Howards Grove School District
November Parent & Guardian Newsletter
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” - John F. Kennedy
Proud to be a TIGER!
It would be an understatement to say how proud I am of these amazing young athletes for their continued success in being a state champion team! The energy and excitement in the Resch Center was unbelievable. The stands filled with our fans in "Tiger Gear" supporting our team made me extremely proud to work in this district.
BUT, what is even better than winning is getting feedback from the officials regarding the character of our athletes. This message was sent to our new athletic director, Tracy Mueller, following the state tournament. We are clearly raising and developing good people in Howards Grove!
Dear Tracy:
In a time when most letters written to schools are to complain about something or someone. We would like to compliment your varsity girls’ volleyball team and their coaching staff. We officiated the Division 3 Championship final at the Resch center in Green Bay on Saturday November 6th. Your players were exceptional! They came to play volleyball and that is what they stayed focused doing the entire match. They never complained about any calls or carried on, even if they may not have agreed with the way the call was made.
We believe that a person is a window of their family. We also believe that an athlete is a window of their school and their team. From the actions of your players and coaches we can tell that you have a great group of people in your school. We hope they continue to be examples of great sportsmanship, not only in your conference, but also around the state. We hope their actions filter down through your entire school system, so other students will benefit in years to come.
We officiate volleyball in southern Wisconsin and we see many things both positive and negative. What we came away with from that match was a very positive impression of the Howards Grove School system. We would like to wish Coach Damrow, his coaching staff, and the girls’ volleyball team the best of luck in the future.
Respectfully yours,
Loren Homb Barb Keegan
Volleyball Official - #300227 Volleyball Official - #1030929
Watertown,Wisconsin Monroe, Wisconsin
Get your TIGER Gear!
We'd love to see everyone in some Tiger Gear!
School Board Meetings
All school board meetings and minutes will now be posted on the district home page in BoardDocs linked here.
Our next school board meeting is a regular board meeting and is scheduled for this Monday, November 15th at 7:00 PM. Prior to the regular meeting, we will have a working session with the board for training on the superintendent evaluation tool, which was rescheduled for this meeting.
Here is the current draft of agenda items:
- Consideration to approve updated policy on po3122 Nondiscrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity
- Consideration to approve organizational chart
- Ongoing Policy Review
- School Showcase
- Student Council Reports
- COVID Report
- Referendum Update
Feel free to join us in person or via zoom: https://zoom.us/j/97829518482
New Director of Buildings & Grounds
We are thrilled to welcome and introduce our new Director of Buildings & Grounds! Please welcome Mr. Dave Hoh to the Howards Grove Team. Dave comes with extensive experience in the Oshkosh School District & Kimberly Area School District.
Here are some of Dave's attributes that will make him a great fit for Howards Grove! In addition, he has a "family first" philosophy, is a team player, and believes in building positive relationships with staff and students.
Dave Hoh:
- A proven leader who is committed to keeping costs low while increasing the level of efficiency within the buildings & grounds department
- Supervised the complete custodial operation of a school district consisting of 21 buildings, 63 custodians and 12 contracted service employees
- Managed a budget of over $7,000,000
- Implemented crew cleaning which has resulted in schools/buildings being cleaned in a more efficient manner
- Previous experiences and understanding of plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and HVAC systems, along with carpentry and grounds care
Referendum Update
Previously, it was requested that the community approve a referendum for a new middle school. We have agreed it is best to start from scratch and get a new perspective of the needs in all 3 schools buildings, the grounds, and the athletic fields. A core team of administrators and board members will be interviewing construction firms later this month to begin the process of analyzing a full facility needs study.
If it is determined we need to go to referendum, we will assemble a referendum committee to include key stakeholders and community members to serve on this committee. In addition, we will be looking for feedback through a survey from EVERYONE as to how we best move forward to support our schools.
Stay tuned for ongoing updates.
School Updates
Simply click on the school links below to read updates from each school
REMINDER
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends.
