Page 12 THE JOURNAL October 21,2021

P R E S C O T T AitmNewé

Ryan recognized as WI First Nations Exemplar Teacher

PRESCOTT - Prescott
School District teacher Jeff
Ryan recently was recognized
as one of only six Wisconsin
First Nations Exemplar teach­
ers for infusing American In­
dian Studies into the
classroom.
Ryan teaches First Nations
History, Advanced Placement
United States History and
Civics/World Geography at
Prescott High School. He also
serves as the Student Council
advisor and head baseball
coach.
Jeff Ryan In 1998, Ryan began a new
course to teach about the First
Nations of Wisconsin in 1998.
In doing so, Ryan developed a
close collaboration with the
Lac du Flambeau Band of
Lake Superior Chippewa. This
relationship provides Prescott
students the opportunity to
learn about tribal governance
and Ojibwe ways of being
when they participate in a
four-day cultural exchange
and service project on the Lac
du Flambeau Indian Reserva­
tion. Since the first trip to Lac
du Flambeau in 2000, more
than 200 Prescott students
have participated in this cul­
tural exchange, experiences
that have deeply influenced
both students and the local
Prescott community as the stu­
dents share their experiences
on local TV and with their
community.
Ryan believes teaching
American Indian Studies is
“good for kids,” and that his
students enjoy discussing the
controversial issues associated
with Wisconsin Native Na­
tions. He feels it is the respon­
sibility of educators to lead
discussion of these topics and
expose students to multiple
perspectives so that they have
a greater understanding and
awareness of the issues.
A group of Ryan’s students
began addressing the issue of
race-based
mascots in Wisconsin’s
public schools in 2008, lead­
ing to the students speaking
before a committee at the Wis­
consin Senate for proposed
legislation about race-based
mascots. State senators cred­
ited the Prescott students’ tes­
timonies as being highly
influential in the passage of
the new state law in 2010 lim­
iting the use of race-based
names and images in Wiscon­
sin public schools.
In 2016, Ryan was honored
by the Wisconsin Indian Edu­
cation Association with a
Ronald Satz Friend of Indian
Education award for his suc­
cessful collaborations with the
Lac du Flambeau Band of
Lake Superior Chippewa and
for his work with Prescott
School District leaders to ex­
pand the integration of Ameri­
can Indian Studies across
several classes in the
school. Ryan previously won a
Herb Kohl Fellowship from
the Kohl Foundation for his
instruction.
Submitted by Wisconsin
First Nations, American In­
dian Studies in Wisconsin

Prescott Senior Gathering Place October news

PRESCOTT - Great news as the weather
starts to cool off. There will be pickleball in the
Malone Intermediate School gym coming in
November. Stay tuned!
Also every Wednesday there will be a walk­
ing group in the MIS gym from 9-10 a.m.
Again, use the main school entrance.
Senior Gathering Place continues to be open
every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from
12:30-3:3 p.m. Use entrance door #5 on the west
lower level.
Events
Fourth Tuesday, Oct. 26 - Book Club discus-
sion of “Necessary Lies” by Diane Chamber-
lain. Go to more .lib .wi .us to reserve your copy.
Wednesdays in October will be card playing
days. Bring your friends to play Euchre, Bridge,
500 or any card game.
Third Thursday, Oct. 21 - 1 p.m. Movie &
popcorn, showing “Hocus Pocus”
Fourth Thursday, Oct. 2 8 - 1 p.m. Narrator
told spooky stories!
Please join us at any of the above activities;
all seniors are welcome.
Submitted by Janet Cleary

Prescott Kiwanis Club

Student of the Week

.
ly
Prescott’s Herme family at the entrance of what will be built as the Deadman’s Haunted
on
Grave for Halloween night. (From left): David Herme, Brianna Herme, Heather Herme and
Zachary Middleton
The Prescott Kiwanis Stu­ always is hungry to know
Dylan Herme. Photo by Melissa Thorud dent of the Week is junior more. Additionally, Zack has
Zachary Middleton, nomi­ a delightful sense of humor

