Holmen Middle School

Holmen Middle School
Newsletter for December, 2013
Holmen Middle School
502 North Main Street
Holmen WI 54636
608-526-3391 (fax: 608-526-6716)
www.holmen.k12.wi.us
Ryan Vogler
Principal
608-526-3391 Ext 5405
vogrya@holmen.k12.wi.us
Keri Holter
Associate Principal
608-526-3391 Ext 5404
holker@holmen.k12.wi.us
Mark Englerth
Activities Director
608-526-3372 Ext 6101
engmar@holmen.k12.wi.us
Get Involved!
HMS offers a wide range of activities for students. Research shows that students who participate in activities have a
stronger connection to school and perform better academically. From sports to clubs, there’s something for everyone!
Sports are offered in each of the three grade levels with high levels of participation for our student athletes. This fall
alone, we had nearly 100 students each in our fall sports of football, cross country, and volleyball and almost 30 in
golf . Presently, students are working hard in boys basketball, wrestling, and Ski and Snowboard Club; with
gymnastics and girls basketball also right around the corner. Make sure to keep an eye out for spring sign-ups for
softball and track and field as well.
HMS Reads continues to be a popular choice for students to read and talk about books with peers and teachers. A
variety of books are chosen and fun activities are planned throughout the year. This group meets during the school
day to ensure that all students can participate.
The PBIS Next Generation group and HMS Student Council provide leadership and service opportunities for students
that range from planning school-wide activities to serving as role models for all students at HMS. There are elected
officer teams for both groups as well as the chance to participate for students in grades 6-8.
If your student likes music, there are also a number of activities. Band and Jazz Band, Choir and Show Choir and
orchestra give students the chance to attend competitions such as Solo and Ensemble as well as perform for the
community.
Gallery Club continues to create fantastic installations and displays in the HMS Gallery. Currently, “A Hogsmeade
Holiday” is on display for Harry Potter fans to enjoy and purchase last minute gifts.
Dramatic productions such as our fall series of short plays gave students the chance to explore their creative side
through acting or helping behind the scenes to make productions happen. Students interested in public speaking can
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also participate in the HMS Forensics program that is just starting on December 9 .
Students also have the chance to compete in activities such as Quiz Bowl, Geography Bee,
Spelling Bee, and MathCounts. These competitions allow students to show their unique talents
in specialized areas and receive recognition for their efforts.
Participating in a sport or activity is a great way for students to gain confidence, develop their
skills, and make new friends. If you have any questions about how your child can get involved,
please contact HMS at 526-3391.
Mrs. Keri Holter, Holmen Middle School Associate Principal
A big THANK YOU! to all HMS students, their families, and our community for
supporting our annual food drive. This year, we partnered with over 40 local
businesses to shatter our previous record of 5,000 items with over 7,250 food and
hygiene items collected! Students celebrated, before we left for Thanksgiving break,
with an assembly. With your support, we were able to make significant contributions to
three local food pantries in addition to our own HMS pantry. Again, THANK YOU!
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H.M.S.’s
Students of the Month for October, 2013:
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6 Grade
6H-Kaden Moore, 6M-Jillian Reitzel, 6S-Bethany MacPhetridge
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7 Grade
7H-Neng Xiong, 7M-Benjamin Hesch, 7S-Alexes Antony
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8 Grade
8H-Alivia Torrez, 8M-Peyton Rensberry, 8S-Ellie Brown
Congratulations to all of You! HMS is very proud of You!
To become an HMS Student of the Month, each house will select one student per month based the criteria listed
below. The students’ names and photos will be forwarded to the LaCrosse Tribune and Holmen & Onalaska Courier
Life News. SoM’s will receive a certificate and will also be acknowledged in this newsletter and our daily Student
Announcements. Our Students of the Month will also have their names and photos displayed near the auditorium for
one month. (Sometimes it can take several weeks for their pictures to appear in the Courier Life News or the La
Crosse Tribune as they are published on a first-come, first-served basis.)
To be an HMS Student of the Month a student must:
 Show good behavior
 Show compassion
 Show leadership
 Show perseverance and
 Is a positive role model
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More Student Accolades:
HMS has two separate Honor Rolls: The High Honor Roll for students earning an overall quarter
average of 3.67 or above and the Honor Roll for those students earning an overall average of 3.03.6699. Our honor rolls will represent high academic standards, meaningful scholarship, and a
commitment to quality work. The following named students have earned a place on Holmen Middle
School’s High and Honor Rolls for the first quarter of the 2013-2014 school year: (see list below).
“I am proud of all of our students at HMS. They work so hard to learn to the best of their abilities
each and every day. At this time, we recognize students on this year’s first quarter Honor Roll and High
Honor Roll. Congratulations to all of the students on the Honor Roll and High Honor Roll. Keep up the great work!”
Mr. Ryan Vogler, Holmen Middle School Principal
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6 Grade High Honor Roll -- Jaedon Abraham, Lynsey Anderson, Madalyn Arendt, Sydnee Arttus, Joshua Batzel,
Ian Bauer, Justin Bausch, Kalynna Bean, Brynn Beers, Anthony Behringer, Izabelle Beyer, Lucas Biesterveld, Ava
Bladl, Deven Bouchette, Abigail Bridgeforth, Carson Brock, Jackson Brown, Dawson Bryant, Jesi Burds, Gwenny
Burrows, Maci Call, Aaron Carty, Brynn Daines, Austin Dechant, Mya Dehning, Kealan Dienger, Haley Dressler,
Isaac Elsen, Noah Englerth, Axell Erdman, Isaac Erdman, Matthew Espelien, Lynzeekay Fox, Ezekiel Fredricks,
Mara Friesen, Kalie Gabbard, Daniel Garrett, Hunter George, Sacia Gilbertson, Annie Glise, Mark Grinsteinner,
Kaylah Haas, Jacob Hagen, Sophia Harshaw, Haden Heath, Cale Hemker, Logan Heyroth, Brett Holden, Savannah
Horstman, Emanuelle Horvath, Shayla Howe, Sianna Ireland, Emily Jessesski, Alea Jones, Hannah Jorstad, Kortnee
Jostad, Emma Keenan, Kayla Kertis, Parker Kiesling, Jesse Klein, Braydon Kreibich, Caeden Kruger, Maverick
Kulmaczewski, Benjamin Labuzzetta, Dylan Langrehr, Cameron Larson, Josie Legler, Walter Leifeld, Ashley Leisso,
Camryn Lemke, Gabrielle Lewis, Jackson Lutz, Adam Maas, Bethany Macphetridge, Brennan Mason, Caleb Matl,
Zoe Mattson, Julianna Meyer, Megan Mihalovic, Kaden Moore, Bradley Moren, Nicholas Murtz, Chloe Noffke,
Mcclane Noffke, Conner Oliver, Jennifer Olson, Quintin Olson, Maysa Osley, Kyle Palmberg, Mason Palmer, Landon
Pederson, Alexander Pellowski, Jacob Peterson, Kyler Peterson, Zachary Peterson, Christopher Pintz, Lily Powers,
Adam Quam, Dawson Reed, Jillian Reitzel, Emerson Rhoades, Sean Rieck, Kalista Rigelsky, Jada Ritterling, Tyler
Rodriguez, Grant Rosson, Kai Runde, Hannah Sacia, Lindsey Sake, Zachary Schams, Declan Schroeder, Luke
Sebranek, Tyler Seekamp, Carley Seidel, Avery Senn, Brooke Shea, Austin Sibik, Casey Sims, Lydia Sims,
Emmerald Smith, Makenzie Stammeyer, Quinn Steinbrecher, Benjamin Stimac, Callie Thomson, Jacob Thornton,
Emily Thrun, Alexis Treadway, Morgan Treadway, Evan Troyanek, Alyssa Valk, Tanisha Vanden Langenberg, Kai
Vargas, Hannah Verhulst, Keegan Verse, Carlee Wagner, Ethan Waldron, Nathan Watkins, Cameron Weber, Jacob
Wegner, Dylan Westcott, Gavin Wetzel, Preston Withers, Sean Woods, Mai See Xiong, Xue Xiong, Zong Xiong,
Harley Yeske, Sarena Young, and Megan Zittlow.
