IOWA-GRANT PANTHER PRESS

I will never forget the joy of interviewing for the Iowa-Grant superintendent position, being offered the position, and all the days that have followed. It seems like yesterday, though it will soon be four years. I am writing today to thank the board and community for all the support I have received and to announce my intention to retire at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. Of the forty-six years I have worked in public education, Iowa-Grant has been the absolute best, which of course, has made the retirement decision all the more difficult. I will surely miss the students, staff, families, communities and the work we did together.

As I look back, I believe together we accomplished a plan of strengthening the financial profile of the district and making some long-needed facility repairs. While these were necessary, and there is more to do, the highlights I will always remember are the student performances in music, theater, forensics, and on the fields and courts. As I have occasion to visit classrooms, the instruction by our teachers is second to none. The board has supported professional development and the district has led the way in literacy instruction thanks to our principals and teachers. The level of volunteerism is unmatched by anything I’ve seen. Thank You!

Iowa-Grant has been so good to me, words cannot express my appreciation for having been accepted into your wonderful community. Over the next few months, I plan to work with the board of education in their effort to find new leadership and make a smooth transition. This spring, I look forward to completing the tag line, “Once a Panther…” After that, I hope for dark night skies, bright stars, and calm waters in a wooden boat.

Sincerely,

Michael Shimshak

12/1 6:00 PM Basketball: Boys JV vs Benton (Away)

12/1 6:00 PM Basketball: Girls Varsity vs New Glarus (Home)

12/1 7:30 PM Basketball: Boys Varsity vs Benton (Away)

12/2 6:30 PM Parent/Student Forensics Meeting - IGHS IMC

12/4 6:00 PM Basketball: Boys JV vs Prairie du Chien (Away)

12/4 7:30 PM Basketball: Boys Varsity vs Prairie du Chien (Away)

12/5 6:00 PM Basketball: Girls Varsity vs Boscobel (Home) (Parent's Night)

12/6 8:00AM Wrestling: Boys JV Invitational @ West Delaware HS

12/6 9:00 AM Wrestling: Girls Varsy vs Multiple Schools @ Melrose-Mindoro HS

12/6 11:00 AM Wrestling: Boys Varsity Invitational @ West Delaware HS

12/8 6:30 PM Board Meeting

12/8 7:00 PM Basketball: Girls Varsity vs Highland (Away)

12/9 6:00 PM Basketball: Boys Freshman vs Platteville (Away)

12/9 6:30 PM Wrestling: Boys JV Match vs Boscobel/Wauzeka/Stueben @ Boscobel HS

12/9 7:00 PM Wrestling: Boys Varsity Match vs Boscobel/Wauzeka/Stueben @ Boscobel HS

12/11 5:00 PM Basketball: Boys Freshmen vs Dodgeville (Home)

12/11 7:15 PM Basketball: Girls Varisty vs Riverdale (Away)

12/12 4:00PM Wrestling: Boys JV Tournament vs Multiple Schools @ Woodside Wisconsin Dells Center Dome

12/12 4:00 PM Wrestling: Girls Varsity Tournament vs Multiple Schools @ Woodside Wisconsin Dells Center Dome

12/12 6:00 PM Basketball: Boys JV vs Boscobel (Home)

12/12 7:15 PM Basketball: Boys Varstiy vs Boscobel (Home)

12/13 9:00AM Wrestling: Boys Varsity Tournament vs Multiple Schools @ Woodside Wisconsin Dells Center Dome

12/15 7:00 PM IGHS Band and Choir Concert

12/16 6:00 PM Basketball: Boys Freshmen vs Argyle (Away)

12/16 6:00 PM Basketball: Boys JV vs Argyle (Away)

12/16 6:00 PM Basketball: Girls Varsity vs Cuba City (Home)

12/16 7:30 PM Basketball: Boys Varsity vs Argyle (Away)

12/18 6:00 PM Basketball: Boys JV vs Southwestern (Away)