No School on November 25 & November 26.
COVID Updates
We continue to navigate all things related to COVID. The school district has testing kits on site that we can use upon request to test students or staff. Unfortunately, these testing kits are NOT rapid tests, but it is convenient and free. If you would like access to an onsite test at your child's school, please reach out to our district nurse Lydia Pomeroy at lpomeroy@hgtigers.com.
In the event you want to obtain a rapid test, here is information on a testing site in Sheboygan Falls:
Curative Testing
Self-administered shallow nasal swab Antigen & PCR testing for all ages with the capacity to do 350 tests per day
Location:
Sheboygan County Aging & Disability Resource Center
650 Forest Avenue
Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085
Days/Times
(This site will be open indefinitely as long as there is a testing need in Sheboygan County) Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays 8:00am - 2:00pm
Thursdays 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Saturdays 1:00pm - 5:00pm
What do I need to bring?
- Photo ID
- Health Insurance Card (insurance will be billed)
If someone does not have insurance and/or an ID, they can still be tested at NO cost to the patient
Do I need to make an appointment?
It is strongly recommended to make an appointment at Curative.com
This site will also test walk-ins who have not registered/made an appointment
How do I get my results?
Results delivered electronically, Antigen tests in about an hour and PCR tests within 1-2 days upon receipt at the lab. If you cannot receive your results via email please call 888-702-9042
Customer Service
888-702-9042
Finally, here is the link to the COVID Dashboard, which can also be accessed from the district homepage.
Substitute Teachers Still NEEDED
The Howards Grove School District is currently accepting applications for substitute teaching assignments. Opportunities may be available at all grade levels and subject areas district wide. Applicants must possess or be able to obtain a Substitute Teacher license from the Department of Public Instruction or currently hold a teaching license. Acceptable Background Check required.
A substitute license can be obtained for anyone who holds an associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university and who have successfully completed an approved substitute training program , but have not completed a state-approved educator preparation program.
The initial starting pay for substitutes is $120/day.
The Howards Grove School District does not discriminate in the employment of professional or support staff on the basis of any characteristic protected under State or Federal law, including but not limited to race, color, age, sex, creed or religion, handicap or disability, marital status, genetic information, citizenship status, veteran status, military service (as defined in 111.32 Wis. Stats.), sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, arrest record, conviction record, use or non-use of lawful products off the District's premises during non-working hours, or any other characteristic protected by law in its employment practices. (Board Policies 3122 & 4122). The employee shall remain free of any alcohol or illegal substance in the workplace in compliance with Policies 3122 & 4122 throughout his/her employment in the District.
REMINDER
FIRST, Reach out directly to your child's teacher/team/coach.
In the event your concerns are not addressed or you need further support, NEXT reach out to the building principal or activities director.
Jon Hess- High School Principal: jhess@hgsd.k12.wi.us
Angie Houston- Middle School Principal: ahouston@hgsd.k12.wi.us
Sarah Ellinger- Northview Principal: sellinger@hgsd.k12.wi.us
Tracy Mueller- Athletic/Activities Director & Special Education Director: tmueller@hgsd.k12.wi.us
FINALLY, if you still need additional support, please reach out directly to me, Shannon Kilton, Superintendent: skilton@hgsd.k12.wi.us
In the event, we have all failed to help you navigate your questions & concerns, your last stop would be to reach out to the school board. Here is the actual board policy on navigating this process.
I am personally asking for this communication chain to help us all develop positive and trusting relationships, which are always grounded in open and honest conversations. Most often, concerns can be easily solved when we all talk directly to the person involved with the question or problem.
Thanks in advance for the support and understanding of this process.
Howards Grove School District
Superintendent of Schools
Email: skilton@hgsd.k12.wi.us
Website: https://www.hgsd.k12.wi.us
Location: 403 Audubon Road, Howards Grove, WI, USA
Phone: (920) 565-5462