#PointerNation News

WELCOME, NEW STAFF

Everyone looks better in blue! Our new staff met Tuesday and received a warm welcome to #PointerNation! A huge thank you to the Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce for organizing donations from local businesses to welcome our new staff! We appreciate the generosity from:

- Aspen Ridge Home & Garden

- Bethel Horizons

- Brewery Pottery

- Cedar Rock

- Community First Bank

- Cummins Emissions

- Dan’s Auto Centre

- The Democrat Tribune

- Dodgeville Dental

- Farmers Savings Bank

- Frank & Sandee Beaman

- Hook’s Cheese

- Lo Vin

- Mayday Press

- Mineral Point Railroad Museum

- Mound City Bank

- Pendarvis

- Red Rooster Café

- Re/Max True Action Realty

- Renewed Brain Health

- Roo & Crew

- Shake Rag Alley

- Taliesin

- Upland Hills Health

- Uplands Wind

- Viva Infusions

- Wild Blue Yonder Coffehouse

THANK YOU

Thanks to the legend Roger Palzkill for showing our new staff around Mineral Point Tuesday on a guided bus tour! We hope they're all having a great start to their time here in #PointerNation.

This is also a good reminder that our dedicated bus drivers will be hauling precious cargo very soon! When the stop sign is flashing, don't be passing!

TAILGATE PARTY

Game Day might have been Friday, but our #PointerNation Football Team, Cheerleaders, and Band members already brought the winning spirit to our friends at Mineral Point Health Services with a fun tailgate party earlier last week!

WELCOME, NEIL LAWINGER

Let's give a big #PointerNation welcome (home) to Neil Lawinger, new Elementary Food Service employee! Neil told us he's "really glad to be here!" We're glad to have you here, too, Neil!

NEW KIDS CLUB DIRECTOR

Help us welcome a familiar face as our new Pointer Kids Club Director!

Tracy Wiegel will be leading our before and after school care program, as well as continuing in her role as Elementary Instructional Assistant.

"When I heard that the Pointer Kids Club Director position was opening up, I felt it would be a good fit for me. I have been working for the past 10 years as a special education assistant at the Mineral Point Elementary School. I previously owned Lil’ Wonders Child Care Center for the past 18 years and felt that my experience would be beneficial in running this program. Knowing many of the students in the elementary school system will help make this a smooth transition. I look forward to making this a fun and special time for the students," said Weigel.

FOOTBALL CHEERLEADERS

With the regular season kicking off last Friday at Dodgeville, a shout out to the cheerleading crew that is getting #PointerNation pumped for football games this fall!

- Maddie Nodolf, Senior

- Kalea Biddick, Senior

- Annabelle Busch, Senior

- Lily Fox, Junior

- Annison Goninen, Junior

- Lucy Paynter, Junior

- Jessica Schubert, Junior

- Emmie Burris, Sophomore

- Emme Oellerich, Sophomore

- Shayna Sigg, Sophomore

- Suttyn Weinbrenner, Sophomore

- Tessa Carey, Freshman

THANK YOU

A shout out to Shake Rag Alley for hosting two special workshops with our Pointer Kids Club crew this summer! We're grateful for our creative partnership!

THANK YOU

Please join us in celebrating a very special gift -- thanks to an anonymous donor, all negative lunch balances have been paid off! This will allow our #PointerNation families to have a fresh start to the new school year. We are fortunate to be part of such a caring community!

Erika Brunson

A big congrats to Erika Brunson, Middle/High School Counselor, who is one of this year's grant recipients from the Mineral Point Excellence in Education Foundation! Her "Future Forward" project received $800 from the Roger & Mary Ivey Excellence in Education Endowment Fund.

"Through various career activities, including our annual fall Career Day, students will explore potential career paths, connect with professionals, and identify the intersection of their skills and interests to find good-fit career pathways. By bringing career events directly to our school, we remove barriers and ensure all students have the opportunity to explore career paths, connect with professionals, and gain valuable insights into the skills and education needed for future success," said Brunson.

Grants from the Mineral Point EIE support educational programming outside of the boundaries of the school district budget. Thank you to all donors! To learn more about the EIE, visit https://cfsw.org/eie/mineral-point/

Allison Keller

A big congrats to Allison Keller, Elementary Music Teacher, who is one of this year's grant recipients from the Mineral Point Excellence in Education Foundation! Her "Music for All" project received $800 from the Excellence in Education Endowment Fund.

"The primary goal of this project is to make the barred percussion instruments accessible to all students. By removing the barrier of how the instruments are stored, students will be able to use the instruments more often. The instruments are there for students to play. I want students to feel that the music room is their space–that they are safe and can be playful, creative, and vulnerable together. The stands will also allow students to access the curriculum by removing barriers for students with limited mobility," said Keller.

Grants from the Mineral Point EIE support educational programming outside of the boundaries of the school district budget. Thank you to all donors! To learn more about the EIE, visit https://cfsw.org/eie/mineral-point/

Kris McCoy

A big congrats to Kris McCoy, Middle/High School Librarian, who is one of this year's grant recipients from the Mineral Point Excellence in Education Foundation! Her "Raising the Anxious Generation" project received $1200 from the Excellence in Education Endowment Fund.

"This project will benefit all of the students in our district and community as families, teachers, school staff, and other community members who work with children learn more about the risks of overuse of digital devices, social media, gaming, etc., and learn more about how the transition from a play-based childhood to a phone-based childhood has had a detrimental effect on the social, emotional, and cognitive development of young people. We will be bringing in Jake Boll, an ed tech specialist from CESA 5 to facilitate a conversation around this topic to learn more about what we can do as individuals and a community to best support our students," said McCoy.