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7 Grade High Honor Roll -- Gage Anderson, Alexes Antony, Celia Baker, Carlee Bladl,
Morgan Boe, Alexa Breske, Jack Bringe, Mandy Britain, Matthew Brown, Jonathon
Brueggeman, Liberty Bryant, Isaac Burkhalter, Kevin Burkhardt, Caleb Butler, Morgan
Butterfield, Benjamin Byom, Kayla Callan, Samantha Chapman, Ting-Jing Chen, Jacob
Clements, Delaney Dahl, Nicolas DeMaiffe, Cody Dirks, Quin DuCharme, Claire Eade,
Madisen Feyen, Benjamin Flock, Nikolis Framke, Kyle Gajewski, Samuel Gelder, Tyler Gerold, James Gillespie,
Kristin Goede, Aaron Gotham, Tatum Grass, Meghan Griswold, Elise Grokowsky, Makenna Gullickson, Joshua
Heerts, Connor Hefti, Jonathan Herbers, Benjamin Hesch, Michael Hinman, Natali Hoeg, Guenther Horman, Shelby
Hornberg, Dakota Horstman, Jaxon Hughes, Alyson Johnson, Annika Johnson, Emma Johnson, Jonah Johnson,
Ava Justus, Anna Knutson, Kevin Koelbl, Makenzie Kogutkiewicz, Alice Kong, Abigail Koza, Janae' LaFleur, Jessica
Lager, Danielle Langrehr, Dexter Larson, Hannah Lazarescu, Jake Leis, Shelby Levandoski, Brookelyn Lewis,
Bianca Manninger, Elizabeth Mauel, Maggie Maxwell, Julia Mayer, Dylan McCormick, Kaden McIntyre, Gavin
McKeeth, Samantha Millard, Taylor Monski, Peter Moua, Sydney Navoichick, Gavin Nelson, Anna Nevala, Braden
Nissen, Ryan Oelfke, Katrina Olson, Madelyn Olson, Malorie Olson, Megan Pettys, Andrew Pfaff, Sawyer Phillips,
Kaitlyn Rayburn, Devin Reeves, Benjamin Reichert, Aiyana Rigelsky, Shane Roth, Delaney Sacia, Alexa Schilling,
Claire Schroeder, Sydnee Schuette, Autumn Senn, Cali Shepard, Luke Shumway, Logan Stauffer, Coleton Strupp,
Ian Stussy, Katherine Temp, Grace Thamban, Chi Meng Thao, Drew Thompson, Forest Thoreson, Tyler Triplett,
Madison Twitchell, Randy Vang, Adrian Voigt, Mai Vue, Emily Wall, Sarah Wells, Carson Westby, Ezekiel Wettstein,
Baylea Wilk, Ryan Wink, McKenzie Winker, Neng Xiong, Ken Yang, Seana Yang, Alexis Young, Tayte Young, and
Isabelle Zimmerman.
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8 Grade High Honor Roll -- Arianna Ames, Zachary Ausavich, Megan Baird, Cassondra Bandoli, Emily Bores,
Isaac Burge, Jaydon Butzman, Macy Carty, Madelin Cieslicki, Paige Colsch, Shawna Davis, Alexander Dechant,
Cristian Dehning, Connor Duncan, Carson Eikenberry, Samantha Ertz, Evan Espelien, Kayla Evenson, Abigail Fell,
Macie Fredrick, Jacob Fredricks, Gavin Friesen, Madison Garbers, Zoe Glise, Alexis Gotham, Kaiya Grass, Morgan
Groshek, Dawson Grosskopf, Nicholas Haas, Isaac Handland, Gracie Harshaw, Hannah Hart, Savanah Hastings,
Taya Hauser, Jacob Hulburt, Carsten Jahr, Brittney Jennings, Mason Kalander, Benjamin King, Nicholas Kromke,
Cooper Kulmaczewski, Matthew Labuzzetta, Isaac Lahr, Grant Lambert, Peyton LaMere, Ricki Lemke, Elisabeth
Lichtie, Alexandra Liethen, Megan Lubinsky, Brett Mahlum, Megan Meyer, Jeffrey Miller, Milena Moit,
Abraham Molling, Braedon Monroe, Scott Moua, Lynsie Nelson, Helayna Nerby, Samantha Olson,
Zachary Olson, Devin Palmberg, Brooklyn Paulson, McKenna Pedretti, Morgan Pedretti, Kiley Peterson,
Marinna Phillips, Emma Pieper, Savanna Ploessl, Trevor Plomedahl, Elizabeth Porath, Michelle Quick,
Emily Sanchez, Nathan Schams, Kyle Schultz, Hannah Smaby, Jordyn Stasiak, Kade Steinbrecher,
Alexander Stutzman, Kaylee Tabbert, Ya Thao, Zoua Pa Thao, LeAndra Thomson, Alivia Torrez,
Mitchell Torud, Emma Truchan, Addison Vang, Kelsey Wall, Brittney Waraxa, Lauren Weidenheim,
Madalynn Welch, Hailey Willhite, Reed Williams, Nicole Wolfe, Theya Wood, Amber Wuensch, Caitlin
Young, Adelaide Zibrowski, and Andrew Zittlow.
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6 Grade Honor Roll -- Margaret Amundson, Alexis Barton, Daniel Best-Kranski, Jenna Bishop, Madelyn Bjorge,
Keauna Bjorkman, Asha Boayue, Brody Bradstreet, Alivia Braund, Nicholas Ceresa, Bennett Clark, Nathan Colsch,
Jacob Covey, Nathan Damaschke, Tristan Decker, Kyron Drugg, Aimee Duff, Jared Everson, Dakota Fogel, Linh
Goar, Dustin Goins, Bryce Hale, Lindsey Hanson, Johanna Heath, Daewyn Hendricks, Gaomong Her, Raven Holzer,
Anja Houghtaling, Hannah Hulburt, Aspen Johnson, Justin Jones, Bennett King, Bryce King, Tristan Knoblauch,
Jonathan Knudtson, Camden Kozlowski, Brock Lambert, Mersadi Lancour, Meredith Lanzel, Lucas Lazarescu, Talon
Lichtie, Averyl Luebke, Tyler Luhman, Andrew Lysaker, Even Mahlum, Trevor Mikelson, Evan Miller, Kylie Miller,
Alexis Moe, William Moline, Avery Moser, Zachary Mueller, Naleah Nerby, Jaden Nesseth, Benjamin Olson, Brock
Olson, Payton Paulson, David Pehl, Ryleigh Pesik, Jada Phillips, Abriana Rainey, Brianna Rebhahn, Alyssa Rink,
Janice Romskog, Louis Romskog, Drake Schams, Madeline Schank, Chloe Strain, Dylan Stram, Mai Kou Thao,
Simon Vang, Brennen Waite, Logan West, Zoe Winchell, Olivia Wyland, Angelina Xiong, Cha Cheng Xiong, Meng
Xiong, Neon Xiong, Justin Thaying Yang, and Pada Yang.
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7 Grade Honor Roll -- London Adams, Kalli Aspenson, Jaycie Bahr, Samantha Bahr, Kaleb Bakke,
Nicholas Beatty, Mitchell Beinborn, Ethan Blum, Andrew Brockway, Dawson Burchell, Emma Burke,
Riley Clark, Tyler Cook, Morgan Cudo, Natalie Dahl, Ryan Davig Huesmann, Kodi Decker, Annie Eddy,
Lily Ferrier, Kazyre Fiala, Jesse Fiers, Alexander Flatten, Nathan Frank, Emma Fries, Samuel Fritsch,
Griffin Gelder, Emily Gilbertson, Anna Goyette, Molly Graff, Mikayla Greco, Hannah Gruen, Pahoua
Hang, Jadin Hauser, Aaron Hegenbart, Colin Heiderscheit, Haley Henson, Jamie Hickey, Kyle Hickey,
Chelsea Hohlfeld, Breanna Holzer, Zoe Houghtaling, Benjamin Jacobson, Kalyn Jahn, Broderick
Jessesski, Caitlyn Johnson, Eleanna Johnson, Kylee Kelemen, Devon Kendhammer, Matthew Kenny,
Megan Kolek, Adrian Korpal, Ryan Kranski, Lindsay Krause, Haley Krerowicz, Benjamin Kube, Pa Zong
Lee, Tayler Lee, Noah Leeser, Derek Lenz, Taylor Lewis, Chi Nou Lor, Choua Lor, Forrest Mally, Andrew Martinson,
Oliver Massman, Jackson McCoy, Wyatt McCutchen, Logan McDonald, Sarah McGarry, Tyler Melde, Riley Mell,
Tammie Moore, Micah Mravik, Brandon Mumaw-Flury, Nora Naas, Alexis Neader, Jayda Nelson, Lilliana Ochsner,
Gage Ortberg, Nicholas Pallaske, Steven Peplinski, Trevor Phillips, Riley Pientok, Makayla Radtke, Aidan Reiter,
Rylee Rensberry, Noah Riley, James Robbins, Braden Schilla, Sophie Schippers, Steven Schliesmann, Ericka
Schmelzer, Zachary Schomberg, Samantha Scott, Jeremiah Sesvold, Joshua Sesvold, Jayden Sheard, Autumn
Stark, Nikkole Tolvstad, Avery Torgerson, Amanda Tranberg, Iris Zehlu Vang, Zoua Pa Vang, Nevin Wall, Mercedes
Wentz, Logan Wilhelmson, Katelynn Willhite, Gavin Wise, Mikayla Wolle, Aidan Wuensch, and Erica Zabel.
