As we close out another successful school year, I want to extend my sincere thanks to our students, 

families, staff, and community partners for your continued support and collaboration. This year 

brought many achievements and growth opportunities, and none of it would have been possible without your dedication and partnership.

This summer you will see much going on at all of our school buildings as we move forward with our dehumidification, roofing, and piping repairs. Please be cognizant of construction zones if you approach any of our buildings.  

Thank you for making our schools a place where students thrive. I wish you all a restful, safe, and 

enjoyable summer, and I look forward to welcoming everyone back in the fall.

Warm regards,

Jamie Boelter, NLS Superintendent

The Summer EBT program has a new name: SUN Bucks. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has rebranded all federal Summer Nutrition Programs under the SUN umbrella to highlight their positive impact on children across the country, including Minnesota. SUN Bucks helps kids thrive by providing families with resources to purchase healthy foods during the summer months.

What Is SUN Bucks?

SUN Bucks is an income-based food support program that offers eligible families $40 per month per child (a total of $120) during the summer. Funds are provided on SUN Bucks EBT cards and must be used within 122 days of issuance. Families are encouraged to use their benefits as soon as possible to avoid expiration.

Who Is Eligible?

Students are automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks if they are directly certified through programs such as: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP); Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR); Foster care or Medicaid; and Students identified as homeless, migrant, or runaway (categorically eligible). Students with an approved Application for Educational Benefits for free and reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program are also eligible.

Visit the MN Department of Education's Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer webpage.

Throughout your time here, you’ve shown determination, growth, and a willingness to step up when it mattered. Whether in academics, activities, or your own personal goals, you’ve worked through challenges and found ways to move forward. You’ve left your mark - sometimes quietly, sometimes boldly - and helped shape the story of our school in your own way. As you take your next steps beyond high school, we hope you carry with you the lessons learned and the confidence to keep growing. We’re proud of how far you’ve come, and we’re excited to see where you go next. Congratulations, Class of 2025!

There will be no high school summer school programming this year due to low student enrollment and scheduled building construction. We anticipate that Prairie Woods will be available next summer to provide space for programming needs. Credit recovery opportunities remain available in the fall through our Alternative Learning Program (ALP).

​New London-Spicer Juniors in the Medical Terminology/Anatomy course traded student roles for teaching roles during the last week of school as they guided younger students through an educational pig dissection. The collaborative session was part of an initiative to deepen learning through teaching—an idea grounded in the belief that "the greatest learning comes from teaching others." As the older students helped 10th grade learners explore the fundamentals of anatomy, they discovered something unexpected: they were learning just as much as they were teaching.

“I’m not sure who learned more—us or them,” said Andrew Sandau, a participant in the program. “Explaining the structures and functions really forced me to think more deeply and clearly. You realize how much you know—and what you still need to work on.”

The dissection, supervised by science educators and conducted in a controlled, respectful environment, introduced younger students to biological systems in a way that books alone cannot achieve. For the older students, it was a chance to practice leadership, communication, and empathy—all while reinforcing their own understanding of anatomy.

NLS Science teacher Roxanne Schmiesing praised the initiative, “When students teach, they internalize concepts at a much deeper level. It becomes a full-circle educational moment. This was about more than just anatomy—it was about mentorship and active learning.”

The success of the project has already sparked interest in repeating the experience in future years, potentially expanding it to other topics in science.

The Julia Iverson Award is awarded to one NLS senior who exemplifies dedication and excellence in the visual arts. The award is named after an NLS art teacher who shaped the programming we offer in the Visual Arts Departments. Congratulations to our 2025 Julia Iverson Award recipient is Kaitlyn Haverly!

The Gossman/Edwards Award is awarded to one NLS senior student who shows a dedication to Ceramics. It is named after two New London based potters who established themselves as leaders in our Art community. Congratulations to our 2025 recipient of the Gossman/Edwards Award, Henry Vetsch!

Congratulations to some of our 5th and 6th grade band students who represented New London-Spicer at the 2025 Central MN Band Director's Association's First and Second Year Honor Band Festival on Saturday, May 10!

Fifth graders Nyla DeJong, Bao Nguyen, Cora Thalberg, and Evangelyne Thompson-Meissner participated in the First Year Honor Band, under the direction of Michael Thursby, Director of Athletic Bands at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Sixth graders Clara Gronli, Tanner Olson, and Haley Peterson performed with the Second Year Honor Band, led by Joni Sutton, retired band director and former president of the Minnesota Band Directors Association.

The students spent the day with their guest directors and other first and second year band students from 25 different schools in our region. They worked hard on challenging music and performed a concert at Zimmerman High School that afternoon. We are so proud of these NLS Wildcat Band Students!

