Wolf Tales

As a principal, I have the incredible privilege of witnessing firsthand the growth and achievements of our students—your children. Every day, I get to see them excel not just in the classroom but also on the field, on stage, in clubs, and in so many other ways. Whether it’s an athletic contest, a play, or a student-led initiative, I am constantly amazed by their energy, talent, and dedication.

People often ask me how things are going, and my answer is always the same—fast! Life in a school moves quickly because it’s such a vibrant, busy place.

In this edition of Wolf Tales, I hope you’ll get a closer look at the many activities our students are engaged in. I also want to encourage you to take time to enjoy these moments with your student(s). They grow up in the blink of an eye, and before you know it, they’re off to their next adventure. It’s one of those life clichés that turns out to be absolutely true!

Somehow, it's already time to think about next year. Student scheduling is coming up on February 12th, and in preparation our new course handbook and master schedule is being released to our students next week. There are quite a few new opportunities course-wise, ranging from classes about National Parks and Organic Chemistry to UW-Green Bay courses focused on preparing future educators. In total, there are over 25 new classes for next year! With the increase of opportunity comes the initiative to encourage students to take advantage of more college and career prep courses. Hence, in the 2025-2026 school year there will be a revision of the number of credits required to graduate, moving from 24 to 26 with the addition of two more elective credits. Our hope is that this change can be embraced with the recognition that opportunities within our walls are endless and taking advantage of them will only further our students on their path to success.

The cast and crew of Mamma Mia is basking in the glory of what were 3 fantastic shows. Over 500 tickets were sold and if you listened/watched closely you could hear audience members singing and dancing along! The show was made up of 27 students, 4 professional musicians, 4 directors and a multitude of parent help. The musical season started in October. Rehearsals took place after school or on weekends, whilst juggling work schedules, basketball practices/games, etc. The dedication and work that goes into being part of a musical production goes without saying. These kids worked their tails off!

Photos of the musical provided courtesy of Tammy Lohrey

Once again Art Beet is sponsoring Youth Art Month. Starting March 7th you can visit area galleries to see some of our student's work. Ms. Morbacher has created a letter with information for anyone that is interested. Here are a few pictures, however these works need to be seen in person to really appreciate what the students have created. Click on "The Yam Goes on With Art Beet" to see more details on when and where you can see the art displayed as well as wonderful workshops taking place.

Students were asked what they enjoyed most about Semester one of the 2024-2025 School Year. Click the picture below to find out what they had to say.

Bowling Club finished meet 12 of 14 this past Saturday, January 25th at Kewaunee Bowl. Therefore only 2 meets to go and Senior Claire Connors is in the running for advancing to individual state. Claire is currently sitting in 2nd behind Southern Doors Bella Roen. Bowling's final meet is Saturday, 2/1 at Apple Valley Lanes in Sturgeon Bay. Algoma Varsity sits at 3-9 and JV 5-3 led by JV stand out Gage Srnka.

Congratulations to both Claire Connors and Ethan Moore part of the club for the past 3 years.

On Monday, January 27th, the Ski Club had an amazing day on the slopes of Pine Mountain. Seventeen enthusiastic kids took to the hill as a warmup for the upcoming 3-day ski trip this weekend. Some even wanted to try the Olympic ski jump next door.... We had three brand new skiers who received excellent lessons and were skiing on their own by lunchtime! With not many other skiers on the hill, we were able to get lots of runs in, which made for a tired but happy bunch going home. We're looking forward to the 3-day ski trip and plan to have another 1-day ski trip again next year

Howling for Change is a group for middle school students that meets every Wednesday during lunch in Ms. Ballone’s classroom. The group meets with Kelly and Delis from the Violence Intervention Project. We explore different topics like managing worries, bullying, building healthy relationships, setting boundaries, and mental health. Each meeting includes a hands-on activity that helps us engage with the topic in a fun, meaningful way.

One activity we did involved writing down everything we were struggling with on a ceramic plate. Afterward, we went outside and smashed the plate to symbolize letting go of those struggles. In another activity, we teamed up with a friend to create a "superhero" we’d love to see in our community, imagining how they would make the world a better place.

As part of a community project, we helped organize a holiday party for families in Algoma. We assisted Kelly and Delis with helping families pick presents, face painting, serving hot chocolate, and decorating cookies.

Kelly and Delis make the group a safe and fun space where we can be ourselves, and every activity empowers us to grow and learn more about handling challenges and helping others.

Students who run the PUREiod initiative focused on finding sustainable funds to provide menstrual hygiene products in the bathrooms. They created a process for students and community members to drop off their empty aluminum cans either in bins in the hallways or the can container in the parking lot. This not only supports the initiative but also benefits the environment. Also, the students spoke with the 7th graders about menstrual hygiene and what to expect during menstruation. The group is currently planning a dance for February 21st to give students something to look forward to during the long winter months.

Here is the link to the video PUREiod made this fall.

Algoma School District welcomed new van driver Troy Joachim this month. His two children are Algoma Alumni. He will be doing our new co op route. We Co op with Kewaunee's special education department to provide transportation to and from Green bay.

🚌 February is national school bus appreciation month! Since 1976, Wisconsin School Bus Association has ensured the state's School Bus Drivers are recognized and appreciated through the annual Appreciation Week event held every second full week in February. 🚌

❓Bonus: Did you know our bus drivers are ready to roll at 6:25 in the morning❓

Pictured below from left to right: Greg, Tracy, Sarah, and Grandpa Bill