With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we thought it would be appropriate to spend some time thinking about the impact our alma maters have had on our lives, and why we should be thankful for them. There are so many things about Chippewa Falls schools to love and appreciate; here are just a few that you might be thankful for yourself:

• Lifelong friends: For many people, the close friends they make in grade school and high school become friends for life. Even if you move far away from your hometown, your close friendships from high school will always be relationships you cherish. It’s common for people to see their old friends for the first time in years and to pick up the relationship as though they were never apart. The shared experiences you had in high school will bond you for life.

• An educational foundation: Grade school and high school give you a foundation of education and knowledge that will influence the rest of your education and career that follows. This is where you first develop your interests and hone your thinking and important skills. Those early interests likely impacted the direction you took after leaving high school.

• Amazing educators and mentors: The meaningful relationships you develop in your high school years aren’t just limited to your friendships. Most people also bond with at least one or two teachers, coaches or adult mentors in their time in high school who end up being a significant influence or role model for them to follow. High school students spend just as much time learning about themselves as they do their subject areas, and the guidance they get from those adults can be immensely valuable.

• Wonderful memories: The memories you make in high school stay with you for the rest of your life. There are always going to be memories for you to treasure, whether it’s from your favorite sports or activities, to experiences in the classroom, or even just down time you spend with friends in between class. The ability to look back with fondness on your high school career is certainly something to be thankful for.

• Opportunities to give back: As a graduate of Chippewa Falls schools, you are always a  Mighty Cardinal long after you leave. If you find yourself back in the area, you are always welcome back with open arms, and have plenty of opportunities to give back through volunteering, donations or advocacy to ensure new generations of students are able to receive the same experience you did.

If you are thankful for your Chippewa Falls educational experience and are feeling generous in this season of giving thanks, please consider joining and donating to our Mighty Cardinals Nation alumni organization! We are grateful for any support you can provide.

Many alumni like to find ways to stay connected to their alma mater after graduating high school. Some might wish to even engage in advocacy on behalf of their former school or district, seeking ways to support programs, educational initiatives, fundraisers and referendums. 

While taking an active role as an advocate for public schools is understandably not for everyone, school districts are also more likely to thrive when there is a strong, supportive advocacy group comprising community members and alumni. So if you’re looking to take on a more active role in advocating for your alma mater, here are some of the ways you can step up.

• Join your alumni network: Getting involved with your alumni network is one of the easiest ways for you to learn about various opportunities to support your alma mater, including volunteer opportunities, fundraisers, events and important educational issues and programs. Consider joining Mighty Cardinals Nation to stay connected!
• Donate: If you’re capable of doing so, consider making a donation to your former school district or an educational foundation set up to support it. You might donate to specific causes or initiatives, or simply make an unrestricted donation that your alma mater can use for any purpose. Public schools frequently are underfunded, and every donation can help make a big difference.
• Vote: If you still live in Chippewa Falls, you will be able to vote on school board members and any referendum issues put on local ballots. This gives you a direct way to impact the future of the district and its schools.
• Contact board members: Consider writing letters to school board members or administration when important issues arise, so you can advocate for a particular position and lend your support when the district is in need. In many cases, community and alumni support can make for some significant leverage when board members must make decisions. You can even speak in person during open school board sessions, if you are comfortable doing so.
• Write local publications: You can also write letters to local newspapers and publications, expressing your support for the district and its educational initiatives. This is especially helpful when the public is preparing to vote on a referendum, and the issue needs additional advocates from outside the district itself.
• Show school spirit: Finally, on a bit of a lighter note, you can be an advocate for your alma mater simply by displaying your school spirit, even long after your time in Chippewa schools comes to an end. Purchase Mighty Cardinals apparel and memorabilia, proudly display school colors, and make it clear you are proud to be a Chippewa Falls alum. This kind of pride is contagious, and proud alumni are more likely to become advocates themselves!

We also have alumni who return to our district to teach! Welcome to Kimberly Musser, a Chi-Hi Hall of Fame athlete, who is starting this fall as a Physical Education and Health teacher at the high school. 

Best wishes to Kimberly and ALL of the CFAUSD teachers who are helping students learn, grow and achieve during this highly unusual school year!

Want some more specific tips on how you can support your alma mater? Contact Mighty Cardinals Nation today.