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8 Grade Honor Roll -- Brett Adams, McKenzie Adank, Allen Amundson, Kai Backman, Roy Balder, Brandon
Batzel, Madelyn Bausch, Drew Becker, Brooklyn Beers, Austin Bell, Caleb Boardman, Kendra Braund, Ellie Brown,
Evan Bryan, Kyle Burkhardt, Amber Callaway, Tuesday Camps, Elisha Carpenter, Lauren Chafer, Courtney Claeys,
Valorie Clark, Samuel Cornforth, Makayla Dahl, Carter Davis, Shelby Deml, Logan Diesburg, Jasin Ellenz, Colden
Fonstad, Kaiden French, Lucas Freng, Tyson Gates, Zachary Gordon, Samuel Gunderson, Benjamin Halfmann,
Laurel Hamilton, Evan Hammes, Cody Hansen, Robert Hart, Seth Hauser, Elizabeth Hawkins, Colton Heath,
Stephanie Helgeson, Ashley Hillis, Trevor Hohl, Zachary Irvine, Colton Johnson, Kindra Johnson, Kylee Jostad,
Chanlyr Kissel, Emma Knudson, Chaelyn Kolman, Hunter Konetchy, Natalie Kosin, Noah Kosin, Brady Kozlowski,
Evan Kuhn, Allen LaPlount, Pa Iab Lee, Kendra Leis, Chad Licht, Joe Lo, Toby Luhman, Jonathan Marcou, Victoria
Meade, Emily Mihalovic, Christopher Murray, Ryan Mutzner, Leah Nantz, Elijah Nerby, Jasmine Nieves, Lars Oines,
Noah Page, Zachary Patros, Adam Paulson, Zachery Peek, Morgan Pellowski, Andrew Peterson, Devon Peterson,
Mason Peterson, Nicholas Post, Jena Powers, Noah Price, Ryan Rasmussen, Peyton Rensberry, Elmo Rigoli, Kevin
Romanowski, Thomas Sarazin, Austin Schindler, Kaitlyn Schmitt, Ethan Schroeder, Tanner Schultz, Ty
Schwabenbauer, Collin Segreto, Bryce Seidel, Carter Sime, Evan Sletteland, Hannah Smith, Lacy
Snodgrass, Alex Soto, Dylan Sparks, Clifford Strain, Evelyn Sweetman, Hunter Taylor, Rachael Temp,
Shyanne Thomas, McKenna Thurston, McKinlie Trailer, Chee Ia Vang, Gaochee Vang, James Vang,
Sue Vang, Dylan Verhota, Jacob Verhulst, Charying Vue, Annabelle Walker, Kaiden Watson, Grace
Wells, Brenden Wier, Kaitlin Williams, Garrett Withers, Kao Xiong, Kayla Yang, Meenan Yang, Blake
Young, Kaitlin Young, and Anne Zalewski.
Classroom News:
Talented & Gifted Information: Northwestern University offers a program, the
Northwestern University Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS), in which top
students in middle schools have the opportunity to take the ACT or SAT college
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entrance exams. In addition, 6 graders who qualify also have the opportunity to take
the EXPLORE test, which is given to Holmen High School freshmen. NUMATS is
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available to those students who scored in the 90 percentile or above in either last year’s WKCE or last spring’s
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MAP. If you feel your 6 , 7 or 8 grader meets NUMATS’ 90 percentile requirement and you would like more
information about the program, please contact me by e-mail. You also can find more information about NUMATS at
www.ctd.northwestern.edu/numats.
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-- Mrs. Susan Stein, HMS TAG Teacher/8 Grade ESL Teacher, stesus@holmen.k12.wi.us
House 6S English Literature and Social Studies -- In House 6S, for the month of December, we are going to be
busy! In English Literature, we will be finishing up the story How Angel Peterson Got His Name by Gary
Paulsen. With this story, we have been looking at specific parts of plot, character, vocabulary, and figurative
language. We continue to work on written responses to comprehension questions, both short answer and
constructed responses. Before the end of the month, we will be reading a play version of the classic, A Christmas
Carol by Charles Dickens. We will be comparing the written version with a movie version as a text structure writing
assignment. We will continue to work on word part vocabulary and paragraph editing as well.
In Social Studies, we will be focusing on ancient Egypt and all things pharaoh-like, pyramids, Nile River, and
mummies. We will continue to discuss and explore current events through CNN Student News and the Scholastic
magazines.
Happy Holidays! -- Mr. Phil Gilbert, 6S ELA and Social Studies Teacher
8th Graders & Parents:
National History Day is off to a great start. Your students have
selected their topics and chosen to work as an individual or in a group. We hope that you had
a chance to discuss these decisions with them. This is a very large project, and that makes
topic and group selection two of the most important parts of making this an exceptional experience. You should have
received a letter in mid-November that outlined NHD and provided some additional details about topic and group
selection. At this point, we are moving into preliminary research. Students will be completing various tasks to help
them get a good overall grasp of their topic before digging in to deeper research after the holidays. Please help them
stay on top of those assignments. If you have questions, or if you have concerns about your student’s topic or group,
please contact us at the school at 526-3391. Check the NHD link on the Middle School website for a complete
calendar, links to all handouts, and additional resources.
Make sure these dates are on your calendar:
January 6, 7, 9, or 10 Research field trips to the La Crosse Public or UW-L libraries
February 12
Process papers and bibliographies are due
February 26
Papers, documentaries, web sites and performances are due
March 5
Exhibits are due - Set up from 2:30-6:00 in Gym B
March 6
History Day (during the school day) and Open House (6:30-8:00 PM)
Reading is Fun at HMS!
Mrs. Bringe’s Reading students will be turning in their November Reading logs the first week
of December. If they have logged 500 minutes, they earn 2 prizes and 600 minutes earns 3
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prizes! December logs will be given out on December 2 .
-- Mrs. Kendra Bringe, Reading Interventionist Teacher
Art classes -- The 6th grade art students have been hard at work creating ceramic heads featuring various textures
and clay techniques. They have made a variety of interesting creatures. We learned about attaching clay with the
slip and score method, as well as how to create details in clay. The clay heads are being fired in the kiln and will be
glazed in the near future!
Mrs. Kerrigan’s 6th grade classes are beginning to work on the Paint.net program in our computer lab. They
are creating intricate designs within the program featuring the elements and principles of design. We have also been
focusing on color relationships that will be used within this lesson. Mr. Langreck’s 6th grade classes are beginning to
work on expressive paintings using visible brushstrokes. They are also focusing on color relationships within this
unit.
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The 7 grade students are finishing a plaster mask making unit. They have created alter-egos of
themselves. They have been figuring out how to make their masks more sculptural using plaster and the addition of
found objects.
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Mrs. Kerrigan’s 8 grade students are beginning to work in Photoshop Elements. They are working with
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filters, adjustments, lighting, and opacity to alter a series of photographs. Mr. Langreck’s Discovery 8 graders have
been finishing self-portraits using pastels. They are now beginning to work on a ceramics unit. They are researching
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and developing plans to make a vessel of some sort out of clay. Mr. Langreck’s Exploration 8 graders have been
working on wire sculptures. They are learning how to draw in three-dimensional space with the wire to create
recognizable objects.
All of our art classes have been helping to create various aspects of the annual winter installation show in
The Gallery. Students have helped to build, draw, paint, and create many parts for this show. Please see the
“Gallery Club” section for more information.
THANK YOU to Ms. Hein for working with Mrs. Kerrigan’s art students while she was on maternity leave.
