The Tartan Review

Aric Daniels, '09, has kept close to his Mequon roots. As a student-athlete at Homestead, Daniels was active in football and intramural basketball. After graduation, Daniels enlisted in the Air Force and spent several years on the East coast before returning home to Wisconsin. Now with three children of his own, Daniels is a proud MTSD parent, HHS running backs coach, and project manager for Hunzinger Construction Company, where he worked closely on the Oriole Lane and Homestead referendum projects. Click the link below to get to know more about lifelong Highlander, Aric Daniels!

The Mequon-Thiensville School District is pleased to announce the opening of a new fitness center located in Homestead High School. The fitness center will be primarily used by students and student-athletes during and after the school day, and community members will have access to the space during designated weekday morning hours. The fitness center opened to community members on Wednesday, September 7.

Previously, Homestead students used one weight room space within the school that was shared by athletic teams as well as used for instruction in physical education classes. The addition of the fitness center, which will include both strength and conditioning equipment as well as cardio fitness machines, provides much-needed instructional space for strength and wellness classes, as well as an additional training area for Homestead athletic teams.

“We are grateful and excited for the opening of the Homestead Fitness Center,” said Erich Hinterstocker, Homestead athletic director. “Our partnership with Froedtert and NX Level has given us the ability to significantly increase the fitness opportunities for our student-athletes after school as well as during the summer months. We are also grateful to the Homestead Booster Club for their support in funding equipment for the fitness center.”

The fitness center was constructed in an area of the building previously designed as a locker room that included coaches’ offices and storage space along the northwestern side of Homestead High School. Along with the construction of the fitness center, an existing team locker room was renovated to bring the room up-to-date with the rest of Homestead’s athletic facilities and optimize usage of the space. Both projects were funded out of MTSD’s general facilities budget and were not part of the recently-concluded 2020 referendum project.

“We have generated tremendous momentum over the past year in the area of strength training and we’re eager to now be able to expand even further,” added Hinterstocker. “The addition of the fitness center is exactly what we needed in order to keep that momentum going.”

Community member usage of the Homestead Fitness Center will be facilitated in partnership with the Mequon-Thiensville Recreation Department and limited to Mequon-Thiensville residents and students. The fitness center is open to the community as part of the recreation department’s morning fitness program Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. - 7:00 a.m.

On July 13, the Mequon-Thiensville School District Board of Education approved the hiring of Mr. Matt Zavada as the newest assistant principal at Homestead High School. Zavada takes on the role previously held by Mr. Christopher Weiss, who transitioned away from MTSD this summer to take a principal position at John Long Middle School in the Grafton School District.

Mr. Zavada previously served in the Kohler School District, where he has held the roles of Athletic & Activities Director and Director of Community Service since 2019 and also taught physical education in Kohler since 2003.

“Throughout the interview process, Matt’s dedication to students and passion for paving the way for their success really shone through,” said Eric Ebert, principal of Homestead High School. “Notably, I appreciated the examples he gave of the ways he has worked hard to support students’ academic and social-emotional growth.”

Zavada holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education and adaptive PE and coaching from Concordia University Wisconsin as well as a master’s of education in interdisciplinary studies curriculum and instruction from National Louis University and a master’s of science in educational leadership and policy from UW-Oshkosh.

“Having the opportunity to work in a small district like Kohler has allowed me to develop strong skills that have prepared me to become a successful leader as a principal, often allowing me to wear many different hats, which suits my servant-leadership style very well,” said Zavada. “I look forward to an opportunity to use my skills and experience to positively impact the Homestead High School community.”

On Thursday, August 11, MTSD held a Districtwide Open House to showcase the new and renovated spaces at all six of our school buildings as a result of the 2020 Referendum Project. The Open House was a great way for community members, current and former MTSD families, and staff members, to engage with our building administrators and tour our updated facilities ahead of the upcoming school year. We are so grateful for the support of the Mequon-Thiensville community in making these improvements a reality and investing in our youth, public schools, and collective future.

Students Adam Yesufu, Amaya Tucker, Jalen Herndon, Julia Gaskin, Justin Robinson, Livia Lathen, and Quinten Mclaughlin have earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs representing African American or Hispanic academic achievement. These National Recognition Programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications and connect students with universities across the country, helping them meaningfully connect to colleges and stand out during the admissions process.

The Mequon-Thiensville School District operates a robust Academic & Career Planning program for our students in grades 6-12. As part of this program, we offer Coffee with a Career Mentor and Career Path Series. The purpose of these series is to provide students with opportunities to interact with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and occupations. They also help students understand and draw connections between what they are currently learning in school and their future career identity.

Are you still a Mequon-Thiensville local? Consider signing up for some of the excellent recreation programming through the Mequon-Thiensville Recreation Department! There are lots of fun and educational opportunities for adults and children alike. Take a look at the offerings and register for a class by clicking here.