The Clipper Connection

STURGEON BAY HIGH SCHOOL Sailing into

SBHS Named a 2024-2025 WIAA Award of Excellence Recipient

Sturgeon Bay High School has officially been named a 2024-25 WIAA Award of Excellence recipient!

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association honored just 39 schools statewide for demonstrating excellence in sportsmanship, ethics, integrity, leadership, character, and administrative accomplishment — and we're proud to say Sturgeon Bay made the list!

This is Sturgeon Bay High School’s first time receiving this prestigious award! Athletic Director Jon Dupuis shared his

thanks, saying: “I’d like to thank all the coaches, studentathletes, school district staff, and community members who contributed to earning this award. This is a great achievement for our athletic department, district, and community. Go Clippers!”

This recognition reflects the dedication of everyone involved in Clipper athletics, from the field to the stands and everywhere in between. Let’s keep raising the standard for what it means to be a Clipper!

The Newest Classes at Sturgeon Bay High School

ASHLY RUIZ, JOURNALISM STUDENT

Sturgeon Bay High School has announced new classes for next year’s school year 2025-2026. These classes will give students more ideas and opportunities to see what they are interested in for their future.

Students from Sturgeon Bay High School have chosen their classes for next year, realizing some are brand new. Mrs. O’Handley, the counselor at the high school, told us about the new classes, those being a part two to Journalism being taught by Ms. Augustson, History of Baseball taught by Mr. Blahnik and Graphic Design taught by Mrs. Herbst then asked her if she thinks students will enjoy these classes, to which she responded with, ¨I love journalism, that we are getting more into that, it’s a need in our world and graphic design I think is the way of the world as far as art goes, as more digital and at last history of baseball is very very popular a lot of kids are excited about it.¨ As shown Mrs. O’handley is very excited for these new classes to start. Now let’s see what the students think about it.

Makale Lucas is one of the students that will be taking history of baseball with Mr. Blahnik and Alex Mellen is

taking journalism two. Journalism two is a class that wants to, in the future, make their own news articles each week of the school events, and information to keep people updated and in communication. Alex is already taking journalism one so she knows about the techniques and how to write a true journalistic article making her perfect for journalism two to experience the real journalistic job. Onto asking Alex if she is excited about journalism two, her response being, ¨Yes I think it will be fun¨ and ¨It will really inspire people to join if they want to get into a real journalism career.¨ Which is hopefully what these classes do, give experience and ideas for students’ futures.

Such as Alex taking a new class, Makale is taking history of baseball which he is very excited about. ¨I am excited because we get to learn about how baseball became a thing and what it takes to make a good team and baseball is one of favorite sports¨ Just like the teacher teaching it and who created the class Mr. Blahnik, baseball is their favorite sport shown by his national baseball hall of fame. Mr. Blahnik is a really passionate teacher and is always talking about baseball

Incoming & Retiring Teachers at SBHS

ANNA HAGMAN, JOURNALISM STUDENT

At the end of the 2025 school year, the graduating seniors are taking with them two beloved teachers, Mr. Wind and Mr. Tess.

Mr. Wind and Mr. Tess have each worked at Sturgeon Bay High School for 31 years. They have each graced the highschools halls with their individual personalities, from being able to hear Mr. Wind teaching through the concrete walls to watching Mr. Leroy finally convince Mr. Tess to go on a rollercoaster at Physics Day in Six Flags.

Mr. Wind will be succeeded by Mr. Joly, who comes from a family of teachers and is originally from Seymour, Wisconsin. He is also a graduate of Beloit with a Bachelor’s degree and is a soon to be graduate of the University of Iowa with a Masters degree of Science in Statistics. Mr Joly is also currently working as a Teachers Assistant in the Statistics Department and was even nominated for Lead TA for Statistics in Business. Mr. Wind wants him to know that being a new teacher at a new school will come with some growing pains, and that Mr. Joly should “make sure that [he] starts out with high standards” and expectations for the students abilities. After retiring, Mr. Wind plans to spend his days traveling more often, spending more time with his family, and making improvements on his pickleball skills.