The students learned so much and had a great experience creating this year’s installation show in The Gallery! We
will miss her!
-- Mrs. Amanda Kerrigan & Mr. Matt Langreck, Art Teachers
Band -- Earlier this fall fourteen 7th and 8th grade HMS band students were nominated for the
National Band Association-Wisconsin Chapter Junior Honor Band. This honor band is comprised of
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7 -9 grade students from across the state of Wisconsin who were nominated by their band directors
and sent to a selection committee to be chosen to play in the band. The culminating event of the
Honor Band experience is performances by both the Junior and Senior Honor Bands at the Finale
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Concert during the NBA-WC’s annual convention in Wisconsin Rapids on January 18 . We are very
proud to announce the four students from HMS selected to participate in this year’s NBA-WC Junior Honor
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Band: 8 graders Nick Kromke – trombone, Hannah Hart – clarinet, Isaac Burge – oboe, and 7 grader Elise
Grokowski,-- horn.
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HMS also nominated 8 graders Madelin Cieslicki, Nathan Schams, Meenan Yang, and 7 graders: TingJing Chen, Jonathan Herbers, Janaé LaFleur, Shelby Levandowski, Maggie Maxwell, Gavin Nelson and Ezekiel
Wettstein. Congratulations to all these fine musicians and good luck to Nick, Hannah, Isaac and Elise as they
represent HMS in the 2014 NBA-WC Junior Honor Band in January!
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On Tuesday, November 19 is the 6 grade Beginning Band held its first concert. Our 6 graders did a
phenomenal job! In addition to preparing for their concert, they have also been working on another project: The
Living Room Concert is a project where Band students are asked to perform music from upcoming performances at
home for their parent(s). Along with the performance, a short evaluation form will need to be filled out by both a
parent and the student. Musical knowledge is not a prerequisite for parents to fill out the evaluation or to support
your child’s musical endeavor. Listening to your child play is a great form of encouragement! First performances
are very exciting and can be a nervous experience for some. We find that nerves are a natural part of performance
and are often a sign that we want to do well. Being prepared is one of the best ways to keep the nerves in check
which is a reason the students were asked to complete the Living Room Concert project.
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Finally, the School District of Holmen changed its website provider on November 1 so the link for the HMS
band page has changed. Please check out the new band page using holmen.schoolwires.net/Page/6074 and don’t
forget to bookmark our site to access the calendar of events, music games, forms, newsletters and other band
related information.
Please feel free to contact either one of us if you have any questions or concerns.
--Mr. Jeff Krauklis, Band Director & --Mrs. Rachel O'Donnell, Band Director
608-526-3391 x5902
608-526-3391 x5512
krajef@holmen.k12.wi.us
odorac@holmen.k12.wi.us
General Music – A REQUEST -- The 8th grade Music Lab is about to finish their study in
World Music Drumming where students learned about the cultures surrounding African and
Latin drumming and participated in hands-on learning as they performed multiple drumming
ensembles. As the drumming unit comes to a close, the students are eagerly waiting to begin
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learning the acoustic guitar. The 8 grade Music Lab is looking for donations of used acoustic guitars to
accommodate the large amount of students enrolled in the class this year. If you or other family members know of
any acoustic guitars you have available for donation please contact General Music & Choir Teacher, Skyler
Frickelton at 526-3391 ext.5907 or at frisky@holmen.k12.wi.us. Any help is greatly appreciated!
Science fun at HMS … in November a Science(-tist) Contest was held at HMS. Teacher, Mr. Lewis Wilkins, put up
a bulletin board featuring seven famous scientists. There were photos of some not quite as famous scientists
featured, as well  Each famous scientist had his or her initials on their podium, and there were other clues as to
the identity of each scientist. Students could fill out an entry form. Mr. Wilkins then randomly picked a winner from
those entries with the most correct answers. The winner will receive a Subway lunch for two!
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On November 25 , Jayda Nelson, grade 7, was announced as the winner of the "Famous Scientists Bulletin
Board Contest". Congratulations Jayda!!!! We hope you and a friend enjoy your prize!
. . . and After School Activities:
Middle School Forensics season is here! This is an opportunity for students to perform, a selection of
their choosing, to a smaller audience and travel to other middle schools to compete. Students can choose to
do a group performance in the categories of readers theater, play acting, news reporting, and demonstration;
or students can choose an individual performance in poetry, storytelling, solo acting, demonstration, or a variety of
different speeches. HMS’s Forensics program will begin on December 9 and end on February 25. Practices are
Monday and Tuesday nights from 2:50 until 4:00 in Mrs. Roper’s classroom, room # 131. There are three
performances beginning at the end of January. If students would like to participate, the signup sheets and forms are
available at the attendance office. All students in grades 6-8 are welcomed to participate in this great organization. If
you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Tonya Roper, 526.3391 ext- 5800
Gallery Club:
The time is almost here! The Gallery Club has been working very hard throughout the
month of November to create this year’s version of our holiday installation for The Gallery to open on
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December 2 . This year’s theme is, “A Hogsmeade Holiday”. The Gallery will be transformed into the
streets of Hogsmeade from the Harry Potter series of books and movies. We have created an
atmosphere for shopping joy with all the main characters from the book. Come enjoy shopping in Honeydukes
Candy Shop which is loaded with gifts and candy for your friends and family and special someones. Enjoy a stroll
down the streets of Hogsmeade and visit Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Try to avoid Lord Voldemort and the evil forces
against Harry and his friends. See Hagrid as he welcomes you to Hogsmeade. As you stroll down the streets and
shop, you can visit the Owl Post, Shrieking Shack, Madam Puddifoots, Gladrags Wizardwear, The Hog’s Head,
Hogsmeade Station, Zonko’s Joke Shop, The Three Broomsticks, and Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop. The installation will
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run from December 2-19 and will be open most hours of the HMS school day. Don’t miss all the joy the Gallery
Club and the art students have created and enjoy a magical stroll through the streets of Hogsmeade. Be sure to
come early as the gifts will be flying out the door 
-- Mr. Matt Langreck, Ms. Rachel Hein, & Mrs. Amanda Kerrigan, Advisors
It is MathCounts Season! MathCounts started in November and is meeting on Mondays, right after
school, from 2:45-4:00 to prepare for math competitions in our area, the state, and the nation! Students in
grades 6, 7, and 8 are participating in MathCounts. Amaze your friends, astonish your math teachers,
annoy your neighbors…and have fun doing math! Questions? Contact --Ms. Kathleen Fredricks, Advisor
Show Choir: The HMS “Midwest Connection” Show Choir is working on three pieces from past
decades. The songs are representative of 60’s, 70’s and 90’s. The 60 member show choir
rehearses on Tuesday evenings at 5:30 – 6:30pm in the HMS choir room. We will have
performances in January, February, and March with our highlight performance being at Holmen’s
“Gathering of the Stars” invitational. – Mr. Skyler Frickelton, Director
Next meetings
Dec. 2 & 16
Goals
Our very active Student Council group has been busy with the following events since our last report to you:
Halloween at HMS
Halloween at HMS is an exciting time for students. Everyone was encouraged to dress up in their favorite
costumes and wear them to school. There was also a dance during Academy, where every grade celebrated in their
own area. The students all enjoyed the opportunity to have a fun time and hang out with their friends. One of our
teachers was the DJ, who played music that the Student Council Dance committee put together. We danced to our
favorite songs, talked to our friends, or really had a good time. In the end, Halloween at HMS was fun for everyone!
Veteran’s Day at HMS
HMS Student Council was honored to welcome Major Brian Reitzel as our guest speaker for the Veteran’s
Day Assembly. His words made each of the students and staff thankful for all that our Veterans have done to allow
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us the freedoms we have today. The 8 grade band played a wonderful rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” and
all of our choir students sounded beautiful as they sang “My America” and “United We Stand”. Student Council
President, McKenna Pedretti gave the introductory remarks at the program. S.C. Recording Secretary, Devin
Reeves, led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance; and the Student Council Selection of the program was presented
by Alivia Torrez. From Boy Scout Troop 91 presenting and posting our nation’s colors to “Taps” being played by
Devin Palmberg at the end of the program, everyone did an outstanding job.
HMS Student Council Gives Thanks
The students of HMS are very thankful for their quality education, their families and friends, and everything
that they have received. To pay their gratitude forward, the students decided that they would like to bake pumpkin
pies for the LaCrosse Community Thanksgiving Dinner. We were able to collect 35 pies to donate this year!
