“Let the beauty we love be what we do.” - Rumi
GIBRALTAR school news
WINTER 2019
Friends of Gibraltar and Gibraltar Area Schools It is the mission of the Gibraltar Schools, in partnership with families and community members, to strive for excellence in educating each of our children to live responsible, creative, and fulfilling lives in a global society.
ECRWSS Postal Customer
PRST STD US Postage PAID Permit #3 Baileys Harbor, WI 54202
Gibraltar Elementary Multi-Age - PAGE 2
Annual Solo Ensemble
Gibraltar is hosting the annual Solo Ensemble District Festival on Saturday, Feb. 16, from 8 AM to 4 PM at Gibraltar School.
Thank You! “Have you LIKED the Gibraltar Area Schools facebook page? You should! It’s full of fun and interesting school events and notices.
PAGE 3 The Ridges Sanctuary Teaches Outdoor Education at Gibraltar
On behalf of our students, staff and families, I would like to thank the community for their continued support of Gibraltar School District. Your generosity will allow the District to continue providing our students with enriched learning experiences in the ARTS, ACADEMICS, ATHLETICS and ACTIVITIES. Sincerely,
Tina VanMeer, Gibraltar Area Schools Superintendent
PAGE 6 News from the Choir Room
BEAN BAG TOURNAMENT SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2019 MAXWELTON BRAES, BAILEYS HARBOR For more info see PAGE 8
PAGE 6 Hamilton
Dedication to Care Starts Early! Pun Intended! By Mary Jo Witteborg, Marketing and Business Education
DC to DC 20/20 By Mike Scoville, Library Media Specialist As we set our sights on our 7th and 8th grade trip to Washington DC in 2020 we look to the idea of adding a new fundraiser to our community service fundraisers. If you see us out and about be sure to say hi. Here is what our near vision holds for fundraisers: Econo Foods – Please turn in receipts to Mike Scoville at Gibraltar School. Schwan’s Frozen Food campaign #42791 - We will make 5% on orders through February 27, 2019. Simple to order at www.schwans.com, everyone eats, right?
Keeping the BOMENTUM Going
Imagine getting up for school in Northern Door County to attend classes in Sturgeon Bay by 6 AM in the morning. For some, that means a 4 AM alarm clock going off. That is exactly what five Gibraltar students did all first semester. They are your future caregivers. (Pictured) Payton Pluff, Bella Bunda, Kimberly Church, Erin Young and Gabby Lettie completed the Nursing Assistant’s program last semester. The nursing assistants took classes at NWTC and then had clinical experience, being assigned residents and working with skilled CNAs at the Sturgeon Bay Health Services and the DCMC Skilled Nursing Facility. The program has prepared them to take the Headmaster State Testing Exam to be Certified Nursing Assistants.
in a variety of extra-curricular, co-curricular and advanced placement courses at Gibraltar; sports, class officer positions, college and scholarship applications and part time work all make for a full, full schedule.
Dedication to care starts early! These juniors and seniors in high school are preparing early for their future careers in the medical industry. With great appreciation, In addition to the early morning training in we thank them for their dedication and for Sturgeon Bay, these young ladies are involved the programs that support this training.
Gibraltar Elementary Multi-Age By Kayla Schleicher, Multi-age Teacher
Entrepreneurship Venture and GBAY/DECA Raise Funds By Mary Witteborg, Student Council Advisor game. All profits were split evenly among the five owners.
GBAY/DECA: Front Row: Jenna Riley, Annika Johnson, Kayla Scharrig. Back Row: Jackson Blahnik, E. Stahl, Brady Polcen and Adviser Mary Witteborg.
In addition, the Gibraltar Business Club, GBAY/DECA, hosted their annual Homecoming Go Bo Fundraiser last fall. This year they did a Go Bo Glow in the Dark Corn Hole game. At last fall’s Homecoming game, kids purchased opportunities to throw glow in the dark bean bags into the corn hole board lined with lights to win prizes. The event rose close to $150 and GBAY/DECA matched the money raised. They presented Annika Johnson with a check for $300 on Friday, January 18th. Ever since Bo’s passing in September of 2012, GBAY/DECA has hosted an event at Homecoming. Orange balloons, dart games and now the glow in the dark event continue to keep the BOmentum GOing.
Philanthropy is an integral concept to incorporate into entrepreneurial ventures and business organizations. This semester, the five students in the Entrepreneurship Class at Gibraltar marketed Area Blue t-shirts. Their tagline, “A New Brand of School Spirit” generated interest and sales. They sold almost a hundred shirts and pledged one dollar of each shirt sold to the Go Bo Foundation. The Entrepreneurship Class company, comprised of Brandon Stillman, Connor Duffy, Andras Szakala, Griffin Reinhardt and Trevor Reinhardt paid commissions, salaries and all expenses associated with operating their Area Blue Entrepreneurship Company: Front Row: business. They financed the company by Brandon Stillman, Annika Johnson, Connor Duffy. taking pre-orders for the shirts in anticipation Back row: Evan Gresko, Trevor Reinhardt, Griffin of the Area Blue night at a girls’ basketball Reinhardt, and Andras Szakala.
