VASD Newsletter

Nota: Puede acceder a este Boletín Informativo en diferentes idiomas haciendo clic en el botón "Translate"

On Monday, March 3, 2025, the Verona Area School District (VASD) Board of Education voted to approve a contract between VASD and the Verona Police Department (VPD) to place a School Resource Officer (SRO) at Verona Area High School (VAHS). The Verona Common Council approved the contract at their February 24, 2025 meeting.

VASD regularly collaborates with the VPD and the Fitchburg Police Department (FPD). VASD and VPD have been working together well during my time serving as the Superintendent. Both entities have a mutual intent to serve our VASD students and support a safe, constructive learning environment.

Over the past several months, VASD and VPD have had several productive visioning and planning meetings to develop the roles and obligations of each organization and the duties of an SRO. The contract has been completed, and both VPD and VASD are excited about welcoming an SRO to the team.

While the Board of Education voted to approve the contract, their vote did not focus on a specific person to fill the role. VASD and VPD are approaching filling the SRO position in a unique fashion. We will be using a liaison model for the rest of the school year. We anticipate filling the permanent position after the close of the school year, with the long-term SRO being in place at the start of the 2025-26 school year. The SRO will provide another layer of security and better position VASD to respond to lethal threats. The SRO will not be the the first person to respond to student discipline at VAHS. Instead, they will function as part of a team, with their first and most important role being to develop positive relationships with students and colleagues.

The local African American History Academic Challenge (AAHAC), sponsored and run by 100 Black Men of Madison, is taking place today, March 12, 2025 at 4:30 PM at the Verona Area High School Performing Arts Center. Teams from Badger Ridge Middle School, Core Knowledge Charter School, Savanna Oaks Middle School, and Verona Area High School will participate in this educational program. The AAHAC ignites and enhances the study of African American history. Teams spend months studying and preparing, and then demonstrate their knowledge in a competitive quiz show format. Winners of the VASD Junior Division (middle school) and Senior Division (high school) will advance to the regional Dane County competition to be held at Verona Area High School on Friday March 14, 2025 at 4:30 PM.

Throughout Women's History Month, we're recognizing VASD leaders who are women throughout the district. Keep an eye on our social media to learn about these outstanding individuals.

March is Music In Our Schools Month! VASD's music education is outstanding all year round, and March is a time to shine a spotlight on these students and educators. The VAHS Concert Choir has been doing amazing things all month. In the community, they performed at the Verona Senior Center, Azura Assisted Living, and Azura Memory Care.

Earlier this month, they worked with Dr. Keith "Doc" Hampton, the Artistic Director and Founder of the Chicago Community Chorus, one of the city's largest and most diverse choral organizations. A highly accomplished organist, conductor, composer, educator, church musician, adjudicator, and clinician, Dr. Hampton is a specialist in Gospel Music. In 2010, the North Central American Choral Directors Association recognized him as one of the top 25 Contemporary Composers, noting that his piece Praise His Holy Name should be standard repertoire for choirs today and for the next 25 years. The VAHS Concert Choir is thrilled to be working on his piece Unity.

On Saturday, March 8, the VAHS Music Department hosted over 1,000 musicians and held more than 700 Solo & Ensemble events throughout the day. Solo & Ensemble is a festival sponsored by the Wisconsin School Music Association where students perform solo or small ensemble pieces before adjudicators and receive feedback and a performance rating. VAHS alone had 109 events, with 89 of them being eligible to qualify for the state level. Of those, 57 events will be advancing to the State competition at UW-Platteville on April 26, including the 7 o'clock Jazz Band and the Accidentals Vocal Jazz. It’s a tremendous accomplishment for all involved, as every student who participated earned either a Superior or Very Good rating for their hard work and demonstrated skills and musical artistry.

March is Youth Art Month! VASD students experience magnificent art education throughout the school year. March is a special time to highlight art educators and students.

We're proud to share a few highlights from around the district. At Country View, 5th graders are creating vibrant collages inspired by Romare Bearden. First they are crafting their instruments, which they’ll later piece together to complete their unique works of art. Verona Area High School is showcasing the incredible talent of students at the High School's Art Gallery located outside of the Performing Arts Center. It features a stunning collection of students' paintings, drawings, sculptures, and more! At Stoner Prairie, 1st graders explored the art of paper weaving, this hands-on activity encouraged patience, pattern recognition, and a fun way to experiment with colors and textures. At Glacier Edge, 2nd graders explored color mixing by combining primary colors to create secondary colors, they applied their new knowledge to paint spring trees, incorporating the blended colors as "dot" birds.

In the community, the Verona Public Library is hosting a VASD Student Art Display from March 1 to March 23 to showcase the talent and creativity of VASD's young artists.

Join Dr. Clardy as he shares updates and interviews guests from around the district. In the Loop with the Sup will be posted about every two weeks on Wednesdays. Listen here!

Now Live

National School Breakfast Week

We had great participation in the coloring contest honoring National School Breakfast Week. We will be awarding the winners their prizes next week.

Harvest of the Month: Radish

In April, we are featuring radishes as our harvest of the month! These crunchy and colorful root vegetables are not only refreshing but also packed with vitamins and minerals. They can add a delightful crunch to salads, sandwiches, and even tacos. Be sure to encourage your children to try radishes in their school lunch this month.

Featured Recipe: Our Coleslaw

Our homemade coleslaw recipe combines shredded cabbage, carrots, and a tangy dressing that's perfect as a side dish. It’s packed with fiber and vitamins to keep our students energized throughout the day. It will be available in the cafeteria on Friday, March 14th.

Taste Test Event: Middle School

Mark your calendars! We are hosting a taste test at Badger Ridge Middle School with Principal Dr. Love. This fun event will allow students to sample some new menu items and provide feedback on what they like best. Their feedback will help us ensure that our meals are delicious and appealing.

Dairy Day at Country View Elementary

Another Dairy Day is just around the corner! Students will have the opportunity to enjoy a special fruit parfait for breakfast, see a live cow and calf from one of the farms that produces the milk used to make yogurt we purchase locally from Monroe, Wisconsin. Dairy is an essential part of a balanced diet, providing calcium and other vital nutrients for growing bodies.