Time to PAR-TAY!
Our first HMS Student Dance is fast approaching. The Green & Gold Party, to celebrate
all of the hard work for our very successful fundraiser of last fall, will be held on Friday, December
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6 . Any student who sold five or more items will get in free. All other students can pay $3 to join
in on the fun. The doors will open at 7:00. Students will not be allowed to enter early or late so
please be on time. The dance will end at 9:00. Students will not be allowed to leave early so
please make arrangements to stay for the entire time, but make sure your rides home are here at
9:00. The Green & Gold Party will include dancing in the cafeteria and inflatable activities in the
gym. This is a great time to hang out with your friends in a safe and fun environment.
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The 7 grade boys Basketball
teams have 31 strong athletes on two teams. This year the teams have
been learning and working on
new skills, fine tuning old skills, are working together, and have kicked off
the season with some great
success. Neither teams have any losses yet, and all athletes are improving
daily. The teams have shown
dedication and great attitudes and have displayed Holmen Pride and
represented our school with
class and great sportsmanship. We are into our second half of the season
and now become road warriors, as our last five games are away. The team plans to continue to work hard so they
are able to reach their goals for the season. Great job boys, keep up the hard work!
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-- Coach Laxton & Coach Langreck, 7 Grade Boys Basketball Coaches
Snowboard & Ski Club -th
Our first trip is scheduled for Friday, December 13 to Mt. La Crosse … if snow conditions
permit. Buses will depart at 3:00 p.m. from Door A in the HMS bus lot. Students will return
to HMS at 9:30 p.m.. Please turn in the required permission slip and money by
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Wednesday, December 11 to Mrs. John in room 100 or Mrs. Kroening in the attendance
office. Slips will not be accepted after the Wednesday deadline. No refunds will be given for
the transportation costs after the Wednesday deadline. Students may bring their snowboard and ski equipment to
Room 100 (Mrs. John’s classroom) located near Door A in the morning. Please remember that a helmet is required
at all times. Hill tests are required for all new members. Once the student has passed the hill test, they are not
required to take the test again. We are having a T-shirt design contest and the winner will be announced in the next
newsletter.
Parent volunteer chaperones will be coordinated by assistant advisor Mrs. Sherry Saccoia this year. Please
email her at sacshe@holmen.k12.wi.us if you are interested in volunteering for any upcoming trips. You can find the
current approved volunteer list or the volunteer registration form under the community/partners tab of the HMS
website.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact advisor Mrs. Jill John at johjil@holmen.k12.wi.us or
leave a message at 526-3391 ext-5553.
Please check the HMS Calendar and Daily Announcements websites for these and other activities’
schedules, schedule changes, or cancellations.
From HMS Guidance Counselors :
PBIS Happenings (Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports)
HMS - Community Food Drive - "Kindness in Action" -- The Holmen Middle School PBIS initiative, which
focuses on positive behavior, has just wrapped up its 3rd annual HMS Food Drive. This year, we enhanced the
school and community connection by partnering all HMS advisories with local businesses and organizations.
Students and community businesses and organizations collected nonperishable food and personal care items
November 14th - November 26th. This year we set our collection goal at 6,000 items. With outstanding kindness
and charity, Holmen Middle School students, families, and staff along with the community business partners collected
over 7,250 items - absolutely amazing!! The collected items were delivered to the following local pantries on
Tuesday, November 26th: Holmen Area Food Pantry, Onalaska Emergency Food Basket, TLC, and Holmen Middle
School food pantry.
On behalf of our HMS PBIS team, we would like to extend our appreciation and gratitude to HMS students,
families, and staff and to our community partners listed below. Thank you for joining HMS to demonstrate Kindness
in Action and help stock the shelves of our local food pantries.
With Gratitude, The Holmen Middle School PBIS Committee
Altra Credit Union-Holmen
BA Burrito-Holmen
Bean Juice-LaCrosse
Coaches Corner-Holmen
Curves-Holmen
DBS Tool & Die-Onalaska
Features-Holmen
Frosty Café-Holmen
Holmen Hardware Hank
Iron Works-Holmen
King Furniture-Holmen
Clinic-Holmen
Northern Engraving-Holmen
Sitara-Onalaska
Texas Roadhouse-Onalaska
YMCA North-Onalaska.
American Legion-Holmen
Associated Bank-Holmen
Barge Chiropractic-Holmen
Be Fit-Holmen
Children’s Tree House-Holmen
Children’s Palace-Holmen
Community Credit Union-Holmen
Cordell’s Automotive-Holmen
Coulee Bank-Onalaska & LaCrosse
Courtesy Corporation-Onalaska
Doggie Business LLC-Holmen
Edward Jones-Holmen
Festival Foods-Holmen
Fire Fighters Credit Union-Holmen
Heim & Grimsled Orthodontics-Holmen Holmen Fire Department
Holmen Meat Locker
Holmen Police Department
Jacqlon’s-Holmen
Keenan’s Cherryland-West Salem
LaCrosse Archery-Onalaska
Keller Williams Realty-Onalaska Mayo
Metropolitan-Holmen
LaCrosse Area Harley Davidson-Onalaska
Revive All Salon-Onalaska
School District of Holmen Bus Garage
State Farm Insurance-Onalaska
School District of Holmen District Office
Town of Onalaska Town Hall
Yeiter Insurance Agency-Holmen, and
Thanks to All of You so Very Much !
During this year’s food drive, students also learned a few facts. Some of them included:
► According to Feeding America: Hunger in WI in 2010, 43% of WI households receiving food from a food
pantry had at least one employed member in the family. Working families are struggling to meet even basic needs.
Nearly one in nine people living in areas that ‘Feed My People’ Food Bank services are food insecure. That's over
60,000 people - including more than one of every five children.
► Did you know that the all the food and personal care items that are brought in will stay local? All
donations will be divided between four different pantries including Holmen Area Food Pantry, Onalaska Emergency
Food Basket, the TLC center, and our very own HMS food pantry.
► Did you know that a group out of Western Wisconsin, called Feed My People, found participants shared
common physical and emotional impacts of lack of food, frequently referring to low energy level and stress. Being
hungry means difficulty sleeping, lacking energy, and feeling light headed. Additionally, most households report high
levels of stress, anxiety, or irritability. Faced with insufficient food, many participants spoke of making sacrifices,
especially for their children. They also spoke of choices they must make, such as going without medication, which
may result in other negative consequences, but are considered the best of available options.
► The Cost of Hunger -- $2.68 billion is the cost of hunger in Wisconsin each year. We often talk about the
social impact of hunger in our communities, but what about the economic cost when so many of our neighbors
struggle? The answer is that hunger costs each of us an average of $542 annually. These costs are reflected in poor
health of those that are hungry, poor educational outcomes translating into lower productivity and lifetime earnings,
and charitable contributions needed to address hunger.
► More than 21 percent of children in Wisconsin are worried about where they will get their next meal. Over
10 percent of children in Wisconsin cut back or skip meals.
► According to the La Crosse County Health Department, a household is considered "food insecure" if at
least one person in that home has limited access to safe, nutritious food.
Our Food Drive was also a fun school-wide project. Students were working together in their advisories to
earn fun opportunities at school: We had a “Slam Day!” (to slam out hunger in our area) where the number of food
and hygiene items brought in to advisories on a particular day were counted. The advisory in each grade, that had
the most items brought in that day, were given the privilege of going through our lunch lines first for two days. On the
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last two days of our drive, November 25 and 26, we started celebrating our successful food drive. On the 25 , we
wore our Holmen gear to show our pride in our school community and on Tuesday we relaxed
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after all our hard work by coming to school in our pajamas! Also on November 26 we
celebrated our 7,250+ items with an all-school assembly. Our drive was so successful, that
our students earned the privilege to give our principal and associate principal whipped cream
pies in their faces and to duct-tape them to the gymnasium wall.
Facts: For the Food Drive of 2011, HMS staff and students raised 3,077 food &
personal care items. Last year, we had a record high of 5,055 total food & personal care
items. This year … 7,250+ ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Thank You, Everyone ! ! !
