#PointerNation News

#PointerNation Homecoming is set for the week of September 22 - 27 and this year's theme is "Adventure is Here!"

Congratulations to the Court members left to right, front row: Senior Queen Candidate Macy Kinch, Senior King Candidate Brett Bossert, Senior Queen Candidate Kalea Biddick, Senior King Candidate Grady Finley, Senior Queen Candidate Maddy Kabat, and Senior King Candidate Drew Aschliman. Middle row: Freshman Representatives Stella Terrill and Chloe Kroll, Junior Representatives Payton Christopher and Kate James, Senior Representatives Annabelle Busch and Aly Jones, and Sophomore Representatives Austyn Kinch and Cyntanah Nafzger. Back row: Senior Boys - Hudson Schroeder, Ryan Schael, Thorin Vamstad, Brady Haas, Carson Schroeder, Cole Ripp, Garren Dochnahl, and Keegan Wenger.

Read more about the week's activities at this link.

Our September Students of the Month for the 2025-26 school year were honored Tuesday at the Mineral Point Kiwanis meeting -- a big congrats to Kalea Biddick and Addison Burris! These are the first set of students to be honored this school year.

Read more about these star Seniors at this link.

(Biddick photo by Ann Gorgen; Burris photo by Beth Digman)

Thursday night, Maddy Kabat was recognized for achieving two amazing milestones in her fantastic volleyball career -- the first in school history -- she has now surpassed both 1,000 career digs and kills. Congrats, Maddy! #PointerNation is proud!

A big congrats to everyone involved in making our #PointerNation Middle and High Schools officially accredited by the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) for 2025! This honor recognizes our schools' outstanding participation in WSMA programming and distinguishes our music program. WSMA applauds our efforts to provide valuable music education opportunities for our students!

Students met Zippy Zero the Superhero Monday on the 10th day of Kindergarten! Zippy LOVES the number 0 and will visit them each day that ends in 0 until the 100th day to help them learn to count! (Zippy looks suspiciously like Superintendent Wainwright...word on the street is they might be brothers...)

Our first Mineral Point FFA Chapter contest of the school year is in the books, and we have some exciting results to share! Congrats to everyone for their fine showing at River Ridge last week!

Livestock Judging Team 1 placed 1st overall in the contest

- Aiden Patterson 6th overall individual

- Riley Sennhenn 11th overall individual

- Faye Schuette

- Johnny Robinson

Dairy Judging Team 1 placed 4th

- Haylee Yager 8th overall individual

- Leah Hoffman

- Cyntanah Nafzger

Dairy Judging Team 2 placed 17th

- Emily Heisner

- Kaylin Peterson

- Madelyn Steffes

Livestock Judging Team 2 placed 26th

- Tyler Vondra 7th overall individual

- Mallory Gould

- Kendyl Ruf

4K and Kindergarten read "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" by Bill Martin and John Archambault and then made their very own coconut tree!

3rd graders completed a toothpaste activity that taught students about their words. Words and actions can be said or done but not easily taken back, just like trying to get toothpaste back in a tube. A great lesson for us all!

6th Grade was fortunate to attend the Conservation Day field trip to Bloomfield and learn about all of the nature that surrounds us in Wisconsin. It was a fun day!

1st Graders in social studies have been learning all about compasses and cardinal directions -- north, south, east and west -- and were excited to try out their new skills by taking a walk around the block!

“When the spirit of nature touches us, our hearts turn into a butterfly!” ~ Mehmet Murat Ildan

EC and 4K students were able to see a monarch caterpillar emerge from its chrysalis, munch on milkweed, and be released to the wild -- exciting times!

5th Graders from Iowa County schools, including #PointerNation, attended Safety Day at the Fairgrounds this past week!

They rotated through stations and learned about: UTVs & ATVs, boating safety, ticks, vaping awareness, animal safety, tech rescue, K9 Fenix in action, fire safety, basic CPR & Stop the Bleed, downed wires with Alliant Energy, and a powerful story from Kyle Thompson, a farm accident survivor.

It was an amazing day -- thanks to everyone who made it possible!

Students were testing their ability to treat contaminated water in this hands-on lab in Mr. Hardyman's 7th Grade Science class! This collaborative opportunity allowed for students to strategically plan, create, and implement a water filtration system, while working through steps of the scientific method and considering any variables. Members of the class were determined to purify the water successfully and discussions were had about how groups could change their systems to better succeed.

Salsa success! Our Dirt to Dessert class rolled up their sleeves to chop up their very own homemade salsa! Who knew learning could be so delicious?!

Our #PointerNation Volleyball team continues its successful start to the season, including a 3-0 win over Darlington at home last Thursday! Check out photos from the game here.