The Gibraltar Elementary Multi-Age program was originally implemented during the 2014-2015 academic year. During the first two years, students in kindergarten and first grade were grouped together for their reading and writing instruction. The students were viewed as members of one large class, which allowed the two lead teachers to group and regroup all of the students in a variety of different ways. This also allowed the students the opportunity to work with and learn from a wide range of students. The flexibility gave the students the chance to learn and grow at their own developmental pace, regardless of their age. In the years following, the Multi-Age has grown to add second, third, and fourth grade classes. Students are grouped and regrouped depending on the activities, lessons, or units that are being competed. The Multi-Age program currently utilizes three learning spaces; one large, double room is the home base for students in kindergarten, first, and second grade, and two smaller rooms that
Gibraltar Math Team starts the Season with Success
The Gibraltar High School math team began the season on January 14th with a Packerland 8 meet at Sturgeon Bay High School. The team placed third overall and two members, Jack Hitzeman and Simon Kopischke, both earned medals for their individual performance. The rest of the season will have meets at Algoma, Sevastopol, Oconto and finish the season at Southern Door. This year, thirty-eight high school students have joined the team. Coach Anne Kifer is very proud of all of her mathletes. Go Vikings!
serve as the home base for the third of fourth grade students. During their time in the program, the students have the opportunity to work in each of the learning experiences. Throughout their time in the program, students are able to develop strong bonds with their teachers and classmates. They are able to begin each year with ease as they have the same group of teachers throughout their entire program. The older students become mentors to the younger students and all students are able to develop friendships with students that are a variety of different ages. The Multi-Age is just one structural option provided at Gibraltar. Parents are given the chance to request either the traditional or multi-age structure for their child based on what they think will allow their child to be most successful. Many parents are thrilled that a small school in a rural area is able to provide a choice like this for their child’s education. No matter which option the parents choose, they know their child will have a great academic journey at Gibraltar.
Gibraltar Forest Days
Outdoor Education with the Ridges! Visit with Team Leadership
One afternoon a month kindergarten students are led by Dr. Sheryl Honig, the Environmental Educator from The Ridges Sanctuary, Gibraltar teachers and parent/grandparent volunteers for an hour and a half of outdoor education.
Each Forest Day is based on educational standards for kindergarten and includes hands-on aspects of the forest habitat, a short hike, structured activities to engage children with the habitat, unstructured exploratory time to grow accustomed to nature, and group meetings for developing a sense of Forest Days engage students fully in the smell, community outdoors. Students work on creating feel, sounds, and sights of the forest habitat; a mental map based on the location of the sun. awaken curiosity about the wildlife that lives They create a paper map of the trails and features there; stimulates conversations about life cycles they like in the forest. Playtime allows students to and seasonal cycles; and builds confidence and construct and discover. resilience in students by using the challenges found outdoors. Dr. Honig has enjoyed her experiences guiding children in nature. She has found that time spent in
nature stimulates children’s senses, reduces stress, increases attention, builds resilience, supports social collaboration and enhances their connection to the environment.
What fun the 5th grade students had on their field trip to the Team Leadership Center in October! While there, they learned about the value of teamwork and appreciating each other’s strengths. They gained confidence by testing themselves physically and mentally through the different activities that were presented to them. And best of all-they had fun.
Friends of Gibraltar is happy to sponsor this educational opportunity for students to learn from and connect with the outdoors. We are excited to announce that grade 1 will be starting monthly Forest Days this February! Thank you to the Ridges Sanctuary for partnering with the Friends of Gibraltar to provide this experience!
Students Celebrate Water!
Gibraltar Upperclassmen Participate in Ephraim Book Club By Lauren Bremer, English Teacher Grade 11 and 12
As a part of a county-wide effort called, Celebrate Water, Door Community Auditorium and the Friends of Gibraltar teamed up to present an artist in residency for students to promote appreciation of the Great Lakes. The residency will be with the interactive percussion group, Third Coast Percussion, (thirdcoastpercussion.com). The residency includes a school performance for students in grades K-12 and a science and music based interactive workshop for grades 3-5. The
performance is based around the book Paddle to the Sea by Holling C. Holling. The story is about a toy wooden boat that makes a journey through the Great Lakes.
the students sanded and painted them in their art class with Gibraltar Elementary art teacher Karla Donohue. Olson also did a carving demonstration for the grade 2 students.
Prior to the residency students in grade 2 worked with local artist, Jeff Olson, to create their own version of a small wooden boat in honor of the wooden boat in the story Paddle to the Sea. Olson donated his time to carve small wooden boats and
There will be more on the residency in the spring newsletter. Thank you Celebrate Water, Door Community Auditorium, Friends of Gibraltar, Jeff Olson, and Karla Donohue for this wonderful experience for students!
Geography Bee By Anna Jarosh, Grade 6
This year was Gibraltar School’s first ever Geography Bee or GeoBee. You may be wondering what a GeoBee is. A GeoBee is similar to a Spelling Bee, except the students are asked geography questions. In my opinion, the GeoBee is much harder to study for than the Spelling Bee. For the spelling bee, there is a word list, but for the GeoBee, the answers literally come from all over the world. One way I studied was by looking at a United States Atlas and a World Atlas.
