For many of us, the world doesn't change all that much when we're in school. After graduation, however, we tend to go our separate ways, eventually losing track of many of our old friends and classmates. Some of us go to college or trade school, while others enter the armed forces or the workforce. It’s the start of adult life.

Just because high school is the end of your time as a K-12 student doesn’t mean it's something you have to leave behind forever. More than any yearbook, class ring or Facebook group, staying in touch and involved with your alma mater is a great way to keep close ties and make a difference for your former school's current students.

Watch thank you message from Supt. Heidi Eliopoulos

On Tuesday, April 3, voters in the Chippewa Falls community approved a referendum that will enable the district to fund much-needed facilities upgrades and address deferred maintenance.

The vote came after a more than year-long process to engage the community in a conversation about the district's facilities needs, including a survey in late 2017. In that survey, respondents said that they would likely support a future referendum and that they placed updates to Stillson Elementary School as the top priority.

The Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District will use the funds generated through the referendum to move forward on its Master Facilities Plan, developed in 2014. The plan calls for the following:

• Analyzing building enrollment capacity in light of a demographic study to be conducted by the district
• Projecting major capital improvement needs in each building
• Assessing aggregate as well as disaggregated maintenance costs for the District
• Determining the useful life of each district building
• Developing a comprehensive 25 year facility repair and/or replacement timeline

Now, the Board of Education will determine next steps, working with the district's architect, ATS&R. Among the priorities will be plans for a new Stillson Elementary and the purchase of land in Lafayette for a potential new school site. There will also be an addition, repairs and improvements at the middle school, along with a STEAM lab addition, repairs and betterment at the high school.

We would like to thank everyone—including our community members, alumni, staff and families—for your input, guidance and support as we've worked together to find solutions to the facilities needs of our Chippewa Falls schools. It has served as yet another example of what makes our community such a special place.

Are you an alumni, supporter or community member of the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District? If so, you're invited to attend some of the great events we have scheduled for this spring!

On the docket is a referendum-related listening session, musical performances and, of course, high school graduation. Click read more below to see some of the fun things happening.

Mentors provide an incredible amount of value to young people. They provide the knowledge, advice and wisdom they need as they make important decisions about their future and stay on the right track toward graduation. They can help students with their homework, listen to their concerns and help them navigate the many challenges of growing up.

There are also benefits to the mentor. More than the good feeling you get from teaching and encouraging a student, you can gain access to a wealth of understanding and experience. Mentees often go on to do big things, thanks in part to the person who took time to be their mentor. They may even go on to become a mentor themselves—resulting in a legacy of giving back.

Below are five ways that students benefit from alumni mentors:

1. Students gain practical, applicable advice that might not be taught in the classroom, which can be applied throughout their personal and future professional lives. They will enter college or the work force a leg up on pure classroom learners.
2. It creates a bond that may benefit everything from professional networking to personal growth—especially at a pivotal time in a student’s life. A mentor is a guide for students facing uncertainty in their future and someone on whom they can rely.
3. Mentees get one-on-one attention that helps them to better understand and retain information, connecting that knowledge to classroom lessons. They’ll benefit from more focused learning and a stronger grasp on content.
4. Students get a better understanding of real-world expectations and applications, direct from someone who has experienced them firsthand. This necessary dose of reality will shape their understanding of the world outside the classroom.
5. Mentorship costs nothing. It affords students access to a crucial resource for development that’s not hidden behind a financial barrier. For students unable to afford tutoring or those disadvantaged by a lack of available programs, mentoring is an incredibly valuable experience.

How to become a mentor

Are you interested in serving as a mentor to a current Chippewa Falls student? We invite you to sign up as a volunteer to start the process. We're proud of the fact that so many of our alumni continue to serve our schools and students in such meaningful ways. Please also visit our mentors website for much more information.

Back in September, the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District, in partnership with Alumni Nations, asked alumni and supporters to provide their input through a community interest survey. The feedback we received through the survey was incredibly helpful — and it also reflected what makes our community such a special place.

One question, for example, asked respondents to provide three words that came to mind when thinking about our school district. Among the most prevalent were the words "pride," "community," "family," "education" and "excellence." "Strong," "opportunity," "safe" and "success" were other popular responses.

When asked about what gives them the most pride to be an alumnus of Chi-Hi, survey participants said that their time at the school prepared them for success in college and in their careers. They also said they had positive memories of their time in our schools and that, in general, students tend to succeed in Chippewa Falls.

"My experience in the CFASD really had an impact on the person I have become at 'almost' 50 years old," said one respondent. "My 7th grade best friends are still my best friends today. I have fond memories of growing up through [CFAUSD], so I have a sense of pride to be back home and happy to see my kids do the same."

December is often one of the most active months of the year when it comes to making charitable contributions. This happens for a number of reasons, including the spirit of giving  and the desire to make difference during the holiday season. Of course, donations to your favorite nonprofit organization or cause can also help reduce your tax obligations when filing your 2017 taxes.

What many people don't realize is that, in addition to 501(c)3 organizations, they can also make tax-deductible donations to schools, school districts and educational foundations. If you're interested in giving to Chippewa Falls schools, for example, you can donate directly to the CFAUSD Foundation.

Contributions to support the foundation's mission can come in a variety of forms, including cash, securities or other items of value. Also common are memorials, wills and bequests. The foundation uses these funds to provide scholarships and various other educational opportunities to Chippewa Falls students.

Giving comes in many forms

Making a monetary donation is just one of many ways you can support Chippewa Falls students and schools. Our schools are always in need of volunteers, and many alumni continue to serve as important mentors to current students who are working their way to graduation and the opportunities that await them after.

As you know, Chippewa Falls is a truly special place. The success of our schools rests primarily on the exceptional backing we're fortunate to receive from our community. We thank you for your support as we provide the educational opportunities our students need to thrive in an ever-changing economy and world.

If you have any questions about how you can make a contribution this holiday season, we invite you to get in touch.

As we get closer to winter here in Chippewa Falls, students and faculty are preparing for a wide range of events. These include everything from concerts and theater performances to the start of the winter sports season.

As an alumnus, you can take part in the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District in many different ways. We invite you to check out and attend the following events coming up:

Coffee with Your Board

Thursday, November 9 at 4 p.m.

Bridgewater Restaurant

This event allows the community to meet with members of the CFAUSD board of education in an informal setting. Learn more

Chi-Hi Wraps Up Another Great Homecoming Week

It was another homecoming week for the record books at Chi-Hi!

The Mighty Cardinals notched a homecoming victory with a dominating 35-0 win over Eau Claire North. The victory also moved the team a little closer to qualifying for the playoffs.

We would like to thank all the alumni and friends who attended the game and took part in the other homecoming festivities this September. It was yet another example of what makes the Chippewa Falls community such a wonderful place

What else is happening at Chi-Hi?

In other news, this school year is the first time Chi-Hi is using.... 

Homecoming is a special time of year in Chippewa Falls. While most high schools across the state and nation celebrate homecoming in some form, it has become an especially important community event for Mighty Cardinals Nation.

Most alumni will remember taking part in homecoming festivities when they attended high school themselves. The Student Council plans great events for the entire week of homecoming, which this year will take place September 25-30.

The week's big event is when the Chi-Hi football team takes on Eau Claire North on Friday, September 29 at 7 p.m. After the game, there will be the annual bonfire and pig roast that has become such an important part of homecoming over the years. That event begins at 9 p.m.

Saturday night is the dance, where students will take part in one of the most memorable events of their time at Chippewa Falls High School.