Schools are starting up again in Shawano, and with that comes the shift from summer life to another year of learning.
Shawano’s public schools held their back-to-school night Sept. 1 with students and parents alike roaming the halls to find their classrooms, as well as find out about other programs in the schools and the community. At Shawano Community High School, much of the building was barricaded due to referendum projects, but at the other three schools, children were leading the way to the classrooms to meet teachers.
Michael McKinnies, who teaches alternative education at SCHS, is going into his eighth year teaching in the Shawano School District, and he’s eager to get back to teaching in the newly revamped classrooms that are just a portion of the $51.2 million referendum approved by voters almost two years ago.
“It’s an almost new school, absolutely,” McKinnies said. “I think it’s going to bring a lot of excitement. We have a lot of new improvements in the schools. Many of our core classroom pods got an upgrade that are much more student-friendly and a more comfortable workspace.”
The flexible learning spaces will make it easier for teachers like McKinnies to teach at the school by not limiting their learning to a set box.
“Some learn visually. Some are fidgety, so they’re going to have space where they can move around a little bit,” McKinnies said. “We’ve got desks on wheels, so that’s going to help with collaboration and it’s going to provide opportunities for a mobile learning experience, which we’re looking forward to.”
It’s not just teachers and students who are looking forward to school starting, but parents, as well, especially the more active parents who like to help out the schools, both with time and with money. Sheila Aumann, president of the Olga Brener Intermediate School Parent-Teacher Organization, said there are going to be a lot of activities at the school in the coming nine months that bring parents and students together for fun outside the classroom.
“We’re getting families in the building for frequently this year, so we’re highly encouraging parent involvement at all levels,” Aumann said. “The more time they spend in the building, I think they’re more connected to their students’ learning.”
One of the first activities is a family movie night in September that both Hillcrest Primary School and Olga Brener will put together, according to Aumann.
The PTO has a lot of teacher involvement and support, she said, which shows how much the staff cares about the school.
“They’re really leading the PTO right now; it’s really teacher heavy and lighter on the parents’ side,” Aumann said. “I can’t say enough good things about the staff. They’re consistently devoted.”
While learning and fun activities are part of going back to school, there are also safety issues that come to play. The Shawano Police Department noted that, from about 7:30-8:15 a.m. and 2:45-3:30 p.m., the areas around schools become particularly congested with traffic as buses and parents drop off children at school and children are crossing the streets as they’re walking to school.
Lt. Heidi Cartwright urged people traveling through the schools to exhibit some patience, especially during the first week as the new routines take effect.
“There’s a new traffic pattern at the high school after all the construction going on there,” Cartwright said. “It’s going to take a little bit to get used to, but parents are highly encouraged to follow the flow of traffic. They have new entrances and exits.”
Cartwright also recommended that people leave from home early as they’re commuting to work or dropping off children at school because there are dozens of families converging on the schools at the same time.
Of course, that only addresses safety on the outside of the schools. Police Chief Mike Musolff suggested that bullying is an issue that needs to be addressed, and he urged parents to keep closer watch over their children, whether they’re being bullied or they are the bullies.
“We’re really hoping parents talk to their kids about treating other kids with respect,” Musolff said. “Bullying is always so difficult to control because it continues, and oftentimes, the victim becomes the aggressor, so now you’re dealing with that because they’ve been bullied.”
As a former school resource officer, Musolff said he has seen his share of bullying incidents, and even though the schools do what they can to curb bullying, it continues to be a problem if parents don’t take charge more in their children’s lives.
“It’s not the school district’s or the police department’s responsibility to teach the kids to not bully, even though we try our best to do so,” Musolff said. “It really needs to come from the house. If you’re not a parent putting down boundaries, and you’re not punishing your kids when they do get in trouble and you’re blaming other kids, that’s not conducive to changing the pattern.”
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
Brayson Richter, 4, gets some help going through his backpack Sept. 1 at Hillcrest Primary School with the help of, from left, teachers Meghan Brooks and Gina Monfils while mother Lori Richter looks on. Shawano’s public schools held back-to-school activities Sept. 1 in anticipation of the first day of school Sept. 9. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Emma Hutchcraft, center, and her mother, Kailee Hutchcraft, talk with Olga Brener Intermediate School teacher Jessica Dunshee during back-to-school night Sept. 1. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Classrooms like this one at Shawano Community High School have been renovated over the summer and were able to be viewed by parents and students at back-to-school night Sept. 1. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
