Schools

The River Valley School Board highlighted the devotion and efforts of David Daniel at their board meeting in the June “Community Spotlight.” The award recognizes community members who have served above and beyond their role for having a positive impact on River Valley staff and students. Daniel is a core company member at American Players Theatre (APT), as well as APT’s education director. He has been involved with the company and been in the community for 26 years. As an educator he has been highly engaged with the middle school Shakespeare Project, as well as classroom visits at all grade-levels to share energy, the power of the written word, and how literature and creative writing can be impactful, benefiting both teachers and students. He is respected throughout the Midwest for his innovative teaching methods. The district is very thankful for Daniel and his incredible devotion to the community, staff and student body. He is respected, appreciated, and helps to make the River Valley School District a better place. Pictured from left to right are Loren G. Glasbrenner, superintendent, Daniel, and Kathy Jennings, River Valley School Board president. Photo contributed.

The May Above the Line theme was “Citizenship.” The students listed below received awards on Friday, May 23, 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: Bottom row, left to right: Mason Kuhnke, Jack Wruck, Harlen Butler, Thiago Rios Estrada, Rivynn Smith, Grace Hanson, Lincoln Wheatman, Dylan Clyde, Brooklyn Krueger and Annabelle Dahl. 2nd Row, left to right: Eloise Dobbert, Lucy Pickett, Jennae Rios Rodriguez, Vivianne Herbrand, Nora Doll and Addie Newman. 3rd Row, left to right: Levi Castillo, Levi Storm, Lawson Jones, Lucas Kersten, Hunter Anen, Landon Keiser, Sofia Stephan, Lilly Tesch and Charley Gesicki. Top Row, left to right: Indigo Hayes-Morales, Quinn Considine, Kaesyn Johnson, Weston Liegel, Abigail Vande Hey, Kenzi Snider, Annabelle Falk, Brielle Schell, Madeline Mahoney, Pria Steinmetz, Miranda Breunig, Mae Appleton and Nora Fitzpatrick. Not Pictured: Hattie Warner, Brooke Breunig and Anna Lombard. Photo contributed.

There will be several changes to student bus services for the 2025-26 school year.  We want to share information early to give families time to plan. As the River Valley School District transitions to one campus–serving four communities with a vast rural road system–an updated bus plan will allow us to better communicate and meet the transportation needs of our families.  (Our rural students will still receive bus services using bus routes.)  In addition, we have worked with the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office to create four maps of bus pick-up sites within our four Villages.   The largest changes are in the Village of Spring Green, where we have identified four zones:  a safe walking zone (green), and three additional areas defined as “unusually hazardous” zones.  Areas that require students walking to school to cross highways or railroad tracks create hazardous zones, so there will be established bus pick-up sites in those neighborhoods. For the other Villages in our district (Village of Arena, Village of Plain, and Village of Lone Rock), we have identified neighborhood bus pick-up sites, with each avoiding “unusually hazardous” zones.  These maps will be shared with all families.  Again, our rural students will still receive bus services using bus routes. We are thankful for our crossing guards and Lamer’s Bus Service employees who help get students safely to and from our school campus.  Specific bus routes and times will be completed this summer.  We will continue to share bus information, using electronic means, throughout the summer to keep our families informed. Sincerely, Loren Glasbrenner, District Administrator River Valley School District

4th graders from Grand Ave. and St. Aloysius School visited 11 historic sites and buildings in Prairie du Sac and Sauk City on Pioneer Day, May 22nd. The annual tradition continued. Students saw Students started their day with a bus tour to sites not easily accessible by foot. They visited the Cottonwood Tree--the witness tree to the survey that platted the village of Sauk City. They saw the Liberty Pole Triangle, stopped in front of the Sauk City History Mural, and drove past the High School on Madison Street. Then their walking tour and visits in Prairie du Sac included the Tripp Heritage Museum, Bonham Theater for a slide presentation of the Badger Ammunition Plant, the Ruth Culver Library for a presentation of the building of the Prairie du Sac Dam, a presentation in front of the mural on the Tripp Museum, and another presentation at the municipal parking lot where the students learned about our two bridges, ghost towns across the river and the railroad. After a break for lunch buses proceeded to Sauk City where they visited a pioneer home, the Hahn House, the Freethinkers Hall, the original and oldest Fire Station in the State along with fire engines made in Sauk City, the George Culver Library where they met a French fur trader and touched his fur pelts, and finally a presentation in the library about the early inhabitants of Sauk City, the indigenous people and the early visits and settlement of Sauk City. To get to each stop, the groups walked past a number of buildings not open that day including Thurner Hospital, the Lachmund House and a number of others along Water Street. The special treat of a Culver’s custard was enjoyed by all the students after walking all day to their scheduled stops. A lot of history was learned during the day. But to realize that people back 150-170 years ago walked or lived in these very same buildings amazed a number of students.