Alumna/new teacher Kimberly Musser and family

Schools across the nation have started their school years. Some, like the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District, are returning to in-person education, while some are going with a virtual start, and others are offering hybrid models featuring combinations of in-person and virtual learning—or a choice between the two.

Regardless of the model of teaching and learning, it remains important for everyone to take some simple safety precautions to avoid spreading the virus. Here are a few tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Contamination (CDC) that can go a long way toward keeping you and your family healthy.

Understand the virus

You cannot hope to properly avoid spreading the virus if you do not understand how it works. The virus is spread mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced any time an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks. Those droplets can then be inhaled by people nearby.

Even asymptomatic carriers of the virus can spread it to other people, so just because you feel healthy does not necessarily mean you are not at risk of spreading the virus.

The start of the 2020-21 school year will not be like any other we have experienced here in the Chippewa Falls area community. Throughout the summer, the district's administrators, teachers and staff have been hard at work preparing for a variety of scenarios related to how teaching and learning could look in an age of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At this time, the district plans to reopen its school buildings to students and staff at the start of the school year. The first day of school will be Tuesday, September 1. 

The district is planning for a number of new protocols and procedures designed to protect public health and safety. This includes additional cleaning protocols, increased opportunities for handwashing, water bottles permitted for students and staff and procedures in place to care for students who are showing COVID-19 symptoms.

In addition, personal protective equipment will be required for staff members. Masks or face shields will not be required of students, but they will be highly recommended and accepted. The district aims to create an environment in which no individual feels there is a stigma associated with wearing a mask for safety purposes. 

It's also worth noting that the school district could find a need to return to all-virtual learning once again at some point in the year. The district's educators and staff have been preparing for this possibility, as well. If this scenario arises, virtual learning would be required for all students. 

If you would like to learn more about the CFAUSD's Roadmap to Reopening, visit https://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/district/COVID19/RoadmapToReopening.pdf. This page includes updates on the district's reopening plan, safety procedures in school buildings and a wide range of other key information. 

Although it's difficult to know for sure how the school year will go, the district remains committed to protecting the health and safety of all students, staff, families and community members. It is our hope that teaching and learning can proceed with as few interruptions as possible.

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned our everyday lives completely upside down. Social distancing measures and stay-at-home orders have resulted in social isolation, loss of work, financial pressures and a great deal of additional stress for most of us. 

While it's important to monitor your physical health during the pandemic and to seek medical attention if you experience any symptoms of the virus, it is equally important to monitor your mental and emotional health and to engage in self-care strategies and coping mechanisms to help you get through this difficult time.

The following are a few strategies that can help protect your mental and emotional health:

• Stay connected: Although you cannot gather with friends and family in the ways you normally would, you should still find ways to stay connected. Video calls are a great way to get face-to-face interaction, and there are always phone calls, texting and social media.
  
  
• Withdraw from negative news: If the constant cycle of negative and frightening news is damaging your emotional health, you should limit your exposure to the media sources that are most likely to distress you. If you do wish to keep up with the news, be careful about the news sources you use. Limit social media that will expose you primarily to rumors and seek out reliable sources like the CDC.
  
  
• Engage in healthy habits: There are simple changes you can make to your health and wellness that will make you feel better mentally, as well as physically. Get plenty of sleep, get regular physical activity, eat healthy foods, avoid abusing substances, limit your screen time and find some quiet time to relax.
  
  
• Find tasks to keep you busy: You may still have your hands full with work or children, but if you do find yourself with idle time, consider investing it in a hobby or project that will keep you busy. Having these sorts of distractions can keep your mind off the negativity that comes with a pandemic situation, while alleviating anxiety and depression.
  
  
• Set reasonable goals: It is easy to start falling into feelings of guilt that you are not getting enough done while you have more time on their hands during the pandemic. There’s no need to overwhelm yourself with long lists of tasks and projects if you don’t want to—set reasonable goals for yourself and prioritize the things you want to achieve. Allow yourself some rewards for when you accomplish your goals.
  
  
• Seek help when you feel you need it: Do not be shy about seeking help. For some people, connecting with a loved one or mentor will be sufficient, but you should also feel comfortable going to your primary care provider or mental health professional for advice or treatment. There are also organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that offer valuable resources.

This pandemic is a difficult time for us all. Please take care of yourself emotionally and physically, and implement whatever self-care strategies you need to do so. We hope you are staying safe and healthy, Mighty Cardinals Nation!

