#PointerNation News

#PointerNation is very excited to share that our own Mr. Matt Nevers (Middle/High School Band Teacher) will be inducted to the prestigious John Philip Sousa Foundation The Bandworld Legion of Honor!

This national award, established in 1989, recognizes just eight of the best band directors in the entire country each year!

Award recipients have taught for at least 15 years, have maintained a very high quality concert band program, and have contributed significantly to the profession through dedication to bands and band music.

Mr. Nevers will officially receive this honor at the Midwest International Band & Orchestra Conference in Chicago, IL later in December. This conference brings together more than 18,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 40 countries.

"My philosophy is to cultivate independent, confident musicians who carry a lifelong love of music and the ability to contribute meaningfully to musical communities beyond the classroom," said Nevers.

Congratulations and thanks for all you do for our young people!

To read more, visit this link.

Bound Wisconsin is proud to showcase their Pre-Season All-State Basketball lists.

Congratulations to Drew Aschliman for being named an All-State Honorable Mention Pre-Season pick in Division 3!

Read more at this link.

November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. During the 2023-24 school year, 4.36% of the Mineral Point Unified School District's students were identified as experiencing temporary or chronic homelessness.

Did you know that the number of homeless students in Wisconsin has reached a record high?

These numbers may surprise you because we don’t see children, youth, and families in the same way that we see adults who experience homelessness. Most children and youth experiencing homelessness are not visible in shelters or on the streets, but rather moving from place to place: couches, basements, motels, cars, and wherever they can find temporary refuge.

To help raise awareness around this issue, National Honor Society students installed purple flags at Water Tower Park Tuesday morning.

If you need help, 211 is a free and confidential resource that connects people in need to services. Simply dial 211 on your phone or visit this link.

Homelessness can happen to anyone -- it's not a condition; it's a situation.

** Please note, due to the high winds, we have taken the flags down, but plan to display them again in the future. **

Check out the latest blog post by Superintendent Mitch Wainwright "Giving Thanks" at this link.

During the entire month of November, Mrs. Livia Doyle's 4th Graders kept a Gratitude Journal. Each day, they reflected on the things they are most grateful for! Students were challenged to not repeat any entries in their journal. They really began to see how it’s the small things in life that are truly most important.

Each student in Mrs. Teela Heiring's 4th Grade class made a Thankful Pie! We have so much to be thankful for.

1st Graders have been talking about gratitude and being thankful! Their challenge has been to focus on the little things they are thankful to have in their lives. Check out what these cute little turkeys are thankful for.

What is Thanksgiving without Pumpkin Pie? 4th Graders learned that Illinois produces over 95% of commercial pumpkins for processing. Students learned how pumpkins are processed and turned into pumpkin pie. What a fun and easy recipe! Everyone sampled and enjoyed our pumpkin pie!

Happy Thanksgiving, #PointerNation! These Kindergarten turkeys in disguise were likely safe from being eaten!

What's Thanksgiving without cranberries! 1st Graders "traveled" to Northern Wisconsin to talk about harvesting cranberries! They got to try craisins and cranberry juice.

Thanksgiving Friendship Feast! Students shared food, laughter, and lots of gratitude. We’re so thankful for this wonderful community and the friendships that make our school feel like family.

In Algebra Strategies, students have been working on money skills including: counting dollar bills and coins, tricks to make change, consumer math, how to read and add different menu items and calculate a tip, as well as how to read flyers for different stores and calculate sales! The Game of Life was enjoyed by all to practice. Learning to manage finances can be challenging but fun!

4K has been learning about healthy foods, the five food groups, and how they help our bodies! Learning about the food groups is helping the children organize the food on the shelves of our pretend grocery store as well. The children are enjoying learning about how to be healthy and strong!

Who was lucky enough to receive beautiful roses through the Mineral Point Lions Club 35th annual Thanksgiving event?! Thanks to our high school Skills USA members who helped deliver!

Mrs. Jill McGuire's Kindergarten students will be spotlighting Berget Jewelers in their upcoming holiday ads! Students enjoyed a recent visit to learn more about their featured business.

Mrs. Denise Gorgen's 2nd Grade students will be spotlighting Bossert Insurance Group, LLC in their upcoming holiday ads! Students enjoyed a recent visit to learn more about their featured business.

Mrs. Susan Niehaus' 2nd Grade students will be spotlighting Farmers Savings Bank in their upcoming holiday ads! Students enjoyed a recent visit to learn more about their featured business.

Mrs. Lynn Ross' 4th Grade students will be spotlighting Hotel Mineral Point in their upcoming holiday ads! Students enjoyed a recent visit to learn more about their featured business.

Mrs. Jessica Soots' 1st Grade students will be spotlighting Ivey Construction Inc in their upcoming holiday ads! Students enjoyed a recent visit to learn more about their featured business.

Ms. Jenny Singer's 3rd Grade students will be spotlighting Renewed Brain Health in their upcoming holiday ads! Students enjoyed a recent visit to learn more about their featured business.

Mrs. Jessie Sigg's 5th Grade students will be spotlighting The Station in their upcoming holiday ads! Students enjoyed a recent visit to learn more about their featured business.