On Thursday, January 17th, the top ten students in middle school and ten in elementary gathered in Gibraltar’s Community Room. Dr. Kroll then asked the students questions about geography. Their answers were graded and if a student got two answers incorrect, they left the round. Students were eliminated until three students remained. In the next round, all three finalists got their questions wrong, giving each another chance to move on to the championship In early January, all students from 4th through round. The elimination continued until only two 8th grade took a written test in their classrooms. finalists remained. The two finalists competed The students who got the top ten scores on the for the championship. Jeb Blossom (secondary) classroom tests (elementary 4-5 and middle 6-8) and Emerson Lecy (elementary) outlasted their then moved on to the next round. opponent to become Gibraltar’s first GeoBee champions. Congratulations to Jeb Blossom,
Emerson Lecy, and all of the students who participated in the Gibraltar GeoBee! Here are the results from this year’s GeoBee: Secondary (Middle School): John (Jeb) Blossom, champion Harrison Schwab, 2nd place Anna Jarosh, 3rd place Elementary: Emerson Lecy, champion Nolan Scott, 2nd place Addison Blanchard, 3rd place
On January 8, twenty juniors and seniors visited the Ephraim Town Hall to meet with the Ephraim Book Club. Mary Sawyer, the Branch Manager at the Ephraim Library, reached out to us this winter to see if there would be any teens interested in meeting with their winter book club to discuss a book, current events, and life in Door County. I was thrilled when so many students volunteered to participate. We read Tara Westover’s memoir Educated. The juniors and seniors presented thoughtful reactions to this classic, and we all enjoyed the camaraderie and discussion with members of the Ephraim Club. The conversation turned to societal roles for women and men, feminism, love and marriage, mental illness, and life in our Northern Door Community. The Ephraim Book Club and our students brought snacks and treats to share for the group. I continue to be impressed by the thoughtful conversation of our students. I am proud of them! We look forward to visiting with them again in the Spring!
Challenge Day 2018 Thank you for supporting the Challenge Day in Door County! Your generosity changed lives! Challenge Day took place at Gibraltar, Sevastopol and Sturgeon Bay high schools in late November 2018! Challenge Day uses highly interactive and energetic activities/programs to provide teens and adults with tools to break down the walls of separation and isolation and replace them with compassion. The program is designed to inspire people to live, study, and work in an environment of acceptance, love, and respect. The Challenge Day has developed programs for nearly 30 years with more than 1.5 million participants. Through research overtime the Challenge Day has validated the program outcomes to include Intellectual Flexibility, Task Leadership, Emotional Control, Self Confidence, and Social Competence. For 6½ hours in each school the Challenge Day facilitators worked with students, staff and community volunteers. They worked to create trust and connection in the morning by helping participants step out of their comfort zones through music and games. Participants began to recognize stereotypes and labels that exist among them, and they were then willing to share and connect as human beings. During the afternoon, participants examined the impact that bullying, oppression and other forms of violence have on their lives and the lives of people around them. They found commonality and a sense of belonging through a deeply memorable exercise known as Cross The Line. The program went beyond traditional antibullying efforts by building compassion and igniting a movement of positive change. The experience was inspiring and awakening for students and adults! Sturgeon Bay, Sevastopol and Gibraltar High Schools each had their own individual program date with the Challenge Day. The Challenge Day was brought to Gibraltar, Sturgeon Bay and Sevastopol high schools thanks to generous supports from our community! Thank you to the following program sponsors! AOD Coalition a program of United Way, Door County Medical Center, Ellie Helm Foundation, Friends of Gibraltar, Gibraltar High School, Mental Health Awareness Fund (funded primarily through the Little Eddie Big Cup Memorial Golf Tournament), Newport Resort, Rotary Club of Door County North, Sevastopol High School, and Sturgeon Bay High School.
Challenge Day Reflections
Here is what students and adult participants in Door County had to say about their Challenge Day experience! These reflections are from Gibraltar, Sevastopol and Sturgeon Bay High Schools.
the more difficult aspects in life. I think it benefitted many students and taught them that no one is alone and we have to take the risk to help someone through struggles rather than judge their life.”
Student Reflections:
“Challenge Day was an amazing thing for my junior class. It should be an annual thing for the upcoming juniors and so on. We got to know each other more than ever before. They made it a safe space, a space where we could really open up and be ourselves and not fear judgment. I think we choose to put on a mask, during the day, or we present a type of self to the world that only we feel comfortable with others seeing. It was refreshing to know that we could comfortably, effortlessly, just be us. We felt connected, at least I did, to my 2020 class, the kids I grew up with, grew apart from, and experienced things with. I’ve never known them like I did that day. We got to vent, we got to apologize, got to forgive, and we got to love each other. A truly pure and raw experience.”
