Gordon L. Willson Elementary -

Parents and guardians can now log into the Parent Portal to complete the registration process for their student(s) for the 2023-24 school year. Click on “More” on the left and then “Online Registration” to get started. If you need help remembering your login information or assistance creating an account please contact the District Registrar at 608-355-3955 or email registrar@barabooschools.net. Before you begin, please gather the following information on hand to help make your registration process quick and easy: • Household information - address and phone numbers • Parent/Guardian information - work and cell phone number, email addresses • Student information - demographic and health/medication information • Emergency contact - phone numbers • 4K Baraboo Early Learning Cooperative (BELC) families please be sure to complete the 4K registration form. As an alternative, you can register your student(s) at the in-person registration In-Person Registration Tuesday, August 1, 2023 Baraboo High School (1201 Draper St., Baraboo) 11 am to 6 pm Know someone new to the community? Please encourage them to visit the District’s website to learn more about registering new students. Direct Link: https://bit.ly/3Os6h4B. We look forward to seeing your student(s) next school year! #AlwaysOnwardBSD

2nd and 3rd-grade artists have been busy in Two-Dimensional Art. Each day, students do a warm-up drawing in their sketchbooks. Mrs. McPee and the students also observe art and discuss an artist of the day. Students read and critique artwork by describing, interpreting, and using art vocabulary. Students gained an understanding of balance in art (symmetry, asymmetry, and radial). Students used a cd and turned it into a part of their artwork. They used Sharpies to draw on the cd. This was glued down. Students used oil pastels to finish their awesome, balanced drawings. Next, they used different oil pastel techniques to do a drawing of their choice. Students are learning about value in art (lights & darks) as well as a focal point. Students are using charcoal and chalk pastels to create a character with value. #AlwaysOnwardBSD

Students have been very busy this summer in Getting TBird Ready with Mr. Finnell. The students have been reviewing math and English Language Arts skills that they learned throughout the year in school. #AlwaysOnwardBSD

Fall Kid Stop registration is coming soon! Information will be posted on the district website on Friday, July 21st and enrollment will open on Monday, July 24th. Paper copies will also be available at GLW on Friday, July 21st. No enrollment forms will be accepted prior to Monday morning. Starting on Monday, July 24th enrollment forms may be turned in at GLW or emailed to by address at pgavin@barabooschools.net. #AlwaysOnwardBSD

The Narnia Inklings entered a story of magic, children, kings and queens, fantastical creatures, and adventures. The storyteller, C.S. Lewis (known as Jack to his friends), took Ms. Hilke’s students into a fantasy world of eternal winter where four siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy partake in an adventure of a lifetime. The students and Ms. Hilke spent the day with the Beavers in their cozy cottage, battled with Aslan to defeat the White Witch, and watched the four siblings grow into adults in Narnia and return to England as children. Students created a fantastical folder full of imagery, vocabulary, and our novel study. #AlwaysOnwardBSD

Mrs. Gogue and her students grabbed their passports this summer and traveled to Japan, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. In their passports, the students mapped the countries and recorded what they learned about that country. Along the way, each student learned to write their name in Japanese, practiced using chopsticks, created a cap that included symbols of the three countries to wear during recess, and challenged themselves with Japanese and Māori games. The Netherlands amazed the class with all of their bikes, cheese, canals, windmills/turbines, and tulips! #AlwaysOnwardBSD

Please help us welcome new members of our Baraboo School District Administration Team! We are thrilled to introduce you to: Steve Considine, Pat Doty, Sarah Eckert, Christina Olson, and Stacie Wagner. Read more about our new staff members in today's Thunderbird Thursday. Link: https://conta.cc/44I1bc3 #AlwaysOnwardBSD

Kindergarten and 1st Grade students in Ms. Leah's Fairy Tales Summer School session recently dove into the adventures of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears". The story was accompanied by many fun activities including a song and dance, as well as a hands-on learning activity where students identified and sorted household items by size! #AlwaysOnwardBSD

Wishing you and yours a very happy Fourth of July and a day full of fun as you celebrate our nation’s birthday. Happy Independence Day! #AlwaysOnwardBSD

Elementary School students are exploring a variety of enrichment learning options that encourage curiosity and continuous academic growth. Students in Mrs. Terry’s Continent Expeditions class recently learned about Australian Aboriginal culture. Students listened to traditional Didgeridoo rhythms while they painted a replica instrument to take home.

The Big Top Parade returned to the streets of downtown Baraboo this past Saturday with historic wagons, exotic animals, marching bands, and community floats that delighted paradegoers. We would like to give a huge Thunderbird shout-out to the phenomenal BSD students and staff that took part in this amazing community event including BHS T-Bird Marching Band, Baraboo Cheer, Baraboo Football player volunteers, and everyone supporting a community organization. #AlwaysOneardBSD

This past school year community partner, Sheriff Chip Meister, visited Mrs. Charles and Mrs. Gulden's kindergarten classes at GLW Sheriff Meister visited several times during the year, but this trip was extra special! This time around Sheriff Meister brought a squad car for the kids to explore, and Sergeant Tate also arrived with his partner, K9 Jennings. The kids loved hearing about all the features of a squad car, and they even each got a chance to sit inside and pretend to be a Sheriff's Deputy. Sergeant Tate and K9 Jennings were of course a hit, and the kids enjoyed having a chance to pet him and watch him perform some commands. We are so fortunate to have this amazing community partnership with the Sauk County Sheriff's Department! #AlwaysOnward

