As we enter the new year, I wanted to take a moment to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your continued support and dedication to our school community. This time of year allows us to reflect on the accomplishments we’ve achieved together, and I am proud of the hard work and resilience shown by our students, staff, and families.

We’ve had a remarkable first half of the school year, filled with growth, learning, and moments of joy. Our students continue to impress with their curiosity and enthusiasm, and our teachers and staff have shown incredible commitment to creating a nurturing and inspiring environment for all. It’s clear that the spirit of collaboration and care is alive and well in our schools.

I hope everyone was able to take time to rest, recharge, and enjoy special moments with loved ones over the winter break. We are excited to welcome our students back and ready to continue our journey of learning and growth.

Thank you once again for your continued support and partnership. I look forward to all we will accomplish together in 2025.

Warm regards,

Jamie Boelter, Superintendent

Taher Food Service: Exciting Updates

We’re thrilled to share some exciting updates about our HS/MS cafeteria! You may have already noticed a few adjustments as we begin to roll out these changes. Here’s what’s happening:

• New Serving Lines: We’ve installed brand-new serving lines and are adjusting how they function to improve efficiency.
• More Entrée Options: We’re expanding the menu to include a greater variety of choices for our students.
• Fresh, Made-from-Scratch Items: We’re working on preparing more of our food items from scratch to enhance quality and taste.



Recently, we conducted a survey to gather feedback from students, staff, and families about our meal program. The results were insightful and highlighted a few key areas for improvement:

• Families are looking for more menu variety, including vegetarian options.
• There’s a strong desire for better fruit and vegetable options.

To meet these needs, we’re introducing new menu items, creating specific serving lines like a grill line and a pizza line, and adding a fruit and vegetable bar.

While we’re very excited about these changes, we ask for your patience as we adjust and fine-tune the process. We’re learning which entrées students prefer, finding the best ways to set up our new serving lines, and educating students about these updates.

It’s important to us that we serve food we’re proud of—meals that students enjoy, served efficiently and within district schedules. Thank you for your understanding and support as we make these improvements.

First come first serve dental care for children in need ages 17 and under. Appointments are needed so please call our office today to get scheduled. Spots are limited. Call (320)796-2158 to schedule an appointment.



When: Friday, February 7, 2025 from 8AM-12PM

Where: Green Lake Dental, 163 Hwy. 23 NE, Suite 1 Spicer, MN 56288

Recycling Non-Working Christmas Lights Project

Our middle and high school Youth Eco Solutions (YES) teams will be collecting and recycling non-working Christmas lights. The lights will be recycled to extract the useful metals they contain and keep them out of landfills.  Lights can be dropped off to collection boxes between December 13 and January 13, at one of the following locations: High School Gym, Middle School office, New London Bakery, Teals in Spicer, Open Door Church, and Peace Lutheran Church.

Thursday, January 9, 2025, marks the end of the second quarter and the conclusion of the first semester. As a reminder, semester credits play a crucial role in meeting graduation requirements. It’s a great time for students to reflect on their progress and set goals for the second half of the school year.

Wildcat Sophomores and Juniors - Are you looking for an opportunity to give you a competitive edge in life? The Kandiyohi Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (KCEO) program, offered through NLS, is an incredible class that prepares students for real-world success like no other.

What is KCEO? KCEO is a hands-on, project-based learning experience that goes beyond traditional education. Students step out of the classroom and into the community, gaining invaluable skills from over 30 local businesses and industry leaders.

What’s in it for you? Real-World Experience: KECO teaches students what it takes to thrive in today’s workforce by exposing them to real-life projects and challenges. Essential Life Skills: From communication and teamwork to leadership and problem-solving, KCEO helps students develop critical skills for adulthood. Entrepreneurial Expertise: By the end of the school year, students will launch and operate their very own business, experiencing what it means to take an idea and make it a reality.

Take the first step! The KCEO program could be the key to unlocking your student’s potential and setting them on the path to success. Applications for the KCEO program open in January. Visit the KCEO website at www.kandiyohiceo.com. Give them the chance to experience this life-changing class—enrollment is limited, so don’t wait! Contact Kelly Johnson KCEO Facilitator for more information.

Our students and staff were able to raise a total of $467.20 for the Holiday Joy Fundraiser. Donations will be given to Prairie Woods Elementary and The Link. Our NLS National Honor Society students are very grateful for everyone's donations and cannot wait to raise the bar next year!

Our high school Math League Team is currently in 3rd place out of six schools with a score of 47. Atwater is leading with a score of 56 and Dassel-Cokato is in second place with a score of 51. NLS Senior Henry Vetsch is tied for 2nd place in the Division with a cumulative score of 27 and two more competitions remaining! Ranked second on our team is Junior Jowell Gamez with a score of 25 and ranked third is Sophomore Carson Stone with a score of 19. NLS Math League is coached by Mr. Schmiesing. Good luck to our Math League students as they finish their season!

Attend Virtual Financial Aid Events for 10-12th Graders and become eligible to win a $1,000 scholarship! Free financial aid events are available to MN students and families via ZOOM! The series, running four Tuesday evenings in January, will cover details on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), how to search for scholarships, and understanding aid offers. All sessions are at 7PM on Tuesday nights and will last approximately 45-60 minutes. Participants can ask questions in the chat. Attend any number of sessions (choose dates during registration). Suggested audience is 10-12th grade students and their parent(s)/guardian(s).