12/18 6:00PM Gymnastics: Varsity Triangular vs Multiple Schools @ Grand Avenue Elementary School Gym

12/18 7:15 PM Basketball: Boys Varsity vs Southwestern (Away)

12/19 5:30 PM Wrestling: Boys JV Match vs Mineral Point (Away)

12/19 6:00 PM Wrestling: Boys Varsity Dual vs Mineral Point (Away)

12/19 7:15 PM Basketball: Girls Varsity vs Fennimore (Away)

12/20 9:00 AM Wrestling: Boys Varsity Invitational vs Muliple Schools @ Richaland Center HS

12/20 9:00AM Wrestling: GIrls Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ Alliant Energy Center

12/23 Last Day of School Before Winter Break

12/24 NO SCHOOL - Christmas Eve

12/25 NO SCHOOL - Christmas Day

12/26 NO SCHOOL

12/27 10:00 AM Basketball: Girls Varsity Tournament vs Multiple Schools @ River Ridge School District

12/29 NO SCHOOL

12/29 9:00 AM Wrestling: Boys Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ La Crosse Civic Center - Bi State

12/29 9:00 AM Wrestling: Girls Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ La Crosse Civic Center - Bi State

12/30 NO SCHOOL

12/30 9:15 AM Wrestling: Boys Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ La Crosse Civic Center - Bi State

12/30 9:15 AM Wrestling: Girls Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ La Crosse Civic Center - Bi

State

12/30 1:00 PM Basketball: Boys JV vs Belmont (Home)

12/30 3:00 PM Basketball: Boys Varsity vs Belmont (Home)

12/31 NO SCHOOL - New Year's Eve

SENIORS:

Distinguished Honors:

Pajessa Baker, Trinity Baker, Nina Buroker, Jaxon Busse, Adeline Foley, William Fulton,

Anayeli Garcia-Cuahuizo, Quinn Hoeper, Rilya Hrubes, Josie Jelle, Brooklyn Jennings, Noah Lange, Treaton Loeffelholz, Myles Pettit, Everett Zimmer

High Honors:

Maria Nunes Pereira Carrasquinho, Daniel Dosch, Emma Govier, Abigail Hake, Addison Kramer,

Lexie Kuhls, Laina McPhail, Ellison Moen, Gabriella Munson, Delaney Reid, Laila Ritchie, Addyson Winkers, Taylor Zoha

Honors:

Quentin Koss, Sam Lundell, Trenton Pelton, Reese Peterson, Joshua Pitzer, Emery Riemenapp, Alexandria Sporle, Lucinda Spurley

JUNIORS:

Distinguished Honors:

Cash Anderson, Blayden Bonson, Kristina Crow, Ella Dosch, Abigail Droessler, Addeline Elg, Landon Friesen, Jacob Grindey, Connor Johnson, Madelyn Klein, Presley Lehman, Brayden Shemak, June Spurley, Deacon Wetzel, Owen Wyatt

High Honors:

Noah Gochenaur, Mason Hove, Josie Jenkins, Lillian Linscheid, Calvin McHone, Harlei Rochon, Serenity Rose, Carly Shores, Charlie Volenec

Honors:

Jason Bartolo-Garcia, Griffen Cartwright, Aiden Lenz, Kyleigh Miles, Valeria Ramos Ramirez,

Grant Rickard, Tyler Schultz, Beckem Stecklein, Kendra Wallace, Jack Whitacker

SOPHOMORES:

Distinguished Honors:

Malen Anitua Sesumaga, Kylie Breuer, Breanna Dowell, Alayna Enloe, Joslyn Iverson, Ava Klaas, Olivia Koss, Trinity Lowe, Stevie Pelton, Lilly Peterson, Ezmae Sandberg, Georgia Trecek, Hadleigh Vivian

High Honors:

Taylor Aide, Ty Cutts, Reese DiVall, Liam Hildreth, Cadence Kelley, Evelena Linscheid,

Trinity Loeffelholz, Brynne Pettit, Rena Pettit, Brock Potter, Braelyn Rothamer

Honors:

