THE 1FORT REPORT

E25: Fortified Foundations: How our buildings, grounds, and the people who care for them shape the 1Fort experience

Joining me is Amanda Moehling, our Director of Buildings and Grounds. Amanda leads the work across all of our facilities… six+ school buildings, our grounds, and all of the systems and teams that keep everything running the way it should. Her team is responsible for so much of what we’ve been talking about today… from the daily care of our spaces, to navigating construction projects, to planning for the future through ongoing facilities reviews—all while making sure that every building is ready, every day. And just as important, she leads a group of people who care deeply about this district and the experience we create for our students and staff.

E24: More Than the Bullseye: How archery is connecting students, building confidence, and creating opportunities for all learners

Here in 1Fort, our archery program has grown into something truly special. What started as an opportunity has evolved into a pathway for students across our elementary, middle, and high schools to find their place, develop focus and confidence, and experience success in a way that is uniquely their own. Let’s take a closer look at what that means right here in Fort Atkinson by welcoming Jeff Jensen, a long-time physical education teacher at Purdy Elementary School as well as our Archery Team Coach, Addison Maxwell a senior and long-time archery team member, and Jordan Kopps one of our volunteer coaches.

E23: More Than a Project: Inside the Civil War Showcase and the power of authentic middle school learning

In our middle school, seventh grade students have been preparing for the third annual Civil War Showcase at the Hoard Museum... an experience where they’re not just learning about history, they’re researching it, building it, presenting it, and ultimately sharing their learning with our community. It’s hands-on, it’s collaborative, and it’s rooted in student interest- which makes it both engaging and meaningful. Joining me today are two of our middle school social studies teachers, Josh Twedt and Matt Champeny, who are helping lead this work.

E22: Creating, Expressing, Belonging: How art education helps 1Fort students discover their voice

Today we’re joined by three members of our K-12 art department, Angie Szabo, Tess Seichter, and Elizabeth Bochat, to talk about what art education looks like across 1Fort, the experiences students have as they grow as artists, and the impact these programs and events have on both our students and our community. It’s a great opportunity to shine a light on the creativity happening in our classrooms every day and to celebrate the important role the arts play in the lives of our students.

E21: A Community Classroom: How the Hoard Museum brings history to life for 1Fort students and our Fort Atkinson community

For generations, the Hoard Museum has helped tell the story of our community- preserving our history, sharing local stories, and creating opportunities for students to engage with the past in ways that are interactive, relevant, and meaningful. From field trips to curriculum connections, it truly serves as an extension of the classroom for our 1Fort students. And behind that work is a leader who is not only a historian and storyteller, but also a strong partner in education… someone who understands how to bring history to life in ways that connect with learners of all ages. Joining me today will be Merrilee Lee, Director of the Hoard Museum.