Mercer School is honored to host a Veterans Day breakfast and assembly on Monday, November 11 to recognize and thank our community’s veterans for their service and sacrifices. We invite all veterans and their families, along with community members, to join us in this meaningful celebration.

Schedule of Events:

• Coffee at 8:30 AM; Breakfast at 9:00
  Veterans and their families are invited to start the morning with a complimentary breakfast prepared by our school staff and Student Council. Coffee along with muffins and fruit will be served at 8:30 followed by breakfast at 9:00. This is a wonderful time to enjoy good food, share stories, and connect with friends, neighbors, and fellow veterans.

• Assembly at 10:00 AM
  Following breakfast, we will hold a special assembly in honor of Veterans Day. The program will feature presentations and speeches by our students, who have been working hard to prepare tributes expressing their gratitude for the sacrifices made by our nation’s servicemen and servicewomen. There will also be an opportunity to hear from local veterans and reflect on the meaning of service to our country.

Mercer School is proud to support and celebrate our veterans, and we hope the community will join us in honoring these heroes on Veterans Day. Thank you to our veterans for all you have done, and continue to do, for our country. We look forward to showing our gratitude on November 11.

Get ready to show off your school spirit all week long! Everyone is encouraged to participate in Spirit Days, not just our 6th-8th graders. Let’s make it a week full of fun and creativity—join in each day to show your school pride!

• Monday: Patriot's Day
  Kick off Spirit Week by wearing red, white, and blue to honor our veterans. Go all out with stars and stripes, or stick to a color theme—either way, let’s make it a sea of patriotic pride!

• Tuesday: Pajama Day
  Roll out of bed and head to school in your comfiest pajamas! Whether you’re rocking a cozy robe, fuzzy slippers, or your favorite sleepwear set, today’s all about being comfy and cozy.
• Wednesday: Camo Day
  Blend into the wild! Wear your best camouflage gear to celebrate Camo Day. Whether it’s a camo jacket, pants, or a cap, let’s see your best camouflage look!
• Thursday: Twin Day
  Grab a friend (or a group!) and dress alike for Twin Day. Whether it’s matching shirts, hairstyles, or head-to-toe outfits, today is all about doubling the fun!
• Friday: Couch Potato Day
  End the week with ultimate relaxation by dressing like a couch potato! Think oversized hoodies, sweatpants, and blankets to complete the look. Get comfy and celebrate the end of Spirit Week in style!




Let’s make this a memorable Spirit Week by dressing up, having fun, and showing off our school spirit together!

In the Strategic Plan, Mercer School has identified six strategic priorities:

• Teaching and Learning
• Environment for Learning
• Developing the Whole Child
• Finance and Operations
• Culture and Community
• College and Career Readiness

Each week, our newsletter highlights stories, projects, and achievements that reflect these six strategic priorities, showcasing the impactful work of our students, staff, and community. By focusing our efforts on these critical areas, we are confident that Mercer School can create the best possible learning environment and opportunities, paving the way for our students' success today and in the future.

Mercer School has set clear, annual measurable objectives aligned with the School Board’s Strategic Priorities. These objectives provide a structured framework to guide progress throughout the school year and ensure that each goal directly supports the broader vision outlined by the Board. By setting specific, trackable benchmarks, the school can assess and report on its progress more transparently, allowing for ongoing adjustments to address evolving student needs and educational challenges. This initiative reflects the school’s commitment to continuous improvement, accountability, and the pursuit of academic excellence for all students.

Experiences prepare students to identify, create, and seize opportunities that will help them succeed and thrive in the career of their choice.

Continue reading to see how Mercer provides opportunities to ensure students are college and career ready!

We are excited to offer students the opportunity to complete the OSHA 10 class, enabling them to earn an industry-recognized credential (IRC) that will set them apart as they begin their careers. Industry-recognized credentials, like OSHA 10, are certifications, licenses, or other credentials endorsed by nationally recognized trade associations or industry organizations. They are designed to verify that an individual has the skills needed to perform specific roles or tasks within an industry.

This week, three sessions led by a Nicolet instructor took place at Mercer School, where students gained essential safety and health knowledge across various industries. We’re proud to announce that 11 students successfully earned their OSHA 10 certification, equipping them with practical skills they can immediately apply in the workplace. By completing this program, students gain a competitive edge, demonstrating to potential employers that they are prepared and qualified to work safely and responsibly.

Offering this credentialing opportunity is just one of the many ways our school is committed to supporting students in becoming college and career-ready. Whether they plan to enter the workforce immediately or pursue higher education, earning this credential provides them with foundational skills that open doors to a range of job opportunities. We are proud to offer this practical, future-focused program and look forward to seeing our students apply their skills to succeed in whichever path they choose.

