IOWA - GRANT'S PANTHER PRESS

Congratulations seniors on your upcoming graduation just a few weeks away. I wish you all the best and look forward to celebrating and honoring your accomplishments on May 24th. As the Superintendent of the Iowa-Grant School District, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to our parents, families, and greater community in entrusting your children to our care and nurturing on their educational journey. Students, so to become alumni, I ask that you remember to thank all of those that have supported you not only for your academics, but also for all of the extra curricular activities; the sports, the music, the plays, the forensics, the clubs, and the activities outside of school. Your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, community members, and if I may speak for your teachers, are all so proud of you! Remember to thank them. You are so lucky to have been raised in the Panther tradition.

I have had the distinct pleasure of watching you grow and excel over the past three years and I have learned that Iowa-Grant is steeped in tradition. In a few weeks, one of my favorites will be in front of me as you walk through the halls of IGEMS as models for our kindergarten students and student body as a whole. I have enjoyed reviewing your memories and the write-ups about your plans for further education as Mrs. Martin has posted these on the website. I have complete confidence that you will go on in life to make a great contribution toward the betterment of society. I have only one request. On Saturday, when I remark, “Once a Panther…” you all enthusiastically respond…

Sincerely,

Michael Shimshak

Mark your calendars for another Panther Volleyball Camp! The camp dates are June 23rd - June 26th for girls in grades 3rd - 12th. (Boys may also join the 3rd-8th grade camps.) This year"s camp will once again be held at the Iowa-Grant Elementary/Middle School building. We look forward to another camp week of working on volleyball skills, meeting new friends and Glow In The Dark Volleyball!

5/01 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM FFA Plant Sale

5/01 5:00 PM Softball: Varsity vs Darlington (Away)

5/01 5:00 PM Baseball: Varsity vs River Ridge (Away)

5/01 7:00 PM Softball: JV vs Darlington (Away)

5/01 7:00 PM Baseball: JV vs River Ridge (Away)

5/02 4:15 PM Track & Field: Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ River Ridge

5/02 4:30 PM Baseball: Varsity vs Southwestern (Home) (Livingston)

5/02 5:00 PM Softball: Varsity vs Boscobel (Home) (Cobb)

5/03 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM Prom - Enchanted Forest

5/03 8:30 PM Grand March

5/05 3:30 PM Track & Field: Varsity vs Multiple School @ Fennimore

5/05 4:00 PM Golf: JV/Varsity Match vs Multiple Schools @ Yellowstone Golf Course

5/05 4:30 PM Softball: Varsity vs Riverdale (Home) (Cobb)

5/05 6:00 PM Softball: JV vs Riverdale (Home) (Cobb)

5/06 4:30 PM Baseball: Varsity vs Riverdale (Home) (Livingston)

5/08 4:00 PM Track & Field: Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ Southwestern HS/MS

5/08 4:30 PM Baseball: JV vs Pecatonica (Away)

5/08 5:00 PM Softball: JV vs Cuba City (Home) (Cobb)

5/08 5:00 PM Softball: Varsity vs Cuba City (Home) (Livingston)

5/09 4:00 PM Golf: JV/Varsity vs Multiple Schools @ Hickory Grove Golf Course

5/09 4:30 PM Baseball: Varsity vs Fennimore (Away)

5/09 4:30 PM Softball: Varsity vs Dodgeville (Home) (Cobb)

5/09 5:15 PM Baseball: JV vs Fennimore (Home) (Linden)

5/09 6:00 PM Softball: JV vs Dodgeville (Home) (Cobb)

5/10 9:00 AM Softball: JV Tournament vs Multiple Schools @ Bluff View Middle School

5/10 11:00 AM Baseball: Varsity vs La Farge (Home) (Livingston)

5/12 4:00PM Golf: Varsity/JV vs Multiple Schools @ Deer Valley Golf Course

5/12 4:30 PM Baseball: JV vs Mineral Point (Home) (Linden)

5/12 4:30 PM Baseball: Varsity vs Mineral Point (Away)

5/12 5:00 PM Softball: JV/Varsity vs Fennimore (Away)

5/12 6:30 PM Board Meeting

5/13 4:00PM Track & Field: Varsity Meet vs Multiple Schools @ Boscobel

5/13 4:30 PM Baseball: JV vs Mineral Point (Away)

