FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 31, 2017

Initial Release (7:34 a.m.)

SPARTA — There was a bus accident about 7:08 a.m. this morning, Jan. 31, 2017, at the intersection of North Black River Street and North Street involving Bus 14. No students were injured and the students are being moved to a different bus to be transported to their school.

Lamers and the school district officials are in the process of contacting parents of the students on Bus 14.

The bus driver sustained minor injuries in the accident.

Tate Williams, Julia Schaitel, and Nathan Janzen

Sparta High School students Tate Williams, Julia Schaitel, and Nathan Janzen were among 1,100 students that participated Jan. 15 and 16 in the Dorian Honor Choir Festival at Luther College. There was also a solo competition that 400 students participated in. The 400 students were narrowed to 25 in semi-finals and five students were selected to perform at the concert. Nathan Janzen participated in the solo competition and was selected to participate in the semi-finals.

FCCLA regionals were held Jan. 20 in La Crosse with 12 seventh and eighth grade students from the Sparta Area School District competing.

Eight students advanced to the state competition:

Those participating were: Alicia Pablo-Escalante, Brooklyn Schreier, Choe Rhodaback, Kiara Bailey, Kylie Green, Mckayla Simao, Rylan Deno, Lauren Suhanich, Makenzie Schultz, Halee Porter, Christina Denton, and Maribel Castro.

FCCLA State Qualifiers

FCCLA Participants

FCCLA Gold Winners

The Sparta Area School District Food Pantry at Meadowview School will benefit from a food drive this Saturday, Feb. 4, sponsored by drivers from Lamers Bus Lines in Sparta.

The bus drivers will work to “Fill the Bus” to stock the pantry from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hansen’s IGA at 834 W. Wisconsin St., Sparta.

Any donations of nonperishable food items would be appreciated but items needed include peanut butter, jelly, tuna, crackers, soup, cereal, oatmeal, biscuit and pancake mix, pancake syrup, and canned goods. Monetary donations are also appreciated.

The Parenting Place has received a three-year grant from Wisconsin’s Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board to provide free parent education and support in La Crosse, Trempealeau, Vernon and Monroe Counties. Parent Educators have been trained in the evidence-based, internationally recognized Triple P program (Positive Parenting Program). The Parenting Place will conduct individual sessions, classes, and discussion groups to give parents the skills they need to raise confident, healthy children and to build strong families. Within a 90-minute session, participants gain simple and practical strategies that can be adapted to suit their own values, beliefs, and needs. Tantrums, bedtimes, shopping with children, back-talk, discipline problems, and sibling conflict are some of the common problems parents bring to the program.

In Sparta, The Parenting Place is located in the Sparta Area School District’s Administrative and Education Center at 201 E. Franklin St.

Since 1990, The Parenting Place has provided free programming at locations in La Crosse and Monroe Counties. This new funding allows Parent Educators to expand their services to new areas and brings the short-term programs to locations within each community: schools, childcare programs, churches, healthcare facilities, and even workplaces.

“Our district is grateful to have a partner in The Parenting Place, located conveniently in our district facility. They provide a valuable service to parents and caregivers,” Sparta Area School District Superintendent John Hendricks said.

For information on how Triple P programming scheduled near you, call Marilyn at (608) 784-8125, ext. 231 or email marilynhuckenpoehler@theparentingplace.net. You can also visit: www.theparentingplace.net/all-events/

Community organizations or businesses interested in hosting one or more free parent education sessions within the four-county region are also encouraged to contact Marilyn for more information.

Students from area schools will participate in a Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) sanctioned District Solo & Ensemble Music Festival Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, hosted at Sparta Meadowview Middle School. During the festival, which is free and open to the public, students will perform vocal and instrumental solos, duets, trios and small ensembles before an adjudicator.

WSMA music festivals annually attract thousands of students from middle, junior high and high schools throughout Wisconsin. The festival will draw students from a number of area schools, including Black River Falls Middle School, Meadowview Middle School and Tomah Middle School.  Kyle Sonnemann, music director from Meadowview Middle School, will be serving as the festival manager.