January 7: Apply for Financial Aid: FAFSA 

January 14: Apply for Financial Aid: MN Dream Act

January 21: Scholarship Search | 10th-12th grade students

January 28: Understand Your Aid Offer | 12th grade students

How can students and families participate? All sessions will be on Zoom, but space is limited. REGISTER HERE! Session materials and recordings will be posted on the same page after each event.

Is there a scholarship for students? Students who attend any of the sessions or watch a session recording will be eligible to win a $1,000 scholarship (one entry per session attended) awarded by ECMC The College Place Minnesota.

"Just Talk About It", A Free Community Event

February 24, 2025, at 6:30PM in NLS Performing Arts Center

This program gives caring adults practical strategies to empower them to start a mental health conversation with the youth in their lives. Audiences will leave this presentation with a deeper understanding of: 

• The mental health continuum

• The most common youth mental health challenges and concerns

• The role of connection in healing and resilience

• How to effectively support youth and access resources

About the speakers:

Samantha is a licensed professional counselor and an EMDR trained therapist. Creating awareness about mental wellness can begin in elementary school. This interactive presentation teaches children to increase their understanding of how their emotions impact their thoughts and behaviors. 

Colin appeared to have it all-success, friends, and a supportive family-but secretly struggled with anxiety, depression, and substance use. He kept his pain hidden, fearing judgment, until he reached his darkest point. By opening up and seeking support, Colin overcame his challenges. Now in college and playing football, he's living proof that recovery is possible and that it's okay to not be okay. There is always hope. 

The Duck Cup Memorial is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to providing resources for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. WWW.DUCKCUPMEMORIAL.ORG

As we enter the new year, New London-Spicer Middle School is buzzing with activity. Here’s an overview of key updates and events for January. Our girls' basketball season wrapped up with tremendous energy and enthusiasm from players and fans alike. Boys' basketball has now begun, and we are looking forward to another exciting season filled with teamwork and growth on and off the court. Students are gearing up for upcoming Math Counts competitions. Our mathletes have been hard at work preparing for these challenges and are ready to represent our school with pride. Knowledge Bowl teams are also preparing for their competitions, showcasing their collaborative and critical thinking skills in various academic areas.

Our new semester begins on January 14, offering students a fresh start as they continue their academic journey. Teachers and staff are prepared to support students as they transition into new courses and challenges. January marks the administration of FAST reading and math testing, which plays a crucial role in identifying students who may benefit from intervention programs. These assessments also allow us to celebrate student progress and ensure that every learner receives the support they need to succeed.

Mrs. Pafrath's 8th grade YES students had a succesful finish to their holiday toy drive. All the toys they collected were donated to our Prairie Meadows Preschool. Thank you to everyone that contributed to this toy drive!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Please remind your children to wear/bring warm clothes each day as we will continue to go outside for recess until it feels like the temperature is 25 degrees.

Any Middle School families with children in need of a winter coat, please contact our building's Social Workers.

Melissa Louwagie LouwagieM@isd345.org | 320.354.2252 Ext. 2107

Liz Kruger KrugerE@isd345.org | 320.354.2252 Ext. 2430

Prairie Woods

On December 11, we hosted a very special First Grade Winter Music Program. Our first graders had a lot of fun singing with Ms. Bellman --- and they especially LOVED having so many family members come to watch them perform!

Have you ever seen a pumpkin fly? Prairie Woods 4th graders in Ms. Wilkey's STEAM class made it happen. Inspired by "punkin chunkin" festivals and contests throughout the United States, students had a blast testing their engineering skills. Using the engineering design process, they worked in teams to design, build, and test catapults to see who could launch their candy pumpkin the furthest.

The steps of this process include:

1. Ask what the problem or constraints are.

2. Imagine some solutions or designs, then plan and create with your team.

3. Test and improve as you build.

4. Share your design or solution.

Participating in these challenges help build grit and resilience in our students. When it comes to STEAM challenges (activities), success doesn’t always look like a completed build. Success may be learning what doesn't work. We want students to have a productive struggle when they are building. Learning what doesn't work can be just as valuable as learning what does work.

(Pictured) Prairie Woods Elementary Social Worker, Ann Dobmeier, presenting Ashley Hanson of The Link with $541 in donations. The money was raised during the 15 Days of Christmas raffle giveaway in December where each $1 donation granted 1 entry. A big thank you goes out to the area businesses that donated prizes for this fun activity!

Community Education

Firearm Safety Class Registration is open. We offer one class per year and participants must be 11 years old. The class is held in February and the first part of March. You must be able to attend the Range Testing Day on March 8, register here. 

Women's Adult Volleyball Registration is open! We have both a Power League and a Recreation League for Women's Volleyball starting in March. It is a great way to get some exercise and have fun with other adults! Put a team together and join us in this 18+ league. Power Leagues Register here! or Rec Leagues Register here! 

Cub Kids Preschool 2025-2026 Registration will open at 7AM on Monday, February 3, 2025. Please do not delay in registering for PreK, as we are generally on a waiting list by March 1. You can REGISTER HERE on February 3. If you do not already have an account, you can make an account earlier than February 3 in the ARUX system. 

The Spring/Summer Community Education booklet will come out in April. We will be fully transitioning our courses and registration to the ARUX platform. You can click here to see a preview!

(Pictured Above) The NLS Summer Basketball Shot Club Challenge awarded t-shirts to the students that completed the challenge during the halftime of the Wildcats girls' BB game. The Basketball Shot Club works to develop basic shooting fundamentals. They work on lay-ups, free throws, shoot off of dribble and fakes and drives when shooting.