed their recent visit to learn more about their featured business.

Ms. Muhlstein's 5th graders will be spotlighting High Street Sweets in their upcoming holiday ads! Students enjoyed their recent visit to learn more about their featured business.

Mrs. Dunham's 1st graders will be spotlighting Mineral Point Opera House in their upcoming holiday ads! Students enjoyed their recent visit to learn more about their featured business.

Mrs. Wiegel's 1st graders will be spotlighting Mineral Point Public Library in their upcoming holiday ads! Students enjoyed their recent visit to learn more about their featured business.

Mrs. Gorgen's 2nd graders will be spotlighting ROO + CREW in their upcoming holiday ads! Students enjoyed their recent visit to learn more about their featured business.

Mrs. Niehaus' 2nd graders will be spotlighting True Action Realty in their upcoming holiday ads! Students enjoyed a recent visit from Christina Weitzel to learn more about their featured business.

A big thank you to Nancy Adler and the Belmont and Mineral Point Lions Club members for conducting free vision screenings at the elementary school this fall! Over 250 students were screened and over 35 were referred to an eye care specialist. Helping your child have the best vision possible now can help your child succeed in school in later years.

BE PREPARED

As weather events occur, it is sometimes necessary to close our schools. We’ve compiled this information for you and your family to help prepare and plan.

WE TAKE THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS VERY SERIOUSLY

Student and staff safety is always our number one priority. The bus transportation director, and our school superintendent, jointly monitor weather, specifically when an event is approaching our area. Every effort is made to make and communicate a decision regarding possible school closure before 6:00 am based on the safety and timing of bus travel and the status of the weather events. Each weather event is unique, and the response may be different for different events.

GRADES EC-12

Students/Staff will not have virtual learning days on the first 32 inclement weather hours during the 2023-24 school year. Any additional hours beyond 32 may turn into virtual learning to ensure compliance with state instructional minute mandates. There may be some days when a 2 hour delay, or early dismissal, is necessary instead of a full day off.

* No buses will run on inclement weather days. They will run on 2 hour late starts and early dismissals.

* Pointer Kids Club will not operate on inclement weather days or weather early dismissals. It will open at 9 am on 2 hour late starts.

HOW WE WILL COMMUNICATE

We will communicate, as technology allows, through the following channels:

• District Website

• Facebook

• Family/Staff phone, email, and text (if enabled)

• Local media outlets

* Please check your Skyward Family Access account to ensure your contact information is accurate and that you are signed up for phone, text and/or email notifications.

It's time to be thinking of 2024 School Board candidates. Please read more details here on the April election and filing deadlines: https://mineralpointschools.org/2023/11/2024-school-board-election-information/

Fans of #PointerNation! Coming soon -- the Mineral Point Unified School District is pleased to announce that we will be offering GoFan for mobile ticketing for athletic events. Fans can purchase tickets online through our school’s GoFan page, the GoFan App, or by presenting a card or mobile payment option at the game. All major credit cards are accepted, along with Apple Pay. TICKETS WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE FOR CASH PURCHASE AT THE GATE, and previously purchased adult/student/senior passes will still be accepted. Please read more information here so you are ready when we implement digital ticketing: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z7TR2q9ajIlv11K0LjxGl4blRQtFRNJt6YDWnU7KQzU/edit?usp=sharing

If you have any questions, please reach out to Athletic Director Chris Carr at chris.carr@mp.k12.wi.us

We'd love to have you join our sub pool! There will be a Substitute Teacher Training held at CESA 3 in Fennimore at 9 am on December 6. This training is one of the requirements for a sub license in Wisconsin (including the minimum of an associate's degree). Instruction will end at 2 pm. Participants can register here: https://hopin.com/events/substitute-teacher-training-bd9af1a4-fb89-413e-9da6-6cd8f0d21da9

Save the date! Mineral Point Wrestling will induct its 2023-24 honorees to the Allen E. Bauman Wrestling Hall of Fame Friday, December 8 at the home match vs. Fennimore. Congrats to Russ Kitsemble and Jerry Olson!

When you come out to the #PointerNation Boys Basketball game Saturday 12/9, and the Girls Basketball game Thursday 12/14, make sure to bring a new toy with you for the Odd Fellows' Toy Drive!

The Mineral Point Excellence in Education Endowment Fund is hosting a drive to help us fill our Care Cupboard! There is a need for these items in our schools:

-- Personal Hygiene products such as: deodorant, laundry detergent pods, tampons/pads.

-- Individually packed non-perishable snack items such as: granola bars, applesauce pouches, crackers (plain, cheesy, and peanut butter sandwiches), fruit snacks, trail mix.

-- Monetary donations

Items may be dropped off at the winter concerts or at either school office. Thank you!

Join the middle/high school choirs and bands for their Winter Concert Monday, December 11 at 7 pm in the middle/high school gym for some outstanding sounds of the season!

Elementary K-5 students are getting excited to share their musical talents with you at their Winter Concert Wednesday, December 20 in the high school gym beginning at 1 pm!

Mark your calendar for the fifth annual Mineral Point Basketball Hall of Fame induction Saturday, January 6, 2024! Kudos to our inductees -- Raeann Bennett, Janet James, Liz Lawinger, Bret McGraw, Jim Pluemer, and John Schmit. Read more here: https://mineralpointschools.org/2023/04/fifth-basketball-hall-of-fame-class-selected/

#PointerNation Girls Basketball will be holding its annual Alumni Night Friday, January 12 during the game vs. Fennimore! The teams of 1974-75, 1977-78, 1987-88, 1997-98, 2007-08, and 2017-18 will be honored. Order shirts by 12/26: https://sportsworld.chipply.com/mpgbbalumni23/store.aspx

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

Tuesday, December 5

-- Boys Basketball vs. River Valley (JV 6 pm, Varsity to follow). Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkK8qbOedyJlHnN89x527nw

-- Girls Basketball at Iowa-Grant (JV 6 pm, Varsity to follow). Livestream (subscription required): https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/iowagrant-high-school-livingston-wi

-- MS Boys Basketball at River Valley 4 pm

Wednesday, December 6

-- Early release 2 pm (every Wednesday)

Thursday, December 7

-- Boys Basketball at Southwestern (JV 6 pm, Varsity to follow). Radio: 107.1 fm. Livestream (subscription required): https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/southwestern-high-school-hazel-green-wi

-- MS Boys Basketball vs. Cuba City 4 pm

Friday, December 8

-- JV & Varsity Wrestling vs. Fennimore 6:30 pm (Hall of Fame induction for Russ Kitsemble and Jerry Olson). Radio: 1590 am. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkK8qbOedyJlHnN89x527nw

-- Girls Basketball at Cuba City (JV 6 pm, Varsity to follow). Radio: 93.7 fm and 106.1 fm. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@ccsdstreaming2119

Digital Program: https://bit.ly/46MxXt6

Saturday, December 9

-- Boys Basketball vs. Prairie du Chien (JV 6 pm, Varsity to follow). (Odd Fellows Toy Drive). Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkK8qbOedyJlHnN89x527nw

-- Varsity Wrestling at Wisconsin Dells 9 am

-- Girls Wrestling at Waunakee 9:45 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.

"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