8th grade teachers racing 8th graders for some last day of middle school fun!

Two Free Summer Camps for 5th, 6th or 7th Graders

GAMMA (Math Camp): An interactive, hands-ons, discovery-based math camp the week of July 21 -25 (one week) from 8:45am to 1:45pm hosted at the Willmar Middle School with a field trip to the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center on Friday, July 25. Click for more details: GAMMA 

Robotics/STEM Camp: July 28 - August 8 (two weeks Monday through Friday) from 8:45am to 12:45pm at the Willmar Middle School. One week of robotics and one week of Science and Engineering class. Click for more details: Robotics/STEM 

Both programs are FREE through funding from West Central Achievement and Integration Collaborative.

• Free breakfast and lunch
• Free bus transportation to and from your district to the Willmar Middle School 
• Free use of materials and supplies
• Free field trip to the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center for the GAMMA math camp 

Registration is limited. Sign up today for one or both of summer camps:

GAMMA Online Registration

Robotics/STEM Online Registration

Prairie Woods

Congratulations to our APRIL Students of the Month! These students consistently display Responsibility, Ownership, Good Attitude, and Respect!

Kindergarten: E​. Baker, T​. Nelson, M​. Ardoff-Hagen, B​. Roesler, R​. Bowers, N​. Anderson

1st Grade: O​. Ridener, B​. Aus, J​. Hanson, R​. Vernier, M​. Gramstad

2nd Grade: R​. Rohloff, H​. Van Beck, R​. Kase, H​. Nelson, B​. Marquardt

3rd Grade: C​. Ray, N​. Freeland, R​. Swenson, M​. Danielson, C​. Wallner, T​. Hartgrove

4th Grade: J​. Klebe, C​. Wright, L​. Prentice, R​. Hoflock, M​. Jacobs, I​. Finstrom

Congratulations to our MAY Students of the Month! These students consistently display Responsibility, Ownership, Good Attitude, and Respect!

Kindergarten: B. Bomstad, H. Fischer, R. Anderson, D. Hanson-Lara, H. Pomplun, and R. Lien

1st Grade: A. Alvarado, G. Rosendahl, K. Braegelman, O. Zylstra, and D. Sandven

2nd Grade: M. Gehrking, E. Gravley, M. Como, A. Haats, and E. Duenaz

3rd Grade: M. Spears, J.Miller, P.Sampson, B. Shea, C. Fowler, and A. Westby

4th Grade: Myka Spears, J. Miller, P. Sampson, B. Shea, C. Fowler, and A. Westby

Community Education

The excitement never ends as America’s favorite comedy playwright tells the story of the craziness that happened when he first joined New York’s top comedy writers. Neil Simon wrote “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” right after he won the Pulitzer Prize. Hysterically funny is the best way to describe this play directed by Tom Orth. Come to the Performing Arts Center in New London mid-July to enjoy this professionally mounted production.

Tickets are on sale now! $15/ticket

www.nls.k12.mn.us/ticketsales

Showtimes:

July 16-19, 21, 23-25 at 7:30PM July 20 at 2PM

Location: NLS Performing Arts Center, 101 4th Ave SW, New London, MN



Produced by special arrangement with Samual French, Inc. ​

Join us for the third annual Zylstra Brothers Football Camp this summer! Led by Brandon and Shane Zylstra—who was just re-signed with the Detroit Lions yesterday—this camp offers an affordable, high-energy experience designed for all youth in the area. With a focus on practical skills and drills, participants will gain techniques they can use in their backyard, during team practices, or on their own.

This year’s camp will be even bigger and better, featuring a live DJ to keep the energy high! Plus, parents are welcome to walk the track and capture live-action photos of their athletes in action. Each participant will receive a camp T-shirt and a swag bag to take home.

Spots are limited—only 125 per group—so don’t wait to register! The camp is just $75, making it an incredible opportunity to learn from top athletes while having fun.

New London-Spicer's 2025 Pierce Family Legacy Award Winner Selected

​On May 7, the NLS Art Department awarded the NLS Pierce Family Legacy Prize to Molly Damhof. Molly is a junior who has been working in Ceramics this year. Her bowl titled, Dots and Daisies, was selected as the 2025 winner and is now displayed in the Performing Arts Center Lobby as part of the school's permanent art collection. The NLS Pierce Family Legacy Prize was made possible through a collaboration between the NLS Community Endowment for the Arts (CEFA) fund and private donor, Jeff Pierce. The first winner was awarded in 2022. Be sure to check out Molly's work and our previous Legacy winners' work the next time you're in the NLS PAC!