Plan on supporting the Odd Fellows' pork sandwich fundraiser for the Mineral Point Excellence in Education Foundation and Pointer Pantry this Friday and Saturday September 26 & 27 from 10 am - 2 pm at Aspen Ridge Home & Garden! These groups directly support our staff and students.

It's Homecoming and Cornish Fest weekend! Come support our band students and enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast sponsored by the Odd Fellows Saturday, September 27 from 7:30-10 am at their lodge on Front Street.

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.

Proud Pointer Tradition!

Join us this next week as we honor 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!

1936: Jean Gillette

1937: June Lieder

1938: Elaine Unterholzner

1939: Joan May

1940: Lula Skidmore

1941: Joyce Staber

1942: Marian Pittz

1943: Marcia Huxtable

1944: Mary Nardi

1945: Genevieve Powell

1946: Mary Finley

1947: Jane Gray

1948: Donna Schaaf & Doris Schaaf

1949: Beverly Speich

1950: Helen Carey

1951: Dorothy Howard

1952: Betty Bloom

1953: Trudy Dalles

1954: Dorothy Unger

1955: Lorraine Bellack

1956: Marion Helmenstein

1957: Mary Wendtlandt

1958: Jean Garthwaite

1959: Jean DeMuth

The remainder of the list will be in next week's newsletter.

This week's Throwback Thursday #TBT goes out to our longstanding partnership with Mineral Point Kiwanis and our Student of the Month program!

This past Tuesday, we honored Addison Burris as one of our September Students of the Month, along with Kalea Biddick.

Both of her parents were also Students of the Month!

-- Andy, along with Raffica LaRosa, in January 1999

-- Morgan, along with Dean Sayre, in October 2001

We love this tradition!

Wedding bells were ringing for 3rd Grade Teacher Courtney (Miess) and Lance Steffes September 13! Congratulations from #PointerNation -- wishing you a lifetime of happiness!

(Graphic uses a photo taken by ann gorgen photography)

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

🐾 HOMECOMING WEEK 🐾

Monday, September 22

- HS Dress Up Day: Dress Like Your Future Self

- MS Dress Up Day: Pajama Day

- ES Dress Up Day: Pajama Day

- JV Football vs. Belleville 5 pm. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@mptvpointers

- MS Cross Country at Prairie du Chien 4:30 pm

Tuesday, September 23

- HS Dress Up Day: Ticket to the Main Event Day (Freshmen: Circus, Sophomores: Rock Concert, Juniors: Masters Tournament, Seniors: Rodeo, Staff: Kentucky Derby)

- MS Dress Up Day: Twin Day

- ES Dress Up Day: Superhero Day

- Boys Soccer vs. Platteville/Lancaster (JV 5 pm, Varsity to follow). Livestream: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/wi/dodgeville/organization/20161/dodgeville-high-school

- Volleyball at Cuba City (Freshmen 4:15 pm, JV 5:45 pm, Varsity to follow). Radio: 97.7 fm. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@queenbradiosports and https://fan.hudl.com/usa/wi/cuba-city/organization/17560/cuba-city-high-school

- MS Volleyball vs. River Valley 4 pm

Wednesday, September 24

- HS Dress Up Day: Class Theme Day (Freshmen: Finding Nemo, Sophomores: Monsters, Inc., Juniors: Toy Story, Seniors: The Incredibles, Staff: A Bug’s Life)

- MS Dress Up Day: Students dress like teachers, Teachers dress like students

- ES Dress Up Day: Crazy Socks/Hats & Tie Dye

- Early Release 2 pm (Every Wednesday)

Thursday, September 25

- HS Dress Up Day: Class Color Day (Freshmen: Green, Sophomores: Orange, Juniors: Purple, Seniors: Black, Staff: Blue)

- MS Dress Up Day: Class Color Day (6th Grade: Teal, 7th Grade: Yellow, 8th Grade: Red)

- ES Dress Up Day: Dress as Your Future Self

- Homecoming Parade 6:15 pm down High Street

- Community Spirit Rally (crowning of King & Queen) to follow at football field

- MS Cross Country at Dodgeville 4 pm

Friday, September 26

- HS Dress Up Day: Pointer Spirit Day

- MS Dress Up Day: Pointer Spirit Day

- ES Dress Up Day: Pointer Spirit Day

- Varsity Football vs. Beloit Turner 7 pm. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@mptvpointers

Saturday, September 27

- Cross Country at Janesville Craig 9 am

- Homecoming Dance 8 pm-12 am (Doors open 8 pm; Grand March 8:30 pm)

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