January Education Connection

• A Message From Superintendent Hirsbrunner
• 2024 WASB Honor Roll
• Weaving Gratitude Into ELA
• Memorable 2024 SPASH Holiday Open
• Sentry Funds Plover-Whiting STEM Fridays
• Steering Our Schools: Recapping the Board's Work
• SPASH Names New Head Girls Cross Country Coaches
• Behnke and Hopp Awarded Coaches of the Year

• SPAPSD Open Position Highlights
• You're Invited! District Art Show | Jan 30, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
• Upcoming Events and Community Information
• 2024-25 School Year Calendar

SPAPSD Families,

As we approach the end of the first semester on January 24, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued dedication to supporting our students and schools. This semester has been filled with growth, hard work, and countless achievements, and I’m proud of the progress we’ve made together.

Looking ahead, we’re excited about the opportunities and learning that await in the second semester. From academic challenges to extracurricular achievements, we’re committed to ensuring every student is supported and inspired to reach their full potential.

Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. Your engagement and encouragement help make our schools a place where students thrive. Let’s continue to work together to make this second half of the school year even more successful.

Wishing your students a strong finish to the first semester!

Sincerely,

The Stevens Point Area Public School District is proud to recognize five local businesses for their outstanding contributions to our schools and community. These businesses were honored as part of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) 2024 Business Honor Roll program, which highlights business partners that support schools through resources, opportunities, and collaboration.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generous contributions and partnerships of these businesses,” said School Board President, Jennifer Bushman. “Their support exemplifies the power of collaboration between schools and the community, helping us fulfill our mission to prepare every student for success.”

Read the full article on our webpage.

Collaborative Teaching in Action: Supporting Every Student

Mrs. Vanderloop and Mrs. Kubs are bringing the collaborative teaching model to life in the Stevens Point Area Public School District. By working together across general education, special education, and ESL, they’re creating classrooms where every student can succeed.

How They’re Making a Difference:

1. Keeping students in the classroom for a more natural and inclusive learning environment.

2. Using peer interaction and visual aids to help students learn and grow together.

3. Collaborating as educators to share ideas and solve challenges creatively.

Their teamwork exemplifies our district’s commitment to inclusive and innovative education. See their inspiring story in action!

Watch the video on YouTube.

We are excited to highlight our students’ outstanding accomplishments in the SPASH Holiday Open! Led by our Geometry and Construction and Tech Ed departments, this project inspired students to apply hands-on math, engineering, and design skills in building a festive mini golf course. Throughout the process, they worked collaboratively to tackle real-world challenges and create a unique experience for the entire school and community to enjoy.

In our newest video, you’ll see:

1. Innovation at Work: Students harnessing their imagination and problem-solving abilities.

2. Community Engagement: The course opened to family, friends, and neighbors for a fun night of putting and holiday cheer.

3. Teamwork in Action: From concept to construction, everyone played a crucial role in bringing this course to life.

Watch the video to witness the pride and enthusiasm our students poured into this remarkable project! Their dedication and creativity exemplify the power of hands-on learning and the spirit of collaboration.

Watch the video on YouTube.

Third through sixth graders at Plover-Whiting Elementary School dove into a creative STEM challenge during our recent Fab Friday event: building their very own marble runs! Armed with cardboard, tin foil, and tape, students collaborated in teams to design tracks that would guide marbles from start to finish. This hands-on activity allowed them to practice teamwork, develop critical thinking, and strengthen problem-solving skills—all while having a blast.

From testing different ramp angles to reconfiguring tunnels, our students discovered the power of perseverance. As one student put it, “Sometimes it won’t always work, and the main part is never give up.” Their excitement was contagious, as they cheered each other on and worked together to perfect their creations.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Sentry Insurance Foundation making this experience possible. Their generous donation allowed us to purchase tools and materials, expanding the opportunities for our students to learn, play, and grow together. Thank you for supporting the future of our students!

Watch the video on YouTube.

The Stevens Point Area Public School District School Board held its Regular Board Meeting on Monday, January 13, 2025.