Please join the School District of Baraboo to learn about the 2023-26 Strategic Plan and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and share your thoughts on how we should go about achieving them. The second feedback session will be held at Baraboo High School on Tuesday, June 27th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Electronic feedback is available on the district website and using this link (https://forms.gle/gNeY4G69SpGiJ5no9) Community feedback on the KPIs and how to accomplish them is essential to creating a strategic plan that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of our learning communities. Please join us to help shape the future of the Baraboo School District! #AlwaysOnwardBSD

Some high school students from Mrs. Watson's 3D Sculpture class had a show and tell of their puppets with the Kindergarteners in Mrs. Spicer's Art Class. They introduced themselves, talked about how they created their puppets (foam armatures covered in sewn on fleece plus accessories), and also about their puppet's name, hobbies, likes and dislikes. Then they answered questions from the Kindergarteners and joined them in a closing song. It was great fun! #AlwaysOnwardBSD

A heartfelt congratulations to the incredible staff of the Baraboo School District on reaching a remarkable milestone anniversary! For years, your unwavering dedication, expertise, and passion have shaped the lives of countless students. Your commitment to education is truly inspiring. Thank you for your invaluable contributions and for creating a nurturing learning environment. Here's to celebrating your accomplishments and to many more years of success and fulfillment in your journey! #AlwaysOnwardBSD

Congratulations to the remarkable Baraboo School District staff on your well-deserved retirement! Your dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment have positively impacted countless lives. Thank you for shaping minds, fostering growth, and creating a nurturing environment. Enjoy this new chapter and may it be filled with joy, relaxation, and wonderful adventures ahead! Steve Argo - Social Studies Teacher, Baraboo High School Glenn Bildsten - Principal, Baraboo High School Mary Bildsten - Special Education Teacher, East Elementary Bernie Borkenhagen - Administrative Assistant, Baraboo High School Diane Flesch - Physical Education Teacher, Baraboo High School Robin Goeb - Food Service, Gordon L. Willson Elementary Laurie Kowalke - School Counselor, Jack Young Middle School Jane McMahon - Director of Secondary Teaching & Learning Shelley Mordini - Transitions Plus Teacher, Baraboo High School Sue Poniatowski - Special Education Paraprofessional, Jack Young Middle School Ann Renn - School Counselor, Baraboo High School Kathy Thornburgh - K-12 Alternative Education Teacher, WINGS Michele Yates-Wickus, Director of Student Services #AlwaysOnwardBSD

Did you know that BSD helps to address food insecurity during the summer through the Summer Food Service Program? Kids and teens can get a free healthy meal Monday through Thursday at Al Behrman Elementary School and Baraboo High School starting next Monday! ABE Breakfast: 7:30-8am ABE Lunch: 11:30am-12:30pm BHS Breakfast: 7-8:30am BHS Lunch: 11:30am-12:30pm In 2021 4,780 Sauk County residents experienced food insecurity and 427,830 Wisconsinights were food insecure. Food insecurity is defined by the United States Department of Agriculture as the lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food insecurity is associated with numerous adverse social and health outcomes and is increasingly considered a critical public health issue. (Feeding America) #AlwaysOnwardBSD

On Thursday, May 25th the BHS T-Bird Marching Band put on a special performance for the students of Gordon L. Willson Elementary. The fantastic performance was filled with music and school spirit! #AlwaysOnwardBSD

Please join the School District of Baraboo to learn about the 2023-26 Strategic Plan and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and share your thoughts on how we should go about achieving them. Feedback sessions will be held at Baraboo High School on June 14th and June 27th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Electronic feedback options will also be available at www.baraboo.k12.wi.us/. Community feedback on the KPIs and how to accomplish them is essential to creating a strategic plan that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of our learning communities. Please join us to help shape the future of the Baraboo School District! #AlwaysOnwardBSD

The School District of Baraboo proudly announces Mrs. Charlee Sarnow, Special Education Teacher at Gordon L. Willson Elementary, as the recipient of this year's prestigious Distinguished Elementary Teacher Award. Recognizing her exemplary commitment to education, Mrs. Sarnow’s passion for teaching and innovative methods have left an indelible mark on her students' lives. With nearly two decades of experience, Mrs. Sarnow has created an engaging and inclusive learning environment that nurtures each student's unique abilities and talents. Her dedication to individualized instruction ensures that every child reaches their full potential, fostering a love for learning that extends far beyond the classroom walls. Under Mrs. Sarnow’s guidance, her students have achieved remarkable academic success while developing essential life skills, such as critical thinking and problem-solving. Miss Sandra Conley, a Fifth-Grade Teacher at GLW, said, “Mrs. Sarnow works tirelessly to develop lessons which meet the needs of students while guiding each student to their fullest potential.” In addition to her exceptional teaching skills, Mrs. Sarnow is known for her genuine care and support for her colleague's well-being. As a mentor she fosters a nurturing and inclusive learning community, promoting empathy, respect, and understanding. The Distinguished Elementary Teacher Award was established by Andy Hauge, a Baraboo native, a member of the Baraboo High School Class of 1956, and a retired elementary school teacher who recognized the extraordinary value of the job that elementary teachers do. The award is given in recognition of outstanding teaching skills, leadership, and dedication to the young people of the Baraboo community. Funds are managed by the Community Foundation of South Central Wisconsin. Read the complete story in this week's Thunderbird Thursday: https://conta.cc/3WYCiWT #AlwaysOnwardBSD