I watched an exciting Boys Baseball game last night that clinched the conference title for the boys and Coach Armstrong. Congratulations are in order for the Girls Softball as they also share in the conference title as of Tuesday.  Our resident sports analyst, Daren Patterson, sent out an informative and well written article on our teams and our history of success in the Marawood Conference.  Here it is:Congratulations are in order for the Softball and Baseball programs. On Tuesday Softball claimed a share of the Conference title and last night Baseball won Conference. This would represent CHEQ spring sports winning 4 conference titles this spring. Thus 4 for 4 in softball, baseball, girls track and boys track. 
There are 14 Marawood Schools. Check out the Conference Championship Standings when you look at every sports program the Marawood offers:

Edgar        21
Cheq         17
Athens      10
Marrathon   9
Prentice      9
Auburndale  7
Newman      6
Rib Lake      5
Assumption 3
Stratford      3
Abbotsford  1
N.Lutheran  0
Pittsville      0
Phillips       0

Keep in mind Volleyball, Basketball, Baseball, Track & Softball do the North-South split. And some may argue the south is stronger than the north but I know for the most part the north schools have beat the south schools whether it is in a softball or baseball game or on the track. Marathon seems to rule the south in baseball and we have beat them and Prentice has beat the south schools in basketball where they dominate. The track team has handled Edgar and Marathon from time to time as well who compete in the south. So when I think of the competitive balance of the north and south I would say the south has more depth, but the elite teams of the north can and do compete with the south's best. Our conference championships are legit!

Great news about the conference track meet tonight. Both the Boys and Girls Track Teams are conference champs of the Marawood North Conference.  I'll let Daren Patterson describe the accomplishment by quoting an email he sent out to all staff tonight: 

Last night, May 6, the Glidden middle school Fine Arts Festival provided a great opportunity to showcase the musical and artistic talents of our 6-8 graders. The evening started with a great Spaghetti Dinner prepared by our chefs, Jill Maier and Kerry Zach.  Miranda Robinson's middle school art students demonstrated their creativity and skills in the art display in the gym and at 7:00pm a concert featuring the 6th grade band and choir and the middle school band and choir was presented.  All groups did a great job and it was especially satisfying to hear the improvement of each group from the start of the school year. Congratulations to the students and to Mrs. Kirch for the  great performance!

I want to express a big thank you to the 6th hour AP English class for the very thoughtful presentation and argument they presented for  improvements to the educational process at Chequamegon High School. Members of the class presented their vision for effective education  in the future  to our High School Principal, Mr. Kief, Guidance counselor, Ms. Inman, Board member, Mr. Ross and myself. It was clear that they had done their research as much of what they discussed mirrors what we have been reading and discussing about the future of education.  Among the intriguing suggestions were moving to a more project based approach to learning, creating a schedule that includes built in time for project work or interventions or coaching of students in areas of interest or need and creation of personal learning plans for each student. Each of those recommendations are areas that we have already begun to discuss as effective ways  to make education more effective in teaching our students the critical thinking skills expected for the 21st Century.  They also suggested that listening to the students more would be an effective way to improve school.  I think they may find that to be true as I am sure we will be carefully discussing these positive suggestions and I am sure at least some of them will be implemented as early as next year. Thank you AP English for your research and effective presentation! Thank you Mrs. Zwicke for the mentoring and guidance that facilitated this very positive result!

Last weekend the school and community were treated to great entertainment with this year's CHS musical production The Wizard of Oz. Kudos to Mr. Donner one again! This is my fourth musical and they get better and better. I have to mention that the sets were super too.  Thank you Debi Oswald! It was clear that the students had put in countless hours preparing for this very polished and funny production. I will try to recognize some of the talent and apologize in advance because I know will leave someone out.  The four leads were ideally cast in their roles.  Rachel Pollock, as Dorothy did an outstanding job singing and acting.  Blake Wangelin as the Scarecrow, Nate Peterson ans the Tin Woodman and Oscar Noetzel as the Cowardly Lion all did a super job as did Alyssa Seehafer as the Wicked Witch of the West.  I can't fail to mention the countless Munchkins who did a great job as well! The play enjoyed packed houses each performance and that was no surprise.  The Cowardly Lion even got up the nerve to set up his prom date with Jenna Gustafson in the final performance! Thank you CHS students and Mr.Donner!

On March 19 a milestone was reached for the Chequamegon School District as we distributed Chromebooks to all high school students for their use each day in their classes.  This completed distribution of Google Chromebooks to all students from grades 4-12. The District reached its goal ahead of schedule primarily due to the efforts and expertise of our technology director Mike Garvin. His work was recently recognized in a national publication, Ed Tech K-12.  The article  can be viewed here.  With the distribution of the Google Chromebooks at the high school comes responsibility to see these tools, as with any other educational tool, are used properly for educational purposes. Our Student Chromebook User Guide can be found here.  This infusion of technology in the classroom instruction is really the beginning of a change in educational practices that will transform our schools and the way students learn significantly in the next 10-15 years.  We are doing our best to prepare our students for a future we cannot yet visualize!

On January 28 a public meeting was held to discuss the idea of exploring a possible cooperative agreement for high school football with Phillips.  The purpose of the meeting was to seek input from parents and the community as to whether further exploration of such a cooperative agreement was something to consider. At the conclusion of the meeting there was a  survey shared with those in attendance in the hope of ascertaining public sentiment.  A copy of the survey is here.  You are invited to print this out, fill it out and return it to the high school office in the near future.  We will be reviewing responses on or before  February 15.  Thank you for your input.

As we consider creation of the school calendar for next year we would like to seek input from staff, students and parents. For that purpose we have created a short survey for you.  It is located here as well as elsewhere on the District Home Page.  Please take the time to review it and respond.  WE will give all responses strong consideration and it will help us determine priorities.  Feel free to contact me with any questions as well.  Thank you for taking

On Thursday, January 24, the Chequamegon High School Band performed at the Wisconsin Education Convention before an audience of between 1,500 and 2,000 in Milwaukee!  Of the three selections played by the band, one was especially noteworthy.  When long time Park Falls band director, John Hinkley passed away, the family gifted memorial money to the band.  The band decided to use that gift to create a lasting memorial to Mr. Hinkley. They commissioned a Wisconsin composer, Rick Kirby, to create a piece, "As Summer Flowers Fade" which is dedicated to his memory.  The premier performance of that piece at the convention is here. Following the performance I had a number of school board members and superintendents comment on how well the band performed! Thank you Mr. Pollock and students!  Your performance did the school district, and northern Wisconsin, proud! The other two pieces performed were American Barn Dance by Richard Suacedo and Gallop from First Suite for Band by Alfred Reed.

Our band was one of three school music groups from the 424 school districts in the state selected to perform at the convention.  Our band was also the only concert band selected to perform. The band was selected after submitting an audition recording last spring.  The convention is sponsored annually by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, The Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators and The Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials.

A special thank you to Mark Donner and Kristen Kirch who gave a packed auditorium audience an excellent evening of holiday music performed by all district choral groups from 6th grade through high school. At left are the 6th Grade Middle School Singers. The High School Madrigal, pictured below, treated the audience to selections performed at their earlier Madrigal Dinner. The Middle School Choir performed several selections themselves and joined with the 6th grade and high school choirs for the Combined Choir finale.  To hear the Combined High School Choirs perform March of the Kings click here.