It has been a terrific school year in the SDMA! Thank you to all faculty, staff, community, and family members who have supported our students this year.

While the 2025-26 school year does not officially wrap up until Friday, June 5, many year-end field trips and celebrations are already underway. Please join us in celebrating a few of our most recent and upcoming district accomplishments:

🇺🇸 Districtwide Celebration: America 250

As we look toward the historic 250th anniversary of the United States, the SDMA is proud to launch our districtwide America 250 celebration! Over the final weeks of school, students across all grade levels will have the opportunity to participate in building level activities and a special All-American Meal put on by the SDMA School Nutrition Team on Thursday, June 4!

High School & Middle School Highlights

• MHS Graduation: Join us this Sunday, May 24, at 2:00 p.m. to celebrate the Class of 2026! Our seniors have achieved incredible individual and collective success in academics, co-curriculars, athletics, and fine arts. Special congratulations to Ben Seguin on receiving the very prestigious National Merit Scholarship recognition!
• Co-Curricular Success: Congratulations to our Science Olympiad, Forensics, FFA and other co-curricular groups on wrapping up highly successful seasons. Good luck to everyone who qualified for national competitions!
• Athletics: Cheers to our spring sports teams on a great season. Good luck in the upcoming WIAA tournament competitions, and a huge shout out to the MHS girls track team for winning the Big Rivers Conference Championship!
• The Arts: Kudos to everyone involved in the spring orchestra, band, and choir concerts, the MHS Art Show, the Spring Swing, and MMS spring musical, Something Rotten Jr.
• Mighty Mustang Invite: Thank you to the students and staff who participated in this highly inclusive competition. We were proud to host approximately 135 students from 11 different schools for this model event.

Elementary School Highlights

• District-Wide Literacy: Elementary teachers across the SDMA continue to make incredible progress implementing the updated reading curriculum aligned with Wisconsin Act 20. Our district’s processes have been recognized as a state model of success!
• Knapp Elementary: Students completed the D.A.R.E. program and participated in the annual trout release at Knapp Pond.
• Oaklawn Elementary: Students hosted a vibrant concert, ran successful lemonade stands, and participated in Science Olympiad.
• River Heights Elementary: Recognized in April by the WI Department of Public Instruction as a High Impact School of Recognition for excelling at closing the achievement gap.
• Wakanda Elementary: 5th-grade students and staff will host “A Night with Mr. Wright & Art Show” from 4:00-5:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, May 20, in the school gymnasium. Don’t miss this project-based culmination of art and architecture!

A Note on District Success: Here is a link to the SDMA May Highlight on Youth Report. With highlights like these, and everything listed above, it is no wonder that all schools in the SDMA either met or exceeded expectations on the most recent state accountability report card. None of this would be possible without our phenomenal staff and supportive families. Thank you for your wonderful partnerships!

Planning for Summer & the 2026-27 School Year

While celebrations will continue into summer break, the school board and administrative team are already deep into planning for the district’s robust summer school program and the upcoming school year.

Over the next couple of months, our teams will be working on several key initiatives:

• The School Board will review recent family survey feedback, monitor progress on the strategic plan, and craft goals for the 2026-27 district work plan.
• Student Services will review enrollments, finalize class sectioning, and prepare student supports for next year.
• Human Resources will work to fill any remaining staffing vacancies and help onboard new teachers and staff members.
• The Business Department will prepare for this year’s annual audit and present next year’s preliminary budget.
• Curriculum & Instruction will review student assessment results and develop next year’s professional development plan.
• The Technology Department will refresh student devices and launch a brand-new school district website.

The SDMA Administrative Service Center will be open this summer Mondays-Thursdays from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Please do not hesitate to contact me or stop in if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions for our schools.

Thank you again for an incredible school year. Have a wonderful final few weeks!

Warmly,

Joe Zydowsky

Joseph Zydowsky, District Administrator SDMA, 215 Pine Avenue NE
[email protected] (715) 232-1642