ALL ELEMENTARY EVENTS!!! As part of our restructuring, we have been encouraging elementary families to attend events at any of our schools. Participating in events at other elementary schools will allow students and families to explore our campuses, make new friends and learn more about what the district has to offer. We have a number of fun events coming up in February! Our PTOs are also working together with district administration to coordinate additional larger event(s) for elementary families in late spring or summer. A survey will be sent out in the coming weeks to gather interest and gain insights from families on how we can bring our schools together and make this transition a positive one.
RSVP NOW FOR THE KM SHOWCASE – FEBRUARY 18TH FROM 5:30-7PM @ KMHS. THIS 4K-12 ENROLLMENT FAIR & COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE IS OPEN TO ALL RESIDENTS/NON-RESIDENTS. Talk with administrators, staff, and students from all of our KM Schools! Get a personalized tour of the KMHS Campus, including all of our career pathways and subject areas. Watch video tours of our other Schools! Learn more about 4K-12 programs, curriculum, and offerings! Get information on the many athletic teams, clubs & activities that make us ONE KM!! To learn more about the incredible opportunities available in the Kettle Moraine School District... RSVP NOW with our Google form: kmsd.edu/rsvp. You can also order dinner from Culver's through the link in this form.
CUSHING SCIENCE DAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!! We will be hosting our annual Science Day on the morning of Tuesday, May 12th here at Cushing. This year Science Day will be held at Cushing for ALL grades K-5. We are currently looking for volunteers to run various science themed stations. Interested participants are asked to create an engaging presentation and/or activity that lasts 45 minutes. There will be 2 rotations so you'd do the same presentation twice to approximately 20 students each time. Lunch will be provided to thank all volunteers for their time! To sign up, fill out the form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6sepx3R4TlVZFnM-T_K4WZgzimhk1hFbEErCHpo-qX5pAgg/viewform. If you have questions, please contact Sarah Ramsey at ramseys@kmsd.edu.
KMMS PARENT INFO NIGHTS TOMORROW AND WEDNESDAY!!! Kettle Moraine Middle School will be holding two information nights, tomorrow February 3rd and on Wednesday, February 4th from 5:30-7:00pm. We encourage all parents interested in learning more about the middle school to attend. KMMS is unique in that it offers two learning environments, Create and Inspire, in one school. We encourage our families to see both the Create and Inspire presentations, which will occur at 5:30pm and 6:15pm each night. Families with fifth graders are encouraged to begin registering their child after the presentation. You can also go to kmsd.edu/enroll to learn more!
JOIN US TONIGHT FOR THE KMHS COURSE INFO/REGISTRATION NIGHT OR THE KM CONNECT VIRTUAL INFO NIGHT!!! Still deciding which KMHS Campus school is right for you? Join us for upcoming information nights to explore the exceptional options available on the KMHS Campus. No other district in the state offers five unique high schools on one connected campus. KMHS offers a wide range of courses and career pathways, including IT, health sciences, culinary arts, construction, architecture, the arts, and more, with opportunities for dual enrollment and place-based learning. High School of Health Sciences (HS²) is focused on health care careers through immersive, hands-on learning and partnerships with local providers. KM Global prepares students to make an impact through leadership development, global perspectives, and inquiry-based learning with field experiences and internships. KM Perform is a four-year, college-preparatory school for students with strengths or interests in the arts, blending academics with creative projects. KM Connect serves grades 6–12 with a flexible, virtual learning model designed to meet individual student and family needs.
ALL ELEMENTARY EVENT SURVEY!!!! We are conducting a survey of elementary families to determine their interest in All Elementary Events prior to the coming school year. Participating in events at other elementary schools gives students and families the opportunity to visit our campuses, connect with new friends, and learn more about the many programs and experiences our district offers. Our PTOs are partnering with district administration to plan shared events for all elementary families. This survey will help us understand interest and gather feedback on ways we can bring our school communities together and support a smooth, positive transition for 2026–27. Please complete the survey by 2/27 at https://forms.gle/ELWv8WQcTZ9huypa9.
FREE PRESCHOOL SCREENINGS!!! March 13th from 9:00am-12:00pm at Dousman Elementary, KM will be holding a free preschool screening facilitated by the District's Early Childhood Team. Children participate in a variety of play-based activities to assess communication, gross and fine motor skills, social/ emotional development, and pre-academic skills. If you have any questions or concerns about your child's development, or simply want to gain a better understanding of how they are doing, Sign up at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc7AWbvjzEH7xAWxKEdy00MibPc0hZomIPGwxX-OEc1bL6AgQ/viewform or contact Sarai Wittig wittigs@kmsd.edu with questions. This is a great opportunity to determine if your child would qualify for early childhood services in the district.
