A Newsletter from the

Youth Initiative High School

in Viroqua, Wisconsin, USA

Editor: Conrad Rehbach

Friday March 30, 2007

Calendar

Every Tuesday

12:20 PM Administration Group Meeting

Monday Apr 02

3:15 PM Faculty Meeting

7:00 PM Parent Meeting

Tuesday Apr 03

7:00 PM Board Meeting

Apr 06—13

Spring Break—NO SCHOOL

Apr 16—20

Theme Week—All day workshops centered around a theme

May 14—18

Service Week—All day service projects in the community and at YIHS

Thursday May 17

6:00 PM All School Annual Meeting

Monday May 28

Memorial Day — NO SCHOOL

YIHS Spring Play

Performances

Thursday May 31

Friday June 01

Saturday June 02

Sunday June 03

4:30 PM YIHS Graduation Ceremony at Kickapoo Reserve (La Farge, Wisconsin)

Needs List

1. Seats for 15 passenger shuttle bus

2. Flat panel LCD computer monitors

3. Laptop computers

4. Video projectors

5. Overhead projector

6. Curtains or shades for all rooms

7. Beautification of an area of your choice at school

8. Cleaning services

9. Couches and Easy Chairs in good and sturdy condition

10. Letter size heavy duty 4 drawer filing cabinet

11. Computers in working condition

12. Installation of a faucet in a bathroom

13. Installation of a deadbolt/door lock at a office door

14. Someone to type up/proof read handwritten essays for the next newsletter

ARCHIVES

Board Members Wanted. At our annual all school meeting (May 17, 2007), we will elect new board members. Two 2-year term and two 3-year term board positions will be available. Candidates need to declare their candidacy and register by April 15 (deadline) using the form. Interested candidates for the open board positions please contact Conrad Rehbach or Charlene Elderkin for additional information.

THE FOREIGNER returns!  The 'Too Busy To Play' Players will again present this comic production on April 12-14 at the Old Oak Inn in Soldiers Grove.  Showtime is 8:00, with an optional southern style dinner before the production.  Tickets are $10 adult / $7 students with a special PAY WHAT YOU CAN NIGHT  on Thursday April 12.  Don't miss this hilarious presentation by amazing local talent.  Call 624-5217 for reservations.

Driftless Folk School March and April Classes Schedule. March 24: Inkle Weaving; March 31: Blacksmithing/ Forging a Traditional Candlestick/Middle-Eastern Flatbreads. April 14: Tile Making; April 21: Spring Wild Foods; April 28: Raku Workshop/Shiitake Mushroom Workshop/Apple Grafting Workshop. Please call 608-637-3550 for more information or to register, or visit us on the web at www.driftlessfolkschool.org.

SAT and ACT Prep Classes. Deborah Baer will teach a 4-hour SAT prep class on Saturday, April 14, 1:00 – 5:00 PM. This class is for any students taking the test on May 5 or June 2. REGISTRATION DEADLINE for this class is April 4. An ACT prep class will be offered on Saturday, May 12, 1:00 – 5:00, for students taking the test on June 9. Registration deadline for the ACT class is May 2. The fee per student for either class is $50. Limit of 8 students, minimum 4 (class will be cancelled, with one week’s notice, if fewer than 4 students register). IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THE CLASS, BUT CAN’T ATTEND ON THIS DATE, another date can be arranged for a group of 4 or more. A class will be offered in August or September for students taking either test in the fall of ’06. Individual, affordable, tutoring is also available for students (or groups) who would like extra work on specific areas of either test (math, English skills, essay composition, reading analysis, science). Please call Deborah for information or to register at 637-2918 or djbaer@mchsi.com.

College Acceptance Update: Congratulations to Helen Beutler on her acceptance to Lawrence University. Congratulations to Emily Colacino on acceptance to the College of the Atlantic (Bar Harbor, Maine)!

Thank You. Thank you anonymous donor to have a door made and installed at the new costume closet and the leaking skylight fixed.

Visitor from Northland College. A representative of Northland College will be visiting YIHS on Tuesday, April 3 at 11:25 am.  All students, parents, and faculty are welcome to attend.

Dear parents, Thanks for letting  me blab on at your meeting (and play some games!). I wanted to send a check-in/reminder email to those in attendance and an update to those who weren't in attendance. I have a list of people and their commitments, and below I have a copy of the theme week outline I presented. Please email or call with more ideas for theme week: To-dos: *Checking in with public schools for performance space and outreach: Kim and Liz *Checking  PRWS availability: Sheila *Leading a hair and make-up class: Jan *Talk to Frank about cooking (food art) class : Mary* Talk to  produce manager about food art: Jan. Un-assigned to-dos: *Talk to Vince about how welding came together last year* Meal Wheel Coordinator for teachers *Transportation Guru. More needs: *Any one know anyone who could lead a class on lighting/sound? *Do parents want to head up a concessions at the end of the week show? *Anyone want to lead a costume making/designing class? Thanks for all your willingness, help, and vision! Shawn 608-634-2214
shawnyml@hotmail.com

YIHS THEME WEEK Outline. Co-organizers: Shawn Lavoie & AnnaJo Doerr (And perhaps you!) Outline: Theme week this year is centered on Performance Art. A large majority of students voiced an interest in learning new performance-related skills and in putting on a show at the end of the week. Students and I will be meeting in the weeks leading up to Theme Week to come up with a compelling theme for our show, to dream up ways to intertwine performance skills, and to publicize our end-of-week performance. So far, teachers for circus arts, dance, and music (still need more for music) have been identified (some coming from out of town). The structure of the week is a combination of all-group activities, small group instruction, and act/performance creation. Students will decide a specific performance track, but will come together in the morning and at the end of the day. There are several students who are not immediately interested in performing. For this group, I've proposed the creation of a Design Track, that would work throughout the week on non-performative art activities. For example, welding, set design, lighting, and food art could be activities that help in the creation of a performance and are edifying activities for the students … Call out to Parents! … This week will not be a success without parent involvement. Parents have played extraordinary roles in the past as teachers, organizers, drivers, material suppliers (you name it) in Theme Week. How we make this year's Theme Week a wonderful teacher, student and parent collaboration? *Who wants to teach a performance/non-performance skill? *Who wants to help organize the performance? Concessions at the performance? *Who wants to help provide for out of town teachers?

 For the Storytelling Evening, Friday April 27 (7 pm). Volunteers needed: Desserts and Hors d'œuvre(3-4): Mary Root 624-5738, Dessert, Wine and drinks (1-2); Set up (3-4):  Joann; Clean up (3-4): Conrad; Publicity Poster (1); Press Releases (1): Conrad; Poster distribution (3-4): Sandra