Merrill Area Public Schools

Are you interested in trying out for the Merrill High School Cheer Team as a Cheerleader or a Bluejay Mascot for the 2026-2027 School Year? If so, please see the attached flyer with all of the details! Registration is open now through March 20, 2026.

https://forms.gle/5dZWuXCXK6MuRr8QA

Please contact Head Coach Sarah Fuchs with any questions. sarah.fuchs@mapsedu.org

#WeAreMAPS

Four 6th-grade music students were selected to perform at this year's AWAKE Honors Choir experience at Lakeland University in Plymouth, WI. Students spent last Saturday rehearsing with other selected students from other schools and put together an amazing concert that afternoon. Students were prepared by Mrs. Tiffany Bucheger and directed during the event by Karrie Been, President-Elect of the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, among her many other roles and designations.

Congratulations to Turner Bonnell, Piper Van Lieshout, Renlee Schwartzman, and (not pictured) Tayjah McDaniel for being selected for this opportunity! Thank you for showing off MAPS Music Excellence! 🎶 #WeAreMAPS

💙 National School Social Work Week is March 1–7, 2026 💙

This week, we proudly recognize and thank our dedicated school social workers for the impact they make in the lives of our students and families each day. Their compassion, advocacy, and support help remove barriers and ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Please join us in celebrating:

💙 Kaylin Catlin – PRSYL
💙 Sarah Grunenwald – KATE
💙 Sara Klebenow – PRMS
💙 Trisha Kubichek – MHS
💙 Kelli Morgan – WASH

Thank you for all you do to support the whole child and strengthen our school community. We appreciate you! ✨

#WeAreMAPS

📢 Reminder for Families 📢

🚨 No School for Grades K-4 on Friday, February 27, 2026 🚨

This day is dedicated to Professional Learning for our K-4 teaching and support staff. Our team will be focusing on enhancing their understanding and implementation of the Science of Reading through LETRS training.

Thank you for your support as we continue to strengthen literacy education for our students! 📚✨ Please share. #WeAreMAPS

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month and students at MHS with an interest in the electrical trade had the opportunity to attend an informative career presentation hosted by IBEW Local 388. MHS alumnus Breck Buntrock, along with membership development representative Andy Becker, shared their personal experiences in the electrical field. They provided valuable insight into the day-to-day responsibilities of an electrician, discussed training and apprenticeship opportunities and highlighted the rewarding career paths available in the industry. #WeAreMAPS

🌱🥬 The 4th grade Washington Green Team harvested their latest crop of hydroponic lettuce yesterday! Today they are serving the 3rd graders with home grown salad to complement their lunch. The team meets weekly during their recess and lunch to learn and work on their gardening.

#WeAreMAPS

🎉 February is Career & Technical Education (CTE) Month — and we’re celebrating in a BIG way across Wisconsin!

At the Merrill FAB Lab, hands-on learning is turning into real-world success! 🚀

👏 This month, we’re proud to recognize 330 students who earned a nationally recognized 3D printing certification through National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) in partnership with Dremel.

These students are building skills for the future - in manufacturing, design, engineering, and beyond!

CTE is shaping tomorrow’s workforce TODAY! 💡

#CTEMonth #CTEMonthWI #MerrillFABLab #StudentSuccess #FutureReady #HandsOnLearning #CareerTechEd #3DPrintingSuccess #WeAreMAPS

Officers from the Raise Your Voice club at the high school stopped in today to talk with our members here at the middle school about the importance of being a supportive peer and knowing when to connect someone with help.

Our members all became Green Bandana certified, which means they are trained to recognize when a peer may be struggling, offer a supportive listening ear, and connect them with a trusted adult or appropriate resources.

They also helped create clothespins for Random Acts of Kindness Week to spread positivity next week at the high school.

We truly have the most compassionate students here in Merrill! 💚 #WeAreMAPS

In honor of Valentine’s Day and our Attitude of Gratitude mindset, students are celebrating “self-love” by practicing positive affirmations! ❤️ Taking time to recognize their strengths and to speak kindly to themselves is such a powerful way to build confidence and resilience.