Teaching and Learning: Learners are engaged in high-quality personalized experiences that build identify and agency.

What does it mean to build identity and agency?

Identity refers to students understanding who they are, what they care about, and how they fit into the world around them. Agency means that students have the skills and confidence to make choices, set goals, and take action to shape their future. By focusing on identity and agency, we are helping students become active participants in their own learning and growth, empowering them to succeed both in school and beyond.

Read on for examples of how Mercer School provides high-quality personalized experiences that build identity and agency.

We’re thrilled to announce that the library has agreed to partner with our science club to host the first-ever Invention Convention this spring! This exciting event will showcase our students' creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills as they present unique inventions designed to solve real-world problems.

The Invention Convention will allow students to demonstrate and discuss their creations. Not only will this be a fantastic opportunity for students to share their work, but it will also be open to the community, allowing attendees to interact with the inventors, ask questions, and be inspired by their ideas.

Many of our students are already brainstorming inventive solutions that go beyond the usual classroom resources, and we’re exploring potential grants and resources to support these ambitious projects. We’re incredibly grateful to the library for helping us make this event a reality and for their commitment to supporting student innovation in our community.

Stay tuned for more details on dates and times—and be sure to attend this incredible showcase of young talent and creativity!

Our 6th-grade students are in the middle of an exciting hands-on project that puts their creativity, problem-solving skills, and academic knowledge to the test. They are working on an Invention Project, where they were challenged to come up with ideas for a brand-new invention—something that doesn’t yet exist. This project has called on them to stretch their imagination while applying practical math, English, and art skills.

As part of the project, students have been tasked with designing their invention, writing a professional letter to request funding, and creating unique packaging for their products. To bring their packaging ideas to life, students drew 2D nets that, when assembled, transformed into 3D packages for their inventions. Students then applied their artistic skills to make their package stand out. This step helped them connect geometric concepts with real-world applications in design and presentation.

Each phase of the project reinforces essential skills, from persuasive writing to spatial reasoning, as they experience the process of turning an idea into a potential product. Who knows, we might have a few future inventors in our midst! We are proud of their hard work and can’t wait to celebrate their finished products.

A culture of partnership, inclusivity and positive relationships, both inside and outside the school, supports students, staff, and the community. Stakeholders actively participate to achieve a shared vision of success.

Read below for examples of how Mercer School is focused on developing a positive culture and community.

On Thursday, November 7, our Varsity and JV Academic Quiz Bowl teams competed at Gogebic College in their first matches of the season, showcasing their hard work, knowledge, and team spirit! We’re especially thrilled to announce that our JV team started out strong with a win in their first match. All students reported that they enjoyed the event and are excited to compete again.

"What is quiz bowl?", you might ask. Quiz Bowl is an academic competition where teams of students answer a variety of questions on subjects ranging from history and literature to science, current events, and geography. A moderator reads questions, and teams buzz in to provide answers. The questions are designed to test students' knowledge and quick thinking across a wide range of topics. Teams compete to answer the questions correctly and earn points, with the team accumulating the most points at the end of the match declared the winner.

Congratulations to all the students and coach Matt Hubenschmidt for their dedication and enthusiasm, and best of luck in the rest of the season! We’re so proud of you!

We’re excited to announce an expanded partnership between our school and the Discovery Center aimed at creating engaging, hands-on lessons with a strong environmental focus. On Wednesday, November 8, representatives from the Discovery Center joined our staff meeting to collaborate on ways they can support classroom projects, bringing their expertise and resources to our students’ learning experiences.

As part of this partnership, the Discovery Center will be on hand to kick off an exciting migration study for our elementary students, offering opportunities to learn about animal migration patterns in a dynamic, interactive way. They will also work alongside our high school environmental science class, supporting students as they research and explore real-world environmental issues.

Earlier this year, the Discovery Center supported our 5th and 6th grade students with their predator/prey projects during a field trip to the center and the Van Vliet Forest. This was a hands-on learning experience where students observed ecosystems in action. To continue supporting this project, the Discovery Center will bring in animal skulls, allowing students to study and analyze the physical features of predators and prey, further enhancing their understanding of the natural world.

A big thank you to the Discovery Center and naturalists Hannah Thorpe and Licia Johnson for their ongoing support and collaboration. We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with them and look forward to the many learning opportunities this will bring to our students!

We are proud to announce the winners of this year’s Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy contests. These competitions, sponsored by the VFW, encourage students to explore important themes of patriotism and civic responsibility through writing and public speaking. Our students showcased their talent, creativity, and thoughtful reflections on the topics, earning recognition for their exceptional work.