Mr. Tess is excited and anxious at the same time for his retirement but he feels confident in Ms. Incha’s abilities as a teacher and tells her to “teach what you know and enjoy the students.” Tess is retiring to spend more time with his family and relax, but he also is excited to get outside more and to golf, spend time on his boat, and snowmobile.

Mrs. Kiekhaefer, a fellow math teacher at the high school, who was taught by Mr. Wind back when he was a new teacher, views his retirement as bittersweet, as “He has been a staple of our math department for so many years.” She claims his humor, smarts, and dedication to the students will be greatly missed. Mrs. Kiekhaefer also recognizes that having a new math teacher, after so many years with Mr. Wind, will be a big adjustment, not just for the students but for the faculty as well. However, she has no qualms about Mr. Joly joining the team, adding that “the hope, of course, is that he will create a supportive classroom environment that encourages higher-level thinking.”

Mr. Leroy is one of the three science teachers at the high school, he has worked with Mr. Tess for 28 years.

Joining the school 3 years after Tess, he was quickly taken under his wing and throughout the 28 years Mr. Leroy has been at Sturgeon Bay he has modeled his teaching style after what he learned from him. Leroy believes that Ms. Incha will be able to fit in quite nicely with the faculty, and while touring the school it was clear that she would get along well with the students. Mr. Leroy has no doubt that Ms. Incha is qualified enough because she has experience with teaching as a long term substitute teacher, and she has (Mr. Tess’ empty classroom) even worked at NASA, solidifying her expansive knowledge.

The teachers sound very confident, but not all that confidence is shared within the student body. A Junior, named Sid Forest, has Mr Tess for chemistry and shares that they are sad about the loss of two very experienced teachers who knew how to effectively teach kids about very important subjects and classes. They also shared their worries about new teachers, having experienced quite a few within the last couple of years, “I’ve just noticed in young teachers’ first years that it can be a struggle to figure out [a] teaching style that works for them and is effective.” But despite these worries, Sid is still excited for new faces among the teachers and is sure that Mr. Joly and Ms. Incha will do great after their first years.

especially his favorite team Milwaukee Brewers so students will have so much fun with him learning more about baseball.

Unfortunately there wasn’t anyone to be found taking graphic design but it is still important to recognize because this class will give students a more of a visual on what the future may look like in the art world which is good. Just like Mrs. O’Handley said before, the art world will be turning to more digital and online work so this class will be giving good observational and hands-on learning for the students. As Sturgeon Bay High School offers these new classes it is in hopes that it will inspire students and hopefully give them ideas for their future. The new classes will be helping students in some way for their future, preparing them for what is coming up. Giving them the knowledge and the experience. Whether in art or journalism and even in history of baseball they should be able to see opportunities and learn new real world skills for their future selves. Also in hopes that the school will add more classes the year after that to give students even more ideas on what to do for their futures.

Sturgeon Bay High School sees Outstanding Academic Achievement

The class of 2025 just graduated at the end of May. The newest alumni of Sturgeon Bay High School will be missed and have left a lasting legacy at SBHS. The class graduated 87 students with 17 students graduating with honors (3.66 - 3.99 GPA) and another 9 students graduating with high honors (4.0 or above). 30% of Sturgeon Bay graduates earned honors or high honors recognition.

Three students were recognized with highest honors. Tre Wienke was named Sturgeon Bay Class of 2025 Salutatorian! He earned this distinction through tremendous hard work, dedication, and his focus to strive for excellence. We congratulate Tre for all he has accomplished.

In addition, we had two students who earned the title of Valedictorian. After 7 semesters of hard work, these two students tied for the highest grade point average of their class. Congratulations to Julia Michalski and Luke Selle for being recognized with the highest GPA of the class of 2025! Both students were outstanding representatives of what it means to be a Clipper! We wish all of our recent graduates all the best as they move forward in their next steps.

