Merrill Area Public Schools

🎉 Congratulations, Olivia! 🎉 Join us in celebrating Olivia Pajtash as the February Youth Optimist of the Month! 🌟 Her dedication, hard work, and positive impact make her truly deserving of this recognition. Way to go, Olivia! We are proud of you! 💙👏 #WeAreMAPS

🌟 Custodial/Maintenance Employee of the Month 🌟 🎉 Congratulations to Inga Fredericks! 🎉 We want to take a moment to recognize Inga for her incredible communication, organization, and willingness to help. No matter how many times she’s called on the radio, she always responds with kindness and professionalism. Her dedication and efficiency never go unnoticed—whenever she’s given a task, she completes it quickly and thoroughly. Merrill High School is lucky to have her, and we are grateful for all she does to keep things running smoothly. Thank you, Inga, for your hard work and commitment! 💙👏 #WeAreMAPS

🎙️ Tune In! 🎙️ Superintendent Shannon Murray and Board President Kevin Blake recently joined Bluejay Radio's Community Scan to discuss key topics from the last Regular Board of Education Meeting. Stay informed and hear the latest updates! 🎧 Listen to the full interview here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jRoyjVGe4MCUfxOoQtHP-mdaTgfgQ2Ja/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jY2cOv_fWUvbJj4PrJtBzYbg5Hph4gRo/view?usp=sharing #WeAreMAPS

Good morning everyone- Due to the weather and driving conditions that are expected to worsen throughout the morning and day, all Merrill Area Public Schools are closed today. Thanks everyone, and have a good day. Please share. #WeAreMAPS

Good afternoon everyone- I wanted to take a moment to update you on the upcoming winter weather we are expecting overnight and into tomorrow and to share our plan regarding that weather. Here are the main points at this time: - There appears to be some confusion surrounding the fact that we are under a Winter Weather Warning for tomorrow and that triggering an "automatic" school cancellation. Automatic cancellations only take place when we are under an Extreme Cold Warning (temperatures or wind chills colder than -35). That is not the case for tomorrow. - MAPS, like many districts in our area, are taking a wait and see approach, watching as things develop throughout the day as forecasts are still varied regarding when the rain turns to snow, expected snowfall totals, wind speeds, timing, etc. My guess is that the decision will likely be made based on best information tonight or even early tomorrow morning. - As always, I respect the fact that parents make the ultimate decision regarding what's best for their children and families, so if conditions warrant a family deciding to keep their students home due to inclement weather, I certainly support that. I will keep you posted as things develop. Thanks, Shannon Murray Superintendent

Join us this April for our upcoming Lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor courses! Whether you’re looking to build lifesaving skills, take on more responsibility, or earn some extra money, these courses are a great opportunity. Don’t miss your chance to get certified and make a difference! Sign up today! 💙 Please share! #WeAreMAPS 📅 Courses begin in April 📩 For more details, contact Eric Ball at eric.ball@mapsedu.org 💻 More information here: Lifeguarding https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Wf5ZbgJbkRhe9lENqSaPWimFvFvkRflNBq4ItMzG3R0/edit?tab=t.0 Water Safety Instructor https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gubX0KAsGFv6bOn-_BImMsjR0bfZqtkIDcbGScxAatQ/edit?tab=t.0

🔧 Happy National Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day! 🏫✨ On March 4, we celebrate the hardworking maintenance team at MAPS who keep our schools running smoothly every day! From ensuring our buildings are safe and clean to handling repairs and upkeep, their behind-the-scenes efforts make a huge difference for our students and staff. Join us in thanking our incredible maintenance workers for their dedication and commitment to our schools! 💙👏 #WeAreMAPS

💙 Happy National School Social Worker Week! 💙 (March 2-8, 2025) This week, we celebrate and appreciate our incredible school social workers—Sarah Grunenwald, Sara Klebenow, Trisha Kubichek, and Kelli Morgan! 🌟 Their dedication to supporting students and families makes a lasting impact, helping ensure that every child has the resources and support they need to succeed. Thank you for all you do! 👏💙 #WeAreMAPS

🥞🍎 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