#PointerNation News

Instead of "Balloons Over Broadway" it was "Balloons over Mineral Point" last week! 3rd graders read the book by Melissa Sweet and were inspired to have their own parade, just like Macy's! They are also using the library green screen to place themselves right in the heart of New York City!

Congrats to our MPHS Math Team on a great showing at the annual UW-Platteville Math Contest!

Individual award winners are selected based on their score on the individual test. This year, both Anthony Luu and Bobby Allbright received this honor and were given medals and t-shirts from UW-Platteville.

The team scores are a sum of all team members' individual scores at both levels and the scores on the team test at both levels. Our Mineral Point Team Blue tied for second place in our division! Members include: Matthew Goninen, Julianna Cool, Anthony Buleje Cadena, Regan Schuette, Malea Aschliman, Abigail Webb, Derek Hottenstein, Tyler Nordstrom, Cole Ferrell, Griffin Albaugh, Joey Robinson, Jared Wedig, Drew Hottenstein, and Callie Pierce. Congrats to all participants!

Thank you to Rural Schools Collaborative for profiling our Pointer Media program and an extra special thanks to Compeer Financial for the grant opportunity! Read more: https://ruralschoolscollaborative.org/stories/building-skills-and-community-through-innovation-at-mineral-point

Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be the same without pumpkin pie! Students enjoyed a pumpkin pie treat and created a graph to see who liked pumpkin pie and who didn’t.

Some of the High School Book Club members met recently to discuss "The New David Espinoza" by Fred Acevedo. Great discussion!

Applesauce making was a huge hit for 1st graders -- check out these comments!

High school leaders helped their elementary friends build towers of marshmallows. The highest one was near 16 inches!

Thanks to CESA 3 and Tower Junction for once again hosting a fun bowling day for students with hearing loss last week!

Mineral Point and Fennimore are teaming up to Wrestle for a Cause Friday, December 17! Lexi Kinch, a Senior Wrestling Cheerleader for #PointerNation, has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Please order a shirt to show your support for Lexi and come out to the match at MPHS that evening. All proceeds will be given to cancer research in Lexi's name. The deadline to order is December 1 at 10 am: https://sportsworld.chipply.com/mpwrcause21/store.aspx

The Mineral Point Basketball Hall of Fame will introduce its second class on Saturday, December 4. Originally the group was to be recognized earlier this year, but due to the pandemic, the group will be recognized when the Pointers host Milwaukee Pius XI. JV2 game starts at 11:30 am, JV game at 1:00 pm followed by the Varsity at 2:30. The induction will take place in between the JV and Varsity games at approximately 2:00. Read more: https://mineralpointschools.org/2021/11/second-basketball-hall-of-fame-class-selected/

Plan to stop at the Mineral Point Chamber Office on Saturday, December 4th from 10 am - 8 pm to pick up some great local gifts to support various school groups and the Mineral Point Excellence in Education Endowment! A variety of items offered from Future Business Leaders of America, Options in Education, Skills USA/Tech Ed, Fripperies, the EIE, and more! Funds earned go back to the school programs and into the EIE Fund for future grants.

The high school band is selling butter braids again this year to help support their upcoming trip to Disney World. Order deadline is December 6 and they will be delivered around December 21. If you don't know a band member, please contact matt.nevers@mp.k12.wi.us to order. If you do know a student, please use this link: https://store.myfundraisingplace.com/095e4084-a592-43e9-9946-1b176736b342

Join us for the MPHS Business Connection Night Wednesday, December 8 at 6:30 pm! The purpose of this event is to begin building positive school/business relationships and connections, learn about youth apprenticeship, and focus on helping students find opportunities to gain experience in the field. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. If you are interested in having your business participate, please reach out to Middle/High School Counselor Erika Brunson at erika.brunson@mp.k12.wi.us or High School Principal Matt Austin at matt.austin@mp.k12.wi.us.

The Mineral Point Chapter of Future Business Leaders of America is sponsoring the Holiday Giving Tree asking students, staff, and community members to share holiday blessings with area families.

Here’s how you can help:
1. Click on the FBLA Holiday Giving Tree link

2. “Pick a tag from the digital tree” by reviewing available slots and clicking on the button to sign up.
3. Purchase the gift item.
4. Drop off the UNWRAPPED gift item in the High School office/main entrance gift collection box by Friday, December 10th.

Donated gift items will be delivered to Southwest Wisconsin Community Action Program. SWCAP has holiday programs in place and seeks assistance from area organizations and individuals in our communities to help share in the joy of the holiday season through donations. Please help us to help area children and share in the joy of the holiday season! Thank you for your generosity.

Mineral Point Wrestling will induct its 2020-21 honorees to the Allen E. Bauman Wrestling Hall of Fame Friday, December 10 at the home match vs. Boscobel. Congrats to Greg & Mary Kay Sullivan, Donald & Carole Wasley, and Kevin Wasley! The group was unable to be inducted last year due to the pandemic.