Upcoming Calendar Dates

SUNRISE ELEMENTARY

Still Making a Splash: Sunrise Students Swim Into Year Two

KYLE RETZLAFF, SUNRISE PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER

For the second consecutive year, 5th graders at Sunrise took swimming lessons at the Y as part of the Physical Education curriculum. Every 5th grade student at Sunrise had the opportunity to be involved in this amazing program. For five Tuesdays across parts of April and May, students were bussed to the Y and given lessons tailored to their skill level. The Y provides the facilities, lifeguards, and swim instructors, all at no cost to the students. On the first day, the instructors individually evaluate each student and sort them into groups based on their abilities. The groups include everything from students who can’t swim at all to very advanced swimmers who swim competitively.

The Y staff has been incredibly helpful in helping coordinate schedules and getting great instructors lined up to teach our students. At the time this article was written, students had only received three 45 minute lessons. The progress I’ve seen in just this short time has been impressive. The instructors really know their stuff and the kids have been doing a great job paying attention and working hard. I know from watching last year’s 5th graders, that there is no small number of students who are able to go from not being able to swim at all, to independently swimming the length of the pool by the time the 5 weeks are over.

I think it’s so awesome to give these kids the opportunity to develop or refine their swimming skills. It builds their self confidence and exposes them to a great form of lifelong, lowimpact exercise. It also gives them all a chance to experience the Y and learn a little more about this place in our community

that can help them with their health. Most importantly, the ability to swim and float can be a lifesaving ability. Our community is surrounded by water and a lot of activities take place on and near the water. In addition to learning how to swim, students also learn about water safety. They learn different tools, strategies, and skills that can be used to save themselves and others in life threatening situations.

On behalf of our Sunrise students and staff, I’d like to thank the Y employees who helped make this possible, especially the lifeguards, swim instructors, Heidi Honold and Matt Seward who helped coordinate everything and make our schedules work together. We look forward to continuing this partnership in future years.

A Day to Remember: Learning and Fun in Madison

BY: JENNY RABAS, 4TH GRADE TEACHER

The 4th grade class had the wonderful opportunity to travel to our state capital for a full day of learning and exploring. All three classes got the chance to tour the capitol and learn about the three branches of government. Our tour guides also explained the beautiful pieces of artwork on the walls and where the 43 different types of stone used in construction were sourced from. They allowed us to go to the observation deck within the capital and so we saw some spectacular Madison views. We even got to sit in the Wisconsin Assembly room and do a question and answer session with our Door County Representative, Joel Kitchens.

With the Wisconsin Historical Museum being under construction, we headed to their pop up location and did a session on historical artifacts and their significance. We also drove to the Geology Museum and had guided tours, allowing us to take a deeper look into Wisconsin’s history. We touched rocks from a time when there were volcanoes in Wisconsin and saw fossils of jellyfish and other sea creatures who used to swim where we walk now.

The weather was beautiful that day, so we were able to eat lunch on the steps of the capital and even do a little exploring at the Monona Terrace. Overall, it was an amazing trip! A big thank you to Jimmy Johns and Culvers for helping us fundraise and to our PTO for also helping us make this trip affordable to all students.

What is Bal-A-Vis-X?

Bal-A-Vis-X stands for Balance, Auditory, Vision eXercises. It is a series of rhythmic balance and coordination exercises developed by Bill Hubert, a long-time educator and martial artist. The program consists of carefully structured movements that integrate visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning modalities. These exercises often involve tools like sandbags and racquetballs, and they are performed either alone, with a partner, or in small groups.

The foundation of Bal-A-Vis-X lies in the principle of crosslateral integration, meaning it encourages both hemispheres of the brain to work together more efficiently. The exercises are designed to be repetitive and rhythmic, with an emphasis on precision, timing, and balance. The goal is not just physical coordination, but cognitive organization as well.

