IOWA-GRANT'S PANTHER PRESS

Heading Upstream at Panther Den

We are in doubt in uncertain times. With daily reports of the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education and the potential loss of federal funds, we have to at least be developing contingencies for our upcoming school year budget. Federal funds comprise about 6% of our revenues. It's hard to imagine that all these funds will be eliminated. We just don’t know. Perhaps we will see a different distribution of funds through other agencies.

Another uncertainty is our state’s biennial budget. Will the budget be delivered on time? How will local school districts be aided? My proposal to the legislature is to provide property tax relief by increasing the special education reimbursement rate. Our reimbursement shortfall is currently more than a million dollars annually. Because of the recurring referendum, the district may have the revenue authority to develop a balanced budget, however an unofficial revenue limit is present in what property owners are able to afford. My recommendation to the Board of Education is that we hold the levy down as much as possible. Even with a flat levy, as municipalities re-assess, some rates could go up.

We have moved forward with many of the items on the building maintenance list. The gym curtain at IGEMS is scheduled to be replaced next month. The kitchen equipment is ordered.The exterior of IGEMS is scheduled to be sealed this summer, and the most vulnerable HVAC units at IGEMS are also scheduled for replacement this summer. The ventilation system in the high school locker rooms is inadequate and the entire space is up for renovation. I believe the Board of Education will evaluate the timing of this project in consideration of how the bids come in and the pros and cons of financing the renovation through borrowing. Anticipated savings on the recently bidded transportation contract might be enough to cover the costs. At the same time, we expect the reduction of one teaching position, not necessarily for budget reasons, but because our enrollment no longer supports this level of staffing.

During time off from work, I often make a hike in the Panther Den Wilderness area, so named for a rock formation and not because there are any panthers roaming. I was the closest thing to a panther in the wilderness last week, and in fact other than a family and their golden retriever and four troubled backpackers, I was the only person for miles and miles. Hiking solo in the wilderness has its dangers and I’ve decided that in the future, I’ll pack an emergency beacon. As for the back packers I encountered, they were trapped on the opposite side of a rising creek questioning how they would get across. Just a brook on their way in had now become impassable on their way out.

Having hiked those trails many times, I knew the solution lay in going upstream, advice they were unwilling or unable to accept with a mindset so restricted by what they saw as the problem. When I suddenly appeared on the same side of the bank as them, a shift took place. They made their way upstream to cross. The whole encounter reminded me of Upstream, The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen, a New York Times best seller by Dan Heath. We used a parable from this book at the beginning of a school year to launch professional development around mental health. In the story, after repeated rescues of drowning victims, one of the townspeople goes upstream to find out why folks are falling into the river in the first place. In these uncertain times, I wonder what our “Upstream” solution might be. I still think that high quality education, with the development of critical thinking is our best hope.

Mark your calendars for another Panther Volleyball Camp! The camp dates are June 23rd - June 26th for girls in grades 3rd - 12th. (Boys may also join the 3rd-8th grade camps.) This year"s camp will once again be held at the Iowa-Grant Elementary/Middle School building. We look forward to another camp week of working on volleyball skills, meeting new friends and Glow In The Dark Volleyball!

4/03 4:30 PM Softball: Varsity vs Southwestern (Away)

4/03 5:00 PM Baseball: JV vs Ithaca (Home) (Linden)

4/03 6:15 PM Softball: JV vs Southwestern (Away)

4/4 NO SCHOOL

4/4 4:30 PM Baseball: Varsity vs Riverdale (Away)

4/4 5:00 PM Softball: Varsity vs Barneveld (Away)

4/5 8: AM Solo & Ensemble @ Cuba City

4/5 9:00 AM Golf: Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ Dodge-Point Country Club

4/6 2:00 PM Forensics Showcase - IGHS IMC

4/7 4:30 PM Baseball: JV vs Riverdale (Away)

4/7 5:00 PM Softball: JV/Varsity vs Darlington (Home) (Cobb)

4/8 4:30 PM Baseball: JV vs Fennimore (Away)

4/8 4:30 PM Baseball: Varsity vs Fennimore (Away)

4/10 4:00 PM Track & Field: Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ Lancaster HS

4/10 4:30 PM Baseball: JV vs Belmont (Away)

4/10 4:30 PM Softball: Varsity vs Riverdale (Away)

4/10 6:00 PM Softball: JV vs Riverdale (Away)

4/11 5:30 PM Forensics State Contest

4/12 9:00 AM Softball: JV Tournament vs Multiple Schools (Home) (Livingston)

4/12 11:00 AM Baseball: Varsity vs Wisconsin Heights (Home)