Mandana Bliss Award

This month, the board honored Robert King, fifth grade teacher at McKinley Center Elementary School with the Mandana Bliss Award presented by sixth grade student Tacie Voetberg.

Consent Agenda

Minutes from the regular December School Board Meeting, approval of the monthly bills and employment recommendations were approved as presented.

Business Services

The board unanimously accepted the 2023-24 Annual Financial Report as well as the Annual Financial Report for Point of Discovery School.

Educational Services

Recommended English course name changes and revised junior course sequence was approved as presented.

Student Services

Unlimited general education 4K seats and unlimited general education non-resident seats available under open enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year was approved as presented as was 0 multi-categorical (all disability areas) for Early Childhood programming; 0 multi-categorical (all disability areas) for grades K-6 in-person; 0 multi-categorical (all disability areas) for grades 7-12 (Ben, PJ's, SPASH, CFC) in person; 1 multi-categorical (all disability areas) for PoDS; and 3 multi-categorical (all disability areas) for Project SEARCH available for the 2025-2026 school year.

Policy & Legislation
Revisions to Policies po8510 - Wellness and po8531 Free and Reduced-Price Meals were approved as presented.

General

Board members discussed their position as a board on the recommended 2025 WASB Resolutions to provide direction to the Board's official delegate.

An update on the budget evaluation process was provided by Assistant Superintendent Nyman.

Future Meetings

The next regular meeting of the School Board will take place on February 10, 6:00 p.m.

The Educational Services and Business Services/HR Committees will meet the first Monday of the month at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. respectively.

The entirety of the meeting can be viewed online.

Athletic Director David Hauser's Statement on New Leadership
Athletic Director David Hauser expressed his optimism regarding the new leadership of the girls' cross country program, stating, "We are fortunate to have Zoe and Pat prepared and eager to assume leadership of this program. They possess extensive experience as former SPASH and collegiate competitive runners, alongside their accomplishments as coaches. Their dedication to the sport and their commitment to enhancing the achievements of the Stevens Point Area Senior High Girls Cross Country program is of great significance."

The full story can be found on our district webpage.

The Stevens Point Area Public School District is proud to announce that our Boys Cross Country coaches, Donn Behnke and Kevin Hopp, have been named Coaches of the Year by the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association (WCCCA). This prestigious recognition is a testament to their exceptional leadership, dedication, and commitment to developing a program that continues to exemplify excellence both on and off the course.

Under their guidance, the team has achieved incredible success this season, including securing their third consecutive state title - a remarkable feat not accomplished in Division 1 Boys Cross Country since 1945. Their focus on fostering teamwork, resilience, and a growth mindset has not only propelled the athletes to impressive accomplishments but also instilled life lessons that will benefit them far beyond their years in the sport.

"This honor reflects the hard work of our athletes, the support of our school and community, and the incredible camaraderie within our team," said Coach Behnke. Coach Hopp continued, “we are proud to represent the Stevens Point Area and share this recognition with everyone who makes our program successful."

The Boys Cross Country team has consistently demonstrated what it means to prepare to be successful—a core value of the Stevens Point Area Public School District. This award recognizes not just the championships but the unwavering dedication to cultivating a program that stewards excellence, perseverance, and sportsmanship.

Congratulations to Coach Benhke and Coach Hopp on this well-deserved honor! The entire Stevens Point Area community celebrates this incredible achievement and looks forward to the continued success of our Boys Cross Country program.

Join our #PointProud team! We're hiring for a Spanish Teacher and in our Special Education Team!

We are looking for a dimensional Spanish Teacher as well as an enthusiastic Special Education Teacher and Assistants to join our team of 1100 staff members in beautiful, family-friendly Stevens Point, Wisconsin!

Click below to to view the complete job descriptions and to apply on WECAN.

• Support Positions
• Certified Positions

Yog xav tau kev pab txhais cov lus no, thov hu rau Mai Kou Yang ntawm 715-343-7139 los 715-340-0656 lossis sau email rau: mayang@pointschools.net

Si necesita ayuda traduciendo información que se encuentra en el correo electrónico, por favor, contacte a Jami McGriff al correo jmcgriff@pointschools.net o llame al 715-498-1976.