Benefits of Bal-A-Vis-X in Schools- Bal-A-Vis-X serves multiple purposes, supporting both academic and behavioral development.

• Improved Attention and Focus: Teachers often observe that students who regularly engage in Bal-A-Vis-X show increased attention spans and reduced impulsivity in class.

• Enhanced Academic Performance: The exercises prepare students’ brains and bodies for learning by improving sensory integration. This means students are better able to process what they hear, see, and feel—all critical for classroom success.

• Reduction in Classroom Disruptions: As students gain better self-regulation skills through rhythmic movement, they tend to exhibit calmer behavior and more appropriate responses to classroom demands.

• Improves Motor Skills: Bal-A-Vis-X develops gross and fine motor control, balance, and spatial awareness, which are essential not only for physical education but for tasks like handwriting and navigating the classroom.

• Inclusion and Accessibility: The program is adaptable to students of various ages and ability levels, making it inclusive for general education, special education, and occupational therapy settings.

• Promotes Social and Emotional Development: Group activities within Bal-A-Vis-X require cooperation, turn-taking, and peer interaction, helping students build communication and interpersonal skills.

Bal-A-Vis-X is more than just a physical activity—it is a powerful, research-supported tool that bridges the gap between movement and learning. In a school setting, it supports whole-child development by enhancing cognitive, physical, and emotional skills. With minimal equipment and significant benefits, Bal-A-Vis-X offers a practical and impactful approach to student success.

Four staff members of SBSD are currently working towards their Wisconsin School-Based Leader certification:

Sunrise Elementary Students Cash In for Fun and Positive Connections: Stroll With the SRO

AMANDA WILKE, THIRD GRADE TEACHER

At Sunrise Elementary, positive behavior isn’t just encouraged—it’s celebrated in a big way. Through an acknowledgment program known as Clipper Cash, students who follow the schoolwide expectations of Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe are recognized and rewarded by staff members.

The rewards don’t stop with the teachers. Students themselves can take part in recognizing good choices by giving out Kid Cash to their peers, spreading kindness and accountability throughout the school community. Even beyond the classroom, recognition continues: bus drivers are also able to award Clipper Cash to students who show respectful and safe behavior during their ride to and from school.

The real fun begins when students choose how to spend their hard-earned Clipper Cash. A variety of unique and memorable activities are offered to reward students and reinforce positive relationships with staff. Popular choices include Tattoo a Teacher, Getting a New ’Do in the Hair Chair, Bringing a Friend to Lunch with a Teacher, and even Taking Their Class on a Walking Field Trip.

However, the standout favorite this year has been the newest addition to the Clipper Cash rewards menu: Stroll with the SRO. Students have eagerly lined up to exchange their Clipper Cash for a chance to ride along with Officer Jennerjohn, the district’s School Resource Officer. The special outing includes a stop at Culver’s for some delicious custard before heading back to class.

More than just a sweet treat, the experience allows students to build positive relationships with law enforcement in a relaxed and supportive setting. During their ride, students are encouraged to ask questions and engage in meaningful conversation with Officer Jennerjohn, helping to strengthen trust and connection between the school community and law enforcement.

We are grateful to Officer Jennerjohn for sharing his time and positive energy with our students. His presence at Sunrise and his willingness to connect with kids in this way makes a lasting impact.

1. Ashley Hansen, Sawyer Elementary Special Education Case Manager

2. Jillian Laurent, Occupational Therapist

3. Carey Potier, Early Childhood Special Education Case Manager & District Program Support Teacher

4. Katie Rankin, Occupational Therapist

Bal-A-Vis-X has been monumental in changing behaviors and teaching both staff and students self-regulation strategies! Sturgeon Bay School District is excited to host a 2 day-inperson BAVX Training August 5th and 6th for 20 SBSD employees for their summer learning opportunity!