4/12 11:00AM Softball: Varsity vs Seneca (Away)

4/13 4:00 PM FFA Banquet - IGHS Cafeteria

4/14 Softball: JV vs Cuba City (Away)

4/14 4:00 PM Golf: JV/Varsity vs Multiple Schools vs Fennimore (Hickory Grove Golf Course)

4/14 4:00 PM Track & Field: Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ Dodgeville HS

4/14 4:30 PM Baseball: JV vs Pecatonica (Home) (Livingston)

4/14 5:00 PM Softball: Varsity vs Cuba City (Away)

4/14 6:30 PM Board Meeting

4/15 4:00 - 7:30 PM Parent / Teacher Conferences

4/15 4:30 PM Baseball: JV vs Darlington (Away)

4/15 4:30 PM Baseball: Varsity vs Darlington (Away)

4/16 SWIFLE - IGHS Seniors @ SWTC

4/17 4:00 - 7:30 PM Parent / Teacher Conferences

4/17 4:15 PM Track & Field: Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ Cassville HS

4/17 4:30 PM Baseball: JV vs Cuba City (Home) (Livingston)

4/17 4:30 PM Baseball: Varsity vs Cuba City (Away)

4/17 5:00 PM Softball: JV vs Fennimore (Home) (Livingston)

4/17 5:00 PM Softball: Varsity vs Fennimore (Home) (Cobb)

4/18 NO SCHOOL

4/18 4:30 PM Baseball: Varsity vs Potosi (Away)

4/21 Softball: JV vs Boscobel (Away)

4/21 Golf: JV/Varsity Match vs Multiple Schools @ Cole Acres

4/21 5:00 PM Baseball: Varsity vs Kickapoo (Home) (Livingston)

4/21 5:00 PM Softball: Varsity vs Boscobel (Away)

4/21 6:00 PM Music Parents Meeting

4/22 4:15 PM Track & Field: Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ Prairie du Chien HS

4/24 4:00 PM Track & Field: Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ Boscobel HS

4/24 5:00 PM Baseball: Varsity vs Monticello (Home) (Livingston)

4/24 5:00 PM Softball: Varsity vs Mineral Point (Home) (Cobb)

4/24 6:00 PM Softball: JV vs Mineral Point (Home) (Cobb)

4/25 4:00 PM Track & Field: Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ Platteville HS

4/25 4:30 PM Baseball: JV vs Riverdale (Home) (Livingston)

4/25 5:00 PM Baseball: Varsity vs North Crawford (Home) (Livingston)

4/25 5:00 PM Softball: Varsity vs Prairie du Chien (Away) (Bluff View Middle School)

4/26 State Solo & Ensemble @ UW-Platteville

4/26 9:00 AM Softball: Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools (Home) (Cobb)

4/28 4:30 PM Softball: Varsity vs Southwestern (Home) (Cobb)

4/28 6:15 PM Softball: JV vs Southwestern (Home) (Cobb)

4/29 4:00 PM Golf: JV/Varsity vs Multiple Schools @ Dodge-Point Country Club

4/29 4:00 PM Track & Field: Varsity Meet vs Multiple Schools @ Southwestern HS/MS

4/29 4:30 PM Baseball: Varsity vs Boscobel (Away)

The Iowa-Grant Forensics team has 25 entries comprised of 33 students going to State!!! If you would like to see these amazing students perform, you are welcome to attend the Forensics Showcase on Sunday, April 6th starting at 2:00 PM in the IGHS IMC.

IGHS is incredibly proud of our 3 State Champions! Jaxon Busse is the D3 State Wrestling Champ at 165, Tyson Imhoff is the D3 State Wrestling Champ at 157. Madelyn Klein is the Gymnastics State Champ on Uneven Bars - 9.383. Congratulations!!! Panther Proud!!!

Congratulations to the following FFA members who competed at the Regional FFA Career Development Events at UW-Platteville. Over the past few months these teams have been hard at work practicing in their prospective teams! We had multiple teams competing and are proud to announce that THREE of our teams are STATE BOUND!!

Dairy Cattle Evaluation: 1ST PLACE TEAM!! GOING TO STATE!!

- Ella Parish 2ND PLACE INDIVIDUAL

- Lily Linscheid 6TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL

- June Spurley 20TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL

- Evy Linscheid 31ST PLACE INDIVIDUAL

Dairy eval was out of 38 teams and 138 individuals!

Veterinary Science: 1ST PLACE TEAM!! GOING TO STATE!!

- Faith Kite: 1ST PLACE INDIVIDUAL

- Charles Straka: 3RD PLACE INDIVIDUAL

- Bode Brokopp: 5TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL

- Georgia Hasse: 6TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL

Vet Science was out of 21 teams and 74 individuals!