Be Prepared

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

Students/Staff will not have virtual learning days on the first 27 inclement weather hours during the 2025-26 school year. Any additional hours beyond 27 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 days off. They will run on 2 hour late starts and early dismissals.

* Pointer Kids Club will not operate on days off or 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

- District 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.

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.

#PointerNation is joining other school districts across Iowa County for a county-wide food drive running December 1-8!

All of the food collected will be given to SWCAP in Dodgeville to restock their shelves during the holiday season!

Please bring items to Mineral Point Middle/High School, Mineral Point Elementary School, or the Mineral Point Public Library.

Food needs include: Cereal, Pancake Mix, Syrup, Individual Snacks (peanut free), Breakfast Bars, Granola Bars, Canned Fruit, Soup, Crackers, Pasta, Rice, Hamburger Helper, Tuna/Chicken (canned or pouch), Peanut Butter, Jam or Jelly, Mac & Cheese.

Household needs include: Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Soap, Toothpaste, Laundry Soap, Dish Soap, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, Ziplock bags, Baby Diapers & Baby Wipes.

Thank you for your generosity.

Our students will be celebrating sounds of the season this coming Saturday, December 6 during the annual Gallery Night/Candlelight Shopping event!

Some of our band members will be playing at the corner of Chestnut and High Streets from 5-6 pm and 8-9 pm. Mineral Point Kiwanis will be accepting contributions to benefit the band's trip to Florida in March.

Choir students will begin caroling at 6 pm, also gathering at the corner of Chestnut and High to start.

Come out and enjoy this festive beginning to the holiday season!

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 8.

This training is one of the requirements for a sub license in Wisconsin (including the minimum of an associate's degree).

Participants can register using this link.

Join the middle/high school choirs and bands for their Winter Concert Monday, December 8 at 7 pm in the middle/high school gym for some outstanding sounds of the season!

Have you seen the beautiful Giving Tree in the high school hall near the gym, full with ornaments?

This year, Mineral Point Future Business Leaders of America are once again honored to sponsor six wonderful children from right here in Iowa County.

We’d love your help in making their holiday season a little brighter. If you feel inspired, please take an ornament (or two!) and shop for a gift that will bring a smile to a child’s face.

All gifts are due to the high school office by Friday, December 12.

Thank you for helping share the magic of the season. Your kindness truly makes a difference!

Elementary (grades K-5) students are getting excited to share their musical talents with you at their Winter Concert Thursday, December 18 in the high school gym beginning at 1:30 pm!

The Mineral Point Excellence in Education Foundation is again hosting a drive at both Winter Concerts (December 8 and 18) to help fill our school Care Closet. 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.
• Heat and eat items for weekend meals such as: Easy Mac, Spaghettios, Dinty Moore, Ramen, Hormel meals
• Monetary donations
• Amazon wishlist

You may also drop off items at school offices.

Thank you for your generosity!

Save the date! Mineral Point Wrestling will induct its 2025-26 honorees to the Allen E. Bauman Wrestling Hall of Fame Friday, December 19 at the home match vs. Iowa-Grant/Highland. Congrats to Bobbyjon Bauman, Steve & Rita Gevelinger, and Cory Sokol! Read more about them at this link.

A reminder there will be no classes in #PointerNation Tuesday, December 23 through Sunday, January 4 due to Winter Break. Classes will resume Monday, January 5. Enjoy the time off!

Mark your calendar for Homecoming 2026! The football game is set for the evening of Friday, October 2 vs. the Fennimore Golden Eagles. Please join us for the entire week's festivities celebrating our Pointer pride!

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

Tuesday, December 2

-- JV & Varsity Boys Wrestling at River Valley (MP vs. Cuba City/Benton/Southwestern 5 pm; MP vs. River Valley 7 pm). Livestream: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/wi/spring-green/organization/618/river-valley-high-school

-- Girls Wrestling at River Valley 5 pm. Livestream: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/wi/spring-green/organization/618/river-valley-high-school

-- MS Boys Basketball vs. Lancaster 4 pm

Wednesday, December 3

-- Early Release 2 pm (every Wednesday)

Thursday, December 4

-- JV & Varsity Boys Wrestling at MP (MP vs. Sugar River 5 pm; MP vs. Lodi 6:30 pm). Livestreams: https://www.youtube.com/@mptvpointers and https://wisconsingrappler.com/wpstream/mineral-point-quad/

-- Girls Wrestling at MP 5 pm. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@mptvpointers

-- MS Boys Basketball at Cuba City 4 pm

Friday, December 5

-- Girls Basketball vs. Fennimore (JV 6 pm, Varsity to follow). Radio: 107.1 fm. Livestreams: https://www.youtube.com/@mptvpointers and https://www.youtube.com/@queenbradiosports

Saturday, December 6

-- Varsity Boys Wrestling at Watertown 9 am. Livestream (subscription required): https://classofx.com/networks/content/45784c8c-b01f-4660-b121-899aea24b2e9/view

-- Girls Wrestling at Watertown 9 am. Livestream (subscription required): https://classofx.com/networks/content/45784c8c-b01f-4660-b121-899aea24b2e9/view

-- JV Boys Wrestling at Stoughton 9 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