Field Trip Season: Exploring Safety, Nature, and History in Door County

BY: CHRISTEL RUDDY, 3RD GRADE TEACHER

Third graders at Sunrise Elementary ended the year with some wonderful field trips.

On May 14, third graders spent the day at the Fairgrounds, participating in the Second Annual Rural Safety Day, sponsored by the Door County Farm Bureau and the Door County Medical

Center. This free yearly event is open to all Door County third graders, and features safety stations targeting common causes of injuries to children. The students learned about water safety, electric safety, large and small animal safety, and fire safety, to name a few. Other favorite stations included talks from firefighters, first aid, veterans, and bike safety. They even got to see a police dog at work!

On May 21, third graders headed out to Newport State Park. They walked the beautiful Fern Trail, learning at interpretive stops along the way. The naturalist, Beth Bartoli, and several volunteers talked about the Dark Sky designation of the park, and about local pollinators. Students then created tiny homes for bees and other insects to take home.

Third graders at Sunrise took a final field trip to the Historic Village at Crossroads to learn about early life in Wisconsin!

Pictured: SRO Jennerjohn, Alana Keomaka, Sebastian Jauregui

Pictured: Occupational Therapists Jillian Laurent and Katie Rankin with Sunrise Students

Sawyer End of Year Family Celebration

BY MIRANDA EYTCHESON,

4K-2ND RELATED ARTS AND STEAM

TEACHER

We had a great time celebrating the end of another school year with our wonderful Sawyer families! This special event was made possible by our dedicated Family Engagement Committee, and

we’re so thankful for their efforts in bringing our community together. Families enjoyed snacks, played on the playgrounds, decorated birdhouses, and spent time playing board games. It was a fun and meaningful way to wrap up the year. Thank you to all who joined us—we truly appreciate your support and look forward to another great year ahead!

Another Successful Kindergarten Art Show!

BY MIRANDA EYTCHESON, 4K-2ND RELATED

TEACHER

ARTS AND STEAM

The kindergartners in Ms. Eytcheson’s art class proudly showcased their amazing artwork, highlighting their creativity and growth from the beginning of the year to now! Throughout the year, students “traveled” around the world — visiting places like Mexico, the Arctic, New Zealand, Australia, and Sweden — learning about each country and creating art inspired by its animals or cultural symbols. A big thank you to all the families who came out to support our young artists, and to the dedicated staff who helped make the event such a success! We are so proud of our little world travelers and their beautiful creations!

Sunrise Elementary Students Shine in Show and Tell and Talent Show

The final weeks of school at Sunrise Elementary are always full of excitement, and this year’s school-wide Show and Tell and Talent Show was no exception—bringing smiles, surprises, and plenty of school spirit.

During the morning’s Show and Tell, students proudly shared their collections and hobbies. Pokémon cards, sports medals, stuffed animals, and handmade crafts like paper monsters, clay animals, and friendship bracelets were all on display. Some students showcased unique hobbies such as fly tying, rock climbing, and even brought along live animals—ranging from a bearded dragon and a chicken to a peahen and several snakes!

Following Show and Tell, everyone gathered

in the gym for the much-anticipated Talent Show. The audience was wowed by wrestling moves, gymnastic feats, energetic dance routines, heartfelt singing, impressive piano playing, a Rubik’s Cube speed challenge, and a student who kept the crowd laughing with a series of clever jokes. The event wrapped up with a lively performance by the 5th grade band, ending the morning on a high note.

The entire event was organized and led by Sunrise’s talented music teacher, Ms. Cheryl Pfister, whose creativity and enthusiasm helped make the day a memorable success.

It was a joyful celebration of creativity, confidence, and talent—a perfect way to close out the school year.

Sawyer School Celebrates the End of a Fantastic School Year!