“Challenge Day was a very eye opening experience. I went into it with the mindset of not opening up and really not sure what to feel about it and when we were put in our small groups I was actually very nervous because I hardly knew anyone and I didn’t know what to say, but in that moment I gained so much trust for the people and I just opened up completely. I stepped out of my comfort zone. I also learned a lot from the Cross the Line exercise and saw people cross the line for things I would’ve never imagined going through. I saw the soft side of everyone. The caring, loving and supportive side of people I didn’t care for and it made me gain so much love for everyone seeing them care for others. It was a very emotional experience but it was one of the best things this school has ever done. I also believe other people should have the opportunity to go through this, because a lot of people were making fun of it and saying they wouldn’t open up. I am so glad I got the opportunity to have this day. I reconnected with so many old friends and gained a lot of new friends. It also gave me a different mindset about judging others, and I came out of that gym changed.”
came out of it a changed person. It blew my expectations out of the water. What they are doing is going to change people’s lives, as it did to me.” “At Challenge Day I learned to respect everyone, and not to judge by the way a person acts or looks because you have no idea how much that person has been through. From the Challenge Day experience I will carry with me more respect and try to help others more especially if I see them struggling or not having good time.”
Adult Reflections: “I have been a teacher for 30 years and a varsity coach for 20 of those years. I have been to many inspirational training to improve my skills and fill my toolbox. Challenge Day was by far the most meaningful and influential training I have ever been a part of both personally and professionally.”
“Challenge Day was one of the best days of my life. It was so inspiring. I didn’t think I would like it but it’s a day I will never forget. Truly understanding that you aren’t alone was my favorite part.”
“I thought Challenge Day was both mind opening and heart opening. We rarely take the time to really listen and learn of others struggles. It has definitely changed the way I will interact with others.”
“Thank you for having Challenge Day at our school it was such a rewarding and meaningful day. I didn’t know it was even possible to have that deep of an impact on a group of high school students. The lessons I learned will stick with me for the rest of my “Challenge Day was amazing and not life. I am so thankful for this. I’m glad you only did I learn a lot, but it also helped me are reaching so many kids across the world come to terms with a lot of things that I because it was truly a day everyone needs have never said out loud before. Being a to experience.” new student I didn’t really know anything “Challenge Day was by far one of my about my peers besides the rumors I have heard that I didn’t choose to hear. This day most memorable experiences in my high helped me to not only get to know a lot of school so far. It was moving, it was uplifting, people, but just hear and see the struggles and it was emotional. I went into this they are dealing with and that everyone thinking they would just throw us all onto deals with. The biggest thing I walked the bleachers and lecture us for 7 hours away with from this day was an enormous but I was wrong. I really hope we can do amount of empathy and also admiration this activity in the future since it was really for how amazing and strong everyone was. good for both sophomores and juniors alike. It took an enormous amount of courage for I feel like I have a better connection with everyone to let themselves be vulnerable in my friends and those around me after this front of a gym full of people and truly open inspiring performance.” themselves up. I truly think this day should “I feel like Challenge Day was a really have been mandatory for everyone.” good experience that was definitely moving. “Challenge Day was a great, meaningful I went into it thinking it was going to be day where we experienced and discussed another dumb anti-bullying workshop. I
“I was so impressed with the overall purpose of Challenge Day, the content, the pace, the activities, and the facilitators that led the students and the adults to powerful expressions of thoughts and feelings. In my years of working in schools, I have never experienced this type of program. It was very impressive.” “Challenge Day was an amazing, lifechanging experience for many, including myself. I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate. One of my strongest qualities as a teacher is being able to connect with students on a more personal level rather than strictly academic. I feel that in order to be a better teacher, we must also teach social responsibility and how to be a human being. Challenge Day was just that. Getting to know one another on a more personal level allows us to see each other not as “student, teacher, principle, etc.”, but as human beings who all face challenges and struggles throughout life, regardless of age or gender. I wish all of Gibraltar; students, staff, administration, and board members, could one day say they’ve experienced a Challenge Day.”
Gibraltar Senior Projects By Lauren Bremer, English Teacher Grade 11 and 12
In spring 2016, I began to reflect on the needs of our students as they prepare to leave our small community for new adventures. I thought about how much this community gives to our students during the years of their formal education, and about how very important it is to give back. I also considered that students had recently endured so much tragedy and loss of classmates and community member. Many of our students were seeking ways to help others cope and support one another. The Senior Project began. Students would be tasked with learning that occurs in the English classroom in real-life applications while they gave back to the Northern Door Community that has given so much to them.
wrote proposals and plans to begin. Along the way, they encountered setbacks and overcame obstacles. Seniors found the ability to adapt and change course when things didn’t go as they’d planned. They worked closely with mentors who selflessly gave their time to guide them, and they researched the real-world implications of their project. These seniors have grown as individuals and left their positive impact on the community that has supported them.
