Week 47 Sauk Prairie community photos

The Sauk Prairie Optimist Club has been busy lately.
Jeff Wright, new Superintendent of the Sauk Prairie School District, shared his vision for the district's future. Wright talked about targets for the district for 2019-20. They are as follows: Collaboratively drafting School Improvement Plans for every school that together will inform the district's overall strategic plan; turning our shared attention to expected gains/value-added metrics to plan for and determine individual student growth, increasing the alignment of our social, emotional, and behavior instruction and support across all buildings, reviewing district operation and system to improve customer experience and ensure efficiency, accuracy, and adherence to current law, and engaging on potential facility improvements.
The Sauk Prairie Optimist Club collects donations from members for the Cash for Kids (C4K) club-initiated project each week. Shari Diehl, a retired SPSD employee, decided that so many teachers use their own money to either help out their students or to buy supplies for their classrooms. Nationally, studies have shown that the average teacher spends $500 or more yearly in this manner. Shari and the Optimist Board decided that each month the money collected will go to teachers in a designated school who are selected randomly from that school's teacher listing. Each teacher selected receives $50. During the summer, money collected from members for Cash for Kids go to Susan Baumann-Duren, the school district social worker, for family needs over the summer. Smaller schools may only receive C4K for one teacher while larger schools, during their month, will two or more teachers receive C4K. Teachers email back how they used the money, and these are shared with all the members. Sometimes it's amazing how a teacher stretches that $50.
During the 2018-19 school year, Diane Sullivan, a Sauk Prairie Middle School English teacher, received the Cash for Kids award. She bought a book that she had wanted to purchase for a long time for her classroom. It is a compilation of many people stating what being able to read has meant to them and why reading is so important. Sullivan reads one of these sections at the beginning of every class period. She read one of the entries to the club in appreciation for receiving the help to purchase the book for her classroom. Shari Diehl was the Optimist Cash for Kids coordinator.
The Sauk Prairie Optimist Club and Modern Woodman awarded Ellen Paul with the Hometown Hero award on September 4 because of her volunteer service to the Sauk Prairie Community.
Paul is an active member of the local Optimist Club participating in their volunteer activities including Meals on Wheels, writing weekly news releases about club meetings and is a past president. Volunteering at the Sauk Prairie Area Food Pantry and at 6:8 as a mentor, office worker and the newly formed 6:8 sewing group, are on her calendar.
Paul is a Sauk Prairie Theatre Guild Board member and past treasurer and president. She also makes and prepares costumes, finds props, does publicity, procures ads and writes grants.
At the Free Congregation of Sauk County, Paul is the Facilities Coordinator renting the facility for weddings and other events as well as setting up concerts and events of interest for the public with many volunteer hours donated. She is also the Third Sunday Program Committee Chair helping to secure speakers.
Paul is a volunteer usher for River Arts Inc. and American Players Theater in Spring Green. She is a member of Sauk Area Climate Awareness and Action (SACAA) and recently spearheaded recyclable pick-up at the Cow Chip Festival. She also has been a volunteer tutor at both Bridges Elementary and Sauk Prairie Middle School.
A monetary award given to the Hometown Hero to donate to a charity of the recipient's choice will be given to the Sauk Prairie Optimist Club to further their mission to be a "Friend of Youth".
The Modern Woodman representative is Jeff Boll.
Travis Barr shared safety precautions with the Sauk Prairie Optimists on September 18. Bare is a law enforcement officer with the Madison police department who specializes in this area. He trains officers and citizens, school personnel etc. in active shooter procedures and more. Members in attendance were asked to discuss a scenario in which the Blue Spoon was on fire and asked table groups to talk about what they would do first, second and third in that situation. He also discussed stress and at what rate of heart beat you would lose clarity in thinking to being "frozen." He also talked about ways to relieve stress in stressful situations.
On Sept. 25, outgoing President Vicki Gullickson presented Optimist member Shari Diehl with the President's Citation to honor Diehl for all her work on the Cash for Kids program and for the many other roles she plays in the club. Cash for Kids monies are collected at every meeting and each month a different school in the Sauk Prairie School District receives cash to one or more teachers, depending on the amount collected. Each $50 gift is to be used to enhance the teacher's classroom to benefit their students. Teachers email back to the club how they used the money. Generally, the club has been able to award three to four gifts per month.
On September 11, John Ranthum, co-founder of Sauk Prairie's 6:8 organization, updated the Optimist Club on what's happening. He shared that he and his co-founder and wife, Sarah, have lived in Sauk Prairie for 15 years. They started as youth pastors at St. Al's but left to start their own mission which eventually became 6:8.
6:8 is now open Mondays through Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. This summer 34 young people went on a mission trip to Missouri and a Clothing Swap was held for elementary age children. They hope to expand this idea to Middle and High School. Last year the Men's Community had a six month series on men's health, a fishing class was held with McFarlanes', 21 students graduated with the Silver Cord (students who put in 160+ volunteer hours each which was 10 per cent of the class), Community Meals were held every second and fourth Wednesdays of the month and the community garden produced over a ton of produce.
6:8 has many excellent initiatives but one that is at the forefront now is the Circles Sauk Prairie program. Its mission is "changing the mindset from poverty management to poverty reduction." The objective is to have "intentional relationships across income lines." The success rate of people who participate in Circles is 77 percent. It costs public and private supplemental agencies $38,000 per year per person to pay for poverty assistance; Circles costs $2500 per year per person and 18-20 months to help people out of poverty.
To do this Allies are trained to work alongside Circle Leaders to help them chart their future using their dreams as the starting point." . There will be 13 Circle Leaders who are selected through interviews to be involved in the Sauk Prairie program and 26 Allies to work with the Circle Leaders to accomplish their goals (two to a Circle Leader). September 30 is "launch time".
Upcoming events are the Pack Event in October. Last year 280,000 meals were packed to send to food-deprived locations and 6:8 hopes to break that record this year. Fall Garden Clean-up is October 24.
On October 2 at the Optimist Installation dinner, outgoing President Vicki Gullickson passed the gavel to new President Caleb Maier.

