Students in Mr. Dyer’s art classes are working on self-portraits this week.
Developing Art Skills
Annual Meeting Highlights
Monday’s Annual Meeting of the Board of Education opened with Dr. Ouellette presenting highlights of the District’s achievements and the Board’s focus areas. Click here to view Dr. Ouellette’s presentation.
Presentations were also provided by Board Treasurer Heather Logelin and Tim Erickson, Chief Financial and Operations Officer. Together, they covered the 2019-2020 proposed budget and levy, budget challenges and assumptions, and the impact on property taxes.
Budget Challenges:
- Address reduced state funding levels.
- Address instructional needs for all learners including: staff professional development, curriculum adoption, resource materials, and services to meet student needs.
- Maintain student to teacher ratios within class size guidelines.
- Sustainable funding for long-term maintenance and capital improvement plan for all facilities.
Budget Assumptions:
- State equalization aid is projected to be $836,000 less or 3.8% lower than last year and per pupil categorical aid has been increased by $88 per student under the first year of the biennial state budget or a $496,000 increase over last year.
- The estimated mill rate of $10.35 is down 1.54% from last year’s $10.51. Overall property valuation is estimated to increase 10.09% compared to 3.7% last year. The state average is 6.0%
- Total under levy stands at approximately $3,300,000, which is direct tax relief for property owners in the Hudson School District.
- Salaries and benefits are budgeted to increase $1,830,000 or 4.0% over last and include new staffing, staffing reductions, Teacher Salary Structure, Support Staff Compensation System, Hudson Lead Salary Structure, and Board approved increase of 2.5%
Below is the Annual Meeting Booklet
Studying Geodes – Science is Fun!
On the first day of school our Willow River 3rd graders studied geodes.
Volleyball Takes First Place in Quad
Last week the Raider Volleyball team traveled to Marshfield for a quad tournament. The team took first place. The Raiders defeated Wausau’s Newman Catholic 2-1, Marshfield 2-0, and Pulaski 2-0.
The team was led by returning seniors. Sara Hoffman had 15 kills, Shay Wassman had 14, Noelle Kiltie and Abby Richardson had 10 kills each, Jenna Hallen had 7, and Maddie Matuke had 5. Kaitlyn Zignego and Liz Collinson had 30 & 22 set assists respectively. Ariana Zins led the team defensively with 27 digs. It was a good start to the season and satisfying to the see the girls play well in their first competition of the year. This is the first year Hudson defeated Wausau Newman in this quad tournament. It was a fun and tough match with each team trading the lead with Hudson finally winning the third set 15-13.
Over the weekend, the team competed in the two day UW-Stout sponsored Sprawl tournament in which Hudson placed 18th out of 40 teams. On Friday, the Raiders went 2-2 in match play, defeating Eau Claire Regis and Prairie Farm both 2-0. The team lost to Stevens Point and Osceola both 0-2. On Saturday, the team went 2-1 in match play, defeating Rice Lake 2-0. Then up against Wausau Newman for the second time in a week, the team again won in three sets 2-1 with the first set going to 32-30 in Hudson’s favor. The second set was 23-25 to Newman, and then Hudson ran with some real momentum to take the third set 15-6. The Raiders finished the day with another super fun match against Mosinee, losing 22-25 and 24-26.
According to Coach Saathoff, “This was a really fund weekend, especially the last two matches on Saturday with the scores being so close and all the girls really played with a lot of heart and emotion. They gave it their all right to the last point. It was very satisfying to me as the coach and for all the parents there watching the team have so much fun and playing so well.”
For the weekend, Hoffman, Wassman, Kiltie, Richardson and Hallen again led the way offensively. Abbie Matuke followed next with 9 kills, Jade Sharretts added 6, and Carly Tersteeg had 1 and a couple of blocks. Zignego and Collinson again led the setters with Carolyn McMahon adding to the mix. Zins led the defense and Belle Blakey alos played well defensively with 16 digs and a service ace.
Next the team is on the road playing Chippewa Falls.
Welcome Back to School!
So many smiles and great energy as we welcome students back to school. Have a great year!!
WEB – Where Everybody Belongs
Hudson Middle School incoming Class of 2026 participated in the second year of WEB. WEB, which stands for “Where Everybody Belongs” is a middle school orientation and transition program that welcomes 6th graders and helps to make them feel comfortable throughout the first year of their middle school experience. Built on the belief that students can help students succeed, the program trains mentors from the 8th grade class to be WEB leaders. As positive role models, WEB leaders are mentors and student leaders who guide the 6th graders to discover what it takes to be successful at Hudson Middle School.
WEB provides 6th graders with support and guidance from 8th graders who have been through the challenges of middle school including attending a larger school.
- This year we have forty-five (45) 8th grade WEB leaders along with five (5) Freshman who returned to help as former WEB leaders.
- We had about 350 6th grader students attend the WEB orientation activities.
- Five Middle School staff trained the WEB leaders.
- Other Middle School staff joined the actual orientation day.
- Large group activities were held in the gym for the first two hours of the day. These activities included a variety of group activities that got people moving and excited.
- Small group activities were also held and led by the WEB leaders and school staff. These activities included cooperative games and other fun ways to get to know each other.
- Additionally, the 6th graders had time to practice opening their lockers and toured the building.
Thanks to our WEB leaders and staff for helping our 6th graders feel welcome and connected to Hudson Middle School!