In the spring, as they compose their final research papers and begin their presentations, I encourage the community to come support them. The last week of May (date TBD), the projects will be on display in the Link Gallery in Now in its third school year, I have been inspired the Door Community Auditorium and a small by our students. The outcomes are impressive, selection of seniors will share their presentations but the journey is what matters most to me as with the school and community. their teacher. They started with a vision and
Senior Project Announcements Mission U.S. Virgin Islands Jackson Krauss
For my Senior Project I chose to lead a mission team to the U.S. Virgin Islands. I am seeking donations for the churches in the U.S Virgin Islands to help funds for the volunteers. The trip is March 13 - 20, 2019. My goal is to raise $10,000 by March 10 and all donations help. If you are wondering on how you can help, feel free to contact me at 920-421-010 or Jirkrauss@ gibraltar.k12.wi.us
with only their nurses and doctors, which is why I would like to send them something that will help to cheer them up! I’ve assigned each classroom, K-12, to a gender and age group with a list of possible donations, as well as a list of gifts that are helpful for the children and verified by the hospital. Feel free to donate as many or as little items as you like, the whole class will be compiling all of their gifts into one package! I’m hoping to receive all donations by mid February. If you have any questions feel free to email me at bcaldecott@gibraltar.k12.wi.us. Thank you so much for helping me brighten the lives of the cancer patients at Children’s Hospital.
Children’s Hospital
Community Talent Show
I’ve decided to dedicate my senior project to the cancer patients at Children’s Hospital! This project means a lot to me because of my close relationship with Bo and Tessa, and unfortunately, our community has experienced the eff ects of cancer far too many times over the years as well. This is why I’ve decided to incorporate the entire school and community into my project to create care packages for the cancer patients at Children’s. Many times, these kids are left alone and are secluded to contact
My Senior Project is a community-wide talent show to be held on February 28th at 6 PM in the Door Community Auditorium. All ages are welcome to participate in or attend this event that showcases the incredible members of our community. Tickets cost $5 and all proceeds go to the Gibraltar Music and Theater Departments. A cash prize will be awarded to the winner! Please communicate with Monique McCormack at wyoming.mccormack57@gmail.com if interested in participating.
Bria Caldecott
BEAN BAG TOURNAMENT SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2019 MAXWELTON BRAES, BAILEYS HARBOR TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION This event is for adults age 21 and over.
$120/team of 4 ($30/person) through February 16 Includes heavy appetizers, tons of fun and a cash prize for the winning team.
Register Online: Doorcountytickets.com DOORS OPEN AT 5PM
CASH PRIZE
ROUND 1 STARTS AT 6PM
Sponsored by:
Monique McCormack
Proceeds from this event benefit Gibraltar Grade 6 trip to Manitowish Leadership Center!
Gibraltar High School students decorated the beanbag game boards in art class. Boards will be auctioned off at the event!
Raising Money for Grade 6 Annual Retreat to the Manitowish Leadership Center Gibraltar High School art students helped Friends of Gibraltar raise money for grade 6 annual retreat to the Manitowish Leadership Center by decorating bean bag toss boards to be auctioned off at the Door County Cornhole Tournament on February 16!
Daubner, Vivian Harris, Juana Jauregui, Summer Johnson, Kayla Olson, Jenna Riley, Eliana Stahl, Ellison Syers, Jade Toneys, Bella Vartanian, Breighly Wehling and members of the Diversity Club.
Register for the Door County Cornhole Tournament Thank you to the following students for decorating six sets at Doorcountytickets.com of boards for the event: Saturday, February 16 at Maxwelton Braes – Thyme Cuisine There will be a silent auction for the beanbag boards and a Sophia Alexander, Eva Armbruster, Jackson Blahnik, Sarah lot of other great items!
Under the Spotlights By Lizz Thomas, Teacher/Artistic Director/HS Forensics
TRASH & COOKIES!!!
The Gibraltar chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) has had a busy fall. Members of the chapter participated in the Highway 42 Trash pick-up and baked their famous cookies as the annual fundraiser for scholarships and to fund NHS projects. The members baked and frosted 141 dozen cookies (do the math…. 1,692 cookies). Thank you for all who bought cookies from NHS members and a big thank you to Carla Marr. We could not do this project without all her hard work!
Monday Meetings This year Gibraltar Elementary started Monday meetings which are periods of time in which students and staff are able to connect on some topic and activity related to empathy. Each month the focus topics involve one of Michele Borba’s 9 habits of empathy. One example of an activity is when classes came up with “classroom mantras” or “words to live by. Some examples include: “Be positive”, “The power of YES!”, and “Be a friend, to have a friend.”
This year for One Act, we decided to take a risk and write our own piece. We wrote a compilation of stories based on the rich history of Door County ghost legends. Luckily, our gamble paid off! Please congratulate the One Act Players for their success at the Wisconsin State Theatre Festival held at UW Whitewater November 16, 17, and 18th. We have gone to state 13 times and this time our school won all the awards that are given. Please congratulate the members of our One Act Ensemble including: Wyatt Beaudot, Evan Henry, Ulysses Juaregui, Ethan Farnham , Evan Farnham, Eva Armbruster, Monique McCormack Adrianna McNally, Audrey Viste, , Hayden Hoffman, Lia Smith, Lucas Smith, Molly McCarthy, Simon Kopischke, Aubrey Peot, Kayla Scharrig, Cassidy Stark, Lilly Sweeney, Lillian Warpinski and Sawyer Wisniewski .