Luis Escalante Rodriguez, Chelsey Mueller, Carmen Parish, Cole Schauff

FRESHMEN:

Distinguished Honors:

Deven Engrav, Maxwell Hake, Ryker Hrubes, Mackenzie Liddicoat, Leah Nelson, Aisley Pickel,

Alex Potter, Blake Schauff, Elsie Van Overmeer

High Honors:

Madalynn Allen, Rohwen Aultman, Myah Batton, Oliver Christiansen, Avah Clark, Dacota Freymiller, Isaiah Hines, Lainey James, Tucker Leix, Jaeden Roelli, Shane Rollins, Ever Schilling, Ruby Volenec, Kipton Wetzel, Weston Wolff

Honors:

Trygve Herlitz-Collins

The Iowa-Grant LEO Club is sponsoring the Angel Tree in the high school office with tags for gifts needed for our adopted I-G family that lives in our district. The tags will be on the tree from Wednesday, Dec. 3 - Wednesday, Dec. 17. All gifts and tags can be returned to the office or Mr. Boland by Wednesday, Dec. 17 when the LEO Club will wrap the gifts and organize them for our adopted family. A big THANKS goes out to the I-G FFA for volunteering to purchase the household supplies and toiletries four our family!! Please contact Mr. Boland at the high school if you have any questions. Thanks and Merry Christmas!!

The Iowa-Grant High School put on an incredible performance of Hadestown over the weekend. Hadestown took the audience on a journey to the underworld, following the intertwining stories of Orpheus and Eurydice, and Hades and Persephone.

A special thank you to our 13 seniors— it has been incredible to watch you perform on stage or behind the scenes over the last four years.

L-R Back Row: Trenton Pelton, Lucy Spurley, Payton Freymiller, Gabby Munson, Will Fulton, Emma Govier

L-R First Row: Alex Sporle, Reese Peterson, Josie Jelle, Abby Hake, Quentin Koss, Addy Winkers, Allison Spease

Season's Greetings! As we wrap up the year 2025 and move into 2026, there are many things to celebrate! The dedication to the local school district is shown in the many people who attend our various events, make donations, and in the work of our staff. Thank you to everyone who makes a difference every day.

In December, we will have many programs and activities at the Iowa-Grant Elementary Middle School. The boys' 7th and 8th-grade basketball season will be wrapping up on December 4th with a home game versus Prairie du Chien. Thank you to our coaches, Dan Prochaska and Adam Van Overmeer, for their work with our teams. On December 11th, the Middle School Music Department will hold a concert at 7:00 p.m. in the IGEMS gym. On December 18th, the 1st-4th Grade will put on their Holiday Concert at 2:00 p.m., and students are asked to dress their best! A special thanks to Katie Wanie, Heather Gile, and Brian Zwick for their work with our musicians. There will be fun dress-up days from December 22nd and 23rd to get us ready for the season. There is no school from December 24 - January 2nd for Winter Break. School will resume on January 5th.

A special thanks to our PTC for the holiday decorations in the main hall. We appreciate the many contributions this team makes to our school. Donations, grants, supplies, and opportunities are just a few of the many things our PTC does to support our school community.

It is hard to believe, but when we return from winter break, we will start putting together programming for summer school. The school year is flying!

Have a wonderful finish to the 2025 year, and I wish good things to you and yours always.

The 4K Thanksgiving Program is one of my favorite annual traditions at Iowa-Grant. I’d like to thank Mrs. Sander, Mrs. Nelson, Ms. Breuer, Mrs. McFall, and Mrs. Heilmann for their hard work, which made the program on November 25th such a fun and festive occasion for our youngest students at IGEMS. The children were very proud to take the stage and perform for their family members. We clearly have so much for which to be thankful!

In a similar manner, our kindergarten students will be performing their Christmas Program for their families on Friday, December 12th at 2:00 PM in Room 100. Hopefully, you’ll be able to attend this and/or other holiday performances at IGEMS, because our music programs are always top-notch and are sure to put you in the holiday spirit!

