McFarland School District

Welcome to the October 2025 McFarland School Community Newsletter!

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter which includes information about important events, community activities, key projects, the incredible achievements of our students and staff, and updates on how we’re addressing challenges and planning for the future.

Some highlights for the past few months include:

• We had an amazing start to the school year! It was THE smoothest start to the school year in my 19 years in the district. It truly took a village from the bus drivers who transport our students safely to school, to the school nutrition department that makes sure students have the food they need to learn, to the teachers, support staff, administrators, and other staff who welcomed our students on day one, as well as our student leaders.

• We continue to focus on being fiscally responsible by cutting costs and increasing revenues whenever possible resulting in a proposed budget for 2025-26 that is balanced. You can learn more about our 2025-26 proposed budget later in the document. We hope to see you at the annual meeting on October 20, 2025 at 7 p.m. in the District Office Boardroom (5101 Farwell Street, McFarland, WI).

• We are always looking for more substitute teachers and assistants for the 2025-26 school year. Please click here for more information!

Tours: We are happy to give school tours for groups of interested people, especially for class reunions. This summer we gave a tour to the class of 1975 and the class of 1995. If you are interested in a tour, please email me at tarnuta@mcfsd.org.

As a reminder, should you have any questions, ideas, or concerns please use this form or reach out to me personally. Your voice matters, and we are committed to open, transparent, and frequent communication with our community.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our schools—we couldn’t do this without you!

Stay Classy McFarland !

Aaron Tarnutzer “Mr. T.”

Superintendent

The 2nd edition of Tarnutzer’s Travels for the 2025-26 school year is here — and it’s packed with great highlights!

This 3-minute+ video takes you through:

The McFarland Community Festival & Parade

MHS Mill Project

Safety Drills across the district

Staff Professional Development

IMMS Banner Day & Wacky Olympics

Plus a look ahead at upcoming events!

Check it out now: https://youtu.be/f5avDFGjKF4

Stay classy McFarland!

Aaron Tarnutzer, Superintendent

#McFarlandStrong #TarnutzersTravels

Did you know that there any many opportunities for the community to use the amazing facilities that you've helped build here at McFarland Schools? Check out the below link for classes like adult woodworking and freezer meal workshops to getting active at adult open gym times, lap swim at the Angie O'Donnell Aquatic Center, and morning walks at MHS!

✨ NEW this year: We’ve added an Adult Workshop in response to community requests! A perfect opportunity for artists, deep thinkers, or anyone looking to pause and recharge through creativity.

📅 Youth Workshop (Grades 3–5): Tuesday, October 14 • 3:10–4:30PM
📅 Adult Workshop (Ages 18+): Tuesday, October 14 • 5:00–6:15PM
📍 Waubesa Intermediate School LMC
💲 $36 Residents / $46.80 Non-Residents
⏳ Register by October 8th at MRAPNews.com

Discover the calming power of creativity—join us for this one-of-a-kind experience!

We’re excited to share that all of our fall yoga dates are now finalized through November! Whether you’re looking to build strength, increase flexibility, or simply enjoy some mindful movement, our classes are the perfect way to flow into fall.

📅 Fall Class Dates:

October Classes: 6th, 8th, 13th, 15th, 20th*, 27th*, & 29th* (No class on October 1st or 22nd)

November Classes: 3rd*, 5th*, 10th, 12th, 17th, 19th, 24th (No Class on November 26th)

📍Location: Classes take place outdoors or in the MHS Multipurpose Room, depending on weather and group preference. Please note that dates listed with an asterisk mean that class will be held in the PAC Mezzanine Hallway at the high school (to avoid a conflict with the fall play, which is being held in the Multipurpose Room in October/November).

⏰Class Time & Registration Reminder:
RSVP by 3:00 PM on the day of class at MRAPNews.com. We need at least 3 participants to hold each session. If a class is canceled, we’ll notify registered pass holders and post an update on Facebook by 4:00 PM. (No post = class is ON!) Drop-ins are always welcome.