A few students here at Mineral Point High School have created a business called the MP STORE in their 2nd hour Industrial Enterprise Class. They have put a lot of time and effort into creating a successful company in a short amount of time. They customize products using advanced technology such as a laser engraver, vinyl cutter, and sublimation. They have a long list of products that are available to be customized upon your request. Their company deadline is January 1st. They would greatly appreciate your support. Thank you from all those at the MP STORE! Link: https://sites.google.com/s.mp.k12.wi.us/mpstore/home?authuser=0

The annual Mineral Point FFA Chapter Poinsettia sale is going on now! Cost is $13 each with many varieties available. Contact Mike Robinson (mike.robinson@mp.k12.wi.us), or any FFA member, to order.

Join the middle/high school choirs and bands for their Winter Concert Monday, December 13 at 7 pm in the middle/high school gym! Masks will be recommended and families are asked to sit together and social distance between other families. A recording of the concert will be shared online after.

The annual School Board Candidate Info Night will be on Wednesday, December 15th at 5:30 pm at 705 Ross Street in the Board Room. If you are interested in finding out more about being a board member, this would be a night to have your questions answered. If you are uncomfortable attending the information night in-person, or have a conflict and can’t make it that evening, please reach out to Superintendent Mitch Wainwright at mitch.wainwright@mp.k12.wi.us or call 608-987-0740 if you have questions. Anyone interested in having their name appear on the April ballot, including incumbents, must file candidacy in the District Office no later than Tuesday, January 4 at 5 pm.

Students are getting excited to share their musical talents with you. Here is some important information about the Elementary Winter Concert.

Tuesday, December 21st - High School Gym

10:00 am - Morning 4K & Grades K-2

1:30 pm - Afternoon 4K & Grades 3-5

Here are some of the steps we are taking to keep this a safe, joyful, concert:

• We are limiting the audience to 4 adults per student household. If a family has more than one child performing, they are asked to still limit their attendance to 4 adults. If a child has parents at different addresses, each may bring up to 4 adults. Any children that need to accompany parents/caregivers are not included in the 4 person count. We are asking to limit the audience to these guests- it is not open to community members who are not part of the 4 person/household count.
• We will be offering a live stream option for folks who cannot attend. Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkK8qbOedyJlHnN89x527nw
• With a reduced audience size, we encourage social distancing. We ask that families sit together and try to offer social distancing between other families.
• Masks will be required for the event. If you are unable to abide by the mask requirements, you do have the option to watch the concert via live stream.

Mineral Point Unified School District is looking to fill two vacancies. Come join the great place that is #PointerNation!

-- Long Term Guest (Substitute) Elementary Teacher. Apply on WECAN: https://wecan.waspa.org/Vacancy/126986

-- Registered Nurse for a 60 day contract to assist the School Nurse with school nursing duties and COVID related tasks and responsibilities in accordance with the District Covid Mitigation Plan. Qualified applicants should submit a letter of interest, resume, and two letters of recommendation to Angela Klein, Director of Special Education & Pupil Services by December 1, 2021. Email to angela.klein@mp.k12.wi.us or mail to 705 Ross Street, Mineral Point, WI 53565.

CESA 3 in Fennimore will again be offering substitute teacher training Tuesday, December 7. This training, along with an associate's degree or higher, is a requirement for a substitute teachers' license in Wisconsin. We'd love to have you join #PointerNation this year! More information is available in the flyer and you can register here: https://login.myquickreg.com/register/event/event.cfm?from_cms=1&eventid=29833

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

Tuesday, November 30

-- Wrestling vs. River Valley (JV 6:30/Varsity to follow). Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkK8qbOedyJlHnN89x527nw

-- Boys Basketball at Dodgeville (JV 6 pm/Varsity to follow). Radio: 107.1 fm. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/c/DodgevilleSchoolDistrict

-- MS Boys Basketball at Iowa-Grant 4 pm.

Wednesday, December 1

-- Early release 2 pm (every Wednesday)

Thursday, December 2

-- Boys Basketball at Belleville (JV 6 pm/Varsity to follow). Radio: 93.7 fm. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/.../UCbe6YtvtXRo5Vw6slw0SVkg/videos

Friday, December 3

-- Girls Basketball vs. Fennimore (JV 6 pm/Varsity to follow). Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkK8qbOedyJlHnN89x527nw

-- Girls Basketball at Benton/Shullsburg (JV2 6 pm)

Saturday, December 4

-- Boys Basketball vs. Milwaukee Pius XI (JV2 11:30 am, JV 1 pm/Varsity to follow -- 2021 Hall of Fame induction between JV & Varsity approx 2 pm). Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkK8qbOedyJlHnN89x527nw

-- Wrestling at Watertown (10 am Varsity)

-- Wrestling at Stoughton (9:30 am JV)

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the CDC recommend that anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 or who has had close contact with someone with COVID-19 be tested. The test for COVID-19 involves a quick swab of the inside of the nose. The school is working with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services on providing rapid antigen and PCR tests in school. If you would like to have the option for your child to get a PCR or antigen test at school, they must bring the attached consent form signed by a parent/guardian if they are under 18 years old. You would be contacted before any testing would occur and only if indicated per school policy. This form is being distributed now, to be collected in advance so that in the event your child needs to be tested, we would not have to wait for the form to be returned during the middle of a work or school day.

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