NEW LONDON-SPICER SCHOOL DIST. 345

Inspire Every Student, Every Day

What Does “Record Money for Education” Mean for Education?

Many have read the headlines stating that the Minnesota State Legislature passed a record $2.2 billion toward education this past session.  I am extremely grateful to work in a state that supports education.  However, understanding how that money is allocated is more complex than those “record setting” headlines may reveal. Minnesota has the most complicated education funding systems in the country.  With this influx of money, schools are not allowed to spend this money as they see fit.  Only about one third of the money is allocated toward school operational costs. Operational costs are what we as school districts have flexibility with.


The remaining two thirds of the funding is in the form of mandates. Each mandate comes with a variety of requirements for a school to be deemed in compliance. Here is a “Cliff Notes” version of the recent mandates it does not include all compliance markers... to continue reading, click here.

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

  • Monday, November 6 - School Board Work Session
  • Tuesday, November 7 - No School For PreK Only: Prairie Meadows Building Closed
  • Tuesday, November 7 - Election Day
  • Wednesday, November 8 - FFA Sponsored Veterans Breakfast
  • Wednesday, November 8 - Prairie Woods Veterans Day
  • Monday, November 13 - Prairie Woods & Prairie Meadows Food Drive Begins
  • Tuesday, November 14 - Senior Job Expo
  • Tuesday, November 14 - Prairie Meadows Picture Retakes
  • Thursday, November 16 - Fall Musical: The Sound of Music
  • Friday, November 17 - Grade Check for Grades 5-12
  • Friday, November 17 - Fall Musical: The Sound of Music
  • Saturday, November 18 - Fall Musical: The Sound of Music
  • Monday, November 20 - School Board Meeting
  • Monday, November 20 - Prairie Woods and Prairie Meadows Food Drive Ends
  • Tuesday, November 21 - Family Craft Day for Prairie Meadows Families
  • Wednesday, November 22 - No School: Teacher Workshop Day
  • Thursday, November 23 - No School: Thanksgiving Break
  • Friday, November 24 - No School: Thanksgiving Break
  • Wednesday, November 29 - Sophomores take the ASVAB

New London-Spicer High School Drama Department proudly presents,

The Sound of Music

Music by Richard Rodgers

Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstenin II

Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse


The inspirational story, based on the memoir of Maria Augusta Trapp, follows an aspiring postulate who serves as governess to the seven children of the imperious Captain von Trapp, bringing music and joy to the household. But as the forces of Nazism take hold of Austria, Maria and the entire von Trapp family must make a moral decision.


Showtimes: November 16, 17, & 18 at 7PM

New London-Spicer Performing Arts Center

$10/ticket


This year's fall musical is directed by Paula Prill and comprised of a cast of nineteen, a crew of fourteen, a four member pit band and nine community volunteers. Other directors include; Jason Parker (vocal), Caitlin Becks (band), Parker Stone (tech), Dave Holmquist and Ben Mooberry (scenery), and Becca Gaasterland (backstage).


THE SOUND OF MUSIC is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization. www.concordtheatricals.com

BUY TICKETS!

Artist Showcase Award

New this year, the art department will be awarding bi-monthly Artist Showcase Awards for 2D artists from New London-Spicer High School. A maximum of four artists will awarded per cycle. Showcase artists will be selected based on merit and thematic criteria. Congratulations to the following high school artists who earned the Artist Showcase Award in October! Ellie Donner, Kaitlyn Haverly, Rebecca Gaasterland, and Madisyn Claseman were selected to present their graphite drawings with a collective theme relating to a "Day in the Life" of an New London-Spicer teenager. Showcase artwork will be on display in the High School Principal's Office.  

High School - Principal Bonnie Spohn

New London-Spicer's FFA Fruit Sales are underway! If you would like to browse the selection, please click here! Your purchase will help our local FFA chapter. Fundraiser ends: November 14, 2023. 


On Friday, October 27, our high school held its Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest in the cafeteria. Students and staff had the opportunity for vote for their favorite. Three winners were awarded;

  • 3rd place: Tangled by Brin Holmquist and Jackie Riza
  • 2nd place: Fish Bowl with real fish by Rayya Nieland and Danica Pederson
  • 1st place: Witch’s Cauldron by Becca Gaasterland, Adre Dillabough, and Layla Simpson

Special thanks to Phil Westby and Country Stop Produce for providing the pumpkins. 

Wildcat Activities

The fall season for the Wildcats wrapped up over the weekend. It was another successful fall for NLS. The cross country team had some very strong individual performances and as a team. Girls tennis qualified for the state tournament for the first time since 2021 and had three individuals qualify for the state tournament. Volleyball finished as the runner up in the North Sub-Section of Section 3AA. Football finished in second place in Section 6AAA. We are looking forward to the start of the winter season and more success for the Cats.


Be sure to get your tickets for the fall musical performance of The Sound of Music. Performances are November 16-18 at 7:00 pm in the PAC.


Every week, the activities department recognizes a student as our Wildcat of the Week. These students are recognized not only based on their accomplishments, but also how they display the R.O.A.R principles - Respect, Ownership, Attitude, and Responsibility. Our most recent Wildcats of the Week for 2023 were Piper Barney (Volleyball) and Jackson Barber (Band).


