“I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.” – Walt Whitman
GIBRALTAR school news
SPRING 2026
Friends of Gibraltar and Gibraltar Area Schools
Second Grade Pollinator Protectors
2026 Friends of Gibraltar Humanitarian Spirit Award
By Second Grade Teachers
The 2026 Friends of Gibraltar Humanitarian Spirit Award goes to Kayin Jackson. Jackson was nominated by Gibraltar staff member Anna Knapp
Second graders recently took part in a meaningful project to help protect pollinators. Through research, reading, writing, and hands-on activities, students learned why pollinators such as butterflies and bees are so important to the environment. The class discovered that pollinators help plants grow by spreading pollen from flower to flower. Many fruits, vegetables, and flowers depend on pollinators to survive. Students were surprised to learn that pollinators are in danger because of habitat loss, pollution, pesticides, and climate change.
learned during the project. To spread awareness beyond the classroom, the class also created seed packets to hand out to community members. Each packet included flower seeds that can help create butterfly-friendly gardens. Students hoped the seed packets would inspire families to plant flowers that attract and protect pollinators.
As part of the project, students researched ways people can help protect butterflies and other pollinators. They learned that planting native flowers, reducing pesticide use, and creating butterfly gardens can provide safe habitats and food sources for these important insects. After gathering information, students used their knowledge to write opinion pieces encouraging others to take action. In their writing, students shared reasons why protecting butterflies matters and explained simple ways families and community members can help. The second graders worked hard to support their opinions with facts they
This project gave students the opportunity to combine science, reading, writing, and community service while learning how small actions can make a big difference. By researching pollinators, writing persuasive pieces, and sharing seeds with others, the second graders became advocates for protecting butterflies and caring for the environment. The class hopes their work will encourage more people in the community to plant pollinator gardens and help butterflies thrive for future generations.
Plastics in Gibraltar’s Cafeteria
By Jen Gallagher, 4th grade teacher, and Travis Grooters, 3rd grade teacher -
use of plastic sporks.
Elementary Student Council Advisors
The Elementary Student Council presented an appeal to the school board at the May 11th meeting to eliminate cooking food in plastic and to no longer line pans in plastic that enter the heated serving area in the Gibraltar cafeteria. In addition to eliminating plastic in heated foods, students asked to stop the
They highlighted the environmental impacts of plastics in their presentation as well as the negative health effects that microplastics and the chemicals in plastic have on humans’ endocrine and metabolic systems. Students offered possible solutions for food prep, sourcing, and prevention of accidental disposal of metal utensils. The elementary student council was supported by one high school student council member and the Ecology Club in their mission to improve student health and the environment.
“I’d like to nominate Kayin Jackson. As a senior, Kayin took on a community service project that brought together students who don’t typically work together and some who don’t typically challenge themselves in this way. He saw a problem in the Midwest–specifically in Minneapolis, MN, with a city that was struggling with immigration enforcement issues and its impacts on students in schools there. He reached out to faculty here at Gibraltar for guidance and then empowered students in our school to find a way to raise money for a school in Minnesota. This problem and solution had potential roadblocks, but Kayin got through those and this community service project raised significant funds. I see Kayin as being a future changemaker in this world, and I’d love to see him be recognized by the FOG Humanitarian Spirit Award as a way to inspire him to keep serving the world around him.” - Anna Knapp The Friends of Gibraltar Humanitarian Spirit Award began in 1989 after a senior award event that gave out awards and scholarships for academics and athletics. Two of the event attendees had the idea to honor kindness with an award and the Friends of Gibraltar Humanitarian Spirit Award was created! Anyone from the community may nominate a graduating senior who goes out of their way to do nice things for other people, and shows respect and kindness towards classmates, school staff, and the community:A student who has done something to make either the school or the community a better place. The award ($500) can be used for anything the recipient would like. Gibraltar High School has wonderfully kind students, and each year we receive several nominations. However, our current budget allows for one $500 award. If you would like to contribute to the Friends of Gibraltar Humanitarian Spirit Award fund please contact Vinni Hancock, Project Coordinator: vinni.hancock@gibraltar. k12.wi.us.
