Welcome back to The Compass! Last month's debut edition of The Compass welcomed more than 9,000 readers. Thank you for staying connected with the Howard-Suamico School District.

The Compass is an eNewsletter designed to engage, connect, and inspire HSSD families. It will be published the last week of each month.

In this issue:

• Feature Story - Paving the Way: Kira's Marching Band Dreams Come True
• Student Snapshot
  
• Teacher Features
  
• Humanity Heroes
  
• Alumni Making Waves
  
• And much more!
  
  

We are excited to share stories and news with you and we welcome your ideas for future issues.

At the age of two, Bay Port freshman Kira Mevis was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic neurological disorder which affects nearly every aspect of life, including her ability to speak, walk, eat, and breathe. Since then, Kira has been paving her own way.

With encouragement from Bay Port band directors Ashley and Kyle Siegrist, Kira's latest activity at school aligns beautifully with her passion for music.

On Friday evenings under the bright lights of the Bay Port Pirate stadium, you can find Kira in her new all-terrain wheelchair, performing with the Bay Port band. Kenz Mevis, one of Kira’s most influential advocates, marches alongside their younger sister.

Click here to read the full story about how love of music, an impressive new wheelchair, and inclusion championed by teachers, friends, and family have empowered Kira to march alongside her peers.

October is Rett Syndrome Awareness Month.

Updates from the Board of Education Meeting October 25, 2021

• The Board recognized Bellin Health and Prevea Health for being named to the Wisconsin Association of School Boards Business Honor roll.
• The Board received community input regarding mask and quarantine protocols and little free libraries.
• The Board approved the final 2021-22 budget and tax levy by a unanimous vote.
• The administrative team presented a COVID-19 response update.
• The administrative team shared plans for a 2022 Community Engagement Survey.
• The Board approved Board/Superintendent Relations Policy B/SR-3 Delegation to the Superintendent monitoring report.
• The Board approved Governance Process GP-12 Board Member Monitoring Responsibility monitoring report.
• The Board discussed a first reading of proposed Governance Process 15: Board Meetings, made modifications, and returned GP-15 to a first reading at a future meeting.

For upcoming meeting dates, agendas, and prior meeting minutes, visit the Board of Education page on our website.

To nominate someone for the Student Snapshot section of The Compass, email website@hssdschools.org.

At HSSD, our students are learning from the book The 7 Habits of Happy Kids by Sean Covey. In each edition of The Compass, the Student Services team will share a topic for families to reflect upon.

To Begin with the End in Mind means to develop a clear vision of who we want to be. It means setting goals around what matters most to us.

Create a Family Mission Statement

Creating your own Family Mission Statement can help you begin with the end in mind for your family. Take a look at this resource to help.

Reflection Questions

• What is important to you and your family? What goals do you have together that can lead you to determine where you want to go, how you want to be known, and how you plan to get there?

• Ask your children if they have a personal mission statement or a class mission statement. How do they use this to guide them to begin with the end in mind?

To nominate someone for the Teacher Feature section of The Compass, email website@hssdschools.org.

• November 4: Bay Port Pops Concert

• November 5: No School
• November 6: Bay Port Pops Concert
• November 11-13: Bay Port Fall Play Peter Pan
• November 18: Lineville Orchestra Concert (5th grade)
  
• November 18: Lineville Orchestra Concert (6th grade)
• November 24-26: No School
• November 30: Meadowbrook Holiday Concert (Kindergarten)
• November 30: Meadowbrook Holiday Concert (1st Grade)
• November 30: Bay View Winter Concert (7th Grade)
• November 30: Bay View Winter Concert (8th Grade)

District and School Calendars | Bay Port Athletics Calendar

What is an HSSD Humanity Hero?

At Convocation, our welcome back event for staff in August, Superintendent Damian LaCroix shared our theme for the school year: #BringHumanityBack. The theme is inspired by our beloved colleague Heidi Hussli, who passed away last school year. Heidi had a passion for kindness and mutual respect and we are celebrating the kindness our support staff show each day in school.

Do you know a support staff member (aide, custodian, secretary, etc.) who has gone above and beyond for your child or family? Nominate the staff member to be recognized as a HSSD Humanity Hero by emailing website@hssdschools.org.

Golden Apple Nominations - Last Chance

Tomorrow is your last day to nominate an HSSD educator for the Golden Apple Award! Nominations are open until Friday, October 29 and can be completed online here.

COVID-19 Testing at HSSD
In partnership with Prevea, the Howard-Suamico School District is hosting a COVID-19 testing site at the District Office Training Center. Available appoints begin November 2. View details and schedule a test here.

HSSD is Hiring!

The following support staff and substitute positions are posted:

• IT End User Support Specialist
• Grant Writer (in partnership with Village of Howard and Village of Suamico)
• Special Education Aides
• School Nutrition Assistants
• Certified Teaching Staff and Support Staff Substitutes

Bay Port Theater Presents: Peter Pan

Tickets are on sale now for the Bay Port High School fall play production of Peter Pan November 11-13. Click here to purchase your tickets today.

Suamico ATV/UTV Ordinance

The Village of Suamico passed an ATV/UTV ordinance that went into effect October 19. Village officials asked HSSD to remind students and families of the following:

• A valid drivers license is required to operate an ATV/UTV on Suamico roadways.
• ATV/UTV usage is not allowed on Lineville Road or anywhere in the Village of Howard.
• All roads leading into the Bay Port campus are clearly marked NO ATV/UTV. There is no legal way to access campus via ATV/UTV and there is no unauthorized use of ATV/UTVs allowed on campus.
• The Brown County Sheriff Department will be enforcing appropriate conduct related to the new ordinance.
• Please direct questions to the Village of Suamico.

Community Clothes Closet

Community Clothes Closet located in Hope Community Church at 1021 Hillcrest Heights, Green Bay is open the first and third Wednesday each month from 2-6 p.m. The Community Clothes Closet provides gently used clothes for free to those who need them. Click here for more information.

Wes Hodkiewicz is a digital reporter for the Green Bay Packers, beginning his 15th year in sports journalism. He started at the Green Bay Press-Gazette and spent 10 years covering his hometown teams for the newspaper before joining the Packers as a writer and on-camera reporter. A 2006 Bay Port graduate and a life-long resident of our community, Wes caught up with The Compass and shared a powerful Packers story he covered.

Click here to read more about Wes.

To nominate someone for the Alumni Making Waves section of The Compass, email website@hssdschools.org.

In celebration of the 2021 Bay Port girls golf team top 10 finish at the WIAA state tournament and a fifth straight sectional championship, here is a look at the program’s beginnings! Twenty years ago in 2001 the girls golf team was in its second year as a program. #TBT #PiratePride

The Compass is produced and distributed by the HSSD School and Community Relations Department. Tell us what you would like to see in this newsletter and share story ideas with us by emailing website@hssdschools.org.