Grants from the Mineral Point EIE support educational programming outside of the boundaries of the school district budget. Thank you to all donors! To learn more about the EIE, visit https://cfsw.org/eie/mineral-point/

SCHOOL BOARD NOTES & VOTES

Article and video from Thursday's special School Board meeting is now available at this link.

NO SUBSTITUTE FOR A GOOD SUBSTITUTE

The Mineral Point Unified School District is searching for substitutes -- come join the great place that is #PointerNation! We'd love to have you part of our family.

Subs are always needed for:

- Teachers

- Instructional Assistants

- Administrative Assistants

- Custodians

- Food Service

Contact Angie Schubert at 608-987-0740 or angie.schubert@mp.k12.wi.us for more information.

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS

Hello Pointer Families -- Students and families are welcome to stop by for Back to School Nights to drop off supplies and meet teachers and staff. We are excited to see everyone and are ready for another fantastic year!

Tuesday, August 26

-- K-5 Elementary: 4 - 6 pm

-- 6-12 Middle/High: 3:30 - 5:30 pm

Wednesday, August 27

-- EC & 4K: 4:30 - 6 pm (Optional Parent/Guardian Meeting 5:30 pm)

ANXIOUS GENERATION EVENT

Please join us at Back to School Night for an exciting conversation and a night of learning!

- What: "The Anxious Generation: Promoting Digital Health & Well-Being" -- book talk and speaker

- When: Tuesday, August 26

- Time: Book Talk 6:15 - 6:40 pm

- Speaker 6:45 - 7:30 pm

- Where: MP High School Library

- Who: Jake Boll from CESA 5 will share his expertise and passion on student technology use and supporting the development of healthy digital habits. This session will discuss the current digital landscape and share resources to support student online health and safety.

Haven't read the book? No worries! All you need to show up with is an interest in children's digital health and wellness.

We look forward to a night of learning more with you on how to best support the digital wellness of our youth.

RSVP: Not required for attendance, but will be useful for planning purposes at this link.

(Thank you to the Mineral Point Excellence in Education Foundation for your financial support of this event)

FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME

Mark your calendar for this year's #PointerNation Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony!

Join us Friday, August 29 at halftime of the home game vs. Platteville as we recognize the accomplishments of the following outstanding Pointers:

- Mike Gratz (Class of 1966)

- Kraig Wasley (Class of 1985)

- Jamie Palzkill (Class of 2003)

- Rob Goldthorpe (Class of 2008)

Congratulations to all! Read more about the inductees at this link.

NO CLASSES MONDAY

Enjoy Labor Day, #PointerNation! Classes begin Tuesday, September 2 for K-5 and Thursday, September 4 for EC and 4K.

WEDNESDAYS ARE EARLY RELEASES

A reminder that September 3 is the first Wednesday 2 pm early release for students. This event happens every Wednesday (unless otherwise noted) so staff can collaborate about student achievement during Professional Learning Community time.

HOMECOMING

Mark your calendar for Homecoming 2025! The football game is set for the evening of Friday, September 26 vs. the Beloit Turner Trojans. Please join us for the entire week's festivities celebrating our Pointer pride! More info to come in the following weeks.

FREE BOOK FAIR

Plan ahead for the District Free Book Fair! Do you have gently used children's books that need a new reader? Are you looking for new books for your home? We are hosting a book exchange/free book fair October 29! Start digging through your libraries now and be prepared to donate beginning October 20.

SENIOR ATHLETIC PASSES

Prepare to cheer on the Pointers!

-- FREE for Senior Citizens (MPSD resident age 55 and over)

-- Includes all regular season home MPHS events for the sports that charge admission -- football, volleyball, boys and girls basketball, and wrestling. (SWC/SWAL CLASH Wrestling & all sport WIAA postseason events not included)

Passes may be obtained in the high school office.

Thanks for your support of the Blue and White!

FABULOUS 50S

Join in on a #PointerNation Homecoming tradition! Any graduates from 50 years ago or more are welcome.

The annual Fabulous 50s pasty luncheon will be held Friday, September 26 at Noon at the United Church of Christ (300 Maiden St).

Cost is $15 per person. Payment due by September 10. Checks can be made out to MP Alumni and sent to Sandy Weitzel, 217 Mineral St., Mineral Point, WI 53565

(In the memo section, please put what class you are a member of)

Let's have a fun afternoon of reminiscing!

ALUMNI DIRECTORY

Did you know our first graduating class was in 1879? Our Alumni Directory from the past to the present is updated online. You can find the latest version at this link.

If you have any questions, please reach out to High School Administrative Assistant Janet Lawinger at janet.lawinger@mp.k12.wi.us or 608-987-0730.

POINTER APPAREL

The annual MP clothing store that supports our high school Future Business Leaders of America chapter has arrived!

Check it out for infant, toddler, youth, ladies, and adult apparel options, as well as accessories such as hats and more! (Note: the upside down backward spelling on the hats is intentional)

Deadline to order is August 27. Orders will be delivered prior to Homecoming. Link: https://wccbrands.chipply.com/mineralpointfbla25

SUPPLY LISTS

School supplies are starting to hit store shelves! Lists are available for the 2025-26 school year at this link.

Please remember that if your family needs help with supplies, we have many community partners that have generously provided donations to the district. Regardless of the grades of your children, please reach out to Jane Barr at jane.barr@mp.k12.wi.us or 608-987-0710 if you need help obtaining supplies.

ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

With school starting September 2 for K-5 (and September 4 for EC & 4K), please remember that if your family needs help with supplies, we have many community partners that have generously provided donations to the district.

Regardless of the grades of your children, please reach out to Jane Barr at jane.barr@mp.k12.wi.us or 608-987-0710 if you need help obtaining supplies.