
MTSD Momentum Newsletter
November 30, 2023

MTSD "Significantly Exceeds Expectations" on the WI State Report Card
The Mequon-Thiensville School District has achieved a ranking of โSignificantly Exceeds Expectationsโ on the 2022-2023 District Report Cards issued in November 2023 by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) with an overall score of 83.5. The district's ranked score is the 8th highest score or in the top 2%, among 367 K-12 public school districts in the state. MTSD has significantly exceeded expectations all nine years that the District Report Cards have been produced.
All six schools in the Mequon-Thiensville School District exceed or significantly exceed expectations on this yearโs report cards. Districtwide scores on the MTSD School Report Cards can be found on our district website. Some notable data points include:
MTSDโs overall Achievement score registered in the top 4% of all public school districts in our state
Each MTSD schoolโs overall student achievement score registered in the top 8% of schools in their category (grades K-5, 6-8, 9-12) across the state
MTSDโs overall Growth score was in the top 5% of all K-12 schools in the state
MTSD scored in the top 6% for Target Group Outcomes and the top 3% for Target Group Achievement compared to other K-12 school districts in Wisconsin
MTSDโs overall Achievement scores compared to all K-12 school districts in the state ranked in the top 2% for English/Language Arts and top 3% for Mathematics
MTSD registered the 3rd highest rate of Advanced Course Completers compared to all K-12 school districts in the state
2023 Community Task Force Drafts Final Report to MTSD Board of Education
Student Support Services Learning Series: MTSD's Autism Specialist
Goal 3 of the Mequon-Thiensville School Districtโs Strategic Plan is Student Belonging and Well-Being: Foster collaboration and develop relationships to enhance the safety, connectedness, and well-being of our students. An important action step in our 2021-2024 Strategic Plan under Goal 3 is the creation of a family-focused learning series that provides families with a better understanding of the student support resources MTSD has available to them, and how to engage with their students around those resources at home. During this school year, we will be releasing one video per month as part of the Momentum family newsletter that highlights a component of our robust Student Support Services team. Please click below to view the third video in our series: District Autism Specialist, Danielle Ozimek.
All Student Support Services Learning series videos can be found here on our website.
Special thank you to Shannon Carr, Educational Services Admin. Assistant and MTSD Communications support for her help with this video series!
Time to Update Your Emergency Contact Info In Infinite Campus!
The snow is already here and itโs time to get ready for more inclement weather (or another possible power outage!) during the upcoming winter season. Please take a moment to verify and update your emergency contact information in Infinite Campus. If you do not review your information and communication preferences in Infinite Campus, we cannot ensure that you will receive emergency notifications from the district. This is the ONLY way we are able to notify all staff of delays, closings, or emergencies in a timely and efficient manner.
It's (Almost) Time to Register for Winter/Spring Programs!
Winter/Spring Program Registration opens at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, December 1 (that's tomorrow)! This guide highlights all the W/S activities, classes, and sport camps for preschool, youth, adults and families. You will also find information on Kids' Campus and 4K Wrap Care.
The rec. guide will be hitting mailboxes soon - click here to check it out online!
Rec. Drama Program Presents: The Princess King
Come one, come all! Compete in a competition to win the hand of Princess Genevieve and become the King of Yourroom!
The MTSD Rec. Dept. Drama program invites you to attend The Princess King, a comedic story of false identities, courage, and perseverance! A princess can do anything a prince can do, and rule a kingdom all on her own. Please join us on December 15-16 at 7 p.m. or December 17 at 1 p.m. in the Range Line Community Center Gym. Admission is FREE!
Welcome Chris Apel, Recreation Supervisor/Adult Programs & Community Events
The Mequon-Thiensville Recreation Department is excited to welcome Mr. Chris Apel to the team. Chris is the new Recreation Supervisor in charge of Adult Programs and Community Events:
Chris has lived in Mequon with his family for the past 11 years. His wife (Deb) works at Oriole Lane Elementary School in the 4K program, daughter (Taylor) is a junior at Appalachian State University in North Carolina, and son (Ryan) is a junior at Homestead High School. He has coached youth baseball and flag football for many years and now enjoys sitting on the sidelines watching, traveling with family and curling in the winter.
We are excited to have Chris join our team and look forward to great things from him. If you get a chance to stop in and say "hi" to him, please do so!!
Support the MTEF During the 2023-2024 School Year!
The mission of the Mequon-Thiensville Education Foundation is to develop community-wide private financial support for the Mequon-Thiensville School District and, through grants, to help continued excellence in education. The Foundation is a tax-exempt charitable organization that benefits all six schools in our district. MTSD is grateful for the support and generosity of the Foundation! There are several meaningful ways for the community to get involved in supporting our schools:
GIVE - Donate to our Annual Giving Campaign, honor or memorialize someone special with a gift to the Foundation, or make a donation to a deserving MTSD staff member with our Staff Appreciation Grant in May.
PARTNER - Businesses and families, consider being a financial sponsor for an MTEF fundraising event, partner with us on a Friends of the Foundation Giveback, or provide an in-kind donation of an item or service for one of our fundraisers or auctions.
PARTICIPATE - Attend MTEF events, participate in Giveback fundraisers, and join PTO/PTSO meetings to hear about upcoming MTEF events and fundraising opportunities.
VOLUNTEER - Join an MTEF fundraising committee, give your time to help during one of our events, engage your older students to volunteer for the MTEF and earn merit hours, and build community goodwill by volunteering as a team with friends, family and co-workers.