-- HMS Guidance Counselors, Mrs. Erica Kohlmeyer, gr 6; Mrs. Jen Dienger, gr 7; Mrs. Heather Retzlaff, gr 8
H.M.S. Library News
Lisa Risch, Library Media Director rislis@holmen.k12.wi.us
Bobbi Horstman, LMC Assistant horbob@holmen.k12.wi.us
It seems that Hollywood is jumping on the reading bandwagon. The following popular books are
being made into movies. I ALWAYS encourage students to read the book first – these movie titles
would make awesome holiday gifts this season!
Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
In Theaters: 11/22/13
Synopsis: By winning the Hunger
Games, Katniss and Peeta must do
a tour of Panem and compete in the
next year’s games, as well. An HMS
Favorite!
Rating: PG13
The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zusak
In Theaters: 11/15/13
Synopsis: Leisel, a young girl
growing up in Nazi Germany, shares
her love of story telling and books
with a Jewish man her family is hiding
in their basement. A very powerful,
moving book! Rating: PG13
Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
In Theaters: 3/21/14
Synopsis: In a future Chicago,
Beatrice must choose what faction
she will live in for the rest of her life.
This dystopian novel will knock your
socks off!
Rating: Not available.
Common Sense Media offers parents helpful information about upcoming movies. Check out more titles at:
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/holiday-movie-guide-2013.
From Our Health Office………..
Going home from school:
Parents: For safety purposes, we would like to remind you of our process of
notifying you when your child needs to be picked up from school due to illness.
When students feel ill we ask them to request a pass from their teacher to come to the health office. If
students drop in to the health office in between classes without a pass from a teacher, they may be
marked absent by the next teacher when they are actually present at school.
Once in the Health Office we usually take the student’s temperature and get a general idea of the student’s
health complaint. If they tell us that a parent is expecting a phone call, we can do that, otherwise we have them try a
couple of our “cures”. Water, crackers, peppermint, cool cloth, salt water gargle, restroom use, relaxation breathing,
dim lights and rest are some of the methods that help keep kids in school. If that doesn’t help, at any time we can
call a parent to come pick them up, unless we hear otherwise. If they have a temp over 100, vomiting or have
symptoms of a possible contagious condition (weepy rash, reddened eye with a report of discharge, etc) or an injury
or illness that makes it hard to stay in school, we call a parent or emergency contact to pick them up.
So if you get a call or text from your child saying they would like to be picked up, please tell them to get a
pass for the Health Office and they can call you from there.
CHALLENGES OF A DIFFERENT NATURE: Staff has been reporting that some students are accepting
“challenges” or “dares”- the latest one is pouring salt on skin and adding ice, causing a burn with blisters! Also,
rubbing an eraser on their skin until it causes a friction burn. Another one I’ve heard of is trying to swallow a
tablespoon of cinnamon in less than one minute, then coughing and possibly inhaling the powder. Talk with your
children about dares and peer pressure, and making wise choices.
Step throat: If your child is being treated for strep throat, they should stay home for 24 hours
after medication has begun. Exchange their old toothbrush for a new one, as this is one of the
causes of re-infection.
A few reminders about healthy habits and the upcoming holidays…
Along with December comes the increased anticipation of seeing friends and relatives during the winter break.
Visiting with friends and relatives may expose many of you and your children to new and different viruses and other
communicable illnesses (colds, flu, infections, head lice, etc). Try and keep everyone healthy by practicing good
hand-washing techniques and following a healthy diet, including drinking plenty of water.
 We’re seeing mostly stomachaches, nausea and/or vomiting, headaches, strep throat and some elevated
temperatures in the health office the past month.
 We have not seen any head lice or nits (eggs). It’s been shown that head lice are spread through personal
products (hats, bedding, towels, combs, etc) and within a family/home environment. Please remember to “check
heads” every so often through December and January.
 The holidays can be a very stressful time and difficult to monitor, so it’s important to do a mental check on a
daily basis, such as…are you…
 …. not getting enough rest, staying up too late?
 … taking time to eat your meals and having healthy snacks?
 …. getting fresh air and exercise?
 Is there lots of fruit juice and water available for everyone?
 Fresh fruit and vegetables are important too
Take some time out to relax and talk things over!
Is it a Cold, Influenza, or Pertussis?
Symptom
Influenza ("Flu")
Cold (Viral URI)
Pertussis
Fever
Usually present and high (102104°F or 39-40°C); typically lasts 34 days
Uncommon
Uncommon If present, typically
low-grade
Headache
Very common
Uncommon
Uncommon
Aches and pains, muscle aches,
chest discomfort
Common, Often severe
Slight to Moderate
Uncommon
Fatigue and weakness
Moderate - severe; can last up to
14-21 days
Mild
Mild to moderate
Extreme exhaustion
Very common early in illness
Extremely Rare
Rare
Stuffy or runny nose
Sometimes
Common
Common, early in the disease
Sneezing
Sometimes
Common
Common, early in the disease
Sore throat
Sometimes
Common
Uncommon
Non-productive ("dry") cough is
typical; nocturnal cough rare
Hacking cough, often productive;
nocturnal cough rare; usually
responds to cough medications
Variable character; fits /
paroxysms and nocturnal cough
are common; generally not
responsive to cough medications
C
O
U
G
Character
H
Severity
Moderate
Mild to Moderate
Variable; can be mild in adults
and very severe in infants and
young children
Duration
Typically 3-7 days; occasionally to
14 days
Typically 3-7 days
Persistent cough, almost always
>1week, usually 2-6 weeks,
sometimes 10+ weeks
Paroxysms
Uncommon
Rare
Common
1-2 d before symptom onset to 510 days after
Variable; typically 4-7 days after
symptom onset; can be longer
From start of catarrhal phase
(before cough) to 21 days after
cough onset*
Infectious Period
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/Influenza/ColdFluPertussis.htm
Take care for good health and wishing you Happy Holidays!
Amy L. Bigjohn RN, BSN,Med., and Paige O. Brush, Health Aide
Check out the Health Services web page for more information regarding school and family health, as well as the Middle School’s Health
Office web page for past health office newsletters and specific HMS information.
Some Happenings in December:
HMS JAMMIN’ MINUTE CONTEST
December 2nd-20th
The HMS Physical Education Department, along with the help of the Student Council, is
sponsoring an HMS Jammin’ Minute Contest. All staff and students are eligible and
encouraged to participate. Individuals or groups are to record a one to three minute fitness
routine. Routines should contain approximately five simple exercises/movements that
students and staff can do while either standing by their desk/table or sitting in a chair.
Included in this short video is a simple health tip that teaches or reinforces a healthy habit.
All individuals that participate in the contest will be eligible to earn fitness related prizes.
In January, fitness prizes will be rewarded and all HMS Jammin’ Minute videos will be made available for
staff to utilize in their own classrooms.
This year, the annual HMS Talent Show will take place on December 20 starting at 1:00 p.m. In order to
participate, individuals/groups must audition in the choir room on Thursday, December 5 at the time you signed up
for. All acts are encouraged except singing along with a CD and lip synching. This could include dancing, singing to
prerecorded music or having an accompanist, playing an instrument or anything else that might entertain a crowd. If
there are too many acts for the time period we may need to limit the number of participants.
Coming in January . . .
The Scripp’s National Spelling Bee is coming to Holmen Middle School! Students can elect to be
in the Spelling Bee, simply by having parents sign a permission slip and by having their
emergency information on file in the HMS office. Forms will be available in the LMC and from ELA
teachers. Our local Spelling Bee will be held in our HMS Auditorium on Thursday, January 16th at
12:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend!
Please encourage your child to participate! Holmen Middle School has sent a student to the
State Bee in Madison many times! Let’s keep the tradition alive!
Contact Lisa Risch (rislis@holmen.k12.wi.us)
if you have any questions.
Reminders ...
> Two-Hour EARLY RELEASE from classes is Wednesday, December 11th.
HMS students will be dismissed from school at 12:40 p.m.
> HMSPTG (HMS Parent Organization) meets Thursday, December 19th in classroom #
100 at 6:30 pm . . .
ALL parents & guardians are invited!
> NO SCHOOL for STUDENTS is December 23, 2013 – January 1, 2014.
Classes resume on Thursday, January 2nd.
> School Board Meeting is December 9th at 7:00 p.m.
Things You Should Know:
HMS Entrances & Student Pick-up and Drop-off: Before and after school student drop-off and pick-up,
as well as public parking, is located in the parking lot at the south end of the property outside entrance "A,”
– enter via the Sunset Drive driveway.
 PLEASE STAY IN ONE LANE OF VEHICLES WHEN DROPPING OFF & PICKING UP STUDENTS
 Please do not park in the bus loading and unloading lot off of Main Street. Use the Sunset Drive driveway.
