Bluejay Bulletin

On Tuesday, November 3, voters in every community across our district will decide on a four-year, non-recurring operational referendum for the School District of Athens. Thank you to everyone who attended a community information session, read the fact sheet, or reached out with a question about the referendum. I appreciate the level of engagement and enthusiasm from many of you and encourage everyone to make sure their voice is heard on November 3.

At the end of this school year, $1.2 million in existing referendum funding will expire. In order to continue providing the same level of programming and services, the Board of Education has placed a new, four-year, non-recurring operational referendum on the ballot.

Referendum Facts at a Glance:

• $600,000 / year - For day-to-day operating costs

• 4 years, non-recurring - Funding would expire in 2030-31

• $1.2 million in previous referendum funding expires this year

• November 3, 2026 - Election Day. Please cast an informed vote

Voting Tips:

• Your ballot will include several questions this year, and the School District of Athens referendum question may appear on the back of your ballot, depending on where you live. You can preview your ballot at myvote.wi.gov.

Thank you for learning more about the School District of Athens Operational Referendum. To learn more, please visit our referendum webpage, or email asheridan@athens1.org if you have any questions.

Andrea Sheridan, Superintendent

Greetings Parents,

Wow! We have had an amazing start to our school year and we are looking forward to more exciting student, family, and community engagement opportunities. We’ve already started with our pep assembly (October 28) to send off our accomplished musician, Delaney Beasley, as she heads to Madison to perform with the State Honors Choir. We will follow that up with another pep assembly (October 30)for Ben Hartwig, as he will be heading to the STATE Cross Country meet In Wisconsin Rapids.

In addition, we continue to celebrate our middle school students that are making their mark by demonstrating various character traits each month, such as responsibility (September) and respect (October). November’s character trait will be GRATITUDE. Students earn a feather when they demonstrate these traits and those names go into a drawing at the end of the month. Staff also prepare other team building activities for students to participate in to further strengthen these various skills.

High school students in the Raise Your Voice Club sponsored fun student activities throughout the week of October 26-30, including a coloring contest for middle school students, and a guessing jar contest for all grade levels. These activities gave students an opportunity to feel connected to each other, promoting positive school culture.

Our goal this year is to have different clubs each month sponsor activities that enhance our school spirit, while getting students to engage with one another at various grade levels. This goal aligns with our district vision and mission statements, as well as our pillar of Staff and Student Engagement.

It is our hope that by working together at all levels; students, staff, parents, and community, that we can create a productive learning environment for all students. Please be sure to mark your calendars for our upcoming Veterans Day Assembly, set for November 11, 2026 at apx. 10:15am, where we will honor our local veterans through songs, speeches, and a special guest speaker. We hope to see you there!

I want to share my heartfelt gratitude for each and every one of you and your commitment to your child(ren), this community, and our school. It truly takes a village to raise our children and we are thankful to be in Athens.

Warm regards,

Mrs. Gauerke-Peter

Athens Middle/High School Principal