Merrill Area Public Schools

🥞🍎 It’s National School Breakfast Week! 🥣🎉 From March 3-7, we’re celebrating the importance of a nutritious school breakfast in fueling students for a successful day of learning! A healthy breakfast helps improve focus, energy, and overall well-being—setting students up for success in the classroom. Join us in recognizing the amazing school nutrition staff who work hard to provide delicious and balanced breakfast options every day! 🍽️💙 #WeAreMAPS

🚀 Future Entrepreneurs in Action! 🚀 Mrs. Pernsteiner’s 8th Grade Career & Entrepreneurship students wrapped up their big project by creating and selling their own products to PRMS students! 🎉 Through this hands-on experience, they learned the ins and outs of mass production, marketing, and sales. A big shoutout to the incredible PRMS teachers for their support—whether it was lending equipment or bringing students to shop, you helped make this event a success! 🎉 And of course, thank you to all the students who brought money and supported our young entrepreneurs by purchasing some of their amazing products! 🛍️ From delicious treats like Flowberry Fizz, Ecto Coolers, root beer floats, flavored popcorn, walking tacos, homemade Instant Pot mac & cheese, cookie dough, dirt cups, and chocolate-covered pretzels to creative handcrafted items like Rock-a-Pus, slime, pet rocks, keychains, and pipe cleaner snails—there was something for everyone! 💡💰 #WeAreMAPS

🌟 Congratulations to our 3rd Quarter YA Student Stars! 🌟 We are proud to recognize the Merrill High School Youth Apprenticeship (YA) Student Stars for the 3rd Quarter! 🎉 These students have demonstrated hard work, dedication, and excellence in their workplaces, gaining valuable real-world experience along the way. Join us in celebrating their achievements! 👏💙 #WeAreMAPS

🌿 Growing and Learning! 🌱 Students in Mrs. Whooley Jepson's class had a great time planting an aloe plant, thanks to the generosity of Shara Allen! 🌿🪴 Hands-on learning experiences like this help students connect with nature while developing responsibility and care for living things. Thank you, Shara, for your kindness and for helping our students grow—both in and out of the classroom! 💙 #WeAreMAPS

🎙️ Bluejay Radio Update! 📻 Heather Soberg, Director of Human Resources, recently joined Community Scan on Bluejay Radio to share exciting updates about MAPS! She discussed our summer school program and the Brain Boost program, Community Education classes, declining enrollment, the hiring season, and other upcoming events. 🎧 Tune in to the full interview here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g_HwfMyJ7LH-2BRMhIXU0AwqlANXzZ4V/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gaqRjhDsqaHYsctx92XMTigMZQRMJnDX/view?usp=sharing Stay informed about what’s happening in our schools! 💙 #WeAreMAPS

🚍 Honoring 65 Years of Service! 🎉 This morning at the Bus Driver Appreciation Breakfast, the Wendorf Family was recognized for an incredible 65 years of dedicated busing services to MAPS! 🏫💙 Their commitment to safely transporting generations of students is truly remarkable, and we are so grateful for their years of service. Thank you to the Wendorf Family for your unwavering dedication to our schools and community! 👏💙 #WeAreMAPS

🎉 Happy Public Schools Week! 📚💙 This week, we celebrate the incredible students, dedicated educators, and supportive staff who make MAPS a great place to learn and grow! Public schools play a vital role in shaping our future by providing inclusive, high-quality education for all. Join us in recognizing the hard work and dedication of everyone who helps make MAPS a strong and supportive learning community. 💙 #PublicSchoolsWeek #WeAreMAPS #BluejayPride

In honor of CTE month, and FFA Week this week, we share with you some information about both. In 1917, the Smith Hughes Act was passed, which allowed for classes like agriculture, industrial trades (Tech Ed classes), and home economics (now Family & Consumer Education) to be taught in schools across the country. Agriculture involves all aspects of our lives, including the food that we eat, the clothes on our back, building materials for our houses, and even sometimes the fuel for our engines. In 1928, FFA was first chartered. Our local chapter in Merrill was created in 1932. Currently there are over 1 million FFA members in all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. FFA teaches students leadership skills, public speaking skills, professional growth, and of course about agriculture. Currently, Merrill FFA has about 82 members, with more than half of those being females. Pictured below, are Kaylynn Allen and Sophie Koehler, who last week attended the Farm Forum Conference sponsored by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, where they learned about different career paths in agriculture. #WeAreMAPS

JOIN OUR TEAM!! Certified staff vacancies: https://wecan.waspa.org/Employer/Vacancy/PublicCertified/3546 Support staff vacancies: https://wecan.waspa.org/Employer/Vacancy/PublicSupport/3546 Please share! #WeAreMAPS

Recognized at last night's Board meeting was the 6th Grade Team: Megan Spoon, Kelly Kraegenbrink, Casie Wroblewski, Kim Dorow, Hannah Horenberger, and Tami Henrichs, for organizing an incredible Bluejay Huddle Assembly. Their hard work in planning, gathering equipment, and creating an event that brought students and staff together was truly appreciated. The assembly was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to have fun, support one another, and build school spirit. Students had a fantastic time, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and teamwork of the 6th-grade team. #WeAreMAPS

Recognized at last night's Board meeting were the following PRSYL Pupil Service Staff: Mollie Hartwig, Kristine Koerner-Bowe, Nicki Taves, Diane Cashman and Carrie Roth for their unwavering commitment to providing exemplary support to students and families. The dedication they show in continuously evaluating, writing, and revising IEPs, often dedicating countless hours beyond your regular workday, does not go unnoticed. Your efforts make a profound difference in the lives of the children and families you serve. Thank you for all that you do! #WeAreMAPS

