#PointerNation News

All hail the King and Queen! A big congratulations to Grady Finley and Kalea Biddick who were crowned as royalty at Thursday night's Mineral Point Homecoming Spirit Rally! Fine ambassadors for #PointerNation!

#PointerNation had another very successful Homecoming week, including the football team picking up a win over Beloit Turner Friday night! From the parade, to pep rallies, to powder puff and the dance, check out all the photos at this link.

1st Grade had an amazing morning at Munchkey Apples! Students learned how they grow and harvest apples. The freshly baked apple cider donuts were so yummy! They also got to pick their own bag of apples.

Instructional Assistant Mr. Adam Haas spoke to all 4th Graders about growing sorghum on his family's farm! Students learned about planting and harvesting, as well as sampled molasses and molasses cookies! Great presentation. Thank you, Mr. Haas!

Check out these fun scenes from Mrs. Gorgen's 2nd grade class!

A special thank you to the Kubitz family for the 400+ pumpkins they donated to every student in our elementary school! We are making harvest memories together!

Nothing better than reading to self with a stuffie buddy -- just ask these 4th Graders!

It’s that time of year again–please consider nominating Mineral Point educators for the following Herb Kohl Awards. They are some of the most prestigious honors that can be earned in the state. #PointerNation has had at least one winner seven of the last nine years, which is incredible — it all starts with a nomination!

The deadline for nomination is Friday, October 3 for principal awards and Tuesday, November 11 for teacher awards. Read more at this link.

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.

A sincere thank you to Wild Blue Yonder Coffeehouse and Sweet Life Ice Cream Parlor customers for your recent donations! Their goal was that no students had to miss any Homecoming activities due to unpaid lunch balances/fees.

Proud Pointer Tradition!

Thanks for joining us this past week as we honored our Homecoming Royalty of the past, decade by decade.

From our best research, the first Queen was in 1936 (although mention of a Homecoming game can be found back as far as 1925).

Until 2021, we only crowned a Queen.

Enjoy this walk down memory lane -- no one does Homecoming like #PointerNation does Homecoming!

- 1960: Mary Louise May

- 1961: Sue Delaney

- 1962: Sharon Tibbits

- 1963: Lynn Eckels

- 1964: Bonnie Lancaster

- 1965: Linda Lieder

- 1966: Martha Mitchell

- 1967: Joanne Meylor

- 1968: Jane Hughes

- 1969: Lynne Kroll

- 1970: Anna Aurit

- 1971: Jill Koehler

- 1972: Leila Fitzsimons

- 1973: Terri Brodbeck

- 1974: Lori Argall

- 1975: Karen Schaaf

- 1976: Terri Moore

- 1977: Terri Van Wagenen

- 1978: Mary Hying

- 1979: Julie Walsh

- 1980: Jan Lawinger

- 1981: Cathy Stephenson

- 1982: Laurie Graber

- 1983: Robin Wenger

- 1984: Mary Schaaf

- 1985: Teri Walsh

- 1986: Pat Steffes

- 1987: Connie Argall

- 1988: Missy Swingen

- 1989: Heather Alvstad

- 1990: Amia Schaaf

- 1991: Kelsi Roberts

- 1992: Sarah Fitzsimons

- 1993: Becca Terrill

- 1994: Tracie Pittz

- 1995: Amanda Schaaf

- 1996: Jodi Gevelinger

- 1997: Laura Canon

- 1998: Sarah Harker

- 1999: Amber Aurit

- 2000: Cory Graber

- 2001: Molly Palzkill

- 2002: Katelyn Terrill

- 2003: Chelsey Wallace

- 2004: Hope Linden

- 2005: Renee Pittz

- 2006: Jordyn Poad

- 2007: Brittany Gleichauf

- 2008: Taylor Lyman

- 2009: Rilee Schmitz

- 2010: Gretchen Mitchell

- 2011: Hannah Goninen

- 2012: Emily Mitchell

- 2013: Beth Wood

- 2014: Natalie Chubb

- 2015: Carly Tibbits

- 2016: Jaycie Runde

- 2017: Amanda Murphy

- 2018: Mara Aschliman

- 2019: Jenna Wedig

- 2020: Alexis Berget

- 2021: Ella Chambers & Trapper Nafzger

- 2022: Kennedy Kabat & AJ Rury

- 2023: Regan Schuette & Gibsen Sporle

- 2024: Izzy Dannenberg & Roen Carey

- 2025: Kalea Biddick & Grady Finley

We have a very special Throwback Thursday #TBT this week!

Historical records can be sketchy, but it’s quite possible that 1925 was our first-ever #PointerNation Homecoming, which would make this the 100th year of our amazing tradition!

The earliest record of a Homecoming we could find is in fact in 1925 -- so, what was it like then?

