IOWA-GRANT'S PANTHER PRESS

March - Music in our Schools Month

“...Let me make the songs of a nation.”

The National Association for Music Education officially designated March as Music in Our Schools Month some forty years ago. I am pleased to report that music education in the Iowa-Grant School District is strong, vibrant, and thriving. On a recent Saturday, I had the good fortune to attend the Tri-State Honors concert where three of our Iowa-Grant students were performers. Congratulations to Will, Gabby, and Lucy! Thanks to our outstanding music teachers Mr. Zwick, Ms. Gile, and Ms. Wanie, our students excel in band, choir, pep band, jazz band, musicals, small ensembles, general music, concerts and contests. Please join me in thanking them for the work they do in providing our students with a rich musical experience. I invite everyone to enjoy the upcoming high school concert on March 18, 2025.

I concur with the sentiments expressed by William Owens, that music allows us to share emotions of the human spirit which cannot be put into words. When music contains textual elements, the words are enhanced beyond what can be conveyed through the text alone. Further, music can transcend lifetimes. Music can bring one to tears and cause one to dance. It can stir empathy, compassion, and even be a balm for the soul. Music is so powerful that in 1689, the Scottish poet Andrew Fletcher opined:

“Let me make the songs of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws.”

Could this thesis be true, music more powerful than law? If so, who then decides our music, and to what end? We have many examples of music being moralized and politicized, causing social unrest, even leading children astray. Plato advised against using certain scales in order to not lead youth astray, and from the BBC The grim truth behind the Pied Piper at: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20200902-the-grim-truth-behind-the-pied-piper a plaque on a house in the town of Hamlin reads:

“A.D. 1284 – on the 26th of June – the day of St John and St Paul – 130 children – born in Hamelin – were led out of the town by a piper wearing multicolored clothes. After passing the Calvary near the Koppenberg they disappeared forever.”

Many of the masterpieces of Western culture are here for us to enjoy only through the patronage of kings and nobles. Dictators have employed and praised the composers deemed worthy of the cause; while denouncing and exiling others when their music was perceived as a threat to the state or speaking truth to power. There were riots after the premiere of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring in 1913. And in my own childhood, the Salty Dog Blues was deemed too risque to broadcast by many radio stations. Eventually though, it was performed by the Dillards a.k.a. the Darlings on an episode of the Andy Griffith Show. Of course, Opie was not in the room.

In 2021, the Taliban banned the performance of all music in public, citing moral corruption. Bonfires of musical instruments were added for dramatic effect. Yet Beethoven’s Ode to Joy in the Ninth Symphony still resonates across generations in its message of hope and theme of a common human experience.

It is here that I return to Iowa-Grant and our students’ musical experiences as a reason for hope.

The guest clinician and conductor at the honors concert was renowned music educator and composer William Owens. As he provided the program notes on his own composition Beyond These Horizons, the audience grew silent and ever more attentive. The somber, yet spirit-lifting music was written in tribute to a dear friend of the composer, also a music educator. His friend and the bus driver tragically lost their lives while enroute to a music performance with a group of band students. The bus was hit by an intoxicated driver. The haunting music made one’s spine tingle. It stirred a feeling of reverence. It inspired me to once again appreciate the power of music and its ability to bind us together and transcend time. You can look forward to hearing our students perform one of William Owens’ pieces, Festive Proclamation at the March 18th concert. Considering its fanfare style, I suspect it will be either the opener or the closing piece.

And it is here also that we come full circle for the choral performance in the upcoming concert. The choir will be performing Venceremos, a Spanish translation of the U.S. civil rights anthem, We Shall Overcome. Clearly this anthem is one of the songs of our nation. And as a special note, the music is arranged by our own choral director Mr. Brian Zwick.

During the pandemic, I found time to read The Consolation of Philosophy, written in the 5th century by Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius. Moved by what I read, I found that Boethius was a scholar-genius connecting a nearly lost Greek culture through to the Romans and on to the middle ages. Among his works, is the quintessential treatise on music, which was on the equivalent of the New York Times bestseller list for 900 years. I quote from The Fundamentals of Music,

"From all these accounts it appears without doubt that music is so naturally united with us that we cannot be free from it even if we so desired. For this reason the power of the intellect ought to be summoned, so that this art, innate through nature, might also be mastered, comprehended through knowledge." Boethius (480-524)

Let us continue in making the songs of the nation!

