Submitted by MPSD Superintendent Mark Holzman
MPSD Students Thank Neighbors with Cards, Flowers
Sometimes it’s the little things that make the difference – like leaving a flower or card on a neighbor’s doorstep. Or using your lunch break to clean up litter along the road. Or pulling invasive species from the School Forest.
Our students and staff have done all of these and more this month, even as their calendars swell with end-of-the-year school events and projects. I couldn’t be more proud of everyone in the Manitowoc Public School District.
On May Day, our elementary students drew homemade cards and delivered flowers to homes around their schools to show appreciation for their neighbors and the community. (See photos at bit.ly/MSPD-neighbors.) A group of MPSD Multi-Service Center employees picked up litter along S. 30th Street during their lunch break. Students at McKinley Academy spent a day pruning back invasive Autumn Olive shrubs that are hurting native vegetation in the School Forest.
Wilson Jr. High School students were busy this month planning the 2nd annual Run4Hope 5K Race or 1-Mile Fun Run and Walk. Last year the event raised about $1,000 to benefit the Hope House and Hopeful Hearts Club.
MPSD Students Excel
We have many academics, arts and athletics celebrations as we head into the final weeks of the school year. Here are just a few examples of MPSD accomplishments:
For the third consecutive year, the Manitowoc Public School District was named among the nation’s “Best Communities for Music Education.” This is a wonderful honor and tribute to our K12 music faculty! MPSD is one of just 24 school districts in Wisconsin and 623 districts nationwide to receive this honor. The NAMM Foundation’s “Best Communities for Music” award recognizes districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.
During the 2018-19 school year, 34 Lincoln students participated in three (or more) sports. These busy students, participating in a sport every season, still did an outstanding job with their academics. The average GPA of the 34 students was 3.594. That is amazing effort and results by our student-athletes!
In Lincoln High’s first time participating in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, junior Bee Hang earned a Silver Key award for his portrait grid drawing. Ong Xiong, Erik Hofmann and Blake Seidl earned honorable mentions, respectively, for their photography, drawing and painting. Hang’s Silver Key painting was displayed at the Milwaukee Art Museum in February and March.
Lincoln Senior Emily Dawidowick broke the school Track & Field record in the 100-meter dash twice in April and was named a Play-in-the-Dells Athlete of the Week. She holds the Ships’ indoor record in the 55, 200 and 400, the outdoor records in the 100 and 200, and was a member of record-setting relays in the 4×100 and 4×200.
Best Wishes to Our Retirees
We also recognized our retirees at a banquet in May, thanking them for their years of compassionate service to our students, families and community. Whether they are a teacher, aide, secretary, custodian, administrator or librarian, their work with our students has made our District a better place. We very much appreciate all they have done and each of them will be greatly missed.
Sincere thanks to Mary Ellen Allen – Instructional Aide, Jackson Elementary; Chris Bestul – Math Teacher, Lincoln High School; Peggy Bolle – English Teacher, Lincoln High School; Debra Brick –Riverview, Pre-School Assistant; Cathi Burish – Principal, Riverview Early Learning Center; Diane Burkhalter – Reading Teacher, Wilson Jr. High; Corrine Eichmann – Special Education Aide, Washington Jr. High; Joan Geraldson – Orchestra Teacher; Laura Hansen – Custodian, Madison Elementary; Helen Kangas – Custodian, Washington Jr. High; Shelly Keil – Special Education Aide, Franklin Elementary; Pat Kiekhaefer – Accounts Payable/Open Enrollment, Central Office; Laurie LaDuke – Special Education Teacher, Lincoln High School; Kathy Lemberger – Principal, Washington Jr. High; Joan Linsmeier – Special Education Aide, Wilson Jr. High; Cary Moyer – 4th Grade Elementary Teacher, Madison Elementary; Gerald Neuberger – Technical Education Teacher, Lincoln High School; John Pethan – Physical Education Teacher, Washington Jr. High; Earlene Samz – Attendance & Finance Secretary, Washington Jr. High; Vicki Svacina – Head Secretary Stangel Elementary and Nancy Weier – Special Education Aide, Riverview Early Learning Center.
Enjoy Our Concerts
As we wrap up the final weeks of the school year, we invite the community into our schools to enjoy our spring concerts and scholarships event:
May 17: Jazz Tracs XLVI, 7 p.m., Lincoln High School Auditorium
May 20: Orchestra Concert, Grades 6-12, 6:30 pm, LHS Auditorium
May 22: Scholarship Night and National Honor Society, 6 p.m., LHS Auditorium
May 23: Franklin Talent Show, 6 p.m.; Jefferson Concerts 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
May 31: Choir spotlight, 7 p.m., LHS Auditorium
Graduation for our Class of 2019 will be at 1 p.m. June 7 as in tradition in the Lincoln High bowl. We are so proud of our talented seniors and we hope they know that our schools will always be open to them to return and visit with our teachers and future students! After all, it’s the little things – like stopping by to say hi to a former teacher – that really make a difference.
Mark Holzman is superintendent of the Manitowoc Public School District and can be contacted at holzmanm@mpsd.k12.wi.us or 920-686-4781.