“WSMA enjoys a long tradition of providing quality music education experiences to over 100,000 students annually. Festivals provide students with an opportunity to enrich their musical abilities and understandings as they perform and receive feedback from qualified adjudicators, and as they observe and listen to the performances of their peers,” said WSMA Executive Director Timothy Schaid.

WSMA music festivals support school music programs as part of a comprehensive education by encouraging the study of quality music literature; motivating students to prepare and perform to the best of their abilities; improving students’ understanding of music literature and concepts (performance through understanding) and providing a performance assessment to improve individual and group achievement.

For more information on WSMA, go to www.wsmamusic.org.

Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) is a service organization with more than 1,000 member public and private schools. Each year, more than 100,000 students participate in over 220,000 events for WSMA activities, such as District and State Music Festivals, Concert Festivals, State Honors Music Project, Student Composition Project and State Marching Band Championships. WSMA, headquartered in the Wisconsin Center for Music Education, is governed by a board of directors made up of superintendents, principals and other officers from all over the state. WSMA believes music is a basic human need and that all children have the right to experience all that music offers them.

Sparta High School will host 2nd semester parent-teacher-conferences (PTC) from noon to 8 p.m. March 6 and 7 (all teachers will have a break from 2:30 to 3 p.m.). Individual PTC will be held in the teacher’s classroom to give parents/students the privacy needed to discuss any topics that are addressed during this time. If you cannot make either of the above dates, please contact your son/daughter’s teachers and set up another time to have the PTC.

The high school counselors will present from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Auditorium both conference days for junior students and their parents important information regarding their plans after high school. Topics will include: goal setting, course scheduling, graduation requirements, ACT testing, college applications process, military recruitment, and other important topics throughout the remainder of the student’s high school career.

Staff who will be unavailable for PTC due to scheduling conflicts (lists may change without prior notice):

March 6: Joe Ganzter (available noon to 2:30 p.m.), Jamie Adams (available noon to 4 p.m.), Kyle Hutson, Jason Schmitz, Wendy Bernett, Joe Hanratty, Buck Engel, Molly Sprain (available noon to 5:15 p.m.)
March 7: Joe Ganzter (available noon to 2:30 p.m.), Jamie Adams, Kyle Hutson, Jason Schmitz, Wendy Bernett, Joe Hanratty, Buck Engel, Molly Sprain (available noon to 5:15 p.m.)

Please try and make it to at least one of our conferences as it is valuable for both the teachers and students that we have these conferences. If you have any questions in regard to PTC or any other aspect of SHS, please contact Mr. Sam Russ, Principal, at (608) 366-3504 or sruss@spartan.org.

Back Row (L to R): Ethan Anderson, Evan Goff, Brady Towne, Izak Anderson, Lydia Hone, Nathan Janzen, Robbie Thomas, Gunnar Schmitz and Corey Thompson; Front Row (L to R): Madelyn Danielson, Jenna Kroeger, Brenton Olson, Bryanna Todryk and Michael Rothlisberger

Eleven FBLA members will represent Sparta High School at the State Leadership Competition April 3-4 in Appleton, WI. They are:

• Brenton Olson, third place, Client Services
• Ethan Anderson, third place, Intro to Financial Math
• Nathan Janzen, second place, Public Speaking II
• Evan Goff, second place, Intro to Business
• Brady Towne, second Place, Intro to Financial Math
• Gunnar Schmitz and Robbie Thomas, second place, Emerging Business Issues
• Lydia Hone and Corey Thompson, second place, Business Ethics

Michael Rothlisberger and Bryanna Todryk represented the Sparta High School chapter as voting delegates and will also attend the State conference presenting the Chapter Business Report and Community Service Project, respectively.

More than a dozen Sparta High School FBLA members competed in the Regional Leadership Competition Feb. 4 at Cochrane Fountain City High School. Also participating were Izak Anderson, sixth place in Public Speaking I, and Jenna Kroeger and Madelyn Danielson, sixth place in Intro to Business Presentation.