Congratulations, Chi-Hi Class of 2020 Graduates!

Enjoy our June 3 graduation processional photo gallery

Members of Chi-Hi's Apollo Club (seniors John Dienger, Hayden Goodman and Jordan Mewhorter) spent a recent afternoon cutting vegetables, frying meat and assembling to-go orders with other volunteers at Agnes' Table. More than 100 meals were prepared for people in the area. #MightyCardinals

States are slowly beginning to lift or relax stay-at-home orders, although many will still have some stringent restrictions in place for business operations and public gatherings. 

For those of you who live in areas where these orders have been relaxed or will be soon, it is important to continue to prioritize your safety when you venture into public and begin interacting more with other people outside of your immediate family.

Below are a few tips that will help you stay safe as we continue to adjust to life during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Continue wearing face masks

The CDC continues to advise all people wear cloth face covers when they go out in public. These face coverings are meant to protect others if you are unknowingly infected. Even if you are asymptomatic, you could still be a carrier of the virus and spread it to others, so wearing a cloth face covering is important for keeping others safe. 

Never wear masks that are designed for healthcare workers, as there is still a significant shortage. Do not put face coverings on children under two years old or people who have trouble breathing. Try to maintain at least six feet of space between you and anyone else you encounter.

Continue following social distancing guidelines

Although stay-at-home orders are being relaxed, life will not suddenly go back to normal. States will still have social distancing guidelines in place limiting gathering sizes and non-essential operations. 

You should still make it a point to stay home as much as possible and avoid any non-essential travel or social visits. Avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people until the CDC adjusts its guidelines, and continue using pickup or delivery options for restaurants. Whenever possible, try not to visit nursing homes or long-term care facilities so you do not accidentally infect the residents or staff.

Prioritize your emotional wellbeing

It is important to consider your mental and emotional health during the pandemic, as well as your physical health. Social distancing measures will be in place for some time and it is important to find ways to connect with other people to avoid complete isolation.

You can connect with loved ones and friends virtually through video calls, phone calls and social media. For religious services, most churches offer livestreams and other at-home methods of worship you can seek out for comfort.

It is also important to get outside and get some fresh air. Go on walks or bike rides and walk your pets, so long as you stay six feet away from other people you encounter. Getting outside and exercising is not just good for your physical health—it can also improve your mental and emotional state.

This has been an unusual and stressful past few months, but by continuing to follow CDC recommendations such as those described above, we will be able to keep ourselves and others safe and healthy as the restrictions slowly begin to ease.

Stay safe, Mighty Cardinals Nation!

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to massive changes in the day-to-day lives of just about every American, including here in the Chippewa Falls community.

While some people are still going to work due to an “essential” classification, many others have been left jobless as a result of the pandemic. They may need to seek various forms of assistance to help get them through the next several weeks and months. 

Below, we have compiled some resources and tips you can use if you need some assistance during this incredibly challenging time.

Filing for unemployment

The U.S. Department of Labor website provides some helpful information about the steps you need to take to apply for unemployment benefits. Millions of Americans have applied already, and if you’ve lost your job and income due to the pandemic, you should apply as well. 

You will need to file your claim with your state's unemployment insurance program. Be prepared to provide information such as addresses and dates of your former employment, as well as your own personal information. Visit this link to apply for unemployment benefits if you live in Wisconsin: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uiben/apply/. 

Food assistance

Due to the devastating financial impact the pandemic has had on many people, states have been implementing some changes to food assistance programs, such as food stamps (known as SNAP). For example, some states that were scheduled to renew their benefits in the spring received extensions. Other states provided additional benefits to SNAP households. To enroll or get further information about SNAP benefits during the coronavirus pandemic, contact the social services agency for your state.

Business loans

Small businesses are having to find creative ways to weather this crisis. On March 27, the CARES Act was signed into law, providing $376 billion in relief for small businesses across the United States. The Small Business Administration has offered several temporary relief programs, in addition to the SBA’s normal offering of business loans. 

The Paycheck Protection Program provides loan forgiveness for companies that retain employees. SBA Express Bridge Loans allow companies to get a quick $25,000 if they have an existing relationship with an SBA Express Lender. SBA Debt Relief options provide some relief to small businesses during the pandemic. EIDL Loan Advance offers up to $10,000 of relief to businesses experiencing financial difficulties.