The First Grade Christmas Store will be open December 9th & 10th for elementary students (through 4th grade) to purchase gifts for their parents. Gifts will also be wrapped at school. This fabulous annual event would not be possible without the work of Ms. Lynch, Mrs. Leibfried, and Mrs. Wasley, or without your donations. Thank you to all who make it possible for children to surprise their parents with a thoughtful gift at Christmas!

With much appreciation for all they do, I extend a big thank you to Ms. Wanie and the Student Council “elves” who have been busy spreading holiday cheer through their efforts with the Food Drive and the Toy Drive at IGEMS.

On a final note, thank you for your partnership in educating your child. Attending Parent/Teacher Conferences, reading newsletters, helping with homework, and listening to your child read are just a few of the many ways you provide support. We are honored to work with you!

Happy holidays to you and your family!

8th Grade High Honors:

Lucille Anderson, Katie Bartolo-Rivera, Corbin Batton, Charlie Bollant, Kierah Dahl, Olivia Enloe, Aubrey Gochenauer, Isabell Johnson, Isla Klaas, Evie Koss, Natalie Mayne, Ayden Olson, Callie Pickel, Jaxson Reiter, Jordence Rothamer, Kaydee Shemak, Sadie Spurley, Elijah Straka, Elway Walter, Quinn Williams, and Landon Wyatt

7th Grade High Honors:

Stevie Brokopp, Connor Govier, Easton Halverson, Wyatt Hamilton, Brycen Hasburgh, Mallory Heilmann, George Linscheid, Taytum Loeffelholz, Abigail Mueller, Hannah Nelson, Matthias Straka, and Ezzy Walter

8th Grade Honors:

Bayley Baker, Allison Bartolo-Garcia, Ivan Chipahua-Acatzihua, Hope Colson, Kendra Colson, Joshua Connolly, Klyde Halverson, Zayleigh Hermanson, Bentley Kasparek, Caitlyn Runde, Kaitlyn Rundell, and Grant Schauff

7th Grade Honors:

Irene Cano Perez, EvAngela Halverson, Eben Heilmann, Jackson Lease, Atley Lehman, Tate Lindner, Brantley Mattix, Bailey McPhail, Graham Pierick, Adrienne Pluemer, Kenzie Schultz and Adalee Thorud

Hat season is here! Don’t share winter hats! Sharing Hats is a way head lice can SPREAD.

Keep your head, lice-free and warm. Follow this link for more information: https://www.cdc.gov/lice/about/head-lice.html

IGEMS has its first two reading millionaires: Jordence R. & Joshua C., both eighth grade students. To reach this goal, Jordence read 10 books and Joshua read 12 books. That's wonderful for only being in school for 12 weeks! We challenge our students to read one million words throughout a school year. Studies have shown that students who read one million words have a stronger vocabulary, are better problem solvers, and perform better on assessments. Keep on reading, Panthers!

Kindergarten traveled to Cook's Woods. We learned about evergreen trees and how to choose the perfect tree. We also, created a swag and wreath to decorate our school. Thank you Cook's Woods for the warm welcome and amazing experience!

The Montfort VFW Post 9298 recently sponsored the Patriot's Pen Essay contest. This is a nationwide contest open to all students in grades 6-8. The students had to write a 300-400 word essay on the topic of " How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Your Country." Three eighth grade students were selected to represent Post 9298 at the district level. The winning essay was written by Quinn W., Lucy A. was the runner-up, and Isabell J. received third place. You may read the winning essays by clicking on this link: https://shorturl.at/SKbdg

Pictured (L-R): Post Commander Curtis Vacha, Quinn W., Lucy A., and Isabell J.

Over the past several weeks, students have been working hard at researching and gathering facts about an animal of their choice. They proudly presented their learning to families while sharing the creative habitat projects they built to go along with their research.

We are also grateful to everyone who brought in food donations to support the Panther Packs program.