CONNECT - Be a part of our online community with our monthly newsletter, email updates for events, on social channels, and help us share the great work the MTEF does to support our district schools, students, and staff.
๐ฃ MTSD is Hiring! ๐ฃ
Though the school year is well underway, opportunities for employment at MTSD are ongoing! We encourage all community members to regularly check our certified and support staff listings on WECAN. Current highlighted positions include:
- Long Term School Counselor (Steffen Middle School)
- Long Term Art Teacher (Homestead High School)
- Long Term Grade 6 Science Teacher (Steffen Middle School)
- AVID Tutors (Elementary & Middle Schools)
- Building Substitutes (Districtwide)
- Special Education Paraprofessional (Steffen Middle School)
- Assistant Boys Tennis Coach (Homestead High School)
- Assistant Gymnastics Coach (Homestead High School)
- Recess Mentors (Elementary Schools)
- Buildings & Grounds Activities/Safety Attendant (Districtwide)
BUS DRIVERS NEEDED
We are always in need of bus drivers to secure safe and reliable transportation for our students. Learn more and apply at: https://goriteway.com/careers/
SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS NEEDED
We are always in need of substitute teachers to provide consistent and reliable classroom coverage for teacher absences across all of our school buildings. Learn more and apply at: https://www.teachersoncall.com/
Board Briefs
The Mequon-Thiensville Board of Education held two working meetings, one regular business meeting, two policy committee meetings, and one legislative committee meeting this month.
November 6, 2023 Working Meeting
The Board heard a presentation of MTSD Course Proposals for the 2024-25 School Year as presented by Dr. Lauren Croix, Executive Director of Educational Services.
The Board engaged in a discussion regarding the MTSD Annual Programs Report, also presented by Dr. Lauren Croix.
The Board discussed their communication and engagement efforts.
November 8, 2023 Policy Committee Meeting
The Policy Committee engaged in a review of the Policy Style Guide.
Topics discussed included: #5516 - Harassment and Other Prohibited Behavior, #3100 - Employee Handbook, and #3362 - Employee Anti-Harassment.
November 13, 2023 Working Meeting
The Board participated in a Zero-Based Budgeting workshop, facilitated by Mr. Donald Sovey of School and Municipal Advisory Services.
November 14, 2023 Legislative Committee Meeting
The committee discussed next steps and reviewed legislative platform topic 4000 - Quality Educator Support and Development.
November 20, 2023 Policy Committee Meeting
Policies discussed included: #3100 - Employee Handbook, #5516 - Harassment and Other Prohibited Behavior, and #2271 - Educational Options for Higher Learning.
November 20, 2023 Regular Business Meeting
The Board took action to approve the Homestead High School Orchestra trip to Bavaria, Germany from March 22 - April 1, 2024.
The Board heard an update on the Community Task Force from Joe Donovan, of the Donovan Group, a school communications and engagement firm.
Dr. Matthew Joynt provided a Superintendentโs Report.
Board President Shelley Burns provided an update from the Legislative Committee.
The Board took action to approve the 2024-25 MTSD Curriculum Proposals.
The Board approved Shelley Burns as Representative and Paula Taebel as Alternate delegates for the WASB 2024 State Education Convention.
The Board took action to approve the legislative platform topic Quality Educator Support and Development.
The Board heard a 2021-2024 Strategic Plan Update from the MTSD directors team including Dr. Matthew Joynt, Dr. Lauren Croix, Michael Mooren, Amanda Sievers, Molly Loucks, and Sarah Viera.
All Mequon-Thiensville community members, MTSD families, and staff members are encouraged to attend meetings of the MTSD Board of Education. As a reminder, all Board of Education meeting agendas and video recordings of past meetings can be found on the MTSD Board of Education website. For detailed agendas and PDFs of Board presentations, please visit BoardDocs.
Connect With Us! ๐ป
Throughout the school year, be sure to check out the great things going on at your school building by following your school's page on Facebook, as well as the MTSD Facebook page, MTSD Instagram account, and by finding us on LinkedIn.
Follow us on Facebook:
Follow us on Instagram:
Find us on LinkedIn:
Please note: The accounts linked above are the only official social media presence managed and moderated with support from MTSD Communications.
Important Dates ๐๏ธ
End of Trimester 1 (Early Release for MS & HS)
Friday, December 1, 2023
Mequon-Thiensville Recreation Department Winter/Spring Program Registration Begins
Friday, December 1, 2023 @ 9:00 a.m.
Click here to view the Winter/Spring Rec. Book
NO SCHOOL - Staff Inservice
Monday, December 4, 2023
MTSD Board of Education - Working Meeting
Monday, December 4, 2023 @ 6:00 p.m.
Range Line Community Center
MTEF Giveback - Supercuts Mequon
NOW through Saturday, December 9, 2023
Take your family for haircuts at Mequon SuperCuts during these two weeks
and $1 for every haircut will go directly to MTEF. No mention needed!
MTEF Giveback - Harvey's Central Grille
Monday, December 11 @ 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Celebrate the holidays with family, friends, and Harvey's!
A percentage of evening sales from the dining room and bar will go to MTEF.
MTSD Board of Education - Regular Business Meeting
Monday, December 18, 2023 @ 6:00 p.m.
Range Line Community Center
NO SCHOOL - Winter Break
Friday, December 22, 2023 - January 1, 2024