Letter to Parents/Adult Spectators about Sportsmanship at WIAA Tournament Play

Dear Parents and Adult Spectators,

As we prepare for the upcoming WIAA state tournament series, it is an appropriate time to review the goals of our program as they relate to sportsmanship.  As educational institutions, the schools of the Badger Conference are committed to teaching our young people to set goals, strive for excellence and to properly handle whatever adversity they encounter along the way.  This aim is the same in the classroom as it is on the playing field.

The greatest challenge to good sportsmanship is adversity.  When things are not going well, the easy response is to shift attention away from our team to others. In particular, shifting attention away from our team to the opponents and all too often to the officials.  When this is done, the focus is away from the positive “to play harder or better,” to the negative “how can we possibly overcome the bad calls.”  As administrators and coaches we feel it is essential that our student-athletes maintain a positive approach to handling adversity.  We need the support of our parents as role models if we are to accomplish this.

At times this year some parents may have become quite vocal at games and loudly criticized both game officials and opposing players.  This type of abusive behavior is counter-productive to what we are trying to teach.  In addition, it creates a very uncomfortable environment for the fans that have come out to support their team and wish to enjoy the game.  Finally, it is an embarrassment to our schools and to the young people on the playing field.  We are asking all our fans to keep comments positive and upbeat.

During the tournaments, the WIAA hires the game officials.  All of the officials are deemed competent by WIAA and athletic administration.  They are not perfect, and their interpretation of the action may be different from yours.  However, they are an essential part of the game, and they are doing the best they can.  Let’s strive to pay less attention to their performance and more to the superb skills of our young athletes.  Let’s come out in the next few weeks and cheer on our teams to success in the tournament.

Baraboo (Glenn Bildsten & Jim Langkamp) DeForest (Machell Schwartz & Mike McHugh) Edgewood (Bob Growney & Chris Zwettler) Fort Atkinson (Dan Halvorsen & Josh Boyer) Milton (Jeremy Bilhorn & Brian Hammil) Monona Grove (Paul Brost & Jeff Schreiner) Monroe (Chris Medenwalt & Dave Hirsbrunner) Mount Horeb (Stephanie Spoehr & Mike Beranek) Oregon ( Mike Carr) Portage (Robin Kvalo & Tim Haak) Reedsburg (Rob Taylor & Bryan Yager) Sauk Prairie (Chad Harnisch & Aaron Braund) Stoughton (Mike Krause & Mel Dow) Waunakee (Brian Kersten & Brian Smith)

DeForest DECA/FBLA crowns Mr. Norski 2015

On Monday, February 9, DeForest DECA/FBLA members hosted their annual Mr. Norski contest, a male spirit pageant and MDA fund raiser at the high school. There were eight contestants in this year’s competition:  Tyler Blum, Nathan Hill, Cody Kramschuster, Alex Castillo, Nick McKay, Alex Freitag, Justin Blau, and Garret Kertz.  Each was judged on talent, formal wear (tuxedos donated by Nedrebo’s), school spirit, question and answer, and the amount of money they raised for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The contestant with the highest average score was crowned Mr. Norski.

L-R: Nate Hill, Alex Freitag, and Alex Castillo

Aside from being rated by the judges, audience members also had the opportunity to vote for their favorite, and crown him Mr. Congeniality. Congratulations to Alex Castillo for being named Mr. Congeniality, and to Alex Freitag for being crowned Mr. Norski for the second year in a row! A special thank you goes out to Nedrebo’s Formal Wear and Pine Cone Restaurant for sponsoring the event.

The second goal of the event was to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), an American organization which combats muscular dystrophy and diseases of the nervous system and muscular system in general by funding research, providing medical and community services, and educating health professionals and the general public. During the Mr. Norski event, DECA/FBLA members hosted a Miracle Minute where everyone attending could donate money they had in their pocket to the cause. Thanks to the contestants and everyone that attended, DECA/FBLA was able to raise over $1,000 for MDA!

DECA/FBLA students “muscle up” to fight MDA.

DeForest Area High School Participates in Thai Sunrise Student Exchange Program 2015

How do we pursue ways to incorporate aspects of global education into our school in order to enrich our students’ lives? DeForest Area High School will be hosting five students and their teacher April 18-May 6 as part of the Thai Sunrise Program sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. While learning about America and its people and educational system, our Thai guests will also find significant ways to teach our school community about their own nation, culture and people. It is incredibly touching and effective when students teach other students!

This partnership will directly benefit our students:

• Increasing students’ ability to communicate with others globally,
• Developing students’ understanding of citizenship,
• Preparing students for future careers that quite likely will have global features,
• Providing students with real and quality cultural experiences, and
• Creating in students a sense of understanding and respect across the boundaries of
language, nationhood, religion, social status, etc.

