SDB Highlights and Headlines

Our monthly "SDB Highlights and Headlines" newsletter shares the #GreatThingsHappening in our district. We highlight our incredible students, dedicated staff, and amazing community partners, showcasing top achievements, collaborative efforts, and unique stories happening daily.

We were thrilled to welcome our students back to school with a quick video featuring our district staff! This school year promises to be filled with opportunities for learning, growth, and new experiences to ensure all students achieve their best. Every Day Counts. Attendance Matters!

The School District of Beloit launches a district-wide “Attendance Matters” campaign, designed to improve school attendance rates by engaging students, families, staff, and community partners. This initiative aims to provide every student and family with the resources and opportunities needed for academic success. Regular school attendance is crucial for student achievement and long-term success. Research consistently shows that students who attend school regularly achieve better academically, have higher graduation rates, and are more likely to pursue college and career goals.

Our Second Annual Back to School Community Health Fair made a significant impact, drawing close to 900 registered participants. The event offered vital services, including sports physicals, dental assessments, and vision screenings. More than 60 children received free haircuts, and dozens were vaccinated.

The highlight of the event was the distribution of 500 backpacks filled with school supplies. All backpacks were provided for free to ensure students were prepared for the start of the school year.

A special shout-out to Mr. Samuel Karns for leading the efforts for the second year with a dedicated committee of staff and community partners. It was truly a community effort.

Our amazing school secretaries and administrative assistants participated in a comprehensive Back-to-School Kick-off training to ensure they were fully prepared and ready to support our students and families this upcoming school year. Their commitment to excellence ensures that our district will start the year with a strong foundation and a positive, welcoming atmosphere.

For the fourth time, our talented students performed at the International Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest theater festival in the world. Their performance of Brecht’s “Fear and Misery of the Third Reich” received excellent reviews for its powerful message. We are proud of how they represented our district and community! A special shout-out to Mr. Greg Wallendal, our dedicated theater director, for continuously elevating our students.

A huge thank you to everyone who supported them on this incredible journey. Here’s to many more achievements and outstanding performances in the future!

Beloit Memorial High School teamed up with Hendricks CareerTek to host a welding camp this summer! A total of 15 students immersed themselves in the world of welding. They worked on various projects, learned about welding safety, and explored career opportunities in the industry.

A special thanks to our welding instructor, Mr. Joe Kluge, for leading the camp and to BMHS student Bryan Campos Gutierrez for his assistance.

Our district was thrilled to receive a generous influx of school supplies thanks to our community partners.

A big thank you goes out to Big Radio, 815 Custom Auto, Bud Weiser Motors, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Durham School Services, Stateline Mental Health Service, and Acts Housing for their collaborative effort in hosting the Annual Cram the Bus event.

For the second consecutive year, Rakuten hosted a school supply drive. They generously provided over a dozen school supply kits for our students.

We also sincerely thank Costco Logistics for their continued generosity; they donated 192 backpacks for the second year. Their contribution positively impacted our students, helping them start the school year prepared and ready to learn.

All donated supplies have been carefully sorted and distributed to our schools, ensuring that our students receive them before the first day of school.

Greg Wallendal, Sage Green, and Beloit Memorial High School Theater Students: Our theater students showcased their talents globally at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This marks the department's fourth trip to the Festival. Mr. Greg Wallendal and Mrs. Sage Green Cross played a pivotal role in chaperoning the trip and preparing our students for this extraordinary opportunity.

Samuel Karns, Todd Elementary School Principal: Mr. Samuel Karns led and organized the 2nd Annual Back to School Community Health Fair. While this event was a collaborative effort involving many dedicated individuals and organizations throughout our community, Mr. Karns has been the driving force behind this initiative.

The Rising Queens: The organization's efforts highlight their deep understanding of the challenges faced by our community and their proactive approach to making a positive difference. We recognize them for their latest initiative, hosting two free laundry days in our community in August. Just in time to help all students and families in our community be ready for the start of the school year.

The Stateline Family YMCA Aquatic Program: We recognize the YMCA Aquatic Program for its contribution to the "Splash, Cycle & Roll Into Fitness" summer school class offered to our students. Our students were able to build confidence and enhance their physical fitness while learning essential water safety skills.

The Stateline Family YMCA Gymnastics Program: Thanks to this program's collaboration with our district this summer, we were able to offer the "Let's Cheer & Dance" course, where students had the chance to learn cheerleading chants, jumps, and dance routines, energizing their summer experience. Additionally, students visited the YMCA Gymnastics Center, where they focused on improving their strength, coordination, flexibility, and confidence through all four gymnastics events: Vault, Floor, Beam, and Bars.

Tricoci University: We celebrate Ms. Keira Wilson from Tricoci University for her role in offering the Beautology class this summer. Through this class, students explored the latest trends in hair, nail, and makeup, gaining foundational knowledge in cosmetology. They enjoyed hands-on experiences with hair styling, skincare, nail care, and makeup application, including creating nail art, learning to braid, and treating their skin with care.