In compliance with the state mandate, Washington Island School is closed until at least April 24. Please see the COVID-19 Resource page for more information
Here are three videos created by Mike McGowan, for Door County Schools. Mr. McGowan's time and expertise were a result of a United Way Grant, intended to assist school communities, students, as well as parents-guardians during this time. Thank you for taking the time to watch them, and discuss the content with your families and children. Mike is available via his web page, if you want to connect with him directly. Please feel free to contact him at michael07@aol.com , if he can assist you in any way.
Mike McGowant: biography and credentials:
Michael McGowan is President of McGowan and Associates, a training and consultation firm specializing in school, workplace and family issues. He works with helping agencies, companies, schools, parent groups, and students as a trainer, consultant and motivational speaker. Mr. McGowan has spent the last twenty-five years working with families and children. He worked as an educator, a family counselor, an addiction counselor, an administrator and trainer. He has directed state certified training programs and rehabilitation programs. During the last twenty five years he has given presentations to over one hundred thousand people each year and has trained thousands of social service workers, educators, students, parents, coaches and administrators worldwide. Additionally, he has worked with social service agencies, the department of corrections, professional athletes and teams from the NFL and MLB, and dozens of private companies as a trainer and consultant. His experience also includes numerous published articles and guest appearances on radio and television. Mr. McGowan is a renowned speaker whose presentations are personal and inspirational.
Here are some additional resources provided by the Brown County United Way:
United Way Worldwide and the NFL are now offering the Character Playbook, and Mental Wellness program for free to families, as a way to keep kids/families engaged during this time. THE WISD is passing this on to families and students to use. Here is the info:
Parents follow this link to access the online courses Character Playbook, Mental Wellness Basics, and other resources from @EVERFI. Visit CharacterPlaybook.com to learn more!
They also provided additional offline resources for parents and families for continued learning at home:
5th grade students have built their own underwater ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle), which they've nicknamed "Ramona" to compete in the National SeaPerch Competition. They will use their ROV to compete in two challenges, an underwater obstacle course, and a waterway cleanup mission. They have been practicing twice a week in the REC pool to prepare for competitions. They will be graded based on time and tasks completed. They are going to Green Bay on Feb 22 to compete against 20 teams to try and qualify for Nationals.
Too learn more about the National SeaPerch Competition, visit seaperch.org
Thank you to the Washington Island Observer for allowing us to post the Bucks Bulletin section of the paper on our website. Please visit the Bucks Bulletin tab to view the latest news.
Spelling Bee
Participants and winners from the Spelling Bee held Thursday evening, January 30, 2020
Geo Bee
GeoBee classroom winners, Alli, TJ, Emily, Julia, Cameron, Tommy, Jaxin, and Jocelyn, competed in the School Bee on Jan. 23. The winner of the school GeoBee was Julia who answered an incredibly hard question correctly! Congratulations, Julia!
The Washington Island School District is proud to announce that the district's After School science program will be featured this upcoming Tuesday, January 22nd, as part of Fox 11's S.T.E.A.M. educational recognition series. The story will air in Good Day Wisconsin between 6-8 a.m., Fox 11 News at 5 and Fox 11 News at 9. The full feature can be viewed on Fox 11's website by clicking the blue link above.
The highlighting of our District's innovative work in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (S.T.E.A.M.) is brought to you in a coordinated effort by our District, Fox 11, and CESA 7.
The Washington Island School District is proud to announce that the district's "ROV Program" will be featured this upcoming Tuesday, February 26th as part of Fox 11's S.T.E.A.M. educational recognition series. The story will air in Good Day Wisconsin between 6-8 a.m., Fox 11 News at 5 and Fox 11 News at 9. The full feature can be viewed on Fox 11's website by clicking the blue link above. The highlighting of our District?s innovative work in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (S.T.E.A.M.) is brought to you in a coordinated effort by our District, Fox 11, and CESA 7.
This link is to another video provided by CESA7 that documents the Day of Service provided by Death's Door Spirits this past Fall.
