School District of Howards Grove
Parents & Guardians Newsletter December 2023
Update from the Superintendent
Dear Parents & Guardians:
As we approach the holiday season, I find myself reflecting on the incredible sense of community and support that defines our school district. I was able to attend all of holiday programs the past couple of weeks and the Howards Grove Center for the Arts was packed for each performance. The joy and festive atmosphere in the auditorium was enhanced by all of us coming together to celebrate the musical talents of our students. The support from this community for music program and the arts is simply amazing!
As we gather with our loved ones during this holiday season, I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and your families. Thank you for your continued support and trust in our school district. Your contributions and partnerships do not go unnoticed, and we are genuinely grateful for the privilege of having such exceptional parents within our school district.
Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a happy new year!
Shannon Kilton
Superintendent
2024-2025 Calendar
The School Board approved the 2024-2025 calendar at the November Board Meeting. Please remember, this calendar is very different from our typical calendar due to the construction projects at the High School & Northview, and the construction of the brand new middle school building. The early start and early finish will lengthen the time the construction team can complete the projects in the summer of 2025 prior to the start of the 2025-2026 school year, which is when everything is scheduled to be done.
A few dates to remember:
- School starts for students on Monday, August 26th
- High School graduation is scheduled for Sunday, May 18th
- Last day of school for students is Wednesday, May 21st.
Here is a copy of the full 2024-2025 School Year Calendar.
Tax Bill Explanation
At the December 18th School Board Meeting, our business manager, David Ziegelbauer, gave a presentation explaining the recent tax bills. Since the attendance at the Board meeting was low, we are including the presentation in the newsletter to ensure a wide audience has access to the information.
In the event you have questions regarding your tax bill or need something explained in this presentation, please contact David Ziegelbauer.
Tax Bill Explanation Presentation
Email: dziegelbauer@hgtigers.com
Phone: (920) 565-5461
Celebrating Bus Driver Randy Sixel
Congratulations to Randy Sixel! He will be retiring from the Harms Bus Company after driving for them since 1977. Randy is like part of the family at Harms Bus and it won't be the same without him behind the wheel.
Randy's last day will be on his birthday, January 8th. We wish him the best and he will be missed!
Referendum Project Update
Where We’ve Been
In the November 2022 election, district voters passed a $42.7 million referendum for district-wide improvements. A district-wide facilities assessment found that portions of the existing Middle School building do not meet current safety and accessibility codes, and therefore the keystone project of this referendum will be a building addition to the High School to serve as the New Middle School.
Other aspects of the referendum include a secure entrance addition to the existing High School with office spaces, select interior renovations to the existing high school and elementary school, and exterior athletic improvements on the new Middle/High School grounds.
Where We Are.
Middle/High School Additions
Since the 2022 election, the design and construction teams have been working with the district on finalizing the project drawings which are now nearly complete.
The renderings featured above and below show the exterior views of the new Middle School and High School additions as well as interior views of the new Middle School cafeteria, classroom wings, and gymnasium.
While the Middle School and High School will now be attached, special attention has been paid to ensuring that these two schools can essentially function as separate schools while also providing adequate access for any shared spaces.
These new additions will also enhance the safety and security of students/staff by including separate, secure entrances for each building.
Athletic Facilities.
In addition to the work being performed to enhance educational spaces, there will also be major improvements to the existing athletic facilities. These upgrades aim to address problems such as field drainage and aging facilities while providing additional space to accommodate higher usage with the addition of the Middle School. Highlights of the athletic improvements include:
- New middle school gymnasium with locker rooms and fitness room
- Refinishing of the High School gymnasium floor
- Resurfacing of existing track and event runway
- Replacement of existing tennis courts
- Regrading of baseball outfield for improved drainage and replacement of the scoreboard
- New softball field and batting cage
- New varsity soccer field
- (2) New practice fields
Northview Elementary School.
The first phase of renovations to Northview Elementary School was completed this past summer and included new fencing to separate the east parking lot from the play field, new certified wood chips at all playgrounds and select door hardware replacement at classrooms to meet current ADA requirements.
The second phase of the project will occur over the summer of 2025 and will address areas of the building in need of an update. The focal point of this phase will be updating the current HVAC system to enhance the indoor air quality for students and staff while providing maintenance staff with better control of the systems. In addition to the HVAC upgrades, this phase will also focus on replacing other items nearing the end of their lifecycle. This includes:
- New carpeting in classrooms
- Replacement of exterior windows
- New bathroom finishes and fixtures
- Miscellaneous exterior maintenance items
Where We’re Going.
The construction documents were completed and submitted in mid-December, which included finalized drawings, details and specifications for each project. The documents will now go through local and state code review and be sent to prospective contractors with plans to receive bids in January of 2024. Below is a timeline with the schedule of the future projects.