BY MIRANDA EYTCHESON, 4K-2ND RELATED ARTS AND STEAM TEACHER

To mark the end of another wonderful school year, Sawyer School hosted a funfilled celebration for just the students, thanks to the collaborative efforts of our Student Acknowledgement Committee and Tier 1 Committee. The day kicked off with a fun run along the scenic Sawyer trail, where students earned medals for their efforts. After the run, everyone enjoyed a relaxing lunch accompanied by smooth jazz tunes performed by our talented middle school jazz band. The fun continued with a variety of creative activities, including DIY bug crafts and colorful beaded caterpillars. Students then teamed up with their classes for a nature scavenger hunt, exploring and discovering together. The celebration wrapped up with playful activities on the playground— bubbles, chalk art, water games, and a refreshing fruity pop treat to top it all off. What a joyful way to celebrate the achievements of the year and kick off the summer!

Pictured: 3rd grader Zinnia Ulrich Pictured: 3rd grader Annabel Smullen

Pictured: 3rd grader Calvin Adams

Pictured: 3rd grader Willow Santy

Pictured: 4th graders Audrey Luberger, Ingrid Back, and Harper Jennerjohn

Pictured: 3rd grader Kailey Jeanquart and 4th grader Eleanor Matson

Pictured: 3rd grader Ruby Gruber and 4th grader Leanna Luebker

Pictured: 3rd grader Zakhar Parkhomenko

TJ WALKER MIDDLE SCHOOL

Holocaust Survivor Speaks at Sturgeon Bay Secondary Schools

A Holocaust survivor spoke to TJ Walker Middle School’s 8th grade and high school students on Friday, May 30th sharing her experience about growing up during World War II.

86-year-old Ida Paluch Kersz was only three when her family was forced to live in a ghetto after her home was invaded by Nazi Germany. She lost her mother and felt estranged from her father after he went to fight in the Polish Army. Kersz was also separated from her twin brother, whom she reunited with 52 years later. Kersz released a book titled “Unveiled Memories” which tells the story of their reunion.

Kersz hopes recounting her experiences with antisemitism during World War II can change the oppression Jewish communities face today. “Right now,

antisemitism is growing like a disease and I’m trying [to give] my little input so people will hear and spread the word to others.”

Marqus Greer, ashared, “I found her personal insight and story empowering. Ida displayed a deeper strength than more dudes I know and remained brave throughout her experience. Some may view it as tragic. However, to me, the miracle is she survived and shared her story with us.”

Kersz is a Holocaust survivor that Rachel Miller and Stacy Judas have welcomed to speak to the 8th grade and Sturgeon Bay High School students. Her presentation connects with our 8th grade students’ annual Washington D.C. trip.

TJ Walker Middle School Students

Four students from TJ Walker Middle School in Sturgeon Bay achieved impressive results at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Problem Solving Math Meet, held this spring at the UW-Oshkosh campus. The event drew more than 1,000 students from schools across the state, all competing in a series of challenging mathematical problem-solving activities.

The annual math meet is designed to push students beyond standard classroom math, offering complex problems that require logical reasoning, critical thinking, and creativity. The competition includes both individual and team events and features multiple rounds that test students’ skills in algebra, geometry, number theory, and general problem-solving. After the math competition, students were able to attend breakout sessions all focused on real-world math. Students were able to select sessions on Nursing, Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, STEM, Kinesiology, Geography, and Video Game Creation. Breakout sessions were led by UWOshkosh students and faculty members. Students loved the freedom to choose their breakout sessions and navigate the campus to find their sessions. Student Penny Kiedrowski commented, “ It was a really fun experience, and they had a huge variety of fun activities, complete with DIY stations and projects. The nurse stations were especially fun, and it was fascinating experimenting with many different medical simulations.”

Megan Selle commented, “I like the competition because it is fun and I love math. Many of the problems use logic and reasoning and make you think in different ways. The afternoon sessions are fun and interesting. I attended “Bacteria at the Beach,” and liked it because we got to do a science experiment testing the bacteria levels in water using a black light and mathematical charts.”

The team’s success is a testament to the hard work and preparation that went into the event. The students spent weeks practicing challenging problems, developing strategies, and working together to build their confidence.

