Prairie River Middle School

Mrs. Goeden's class was the first 5th grade group to go out to Camp Birch Trails for their spring school forest trip. It was a great day of learning about water ecology, and of course the traditional turtle race. #WeAreMAPS

Dear Merrill Community, We are excited to announce that registration for Summer Swim Lessons at the MAPS Pool is now open! Whether your child is just starting out or looking to improve their swimming skills, our summer classes offer a great opportunity to stay active and safe in the water. To view class schedules and additional details, please visit: 🔗 https://www.mapsedu.org/page/pool-schedule-information Please note: All swim lesson registrations will now be processed through our Community Education program. To sign up, simply create an account on RecDesk and follow the prompts to register. We truly appreciate your continued support of the MAPS Pool and our community programs. Thank you for helping us keep this vital resource thriving for all Merrill families! #WeAreMAPS

- Frank Montano Brings Native Music to Life for Prairie River Middle School Fifth Graders - This past Thursday, fifth graders at Prairie River Middle School experienced a unique and inspiring musical performance. In a special event held in the school cafeteria, Native American musician Frank Montano visited from the Red Cliff Reservation to share his culture and music with the students. Montano, a respected Native Woodland flute player, brought with him an assortment of handmade instruments, each with its own story and sound. His visit was especially meaningful, as his own sons attended Merrill High School during the 1970s and 1980s. Now, 50 years later, Montano returned to the Merrill community to express the importance of preserving Native traditions and sharing Indigenous voices with younger generations. The event was part of a larger unit in Mr. Rethaber’s general music class, where students have been learning about Wisconsin’s diverse musical traditions through a collection called  Down Home Dairyland. This educational resource highlights a wide range of folk and traditional music styles from across the state, helping students connect with local culture through sound. During his presentation, Montano demonstrated the unique tones and textures of his Native Woodland flutes. He captivated the students by imitating animal calls and showing how each instrument is crafted to reflect nature. One of the instruments he used a rain stick made from a Mexican cactus offered an example of how natural materials can be transformed into sound- makers. “I thought it was cool how many different instruments he used and how he played a variety of sounds for us,” said one student. Another fifth grader shared, “I liked the bird musical sound and whistles.” A classmate added, “I really appreciated all the different stories he told.” Montano's performance was more than just a musical demonstration; it was a powerful lesson in cultural respect, creativity, and the value of diversity in education. By bringing traditional Native music to life, he left students with a memorable and meaningful experience that connected history, art, and storytelling.

- Dress like your teacher day! - What a fun way to celebrate teacher appreciation week! #PRMSstrong

- 7 Mindsets - As the season of new beginnings, spring arrived, and our students embraced it with a creative and heartwarming project in the cafeteria! They crafted colorful flowers, each one a unique expression of their artistic spirit. But these weren't just ordinary decorations; upon each petal, the students thoughtfully put the many things, big and small, for which they feel grateful. Now, as they go about their day, everyone in the cafeteria is surrounded by this beautiful display, serving as a constant and gentle reminder of the abundance of blessings in their lives and fostering an Attitude of Gratitude within our school community.

Thank you to Merrill Walmart for donating cupcakes, a new Keurig and (hopefully) enough coffee to get us to the end of the year! ☕️ We appreciate the generosity during teacher appreciation week!

For Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re excited to celebrate the incredible educators who make a difference every day. Today, we want to shine a spotlight on our dedicated 5th grade teaching team, whose passion and commitment inspire our students to reach new heights. Thank you for all you do!

- Teacher Appreciation Week - Shoutout to our wonderful 6th, 7th and 8th grade student council members for surprising our teachers this morning! It was a lovely breakfast! Great way to start a Monday!!

- 8th Grade Law Fair - On NationalLaw Day, 8th grade students had the exciting opportunity to attend the Law Expo, where they explored a wide range of legal fields and careers. The event featured a diverse group of presenters representing various areas of law, including criminal, civil, environmental, corporate, and family law. Students engaged in interactive sessions, asked thoughtful questions, and gained insight into the many roles within the justice system. The experience broadened their understanding of how laws shape society and sparked curiosity about potential future careers in the legal field. Head on over to WJFW's website to watch our news story! https://www.wjfw.com/10pm-newscast/video_4fa84a28-e7b3-515e-9587-0e6800f15a2f.html

Not all heroes wear capes! 🦸🏼‍♀️ 🙌🏻

- Tattoo the Teacher - On Wednesday students got to see their teachers all "tatted" up, all because they donated to the Bluejay Nest! Overall, students donated $197, which will go directly to helping our students here at school! Our Bluejay Nest provides essentials for students to be their best at school!

