Boyceville School Board recognizes April as Autism Awareness Month

By Laura Giammattei

BOYCEVILLE —The Boyceville School Board recognized April as Autism Awareness Month during the April 18, 2016 board meeting.

Director of Special Education/School Psychologist, Bonnie Barker presented a “puzzle cube” as part of this year’s celebration. The puzzle cube consists of four key “pieces” which represent the ways we can reach out to the community and spread awareness through these pieces: support, understand, advocate and educate.

Barker recently attended a workshop at the CESA 11 conference on April 7 entitled “Educating Mindfully.” The workshop’s purpose was to teach mindfulness to students, as this has proven to increase attention, improve self-regulation, improve social and emotional awareness and decrease anxiety and negative coping.

In addition, staff members may also benefit from mindfulness as it can reduce stress and improve overall happiness and well-being. As the school explores providing mental health for its students, it is important to integrate “mindfulness” into the agenda.

Administration Reports

In other business, Elementary School Principal, Nicholas Kaiser reported on the progress of Forward Exam testing. Fourth grade science and social studies, along with third grade reading testing has been completed. The eighth grade has completed English and Language Arts testing this past week and it has gone well thus far. Forward testing will be completed by the first week of May and makes way for ACT Aspire testing for this year’s freshmen and sophomores around the first week of May, along with AP testing for ten students in 18 subject matter areas.

District Administrator, Kevin Sipple reported that May 2-6 is Educator Appreciation Week. To celebrate, staff in both the elementary and middle/high school will have lunch provided for them on Wednesday, May 4.

Sipple also reported the completion of requirements for reimbursement to receive the Wisconsin Clean Diesel Grant. The school will receive a check from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for $23,252 which will go towards the purchase of the new propane fueled bus.

The CESA #11 Annual Meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 6 at 7:00 p.m. in Turtle Lake.  One school board member will attend to represent the Boyceville School District. In addition, Tuesday, June 21 is reserved for the Annual BOE-PAC Meeting at CESA #11.

Lastly, Sipple congratulated Tim Sempf and Jeremy Mittlestadt on being elected to the Board of Education for three year terms.

A school-wide celebration will be held this upcoming Friday, April 22. High school and middle school students will host a “sundae bar” at lunchtime while the younger students will hit the gym auditorium for a movie. The cause for celebration is due to general outstanding behavior and academic effort from the students.

Middle and High School Principal, Steve Glocke announced winners in the Visual Arts Classic competition held on April 1 and 2 in Milwaukee, which included first place awards for Haley Hanson in both the long term and on-site projects, Ian Fontaine, Beau Meyer and Caleb Hagen for on-site projects, and Lee Oemig in the long-term project.

Second place winners included Abi Erickson, Mark Timper and Jade Yaeger in the long-term projects. Nicole Bartos placed third in the on-site project and Nancy Sobolik received honorable mention in both her long term and on-site projects.

With spring in full swing, a number of events, which kicked off with State FCCLA – Star Events on April 18, which will continue through Wednesday, April 20 in Wisconsin Dells.

The district will host the Larry Z Track Invitational will be held on Thursday, April 28.

Prom will be hosted on Saturday, April 30.

A blood drive sponsored by the Science Olympiad will be held on Friday, May 6.

The State Music Festival will be held on Saturday, May 7, followed by the Festival of Arts on Tuesday, May 10.

The middle school will hold a concert on Thursday, May 19.

Boyceville will be hosting the WIAA Track Invitational on Monday, May 23.

The Baccalaureate and Senior Awards Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 25.

Senior graduation will be held on Friday, May 27 at 7:00 p.m.