Pepin Area Schools

So long summer and hello….winter!? I don’t know if it’s just a sign of me getting older, but I don’t think the fall season is very fall-like anymore. We’ve had some pretty nice fall days in recent years and then the bottom seems to fall out and we are onto five months of winter. Last winter was perhaps an expectation and I don’t think we’ll see a repeat of that again this year. Regardless, the cold is coming, so we’re wrapping up our fall seasons and venturing into the winter.

I’d like to take a moment to congratulate all of our fall teams and clubs on their success and to thank our partners in the school districts of Alma and Wabasha-Kellogg. I was able to attend several football games, volleyball games, cross-country meets, and even a music concert! I was truly impressed with the performances in all areas and the community support. Regardless of the activity, I have learned a few things in the past 28 years of working in schools: 1) Kids work really hard to learn, get better, and help their respective programs improve. 2) The first thing can’t happen without adults at home supporting the student(s) and their interests. 3) Numbers 1 & 2 can’t happen without adults and volunteers willing to give up large amounts of their own time to be coaches or advisors. 4) For our seniors, this entire year will be filled with events that you will, in many cases, be doing for the last time. The last football season. The last time lacing up your basketball shoes. A final trip to home plate. Your last concert or performance. That list just goes on and on. Enjoy the months ahead in your final year as a competitive Pepin Eagle as these will be days that you’ll look back on for many years to come.

I was able to recently attend a portion of the football banquet. One of the coaches was encouraging those student-athletes in attendance to go out for a winter sport and, in fact, encouraged them to be three-sport athletes. As I alluded to earlier, I’m old! When I was in high school I wasn’t being pulled in the various directions of today’s high school students. I did however go to a small school. In a small school student participation is key! I would challenge every student to go out for a sport or a club every season of every year. It’s not about being the best. Rather, I believe you learn some of the most valuable lessons in life by being a part of a team, by being a part of something bigger than yourself, and by struggling (or learning as I like to call it!). Take a chance and give something new a try.

In other news, I want to acknowledge Dan Lerum for his work as a public servant on the Pepin School Board for nearly three decades. Dan stepped away from the board in August, but I want to celebrate him and his efforts as a long-serving member of the board. In September, the board welcomed its newest member, Adam Kissell. Adam has had an interest in public service going back to previous elections. Thank you to Adam for his persistence and interest in joining our Board. We will also be saying goodbye to Julie Meyer, our district bookkeeper. Julie is retiring at the end of December. On behalf of the board and staff, I’d like to thank Julie for her many years of service and dedication to the school district. The board will be approving the hiring of a new district bookkeeper at its regular school board meeting in November.

The Pepin Area School District 2024-2025 budget has been set and our local levy for this school year will go up 6.5% from last school year. Let me be very clear, this was not unexpected as the district has been going through a major roofing project to repair hail damage where district funds were needed to complete the project. Even with this increase, the mill rate will once again go down. This is because our equalized property values within the school district increased by nearly 14% compared to last year; some municipalities may be slightly below that average while others may be slightly higher. Our mill rate will be an estimated $8.41 per $1000 of property value. I am told that this is the lowest mill rate that the Pepin Area School has had in modern times.

The roofing project mentioned above has been a very large job. I can tell you that the bulk of the work has been completed. Any remaining work left is minor in scope and our staff is working with various contractors as needed to complete that work. The cost of the project was just over $1.4 million with the cost to the district being just under $121,000. One never wants to see our property damaged, but accidents can occur at any time. This project should provide the district with a quality roof for many years to come.

Regarding school funding, I share the same frustrations as my predecessor, Mr. Quinton. The final numbers from the 2023-2024 school year indicate that Pepin was funded at only 12% from the state in equalized aid. As you have been told in the past, that is significantly lower than the state average of almost 50% via equalization aid. Yes, it is true, the Pepin area has high land values compared to other areas of our region and state. However, the land values do not accurately reflect the average income of the families living in our school community. The current state funding system for public education is broken. Until the state steps up to make true and meaningful change, our school will be in a yearly position of asking the local taxpayers to pay a heavier burden than most other Wisconsin property taxpayers while also paying for a second private school funding system in the voucher program. Still, in the face of such inequity and challenges, the people of Pepin have shown their support for our school and students and I thank you!

I’ve been at Pepin for almost five months now and continue to be impressed. The friendliness of everybody I have met has been unbelievable. The level of community engagement and support is tremendous. My speculation is that many of our residents have lived in the area for much of their lives. We have something pretty unique and special here and I hope others can see it just as clearly as I do.

Have a safe and happy holiday season with your family, friends, and loved ones….Go Eagles!