5/13 4:30 PM Baseball: Varsity vs Mineral Point (Home) (Livingston)

5/13 5:00 PM Softball: JV vs Argyle (Home) (Livingston)

5/14 6:00 PM Senior Awards and Scholarship Recognition Night

5/15 6:00 PM IGHS Pops Concert & Fine Arts Night

5/16 3:30 PM Track & Field: Varsity Invitational - Sparky Reynolds Memorial Invite @ Boscobel

5/16 4:00 PM Golf: JV/Varsity Match vs Multiple Schools @ Darlington Country Club

5/16 4:30 PM Baseball: Varsity vs Darlington (Away)

5/16 5:00 PM Softball: Varsity vs Juda (Home) (Livingston)

5/16 5:15 PM Baseball: JV vs Darlington (Home) (Linden)

5/16 6:30 PM Softball: JV vs Juda (Home) (Livingston)

5/17 10:00 AM Softball: Varsity Tournament vs Multiple Schools @ Viroqua HS

5/19 4:00 PM Track & Field: Varsity Conference Meet vs Multiple Schools @ Riverdale

5/19 4:30 PM Baseball: JV vs Belmont (Home) (Linden)

5/19 4:30 PM Baseball: Varsity vs Shullsburg (Home) (Livingston)

5/19 4:30 PM Softball: Varsity vs Mineral Point (Away)

5/20 9:00 AM Golf: Varsity Conference Meet vs Multiple Schools @ Edelweiss Chalet Country Club

5/20 4:30 PM Baseball: JV vs Cuba City (Away)

5/20 4:30 PM Baseball: Varsity vs Cuba City (Home) (Livingston)

5/22 Softball: Varsity Regional - TBD

5/22 4:30 PM Baseball: Varsity vs Boscobel (Away)

5/23 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM Graduation Practice

5/24 1:00PM Graduation

5/26 NO SCHOOL - MEMORIAL DAY

5/27 Golf: Varsity Regionals - TBD

5/27 Softball: Varsity Regionals - TBD

5/27 Track & Field: Varsity Regionals - TBD

5/27 4:30 PM Baseball: Varsity vs Southwestern (Away)

5/27 6:15 PM Baseball: JV vs Southwestern (Away)

5/29 Baseball: Varsity Regionals -TBD

5/29 Softball: Varsity Regionals - TBD

5/30 Track & Field: Varsity Sectionals - TBD

DISTINGUISHED HONORS:

Seniors:

Beatrice Bacchiocchi, Bret Connolly, Linnea Elg, Georgia Haase, Baylee Leix, Katie Rickard, Addison Schafer, Addysen Spink

Juniors:

Pajessa Baker, Trinity Baker, Jaxon Busse, Adeline Foley, William Fulton , Quinn Hoeper, Noah Lange, Treaton Loeffelholz, Sam Lundell, Ellison Moen, Delaney Reid, Addyson Winkers, Everett Zimmer

Sophomores:

Cash Anderson, Kristina Crow, Abigail Droessler, Addeline Elg, Landon Friesen, Jacob Grindey, Madelyn Klein, Calvin McHone, June Spurley, Deacon Wetzel, Owen Wyatt

Freshman:

Kylie Breuer, Breanna Dowell, Alayna Enloe, Cadence Kelley, Ava Klaas, Evelena Linscheid, Stevie Pelton, Ezmae Sandberg, Georgia Trecek, Hadleigh Vivian

HIGH HONORS:

Seniors:

Lucas Christiansen, Blake Droessler, Aiden Friesen, Lakyn Holman, Kayden Klein, BreAnn Kohlenberg, Ava Orth, Dawson Reid

Juniors:

Nina Buroker, Daniel Dosch, Anayeli Garcia-Cuahizo, Abigail Hake, Rilya Hrubes, Brooklyn Jennings, Addison Kramer, Gabriella Munson, Laila Ritchie, Lucinda Spurley

Sophomores:

Blayden Bonson, Noah Gochenaur, Presley Lehman, Lillian Linscheid, Valeria Ramos Ramirez, Serenity Rose

Freshman:

Taylor Aide, Hayden Aultman, Ty Cutts, Joslyn Iverson, Olivia Koss, Trinity Loeffelholz, Trinity Lowe, Chelsey Mueller, Carmen Parish, Lilly Peterson, Brynne Pettit, Rena Pettit, Makenna Riemenapp, Braelyn Rothamer, Cole Schauff