“All of these students demonstrated The Spartan Way and represented SHS exceptionally,” said Julie Beyer, advisor and teacher.
Photo: Back Row (L to R): Ethan Anderson, Evan Goff, Brady Towne, Izak Anderson, Lydia Hone, Nathan Janzen, Robbie Thomas, Gunnar Schmitz and Corey Thompson
Front Row (L to R): Madelyn Danielson, Jenna Kroeger, Brenton Olson, Bryanna Todryk and Michael Rothlisberger

High Honor Roll

Grading Period: Term Two

Graduation Year: 2021

Caden S. Beamis

Bethany V. Bjerke

Morgan F. Brown

Viviana A. Campos

Harley M. Filter

Chance E. Manke

Hans M. Markgren

Savana M. Milkie-Rivas

Nathan J. Modjeski

Tobin E. Mohr

Cade M. Pierce

Chloe C. Rhodaback

Jenah L. Sagler

Hannah N. Schmidt

Aidan M. Sprague

Paige L. Winterton

Callahan E. Ziebell

Graduation Year: 2022

Maverick E. Allen

Brianna J. Anderson

Emma L. Blackdeer

Madison M. Brown

Shade M. Bunker

Alli M. Edie

Colton J. Flock

Kaylynn C. Hayden

Morgan R. Intihar

Nadia M. Laufenberg

Madison M. Matthiae

Ashlee A. Norrid

Michaela N. Pinter

Kaeli E. Rank

Hannah M. Rowan

Makenzie R. Schultz

Zachary W. Stalsberg

Ryan J. Wells

Macie D. Wieman

Mahra I. Wieman

Graduation Year: 2023

Alli M. Austin

Scotlyn J. Baird

Kaleb B. Bebar

Alexis C. Bernett

Anna L. Blaha

Emmalee A. Carlson

Alana G. Clark

Jessica J. Dreier

Payton L. Eilers

Ella A. Hemker

Madelyn F. Hoekstra

Brooke L. Johnson

Jordan C. Johnson

Morgan R. Moore

Carson D. O’dell-Verthein

Macey Oswald

Samuel P. Parent

Madelynn M. Pierce

Jenifer Ramos-Ramos

Brandon L. Rand

Rylee J. Rebeck

Abigail M. Schell

Brianna M. Schmidt

Joshua C. Smith

Alyson K. Sprague

Madelyn J. Sprain

Hadley M. Thurston

Giovanni Valles

Mya M. Vonruden

Logan L. Walley

Macy S. White

Honor Roll

Honor Roll Based On Term 2 Gpa

Grading Period: Term Two

Graduation Year: 2021

Araceli Aguilar Sanchez

Tristan J. Alexander

Nathan J Allen

Christopher K. Andelin

Elijah R. Anderson

Jordyn L. Antonneau

Kelsey A. Baker

Braden S. Bauges

Nathaniel Bollig

Quinn L. Cerda-Reyes

Ashley K. Courtright

Marcus J. Cox

Abram I. Edie

Benjamin L. Evanson

Nicholas R. Gann

Alaina Garber

Ethan W. Getter

Kylie M. Green

Serena A. Green

Gavin R. Haldeman

Sage M. Hansen

Corbin N. Hauser

Dylan J. Hieronymus

Chloe Hoff

Savannah J. Holcomb

Jenna Johnson

Kylee J. Kernan

Matthew A. Klein

Kolby M. Leis

Theran D. Linnehan-Wolf

Faith E. Losic

Laedyn T. Mantzke

Abigail L. Mcginnis

Claudia P. Muller

Samuel M. Murphy

Ethan D. Mutschler

Mackenzie M. Noel

Caroline R. Olson

Carson D. Oneil

Cristalix M. Ortiz

Jeremy Parker

Om Patel

Maelyn R. Pitsenbarger

Adriana E. Ramirez

Elizabeth J. Rettler

Soraya A. Rudd

Dayton Schanenberger

Angeleeka R. Smith

Dylan R. Smith

Zoey A. Snyder

Alexis Stahl

Ellie F. Steinhoff

Brett J. Stuessel

Kennedy I. Stuessel

Gracie J. Thelen

Aliyah Trainor-Velasco

Austin J. Vach

Olivia G. Vieth

Evan D. Weiner

Megan A. White

Casey K. Whitehead

Graduation Year: 2022