In October Mary Bondeson, Gibraltar Secondary Choral Teacher and Emily Salm, Gibraltar Secondary Art Teacher took 50 Gibraltar High School students on a three day field trip to Chicago to see the Broadway production Hamilton. Gibraltar parent Ann Birnschein arranged for the cast to meet with students after the show. In a display of great generosity and passion, the actors talked openly about being in the music and theater business, how they got their lucky shot at the show, and the rigors of doing a Broadway run. The field trip also included half days at Navy Pier, the Museum of Science & Industry, and the Art Institute. A big thank you goes to the Gibraltar School Board for approving this trip and providing financial assistance to make the trip accessible.
Hello My Baby is a new-fashioned musical comedy that follows the origins of the first all American art form: popular music. Songs from Irving Berlin, the Gershwins, Eubie Blake and many more will be nostalgic for some and new for others. We will take you to the streets of New York on Tin Pan Alley, where the song-pluggers pitched their music hoping to get a hit record.
We will also be continuing our Adopt a Character program. We offer an opportunity for any business, community member or organization to be an integral part of this theatrical event. How you might ask? Adopt a Character! You will have publicity in our program, honored with complimentary tickets, and maybe even mentioned very cleverly in the show. Now, how can you pass up such an opportunity? We are asking for donations The most prestigious award given is the Crit- to dress our characters. If anyone is interested ic’s Choice, and we were one of twelve schools in sponsoring a character’s costume and props, awarded this out of 45 schools in the three-day please contact Lizz Thomas at lthomas@gibraltar. festival. In addition we received the Ensemble k12.wi.us 920-868-3284 ext. 289. Award, which speaks to the incredible teamwork Get your tickets early for another not to be our students displayed, the Crew Award, and the Director’s Award. One of our company, Lia Smith, missed Gibraltar musical production. We promise you will leave with a smile on your face and a song also received an Outstanding Acting Award. in your heart! 2019 Gibraltar High School Musical Forensics have begun and our first competition Hello My Baby is February 26, We hope to continue our tradition May 3 and 4, at 7:00 PM of state bound work, so that our team finds themMay 5 at 2:00 PM selves competing at UW Madison in April 2018. Door Community Auditorium Hope to see all of you, “Under the Spotlight!”
NEWS FROM THE CHOIR ROOM By Mary Bondeson, Secondary Choral Teacher
Gibraltar secondary choirs and some of the 6th grade choir are gearing up for the annual Solo Ensemble District Festival on Saturday, Feb. 16, from 8 AM to 4 PM at Gibraltar School. Gibraltar is hosting two conference schools, Sevastopol and Sturgeon Bay. This is a Wisconsin School Music Association-sponsored event during which musicians perform for adjudicators, in solos and small ensembles. Students compete against a set of standards. They do not compete against each other. Please come out to support the students. Even though some students will admit that performing for an audience of their peers and the community can be nerve-racking, we really do like to have lots of listeners in our audiences!
Hamilton
In honor of Gibraaltar’s 100th Anniversary!
concert. Each participating school has the opportunity to perform as a small group and to work with the guest conductor on a piece they are performing. The mass choir will have as many as 75 or more singers. It is a real treat for everyone to be a Two Gibraltar High School singers were chosen part of a group this size. by UW-Milwaukee to participate in their vocal arts festival the first weekend of February. Hayden Gibraltar music performances: Hoffman and Simon Kopischke are two of the 100 singers chosen statewide from a field of 200 sing- Saturday, Feb. 16, Solo Ensemble District Festival, ers. The mass choir will perform four works, which 8 AM to 4 PM at Gibraltar School students are sent in advance. They will also work Saturday, May 4: State Solo Ensemble Festival, individually with a vocal coach on a solo that they UW-Green Bay, for musicians who qualify at Dishave selected in advance. This is a distinct honor; trict Festival we are proud to have these singers represent Door County in this prestigious event. Thursday, May 7: Secondary Band Concert, 7PM, Grade 6-12 at Door Community Auditorium On April 15, select singers from the Grade 7 & 8 choirs will be chosen to represent Gibraltar Thursday, May 16: Elementary Music Concert, at the Bay Area Music Association Honor Choir 6:30PM, Grade K-5 at Door Community Auditoriat Sturgeon Bay High School. Students from our um conference schools will gather to rehearse all day with a guest clinician, culminating in a finale Monday, May 20: Secondary Choir Concert, 7PM, Grade 6-12 at Door Community Auditorium
Peninsula School of Art Announces Scholarships Financial assistance is available through PenArt’s Kathryn A Doerr Young Artists Fund. These scholarships cover 100% of the tuition expenses for any Summer Studios for Young Artists workshop. There are a limited number of scholarship spaces available in each workshop. Applications may be downloaded from our website PeninsulaSchoolofArt.org and should be submitted by May 1. Designed for ages 3.5 to 17, Peninsula School of Art’s program motivates students to discover their sources of inspiration and express themselves in new ways. From painting to sculpture, and printmaking to ceramics, our four-day workshops promote self-expression, foster inquisitiveness, and inspire the pursuit
of meaningful ideas.
day of class, young artists share their week’s work with family and friends in a studio exHoused in the original teaching and studio hibition. spaces of PenArt’s founder, Madeline Tourtelot, our youth studios are packed with hisFriday mornings are set aside for droptory, filled with natural light, and equipped in art making experiences for children and with all of the tools and materials needed family members of all ages. Designed to infor each lesson. In these spaces, young art- troduce participants to a variety of processes, ists are encouraged to engage in the creative materials, and ideas, a different medium is process from start to finish through new featured each week. Projects and instruction and unique lessons developed by our sum- are adapted to individual age and skill levels. mer-long instructors. Instructor-led tours of No pre-registration required. the exhibitions in the Guenzel Gallery, field Registration is open and can be completed trips through the grounds, demonstrations, and group brainstorms will provide sources of online or by phone. For more information, inspiration throughout the week for collabo- please visit PeninsulaSchoolofArt.org or call rative and independent projects. On the final us at 920.868.3455.