The 1925 Mineral Point High School Football team was a stellar squad, going undefeated in the regular season with five wins and three ties. The team ended its season with a loss at Fort Atkinson November 26 by a score of 19-6 in what was the equivalent of a high school "bowl" game.

The Homecoming game was played vs. Mount Horeb on November 11 (Veterans Day, or as it was known then, Armistice Day) and the Pointers were victorious in a thriller 19-13.

Their efforts earned them a trophy as champions of the Southwest Wisconsin Athletic League that still proudly sits in our trophy case outside the high school gym. Additionally, the conference awarded the first trophy for a Conference Championship that year, making it the oldest trophy in the Mineral Point High School Trophy Case.

The 1926 Pointer yearbook (which had a pirate theme) provided additional insights into the 1925 Homecoming. Also of note, the 1925-26 school year was the first in the “new” high school, what is now called the “old” high school. You’ll read below some common themes that have continued to this day -- welcoming back of alumni (old pirates), a parade, football game, bonfire, and dance.

“The longed for day at last becomes a reality. In the morning, the crew gather on deck and sing, yell, and listen to speeches by ex-pirates Penn, Huxtable, and Grange. A few other ex-pirates are present, but the majority are getting ‘caught up’ on sleep for the evening celebration.

After dinner the crew do their ‘stuff’ for the ex-pirates by parading down the deck and displaying their ability in costume designing as well as their spirit of loyalty to their ship. The ex-pirates who have any musical talent join in the procession and continue on around the deck that their enemy, the ship ‘Mount Horeb,’ may cast envious eyes at their finery.

At two, the signal is given for the two ships to commence fighting. The battle rages hot and heavy, but ‘Mineral Point’s’ crew prove their superior strength. To the victor belongs the ‘spoils of war’ so ‘Mineral Point’s’ crew receive the treasure chest, a trophy proclaiming them the championship fighters of the Southwestern League of pirates. Truly, a worthwhile title for any ship on the sea of school life.

The ship ‘Mineral Point High’ drops anchor, and the crew together with a few faithful ex-pirates, all go ashore and have a victory bonfire.

That evening all gather once more on deck. The crew cordially welcome the ex-pirates, who admire the spacious ship of this later crew, the better advantages the new ship furnishes, together with a spice of life which it gives in the form of parties, plays, and other activities. Then their attention is turned to the dance with music rendered by some talented string pickers, lung expanders, and a key tickler of a close-by island.

The ex-pirates, who are used to the taste of excitement and gaiety, hop right into line to the tune of ‘Let Me Call You Sweetheart.’ The crew, however, are waiting for a chance to score on the ex-pirates and do it by the ‘Sailor Skipping’ to ‘When My Sugar Walks Down the Street.’

Between dances spirits are renewed by that famous pep restorer known has H2-O, more commonly, water.

Toward midnight the old pirates are playing out, but the young crew do not want to embarrass them by suggesting this, so the party disbands. Pirates and ex-pirates wish each other a successful year.”

While many things have changed since 1925, on this centennial celebration, at least one thing did not -- we claimed a football victory Friday night!

1925 Football Team pictured (our best guess on first names as not all were mentioned in the yearbook):

Third row: Lawrence Schoenfeld, Chester Owens, Richard Grimm, Robert Dresden, Charles Treweek, William Fischer, Joseph Basting, Harry Horn, Coach Francis Loughrea.

Second row: Bernard Dresden, Keith Penn, John Unger, Ivan Hunt, James Clark, Albert Walker, Francis Tonkin.

First row: Charles Unterholzner, Raymond Metz, Joseph Fiedler, ??? Terrill.

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

Monday, September 29
- Boys Soccer at Edgerton (Varsity 5 pm, JV to follow). Livestream: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/wi/edgerton/organization/14922/edgerton-high-school
- JV Football at Beloit Turner 5 pm. Livestream: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/wi/beloit/organization/16640/turner-high-school
- MS Cross Country at Lancaster 4:15 pm

Tuesday, September 30
- Volleyball vs. Madison St. Ambrose Academy (JV & JV 2 5:30 pm, Varsity to follow). Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@mptvpointers
- Boys Soccer at Richland Center/Ithaca (Varsity 5 pm, JV to follow). Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@richlandschooldistrict213
- MS Volleyball at Darlington 4 pm

Wednesday, October 1
- Early Release 2 pm (Every Wednesday)

Thursday, October 2
- Volleyball vs. Fennimore (JV & JV 2 5:45 pm, Varsity to follow). Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@mptvpointers
- MS Football vs. River Ridge 5 pm. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@mptvpointers
- MS Volleyball at Platteville 4 pm
- MS Cross Country at Monroe 4:30 pm

Friday, October 3
- Varsity Football vs. Southwestern/East Dubuque, IL 7 pm. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@mptvpointers

Saturday, October 4
- Cross Country at Platteville 9 am
- Varsity Volleyball at La Crosse Aquinas 8:30 am
- MS Cross Country at Platteville 8 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