A special congratulations to the winners, whose contributions captured the spirit of our nation and its values:

Patriot's Pen:

1st Place: Levi Joustra

2nd Place: Brooklynn Kussard

3d Place: Stella Thompson

Voice of Democracy:

1st Place: Keewin Wilson

2nd Place: Samson Morden

3d Place: Simon Thompson

Well done!

Athletics is one way that we support the whole child and make sure that students have the opportunity to pursue their interests and excel academically, physically, and emotionally. Kudos to our teams! Go Tigers!

We are thrilled to announce that five of our talented volleyball players have been selected for All-Conference recognition by the Northern Lights Conference! Among them, Jenny and Eiley were honored as Co-Players of the Year, a testament to their exceptional skill, leadership, and dedication on the court.

In addition to Jenny and Eiley, Rylinn was selected as First Team All Conference while Anya and Kaylee received Honorable Mention All Conference. These athletes demonstrated outstanding performance throughout the season, earning well-deserved recognition for their contributions to the team.

A huge congratulations to all of these exceptional players for their hard work and commitment to the sport. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to their continued success both on and off the court!

Looking for a way to stay active and connect with friends and neighbors during the winter months? Every Saturday, community members come together in the Mercer gym for a lively morning of pickleball! This popular paddle sport combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, making it a fun, easy-to-learn activity for all ages and skill levels.

Pickleball is a great way to stay fit and socialize, especially during the colder months. Whether you’re a seasoned player or brand new to the game, all levels are welcome. Don’t worry if you haven’t played before—regulars are happy to show beginners the ropes, and equipment is available for those who need it.

So grab a friend, bundle up, and head to the gym on Saturday mornings to join in the fun! It’s a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a little friendly competition, learn new skills, and become part of this active community. See you on the court!

The physical, social, and emotional environment for learning is designed and maintained to provide a safe, creative, engaging, and dynamic space for learners.

Mercer School is in the process of hiring a part-time custodian to support our dedicated buildings and grounds staff. As we undertake important projects funded by the recent voter-approved referendum, this new role will be essential in helping us balance these initiatives with the day-to-day needs of our school.

Our buildings and grounds staff work hard to ensure our facilities are safe, clean, and welcoming for students, staff, and the community. With the additional projects on the horizon—ranging from facility updates to improvements that enhance the learning environment—the need for extra support has become clear. This part-time custodian will help us complete these projects efficiently while keeping up with regular maintenance tasks and day-to-day operations.

We’re excited to strengthen our team and continue making Mercer School a top-notch place to learn and grow. Thank you to our community for supporting these developments, and stay tuned for more updates as we progress on these important improvements!

Nov 11 @ 8:30 Veterans Day Breakfast (coffee, muffins, fruit @ 8:30; full breakfast at 9:00)

Nov 11 @ 10:00 AM-11:15 AM Veterans Day Program in the gym

Nov 11 @ 4:30 PM MS Boys Bball Game @ Wakefield

Nov 12 @ 5:00 PM MS Boys Bball Game @ Hurley

Nov 14 @ 4:00 PM-7:00 PM Pizza Buffet, Class of '26 - at Wolf's Den

Nov 14 @ 5:30 PM MS Boys Bball Game vs. Butternut

Nov 15 Gogebic Range Honors Band, 9-12th Grades, Ironwood

Nov 15 @ 7:30 PM-9:30 PM Middle School Dance 6-8th Grade in the cafeteria

Nov 18 @ 5:00 PM Mercer School Board Meeting in the cafeteria

Monday, Nov 11

Pizza, Veggies, Fruit Salad

Tuesday, Nov 12

Chicken Sandwich, Sweet Potato Fries, Mandarin Oranges

Wednesday, Nov 13

Sweet & Sour Meatballs, Rice, Green Beans, Pineapple

Thursday, Nov 14

Cordon Bleu Casserole, Peas, Mixed Fruit

Friday, Nov 15

Nachos, Mexican Rice, Corn, Peaches

Click on the link below to download a sponsorship form.

For children and teens, attending school isn’t just about getting an education. It’s about developing their whole selves—emotionally, socially, and personally.

Attending school regularly and in person gives students the ability to follow daily routines, as well as connect with friends, peers, teachers, and others outside their family circle. They’re able to engage and interact, to use their brains and try new things. They can be part of a team. They have a purpose.

Help your child be their best self. Promote good attendance.

Credit: Adapted from The Ad Council

Stay up to date with the latest news and announcements by using the Mercer School App. You can use the QR code below to download the app:

Email: rmcmurray@mercertigers.org
Website: https://www.mercer.k12.wi.us/
Location: 2690 Margaret Street, Mercer, WI, USA
Phone: 715-388-8274

Mercer Memo is edited using ChatGPT