Even though proximity to the North Pole would suggest Old Man Winter has a tighter grip on the path around the Falls than the southern Wisconsin counties, such was not the case Monday morning.
That part of Wisconsin, often referred to as “Bikini Land” because of its proximity to Illinois, was hit with the first major snow storm of the spring season. Usually it’s the first snow storm of the winter season, but it seems like nothing in Wisconsin is quite like it used to be. Many schools in that part of the state had weather-related closings to start the first full week of spring.
The local area experienced cold temperatures, but nothing had to be shoveled or plowed at the start of the work week. Given the fact that Monday was to be a big day for visitors to the high school, having a regular schedule was a relief. The Monday event was the eighth annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Symposium.
Traditionally, the biggest draw for visitors to any high school is to watch athletic events. Even though the majority of the STEM Symposium events are located in the OFHS field house, this is a display of the strength of the mind rather than a display of physical prowess. Students are prepared to interact with visitors, and most are dressed to make a positive first impression.
The credit for planting the acorn that grew to the sizable oak tree we know as the STEM Symposium goes to JoAnn Miller. She no longer is with the district, but her legacy lives on. Science, math and technology learning at Oconto Falls High School has been ratcheted upward in the last dozen years or so by outstanding teachers who have a love of learning and the drive to inspire students to do their best work. The student displays verify that fact.
Having an audience of community members in attendance helps students tell the story of the exiting things going on in our high school classrooms. Without an event like the STEM Symposium, the message of the great work in our classrooms never reaches the general public. It can be easy for members of the general public to fall into the trap of thinking, “I went to high school and graduated, so I know what goes on in that building.”
As one marketing slogan used to promote, “This is not your father’s Buick,” and neither is this your father’s or maybe not even your older brother’s STEM experience in high school. For those who visited the STEM Symposium on Monday, there is no question about the transition in the experience of today’s students at Oconto Falls High School. That is one reason why a number of students who live in neighboring school districts have chosen to open enroll to the Oconto Falls School District.
Speaking of transitions, there are some big ones on the way for Abrams Elementary as plans continue for the reworking of the property to make it more inviting and safer for visitors and students. The transition has picked up in recent days and will be moving at a fever pace in no time at all.
The crew from Our Own Construction was on hand last week to gently remove the bell from the bell tower of the former Methodist Church building. Trees and power lines have been removed, and the sewer will be disconnected later this week, all in preparation for Saturday’s multi-department fire training exercise. Already a number of crews were using the facility for rescue training and emergency entry procedures where an exterior wall stood between firefighters and the person who needed to be rescued. Firefighters love playing with their toys.
On Saturday, crews from several departments will begin staging at 8 a.m., using the Abrams Elementary gym as their coordination center. Plans and various exercises will run in the morning, with the final burn set for right after lunch. The work between the different departments will have them better prepared for mutual aid emergencies in the future. There is a lot of science and technology in the world of firefighting. This will be hands-on learning.
Learning doesn’t just take place in the classroom and doesn’t stop when people get out of high school. The school district was very pleased to partner with these agencies for training efforts as another step in school site improvement and making our schools a better place for young people with a burning desire to learn and prepare for life.
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