Bernardo Aguilar Gonzalez

Alexander J. Andros

Jaydin L. Anglemyer

Austin J. Bartels

Tyler J. Baum

Benjamin S. Bickford

Olivia A. Blazek

River Cerda Reyes

Kassidee R. Cortese

Scarlett V. Dehart

Amya J. Drayton

Isis A. Gomez

Jelyna K. Gonzalez

Brynlee D. Hanson

Taylor R. Henthorne

Jordan S. Hone

Madison L. Janczak

Samantha A. Jerome

Elizabeth G. Jerry

Joseph R. Kast

Olyvia R. Kenworthy

Seth Kenyon

Cheyann V. Kolbo

Jenna Laxton

Aiden M. Leis

Antonio J. Lopez

Anna E. Meyer

Chad A. Meyer

Xavier Moe

Trinity A. Nichols

Alicia M. Pablo-Escalante

Destiny Payne

Valeria Pahuamba Lemus

Halee M. Porter

Vaughn T. Rice

Alexander W. Rigor

Brooklyn E. Schreier

Mackenzie P. Schubert

Colton J. Shafer

Tucker A. Smith

Devin J. Stolpa-Zietlow

Carys M. Sullivan

Adela L. Velasco

Edith Velasco-Hernandez

Nathaniel L. Witherow

Graduation Year: 2023

Edgar A. Aguilar

Layden J. Bender

Madisynn L. Bolen

Zoie L. Brokopp

Dylan R. Burden

Jolee Cruz Cruz

Kayla J. Fabry

Serenity P. Fennigkoh

Adrian R. Flock

Meckenzie L. Freeman

Isiah M. Futch

Alexis M. Gardner

Ella R. Guns

Ella C. Halstead

Caitlyn J. Hamilton

Levi S. Hanson

Aubrianna P. Hendricks

Abigael R. Hohlfeld

Alex M. Hoskins

Henry N. Jerome

Makala J. Lamb

Carmen A. Lawrence

Jacob A. Lehrke

Kaden J. Leis

Kiley A. Lideen

Jaydon D. Lietzau

Ayden J. Lisowski

Zurisaday H. Lopez

Liberty J. Losic

Reece J. Mancl

Jenna J. Martin

Noeli N. Martinez

Cecilia Mendez

Mitchell C. Modjeski

Lesvid Monjaraz

Michael E. O’rourke

Eduardo Ortiz

Soleda M. Ortiz

Emily A. Parker

Dain M. Pitsenbarger

Andre E. Pulham

Ethan L. Quist

Alana I. Ramirez

Lillian L. Robertson

Lizbeth R. Ruvalcaba

Claudia I. Sanchez

Jerusalem Schanenberger

Tyler P. Schendel

Eva L. Schreck

Haleigh M. Schwan

Natalina H. Sears

Tanner D. Siekert

Kayla R. Stahl

Makaya R. Stanke

Morgann W. Steinhoff

Isabella R. Trevino

Francisco L. Vazquez-Treu

Devin T. Vian

Kendra M. Vian

Kimber L. Wohlhoefer

Joshua J. Young

The Parenting Place has received a three-year grant from Wisconsin’s Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board to provide free parent education and support in La Crosse, Trempealeau, Vernon and Monroe Counties. Parent Educators have been trained in the evidence-based, internationally recognized Triple P program (Positive Parenting Program). The Parenting Place will conduct individual sessions, classes, and discussion groups to give parents the skills they need to raise confident, healthy children and to build strong families. Within a 90-minute session, participants gain simple and practical strategies that can be adapted to suit their own values, beliefs, and needs. Tantrums, bedtimes, shopping with children, back-talk, discipline problems, and sibling conflict are some of the common problems parents bring to the program.

In Sparta, The Parenting Place is located in the Sparta Area School District’s Administrative and Education Center at 201 E. Franklin St.