On Nov. 6, the Sauk Prairie Optimist Club presented checks to, left to right, $500 to Summer School Principal (also Merrimac Community Charter School Principal) Amy Brehm, $150 to Diane Shaw (representing Roxi Maier) for The Giving Tree, and $200 to Dale Haroldson, a Special Olympics volunteer. Optimist President Caleb Maier and daughter Cece round out the picture.

On Oct. 23, the Sauk Prairie Optimist speaker was Nicole Meadowcraft of Custom Canines, a service dog academy. Accompanied by two canines, Reiker and Whisper and friend and volunteer Leann Vick, the program was explained. Meadowcraft started this business partly because she has a vision disability and also knew that guide dogs were badly needed and requested by many people with disabilities.
Custom Canines is a completely volunteer organization which places service dogs with people of disabilities ranging from those with PTSD and autism to first responders. It takes two years to train a dog; it costs $25,000 to train a dog to placement. Guide dogs for the blind take the longest to train. All dogs being trained stay with volunteers. The dogs are placed for free. Meadocraft said it takes 6-8 months for the dog and its owner to become a team.
Right now there are 50 dogs in training, 137 dog/owner teams have been connected since January of 2011, and there are 150 applications in waiting for those who would like a service dog. For more information please go to their website custom canines.org.
Left to right, Caleb Maier, SP Optimist President, Nicole Meadocraft, founder of Custom Canines, Whisper, a young canine in training, and Leann Vick,a volunteer with Custom Canines.

On Oct. 16, Jenny Kozlowski, right, from the Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue and Education Center shared information with the Sauk Prairie Optimist Club. Caleb Maier Optimist President, left, presented a thank you certificate to Kozlowski.