Livestock Evaluation: 3RD PLACE TEAM!! GOING TO STATE!!

- Skyler Reiter: 2ND PLACE INDIVIDUAL

- Kaycee Linder: 9TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL

- Chelsey Mueller: 94TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL

- Baylee Leix: 156TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL

Livestock eval was out of 49 teams and 186 individuals!

Floriculture: 5TH PLACE TEAM!!

- Payton Freymiller: 5TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL

- Madelyn Klein: 27TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL

- BreAnn Kohlenberg: 73RD PLACE INDIVIDUAL

- Riley Levy: 99TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL

Floriculture was out of 37 teams and 136 individuals!

Meats Evaluation: 12TH PLACE TEAM!!

-Hadleigh Vivian: 29TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL

-Colton Williams: 44TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL

- Garrett Rech: 45TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL

- Ezmae Sandberg: 46TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL

Meat eval was out of 19 teams and 68 individuals!

Wildlife: 14TH PLACE TEAM!!

- Dawson Reid: 16TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL

- Owen Wyatt: 39TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL

- Carter Rickard: 110TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL

- Kayden Klein: 128TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL

Wildlife was out of 45 teams and 163 teams!

Congratulations to the following individuals for competing at the Sectional FFA Leadership Development Events in Fennimore, WI! Lily Linscheid in Discussion Meet and Olivia E. , Lane F., Grant S., Kaydee S., Natalie M. in Quiz Bowl!

Mark Your Calendars - FFA Banquet will be held on Sunday, April 13th at 5:00 PM in the IGHS Cafeteria.

Congratulations to IGHS Senior Addysen Spink on winning Artsonia's Nationwide Artist of the Week Contest! Panther Proud! 🐾🐾🐾

Iowa-Grant High School hosted a Blood Drive on Friday, March 21st. Our goal was to collect 53 units of blood, in the end we collected 57 units. One unit of blood can help up to three people. Thank you to the Student Blood Drive Coordinators, donors, and volunteers for making the IGHS Blood Drive successful.

On Wednesday, March 19th the IGHS held their Career Fair, which included over 20 vendors. Employers, colleges, and military personnel were among those that filled the IGHS Gymnasium. IGHS students rotated to different presenters including - IGHS Alumni Student Panel- Keagan Pilling, Olivia Liddicoat, and Elyse Linscheid, Jennifer Andreas (Money Path), Lt. Zack Hake (Fire /EMS), Brian Kenney (Leadership), and Dr. Jamie Nutter (Personality Discussion). A huge Thank You to the vendors, presenters, students, staff, and Darla Burton for making the IGHS Career Fair a success.

Just a few reminders from March as we head into April. We are excited to also be starting middle school track this month! Track starts March 31st. Summer School sign-ups will be coming soon so please be on the lookout for those.

Summer School sign-ups will be held beginning the Tuesday following spring break and will run from April 1st - 26th. To help with planning, the weeks of the summer school will be:

• June 16th - 20th 1st session: (2 sections 8:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.)

• July 7th - 10th 2nd session: (2 sections 8:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.)

• July 21st - 25th 3rd session: (2 sections 8:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.)

There will be a snack/recess in between sections. We are trying something new with only offering summer school in July and August. Please reach out to Jennifer Gallagher if you have any questions.

We also offer T-ball and Coach pitch softball and baseball. This runs in the evenings on Mondays and Thursdays from July 7th - July 31st with:

T-Ball 5:30 - 6:15 p.m.

Coach Pitch 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Sign-ups for T-ball and Coach pitch softball, and baseball will be with the summer school sign-up.

The Wisconsin Forward Exam will be held from March 17th - April 25th. Testing will be held in the following grades:

• grades 3-8 in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics,

• grades 4 and 8 in science,

• and grades 4, 8, and 10 in social studies.

This exam will assess your child’s achievement in grade-level standards and will be used as part of Iowa-Grant Elementary Middle School’s state report card. We appreciate your support of our efforts.

There is some helpful information regarding the Forward Exam: https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/assessment/pdf/Forward_Brochure_for_Families.pdf

I’m sharing some great tips from Parent Powered (formerly Ready4K) for things you can do at home to help your child identify characteristics of a good friend and activities you can do at home to help them develop these qualities themselves, so they can more easily form friendships at school.

1. Friends are Good Listeners

• Practice listening games, such as “Simon Says.”

• Encourage active listening: before you speak you might say something like, “1,2,3, eyes and ears on me.”

• Model listening to your child.