HONORS:

Seniors:

Adrienne Biddick, Madoxx Griffiths, Kaycee Lindner, Jocelyn Ramos Ramirez, Zoe Revak, Myles Rowe, Gretta Schmitz, Allysen Spink, Charles Straka

Juniors:

Maddox Fisher, Quentin Koss, Lexie Kuhls, Alexandria Sporle

Sophomores:

Wyatt Aide, Ubaldo Bartolo Marin, Griffen Cartwright, Ella Dosch, Mason Hove, Grant Rickard, Brayden Shemak, Carly Shores, Kendra Wallace, Jack Whitaker

Freshman:

Jason Biddick, Reese DiVall, Lily Dosch, Liam Hildreth, Michelle Quiahua, Hope Sporle, Ryan Thomas

On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, Iowa-Grant High School Seniors attended the annual Southwest Wisconsin Interactive Financial Literacy Event (SWIFLE) at the Lenz Center at Southwest WI Technical College, hosted by twelve area school districts and staffed with area community business leader volunteers.

SWIFLE is an interactive hands-on experience for high school students designed to demonstrate the importance of sound money management skills. SWIFLE provides an opportunity for students to connect with community business representatives in an authentic situation where students test their budgeting skills. Based on their chosen career and randomly drawn marital status and family, students are asked to make a month’s worth of financial decisions, make deposits, make payments, and balance their accounts. Students make consumer choices about housing, transportation, insurance, retirement investments, credit cards, childcare, phone, internet, cable, gas, electricity, water, groceries, gasoline, clothing, personal items, household items, pets, entertainment, and recreational vehicles based upon the monthly pay earned from their chosen career.

Students benefit greatly from interactions with experienced professionals. Thank you to all of our volunteers for making SWIFLE a great experience for our students!

Apple River State Bank

Astec Industries

Benton State Bank

Brechler Insurance

CESA 3

City of Prairie du Chien

Community Bank of Galena

Community First Bank

Cummins Emission Solutions

Dodgeville School District

Dupaco

Farmers Savings Bank

Fennimore Chamber of Commerce

First National Bank of Darlington

Heartland Credit Union

Highland School District

Marine Credit Union

Mound City Bank

Peoples Financial

Royal Bank

Rural Insurance

Southwest Health

Southwest WI Technical College

StackStone Wealth

The Friendly Place

Town and Country Insurance

Tri-com Cellular

True Action Realty

USDA Rural Development

UW Platteville

And many area Retirees!

Iowa-Grant's student musicians had two opportunities in April to demonstrate their dedication and hard work. Our District Solo & Ensemble festival was on April 5th. Over 60 student musicians participated, performing a wide range of pieces including musical theatre, brass quintet, folk songs, madrigals, and saxophone choir. Performing as both soloists and in small groups, students showcased their musical skills in front of judges and peers, receiving valuable feedback and recognition for their efforts. Several students advanced to the next level and performed at the State Festival on April 26th!

Will Fulton - Euphonium Solo

Addy Winkers - Alto Solo

Lucy Spurley - Alto Solo

Abby Hake - Alto Solo

Will Fulton - Baritone Solo

Quentin Koss - Tenor Solo

Quentin Koss - Musical Theatre (nominated for Exemplary Performance)

Will Fulton - Musical Theatre

Quentin K. & Will F. - Tenor/Bass Duet (nominated for Exemplary Performance)

Quentin K. & Lucy S. - Alto/Tenor Duet

Lucy Spurley, Trenton Pelton, Lily Linscheid, Evy Linscheid, Abby Hake, Mason Hove & Wyatt Aide - Saxophone Choir

In addition to his accomplishments at Solo & Ensemble, Quentin Koss was selected to participate in the Wisconsin All-State Honors Choir in October! Students across Wisconsin will rehearse for this performance over the summer and perform a concert at the State Music Conference in Madison on October 30, 2025. Congratulations, Quentin!

We will recognize these students at our Middle School Concert on May 8th and our High School Concert on May 15th, both at 7:00pm. We hope to see you there!

Congratulations to all participants—you continue to make our music program proud!

