JUNE 2025
The June 17, 2025 Board of Education meeting video is now available.
Meeting Video Includes:
Amended FY25 Budget Hearing
FY25 Limitation of Administrative Costs Hearing
Open Session Meeting
Seating of New Board Members
Superintendent & Committee Reports
June 2025 Highlights
FY25 Amended Budget
Quest Foods Service Renewal
Board Committee Reorganization
Administrator Reports
Mrs. Kim Maher:
Thank you to all of our MSD114 staff and families for their flexibility as we used one of our Emergency Days and adjusted our school calendar.
Registration for returning students is still open. Thanks to Lisa Lee and MSD families for taking care of this to maximize our ability to plan for next year’s enrollment.
Thank you to the parents that took time to provide preferences and feedback for school and district communication. We’ll use this information in our plans for the future.
Mrs. Cheryl Donovan
Shout out to our amazing staff for all they did this year to support the learning and growth of our students.
Thank you to the staff for their participation in Eureka Math Squared training in early May and for the planning that followed that training.
Last week and this week work has been done to identify strengths and areas to grow in the area of literacy. Thank you to the staff that did this work!
What a great first year. Thank you for the opportunity to learn, grow, and lead here in Manhattan. I am blessed to have this first year complete and look forward to continual growth and learning in the year ahead.
Mrs. Julie Hantson
The resource team at MIS has spent the past several weeks thoughtfully reviewing incoming caseloads and service minutes. As a result, they’ve restructured how support will be delivered—shifting from a grade-level model to a subject-based model (reading, writing, Wilson Intervention, and math). This change allows teachers to deepen their expertise, promotes instructional innovation, and aligns more closely with research-based practices. It also encourages cross-grade collaboration, strengthens data-driven instruction, and ensures students receive more targeted, consistent support. The team is committed to continued collaboration to align schedules and maximize student growth.
Ms. Cari Rohe
The last month has been extremely busy at Wilson Creek!
Our teachers began their training on the new math curriculum! It was all-hands on deck during our last early release so that all of our teachers could get trained. Teachers did end of year benchmarking, celebrated growth and completed one more round of data days for our MTSS process.
Our staff planned many end of year activities for the students to enjoy beginning with our Field Day! While the weather didn't cooperate, our Plan B inside was executed without any issues. Carrie Book worked with the PTO to plan a day full of fun stations for the students and their chaperones to rotate through! PFA/EC end of year picnic outside was also canceled due to weather. The staff pivoted nicely and planned lots of fun for the students indoors! They even created a GLOW party for the students!
1st Grade enjoyed their picnic at Round Barn! Lots of families joined in on the fun and brought many yard games for students to play with! Kindergarten held their picnic here at Wilson Creek! They enjoyed all of the recess equipment, playground, bubble machine and popsicles! 1st Grade also hosted Dudes & Dodgeball where students brought a guest to have donuts and play dodgeball with! The Fairytale Ball was a fun culminating activity for 1st grade's Fairytale unit!
The administration has been busy closing out the school year and getting ready for the new school year! Class lists, master schedule and interviewing for positions has kept the office busy!
Overall, it's been a year full of GROWTH The Creek and we couldn't be more proud!
Mrs. Elise Kirk
THANK YOU- I want to thank every staff member at Anna McDonald who helped make our first year a major success. Together, we established a positive climate and culture that helped students grow socially and academically. I am so proud of the traditions and foundation we established in our first year as a 2nd and 3rd grade building. Thank you to students and families for their unwavering support throughout the year.
Literacy Work- Thank you to Mrs. Bobak, Mrs. Bolbat, Mrs. Newman, and Mrs. Patterson for their time and effort during a literacy audit meeting (on the very first day of summer!). Together, the team worked with Joy Kamp to help strengthen our literacy instruction.
Mr. Ryan McWilliams
Thank you Officer Rob & Officer Shannon for bringing the cyber safety talk to our MIS students during the week of May 19.
Thank you Jackie O'Hara of MFPD for the CPR/Choking presentation for our 5th graders on May 30.
Thank you, Mrs. Barr & Ms. Lamont, for facilitating data days & content team planning with staff. We are in a great place heading into next school year.
A shout out to Mrs Ciurej for promoting our Character Strong initiative with staff & students and sending out topics every Monday.
Our school wouldn't function the way it does and the way it has all these years without our teaching assistants & support staff. Thank you for supporting the kids and staff and bringing positive energy each day.