Washington Island School Named Wisconsin State Winner in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest
Here is a link to Mrs. Dahlke's Solve for Tomorrow page that gives an updated status and lists what we were able to purchase with the contest winnings:
Selected from thousands of entries nationwide, Washington Island School on Washington Island has been named the Wisconsin state winner in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest for its proposed plan to address Wastewater Treatment.
The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest encourages teachers and students to solve real-world issues in their community using classroom skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). This year classrooms identified issues that are unique to their communities – such as contaminated water, emergency relief in the face of natural disasters, and access to proper food and resources – as well as critical societal issues that are impacting classrooms nationwide, such as the topics of mental health, school shootings, vaping, bullying, homelessness, and veteran care.
Washington Island School is among the nation’s 50 state winners (representing all 50 states) and will receive $20,000* in technology for its achievement. The school will also receive a Samsung video kit to create and submit a three-minute video showcasing their project development and how it addresses the issue in hopes of advancing to the next phase of the contest and win additional prizes and educational opportunities.
“The scale and importance of the issues addressed in this year’s contest reflect how students are taking responsibility for their role as change agents for the future,” said Ann Woo, senior director of corporate citizenship, Samsung Electronics America. “These state winners and trailblazing teachers and students are taking action to create tangible solutions and promote positive change. Samsung is proud to support their vision for a brighter future and looks forward to seeing how they will use imagination and creativity with complex technologies such as VR and 3D printing to bring these projects to life.”
About the School:
Wisconsin State Winner and Details:
Washington Island School District, on Washington Island (WI)
Teacher, Mrs. Miranda Dahlke, and her Eighth Grade students
About the School’s Project:
Local Problem: Washington Island is a year-round Door County tourist destination hotspot. The heaviest tourist traffic is felt during the summer-fall months. Winter’s tend to be quieter, with a number of tourists who visits during the colder season. This island way of life creates a “summertime season of waste” versus a “wintertime season of waste. The island community is challenged in terms of the treatment of greywater, sewage, and by-product management from septic systems.
Proposed Project: The team of students will need to consider what the Washington Island Wastewater Advisory Committee has proposed as solutions to treat wastewater, and the consideration of the short and long-term effects the impact of these solutions would have on the island.
Future Contest Phases:
All 50 state winners will work on their projects and submit their three-minute video in hopes of advancing in the contest’s remaining phases:
National finalists: 10 national finalists will be selected to attend a Pitch Event in the spring where they will present their project to a panel of judges. For achieving national finalist status, 7 schools will receive a $50,000* Samsung technology package. The other three will progress to the national winner stage
National grand prize winners: 3 national winners will be selected, and each will receive a $100,000* Samsung technology package
Community Choice Award: The general public will elect one winner from the 10 national finalists who will be eligible to win an additional $10,000 Samsung technology package
Interview Opportunities:
Mrs. Dahlke and her students are available for interviews about the local issue they’re working to solve and the importance of hands-on STEM learning.
Media Contact:
For questions about the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, please reach out to SamsungSFT@allisonpr.com. For questions about the school’s project, please reach out to miranda.dahlke@island.k12.wi.us
At the August 23, 2018 Board Meeting there were a few changes to the School Calendar. Attached is the new calendar. If you have any questions please call the school.
Washington Island School is the smallest 4K-12 public school in Wisconsin with 80 students. Students benefit academically, socially and emotionally from a variety of courses that are offered through experiential project based learning. Visitors are always welcome and encouraged to stop in.
Washington Island School
Mission Statement
Our mission as a caring, passionate community is to establish a foundation for lifelong learning. By entrusting our students to a highly trained staff and focusing on individualized learning, we generate a school culture of high learning expectations and engagement, intellectual independence, creativity, and mutual respect.
This is a Carousel of Images
Mrs. Foss and her Class
Mr. Grandy works with Karoline in Tech Class
Racing their CO2 cars
The New Junior Hype Squad
John and his tech project
Fifth graders folding the flag
Students snowmobile to school
Elementary Students
Michael Gillespie playing the bagpipes in the Canterbury March
