Schools

Sauk Prairie School District and community members came together on May 6 to open the Jeff Hicken Horticultural Learning Center at the high school. The new greenhouse’s grand opening also happened to be the last day of the Sauk Prairie plant sale as well. Fundraising chair BJ Chrisler had the following to say: “The opening of the Jeff Hicken Horticultural Learning Center is a great addition to the Sauk Prairie Agricultural Education program. The addition of this space will allow the program to build the farm to fork program where vegetables, leafy greens, and micro greens will be able to be grown by students and then utilized in the school food service program. It also allows for a space that is setup well for classroom and lab instruction and is spacious enough to allow access to all students. The space also allows the students to do unique trials to test how different forms of light spectrums can impact the growth of plants. The biggest thing though is this space reminds us to celebrate the lasting legacy of Jeff Hicken. An Ag Teacher who believed in a progressive ag program that changed with the times and industry. A program rooted in production agriculture but also strong in the other areas of natural resources, horticulture, food science, and aquaculture. This space serves as a beacon to what we as a community can do and build when we work together for the next generation.”

On May 4th, 14 talented fifth graders from Grand Avenue, Tower Rock, and Merrimac Community Schools had the opportunity to participate in the Central Wisconsin TAG Creative Arts Festival. They enjoyed taking part in activities that ranged from sculpting with wire to cake decorating, and even learning to play a tune on the ukulele. Other activities included drawing, designing t-shirts, weaving, performing an adapted version of a song from “Hamilton,” sculpting ice cream desserts, and many other creative endeavors. In addition, there was the excitement of getting to know students from the many other school districts who attended the festival, which included Wautoma, Wisconsin Dells, Baraboo, Adams-Friendship, Poynette, Portage, and Reedsburg. Amy Hiel, music teacher at Grand Avenue School and Krista Geier, art teacher at Grand Avenue facilitated workshops for the students. The day was sponsored by the Sauk Prairie Schools Gifted/Talented Department. Pictured, front: Jace Sanchez, Henry Zuelke, Rommel Hernandez, Khloe Walker, Anna Leaf, Ryette Smith, Lyra Goetz. Back: Monse Mendez Retamoza, Amy Hiel (presenter), Owen Hicks, River Nelson, Quinn Moses, Halley Anding, Lexi Thompson, Nadya Khodakivska, Krista Geier (presenter).

The May Above The Line theme was “Citizenship.” The students listed below received awards on Friday, May 12, from their classroom teacher or staff who felt that they are an individual that demonstrates citizenship in and out of the classroom. Congratulations to these students! Pictured, front row, left to right: Lilly Schoepp, Kaesyn Johnson, Kendall Krueger, Tate Berahn, Bennett Ganser, Elijah Breunig, McKenna Byrd, Matthew Otto, Keira Hohensee, and Sofia Scardina. Second row, left to right: Kenzie Sawyer, Mona Ballistreri, Liam Malmros, Darwin Ausman, Shaw Carter, Paige Wood, Rowdy Smith, and Olivia Falkenstein. Third Row, left to right: Logan Meyer, Miller Stoffels, Peter Smith, Teagan Quinn, Malla Baxter, Parker Weum, & Lilly Cypcar Fourth Row (L-R): Mack Olsen, Keaton Murphy, Brayden Nelson, Isaac Hayes-Morales, Leona Deitz, Isaiah Halverson, and Keyen Judd. Not Pictured: Aiden Kelsey, Aniyah Taylor, Clementine Steiner, Marisol Reyes Guethlein, and Kendall Bell.