We are also reminding our students how important it is to express gratitude each and every day. When we focus on what we are thankful for, we help create a more positive, supportive school community. 💕

We are thrilled to bring back sewing to PRMS after 20 years with our brand-new Stitch Studio course for 7th graders! 🧵✨ A huge thank you to Casey's Sewing Center in Clinton, WI and Janome Company for donating 20 sewing machines to make this possible. Our students are excited for this course in which they will create their own drawstring bags, gaining career-ready skills in design, time management, attention to detail, problem solving and precision.

#WeAreMAPS

🔧✨ Celebrating CTE Month at Merrill High School! ✨🔧

We’re proud to highlight the incredible work happening in the Merrill High School FAB Lab — where creativity meets real-world skills every day! From hands-on manufacturing and design to problem-solving and innovation, our students are gaining career-ready experience that prepares them for the future.

CTE isn’t just learning - it’s doing, building, and creating. And the FAB Lab is a perfect example of how Merrill is shaping tomorrow’s workforce today!

👏 Way to go students and staff for the amazing work you do!

#CTEMonth #MerrillHighSchool #FABLab #FutureReady #HandsOnLearning #CTEProud #WeAreMAPS

🌟 February Youth Optimist – Congratulations, Jazi! 🌟

Jazi has been named the MHS February Youth Optimist! Nominated by Mr. Rob Klug, she is recognized for her strong work ethic, positive attitude, and dedication both in and out of the classroom.

A true leader at MHS, Jazi is actively involved in Jr. Optimist, Raise Your Voice, National Honor Society, Student Council, varsity athletics, and much more.

After graduation, she plans to pursue a degree in Exercise Science and become an Occupational or Physical Therapist.

We are proud of you, Jazi! 👏💙 #WeAreMAPS

Registration for the 4th Annual UCA Cheer Camp is open now through March 20th! This camp is open to students in grades 6-12 for the 2026-2027 school year.

https://forms.gle/VbbXJMNDJ7aZ8qzy5

Thank you ~~ Coach Sarah

Happy CTE Month!

Family and Consumer Sciences is so much more than cooking and sewing. It’s about building real-life skills that students will use forever.

Family & Consumer Sciences helps students become confident, capable, and career-ready. Whether they’re heading straight into the workforce, technical college, or a four-year university, the skills learned in FCS set them up for success in life.

We are proud to empower students with hands-on experiences that connect learning to the real world every single day.

#WeAreMAPS

☕Coffee with the Superintendent ☕

Join Superintendent Shannon Murray for an informal conversation about what’s happening in the district!

🗓 Tuesday, February 24, 2026
🕗 8:00–9:00 a.m.
📍 Pine Ridge Family Restaurant – 1302 N Center Avenue, Merrill

This is a great opportunity to learn more about district updates and ask questions in a casual setting.

Topics will include:
•2026-2027 Budget
• Prairie River Middle School facilities study

We hope to see you there! 💙 Please share! #WeAreMAPS

🚍 Bus Driver Appreciation Week | February 9–13, 2026

This week, we celebrate our incredible bus drivers who safely transport our students each day with care, patience, and a smile. Rain, snow, early mornings, and long routes—our drivers do it all. Thank you for being such an essential part of our school community. We appreciate you! #WeAreMAPS

🎉 February is Career & Technical Education (CTE) Month at Merrill Area Public Schools! 🎉

We’re proud to celebrate the hands-on learning, real-world skills, and career pathways our students experience every day through our CTE programs. From manufacturing and engineering to business, agricultural education, family & consumer sciences, and the skilled trades, our students are building the knowledge and confidence needed for future success - right here in our community.

Thank you to our amazing educators, local business partners, and families who support career-ready learning for all Bluejays! 💙

#CTEMonth #WeAreMAPS #FutureReady #HandsOnLearning #CareerReady #CTEWorks

Superintendent Shannon Murray recently joined Jeff on WJJQ Radio in Tomahawk for a conversation about property taxes and district-related topics. Thank you to WJJQ for the opportunity to share important information with our community.

🎧 Listen to the interview here: https://www.wjjq.com/pg/podcasts_news

#WeAreMAPS