National School Breakfast Week Campaign Encourages Students to Try School Breakfast

To encourage more families to take advantage of the healthy choices available with school breakfast, Iowa-Grant School District schools will celebrate National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) during March 3-7, 2025.

Busy weekday mornings make it a challenge for many families to find time for a healthy breakfast. Fortunately, Iowa-Grant schools offer nutritious school breakfasts, complete with fruit and low-fat or fat-free milk, to ensure students are fueled for learning every school day. ALL breakfasts are free this year!

The 2025 NSBW campaign theme, “Clue In to School Breakfast,” reminds the entire school community that school breakfast provides a healthy and energizing start to the day for students. Studies show that students who eat school breakfast are more likely to:

🔴 Reach higher levels of achievement in reading and math

⚫Score higher on standardized tests

🔴Have better concentration and memory

⚫Be more alert

🔴Maintain a healthy weight

School nutrition professionals and students will be encouraged to show their enthusiasm for school breakfast from March 3-7 as the district celebrates NSBW.

A healthy breakfast at the start of the day is a great way to ensure students are nourished and ready to learn. National School Breakfast Week helps us educate parents and students about all the nutritious and delicious choices we offer. Join us for breakfast and energize your day.

MS Medal Winners:

Lucy A - Bronze, Kierah D. - Bronze, Trygve H.-C. - Silver, Mackenzie L. - Silver, Olivia E. - Silver, Ryker H. - Gold, Alex P. - Gold, Oliver C. - Gold, Blake S. - Gold, Jordence R. - Gold.

HS Medal Winners:

Algebra 1 - Liam H. -Bronze

Geometry - Stevie P., Breanna D., Ava K. - Bronze

PreCalculus - Rilya H., Everett Z., Noah L. - Bronze. Team Score earned Silver

Calculus - Lucas C., Brett C. - Bronze

Congratulations to All Students! Panther Proud!

3/01 Basketball: Girls Varsity Regional vs TBD @ TBD

3/01 Wrestling: Boys Varsity State Tournament vs TBD @ Kohl Center

3/01 Wrestling: Girls Varsity State Tournament vs TBD @ Kohl Center

3/01 Gymnastics: Varsity Sectionals @ Dodgeville High School

3/02 12:00 PM Fruit Pasty Making

3/03 4:00 PM SWAL Forensics @ IGEMS

3/04 7:00 PM Basketball: Boys Varsity Regional vs Wisconsin Heights (Home)

3/06 Academic Decathlon - State - Green Bay

3/06 7:00 PM LEO Club Banquet - IGHS Cafeteria

3/07 Academic Decathlon - State - Green Bay

3/07 Basketball: Boys Varsity Regional vs TBD @ TBD

3/08 Basketball: Boys Varsity Regional vs TBD @ TBD

3/08 Wrestling: Boys Varsity State Tournament vs TBD @ TBD

3/10 6:30 PM Board Meeting

3/11 Forensics District Competition @ Barneveld

3/13 Basketball: Boys Varsity Sectionals vs TBD @ TBD

3/15 Basketball: Boys Varsity Sectionals vs TBD @ TBD

3/18 7:00 PM IGHS Spring Concert

3/19 8:00 AM IGHS Career Fair

3/20 5:30 PM Track & Field: Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ UW-Platteville

3/21 Basketball: Boys Varsity State Tournament vs TBD @ TBD

3/21 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM IGHS Blood Drive

3/22 Basketball: Boys Varsity State Tournament vs TBD @ TBD

3/22 9:30 AM Track & Field: Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ UW- Platteville

3/24 NO SCHOOL - SPRING BREAK

3/25 NO SCHOOL - SPRING BREAK

3/25 5:00 PM Softball: JV Scrimmage vs Argyle (Home) (Cobb)

3/25 5:00 PM Softball: Varsity Scrimmage vs Argyle (Home) (Cobb)

3/26 NO SCHOOL - SPRING BREAK

3/27 NO SCHOOL - SPRING BREAK

3/28 NO SCHOOL - SPRING BREAK

Katie Rickard is the valedictorian of the class of 2025. She has participated in many extracurricular activities such as LEO Club, FFA, Yearbook, National Honor Society, Cheerleading, Track & Field, and Volleyball. She also loves to spend time with family and friends. Katie would like to thank her family and teachers for always supporting and encouraging her. Her advice to underclassmen is to try your best at everything you do and surround yourself with people that make you happy. After high school, Katie plans to continue her studies at UW-Platteville. Katie is the daughter of Don and Katrina Rickard of Linden.