Middle School - Principal Dr. Jenn Fuchs

We have awarded our first R.O.A.R Award of the 2023-24 school year to Chelsea Gardner. Chelsea was nominated for having an amazing attitude by Ms. Ludwig. Ms. Ludwig said, "Chelsea shows an awesome desire to do her best, works hard, contributes positively to the classroom, and is kind with peers!


Our Middle School will have After School Tutoring for any subject from 3:10-4:00PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Ms. Ludwig's Room. This is a free service. Parents are responsible for their child(ren)'s transportation. If your child will be attending tutoring please send notification using this form.

Prairie Woods - Principal Randy Juhl

This week, Prairie Woods will be hosting a Veterans Day Program on Wednesday, November 8 at 1:30PM in the Prairie Woods Gym. Local Veterans and our PW families are welcome to attend!


Next week, Prairie Woods will be participating in their Annual Food Drive from Monday, November 13 through Monday, November 20. Our goal is to collect 1,500 pounds of food. If this goal is met, we could provide 1,250 meals for citizens in our community!

Monday (13th): Breakfast Foods

Tuesday (14th): Lunch/Dinner Foods

Wednesday (15th): Beverages

Thursday (16th): Snack Foods

Friday (17th): $1 Donation for the Wildcat Backpack Program

Monday (20th): Food of your choice or paper product


(Pictured Below) Kindergarteners' art work. At Prairie Woods, our Kindergarteners spent time learning about shapes, colors and texture with their bright and vibrant colorful sunflower art!

Prairie Meadows - Coordinator Jennifer Hellickson

Our Annual Fall Festival was a huge success! We had over 200 trick-or treaters play games, collect candy, create with pumpkins, and make crafts. Funds raised from the event go into our scholarship fund helping preschoolers attend school.


A special thanks for all the businesses that joined us to play games and hand out candy to all the trick or treaters! Alley on Ash, Magnifi Financial, Lake Region Bank, Snap Fitness, United Prairie Bank, O’Neils, Alley on Ash, NLS PTO, Green Lake Dental, Country Stop, Town & Country Tire, Lucky Duck, Taher and Maurices.


Next week, Prairie Meadows will be participating in their Annual Food Drive from Monday, November 13 through Monday, November 20.

Monday (13th): Breakfast Foods

Tuesday (14th): Lunch/Dinner Foods

Wednesday (15th): Beverages

Thursday (16th): Snack Foods

Friday (17th): $1 Donation for the Wildcat Backpack Program

Monday (20th): Food of your choice or paper product


Reminder: Our Prairie Meadows Building (and all early childhood programming) will be closed on Tuesday, November 7th for the Elections.

NLS Educational Foundation Awards $3,876.74 to Food Science and Career Opportunities Experiential Learning

The New London-Spicer Educational Foundation Awarded $3,876.74 to Grace Figueroa-Ghent, Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, for her grant titled,  "Food Science and Career Opportunities Experiential Learning." The focus of this grant is to assist in engaging students in exciting, hands-on labs, units, and projects. Students will also take time to reflect on their learning which helps personalize the learning and aids in their retention. Grace's courses include a lot of project-based learning, experiential learning, and student-guided learning that focus on essential life skills (like cooking) with a cross-curricular approach by integrating Math, Science, English, the Arts!


In her Culinary Arts classes, students also have the opportunity to engage with guest speakers and demonstrators to learn more about college and career opportunities. New partnerships have been formed with both Ridgewater College (Customized Training and Continuing Education) and Southwest Minnesota State University Culinary Arts Program. Both partnerships will include teaching students about career opportunities and college pathways they can pursue and thus integrating a Career and Technical Education aspect into the Family and Consumer Sciences at New London-Spicer Schools. These projects will begin during the second semester of the 2023-24 school year in her Culinary Arts 2 courses impacting up to 48 students in grades 10-12 or more per year with the potential for these educational opportunities to expand into the Culinary Arts 1 courses.

"Home for the Holidays" - A Kat Perkins Christmas

BUY TICKETS!

Saturday, December 2nd, 2023 at 7pm

In the New London-Spicer Performing Arts Center

$30/ticket

Christmas is Kat Perkins’ favorite time of year! A Kat Perkins Christmas is an incredible blend of traditional Christmas songs with Kat’s modern spin. She incorporates her audience in fun crowd participation holiday songs and even features an up and coming young star at each venue. Together she has created a fun, rockin show to celebrate the holidays filled with great music, laughter and even her own original Christmas songs! It’s a must see, all ages opportunity to bring the entire family!


Kat Perkins has been the TOP SELLING rock singer on iTunes 5 times. NBC’s THE VOICE’s Musical Director Paul Mirkovich called her “the best rock singer we’ve ever had on the show.” In the past two years alone, she’s been featured twice in Rolling Stone magazine. You don't want to miss this one - get your tickets today!


Sponsored by: Dooley's Petroleum, Jennie-O, Lake Region Bank, Rambow & United MN Bank.


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Address: 101 4th Ave SW New London, MN 56273
P: 320-354-2252
F: 320-354-9001