#PointerNation News

Thursday was Superintendent Mr. Mitch Wainwright's day to shine!

We let you know in September that he had been named the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance Administrator of the Year, and October 30 is when he officially received that honor at the group's annual conference in Stevens Point!

Wainwright, a lifelong educator with 40 years of service in rural Wisconsin schools, is recognized for his student-centered leadership and deep commitment to community. Since becoming superintendent in 2018, he has successfully led Mineral Point through major initiatives, including passing multiple operating and facility referenda, increasing enrollment, and ensuring the district remains a destination for both families and educators.

The WiRSA Board of Directors established the Rural Administrator of the Year Award in 2012 to recognize a superintendent who has made significant contributions to his/her rural school district in the following areas:

- Positive impact on students and student achievement.

- Significant contributions to rural education.

- Demonstrated collaborative efforts in the community.

- Innovative leadership efforts to strengthen and preserve rural school districts.

Presenting the honor was WiRSA Board Member Paul Fischer, CESA 4 Administrator.

This prestigious award is a testament to Mr. Wainwright's dedicated leadership, innovative vision, and unwavering commitment to the students, staff, and families of our rural community.

Congrats, Mitch!

Dodge-Point Cross Country had another great WIAA State Meet Saturday in Wisconsin Rapids!

In Division 2 Boys action, Johnny Robinson just missed the podium by two spots, placing 12th while Gabe Engel finished 33rd. Both boys did a fabulous job improving on their finishes from last year (Robinson was 40th in 2024 while Engel was 108th). This is the 3rd year Engel has competed at State and it is Robinson's 2nd.

In the Division 2 Girls field, Payton Christopher placed 85th. Payton is now a two-time State participant, having also raced in Rapids in 2023.

Congratulations to all. Your talent and hard work are commendable and you make our Dodge-Point communities proud!

(Graphic uses photos by Bret Peterson)

Let's hear it for our #PointerNation Football Senior team members who have earned Academic All-State Team Honors from the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association!

In addition to our Seniors as a whole, both Grady Finley and Hudson Schroeder have been honored individually for their academic prowess.

We are proud of your achievements in the classroom and on the field!

Read more at this link.

(Graphic uses a photo by Ann Gorgen)

Join us in congratulating our middle school costume winners!

- Group: The Chipettes - Raylynn Barnard, Jayne Palzkill, Matlie Mootz, Sally Digman

- 6th Grade: Lord Farquaad - Echo Greenwood

- 7th Grade: Mean Girls - Mya Hoffman

- 8th Grade: Hot Dog - Everett Fitzsimmons

Thank you to the Student Council for organizing and to everyone for your creativity!

Another National Convention is in the books for our Mineral Point FFA Chapter in Indianapolis!

Our members had the opportunity to connect with peers from across the country, attend inspiring sessions, and celebrate the power of agriculture and leadership.

They're coming home motivated, inspired, and ready to make an even bigger impact!

Friends, Food, and Fun Games = a great time at the 4th Grade Fall Party!

Happy Halloween, #PointerNation! Kindergarten students ventured to Mineral Point Health Services Thursday to trick or treat. A great intergenerational experience for all!

8th Graders had a very interesting learning experience when they recently visited the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Crime House and participated in other forensic learning activities! From analyzing prints to exploring crime scenes, they discovered how science helps solve real-world mysteries.

Let's hear it for this awesome crew of current and alumni Pointers showing how to live Unified at the 2025 South Central Region 6 Unified Bowling Tournament for Special Olympics Wisconsin!

Front row: Caiti McGuire, AJ Rury, Lincoln Terrill, Ryker Johnson.

Back row: Eli Klein, Jacob Klein, Trevor MacGilvra, Mr. Preston Dubey.

Our athletes did a great job showing their skills, sportsmanship, and spirit on the lanes!

Some of our youngest Pointers went trick-or-treating around school before the big event! They practiced saying “trick-or-treat” and “thank you.”

Students helped rake leaves, clean up beds and the garden area, and plant tulips to get the garden ready for winter.

Thanks to everyone who came out for the Costume Party last Saturday morning! Special thanks to our MPHS Key Club for setting up and overseeing the games, Mineral Point Historical Society for letting us do this at Orchard Lawn, and the Mineral Point Kiwanis for organizing and running the event. We love this annual tradition!

Class Jack O'Lanterns were a big hit! Students carved together and felt the seeds, pulp, and used all of their senses to learn more about pumpkins.

#PointerNation students Kit Finley, Aly Jones, Maddie Nodolf, Hudson Schroeder, and Jadyn Schultz had the opportunity to attend the Upland Hills Health Leadership Summit at Mount Horeb High School recently!