Congratulations to the Class of 2025! Some fun facts about our Seniors - 90% of the 2025 graduating class have taken a college class at Southwest Technical College. 90% are going to a a 2 year or 4 year college next year. 5% are enlisting in the Military and 5% are going into the workforce. Congratulations on all of your accomplishments! Remember - Once a Panther, Always a Panther!!!

Iowa-Grant Coaches did their CPR and AED training. They start with online lessons from the American Red Cross and finish their practical application in person.

Last Friday, 3 teams from the Iowa-Grant FFA chapter competed at the Wisconsin STATE CDE Competition in Madison WI! Congratulations to the following teams placings! Dairy Cattle Evaluation 4th place overall team! Livestock Evaluation 14th place overall team! Veterinary Science 19th place overall team! These students worked extremely hard to qualify for this state competition and we are so proud of their accomplishments!

The end of the school year is quickly approaching! We have many fun activities planned for the month.

A recap of last month's highlights: The 3rd grade had a successful Wax Museum and Family night held on April 10th. The 2nd grade held a wonderful Grandparents' afternoon. Our bus drivers, paraprofessionals, and school librarian were appreciated in the month of April. Middle School Solo and Ensemble started the month. Thank you to everyone who helped make all of these events happen! It has been a busy few weeks.

Now for May: May holds teacher appreciation week, May 5th - 9th, with May 7th as Nurses’ Day. We want to thank our school nurse and teachers for everything they do for our students!

Middle School Track Upcoming Meets:

May 6 @ Fennimore

May 13 @ Lancaster

May 15 @ Platteville

On May 8th, we will celebrate our music department with our middle school band and choir concerts.

The Middle School Student Council will host a dance in the cafeteria from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. on May 9th.

The eighth-grade promotion date will be Tuesday, June 3rd, at 7:00 p.m. in the gym.

There are also many field trips and activities that the students will be participating in. Our 6th-grade students will begin the outdoor education activities and will have some surprise cooks at an upcoming cookout.

Looking ahead to summer, we are working on setting pool bus dates. Summer recreation is off and rolling, and summer school, along with T-Ball/Coach pitch, will be held on the dates below:

• June 16th - 20th 1st session: (2 sections 8:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.)

• July 7th - 10th, 2nd session: (2 sections, 8:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.)

• July 21st - 25th, 3rd session: (2 sections, 8:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m)

There will be a snack/recess in between sections. We are trying something new by only offering summer school in July and August. Please reach out to Jennifer Gallagher if you have any questions.

We also offer T-ball, coach pitch softball, and baseball. This runs in the evenings on Mondays and Thursdays from July 7th - July 31st with:

T-Ball 5:30 - 6:15 p.m.

Coach Pitch 6:30 - 7:30 p.m

It will be a fast finish to the school year and a busy summer at IGEMS!

It’s hard for me to believe it is May and summer is around the corner! It seems as if we were just welcoming staff, students, and families to the 2024-2025 school year.

Here are a few items I’d like to pass along before we enter summer vacation mode:

• We have 3 Dobsonian telescopes available for students to check out (with guardian permission) from our school libraries and 4 Vortex binoculars - both are great for night sky viewing. Interested in learning more or checking one out? Please reach out to me by phone or email.

• I encourage you to look into and take advantage of the various programs and opportunities our local public libraries provide for children. The 2025 Summer Reading Program theme is “Color Our World” and I know there are some great events being planned!

• Interested in a free resource as a parent, grandparent, or childcare provider? Triple P Parenting provides several online courses made available to state residents through Children’s Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. Thanks to our school counselor, Jennifer Leeser, for passing this information along.

• I’d like to thank our fantastic Parent/Teacher Club for the many opportunities and “extras” they help provide for our students and the support they give our teachers. We are so fortunate to partner with them!

• Finally, IGEMS library books should be returned to the library by Tuesday, May 27th. Students should communicate with Mrs. Bast if they have a need to keep a book beyond that date; situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis.Thank you!