Bret Connolly is the salutatorian of the class of 2025. He has been involved in many different extracurricular activities such as Cross Country, LEO Club, Track and Field, Academic Decathlon, FFA, and National Honors Society. He loves running and being in nature. Bret credits his parents, teachers, coaches, friends, and siblings for making him the man he is today. Bret advises freshmen to get involved in as many sports and clubs as possible because they make school far more interesting. Bret plans on attending UW-Madison to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Bret is the son of Rick and Beth Connolly of Montfort.

IGHS Blood Drive, sponsored by Student Council and the LEO Club, will be Friday, March 21st from 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM. To make an appointment please call 1-800-733-2767 or visit RedCrossBlood.org and use Sponsor Code: IowaGrantHS.

IGHS will be hosting a Career Fair on Wednesday, March 19th from 8:00 AM - 11:15 AM. If you are interested in having a presentation table, please contact Mr. Amenda at jamenda@igs.k12.wi.us or Mrs. Burton at dburton@cesa3.org.

The IG FFA chapter had a blast celebrating National FFA Week with the Iowa-Grant School District. We kicked off the week with cheese treats passed out by the IG FFA Officers! Throughout the week, students participated in dress up days, emblem hunting, Ag Trivia and bean counting games. Iowa-Grant elementary participated by doing a coloring contest for all grades! We ended the week with Ag Olympics and Drive your Tractor to School Day! Thank you to all of those who participated, donated and supported IG FFA this week! A special Thank You to Community First Bank and their donation of string cheese and milk. Thank you Royal Bank of Cobb for your donation of ice cream and the ice cream fixings.

The Iowa-Grant LEO Club participated in the Special Olympics Polar Plunge 2025 in Madison on Saturday, February 15th. Mr. Boland and seven IGHS students participated

with each having to raise $100+ in pledges/donations to make the plunge. They raised over $1500!! Those participating included Cadence K., Remmington F., Lily L., Griffen C., Calvin M., Brooklyn J., and Riellyn C.

On Thursday, members of the Iowa-Grant FFA Chapter spent the day at Southwest Technical College at 🔥FFA FIRE Conference🔥! Members had the opportunity to learn about all things FFA! Including Official Dress🤠 , FFA History🗝, SAE Development🐄, Leadership Skills🤝🏻 and other opportunities FFA has to offer🚜. While learning, members played games and had the chance to meet members for across the state as well as meet the Wisconsin STATE FFA Officers! 💙💛

What an amazing season!

🔴⚫Tyson I. D3 State Champ at 157

🔴⚫ Jaxon B. D3 State Champ at 165

🔴⚫ Bode B. D3 State Runner up at 285

🔴⚫ Gavin H. Finished 4th for D3 190

🔴⚫ Brock H. Finished 5th for D3 150

IGH Proud!!!

Maria S. had an impressive season as a freshman. She finished 3rd place at the WIAA Individual Sectionals Girls Wrestling. IGH Proud!

Congratulations! Amazing! The Dodgeville CO-OP Gymnastics Team were Sectional Champs and are State-Bound! Way to Go Girls!

Congratulations to Madelyn K. for receiving First Team All Conference awards for Vault, Bars, Beam, Floor, and All Around. Abby D. received Second Team All Conference for Bars! Great Job Ladies!

The US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD will be where he will spend a six-day session in June. With a 30% approximate acceptance rate, he will join other selected Juniors as they become a part of the Academy and will experience first-class academic, athletic, and professional training at #1 Top Public College in the Country, according to 2025 U.S. News & World Report College Ranking Report.

Georgia H., Sadie S., Zoe R., Adrienne B., Sadie H., Payton F. and Mr. Schilling traveled to Platteville High School to compete in the Regional Visual Arts Classic on February 21st. Students created a long term project that they have been working on for the last few months, an onsite project, a critical thinking team challenge, and an artist quiz bowl.

Happy March! Hopefully, we will continue to have great weather and can get in some fantastic days of school before it is time to break for spring break.

Summer School sign-ups will be held beginning the Monday following spring break and will run from April 1st - 26th. To help with planning, the weeks of the summer school will be:

• June 16th - 20th 1st session: (2 sections 8:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.)

• July 7th - 10th 2nd session: (2 sections 8:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.)

• July 21st - 25th 3rd session: (2 sections 8:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.)