“Our school district is grateful to have a partner in The Parenting Place, located conveniently in our district facility. They provide a valuable service to parents and caregivers,” Superintendent John Hendricks said.

Since 1990, The Parenting Place has provided free programming at locations in La Crosse and Monroe Counties. This new funding allows Parent Educators to expand their services to new areas and brings the short-term programs to locations within each community: schools, childcare programs, churches, healthcare facilities, and even workplaces.

For information on how Triple P programming scheduled near you, call Marilyn at (608) 784-8125, ext. 231 or email marilynhuckenpoehler@theparentingplace.net. You can also visit: www.theparentingplace.net/all-events/

Community organizations or businesses interested in hosting one or more free parent education sessions within the four-county region are also encouraged to contact Marilyn for more information.

Sparta High School and the Sparta Chamber of Commerce will host the second Career Fair March 1 at Sparta High School to further prepare students to be college, career and community ready.

More than 750 students from Sparta High School, SAILS and High Point Charter School will participate in career activities including career guest speakers and a job fair. The event takes place during the state ACT and WorkKeys assessments for 11th grade students.

“We wouldn’t be able to put on this event without our excellent partnerships with the Sparta Chamber, local businesses, and local colleges and universities,” said Chrissy DeLong, Sparta High School Counselor.
“Last year’s event was overwhelmingly successful; this year we have added more career speakers from all 16 career clusters to give our students a variety of career options to learn about.”

“This is such an exciting opportunity for students to become acquainted with professionals in their community and learn more about their own interests,” added Erin Burns, Sparta High School Counselor.

Senior students will be participating in mock interviews staffed by local business partners. Freshman and sophomore students will present information about the career day they attended to the seventh grade students from Meadowview Middle School. In the afternoon, all four grades will listen to five career speakers of their choice and will attend the job fair comprised of Sparta area businesses.

“We are very excited to host this event again at SHS. We are extremely excited for the seventh grade students to view what our freshman and sophomore students learned the day before when they attended post-secondary institutions and businesses from the Eau Claire or Winona area,” Principal Sam Russ said. “We are pleased to partner with so many of our local businesses and fortunate that they give up their day to assist with our students who will be building a stronger community.”

Shobi Nunemacher, President of Referral Staffing Solutions, said more than 75 business representatives will attend to help the students understand more about the opportunities available to them in Sparta and the surrounding communities. This includes more than 40 speakers along with 25 career fair booths. “I’m impressed by the number of businesses willing to invest in our future leaders by attending this event and sharing life and career lessons with the SHS students,” she said. “We look forward to another great event.”

“In addition to the other events mentioned, we will also have a public career fair from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and we encourage walk-ins to come and see who’s hiring,” Nunemacher said.

Students from High Point practice with community volunteers for Mock Trial.

Students from Sparta High Point competed Feb. 11 in the La Crosse Regional of the Wisconsin State Mock Trial Competition that was hosted by the Wisconsin State Bar Association. The team competed at the La Crosse County Courthouse in front of area judges and lawyers, participating in four rounds of competition – two times as defense and two times as prosecution.

“The team competed at a very high level with great effort,” said teacher Nick Kingeter who coached the team. “Mock Trial is not an easy endeavor to pursue, lots of hard work was put into the preparation of the competition.”

The Wisconsin Mock Trial Program uses facts and case materials developed by Wisconsin attorneys to help students gain a better understanding of the court system as they develop arguments and build cases. Through mock trial, students are able learn about the legal system while developing their case. The High Point team worked with local attorneys Andrew Kaftan and Molly Kingeter throughout trial preparation.

“Mock trial teaches you to think quickly and coherently on your feet, as well as accept that there are two sides to every argument. You have to learn to respect your superiors and not be afraid to question or argue them. Overall it was a very fun and educational experience that taught us all life lessons such as public speaking, perseverance and respect,” students Weber Mentzel, Noah Stebbins and Kyle Banks wrote about their experience.

The High Point Mock Trial team was comprised of: Kyle Banks, Anika Stahmer, Noah Stebbins, Evan Geiwitz, Ely DeWitt, Weber Mentzel and Zach Gammons.