TalonTimes
Newsletter of Southern Door School District
Volume 40 Issue 1
Talon Community Fitness Center Grand Opening the new athletic director.
BY ELISE JACKSON (SDHS SOPHOMORE) Southern Door’s new Talon Community Fitness Center is gaining traction with both students and local residents. The facility officially opened in September 2024 after a construction process that started in early 2023. Additionally, the fitness center offers a wide range of resources, and provides a great resource for the community.
The center features a state-of-the-art weight room, cardio machines, and indoor turf. The variety of equipment and facility areas accommodate different needs and fitness levels, and encourage students and community members of all abilities to participate in a healthier lifestyle. Mr. Kline even explained that some of the fitness machines are wheelchair accessible.
“The new fitness center is a great place for all people to train,” said Ben Kline,
“The fitness center can truly be used by anyone,” he said.
The center has already attracted a variety of users. Southern Door Schools has used the facility for PE classes, inclement weather recesses, football, softball, cross country, and volleyball, as well as other programs within the school. In addition, the Sturgeon Bay High School soccer program and Notre Dame High School football program have used the facility in preparation for their respective sectional and state performances. Additionally, a community soccer league started by Morning Glory Restaurant, and the Green Bay model airplane club have used the facility.
Talon Community Fitness Center Hours Members access these facilities using the Verkada Pass app during the following times: Weekdays: 4:00 AM–7:00 AM and 5:00 PM–10:00 PM Weekends: 5:00 AM–10:00 PM Staffed Hours: The weight room will continue to be staffed during these times: School Days: 5:00 AM–7:00 AM and 3:00 PM–8:00 PM Weekends: 7:00 AM–10:00 AM
Important Notes: As per district policy, current middle and high school students may only use the facility with adult supervision. Access is restricted to registered Talon Community Fitness Center members. On days when school is canceled due to inclement weather, the facilities will also remain closed. Eagle Gym Access: Access to the Eagle Gym is included with your Talon Community Fitness Center membership. Members are
welcome to use the gym when it is not reserved for school-sponsored teams or other groups. The weekly Eagle Gym schedule will be posted outside the gym and on the district website for your convenience. The Southern Door Campus will be Closed: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day
National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist Southern Door High School senior Ben Grota, has been recognized as a Semifinalist in the highly competitive 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program! This extraordinary honor places Ben among the top academic achievers in the nation, with more than 16,000 students earning semifinalist status from an initial pool of 1.3 million test-takers. Ben’s hard work, dedication, and passion for learning have propelled him into this elite group of scholars, taking him one step closer to winning a share of the nearly $26 million in scholarships to be awarded next spring. To earn this recognition, Ben excelled on the Preliminary SAT, better known as PSAT, which is the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, and met a rigorous cutoff score. As a semi-
finalist, he will now submit an in-depth scholarship application, which includes details about his academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, community service, and leadership experiences. Please join us in congratulating Ben Grota on this remarkable achievement! The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), established in 1955, is a not-forprofit organization that operates without government assistance. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 280 business organizations, higher education institutions and individual donors to honor the nation’s scholastic champions and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence.
Eagle Statue As you’ve probably noticed or heard by now, we have a great new addition to the front circle area of our campus - a large Eagle sculpture. This was generously provided by the Haunted Mansion fund, which was in operation from 2006-2019. The sculpture was fully donated using money from the Haunted Mansion fund, so a huge shout out and thank you to everyone involved in making this a reality. The artist, Jeff Greening, did a phenomenal job putting the sculpture together for us. It’s a great addition to our campus and we look forward to the many ways that the eagle will be incorporated into district events such as the first day of school photo-ops, sporting events and artistic celebrations, graduation, among many others. A big thank you all around!
INSIDE:
New Staff page 2
High School Musical page 3
A Note from the Superintendent
I hope everyone is having a safe and fulfilling holiday season. My name is Kevin Krutzik, and I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Superintendent of the Southern Door School District. It is truly an honor to join this community and work alongside the dedicated individuals, families, and organizations who are passionate about contributing to the success of our students and staff. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Southern Door community and the greater Door County area for the warm welcome I have received. The kindness, support, and encouragement shared by staff members and community members alike have been truly inspiring, and I am deeply grateful for it. The 2024-2025 school year is off to an incredible start! Our fall sports and extracurricular offerings wrapped up their seasons with strong finishes and our winter sports and activities are already in full force. Additionally, we are excited that this year’s fall high school musical, White Christmas, brought in over 1,900 attendees during the four days of production. One of my key priorities as Superintendent is to guide our efforts to ensure the longterm financial sustainability of our school district. During the quarterly Board of Education retreat on November 11, 2024, the Board approved the distribution of a community survey to gauge support for a fouryear, non-recurring Operational Referendum to exceed the revenue limit set under Section 121.91 of the Wisconsin Statutes. The referendum would allow for exceeding the revenue limit by $3,500,000 in each of the next four school years. These funds, earmarked for maintaining educational programs and covering operational and maintenance expenses, would continue after the current three-year operating referendum expires. This measure is vital to supporting the district’s ability to continue delivering an exceptional education to our students. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I am always available at kkrutzik@sdsd.k12.wi.us or 920-825-7311. Kevin Krutzik Superintendent
Fall Sports page 4