8th Grade High Honors:

Madalynn Allen, Rohwen Aultman, Oliver Christiansen, Deven Engrav, DaCota Freymiller, Ryker Hrubes, Shaylee Husom, Tucker Leix, Mackenzie Liddicoat, Brody Lindner, Leah Nelson, Ainsley Pickel, Alex Potter, Jaeden Roelli, Blake Schauff, Elsie Van Overmeer, Ruby Volenec, and Kipton Wetzel

7th Grade High Honors:

Lucille Anderson, Charlie Bollant, Kierah Dahl, Olivia Enloe, Aubrey Gochenaur, Klyde Halverson, Isabell Johnson, Isla Klaas, Evie Koss, Ayden Olson, Jaxson Reiter, Jordence Rothamer, Kaydee Shemak, Sadie Spurley, Quinn Williams, and Landon Wyatt

8th Grade Honors:

Myah Batton, Avah Clark, Maxwell Hake, Trygve Herlitz-Collins, Isaiah Hines, Lainey James, Hayden Johll, Brynn Milestone, Owen Munson, Shane Rollins, Ever Schilling, Brayden Walker, Daniel Wetter, and Weston Wolff

7th Grade Honors:

Bayley Baker, Katie Bartolo-River, Corbin Batton, Ivan Chiphaua-Acatzihua, Joshua Connolly, Elijah Fulton, Bentley Kasparek, Lillian Masters, Natalie Mayne, Callie Pickel, Grant Schauff, and Elway Walter

IGEMS has almost met its goal of Poptabs for the school year. If you have any at home, bring them in to help a great cause.

IGEMS third graders recently brought history to life! After researching a biography, writing a speech, and creating a costume, each student portrayed a famous figure in our Wax Museum event. Families and friends toured the “museum,” and donated a quarter to hear the students deliver their speeches. The donations will be used for a field trip and the Pen Pal program. It was a wonderful celebration of hard work, creativity, and learning.

Our 2nd Grade Grandparents Day program was filled with joy, laughter, and lots of love. The students truly shined as they sang sweet songs, recited heartfelt poems, and performed delightful skits that brought smiles to every face in the room.

But the most touching moments came after the program, as the students and their grandparents shared a treat, books, and some quality one-on-one time together. It was a beautiful reminder of the deep bond between generations, and how much we all have to learn from one another.

Thank you to all the grandparents who joined us and made this day so memorable. Your presence means the world to your grandchildren—and to us!

In 4th grade, we learn about the history of Wisconsin. In the 1870s, logging was an important business in the north woods. For this unit, students completed a shanty boy family project. On April 11th, Lumberjack Day, we dressed as lumberjacks, ate flapjacks for breakfast, participated in a tug-of-war, and watched a Paul Bunyan tall tale. It was a great day to be a 4th grader!

Here's the Scoop!

2nd Grade appreciates everything Mrs. Kennicker and Mrs. Hasburgh do for us and our school. Happy Administrative Professionals' Day to our wonderful helpers in the office! Thank you for keeping our school organized and safe!

Looking ahead to next year? You can get all of your school supplies in one place. Order by July 1st, 2025. https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/gs/115271?utm_source=shortcode&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=school-direct

WE WON STATE!! Congratulations to our Middle School FFA CDE Team. Last Friday, our team competed at the State CDE competition at Madison Technical College and WON! This was the first time competing at this competition in IOWA-GRANT FFA history! We are so proud of these individuals for their hard work and determination at this competition!!

Fourth Graders have spent the year learning about Wisconsin's history, geography, and government. On Friday, April 25th, students had the opportunity to visit our state capita in Madison. It was a great experience to see the architecture and art work that creates this magnificent building. We also enjoyed going to the observatory deck to look out over the city of Madison and its lakes. It was a day for making 4th grade school memories.

A few students at IGEMS were entered into the Helen Farnsworth Mears Art Contest through the Dodgeville Women's Club. We had four talented students who were awarded for their hard work. Jordence R. placed 1st and Caitlyn R. placed 3rd in the Drawing and Painting Section. Charlie B. and Evie K. were honorable mentions in the same category. Jordence's artwork will be displayed in the Dodgeville Public Library throughout April. Caitlyn and Jordence will have their artwork sent to a district competition. We are Panther Proud of you!

Jordence's artwork won at the Class A district competition and is now going to the state competition in Janesville.

The 2nd stop on the 2nd grade field trip was the Henry Vilas Zoo! Here students were challenged to complete a zoo scavenger hunt. Students searched for animals from different habitats as well as animals with different coverings, such as fur, feathers, and scales. There's always something new to learn at the zoo!