Stimulus checks

As part of the CARES Act, direct financial relief was to be sent to individual Americans — $1,200 per person (plus an additional $500 per child), with payments beginning to phase out for Americans who earn more than $75,000 or couples who earn more than $150,000. If you paid your taxes online, the money will be sent via direct deposit. 

The first payments were scheduled to be disbursed on April 15. Checks will also be mailed out to qualifying taxpayers.

Making homemade masks

Although it's not a form of financial relief, masks are an important resource during this time. The CDC has issued guidance that people should wear cloth masks when out in public to avoid spreading the virus. You can find a variety of resources online that will provide you with instructions for making homemade masks.

We sincerely hope you stay safe and healthy during the pandemic and can make use of the resources available to Americans. Remember, we are all in this together. Stay strong, Mighty Cardinals Nation!

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has a lot of people stuck at home. Now that we’re several weeks into it, there are likely to be many people with cabin fever wondering what they can do to make a positive difference in what is an incredibly difficult time for our communities.

Even in a time of social distancing and shelter-in-place orders, there are still many ways you can help out. Below are some examples:

Support local businesses that are still open

While “non-essential” businesses in our area are closed at this time, you may still be able to order gift cards online to give them some cash flow and help them stay afloat during the pandemic. Local restaurants can still operate with delivery or takeout service only. Ordering from your favorite local establishments from time to time will help them retain steady business. 

Donate blood

You can still make appointments to donate blood at clinics, blood centers and the American Red Cross. Reports indicate the nation faces a severe blood shortage, so anyone who is a healthy candidate to give blood could help save lives by donating blood or platelets. Blood donation is an extremely safe process, and the clinics that remain open for donors take cleanliness and sterilization extremely seriously. 

Contribute to nonprofit organizations

Do you have a cause that ignites your passion? If you want to make a direct impact on fighting the coronavirus, there are many different organizations that have been set up to assist those affected most. The Center for Disaster Philanthropy will be able to recommend clinics in your area that could use your help. There are other nonprofit organizations that are constantly in need of donors, especially now, and your money can help make a big difference.

Connect with others

It can be quite difficult to go an extended period of time without interacting with many other people, particularly friends and family members. Carve out some time each day to connect with someone via the telephone or video chat. This is especially important for your older relatives, who are probably even more homebound than you are. 

Humans are naturally social creatures. That little bit of interaction can help people’s mental health during periods that are otherwise full of isolation.

Contribute supplies

There is a major shortage of N95 masks in hospitals and clinics right now, as well as a big delay in production to meet the demand. If you sew or craft, you might be able to find online patterns for masks that you can then contribute to healthcare facilities. The doctors, nurses and medical staff on the front lines need all the help they can get to protect themselves properly when tending to an ever-increasing number of patients. 

If you are looking for more ideas about ways you can help out your community while the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, we encourage you to reach out and we would be happy to provide you with any resources you need.

Believe it or not, spring is almost here in northeastern Wisconsin! With the warmer weather comes a variety of great events in the Chippewa Falls Area School District. We would like to send a special invitation to all our community members, including our alumni, to check out and attend these events in the weeks to come:

Chilly Chippewa Race — Saturday, March 7, 10 a.m.

What better way to welcome spring than running outdoors with your fellow Mighty Cardinals? The Chippewa Falls Senior High School cross country team is hosting its 19th annual Chilly Chippewa race. Registration is $15 and includes a T-shirt for the first 75 participants, awards, online results and free post-race chili. The race is a fundraiser for the cross country team. 

Learn more at the race website. 

Chippewa Falls Band-o-Rama — Monday, March 9, 7 p.m.

The annual Band-o-Rama event brings together the entire Chippewa Falls band program, spanning grades 6 through 12, for an incredible night of music. Enjoy the community’s finest young musicians of all ages. The event will be held in the Chi-Hi gym. 

Spring Craft Sale — Saturday, March 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

As a proud member of Mighty Cardinals Nation, you know there are so many things to love about our schools and community. While we enjoy the benefits of a strong public school district every day, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on what makes our schools so special. 

If we could write a love letter to Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District, here are some of our favorite things that we would praise.

The students

A school would be nothing without its bright, eager students. We were once students at Chippewa Falls schools, and know just how special it is to receive an education here. We’re grateful for the experiences students have shared across the generations. More importantly, we’re excited to see the new opportunities our current students are exploring!

The teachers, administrators and staff