School News
As in the past, each school's monthly newsletter will be linked in the communication from the district office. This is a one stop spot to get updates from the district and all 3 schools.
Enjoy!
PTO NEWS
Thank You!
Family Food Night: Thank you to everyone who joined us at the November Family Food Night at Parker John’s. Thanks to your support, the PTO raised almost $200! Thank you to those who joined us at our first Family Food Night at Log Cabin, where we raised an additional $260 for programming for our students, teachers, and families. We greatly value our new partnership with Log Cabin and look forward to seeing you there next month!
Holiday Sale: We were thrilled to partner with three amazing local businesses for our annual holiday sale and want to give a special shout-out to everyone who made purchases from Dairy Queen, Little Brown Cow Cheese, and Hartman’s Bakery. Orders will be available at the High School for pick-up on Wednesday, December 20 from 3:30pm – 6:00pm.
Winter Market: Thank you for joining us at our first annual Winter Market the weekend of December 16-17. We welcomed over 30 local vendors who showcased their homemade products and offerings to guests from near and far!
Save the Date!
January 2024: Stop by our next Family Food Night at Log Cabin, where 10% of all sales will be donated back to the PTO for ongoing student programming. Join us for great food and another easy night of meal prep. Date to be announced soon!
Monday, January 8, 2024: Join us for our monthly PTO Meeting at 5:00pm in the Northview Library. Everyone is welcome! Free babysitting is provided if requested within 72 hours of the meeting. Please contact hgpto@yahoo.com for more information.
January 19-21, 2024: Family Food Night at Marco’s Pizza. Skip your meal prep the weekend of January 19-21 and order some delicious pizza and amazing sides from Marcos on Calumet Avenue in Sheboygan! Perfect for a weekend on the go or watching the big game!
Monday, January 22, 2024: Ice-Skating Day! Join us for our annual ice-skating event at the Sheboygan Lakers Ice Center. The rink will be open to Howards Grove families from 9:00-11:00 AM on Monday, January 22.
Tuesday, February 6, 2024: PJs, Pancakes, & Books at Northview Elementary. There’s just something extra special about pancakes for dinner! Put on your favorite PJs and join us for a fun evening of reading and a yummy pancake dinner at Northview Elementary.
As 2023 comes to a close, we want to take a moment to thank our amazing families, teachers, and community members for another great year. We are incredibly appreciative of your ongoing support and participation in PTO events and initiatives. We wish you a wonderful holiday season and look forward to what’s to come in 2024!
A Note from Nurse Lydia
Thank you to all who helped us celebrate National Diabetes Awareness Month 2023 last month in November. We had such a fun time seeing students and staff participate in the dress up days, and it was really great seeing our school community show their support and solidarity with those that live with diabetes. The students in the district listened to some fun "did ya know" facts about diabetes in their daily announcements. We also raised $276.15 from our "wear-a-hat" donation day that will be going to JDRF, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. JDRF is a nonprofit that uses this money to work tirelessly finding better treatments, preventions, and ultimately, a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications through critical research. If you ever feel so inclined, there is always the opportunity to donate right to their JDRF website: Make a Donation - JDRF
Northview students had fun snapping some photos in front of the blue loop "photo booth." The blue loop backdrop represents the Blue Loop app, a tool the people living with diabetes can use to document, store, and share diabetes information while staying in touch with their caregivers.
Students and staff having fun dressing up for the "Be Comfortable Knowing about Diabetes" cozy pajama day.
Student Family Assistance Program
The Students and Families Assistance Program means instant access to a team of professionals dedicated to providing confidential consultation, counseling, intervention, and referral services to Howards Grove students and families in need of support - any kind of support! Here's how it works:
- Parents / Caregivers - call 1-800-236-3231 and let them know you are a School District of Howards Grove family. After a brief consultation conversation to access which services are the best match for your needs, you will be connected to a service professional to start working through your personal or family challenge.
That's it, there is only one step! Confidential support services are available at no charge, to ALL district students and their families regardless of income, insurance, no insurance, family size, living situation, etc. There is no paperwork involved and services are available in both English and Spanish.
Advocate Aurora's team of professionals can assist students and families struggling with concerns like:
- Stress, anxiety and depression
- Peer and relationship struggles
- Parenting challenges
- Academic pressure
- Family crises
- Grief
- Alcohol/drug issues
- Personal, family, or environment factors that impact academic performance and personal wellbeing
Advocate Aurora SFAP also offers the following services to help HGSD families manage challenging events throughout life's ages and stages:
- Childcare - including special scheduling/service needs
- Adoption - including initial and on-going family supports
- Financial - including debt concerns or college funding
- Eldercare - including independent living, nursing homes, and in-home care
- Legal Consultation - including mediation, estate planning, marriage, and custodial
Click the link for more information (School District of Howards Grove Mental Health)