Video game testers

On Friday, November 14, game testers from Filament Educational Games came to 8th grade science classes at Mineral Point Middle School to beta test a new educational video game, which is perfect for physics classes. It is a catapult balloon game and students must decide how much tension, etc to place on their catapult. The… Continue Reading Video game testers

Football puts team first

Thursday’s football banquet featured a “team first” mentality as coaches Andy Palzkill, Justin Leonard, Chad Whitford, David Hamlin, Chris Mitchell, Andy Busch, Michael Walsh, and TJ Burke introduced the players that took Mineral Point to its first WIAA post-season playoff berth since the 2010 season. Team awards went to: Steven Blume, Most Improved Offensive Player;… Continue Reading Football puts team first

Middle school speed dating

7th and 8th graders have been busy speed dating. No, that’s not a misprint. During their library time, they are spending a minute and a half with each book to see if they feel it would be a good fit for them. The books are ranked on a scale of a) I think I’m in… Continue Reading Middle school speed dating

Ancient Rome

Cornell Notes Powerpoint Slideshow for Chapter 6 sec 1 Slideshow for Chapter 6 sec 2 Slideshow for Chapter 6 sec 3 Slideshow for Chapter 6 sec 4 Slideshow for Chapter 6 sec 5

Veterans’ Day is a family affair

Mineral Point Elementary School held its annual Veterans’ Day program Tuesday afternoon. Students and their family members who are veterans posed for photos after the ceremony. (Photos by Joelle Doye)

Volleyball team feted

Mineral Point High School’s volleyball coaches Dana Gevelinger, Amy Gevelinger, and Claire Poad honored their teams at the annual banquet Sunday, November 9 in the cafetorium.  Award winners included: Sydney Staver–Most Valuable, captain, and first team all-conference; Sadie Pethel–Most Dedicated, captain, and honorable mention all-conference; Natalie Chubb–Team Player award and captain; Clara Chambers–first team all-conference… Continue Reading Volleyball team feted

Online Book Fair

If you missed the book fair at the elementary school or the book you wanted wasn’t available, orders can be placed online.  The link below will direct you to the Mineral Point Elementary School Online Book Fair. Welcome to Our Book Fair! Orders may be placed through November 18

Communications Director

 Joelle Doye was recently hired as the Communications Director for the Mineral Point School District.  This hire originated from the findings of the district’s Strategic Plan.  Paging through the plan the word “communication” appears ten times, which is evidence that the committee on the Strategic Plan value this attribute.  In an effort to increase transparency… Continue Reading Communications Director

