High School Newsletter

High school graduates feel the most important skills to teach in K-12 are communication, critical thinking, and self- or time-management.

"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn."

-Benjamin Franklin

Dress Up Days Fun!

This week students & staff had an opportunity for some fun with dress up themes Black & Orange, Rhyme Without Reason (Ghost & Toast, PJ's & DJ, etc.), and wearing their Halloween Costumes.

Throughout the month of October, students were tasked in their Advisory class to decorate doors and WOW what creativity and imagination- our students are truly talented!

Art students painted a backdrop for Eckers Orchard, just in time for the Hootenanny! Painting students worked on it in class and some students came in during study hall and stayed after school so it would be done in time.

Mr. Ottum's construction class students are working on building a garage. They also built a shadow box for state FFA president Jescey Thompson and a podium for Mr. Nelson.

Mr. Walker's CNC Machining class went to Stellar Mold and Tool in Galesville. The class valued their experience a great deal and was shocked by all of the things they learned!

Students in Infant and Toddler class learned about the labor and delivery process, they used balloons and ping-pong balls to simulate contractions. They also traveled through the first 8 years of life while playing the Brain Architecture Game. Along the way, they explored the vital influences on brain development.

At the end of September, all freshman and sophomores took the STAR Reading assessment to gather baseline data on their reading skills. We are happy to report a significant growth in reading scores compared to last year's results. Members of the English department, along with the reading interventionist, have been setting goals and creating a plan to see continued growth in reading throughout the school year. Students will repeat testing at mid-year and finally near the end of the school year to track their growth.

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) members painted and delivered pumpkins to local businesses to get into the spirit of fall.

Last week the FFA chapter volunteered over 400 hours of time to help the G-E-T Community. The chapter recognized an opportunity to turn an agriculture lesson into a service project when a local farm was left with thousands of chickens with no destination. Through coordination with the growers, Valarie and Ray, the FFA was able to process over 1000 chickens to be distributed to the community for a free will donation benefit the local Food Pantry. Due to USDA inspection regulations the Food Pantry was unable to accept any of these birds, but will appreciate the donation of $2200 to the food pantry.

The FFA would like to thank Valarie and Ray for donating these birds for the project, Kyle and Dana Redsten for the use of house and equipment, Allied Cooperative for donating propane, Toads Cove and Galesville Fire Department for Ice, and all the families and friends of the members that allowed us the use of coolers, tables, knives, generator, and time to help make this possible. Thank you all! If you see these people or organizations please express your gratitude for their commitment to this community.

Students in Mrs. Brandau's Tech Math class completed units on fractions, percentages, proportions, scale factors, and solving linear equations during term 1. They are finishing up the term with a few projects that incorporate these various skills. One of those projects was to find the real size dimensions of a house using a scale factor and blueprints. Then they had to lay out the size of the house using their results. Another project led them to the shop where they had to lay out the plans and build a shadow box. They were given the dimensions and what needed to be included in the box. They had to figure out the design and construction by working together. A big thank you to Mr. Ottum for allowing us to share the shop for a few days.

During this month, a cappella groups Out of the Blue and Vocal Point performed at the Hootenanny at Eckers Apple Farm. Monday, October 21 was the first choir concert of the year which featured both Mixed and Robbed Choirs. The haunted corn maze fundraiser for the New York spring break trip at Schwertel's Farm was a blast as students dressed up as scarers in the maze. Upcoming events include the musical Footloose which will arrive in the PAC November 8th and 9th at 7:00 p.m. and November 10th at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are now available on the PAC website https://getpac.org/. Our winter concerts will be on Monday, December 9th (MS & HS Choirs) at 7:00 p.m. and Monday, December 16th (MS and HS Bands) at 7:00 p.m. Both performances will be held in the PAC. We hope to see you there!

Students in Mr. Secor's Physical Science classes designed and built two projects this past month. The first was a device/vehicle that would protect an egg from breaking when dropped from the ceiling with limited supplies including coffee filters, paper, rubber bands, string and paper clips. They had to hit a target that was 80 cm in diameter and a picture of Mr. Secor's face was the bullseye! The second project they designed and built was a catapult using limited supplies including popsicle sticks, rubber bands, hot glue, and a plastic spoon. We had a contest to see which group's catapult could fling a big marshmallow the furthest distance, have the most hang time, and be the most accurate from 5 meters away. We had a lot of fun this month and the students are looking forward to their next big project- stay tuned for next month's newsletter for more from the science department!

Mr. Mendez's AP Psychology classes made physical models of the human brain as they studied their biological psychology unit. Some students made it edible (in cake or brownie form) while other students used different art materials like play doh or clay to create their model.

On 10/17 students toured Southeast Technical College. They were able to tour each department and drive a semi-truck around the parking lot! Most of our students seemed interested in nursing, cosmetology, welding, or CDL. It was so great to get these kids out and explore something new!

I am married and have three kids. Our household is always lively, especially with our three dogs, Callie, Kona, and Dallas. I'm proud to be an auntie to 18 nieces and nephews, which keeps my heart full and my calendar busy. I love to spend time reading, enjoying the river, and being in the sunshine. Traveling, trying new experiences, crafting, event planning, and soaking up live music are some of my passions. Currently, most of my spare time is spent pursuing a Special Education teaching license at UW-Eau Claire.