SCARY!
The family enjoys seeing it
us l,

all come to life each year and nated by Prescott High School that enriches the classroom
are happy to bring others the Spanish teacher Nicole Jo- environment. He is a kind and
al a

darski. supportive classmate, and he

e
From Page 1 experience.
“Zack’s greatest strength is gracious and respectful
“This is our passion so we
as a Spanish student is his cu­ when interacting with adults.
ci on

with us wherever we have
moved in the past; we started
when I was pregnant with
Dylan and decided we wanted
to do something a little extra
Dylan stopped trick or treating
that my mom said she didn’t
want to take me trick or treat­
ing anymore, but she’d buy me
a bag of candy and I’d get to
er rs
are more than happy to put this
on and that is why we keep it
free because it is fun for us,”
said Dylan Herme.
David Herme said, “On
riosity and enthusiasm for ac­ He recognizes the strengths of
quiring language,” Jodarski his peers, and brings an irre­
said. “He brings lively discus­ placeable vitality to class
sion to the classroom on a each day. ¡Enhorabuena,
daily basis. He offers astute Zack!”

for Halloween, so the kids help out here,” she said.
have just grown up with the The Herme family is very
haunted house,” Heather thankful for the support from
Herme said. the community and is happy to
m e
Halloween night our yard re­ observations and thoughtful Zack is the son of Chris
ally comes alive, the biggest questions that challenge and Kris Middleton. He drinking caffeine and spend­
thing is that this is all family, everyone in the room. Zack works at Starbucks as a ing money. He plans to attend
we all help out and my support has made so many novel con­ barista and is a member of the UW-Madison to major in bio­

After having about 300 peo­ be a part of this tight-knit is my family.” nections with advanced lan­ A Capella Choir. He enjoys medical engineering.
ple walk through last year, they neighborhood. The event starts at dark on guage concepts, and he anything music-related,
m rp

are expecting a big turnout
again this year.
“We weren’t sure what we
were going to get last year with
COVID and it was our first
year in Prescott, but everybody
“We’ve lived here for two
and a half years now and we
have awesome neighbors and
everyone is so great. That
small community feel is what I
want and it’s what I want my
Halloween night and is located
on the corner of Lawrence and
Jefferson streets in Prescott.
For more information about
the process and updates, you
We want to

hear from you!

co Fo

can join a Facebook group

was so welcoming and so ex­ kids to have,” said David called “Deadmans Haunted
cited for it and last year was Herme. Grave.”
the most families and kids we
have ever had,” said Heather
Herme.
The family is currently con­
Coulee River Trails is a
structing the haunted house community group that is
and after 26 years, they have a
lot of equipment to make it the exploring the possibility of
best.
“When we first started out it creating a regional trail system
was really small. I mean just a
in the Prescott area. We are
n-

couple gravestones and a fence

and that was it,” said David
Herme.
seeking feedback about trail uset
Each year the project has interests and recreation options
no

gotten a bit bigger and this year

is no exception. The family has in our community.
decided to add on more to the
structure. Also new this year,
the family is accepting non-
perishable food donations for
the Prescott Area Food Pantry.
“The donations are new this
year, it has been something
we’ve talked about before but
we just haven't been able to get
the advertising out early The Herme family is in the process of setting up their spooky
enough for it, so this year we walk through for Halloween night, called Deadman’s Haunted
are finally and so many people Grave. The event is free; people are encouraged to bring non-
asked last year what they could perishable food donations for the Prescott Area Food Pantry.
do to help, so we figured we Photo by Melissa Thorud
are doing this for the commu­
nity so let’s let everybody give
back to the community,” said
Heather Herme.
Heather and David Herme
have two children who also
love helping out with this
unique tradition each year.
“We like to add new things
every year and make some
new, big things each year that
people can enjoy,” said Dylan
Herme.
Please complete our
Heather Herme joked that community trails
this has always been the high­
light of Halloween and they survey using the QR
ended up just buying candy for
her daughter instead of taking
code or weblink:
her trick or treating.
“I remember years when bit.ly/3zKufRk
David and his brother would
be setting everything up and I
would take the kids around
trick or treating really fast so
we could get back,” she said.
However, Brianna Herme
For more information: A COULEE
counts the family enterprise as
co ulccrivcrtraj|s(a)g mo il.com ______
The Herme Family at the candy shack in their set up, which
her favorite memory growing
serves as the best exit! (From left): Dylan Herme, David coulccrivortrails.com rvlVÜrt,
up.
“it was a few years after
Herme, Heather Herme and Brianna Herme. Photo by Melissa
Thorud
Facobook: @coulccrivor trails M a TRAILS