Communication is key

%3Cp+dir%3D%22ltr%22%3E%3Cspan%3E%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp+dir%3D%22ltr%22%3E%3Cspan%3EGreetings%2C+Pointers%21%2C%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp+dir%3D%22ltr%22%3E%3Cspan%3EI+am+Joelle+Doye%2C+the+new+Communications+Director+for+the+Mineral+Point+Unified+School+District.+In+the+paragraphs+below%2C+I%26rsquo%3Bd+like+to+explain+a+bit+why+this+position+was+created%2C+why+it+is+important%2C+as+well+as+provide+some+background+information+about+myself.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan%3EThe+idea+to+bring+a+Communications+Director+into+the+District+stemmed+directly+from+the+needs+of+the+Strategic+Plan.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan%3EPaging+through+the+document%2C+the+word+%26ldquo%3Bcommunication%26rdquo%3B+appears+ten+times%2C+which+is+proof+the+crafters+of+the+Strategic+Plan+value+this+attribute+very+much.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan%3EThis+position+is+also+intended+to+help+make+the+District+even+more+transparent+when+it+comes+to+fiscal+decisions%2C+including+the+school+budget+and+the+understanding+of+school+funding.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan%3EEffective+communication+improves+morale+and+school+climate.+It+also+helps+cut+down+on+misinformation.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan%3EAnother+goal+of+the+Communications+Director+is+to+increase+engagement%2C+including+building+partnerships+with+citizens%2C+businesses%2C+and+civic+organizations.+Being+a+small+town%2C+community+pride+is+vital+and+the+school+should+be+at+the+center+of+that+effort.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan%3EI+understand+this+well.+I+started+in+the+fall+of+2007+as+the+Editor+of+The+Democrat+Tribune+newspaper+here+in+Mineral+Point+%28a+position+I+will+be+continuing+with%29.+I+quickly+learned+how+much+this+community+values+its+school%2C+and+for+the+past+seven+years%2C+I+have+covered+countless+school+board+meetings%2C+sporting+contests%2C+and+other+school+events.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan%3EI+am+an+educator+by+trade%2C+graduating+from+the+University+of+Wisconsin-Platteville+in+2006+with+a+Secondary+Education+Social+Studies+degree.+I+am+extremely+passionate+about+school+issues%2C+and+believe+my+background+in+education%2C+along+with+my+journalism+skills%2C+are+a+unique+marriage+of+talents+that+will+allow+me+to+serve+effectively+in+this+new+capacity.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan%3EBesides+looking+at+the+Strategic+Plan%2C+why+is+this+position+important+to+the+Mineral+Point+Unified+School+District+and+why+is+it+needed+now%3F%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan%3EIt%26rsquo%3Bs+not+a+secret+that+we+live+in+the+media+age+and+technology+has+completely+changed+the+way+in+which+we+communicate.+However%2C+not+everyone+is+on+board+with+these+changes+and+some+people+still+prefer+traditional+forms+of+communication.+A+school+district+can%26rsquo%3Bt+just+put+out+one+form+of+communication+and+count+on+it+reaching+everyone+anymore%2C+and+of+course+it%26rsquo%3Bs+more+time+consuming+to+make+sure+all+of+the+stakeholders+are+being+reached+using+the+method+that+is+best+for+them.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan%3EEducation+is+changing+rapidly%2C+and+this+includes+maintaining+and+strengthening+enrollment.+School+choice+is+an+inevitable+fact%2C+and+it+is+vital+the+Mineral+Point+School+District+is+making+families+aware+of+all+of+the+wonderful+things+happening+in+our+district+that+make+being+a+Pointer+an+enviable+trait+that+encourages+enrollment+retention+and+growth.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan%3EI+view+this+position+as+a+two+way+street+of+inflow+and+outflow+of+information.+Not+only+is+it+important+for+me+to+help+the+public+better+understand+what+is+going+on+in+our+schools%2C+but+it+is+also+my+job+to+listen+to+questions%2C+concerns%2C+suggestions%2C+and+praise+the+community+has+so+we+are+all+informed+and+involved+with+the+district+as+we+work+together+to+make+it+the+best+it+can+be.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan%3EI+applaud+the+district+for+being+proactive+and+forward+thinking+in+creating+this+role.+It+is+becoming+more+common+for+districts+to+have+such+an+individual+on+staff%2C+and+although+we+are+one+of+the+few+in+this+part+of+the+state+right+now%2C+I+feel+very+certain+that+Mineral+Point+is+a+trendsetter+and+other+local+districts+will+be+following+suit.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan%3EPlease+contact+me+at+%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Ca+style%3D%22font-size%3A+12pt%3B+line-height%3A+18pt%3B%22+href%3D%22mailto%3Ajoelle.doye%40mp.k12.wi.us%22%3E%3Cspan%3Ejoelle.doye%40mp.k12.wi.us%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fa%3E%3Cspan%3E+or+987-0739+ext.+388%2C+or+stop+up+and+pay+me+a+visit+%28I+am+located+in+the+District+Office%29.+I+look+forward+to+hearing+from+you.+We%26rsquo%3Bre+all+in+this+together.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan%3ESincerely%2C%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong+id%3D%22docs-internal-guid-cd9ea463-8197-9ab9-a3e0-3ad5cdfca547%22%3E%3Cspan%3EJoelle+Doye%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E

Alumni donation to stadium

Former MPHS Principal Ted Evans recently met with Superintendent Dr. Luke Francois to share a check in the amount of $30,000 for the stadium project.  The proceeds were raised through the efforts of alumni and friends selling NFL raffle tickets.  “I am most appreciative of our alumni and the efforts of Mr. Evans to coordinate and support the field.  This… Continue Reading Alumni donation to stadium