Five students from SPHS talked with the SP Optimist Club on Nov. 13 about their involvement in the Monarch Butterfly Project this past summer. They were Hannah Accola, Camdyn Kastalitz, Caity Kinnamon and Avery Leigh.Their teacher, Patrick Leigh, accompanied them and was the overseer of their work.
Each week this past summer they monitored Monarch butterflies at Moely Prairie. All research went to the Monarch Joint Venture program. The students felt it was a great opportunity to learn about the prairie ecosystem. They shared about the life cycle of the Monarch and especially about the migration from Mexico to Wisconsin. They conducted four surveys ranging from Blooming Plant and Milkweed Availability (availability of food), an Eggs and Larvae survey (counted milkweed and types of milkweed on which eggs and larvae were found), Adult Monarch survey (counted the number they saw and what they were doing) and Monarch Survival and Parasitism (how many died and if they died of parasites).
Amy Chamberlain, of the Friends of Moely Prairie, shared that the students donated over 120 hours and were recognized by the Monarch Project. They collected more data from a single location in Wisconsin than any other researchers and she presented them with certificates of this accomplishment.

On Nov. 13, SPHS student presented their research work on the Monarch butterfly this year. Left to right with their Optimist certificates of appreciation and their. certificates from the Monarch Butterfly Project are Caity Kinnamon, Camdyn Kastalitz, Avery Leigh, Hannah Accola and Amy Chamberlain, board member of the Friends of Moely Prairie where their research was conducted.

On Oct. 9, Amy Lord of the of the Ice Age Trail Alliance spoke to the Sauk Prairie Optimist Club. The Ice Age Trail is a 1000 mile footpath tracing significant glacial features in Wisconsin and is one of eleven Natural Scenic Trails in the US. The Alliance is a non-profit whose goal is to create, protect and support the trail.
Lord shared information about the Alliance's Saunters program for youth. In began in 2008 with 30 students and now works with 20 school districts.
Over 100 Sauk Prairie students were involved in the Saunters summer school program in 2019. Tower Rock Elementary School works with the Alliance year-round and Grand Avenue fifth graders work specifically with Muir Prairie. One of the main roadblocks to using the program for school is the cost of bussing. The Alliance is always looking for sources of funding. Their email is www.icdeagetrail.org for further information..
Pictured: Caleb Maier, Optimist President, left, and Amy Lord, Ice Age Trail Alliance, right.

On Nov. 6, Bert Paris, of the Bert and Trish Paris Farm near Belleville, spoke to the Sauk Prairie Optimist Club about managed grazing. Their managed grazing operation started 27 years ago and in a few weeks one of their children, Meagan, will be taking over the operation of the farm. Their livestock is moved from paddock to paddock every 12 hours. They have a seasonal dairy herd which needs two months to "dry" so they don't milk in January and February and the cows calve in March. They have 80 cows and milk that number in about an hour in their milking parlor.
Some of the advantages of managed grazing are erosion control, the farmer always has cover on the soil, and the vet bill for them yearly is less than $500 a year for 80 cows.
Bert is a former agriculture teacher whose love of the land lead he and his wife to start their managed grazing operation.
Left, Bert Paris, co-owner of Bert and Trish Farm, shares his expertise on managed grazing with the Sauk Prairie Optimist Club on November 6. President Caleb Maier, right, presents Paris with a certificate of appreciation on November 6.

Pictured is Mrs. Ruhland’s third grade class with food drive items collected by students from Grand Avenue School. The staff also raised a total of over $180.00 dollars to donate to the Sauk Prairie Food Pantry.

Grand Avenue School had their Prediction Run on Tuesday, Nov. 5. It was originally scheduled for Oct. 31 but due to snow, the date had to be moved. The day was cold, but the students did a great job with the run. The winners who came closest to predicting their times included:
Grade 3: Lydia Falde, Lacey Deboer, Justin Topp, Trevor Alyea, Braelynn Frantz, Nina Balistreri, Redick Wilson, Grayson Campbell, Giuliana Pacholke, Anna Pagel, Kevin Vasquez, Landon Ambrose, Paizley Johnson, Brooklyn Miller, Jonathan Bieze, Hudson Ballweg, Aubree Deuman, Sophie Prehn, Henry Dean, Brayden Greiber, Allison Herbrand, Leah Kruchten, Lestad Vela, Aaron Nogueira, Carter Solt.
Grade 4: Lilly Hatfield, Vanessa Palmer, Eli Dillon, Michael Jolicoeur, Piper Hodges, Alexis Reible, Maximus Schultz, Nicholas Hagey, Brooke Braund, Gianna Sylvester, Logan Schoepp, Ashton Schultz, Ella Katers, Raeana Donaldson, Gavrielle Lassanske, Jordan Signorile, Bradley Ball, Kendall Strutz, Teya Norland, Gabriel Carroll, Jameson Paukner, Kaia Nowland-Troia, Paityne Grahn, Braden Schlough, Jackson Coburn, Brooklyn Trachsler, Joslyn Schultz, Gabriel Lewerenz, Caden Argall.
Grade 5: Kaylee Bauer, Kenzi Kleist, Amber Dregney, Claire Handschke, Coltyn Krumenauer, Jack Schell, Max Sudmeier, Aidan Powell, Mandalynn Bermudez, Zoe Blevins, Ricardo Lopez Vanegas, Cole Salverson, Maggie Barrett, Ava Hodges, Ryan Jorgenson, Jaxson Martin, Tanna Baxter, Melanie Brooks, Lauren Schoepp, Dylan Walker, Brendan Marquardt, Evelyn Bahe, Jade Katers, Jayden Arrieta, Vito Galle, Wyatt Hannam, Gabbi Blau, Audrey Brickl, Santi Lopez-Arrieta, David Palmer.