MIDDLES & LITTLES

Kind Clipper Club is a club offered at the middle school for students who want to give back to their community. Students consider different needs their school and community have, and develop plans throughout the year to give back. From bell ringing for the Salvation Army to playing BINGO with a local assisted living home, students get to be an integral part of their community and in the joy of giving.

Additionally this year, two seventh grade students, Penny Kiedrowski and Ella Nerby, proposed an idea where they could encourage good reading habits and the importance of having books to read at home along with school. The two girls then presented the grant idea for the Door County Community Foundation in December 2024, and received a generous donation that they used to purchase as many books as they could for elementary students.

Representing TJ Walker Middle School, students Elliessa Andropolis, Avery Hanson, Sawyer Hanson, and Megan Selle all turned in exceptional performances. Elliessa Andropolis, Avery Hanson, and Sawyer Hanson each finished in the top 10% of their grade-level divisions, distinguishing themselves among the top young mathematicians in the region. Perhaps the most outstanding result of the day came from Megan Selle, who placed 2nd overall in the 9th-grade competition!

Sturgeon Bay Volume 1 Issue 4

The Clipper Connection is brought to you by the Sturgeon Bay Schools Newsletter Committee: Allison Haus, Rachel Maurer, Lauren Meacham, Jenna Auguston, Mandy Schoeneman, Kasee Jandrin, Miranda Eytcheson, Stephen Jacobson, Katy Devillers, Katie Smullen, Mark Smullen, Keith Nerby, Jen Paye-Weber, Lindsay Ferry, Ann DeMeuse, Dan Tjernagel

Contributors:

AMANDA WILKE, MIRANDA EYTCHESON, ASHLY RUIZ, ANNA HAGMAN, KYLE RETZLAFF, JENNY RABAS, JILLIAN LAURENT, CHRISTEL RUDDY

TJ Walker Band Performs at “Beyond the Notes” Music Festival

On Friday, May 23rd, the 7th grade band from TJ Walker Middle School made its debut at the Beyond the Notes Music Festival, held at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells.

This exciting event brought together middle school bands and orchestras from across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois for a day filled with music, learning, and fun.

The TJ Walker band performed a concert program for two distinguished guest clinicians. Their selections included Kilauea by Brian Balmages, Before the Dawn by Liliana Alarcon, and The Burning of the Royal Fortune by Ryan Meeboer. In preparation for the festival, students researched and wrote program notes for each

Bookmobile Visits

Kindergarten - 6th Grade

The Door County Bookmobile visited Sturgeon Bay Schools for a Spring visit! They generously provided an opportunity for every 4K-6th grade student to visit the new bookmobile. Students enjoyed browsing the shelves and were thrilled to learn they were able to receive a new book at the end of their visit. A huge thank you to the Door County Bookmobile for including our students on your Spring calendar.

piece, which were shared with both clinicians and audience members. Following the performance, the band had the unique opportunity to work directly with Dr. Phil Ostrander of the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and retired Col. Jason Fettig, 28th Director of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. Both clinicians offered insightful feedback through hands-on instruction, as well as written and recorded comments.

In addition to their musical achievements, the students enjoyed the resort’s 125,000 square-foot indoor water park and Tom Foolery’s Indoor Adventure Park, making for a memorable day of camaraderie and celebration.

TJ Walker Middle School is already looking forward to returning to the festival next year on May 21, 2026!

MS Boat Regatta

The Door County Maritime Museum collaborated with our 7th grade STEM students. Our annual cardboard regatta program was held April 30th at the Door County YMCA.

The cardboard regatta teaches engineering, problem-solving and teamwork. Students worked in small groups planning, engineering, then testing their watercraft at the YMCA pool.

The Door County Maritime Museum’s Educational Programs Coordinator, Andrea Stromeyer, and TJ Walker’s YMCA collaborated on this educational outreach program that aligns with Wisconsin state curricular guidelines and standards.