✨ Bonus: This continues to be one of the most affordable yoga options in the area ($10/Resident & $12/Non-Res)—so you can take care of both your mind and body without stretching your budget. Come join us for a welcoming, supportive, and energizing practice this season!

For more details and information on how to RSVP for a class, check out our Yoga Program Guide!

The McFarland High School offers our event spectators/programs two (2) options for parking. Our largest parking lot has 241 spaces and is located off of Farwell St. This parking lot is our high school's main entrance. Walking and stairs are used to access the Pool/Performing Arts Center (PAC). Our south Pool/ PAC parking lot is accessible from Exchange St near the Renee Ct. intersection. This lot has 80 parking spaces and is ADA-compliant as the main entrance for the Pool and PAC. Overflow parking may be available at the IMMS middle school, and street parking is also available on Exchange St., Farwell, and Burma Rd.

• School Board Meeting - October 6 - MHS District Office Board Room
• MHS Homecoming Game - October 10
• School Board Annual Meeting / School Board Regular Meeting - October 20- MHS District Office Board Room
• No School - October 23 - Staff Development Day
• No School - October 24 - Conference Release Day
• School Board Meeting - November 3 - MHS District Office Board Room
• 6th Grade Band/Orchestra/Choir Concert - November 4 - MHS Performing Arts Center
• MHS Fall Performance - It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play - November 6-8 - MHS Performing Arts Center
• MHS Choir Cabaret - November 15 - MHS Performing Arts Center
• School Board Meeting - November 17 - MHS District Office Board Room
• MHS Orchestra Concert - November 18 - MHS Performing Arts Center
• No School - November 26-28 - Fall Break

Tickets on Sale Soon

✨Be a Mentor at Indian Mound Middle School! 🌟

✅Make a difference in a student’s life while giving back to your McFarland community.

✅Build relationships

✅Support student success

Training + yearlong curriculum provided

Training starts in October – join us!

📩Contact Fred Bartman:

bartmaf@mcfsd.org | 608-838-4642

From Volunteer Opportunities to Fundraisers and Individual Donations, we so appreciate the support of our amazing community members. If you are interested in volunteering your time in our schools, please call and speak to our schools.

• McFarland Primary School 838-3146
• Waubesa Intermediate School 838-7667
• Indian Mound Middle School 838-8980
• McFarland High School 838-3166
• District Office 838-3169

Click the link below to visit our Classmunity page for information on fundraising campaigns you may be interest in supporting.

Have you ever wondered what our staff leaders are up to during the summer?

Superintendent Aaron Tarnutzer recently sat down for an episode of The School Perceptions Podcast to talk about leadership, education, and what drives our work here in McFarland. Give it a listen and get inspired!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../the-school.../id1798680246...

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2eYWM79swDrpZy2RsCranf...

#McFarlandStrong

Exciting news from Mrs. Mandli’s class at McFarland School District! In September, they released their eleventh monarch butterfly into the wild! With four more chrysalises still to go, the students are eagerly watching and learning. All these amazing caterpillars were found right in Mrs. Mandli’s own backyard!

Fun fact: This latest butterfly is a female, easily spotted by the lack of black spots on her wings. The students are hopeful that at least one of these monarchs will safely complete the incredible 1,800-mile migration to Mexico and maybe even lay some eggs along the way!

Land Acknowledgement at Indian Mound Middle School

We’re proud to share that a land acknowledgement plaque has been installed at Indian Mound Middle School, thanks to the generous contribution of our community and in partnership with the Indigenous Solidarity Collective of McFarland.

This plaque serves as a visible reminder of our commitment to honoring the history and traditions of Indigenous peoples connected to this land.

We are continuing to collect funds to purchase plaques for our other school buildings, ensuring this recognition is present across our district.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this important effort.

https://www.classmunity.com/mcfarl.../view-fundraiser.php...

The McFarland School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, sex, (including gender status, change of sex or gender identity), or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability (Protected Classes) in any of its student program and activities.