FOG HUMANITARIAN SPIRIT AWARD RECIPIENTS Year – Recipient 1989 – Pat Dziekan 1990 – Susie Somerhalder 1991 – Erin Merline 1992 – Steve Schaefer 1993 – Mike Honold 1994 – April Larson 1995 – Paul Ahlen 1996 – Claire Erickson 1997 – Matthew Johnson 1998 – Melissa Weborg 1999 – Eric Christofersan 2000 – Kaija Johnson 2001 – Steph Miller 2002 – Tera Stoneel and Natalie Boeck 2003 – Molly Bastian 2004 - Jasmine Penny 2005 – Joe Meyer and Nick Bastian 2006 – Katie McConkey
2007 – Valarie Grey 2008 – Kelsey Neddersen 2009 – Emily Johnson 2010 – Claire Torpe and Zak Kuntsman 2011 – Kelley Arneson 2012 – Grace Johnson 2013 – Ashley Caldecott 2014 – Ben Anderson 2015 – Mikayla Kifer 2016 - Audrey Sitte 2017 - Tyler Kroupenske 2018 – Madison Tishler 2019 - Breille Fitzgerald 2020 – Matt Austgen 2021 – Maggie Moroney 2022 - Angel Jauregui 2023 – Giuseppe Mercier 2024 – Helen McCormack 2025 – Yahir Valdivia 2026 - Kayin Jackson
Exposure to Creativity Program with Hardy Gallery Since 2007, Friends of Gibraltar has partnered with the Hardy Gallery in Ephraim to provide a day of art inspiration for Gibraltar High School students with the Exposure to Creativity program. The program is designed to immerse students in one art project for one entire school day. This year all Gibraltar students in grades 9 and 10 boarded buses and went to one of six different professional studio spaces to spend the day learning from a local artist by creating artwork with them. Presenters shared their studio space, work process, and career insights with students, but the majority of the day was spent creating.
original characters and imaginary worlds. They explored different art styles, genres, and techniques used by professional artists and illustrators, then used them to design their own unique characters. Students brainstormed ideas inspired by identity, community, culture, and personal experiences. Working both independently and as a class, students experimented with drawing and painting techniques, expressive gestures, and creative problem-solving. By the end of the course, students completed a series of character sketches and one or more polished final artworks that brought their characters to life.
This year students participated in one of the following workshop experiences.
Songwriting with Rob Roy Campbell at the Snapcrackle Tabernacle
Embroidered Identity with Joslyn Villalpando at Woodwalk Gallery
This was a workshop for students interested in creative writing and music. Students explored what a daily practice looks like for people who write. One way to start writing is to look around and make deep observations about your own life and take time to be creative and playful.This workshop gave students time to write songs on their own and or in small groups. Students played musical instruments in the studio to create their songs.
First, students learned some basic stitches from Villalpando as they created an exploratory, playful embroidery sampler. Students looked at a few contemporary embroidery artists and then used their own photo to print onto fabric, adding stitched embellishments. They also took a gallery/grounds tour during this dayof mindful, meditative stitching. Inventing Illustrated Characters with Caryn Blum at PenArt Students dove into the world of illustration by creating
The BIGGER Picture: Edit Print Curate with Suzanne Rose at Miller Art Museum We take photos every day—but what happens after
you snap the picture? In this workshop, students had the chance to turn their own photos into real artwork and experience what it’s like to be both an artist and a curator. In this hands-on workshop, students edited and printed a series of large photos, then worked together to decide how the images should be displayed. Through discussion and collaboration, they learned how choices like which photos to include, where to place them, and how they’re shown can completely change their meaning. Glass Blowing Workshop with Stephanie Trenchard and Jeremy Popelka at Popelka Trenchard Glass Studio In this workshop, students learned about the properties of glass and how to blow glass, and they created a colorful glass paperweight using the glass-blowing
bench. Screen Printing on Tote Bags, Fabric, & Clothing with Lucy Hodkiewicz at PenArt Students were provided multiple screen designs and tote bags to screen print. Some fabric and various sizes of blank shirts were available, but students were encouraged to bring 2-5 pieces of additional natural fiber clothing (cotton, silk, hemp, denim, etc) or fabric. Students were given an overview of screen printing basics, and they made their own screens. We are so thankful to the creative professionals and the studios, galleries, and organizations who shared their time, talent, and space with the students to make this program possible. Thank you to the Hardy Gallery for so many years of partnership and support for the Exposure to Creativity program!