Gibraltar Sudent Council Hosting Blood Drive
Door Community Auditorium ~ Thursday, March 28 ~ The Gibraltar High School Student Council Red Cross and Gibraltar Student Council. If you will host their spring blood drive on Thursday, don’t know if you’re eligible, show up to find March 28, 2019. The Blood Drive will be held out. in the Door Community Auditorium from 9:00 Due to time and scheduling constraints, an AM– 2:00 PM. appointment to donate is needed. Please leave An estimated 38 percent of Americans are a message at (920) 868-3284 Extension 244. eligible to give blood, but of those, less than Clearly state your name, phone number, and best 10 percent actually donate each year. If you time of day to donate. A student council member are healthy and eligible, please come out to will return your call to confirm donor time. donate. Most donations take about an hour, so When you make the powerful decision to book your appointment, roll up your sleeve and become a part of the lifesaving mission of the donate blood it is recommended that you drink
plenty of water, get at least eight hours of sleep the night before, and eat iron-rich foods before the donation. Thursday, March 28th is a great day to help save lives. Visit redcrossblood.org to register online, get more information, or to see if you are eligible or contact Gibraltar High School Student Council Advisor, Mary Jo Witteborg, at (920) 868-3284 Ext: 244, or mwitteborg@ gibraltar.k12.wi.us.
GIBRALTAR EARLY CHILDHOOD SCREENING
EVALUACIÓN DE INFANCIA TEMPRANA
When: Monday, April 1, 2019
¿CUÁNDO? Lunes el 1 de abril 2019
Where: Gibraltar Elementary School
¿DÓNDE? Gibraltar Elementary School
For Whom:
¿Para quién?
Children 3 to 5 years of age (not enrolled in kindergarten) Niños de edades 3 o 5 años (no matriculados en Kinder) Early Childhood screening is offered to residents of Gibraltar School District at no cost to provide parents an informed La evaluación de infancia temprana se ofrecerá de forestimation of their child’s thinking, language, and motor ma gratuita para proveer una estimación informada del skill development. To assist in accurate screening, pensamiento, el lenguaje, y el desarrollo de habilidades specialists will be available to answer any questions you motoras del niño. Para ayudar con la evaluación precisa, may have regarding your child’s development. especialistas estarán disponibles para responder cualquiera pregunta acerca del desarrollo de su hijo/a. For those of you interested and have a child who will be at least 3 years of age by September 1, 2019 please conSi les interesa y tiene un hijo que por lo menos tiene 3 años tact Mari Grenchik to set up an appointment by email at antes del 1 de septiembre, 2019, favor de llamar o enviar un grenchik@gibraltar.k12.wi.us or call 920-868-3284, ext. correo a Mari Grenchik al 868-3284, ext. 258 o grenchik@ 258. gibraltar.k12.wi.us para hacer una cita. Your participation in this screening is the first vital step in your child’s education. Su participación en esta evaluación es el primer paso neceWe will also be screening in October 2019. sario en la educación de su hijo/a. También vamos a estar evaluando el octubre del 2019. Pueden hablar con nuestro traductor al 920.868.3284 ext. 248
AP® SCHOLAR AWARDS Fifteen students at Gibraltar High School have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP Exams. The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. About 20 percent of the 2.1 million students worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to also earn an AP Scholar Award. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP Exams. Four Gibraltar High School students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. These students are Evan Henry, Ava Hitzeman, Sarah Kifer and Mackenzie Straub. One Gibraltar High School student qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. This student is Lola Kummer. Ten Gibraltar High School students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with scores of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are Isabelle Austgen, Ava Beaudot, Spencer Berndt, Bria Caldecott, Gretchen Chomeau, Juan Juaregui, Kaylee Weddig, Kelsey Weddig, Ida Whitney and Karena Young. Through 34 different college-level courses and exams, AP provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn college credit or advanced placement and stand out in the college admission process. Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP Exams are aligned with the same high standards expected by college faculty at some of the nation’s leading liberal arts and research institutions. More than 3,800 colleges and universities annually receive AP scores. Most fouryear colleges in the United States provide credit and/ or advanced placement for qualifying exam scores. Research consistently shows that AP students who score a 3 or higher on AP Exams (based on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest) typically experience greater academic success in college and have higher college graduation rates than students who do not participate in AP. The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success including the SAT® and the Advanced Placement Program. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators and schools.
Nab the Tab and Tab Toss Day 2018 Thank you! By Mike Scoville, Library Media Specialist
Thank you Door County Altrusa for donating graphing calculators!
