As the 2011-12 school year begins to wind down, I cannot help but reflect on all the wonderful moments which our community experienced due to the hard work of our students and their teachers, coaches, and advisors. The opportunities provided for children in the Tomah Area School District to showcase their talents and abilities is varied and diverse. Whether it is athletic skill, artistic talent, singing or dancing, hundreds of hours of entertainment have been provided to our community through the efforts of our young people.  Did you enjoy a fall football game watching Alex Jaromin and Cole Franklin out jump the competition to haul in the passes of Mitch Weiland and lead our THS football team to a conference championship and playoff berth?  Did you help send off our girls’ golf team as they left for the state tournament after bringing home the first ever Mississippi Valley Conference trophy?  Did you hold your breath waiting to see if the high arching three point ball shot by Trey Hewuse would sink in the basketball hoop or count the seconds it took for Jacob DuBord to pin his wrestling opponent?  Were you at the hockey match when Tim Nicksic’s hat trick led the Timberwolves to a WIAA regional first-round win?  Have you marveled at Allison Murray’s coordination on the balance beam or Sierra Butzler’s ability to defend the soccer net?  Did you attend a band or choir concert?  Did you visit Jane Donaldson’s 1012 Gallery on Superior Avenue to see one of the art exhibits by our Art Honors students? Did you enjoy a meal at the Limited Edition Show Choir Spaghetti Night or the FFA Pancake Supper?  Did you visit an elementary school to see the 3^rdgrade Invention Fair or the 4^thgrade Heritage Fair?  Did you attend the middle school musical, Annie, and wonder how, at just twelve and thirteen years of age, these young students can have the courage to be on stage?  Did you have flashbacks to your own experiences while attending the high school musical, Back to the 80’s?  Did hearing the duet of Lost in Your Eyes by Makayla McGinnis and Emilie Zamarripa bring tears to your eyes or were you belly-laughing at the antics of Daniel Kirschbaum as he acted out his “nerdy” character?  Our students perform for the joy of the activity, the development of their talents and skills, and the satisfaction which comes from our community’s applause and appreciation.  The teachers and community members who coach or advise our students don’t do it for the money.  They give of their time and efforts because of their commitment and dedication to the personal growth and success of our young people.  Every year there is a new group of students working hard to earn the right and responsibility to represent our school district and our community in one of the myriad of opportunities which our educational system provides.  Have we thanked our students enough for the pleasure they have provided us?  Have we shown appropriate appreciation to the coaches and advisors who have given time from their families to help our students develop?  I am filled with pride and joy when I watch the phenomenal performances of our students- whether it is on the playing field, on the stage, or in the classroom.  I personally want to thank all the students who brought so much enjoyment to me and to our community this school year and I want to thank all the coaches and advisors who worked with these students.  If you did not find the time to attend a school activity this year, I want to encourage every member of our community to make an extra effort to do so during the 2012-13 school year.  Put it on your bucket list every year!  As a community, we benefit greatly from the cultural and social opportunities these school events create.  Before you are critical of our educational system or the young people in our community, see for yourself what is happening in our schools.  Thank you again to the Tomah Area School District students and staff for the hours of entertainment and pleasure you provided us this school year.  You were fantastic!

If you have any questions or comments about the information and opinions expressed in this edition of The School Bell, please contact Cindy Zahrte, District Administrator, at cindyz@tomah.k12.wi.us or 374-7002.