Hello, I have always loved children and have six of my own! I began working with the G-E-T School District with the start of the 22-23 school year. I began my year working as a SPED Paraprofessional, quickly learning that I love working with small groups and individuals. I transitioned to work with Multilingual Learners in January of '23, where I enjoy assisting in all subject areas. As a ML Paraprofessional I work to bridge the gap of understanding in communication that tends to be predominantly language based and often culturally unique. I enjoy being part of a collaborative education system and hope to continue to grow with the needs of our district. I travel between the Galesville elementary, Trempealeau elementary, and the high school.

Hi! I am a paraeducator at the high school. Besides working at the school, I do in-home care for my grandfather 5 nights a week. I enjoy attending church and helping out with Sunday School.

Hello,

I am Penny Tranberg and I have lived in this area since 1979, but I was born in Milwaukee, WI. I was a freshman in high school when my family moved here. I have been a Para at the High School for 25 years. I as well as both my children are Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau graduates. I have been married to my husband for 25 years. We have three grandchildren. I like to read and cook. My favorite pastime is spending time with my grandchildren.

Hello! My name is Joe Whitemarsh and I'm excited to be here at G-E-T! This is my first year in the district and my fifth in the Coulee region- I'm originally from Wisconsin Rapids and came to the area to attend UW-La Crosse where I graduated in May of 2023 with a Bachelors of Arts in English. When I'm not in the classroom at the high school, you can find me in another classroom as I am in my second semester of my Masters of Education program at Viterbo University, or beating a member of my family/friends in online Scrabble, and/or cheering a little too loudly (allegedly) for Wisconsin sports teams. I'm looking forward to a continued great school year and being able to work with the students and staff that make G-E-T a fantastic place to be.

My name is Linda Wolter, I am a Special Needs Paraeducator starting my twelfth year at the high school. I truly love my job getting to work with some incredible students. No Sunday depression for me, for this I am extremely grateful!

I started working with people with disabilities at the age of 21. My first job was a day program where we would take people to their jobs and guide them in their work duties. I then moved into a twenty four hour residential setting, assisting with all aspects of daily living. At the end of my residential career I was in charge of a home that had two teenage ladies in the down stairs apartment and two teenage boys in the upstairs apartment. There definitely was never a dull moment. I have been fortunate to learn about the uniqueness of many people, working with disabilities such as but not limited to, down syndrome, prader willi syndrome, autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder.

Upon becoming pregnant with my amazing 17 year old son I decided that I really wanted to be a stay at home mom. I obtained my adult foster care license and had a young lady come and live with us allowing me to be a stay at home mom as well as allowing me to continue working in the special needs area. When my son went to kindergarten I decided to rejoin the workforce and landed my dream job here at the high school. I can not even begin to explain the joy it has been to have my son in the same building with me these last few years.

Thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity and trusting me to guide your children.

Hello, my name is Patty Wolter and I am a Special Education Paraprofessional at the high school. I have worked in the district for 9 years and subbed in the district for 2 years. I am a single mother, and I am also counting my education for a Medical Coding Specialist. I love working with children because they keep me youthful.

A Meca Representative will be in the HS lunchroom on Thursday, November 7th from 7:45-8:30 to properly size kids and take orders.

Dear Families,

October 14th through the 18th is Digital Citizenship Week. This is an important time to recognize the importance of our students learning how to be responsible, safe, and respectful online and with the digital devices they encounter every day. Our goal is to help them navigate the digital world with confidence, understanding how to protect their privacy, make informed decisions, and treat others with kindness online. This year we have started an initiative to be more mindful in our approach of teaching these lessons to our students.

We encourage you to take part in these conversations at home, too. Below are some helpful resources to support your child in becoming a responsible digital citizen:

• Common Sense Media: Digital Citizenship for Families - Tools and tips for parents on navigating technology and media with their children.
• Family Media Agreement: Create Your Own Family Media Plan - Use the appropriate Common Sense Media Family Media Agreement to set boundaries and discuss digital media with your children.
• Google's Be Internet Awesome: Family Guide - Fun and engaging activities to help your child learn the fundamentals of digital safety.

Thank you for supporting our efforts to promote safe and positive digital experiences for all students!

Free & Reduced meal applications can be filled out at any time during the school year. Pick up an application from any school secretary or download it from the website.

https://www.getschools.org/page/food-service

Term 1 --- August 27 - October 30, 2024

Midterm October 4

Term 2 --- November 4 - January 16, 2025

Midterm December 6

Conferences December 17

Finals - Odd class hours January 15

Finals - Even class hours January 16

Term 3 --- January 20 - March 20, 2025

Midterm February 21

Term 4 --- March 31 - June 5, 2025

Midterm May 2

Finals - Odd class hours June 3

Finals - Odd class hours June 4

In case you missed the Meet the High School Staff newsletter addition, here it is!

https://secure.smore.com/n/q5bay