1. Friends Notice Feelings

• Talk about feelings: for example, “What’s one thing you’re excited about doing today?” or “It looks like you might be feeling frustrated. What can I do to help?”

• As you read a book to your child, ask how a character might be feeling.

• Express feelings through drawing, movement, or music.

• Validate your child’s feelings. Let them know all feelings are okay.

1. Friends Work Together

• Try giving your child a job that helps the whole family, such as wiping down the table after a meal or sorting the laundry.

• Involve your child in group activities so they can practice sharing things such as blocks and crayons.

• Practice taking turns when playing games such as “Go Fish” or “Tag.”

1. Friends Appreciate Each Other

• Notice acts of kindness and friendship in others. Point them out to your child.

• Friends often have lots in common, but our differences can bring us together too.

School is a place where many children make some of their best friends. Being able to form friendships with others is a lifelong skill, which can bring great joy!

It is that time of year when we look forward to summer and get ready for our summer activities. Summer School will be offered for three separate weeks this year (June 16th-19th, July 7th-10th, and July 21st-24th), with the option of two classes a day (8:15 am-9:45 am and 10:15 am - 11:45 am, with a snack and recess between the classes). Classes are separated into grade levels (1st-2nd, 3rd-4th, and 5th-8th)and you will sign up your students for the grade level they will be in NEXT YEAR, the 2025-2026 school year.

Below, you will find the three separate sign-up sheets through Sign Up Genius and class descriptions as separate attachments. Please contact Danielle Hasburgh at dhasburgh@igs.k12.wi.us with any questions.

Sign Up Links:

June 16th-19th - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C48A5A928A2FBC61-55802577-summer

July 7th-10th - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C48A5A928A2FBC61-55804309-summer

July 21st-24th - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C48A5A928A2FBC61-55811354-summer

Class Descriptions:

Summer School Class Descriptions - 1st/2nd

Summer School Class Descriptions 3rd/4th

Summer School Class Descriptions - 5th-8th

Mrs. Heimsoth's students have been learning about Newton's laws of motion, kinetic and potential energy, and friction. They designed and built balloon-powered cars, putting their understanding to the test in a hands-on project. The students calculated the velocity, mass, and force of their creations. Great job using your problem-solving skills and creativity sixth graders!

Kindergarten has been learning about pet and wild animals. They recently took a field trip to the Montfort Library and the Montfort Veterinary Service. We had the opportunity to learn even more at about animal and libraries at our visits.

What a fantastic week we’ve had in 4K! Our students had the incredible opportunity to learn about the amazing community helpers who make our world go round. From police officers to physical therapists, our classroom was buzzing with excitement as we discovered the many roles that keep our community safe, healthy, and running smoothly.

A Hands-On Visit to the School Kitchen

Our adventure began with a special visit to the school kitchen. The kitchen staff gave us a behind-the-scenes tour of where our lunches are prepared and how they make sure everything is healthy, safe, and delicious! The students had a blast seeing the big ovens and the huge dishwasher.

We had an exciting visit from some local police officers! The students couldn’t wait to see their uniforms, hear about their cool police cars, and learn how officers keep us safe. Our guests took the time to explain the different parts of their job, from patrolling the streets to helping out in emergencies. It was clear that the students were thrilled to meet these real-life heroes!

We were also lucky to welcome a physical therapist and our school nurse to our class! They got to try out a few movements themselves, learning how important it is to take care of our bodies. The physical therapist explained how their job helps people move and play again. We saw the cool tools a nurse uses.

Each of these visits opened up so many exciting ideas about what jobs the students might want to do when they grow up. The students began imagining themselves in uniforms, helping others, and making a difference in their communities. Whether it’s becoming a police officer, a physical therapist, or even a chef in the school kitchen, the possibilities are endless!

A huge thank you goes out to all the incredible guest speakers who made these jobs come to life for our students. Your time, energy, and enthusiasm left a lasting impact and sparked curiosity in our young learners. We’re so grateful for your visit and the wonderful lessons you shared with us!

The following 8th grade students have read a million or more words this school year. Studies show that students who read a million words in a school year are better problem solvers, have a better vocabulary, and perform better on standardized tests. Pictured (kneeling): Ryker H.; (L-R): Weston W., Isaiah H., Deven E., & Rohwen A. Absent from the picture was Shane R. Keep on reading, Panthers!!

CESA 3 Sponsored Lit Wars at SouthWest Technical College. Some of our 4th and 5th-grade students participated and excelled.

4th Grade Team - 1st place
5th Grade Team - 3rd place

Individual
Kelsey B. - 1st place
Jaxon J. - 1st place
Eden P. - 2nd place
Finn E.- 2nd place
Annabelle M. - 2nd Place