👏🏻 A huge Thank You to Mrs. Schultz today on Principal Appreciation Day! 👏🏻

2024-2025 PRAIRIE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL 3RD QUARTER HONOR ROLL Eighth Grade Gold: 4.00 Alle Bergh, Ella Bergh, Darby Bonnell, Aaron Collinsworth, Bethany Crockford, Elijah Dymerski, Colton Fox, Autumn Genisot, Jaedyn Goetsch, Jase Huston, Kassandra Johnson, Mara Kautzer, Aubrey Krombholz, Julio Martinez-Santiago, Payge Osness, Abigail Parks, Evelyn Reinhardt, Michael Schreiber, Luke Wegner, Dantell Williams Silver: 3.750-3.999 Jaxson Ames, Ella Burrow, Moses Gates, Madilynn Geiss, Jameson Gerdes, Jacob Hanson, Andrew Josiger, Willett Knospe, Mathew Mueller, Makaylynn Roehl, Kinzie Stevenson, Cadence Stutting, Caylinn Van Der Nest Bronze: 3.50-3.749 Calleigh Berlik, Mason Bowman, Brianna Boyd, Keira Clerveaux, Wil Detert, Emersyn Graap, Mia Hanson, Samuel Hart, Kyla Hoffman, Logan Klug, Leo Lazare, Jacob McCorkle, Khloe Olson, Kelsey Pankow, Raiyna Perez, Korbet Ravn, Easton Romatoski, Draven Sangster, Brayden Weisman Seventh Grade Gold: 4.00 Parker Hannemann, Payten Nelessen, Connor Savagian-Demoss, Cooper Schwartzman, Hunter Staskiewicz Silver: 3.750-3.999 Emma Daley, Charles Gerbig, Preston Hannemann, Trevor Kniess, Carter Schmidt, Aiden Schultz, Taylor Timm Bronze: 3.50-3.749 Caelyn Belant, Mason Fuchs, Aaron Haltinner, BreElla Hoffman, Lillian Johnson, Oliver Kahr, Charlee Krueger, Addilyn Mulrooney, Emma Myers, Kyle Yingling, Claire Ziebell Sixth Grade Gold: 4.00 Emily Austin, Natalie Barnett, Aubrie Brandenburg, Jannakay Bushar, Avery Clark, Peyton Corroo, Kennedy Gerdes, Lily Glisch, Adelia Hanson, Claire Hoock, Brooklyn Johnas, Drew Kaminski, Logan Koehler, Jazalyn Lee, Scarlett Lee, Brea Neubauer Silver: 3.750-3.999 Aaron Crockford, Hadley Fisher, Zachary Gennrich, Emily Grunenwald, Lucas Hagenbucher, Maddyn Jahnke, Alexis Jannusch, Willow Kultgen, Cameron Neumann, Bentley Wyland Bronze: 3.50-3.749 William Frisch, Bentley Graap, Wesley Gronke, Camaro Haddeman, Kennedy Hess, Devon Johnson, Adele Kahr, Logan Learman, Carter Madden, Aaron Marturano, Kane Poitra, Owen Rhode, Braylee Schimelpfenig Fifth Grade Gold: 4.00 Bentley Blake, Saylor Gates, Makyla Klingsmith, Evelyn Koehler, Kendra Kohnhorst, Braelyn Lau, Joseph Lechmaier, Lance Patterson, Matthew Quednow, Kelsey Rindt, Ailyn Roberge, Kynlee Wyland Silver: 3.750-3.999 Lincoln Berndt, Jase Coates, Grace Gibson, Graycen Graap, Samuel Graveen, Christian Isaacson, Bennett Martinovici, Bristol Orchard, Renlee Schwartzman, Owen Smith Bronze: 3.50-3.749 Kenzingtyn Adams, Aydreanna Ament, Kylee Bogdonovich, Liliana Boquist, Sophia Brandt, Greyson Bushar, Liem Christian-Lee, Benjamin Hartwig, Olivia Klade, Hailey Masterson, Olivia Mootz, Raya Osness, Linzie Pankow, Jasmine Staples, Harrison Thiel, Piper Vanlieshout

Attention 6th and 7th Grade Parents/Guardians! As a reminder, students will be traveling to NTC in Wausau for STEM Fest on Friday, April 11th!

Parents and Guardians of PRMS Students, 📚 Don't forget to order your child's yearbook 📸 To place your order: 👉 Visit the MAPS website 👉 Select “Efunds For Schools” 👉 Select "Optional Fees" Regular yearbooks: $15.00 each Personalized yearbooks: $20.00 each 📅 Deadline for discounted pricing and personalized yearbooks: April 4th @ 3:30 p.m. 🚨 After April 4th: Yearbooks will be $20.00 each and non-personalized. ⏰ Final deadline: April 28th Thank you for your cooperation! We are excited to create a fantastic yearbook for your child! 🌟 #PRMS #Yearbook #Memories #OrderNow

This school year, we’re excited to share that our dedicated support staff will be participating in the Strengthening Families Program during 4 scheduled MSI days! The program will provide our staff with valuable tools to strengthen relationships and support student well-being both at school and at home. What’s even more exciting is how this aligns with our Literacy Together initiative! By fostering strong connections with families and students, we’re building a foundation that not only supports emotional health but also encourages a love for learning—especially when it comes to literacy. 📚 Together, we are creating a supportive environment that empowers our students to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. 💙 #WeAreMAPS See less

🌟 It’s National School Psychology Week! 🌟 This week we celebrate the incredible work of our school psychologists, Von Saunders and Christine Niersel! Their dedication helps foster a supportive and inclusive environment, empowering students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Thank you, Von and Christine, for your unwavering commitment to the well-being of our students! 💙 #WeAreMAPS

Community education and adult enrichment programs play a crucial role in providing lifelong learning opportunities to individuals of all ages. These programs offer a wide range of classes, workshops, and events that cater to diverse interests and skill levels. Whether it's learning a new language, honing artistic abilities, or acquiring practical skills, community education and adult enrichment programs create a supportive and inclusive environment for personal growth and development. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing, these programs contribute to the overall well-being and enrichment of the community.