Further, this partnership will help to develop in our students a much stronger understanding and appreciation of issues around diversity.

At this time, DeForest Area Schools are seeking host families for the five students and their teacher.

Applications can be requested at the main office of the high school and through Dr. Borden, District Administrator (842-6577). One of the single most critical parts to this program is having host families that are willing to share their lives with foreign exchange students for the three weeks. It is a Norski Nation experience that will change their lives and ours!

Applications are due no later than February 27, 2015.

New Alumni Hall of Fame honors graduates of DeForest Area High School

Alumni Hall of Fame

The DeForest Area School District is soliciting nominations of distinguished graduates for consideration to the DeForest Area School District Alumni Hall of Fame. This new program will recognize and honor former DeForest Area School District graduates as having achieved a significant degree of success in their pursuits of higher education and/or in their professional careers. According to Debbie Brewster, School/Community Relations Coordinator, “We’re excited to start this new tradition in our school district. The Alumni Hall of Fame recognition provides outstanding role models for current students. and it celebrates the outstanding achievements of our graduates.”

To be considered for this honor, each individual must have a completed Application of Nomination containing the following criteria:

• Graduate of DeForest Area High School.
• Attended the DeForest Area Schools for more than two years.
• Graduated from high school a minimum of 10 years before being nominated.
• Up to three recommendation letters supporting the individual’s nomination.
• Application signed by the person making the nomination.
• Documentation (i.e., resume) demonstrating the work history and professional/academic successes of the nominee.

Each year the Hall of Fame committee will induct up to five members to the Hall. Applications for this honor can be made by self-nomination.

Norski Walk of Honor

The DeForest Area School District is also currently taking nominations for the Walk of Honor, which recognizes individuals within our greater school community who have demonstrated ongoing commitment and significant contributions to their school district. Honorees may be alumni or former staff members of the DeForest Area School District, or area community members, who best personify the school district’s vision and have aided in achieving its ends.

The Walk of Honor program, which began in 2004, recognizes the following:

Alumni – for their outstanding accomplishments while enrolled in the DeForest Area School District as well as achievements following graduation. Alumni may not be considered for nomination until ten years* following their graduation from the DeForest Area School District.

Staff – for their contributions to the DeForest Area School District, as well as the greater school community. Individuals may not be current employees of the school district and may not be considered for nomination until five years* following their completion of employment with the district.

Community members – for their contributions to the DeForest Area School District. Consideration is given to those who demonstrate contributions or service for a minimum of five (5) consecutive years.
Fifteen people have been inducted into the Walk of Honor since 2004.

Nomination forms for both programscan be downloaded from the district’s website: www.deforestschools.org > Community > Alumni Hall of Fame.

DASD welcomes guests from Shijiazhuang, China

Pictured: Elementary school principals Roy Bernards and Mike Weisensel with the teachers and reporter from Shijiazhuang, China.

Today, DASD welcomed twenty students, two teachers and a reporter from Shijiazhuang, China.  DeForest Area Middle School is hosting the group for four days (February 14-19) as part of the sister school relationship the school district has established with Shijiazhuang, China. While learning about America and its people and educational system, our Chinese guests will also find significant ways to teach our school community about their own nation, culture and people.

District hosts first Poetry Out Loud competition

(Left to right) Kaitlyn Franz, Kylie Rogers, Chloe Kepler. Kylie will be advancing on to the State Competition of Poetry Out Loud, a National recitation contest.

DeForest held its first ever Poetry Out Loud competition on Jan. 26 at DeForest Area High School, where Kaitlyn Franz, Chloe Kepler, and Kylie Rogers advanced to the regional level. DeForest then hosted the regional competition on February 5th at DeForest Area High School. Freshman, Kylie Rogers, earned first place and will be advancing to the state competition held March 14th in Madison.

Poetry Out Loud is a National Recitation Contest created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation for students in grades 9-12. It is administered in partnership with the State Arts Agencies of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Poems are selected from the Poetry Out Loud print or online anthology, which is updated every summer.

Middle school English teacher, Julie Bernards, organized the first-ever competition. “There are talented performers and writers in our district and I want to find as many opportunities as possible for them to make it matter with poetry! This is a National program and I want to build DeForest’s involvement in it. I am so proud of these girls for working hard, following through, and being committed to this endeavor.”
More information is available at http://www.poetryoutloud.org/.

Students celebrate first 100 days of school

Students in Mrs. Kittoe’s kindergarten class at Yahara Elementary School recently dressed up to celebrate their 100th day in school this year.