AUDITION FOR ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE!!! Always Something There is a brand new musical inspired by classic 1980s teen movies and packed with hit songs you already know and love. This show follows Samantha Craig, who wakes up on her 45th birthday… only to find herself 18 again. With a second chance at high school—and life—she must decide whether to change her future or stick with what feels safe. This is an exciting opportunity for high school performers to: Originate roles, Perform iconic ’80s music. Be part of the creative process. Help shape a brand new musical from the ground up. Register now for KM Perform Musical to be part of this amazing opportunity!
NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELOR WEEK!!! Thank you to our school counselors for all of the support and assistance you provide our students and families throughout the year.
PAYROLL SUPPORT SPECIALIST OPENING!!! The Kettle Moraine School District is seeking a full-time Payroll Support Specialist to start as soon as possible. This role supports employees through accurate payroll processing and benefits administration while upholding professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality. Key Responsibilities: Process semi-monthly payroll under the direction of the Payroll & Benefits Manager. Maintain accurate payroll records in Skyward (time, leave, pay codes). Support employee onboarding, payroll setup, and benefits deductions. Coordinate and reconcile substitute payroll with Kelly Education. Serve as a point of contact for absence and substitute coverage questions. Assist with payroll corrections, reports, audits, and benefits processing. Qualifications: Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred (or equivalent experience). Payroll or benefits experience preferred. Strong attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.Experience with Skyward strongly preferred. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace. Apply at https://wecan.waspa.org/Vacancy/251929 or contact donovana@kmsd.edu for more information
OPEN ENROLLMENT IN KM STARTS MONDAY FEB. 2ND!!! We have so many amazing opportunities in the Kettle Moraine School District and we'd love to share them with you! Open enrollment families are an important part of our KM Community and we currently have space available at all grade levels, and can even provide busing from an existing district stop for a small fee if space is available! If you are not currently attending KM and wish to open enroll into the district, visit kmsd.edu and click the big enroll button, then navigate through the open enrollment application process. This is not final, and you can apply to more than one school district. We also encourage you to tour any of our schools using the "schedule a tour" sidebar. Consider attending our KM Showcase on February 18th from 5:30-7pm at Kettle Moraine High School, where you can talk with administrators, staff, and students from all of our KM schools; get a personalized tour of the KMHS Campus, including all of our career pathways and subject areas; watch video tours of our other schools; learn about 4K-12 programs, curriculum, and offerings; and explore our many athletic teams, clubs & activities. To learn more about the great choices in the Kettle Moraine School District, RSVP NOW at kmsd.edu/rsvp!
CULVER'S AT THE KM SHOWCASE!!! Thanks to our friends at Culver's in Wales, you can now pre-order boxed dinners for the KM Showcase/4K Fair! THE SHOWCASE, OUR LARGEST 4K-12 ENROLLMENT FAIR & COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE EVENT, IS OPEN TO ALL RESIDENTS/NON-RESIDENTS ON FEBRUARY 18TH FROM 5:30-7PM @ KMHS. Culver's will be offering pre-orders for: single cheeseburger ($5), chicken tender ($5), or crispy chicken sandwich ($6) boxed meals with fries! They will also be pre-ordering custard dishes ($2) and providing sprinkles, Oreos and M&M's. Culver's will serve the meals and provide a variety of condiments and toppings. Orders must be placed by Fri. Feb. 13th at kmsd.edu/culvers, and can be picked up anytime after 5:15pm on February 18th in the KMHS cafeteria.
DISCOVER CUSHING - BE A STAR!!! New to the Cushing community or thinking about enrolling at Cushing Elementary? We’d love to meet you! Join us for an informal tour and information night on Wednesday, March 4 at 5PM. This is a relaxed, welcoming opportunity to: Explore our school and see our learning spaces up close. Ask questions about Cushing and the upcoming school year. Meet our staff and start building connections before school begins. Whether your child is already enrolled or you’re just beginning to explore what makes Cushing such a special place, we can’t wait to welcome you and share our school community with you. RSVP today to let us know you’re coming at www.kmsd.edu/cushing-rsvp. We hope to see you there!
KM DANCE TEAM CULVER'S FUNDRAISER!!!
