We kick off this e-newsletter with a school board meeting summary from Chairperson, Gary Michael. Don't miss the article about basketball written by WEM Junior, Rylee Pelant. Read on to see what we did for Earth Day, Purple Up for military families, and more.

Do you have feedback or ideas for future e-newsletter content? I invite you to contact me. Please spread the word to others you think might like to be added by forwarding this email and/or directing them to the e-newsletter subscription sign-up page on WEM's website. Thank you, and enjoy!

On Monday, April 26, 2021, the WEM school board met virtually for our regular monthly meeting. As per the agenda, we approved the March 22, 2021 Board Meeting Minutes, the April 8, 2021 Special Meeting Minutes, the April Finance Report, and the April Donation Report.

There were no visitor comments. Please remember we welcome comments from community members. However, at this time, you must email any comments before 5:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting to visitorcomments@wem.k12.mn.us.

We heard the April 2021 K-12 Joint Principals’ Report and the April 2021 Activities Director Report as well as a report from Superintendent, Joel Whitehurst.

We approved the Interagency Agreement with Le Sueur County Family Services Collaborative.

Gary Michael, Chairperson

Note: WEM School Board meetings can be viewed live via Zoom video conferencing, and the recordings for past meetings are available on the website. The agendas and accompanying documents are also available online. 

View the April School Board meeting recording and the April work session.

May 13, 2021, 6:00 p.m. Work Session

May 24, 2021, 6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting

Ms. Butzer: Tell us about how you learned about the scholarship.

Grace Fessel: The scholarship was listed on the college website. I started looking into scholarships months ago.

Ms. B: Describe the application process.

GF: The scholarship application was due on March 5, 2021. The application was completed online. The questions were very similar to the questions on a job application.

Ms. B: How did they let you know that you were a finalist? What was that like? 

GF: I received an email from the Executive Director. At first, I was excited, but then as time went on, I started to get anxious. I chose the first available time slot for the interview. 

Ms. B: Describe the interview. What types of questions did you have to answer? How many people interviewed you, and how did you feel before, during, and after?

GF: I was interviewed by the President and Executive Director at SCC. They were welcoming. I felt very comfortable speaking with them and answering their questions. They began the interview by asking me to tell them about myself. We talked about my work experiences and school accomplishments. They asked me why I chose to study Family Services and my five-year goal. They asked me what I would do if I won the scholarship. They told me the expectations and standards if I were to be awarded the scholarship. At the end of the interview, they offered me the scholarship. I was excited and relieved. I felt honored.

Ms. B: Tell me about your career plans and how you chose SCC. 

GF: I want to become a social services assistant. I chose SCC because I was able to begin Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) courses through them as a junior. I prefer taking online courses because it works well with my work schedule.

Ms. B: Describe what happened when you got word that you had won. 

GF: I felt immediate relief and told President Parker and Executive Director Gail Kaderlik that I was so happy. My sister was the first person I told.

Ms. B: What words of advice would you give to students about looking for and applying for scholarships?

GF: Look into the scholarships available through the college. Pay attention to the deadlines. Be thorough with your answers. Having work and volunteer experience is important. 

Ms. B: Congratulations, Grace! All of us at WEM are proud of you and your achievement. 

The 2020-2021 WEM Elementary School yearbook is now on sale! The yearbook is a great reminder of the good times with friends and classmates, the unforgettable moments in school activities, and the adventures in academic life. It’s a story worth remembering!

Simply click on the link below, and order online.

Cost: $18.00

Order online: wemyearbook.com

We are living out history, and we have worked hard to capture this amazing year. Buy a yearbook today, and keep the memories forever!

On April 15, WEM celebrated Purple Up, sponsored by the Elysian Auxiliary. Students and staff wore purple to show support and appreciation for kids in military families. Students with parents in the military wore donated purple bracelets.

Find more photos of Purple Up on our Facebook page.

Thursday, April 22 was Earth Day, a global event held annually to demonstrate support for environmental protection. At WEM, each class at the elementary school was assigned an area around the school to help pick up trash. Afterward, they celebrated with popsicle treats. Morristown students cleaned up their school too. Find more photos of Earth Day on our Facebook page.

WEM PIE is holding events for Teacher Appreciation Week. There will be a Kona Ice truck event on Sunday, May 2. The truck will be in Waterville 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. and in Morristown 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. PIE will get 25% of the sales. Mark your calendar to get some Kona Ice and support our school.

Stay up-to-date by following the WEM PIE Facebook page. Meetings are held virtually the fourth Monday of the month at 5:00 p.m., one hour before the school board meeting. If you would like to get involved with PIE, contact Patty Salmon. 

Drivers' Education classroom sessions and behind-the-wheel training are scheduled to start again in June. Each student must complete six hours of driving. Please see Jeannie in the Community Ed Office to schedule dates. The Community Ed Office is temporarily located in the elementary lobby in the Conference Room.

Summer School-Age Child Care (SACC) begins Tuesday, June 1. Limited spaces are still available. Register now to secure your spot. Registration closes on May 10 or sooner if spaces are filled. Registration begins on May 1 for before- and after-school child care during the 2021/2022 school year. 

For those who have a child expected to start kindergarten in the fall of 2022 or 2023, please complete the 2021-2022 Kindergarten Connection Registration Form if you would like to enroll your child in preschool for this fall.

Spring/Summer soccer registration is open online. Find more information on the website for Waseca Soccer Club.

DNR Firearms Safety Certification via the Official MN Hunter Safety Course is required of anyone born after December 31, 1979 to purchase a hunting license in Minnesota and to participate in the High School Clay Target League. Students must complete the online course and register for the field day. Students must also attend in-person field days. From time to time, the Waterville area has field days, which we will try to advertise; however, sites may also be found on the MN DNR site.

Swimming lessons will be available for students Monday, July 12 through Friday, July 23 at 12:00 p.m. in Le Center. The cost is $50 if registered by May 31, or $55 after. Registration information with more details will be made available to WEM students and families in early May.

Many recreation activities are just getting started with more opportunities to be announced in May (baseball, softball, football, T-ball, camps, etc.). We are looking forward to providing more community education opportunities as things open back up, and we are nearing completion of construction. To stay up-to-date on WEM activities, consult the Community Education page and Athletics page on our website.

April 30 Junior High dance

Applications are available on the website or by calling the district office at 507-362-4432.