 Parents and guardians are asked NOT to drop-off or pick-up students or park anywhere on Main Street
before or after school; including the area in front of entrances D and E.
 Students are asked to enter the building through entrance "A" each morning before 7:35 a.m. From 7:35 a.m. to 2:35
p.m. all building entrances will be locked. From 7:35 a.m. to 2:35 p.m., students, parents, guardians, and visitors may park in
front of the main office – near the flag pole and marquee sign area and enter the building through entrance “D.” A buzzer system
at entrance D is in operation during those times.
 We appreciate everyone's cooperation in keeping everyone as safe as possible.
Bus Passes: Bus passes to ride a bus that is not your usual bus will be issued very sparingly. They will be issued only in cases
of family emergency. If you must ride a different bus, you must bring a written note, signed by a parent/ guardian, to the HMS
office early in the morning the day the pass is needed. We must also have a written and signed note FROM THE PARENTS
OF THE HOME YOU WILL BE GOING TO. Phone calls for permission to ride a different bus CANNOT be allowed. Notes
should be brought to the office before 7:35 a.m.
A reminder of HMS’s policy regarding use of Cell Phones: All students’ cell phones need to be turned off and in their lockers
before 7:35am and remain there until after 2:40pm. That includes lunch times.
Attendance Reminders:
Attendance at school is essential to the successful completion of an education. Good
communication from the school to the home and from the home to the school regarding absences is a major responsibility for the
school & the home. Part of the school’s mission is to teach students good work habits, which includes regular attendance. Please
report all absences by 7:30 a.m. by calling the attendance line at 526-1369. If we do not hear from you, we will
attempt to contact you to verify the absence. If no contact occurs, the absence will be considered unexcused. If
your child needs to leave school during the school day-- To avoid interruptions to the classroom we ask that you
send a note with your student in the morning. They should bring the note to the attendance window before
school starts in the morning and we will issue them a pass to leave class. When it is time for them to leave, it is
the student’s responsibility to report to the attendance window and wait for you to sign them out. Upon returning
to school, the student is to sign in at the attendance window to obtain a pass to return to class. If your child
arrives late for school: Please send a note with your child or call (526-1369) so we can excuse him/her. Upon
arrival he/she should report to the attendance window to sign in and get a pass for class. Homework
requests: If you wish to request homework for a student missing school, please leave that message and the
time you will pick the homework up when you call in your child’s absence early in the morning.
The HMS School Store is located near the Choir Room. The School store is open before and after school every day. You can
find everything from clothing to school supplies!
Messages and Items brought to school for Students : In order to minimize interruptions to classrooms during the school
day, students will be asked to come to the office for messages or items brought to school for them at their lunch time and after
2:00 p.m. No calls will be transferred into the classrooms. If a student forgets something at home, we consider it the students
responsibility to check in the office to see if the item has been brought to school. Your assistance in protecting instructional time is
greatly appreciated!
Please check the HMS section of our District’s website for last minute School Closings and Cancellations at HMS. They will be
found on the HMS Daily Announcements, HMS Calendar, and HMS Cancellation websites. You can also find our Student &
family Handbook, LMC information, sports calendars, and much more information on our website. Also, all our District’s policies
and procedures can be found on the District’s portion of the website.
Save, recycle, and help benefit HMS student programs: Keep saving and bring to the HMS office Box Tops for Education and
Campbells products labels. HMS students help sort and process these items for redemption of cash for school programs. A
collection area is in the HMS office.
Can’t find your child’s jacket or pair of shoes anywhere? … maybe they are in HMS’s Lost & Found. It is
located across the hallway from our library. Items left in our lost and found will be donated to charity periodically
throughout the school year.
It’s getting colder! Please remember that with the weather getting colder, students should have appropriate
clothing to go outside during recess. Here at HMS, all students are expected to go outside if the temperature is
above 30 degrees. When it is below 30 degrees, they have the choice of staying in or going out. We ask that
students bring with them to lunch all of their gear, so they are not going back to their lockers unsupervised. Each day,
the temperature and what it feels like outside (wind chill), will be posted in the cafeteria. Students will be reminded if
they are required to go outside or can choose to stay in when their tables are dismissed. Students are asked to make
their decision before leaving the lunchroom to cut down on unsupervised traffic in the hallways. Thanks for your support in keeping
our students warm in this chilly weather!
Elsewhere in the School District:
From the District’s Student Universal Nutrition Program (S.U.N.) . . . We encourage families that
are facing economic hardships to apply for free or reduced lunches, breakfast, and milk at any
time throughout the school year. Application forms are available from any of the school offices or the
District’s Nutrition Services Department (526-1325), or online at www.holmen.k12.wi.us under the
“Departments” tab >Nutrition Services > Free and Reduced Information. Click on the link within the
paragraphs to download the form. Please contact the school office or the District’s Nutrition Services Department if
additional information is needed.
Food Services Online Payment Information . . . New Online payment method! The Infinite Campus
Portal provides families the flexibility to pay online at any time through the school’s Campus Portal. You may use
your credit/debit (Master Card, Visa, Discover) or checking/savings account. A processing fee for online payments is
$1.00 per transaction. This program provides instant access of these funds by students. If you are new to the parent
portal in Infinite Campus you will need an activation code. Please call or email Nutrition Services for this code.
Weather Information: On days of inclement weather, remember to listen to WKTY, WLXR, WIZM, COW 97, or
K106 for school closing announcements. Any information will be given as early as 6:00 a.m. and as frequently as
possible over the radio. Please DO NOT CALL the radio stations.
District Telephone Directory ~ Holmen District Office: 608.526.6610
Holmen Middle School: 608.526.3391
Viking Elementary: 608.526.3316
Evergreen Elementary: 608.526.9080
Holmen High School: 608.526.3372
Sand Lake Elementary: 608.781.0974
Prairie View Elementary: 608.526.1600
Transportation-Maintenance-Technology(TMT):608-526-4752
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School District of Holmen -- Substitute Positions Available
Freedom to coordinate your work schedule around your personal life. Friendly environment and flexible hours.
We provide the training you need!
$100 per full day of work. Substitute NURSES
Qualified applicants must possess an RN License. Training is provided.
$11.36/Hr. Substitute CUSTODIANS
Typical work shifts are
4 to 8 hours between 2:00 and 11:00 PM
$17.48/Hr. Substitute BUS DRIVERS
Ability to create a safe, positive, and nurturing environment for school-age children.
CDL & Student Management Training provided
Please call (608) 526-1314
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What takes place at Holmen School District’s Child Development Days?
A developmental screening of children by school district staff, including, but not limited to:
early childhood specialists; speech/language pathologists; and school psychologists.
Hearing and Vision Screenings Available (Optional)
Also, at Child Development Days:
An informational booth is set up containing topics of interest for parents of young children by
Community Businesses that serve as family resources.
Who should attend?
All 2 ½ - 5 year old children, who live within the School District of Holmen
boundaries, and who are not presently enrolled in school, are invited to participate.
If a child was screened last January, parents do not need to bring that
child again this year, unless district staff requested a re-screening.
Where and When will this event take place?
Sand Lake Wesleyan Church (next door to Sand Lake Elementary School)
N5761 Sand Lake Road, Onalaska, WI
Monday, January 6th, 2013
AM Session: 8:30 – 11:30
PM Session: 2:00 – 6:00
Thursday, January 9th, 2013
AM Session: 8:30 – 11:30
PM Session: 2:00 – 6:00
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The Midwest Express Show Choir, from the Holmen High School, presents…
SINGING FOR SECONDS
“Spaghetti Dinner”
Holmen Legion
Friday December 6th 2013 5:30-8:00pm
Adults: $10, Kids 10 & under: $5
Contact Holmen High School for tickets at 608-526-3372
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DANCING with the SPORTS STARS …
… All for Aaron!
Aaron Johnson is a 10 year old currently battling a rare form of
cancer, Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Aaron is currently in chemotherapy in LaCrosse and is working to become healthy enough to
receive a bone marrow transplant from his sister.
Join us for an entertaining evening with original dances from our
very own HHS Dance Team members and other sports stars on
Thursday, December 12th at 7:00 p.m. at
the Holmen High School Fine Arts Center.
Proceeds from this event will go to help Aaron and his family.
Let’s help them stay AARON STRONG!
Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the HHS Main Office or
HMS Library during the week of Dec. 2nd – 6th, 7am-3pm.
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The Holmen High School ART CLUB and Holmen FFA Chapter
Invites YOU to join them at their annual
Empty Bowls 2013 SOUP EVENING
on Friday, December 13th, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the HHS Commons.
You can purchase beautifully handmade clay and wooden bowls,
and enjoy a warm bowl of soup all while promoting
the well-being of our community.
A perfect one-of-a-kind holiday gift!
“Believe that we can learn to feed one another.”
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NOTICE OF ELECTION OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO all qualified electors of the School District of Holmen, including the
Village of Holmen, Town of Holland, and parts of the Town of Farmington, Hamilton, Onalaska, and City of Onalaska,
that on Tuesday, April 1, 2014, an election of School Board members will be held.
There are three (3) three-year terms to be filled. The three candidates receiving the highest number of votes
will fill the three-year terms. The Board Members whose terms expire are: Gary Dunlap, Cheryl Hancock and
Joe Gittens.
An elector desiring to be a candidate for a position on the Board of Education may obtain a “Declaration of
Candidacy” at the School District Office, located at 1019 Mc Hugh Road, Holmen, WI, between the hours of 7:30
a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The Declaration of Candidacy must be filed at the time and place noted above or filed personally with the
School Board Clerk, on or beforeTuesday, January 7, 2014 at 5:00 pm.
Notice is further given that if a primary is necessary, the primary will be held on Tuesday, February 18,
2014.
-- Kate Mayer, Clerk
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More Community Events & Offerings:
- The Holmen High School Senior Entrepreneurship Class is presenting this year’s holiday store, “PEAK.” PEAK is put
together and run by the entrepreneurship class students. Profits earned this year will be directly dontated to Aaron
Johnson’s family. Aaron is an Evergreen Elementary student who has been battling leukemia. PEAK’s grand opening is
December 14, 9am-5pm; it will then be open weekdays 3-8pm & Saturdays 10am-5pm. The store features homemade goods,
everyday products & gifts.
- The 2013 Canadian Pacific Railway Holiday Train will be stopping in LaCrosse on Thursday, December 5 th at 9:15 p.m. at
the Historic Amtrak Depot & Station at 601 St. Andrew Street. The event is free but you are asked to bring to bring nonperishable food items and/or a monetary donation that will be passed on to The Hunger Task Force. Hot cocoa and
Christmas cookies will be provided by the Convention & Visitors Bureau and tourism partners. Santa will be on the train!
For more information email hoch@explorelacrosse.com
- The Nutcracker Ballet is being presented by the LaCrosse Dance Centre on December 13 at 7:30pm and December 14 at
4:00pm at the Viterbo Fine Arts Center. Tickets $18 & $14. For more information go to www.lacrossedancecentre.org
- Friday Nights LIVE at the YMCA-North in Onalaska – A different event is featured each Friday night. If you don’t like
the featured event, you can enjoy Xbox Kinect or Wii or Mario Kart or air hockey or board games or cards; or bring your
swimsuit to enjoy the pool. Bring friends! This is for all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Free for members, only $2 for nonmembers. Free snack! More information at 608-782-9622 or www.laxymca.org
- Registration is open for the Spring 2014 session of Junior Eagle Gymnastics. Go to www.uwlcamps.com to register online,
or to print off the attached brochure and mail it in with your payment. Classes fill quickly, so sign up soon.
- Please check out UW-L’s website for many offerings for camps and classes for middle school aged children at
www.uwlcamps.com and www.uwlax.edu/conted/youth
Parents & Staff Welcome
Meetings are at 6:30 p.m. in
Classroom #100—just inside
HMS entrance A.
This year’s meetings:
Dec. 19 Feb. 20
Mar. 20 Apr. 24 May 15
Financial Donations to HMSPTG
are welcomed.
HMSPTG & Student Council Fall Fundraiser
A Success!
On—line:
Thank you to all the students, staff, and families for supporting the HMSPTG
www.holmenareafoundation.org and Student Council Fall Fundraiser. While everything has not yet been
Mail:
totaled, a lot of orders were processed. The money that we earn will be used
Holmen Area Foundation
for school grants and Student Council activities and programs.
P.O. Box 432
Holmen, WI 54636
Phone:
(608) 526-1320
HMSEF CONTACTS
Sandi Nissen - Co - President
Email : yawbus1@juno.com
Dawn Shea—Co- President
(608) 783-3949
Email: dawnmshea@gmail.com
Stephanie Peterson—Treasurer
(608) 781-6146
Email: speterson@centurytel.net
Mark Your Calendars!
Students who sold 5 items or more in the
fundraiser will receive free admission to the Green & Gold Celebration on
Friday, December 6th. The celebration will be from 7 to 9 pm.
What is HMSPTG?
HMSPTG is an organization developed and operated
by the parents and staff of HMS; established to raise money for the
educational needs of HMS students and staff beyond what the school’s
budget can provide. Monies we raise will be distributed to HMS, via a grant
application process. The primary focus is for educational requests with an
emphasis on technology. HOW CAN PARENTS GET INVOLVED? Our success is
dependent on parental involvement. We encourage you to attend a meeting
and become a part of a rewarding process that enhances your child’s
education.
Join us for our next meeting on December 19th
at 6:30pm in HMS classroom # 100—just inside entrance A.
Tonya Nieves—Secretary
(608) 399-1113
Email: tonyanieve@gmail.com
Holmen School District Vision Statement:
Holmen – A premier school district of choice, setting standards of excellence in education,
distinctive and successful in everything we do.
The School District of Holmen does not discriminate on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, creed, ancestry, age,
sex, arrest/conviction records, pregnancy, marital or parental status, or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability.
December, 2013, at H.M.S.
December 2 – 19 the holiday shop, presented by the Gallery Club, is open … “A Hogsmeade Holiday.”
December 2 – 20 Jammin’ Minute Contest sponsored by the PE Dept.
Mon, Dec 2 Student Council Meeting, 2:45-3:30
Mon, Dec 2 Wrestling at Winona (Sr.HS) & w/ Sparta & West Salem, 4:15
Tue, Dec 3 Show Choir rehearsal, 5:30-6:30
Thu, Dec 5 Boys Basketball at Aquinas: 7th at MS, 8th at Mathy Center, 3:45
Fri, Dec 6 Green & Gold Fundraising Celebration & Dance for all HMS students, 7:00-9:00
Sat, Dec 7 Wrestling at Richland Center (HS), 9:00 a.m.
Mon, Dec 9 MathCounts meeting, 2:45-4:00
Mon, Dec 9 Forensics first meeting/practice, room 131, 2:50-4:00
Mon, Dec 9 Wrestling here w/ West Salem, Winona & Onalaska, 4:00
Mon, Dec 9 School Board Meeting, 7:00
Tue, Dec 10 Gallery Club Meeting, 2:50-4:30
Tue, Dec 10 Forensics practice, room 131, 2:50-4:00
Tue, Dec 10 Auditions for upcoming Talent Show in Choir Room, 2:45-?
Tue, Dec 10 Show Choir rehearsal, 5:30-6:30
Wed, Dec 11 TWO-HOUR EARLY RELEASE – HMS students will be dismissed from school at 12:40
Thu, Dec 12 Boys Basketball at Winona, 4:00
Fri, Dec 13 Snowboard & Ski Club to Mt. LaCrosse, 3:00-9:30
Mon, Dec 16 Student Council Meeting, 2:45-3:30
Mon, Dec 16 MathCounts meeting, 2:45-4:00
Mon, Dec 16 Forensics practice, room 131, 2:50-4:00
Mon, Dec 16 Wrestling here w/ Viroqua, Westby & Winona, 4:30
Tue, Dec 17 Forensics practice, room 131, 2:50-4:00
Tue, Dec 17 Boys Basketball at West Salem: 7th at MS, 8th at Elementary, 3:45
Tue, Dec 17 Choir Concert by 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Choirs in gym B at 7:00 p.m.
Thu, Dec 19 Boys Basketball at Logan MS, 3:45
Fri, Dec 20 7th Grade Fieldtrip to High Rollers- a.m.
Fri, Dec 20 Talent Show, 1:00
December 23, 2013 – January 1, 2014 there is NO SCHOOL for students.
Classes at HMS resume at 7:35 a.m. on Thursday, January 2nd, 2014.
On our HMS website, please check our DAILY STUDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS for UPDATES and CANCELLATIONS.