STELLMACHER EARNS PHD!!! Kettle Moraine School District CFO, John Stellmacher, was awarded his PhD in December, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His doctoral program was in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, and his
dissertation involved studying the fiscal impact of school choice on Wisconsin School Districts over the past 30 years. "I'm hopeful that this research contributes to what we know about school choice and provides a mechanism to help state policymakers better understand the financial implications of current state policy as well as potential implications for future modifications/expansions of school choice programs within Wisconsin. While school choice is commonly understood to be taxpayer support for the Milwaukee, Racine, and Statewide Parental Choice programs, many citizens often don't realize that the biggest school choice program is actually open-enrollment. There are also independent charter schools and instrumentality charter schools (like KM's)," cited Stellmacher. "Kettle Moraine is heavily influenced by choice, through our district supporting five charter schools, receives a significant benefit from school choice in open enrollment, and pays significant taxes for independent charters/Wisconsin Parental Choice program, this research will be valuable as a means of informing district strategy around how to navigate the path to achieving high quality and financially sustainable public schools in an era of expanding school choice." John's commitment to fiscal solvency and transparency in education, has been critical to KM's success, and has provided guidance to many other districts throughout the state. John also created our Budget Advisory Council, which brings community members, business leaders, and school administrators together to navigate the challenges of declining student populations and its impact on school funding.
dissertation involved studying the fiscal impact of school choice on Wisconsin School Districts over the past 30 years. "I'm hopeful that this research contributes to what we know about school choice and provides a mechanism to help state policymakers better understand the financial implications of current state policy as well as potential implications for future modifications/expansions of school choice programs within Wisconsin. While school choice is commonly understood to be taxpayer support for the Milwaukee, Racine, and Statewide Parental Choice programs, many citizens often don't realize that the biggest school choice program is actually open-enrollment. There are also independent charter schools and instrumentality charter schools (like KM's)," cited Stellmacher. "Kettle Moraine is heavily influenced by choice, through our district supporting five charter schools, receives a significant benefit from school choice in open enrollment, and pays significant taxes for independent charters/Wisconsin Parental Choice program, this research will be valuable as a means of informing district strategy around how to navigate the path to achieving high quality and financially sustainable public schools in an era of expanding school choice." John's commitment to fiscal solvency and transparency in education, has been critical to KM's success, and has provided guidance to many other districts throughout the state. John also created our Budget Advisory Council, which brings community members, business leaders, and school administrators together to navigate the challenges of declining student populations and its impact on school funding.
TEN PUBLISHED ARTISTS, AUTHORS, AND POETS!!! The Kettle Moraine School District is proud to announce that ten students have been selected for publication in the 2025-2026 Southern Lakes Advanced Learner’s Network (SLALN) Anthology. For nearly 40 years, SLALN has provided this prestigious platform for young creators across Southeastern Wisconsin to showcase their talents in prose, poetry, art, cartoons, and expository writing. This year’s theme, "The Journey," drew a massive response from the region. Out of over 40 participating school districts, a staggering 875 total entries were submitted for regional judging. The selection process was incredibly rigorous: each district was limited to a curated selection of just 24 entries, and ultimately, only 44% of those regional submissions were awarded publication. “The joy of self-expression abounds, but submitting work to be judged adds a level of risk and vulnerability not everyone is ready to take," reflected DeeDee Jacobsen, the district’s Gifted & Talented Coordinator. "We are incredibly proud of the 85 students who took the leap this year with such phenomenal entries; seeing ten of them reach this level of regional recognition is truly inspiring.”
NO SCHOOL TOMORROW!!! KMSD Alert: Due to a National Weather Service Extreme Cold Warning (with sustained temperatures or windchill of -30°F or lower), all Kettle Moraine Schools will be closed tomorrow, January 23rd. After-school and evening activities will also be canceled. Watch text and email in case of building-specific instructions.
SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING CONTEST WINNER!!! Zuma Effland, in addition to winning 2 Gold Key in the Scholastic Art & Writing Contest for her works "Altar" and "Joyful Resistance", has also been nominated for the National Scholastic American Visions Award for the "Joyful Resistance" piece. "This piece is a crochet sculpture that is both soft and confrontational. It is meant to be a reflection of myself and how the act of self-expression and joy can be a powerful form of resistance. I took inspiration from Punk/ DIY scenes... I purposefully photographed her in a dingy and even dangerous environment to subvert the image of a woman walking alone being scary and turn it into something empowering," said Effland. This is the second year in a row a KM Perform student has been nominated for this prestigious award. Each year, Wisconsin Regional judges select five superior works from the Gold Key winners as nominees for the American Visions Award medal. National judges then award one outstanding artwork from each regional exhibition. Zuma's piece is one of 5 pieces nominated from the Wisconsin Region. That is 1 piece out of 2500 (estimated), and 1 out of 150 Gold Keys awarded. So, top 1%. There are only 250 nominees nationwide.
U-12 BASEBALL FUNDRAISER!!
WINTER WEATHER DOESN'T STOP US!!! Forest 4K has been enjoying the snow, in short bursts, with sledding, snow painting, and lots of changing in and out of their Winter gear!