There will be a snack/recess in between sections. We are trying something new with only offering summer school in July and August. Please reach out to Jennifer Gallagher if you have any questions.

We also offer T-ball and Coach pitch softball and baseball. This runs in the evenings on Mondays and Thursdays from July 7th - July 31st with:

T-Ball 5:30 - 6:15 p.m.

Coach Pitch 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Sign-ups for T-ball and Coach pitch softball, and baseball will be with the summer school sign-up.

The Wisconsin Forward Exam will be held from March 31st - April 25th. Testing will be held in the following grades:

• grades 3-8 in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics,

• grades 4 and 8 in science,

• and grades 4, 8, and 10 in social studies.

This exam will assess your child’s achievement in grade-level standards and will be used as part of Iowa-Grant Elementary Middle School’s state report card. We appreciate your support of our efforts.

There is some helpful information regarding the Forward Exam: https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/assessment/pdf/Forward_Brochure_for_Families.pdf

Summer Recreation Baseball and Softball Registration for current students in grades 3rd-8th Grade is now open for the 2025 season. Please click on the link below and register your child if they are interested. Registration closes on March 14th, 2025. https://www.igs.k12.wi.us/page/summer-recreation

Open to all Iowa-Grant students between the ages of kindergarten and 8th grade, through our summer school program we are once again able to offer the opportunity to be a part of the Missoula Children’s Theater production! There is no cost to participate but you do have to be willing to commit to the full week of rehearsals. Rehearsals will take place Monday, August 4th through Friday, August 8th from 8-12:30 with the option to stay later on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for acting workshops. Children need to be available all day on Friday, August 8th as practice times may vary before the performance that evening, and will need to be available until noon on Saturday, August 9th for our final performance! Children unable to attend all practices will not be able to be a part of the performance as we are learning a full play during that week. Spots are limited so please make sure you register right away!! New this year, registration will take place online, first come first serve. Please use the link to sign up your child.

https://forms.gle/yrpnaKoV87s45G887

Where: Iowa-Grant Elementary

When: Friday, March 7th, 2025

8:00-12:00

Who: Any child in the district born between Sept 2021 and August 2022

The Iowa-Grant School District is holding a Child Development Day for any child in the district born between September 2021 and August 2022. This is an exciting opportunity for you to bring your child to school to check his/her preschool readiness skills. Through play we will explore colors, shapes, counting, following directions, and language development.

If you would like to bring your child to the Child Development Day please call (608)943-6313 ext 0 to sign up!

This February, also known as Heart Month, elementary students completed two weeks of the Kids Heart Challenge both in Phy-Ed class and at home! Kindergarten to fourth grade students learned how they can become heart heroes and make a positive impact together. They raised $6,450 for the American Heart Association and had a lot of fun along the way! A bonus prize- our top two fundraisers got to pie Mr. Reuter!

At the end of second quarter, IGEMS 5th and 6th graders had the chance to compete in a pickleball class championship. The students grew their skills, had fun, and competed for prizes. The champions in Mr. Riemenapp's 5th grade class were Britton L. and Sutherlin A., 2nd place was Josephine B. and Ava A., and 3rd place was Jed R. and Neymar Q. In the 6th grade group, Cohen T. took on a solo mission to win the championship, 2nd place was Tate L. and Boston H., and 3rd place was David K..

Mrs. Boldt's 8th grade RLA classes recently completed reading the novel, All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg. The story is about a young Vietnamese boy who gets airlifted to the United States during the Vietnam War. The book depicts his struggles with transitioning to his new home along with his memories of his war torn native country. To help the students gain perspective about this time in history, three local Vietnam veterans volunteered to speak our students. They captivated the students' attention with their personal stories. It was a fantastic way to bring history alive for our students. A special thank you to Gene Tremelling, Ron Larson, and John Kohout (members of the Ritchie, Bowers, Kohout VFW Post 9298 in Montfort) for your willingness to share your experiences, but most importantly, thank you gentlemen, for your service to our country!

Kindergarten participated in Global Play Day. We had a fantastic day of learning through play!

These three 8th grade students have reached the status of being a reading millionaire. Pictured on the left is Weston W., who has read 10 books to reach his million words. Isaiah H. in the center read eight books in the Harry Potter series to achieve his million words. Shane R. on the right is a 4 millionaire. Currently, Shane has read a whopping 43 books this school year!! Keep on reading, Panthers! We would love to have you join these boys as reading millionaires.