At the Oct. 16 meeting, the Sauk Prairie Lions Club welcomed Charlie Luthin, Executive Director of the Sauk Prairie Conservation Alliance. He shared a video and talked about the history of the Badger Army Ammunition Plant to its present use of recreation, restoration and agriculture. Included were the plans and hopes for future use of this area.
The Sauk Prairie Lions hold their monthly meetings every third Wednesday of the month at The Prairie House in Prairie du Sac.
All are welcome to come, meet some new people, have a good time and help your community. Social time at 6:30 p.m., dinner and meeting at 7 p.m.
The motto of the Lions is "We Serve," and the Lions do just that. Through several fundraising events, they donate back 100% to the community including the food pantry, Good Neighbor Clinic, My Neighbor In Need, Kids Ranch, Caring Tree, Fire on the River, Hope House, eye exams, glasses and hearing aids to those in need, as well as Sauk Prairie School Scholarships, Lions Camp for the Disabled Diabetes Awareness, to name just a few.
For more information or any questions, please contact Nancy Passehl at 608-643-3008.
Pictured, President Jerry Fiene and Charlie Luthin at the Oct. meeting of the Sauk Prairie Lions Club.

Sauk Prairie Lions Club President Jerry Fiene (right) presented a check for $1000 to Carol Gagnon (left) of the Sauk Prairie Food Pantry. The SP Food Pantry has expanded service to most of the schools to help students in need. If you would like to donate, there are several food drop off places including Piggly Wiggly, Sentry Sauk Prairie Market, Community Center, Mixing Bowl and DMarie Knit and Fiber.

The Sauk Prairie Community Club will hold its Holiday Party on Dec. 3 at the Lake Wisconsin Country Club, N1076 Golf Rd., Prairie du Sac, WI. Gathering will begin at 5:00 p.m. for socializing and drawings for the 2019 Sauk Prairie Community Club Scholarship Raffle. Dinner will be served at 7:00 p.m. Raffle winner announcements to follow dinner. Cost of the dinner is $17. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Deb Fanta at 608-592-7860 or by email at dmfanta@frontier.com. Please RSVP by 11/27/19. New members welcomed.

The Sauk Prairie Community Club held its Nov. 6 meeting at the Dorf Haus. Featured speaker was Jerrod VandeHey with St. Vincent De Paul. He spoke about the "Caring Tree" program run by St Vincent De Paul. The Caring Tree program serves approximately 100 families during the upcoming Holiday season, with the help from 40 volunteers. It provides gifts, clothing and food to eligible families in the area. There are 33 Caring Trees placed throughout the community to give opportunity to anyone to take a tag and donate the gift requested. Pictured left to right are Sandy Schlender (club member), Jerrod VandeHey, and Jayne Carlson (club member).

The Sauk Prairie Community Club held its Oct. 1 meeting at the Vintage Brewery, Sauk City, WI. The featured speaker was Officer Derek Burch, from the Sauk Prairie Police Department. He spoke about the current rash of burglaries and how to take safeguards in preventing theft. Pictured from left to right are George Paul, club member and Officer Burch.