Mr. Anderson

School is closed or closing early! Now what? How soon will you be notified? How will you be notified? Will there be after-school events if school is closed? These are all great questions. The winter season can be very unpredictable. Residents of the Pepin Area School District can have very different weather conditions depending on where they live within the school district. In the lower elevations of the district, weather conditions may not be too bad, but in the elevated areas, it may be near white-out conditions with extreme blowing and drifting snow. The area's geography only adds to the difficulty of deciding whether to close the school or not. I can tell you that my decision to close school will always be made with the safety of our students and staff in mind and with the best information available at that time.

If I decide to close the school you will be notified very quickly. Some closing decisions may be made the night before while in other cases it may be in the early morning hours or even after the school day has begun. I do realize the inconvenience that closing schools can create for families. Our goal is always to keep our students safe and that’s what the decision will be based upon. If school is closed, or closing early, you will be notified in the following ways and can find that information on the following TV stations in our region:

Direct contact from the school:

• JMC notification by phone, text, and email. Please contact the office if you need to update any contact information with the school. This will ensure that you receive all important notifications from the school.

• Like us on Facebook! Our district Facebook page will have all school closing information posted quickly.

Television stations:

WCCO 4 (MN)

FOX 9 (MN)

WEAU 13 (WI)

In most cases, if school is canceled for the day or we deem it necessary to close early, there will be no after-school activities, practices, or events. Any deviation from that will be communicated. If you have any questions regarding school closure please contact me at the school office.

Safe travels this winter season!

Mr. Anderson

It’s hard to believe we’ve already completed the first trimester at Pepin Elementary! It feels like just yesterday was the first day of school. Although it’s been a whirlwind, all of us here are incredibly proud of the academic and emotional growth our students have made. We truly have amazing students.

Character Counts!

At Pepin Elementary, we know that academic growth is only part of the equation. It’s equally important to nurture character development, which helps prepare our students for success in all aspects of life.

Our Pledge:

IN THIS SCHOOL,
WE Pledge
TO BE KIND,
Build Positive Relationships,
And Be Unique as we Show

Gratitude for Everyone - in November our character focus is Gratitude.

Elementary students met in their Eagle Groups to explore the concept of gratitude. During our discussions, we focused on how making gratitude a habit can boost happiness, shift our mindset, and make a positive impact on everyone we encounter.

Fun with Fitness

On November 22, Mrs. Noel and Mr. Pearson hosted our annual Turkey Trot around the football field. We walked, ran, skipped, and even danced our way around, with some fun exercise challenges thrown in! As a special treat, the Pepin Area Chamber of Commerce generously provided a turkey giveaway. One student from each grade was gifted a turkey to share with their family. A huge THANK YOU to PACC for their support.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

We are so grateful for the strong support from our families. Thank you for taking the time to meet with us and discuss your child’s progress. It’s a partnership that makes all the difference in a child’s education. We are thrilled to report that our attendance rate for conferences was nearly 100%. What an incredible show of community support! Please continue to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Fruit Sale

A heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s fruit sale. It was a great success. We’d like to give a special shout-out to Shannon Van Allen for her hard work in organizing this sale from start to finish. We’re so grateful for her generosity. Be on the lookout for details about pickup in December.

A Thanksgiving Note

Our entire staff is deeply grateful for the wonderful support of our Pepin Elementary community. We wish you all a warm and joyful Thanksgiving filled with gratitude and happiness. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out if I can be of assistance.

My best,
Mrs. Riesgraf

The annual Wheel Rally took place on a beautiful October evening at the Pepin Fire Station. Hosted by the Family Resource Council and the Pepin Fire Department, the event invited families to enjoy a meal, explore various rigs and vehicles, and get their faces painted. Even Pepin's mascot, Pepie, made a special appearance.

Children and their families had the chance to explore the rigs up close and speak with EMS personnel, Pepin Police Chief Van Alstein, the Pepin County Sheriff, members of the Lund Fire Department, and view village vehicles and farm equipment provided by the Dusek and Post families. A highlight of the evening was the distribution of apples generously donated by Lost Creek Hippies, a local orchard. It was a wonderful event enjoyed by all. Special THANKS to the community members and local EMS who came together to sponsor this beloved annual event.

The district is excited to share we will be offering an indoor walking opportunity for community members that runs from November 1 through April 30.

Visit our district website for more information.

https://www.pepin.k12.wi.us/.../community-indoor-walking...

The WI Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program provides school & work-based learning to instruct students in employability and occupational skills. Students are simultaneously enrolled in academic classes to meet high school graduation requirements and are also employed by participating employers.

There is significant evidence demonstrating the benefits that collaborating with employers can have on students. Involvement with employers, particularly through work-based learning experiences, leads to reduced dropout rates, enhanced motivation, improved performance, greater development of workplace skills, better academic results, and a heightened ability to make informed and confident career choices.(https://stradaeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/031522-PV-report.pdf)

Beyond the advantages that work-based learning offers to students, employers also experience numerous positive outcomes. With Baby Boomers retiring, many industries are encountering workforce shortages. To replace this skilled workforce, it is essential to engage current and future generations, helping them acquire the skills necessary for success in the job market. Through work-based learning, students are developing crucial soft skills such as communication, time management, work ethic, and reliability. Additionally, this type of learning can help retain talent within our community. If students are unaware of the opportunities available locally, they are more likely to seek employment elsewhere.