The event equipped local area high school students with the tools, strategies, and confidence to lead with purpose. From communication to critical thinking, these students are ready to make an impact!

A big thank you to Upland Hills Health for supporting the next generation of leaders!

Spiders during spooky season!

Let's hear it for our potential future educators! A group of MPHS students interested in becoming teachers went to University of Wisconsin-Platteville this past week for the UWP Education Exploration Day and had a great time! They especially liked joining a college level class and playing Jeopardy about different education facts, seeing former students from Mineral Point, and they always love the food court!

A sincere thank you to Cummins Inc for its recent school supply contribution! Your generosity makes a huge difference for students and is very appreciated.

The School Board held a special meeting Monday night to approve the 2025-26 tax levy. More information, article, and video are available at this link.

Now that the Cross Country season has concluded, we'd like to give a special shout out to our #PointerNation Seniors on the Dodge-Point teams! Our program is better because of you!

(Graphic uses photos taken by Ann Gorgen)

Unfortunately, our #PointerNation Volleyball team fell short 3-0 to Marshall in Thursday's WIAA Sectional Semifinal. We are so incredibly proud of all you've accomplished and all the records you've broken! A special thank you to our Seniors for an amazing four years -- you will always be remembered in Pointer history as part of the first volleyball team to ever be a State qualifier!

(Graphic uses a photo by Ann Gorgen)

Pointers Palette is a new opportunity for businesses to support and showcase student artwork from our K-12 Visual Arts Program in the Mineral Point Unified School District!

For October and November, please visit the following establishments to check out the artwork on display!

- Post Office: Adelle Sowers (Pastel Poses)

- Public Library: Ayra Campbell (Sunset Silhouette)

- Chamber of Commerce: Piper Holter (Abstract Watercolor)

- Artful Apparel: Oliver Miles (Leaf Collage)

- Cow Tippers: Sawyer Soots (Kusama Pumpkin)

- Shake Rag Alley: Landon Ford (Zoomed Bugs)

- Mayday Press: Cadence Kanitz (Veterans Day), Audrey Coyier (Symmetry Painting) & Kalea Biddick (Pastel Poses)

If you are interested in having your business be a host to help talented students showcase their skills, please read more information here: https://mineralpointschools.org/2025/10/pointers-palette/

Thank you for your support as we spotlight our amazing artists!

Come join the great place that is #PointerNation!

Middle School Instructional Assistant: Apply on WECAN

We’re excited to invite local businesses, organizations, colleges, and professionals to participate in our annual Mineral Point Career Fair on Wednesday, November 5 from 9 am - 2 pm at Mineral Point Middle/High School.

This event brings together nearly 70 exhibitors each year to help our students explore future career pathways—and we’d love for you to be part of it!

Host a Booth:
Showcase your profession, organization, or industry to our students and inspire the next generation. Lunch will be provided for all participants.

Interested in participating?
Please RSVP to Erika Brunson, Middle/High School Counselor
Email: erika.brunson@mp.k12.wi.us
Phone: 608-987-0732

Thank you for supporting our students’ futures. We look forward to another great Career Fair!

Prepare for the brain strain! Test your knowledge at the 7th Annual Trivia Night (hosted by Mineral Point Boys & Girls Basketball) Sunday, November 9 in the MPHS Gym from 5:30-7:30 pm!

Cost is $10 per person with tables consisting of 4 to 8 players. Pre-registration is preferred (pay at door) -- email bret.mcgraw@mp.k12.wi.us or merrill.brunson@mp.k12.wi.us to sign up.

There will also be a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, heads or tails, and sit down bingo. Join the fun!

Plan to join us Tuesday, November 11 for our Veteran's Day Programs -- Middle/High School will have theirs at 10 am and Kindergarten will perform at 2 pm. #PointerNation deeply thanks all who served our country.

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.

The cast and crew for our high school's upcoming production of "Seussical" at the Mineral Point Opera House is looking forward to performing for you!

Mark your calendars for November 21-23 and read more about the production and its stars at this link.

A reminder -- no classes will be held in #PointerNation Wednesday, November 26 through Sunday, November 30 due to Thanksgiving Break. Enjoy the time off!

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

Tuesday, November 4

- MS Boys Basketball at Platteville 4 pm

Wednesday, November 5

- Early Release 2 pm (Every Wednesday)

- Middle/High School Career Fair 9 am

- UW-Platteville Math Contest

Thursday, November 6

- MS Boys Basketball vs. Prairie du Chien 4 pm

Sunday, November 9

- Trivia Night supporting Boys & Girls Basketball 5:30 pm in gym

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