The next time you have that soda can or other item with a tab, nab the tab before you recycle. Saving the tabs is easy and they contain a high concentration of recyclable aluminum. Thanks to people like Bob and Rita Sullivan, Scott Weborg, and dozens of others who collect pull tabs, we are able to collect, transport, and toss the tabs which allows the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin keep families near their children who are receiving medical treatment in the Milwaukee area. Since 2000, the aluminum tabs have generated over $360,000 for the Ronald McDonald House. On Saturday, May 19, 2018, Scott Weborg, and students Emma Daubner, Courtney Foy and Hobbs Emerson traveled with me to United Milwaukee Scrap LLC in Milwaukee to add our approximate 170,000 tabs to the collection. The students bought chances using their Viking Vouchers, which they can earn for good behavior and other positive things. In 2018, we contributed roughly 170,000 tabs towards 9,626 pounds raising $32,851.00. Tab Toss Day 2019 will be on Saturday, May 18, 2019.
Thank you Carina Helm from Blue Horse Café for all of the food for teachers! Thank you Marise Redman for doing Relax and Revive sessions for students! Thank you Sheryl Honig and the Ridges Sanctuary for leading Forest Days at Gibraltar students in grades K and 1! Thank you to Dakota Londo with United Way and Heidi Erickson, Nick Lee and Tyler Powell with the Northern Door YMCA for teaming up with Friends of Gibraltar and Gibraltar School Cafeteria to assist with the monthly Healthy Food Sampling program at Gibraltar. Gibraltar DECA would like to thank the following people for their hard work as volunteers for DECA: Teri Berndt, Ariah Brunette, Caleb Frostman, Rich Geils, Susan Geils, Jim Jordan, Melinda Kroening, Mitch Larsen, Bob Loss, Mike O’Brien, and Carl Witteborg. Thank you to The Gordon Lodge for donating their space for Gibraltar’s Youth Frontiers Retreats in January. Thank you to David Winter and Ron Little who volunteer their time to come in and tutor Gibraltar students. Thank you Mackenzie Straub for volunteering her time to work with students in Mrs. Higginbotham’s second grade classroom during January.
Character Trait Recognition Assemblies
FRIENDS OF GIBRALTAR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP 2018-2019 Become a member of the Friends of Gibraltar, a non-profit organization that has provided Gibraltar students with unique educational opportunities for over 36 years by working collaboratively with Gibraltar Schools and the community. Name: _____________________________
Address: ____________________________ City: _________________ State: ________
Membership:
____ Family $20 ____ Business $40 ____ Sponsor (Specify Amount) ______
Zip: ___________ Phone: _____________
We are very proud of our students for not only excelling academically in the classroom but also demonstrating positive character traits and being wonderful kids as well! Congratulations to all students at Gibraltar Elementary for being great members of our learning community!
E-mail: ____________________________
Please send to:
Volunteer Opportunities _____ School Projects/Programs (specify grades) _____ Board of Directors _____ Provide lodging for guest artists/presenters _____ Provide meals for guest artists/presenters _____ Hairpin 5K Run/Walk fundraiser _____ Holiday Art Fair fundraiser _____ Bean Bag Tournament fundraiser
Vinni Chomeau Friends of Gibraltar, Gibraltar Schools 3942 State Highway 42 Fish Creek, WI, 54212
Sponsor/Volunteer for an Event: _____ School Projects/Programs _____ Hairpin 5K Run/Walk fundraiser (July 4) _____ Holiday Art Fair fundraiser (Nov. 23-24) _____ Bean Bag Tournament fundraiser (Feb. 16)
Gibraltar Elementary students were recognized during the monthly character trait recognition assemblies this past fall. Students were recognized for respect, responsibility, citizenship, and kindness.
September - RESPECT: Salem Duebler, Max Elliott, Landon Zielke, Luke McCormack, Wesley Wegner, Isaac Nelson, Steven Schubert
Please call or email to sign up to volunteer with Friends of Gibraltar: (920) 868-3284 Ext. 205 vinni.chomeau@gibraltar.k12.wi.us
October - RESPONSIBILITY: Levi Seaquist, Rebecca Sandoval, Andrew Weborg, Henry Pokorski, Oliver Collak, Ashley Flores, Jacque Sandoval November - CITIZENSHIP: Madalyn Jackson, Hattie Tesnow, Azucena Jauregui, Steven Prescott, Molly Virlee, Megan Gallant, Rubi Jauregui December - KINDNESS: Avery Burress, Liam Hummel, Jacksun Penchoff, Parker Rowe, Lilith Devily, Courtney Foy, Melanie Torres
BEAN BAG TOURNAMENT SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2019 MAXWELTON BRAES, BAILEYS HARBOR TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION
CASH PRIZE
DOORS OPEN AT 5PM
This event is for adults age 21 and over.
$120/team of 4 ($30/person) through February 16 Includes heavy appetizers, tons of fun and a cash prize for the winning team.
ROUND 1 STARTS AT 6PM
Register Online: Doorcountytickets.com Gibraltar High School students decorated the beanbag game boards in art class. Boards will be auctioned off at the event! Proceeds from this event benefit Gibraltar Grade 6 trip to Manitowish Leadership Center!