Pepin High School is excited to have seven seniors participating in our half-day Youth Apprentice program this year. This program allows them to earn a Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development certificate and receive a stipend for work-related supplies. We extend our gratitude to the Pepin business community for collaborating with us to provide this valuable opportunity for our students. This year’s participants include Pepin Farm Implements, Riesgraf Construction, Pepin Property Management, Captain’s Legacy, and K&I Enterprises. We would also like to acknowledge the following businesses that have partnered with us over the past two years or have shown interest in hiring our students: Pepin Auto, Backwoods Electric, Eagles Rest, E&S, Bank of Alma, Pepin/Alma Marina, and Villa Bellezza.

Happy Fall Everyone! We have already completed our first quarter of the school year and I’m still wondering where it went! I wanted to send out a little “note” about how things are going in the band department. If you have any questions and/or concerns, please feel free to email me @ draxler-ruffj@alma.k12.wi.us.

Senior High Band:

We are just finishing up a very successful fall pep band season. Congratulations to the volleyball team, football team, and dance line on an excellent season! Every fall starts a new band, and once again, this band did not disappoint. To see the growth of the new students along with the leadership of the upperclassmen is extremely encouraging and hopeful. I always take a great deal of pride in our pep band performances and treat them with the same expectations as our concert

performances. It’s always nice to hear the positive comments from the officials and visiting schools.

The combined band performed for the Veteran’s Day Program in Alma on Monday, November 11 at 9 a.m. This was a great program for our Veterans and an opportunity to get the two concert bands together for the first time this school year. Pepin senior, Aspyn Pawlak, and Alma senior, Mya Stewart, performed Taps for the ceremony.

We had three students participate in the Dairyland Honors Band on Saturday, November 9 at Whitehall High School. They were: Reeden Bocksell, bass clarinet, Aspyn Pawlak and Breckin Hullopeter trumpet, and Nashic Komisar, tuba. They spent the day in Whitehall rehearsing with students from all over the Dairyland Conference and then performed a concert at 5 p.m. Congratulations on an outstanding performance!

Our first concert performance will be our Holiday Concert on Monday, December 16 at 7 p.m. All concerts will be combined with Alma. Each school has a very strong band, but together, we are even better! Performing groups will be: 6th grade band, 7 & 8 junior choir, 7 & 8 junior band, and 9-12 high school choir and 9-12 high school band. The band is going to conclude the concert with an old fashioned “sing a-long” for the audience to participate in.

Junior High Band:

We had our first performance on Monday, October 21 and it was a tremendous success! The combined 64-piece band performed for a packed gym. I am so pleased with how much the students have progressed and how well they performed. Our last song “Feel it Still” could compete with several other school’s pep bands! This is going to be an amazing year! Their next performance will be on Monday, December 16 for our Holiday Concert at 7 p.m. We have already

begun working on our music. Every student received a solo to learn for the 2nd quarter. This will challenge their skills and greatly improve their abilities on their instrument. After the holiday

break, we will decide which students are ready to perform their solo for the jr. high solo and ensemble festival on Saturday, January 25 at Whitehall High School. This contest has always been a positive experience for the students. Even though every student may not perform their solo at this festival, it is my goal that everyone participates in at least one event. I will be handing out music for small and large group events to include everyone.

Sixth Grade Band:

The sixth grade has made amazing progress since the beginning of the year! Their first performance on Monday, October 21 was absolutely wonderful! They were so attentive and prepared so hard for this concert. We performed music that not only challenged them, but was fun to play. We are now learning more notes to make up our first major scale, exploring 8th and 16th notes, and preparing at least two more songs for our concert on Monday, December 16.

Fifth Grade Band:

Sometime after the holiday break I am going to have the fifth grade visit either the 6th grade band or the junior high band. I will send home an interest letter and information on how students can become a member of the Pepin Band. To be continued!

Thank you everyone for all of your support. It’s not easy teaching at 2 different schools, but your support combined with the wonderful students we have at Pepin makes it much easier to handle and so rewarding for me. If you have any questions, please never hesitate to email me at: draxler-ruffj@alma.k12.wi.us I’m not great at checking my voicemail at either school, but I do check my email frequently. Take care and I hope everyone can enjoy some more fall weather before the snow

and cold temps hit!

D-R

Email: info@pepin.k12.wi.us
Website: www.pepin.k12.wi.us
Location: 510 Pine Street, Pepin, WI, USA
Phone: 715-442-2391
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pepinareaschoools