Mark Mehlos and his therapy dogs, Kiva and Tucker, have provided extraordinary volunteer service to our schools. They have become an invaluable part of the MAPS community, touching the lives of countless students and staff alike. For nearly 10 years his work has supported and enriched our students' social and emotional well-being in ways words can hardly capture. Mark's therapy dogs have brought comfort and joy to children across all MAPS buildings. From helping students read in the classrooms and library, to providing support in the offices of social workers and counselors, Mark has played an integral role in creating a positive and supportive environment for our students. His dogs have been a source of calm on our playgrounds and have helped students navigate moments of anxiety and stress. Therapy dogs like Kiva and Tucker provide so much more than affection—they help lower anxiety, improve emotional regulation, and create an environment where children feel safe and heard. Whether it’s reading with a reluctant child or offering a comforting paw during a difficult moment, Kiva and Tucker provide therapeutic benefits that support the mental health and well-being of our students. Mark’s unwavering dedication to our students has brought immeasurable joy and comfort to our community. His contributions over the years deserve formal recognition by the school board. #WeAreMAPS

Last night our Board recognized Theresa Swiechowski for being an invaluable asset to assisting and supporting our MAPS families with housing-related challenges. Theresa is in a housing navigator position through a partnership MAPS has with Children’s Wisconsin. She works hand in hand with the school social workers and she works tirelessly to make sure individuals have access to basic necessities. A few words of appreciation from our school social workers: Theresa has a giving heart and is willing to go above and beyond to support families in Merrill when housing does not feel possible. I value her time, thoughts, and her ability to ensure our students are safe and have adequate housing. She thinks creatively and is diligent to ensure our families have all needs met beyond housing. She ensures support continues after housing is secured including transportation, laundry services, food, utilities, and mental health services. Theresa exemplifies the spirit of service and compassion, transforming the lives of the families she assists and creating a ripple effect of positive change within our community. Theresa, thank you for being an amazing and incredible person. You are an absolute gift to our district. #WeAreMAPS

📻 Merrill High School Principal, Trisha Detert, recently joined Community Scan on Bluejay Radio to share some exciting updates! She discussed the start of a new semester at MHS, the Winterfest celebration, and important details about registration for the 2025-26 school year. She also highlighted Scholarship Season, college tours and other upcoming events. Tune in to stay informed about what’s happening at MHS and throughput the district! 💙🎓 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eaF0miFfMrn8SerfcXvOAXfXbkJ7HeHy/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1em6NlCpZSm3L9uF7hk-9FXh9cH56XMJ2/view?usp=sharing #WeAreMAPS

The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Cold Warning for tomorrow so school will be cancelled on Tuesday, February 18th. After school and evening athletic events, and community education classes are NOT cancelled for Tuesday night and will take place as scheduled. Thank you and stay warm. Please share.

Jameson Morgan and Leo Lazare both did an amazing job this past weekend representing MAPS in the Central Wisconsin Children's Theater production of Les Miserables! The show is an amazing exhibition of the theater talent by students across Central Wisconsin. You can still see these students perform next weekend by reserving tickets at https://cwct.booktix.com/. #WeAreMAPS

🎙️ Bluejay Radio’s Community Scan Featuring Ryan Martinovici! 🎙️ Ryan Martinovici, Director of PRSYL/Head Start/4K/Early Childhood, recently joined Bluejay Radio’s Community Scan recently to share exciting updates! Topics included: 🌲 School Forest activities 🥦 Healthy lifestyle lessons for PRSYL students 📚 Literacy initiatives 🎭 Children of Wisconsin 🧠 7 Mindsets & Act 20 training 📅 Upcoming events and more! 🎧 Click the links below to listen to the full interview! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1af4QUaRufOB4UnXPLGeOwPZOEQ8Yt2Fi/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aqGN9JgUlZYrDnPLopIHZUJ3Nv8NCPfB/view?usp=sharing #WeAreMAPS

🔧✨ Celebrating Our SkillsUSA Competitors! ✨🔩 As part of CTE Month and SkillsUSA Week, a few members of our Merrill High School SkillsUSA Team put their skills to the test at a competition at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau! 🏅 Congratulations to Miah for earning 3rd place in the Job Demonstration Competition! 👏 🔢🛠️ We also had strong performances in Related Technical Math and Woodworking Display. We are so proud of all our Bluejays for their hard work and dedication! 💙 #WeAreMAPS

📣 Registration Now Open for the 3rd Annual UCA Cheer Camp! 🎉📢 Calling all future cheerleaders! Registration is officially open for the 3rd Annual UCA Cheer Camp, happening soon! This camp is open to students entering grades 7-12 for the 2025-2026 school year. 📅 Registration Deadline: February 28th 📍 Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to learn, grow, and cheer with the best! Sign up today and join us for an unforgettable experience! https://forms.gle/NUWDTp3xvhqGWwY38 Thank you, ~~ Coach Sarah #WeAreMAPS

📢 Exciting News! More Winter Swim Lessons Added! 🏊‍♂️❄️ Due to high demand, we’re opening up Session 3 of winter swim lessons! If you were on the waitlist or missed out on registration, now’s your chance! 📅 Dates: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings 📍 Session 3 Runs: March 3 – March 21 🏊‍♀️ Available Levels: Learn to Swim Levels 1 & 2 Spots are limited, so be sure to sign up soon! For more details and registration info, visit https://www.mapsedu.org/page/pool-schedule-information or contact Eric Ball, MAPS Aquatics Director - 715.536.9593, ext. 17030 eric.ball@mapsedu.org. Please share! #WeAreMAPS