Thank you Mrs Boersma, for painting another beautiful mural on the wall at MIS..."DO GREAT THINGS"
Nearly every shelf in the library has a book on it, and we will keep adding more fresh titles for our kids. Thank you, Mrs Ramsey, for continuing to make that space better & better for our kids.
And to my certified staff that makes coming to work each day a pleasure...thank you for embracing the mottos..."Everyday is a Good Day" & "Be Better Today Than You Were Yesterday." You all put us on the map!
The PTO Field Day was perfect. Appreciate our PTO for organizing & all our parents for volunteering their time.
The last week of school was fun for all with inflatables & activities on June 3, Kickball on June 4, and trips to Round Barn. It's been a fantastic school year at Ole MIS. I honestly don't want it to end & see these 5th graders leave!
Enjoy the next chapter, Dr Pacheco.
Mr. Vince Perillo
MJHS Commencement: On June 3rd, our first graduation ceremony on school grounds was held for our graduating class of 2025. Our staff did a fantastic job running each and every aspect to present such a great and memorable day for the students, parents, and staff. Thanks to Dr. Pacheco and the Board members that were present and seated on stage for our graduates. Special thanks to Courtney Kurzawa and Kim Maher for all the time and effort put into all the aspects of making graduation happen.
Room 500 News: The students in rooms 500 (Pierce), 502 (Tooley), and 503 (Dunlap), hosted a 6th grade step up day in May. Incoming 6th grade students were able to come over from MIS to meet some of their teachers, tour the new junior high, and learn about all the extra-curricular activities we offer here. Thank you to Mrs. Tooley, Mrs. Pierce, and Mrs. Dunlap for working with MIS to make this happen for our students!
Picnics at the End of the Year: Through the generous support of our PTO, our students were treated to a pizza lunch with snacks, drinks and snow cones! The PTO worked closely with administration to coordinate these events and make them possible despite the weather! Thank you, MSD 114 PTO!
Great America: We are happy to announce that we have brought back the 8th Grade Great America trip this year! After a few year hiatus, the trip is back this year with 170 students attending. The students and staff reported that it was a good trip with lots of memories made!
LWSRA P.E. Takeover: On May 27th, Lincoln-Way Special Recreation Association visited MJHS P.E. classes, educating students on ways to adapt traditional games to meet the needs of special needs athletes and participants. Students participated in various activities that allowed them a glimpse into what it is like to play the game that way. Special thank you to Mrs. Carroll for coordinating this awesome event!
8th Grade Dance: On Thursday, May 29th, MJHS hosted the 8th grade dance. The students were greeted by staff with decorations, music, food, and games to celebrate their time here in Manhattan. Thank you to all the staff who helped make this a special event for our 8th graders, especially Mrs. Dobczyk and Mrs. Watson for all their planning and preparation that went into putting on a wonderful event!
Track and Field State Recognition: On Friday, May 23rd and Saturday, May 24th, 15 Demon track and field athletes competed at the IESA State Track meet, the largest interscholastic sporting event in the nation! Of the 15 athletes we sent down to state, 14 of them medaled in their events! Notably, as a team, the 7th grade girls were state runners up as well! This is the first time in Track and Field State history that Manhattan has had a team medal. Thank you to Coach Ethridge, Coach Sepulveda, Coach Marotta, and Coach Onofre for their leadership during the season.
Athletic Camps: Though school ended for the students on June 9th, athletic camps are in full swing this month. This year we are offering Cross Country, Boys’ Basketball, Girls’ Basketball, Cheerleading, Wrestling, Track/Speed, Softball, and Baseball camps. Thank you to all of our coaches for hosting these wonderful opportunities for our student-athletes!
Activities: On Monday, May 19th and Tuesday, May 20th, MJHS theatre group put on their two one act plays, “Soundscapes” and “Complaints Department and Lemonade”. Bringing back this activity this year was truly a highlight of the year! The cast and crew did a wonderful job captivating the audience to experience their vision of both plays. Thank you to Mrs. Mancini and Mrs. Miller-Amato for their hard work and dedication that went into coordinating and directing the plays!
Music Department: The music department had a successful spring recruitment for their respective beginning program next school year. The directors are busy preparing for their summer camps that will begin prior to the start of the school year. Thanks to Mrs. Pedziwater and Ms. Perkne for all they do for their students and their programs!