The new bishop of the Diocese of Madison visited St. Aloysius School on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Bishop Donald Hying visited every classroom asking the students what they were learning and if they had any questions.
Ryann Betley, 5th grader, shared that “It was nice to have the bishop visiting our school because he was able to talk to us about our faith and know how much we learn.”
The bishop answered the student questions on how many siblings he had, where he lived, how long he prays every day, his favorite holiday, and an explanation of salvation history. The bishop asked whether the students had seven hours to hear the salvation history explanation and when the answer was “yes”, he asked whether they were trying to avoid a math test. The school sang “Be Thou My Vision”, his favorite song and enjoyed a delicious cake together after gifting the bishop with three presents. Bishop Hying gave a special blessing to the students and teachers and praised the family environment of St. Aloysius. All at St. Aloysius felt very blessed and honored to have Bishop Hying visit the school. He said that he felt very inspired by everyone in the school community. He left to visit Shoreless Lake School, the middle school that is next door.
The students and teachers were all very excited to meet the bishop.
Caleb Breunig, 5th Grader said, "I remember that he was really nice and it was great that he went in each classroom and answered questions and played a game. Hope he comes for a visit again."
Kristi Magnuson, K4/music teacher commented “It was very special. He was enjoying the visit so much that he had trouble leaving."
Pictured: Grace Young, Reid Sauter, Bishop Donald Hying, Caleb Mahoney, Amelia Kruchten, Ava Meise, Ethan Ederer, Victoria Brum, Magdalena Sisul, Samuel Krejchink.

Students in grades 3-12 took part in the second annual Sauk Prairie Chess Club Saturday Seminar. Lessons and learning were conducted by Scott Bakken and Jenna McCann, coaches of the school district and community chess clubs. This seminar kicks off the competitive chess season that concludes with state finals in April.

The October Above The Line theme at Grand Avenue School was “Fairness.” These students received awards on Friday, Oct. 18 from their classroom teacher who felt that they are an individual that is fair to others. Congratulations to these students!
Left to right:
Bottom, first row: Charlie Lueck, Alex Williams, Kenedi Lewellin, Sophie Prehn, Henry Dean, Kevin Vasquez, Grace Schmidt, Paizley Johnson, Danica Baxter, Aaron Nogueira.
Second row, from bottom: Kole Barta, Kaylin Murphy, Brooklyn Trachsler, Joslyn Schultz, Naylah Santiago, Kaia Nowland-Troia, Brayden Breunig, Jordan Signorile, Evalyn Padilla.
Third row, from bottom: Bela Bible, Kolyn Zech, Emmy Brereton, Angel Garcia, Elise Ballweg, Bryce Ballweg, Gianna Sylvester, Alex Kirk, Dayton Ballweg.
Top row, from bottom: Calvin Bolton, Claire Handschke, Aidan Powell, Ayden Sherman, Savannah Liegel, Parker Frosch, Ella Stephan, Brendan Marquardt, Kenzi Kleist
Not Pictured: Myles Mauch.

The Ruth Culver Community Library had a Field Trip Storytime to Animal House's "Whisker Lounge" for a cat Storytime on Tuesday, Nov 12. Thanks to Tara Hellenbrand for hosting us and for the kids and their adults who attended!
Young patron cuddling with cat prior at Whisker Lounge Storytime.
Cats checking out Beth's bin of books and props prior to setting up for Storytime.

The Sauk Prairie Theatre Guild will present "The Story of The Nutcracker- A Children's Play with Dance" by Michele L. Vacca at the River Arts Center Nov. 21, 22, and 23 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. at the River Arts Center, 105 Ninth St. in Prairie du Sac.
Tickets are on sale on-line at sptheatreguild.org or at the River Arts on Water Gallery, 590 Water St., Prairie du Sac. Advance tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students; tickets at the door are $14 for adults and $12 for students.
The Story of The Nutcracker is a unique, one-of a kind dramatization of the "Tales of Hoffmann", the Dumas story, and the Tchaikovsky ballet featuring both actors and dancers. 80 youth are involved in the production in grades K-9. Don't miss this holiday story favorite!
Arielle Clyde, Grace Schmidt, Clay Hutchins, Alyssa Dahlby, Drake Brensike.