Parents, citizens, and various businesses and organizations contribute to our schools in many ways. I would like to take this time to give a big thank you to all who offer their time, money and resources to help make the school experience a positive one for students. It would be difficult to mention every way in which individuals and groups contribute to education. Here are a just few examples of events that wouldn’t have been possible if not for community and parental support.  

Mini Business World, Mad Money, Financial and Investment Challenge Bowl, and Careers on Wheels are all programs supported by Rhinelander Partners in Education (PIE). The first three focus on teaching financial skills to high school students. These annual events have already taken place this year and were a huge success. The PIE group donates food for these programs, and in the case of Mad Money and Careers on Wheels, they are responsible for the planning and implementation of the event. PIE is made up of various representatives from businesses and organizations such as Wisconsin Public Service, Oneida County 4-H, Ponsse, Rhinelander GM-Toyota, and Nicolet College just to name a few. Careers on Wheels is an event scheduled for fourth and fifth graders May 8. This event involves the display of vehicles and equipment from businesses and agencies such as fire departments, funeral homes and logging companies.  The goal is to raise awareness of the different types of careers in the area. To learn more about PIE, visit the website at www.rhinelanderpie.com. 

Another way in which community members and groups have donated their time and skills in recent months is the “Careers in our Community” week for second graders. This program occurs in late March in the elementary schools. This year representatives from Ministry Health Care, Expera Specialty Solutions and many other organizations visited the schools to talk to students about their careers. As a follow up to Career Week, students reflected on the careers presented. The children were thrilled to see and hear about all the different occupations that exist in our area.  

Read Across America Week happened in early March and community members were invited into the elementary schools to read to students. Volunteers were asked to read one or two of their favorite Dr. Seuss books and a favorite book from their childhood. They were also asked to share how they choose books to read, what they like to read, when they read, where they read, and memories that they have reading as a child. Each individual gave about 20 to 30 minutes of their time for this week-long event.  

The four-year-old kindergarten class at Crescent Elementary School offers community outreach days that involve parents and grandparents. Granola with Grandparents, Muffins with Mom, and Doughnuts with Dad were events that occurred during the month of March. These clever names are tied into Laura Numeroff’s stories (If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, If You Give a Moose a Muffin, If You Give a Pig a Pancake, If You Give a Cat a Cupcake, etc.) which students read throughout the month. The turnout was wonderful and family and community members seemed to be very excited to join students in the classroom. Other outreach events range from home visits, parent education opportunities and parent/child activities.

On behalf of School District employees, I would like to thank all who have and will be donating their time and effort for school events that enrich learning experiences for all students. If you would like to know how to become involved in school events, please contact me at 715-365-9745. Thank you.