Saying goodbye to Black Earth and Mazomanie Elementary Schools

The text of all four speeches and photos on page 7.     The Wisconsin Heights School District held Closing Ceremonies for Black Earth and Mazomanie Elementary Schools last week. There were short speeches by board members and administration at each ceremony. Here are the speeches:   Mazomanie closing ceremonies   Cindy Beuthin, School Board President   Hi everyone, I am Cindy Beuthin the school board president for Wisconsin Heights School District. I am honored for the opportunity to say a few words about the Mazomanie School and our beautiful community.  One hundred and seventy-three years ago – for those not wanting to do math , I can share that the first school building in Mazomanie was built in 1849. It was a 16x20 foot log structure where the teachers earned $10 per month. From what I have read through brief research, it was built on this very land.  And if you add in the use of the small schoolhouses, education in Mazomanie would date back many years prior. This very long history of educating the children within our community has certainly changed over the years. In those early years of school, only one course was offered and by 1924 courses included English, General Commercial, Agriculture, and Domestic Science. Others that have grown our school are the teachers and staff that have come and gone and those that will transition to our new one-site campus. And of course, the students’ each year were an integral part of molding the school within the community. One thing I truly believe that has remained consistent is the sense of pride in the school and of the community. No longer the Mazo Midgets, as Vanguards we continually work together to unit all members of the community. If you moved away and are now back, just visiting, or have stayed to make Mazo your home, it doesn’t take long to find your path and find out just how special Mazo truly is.  The Mazo community has grown around the school. This building became a meeting point for sporting events, class projects, afterschool activities, a chance to slide down the hill outback after a fresh snowfall, and so much more. While memories will always stay with us, it is wonderful that this building will transition to new life. Interestingly, the original school building was also used as a place of worship.  While I am not a graduate of Wisconsin Heights, my daughter, Kiley, graduated just two days ago becoming the 7th generation to do so. Her graduating class of 45 was the last class to have the opportunity to travel back through these halls, this time with their cap and gown. As they walked down the halls being greeted by their prior teachers and having the younger students shouting congratulations, it was so fun to see the huge smiles on the seniors faces. While the mom in me became emotional thinking back of my daughter’s time here in third through fifth grade –– I had my own pride and excitement in my heart as the entire senior class participated in giving high fives and waves to the younger children.  One last thought…the word valedictorian is most recognized as a student who has achieved the highest grade. However, the word also means an end or farewell to recognize the studies are over. Since we are saying farewell to the Mazomanie School as we know it today, I want to share with you a shortened version of a valedictorian speech given in 1923, by Marion Mitchell Walker and published in the yearbook of 1924. Here at the crossroads we’re standing. Viewing the years that are gone. Years that have been swift and fleeting. Joyful with laughter and song. Farewell, classmates, teachers, adieu. Here at the crossroads we must part from you. Hope calls us onward. Bidding us be true. But memory binds us ever to our dear school and you.  Thank you all for coming tonight. Enjoy your time and remember that memories live on forever if we keep sharing our stories!    Dale Green, Mazomanie Principal   It is an exciting day for us as a school community.  Next fall with the opening of the new school it will be a new beginning for a generation of students, families and staff for our community. As we close out the school year,  it is bittersweet.  We are excited for the new school and the possibilities along with the opportunities that will be available for our students and community.  But we also recognize that this will also mark the end to a place that so many people have called home over the course of many years.    While reflecting on Mazo School and what to say for this closing ceremony, I kept thinking about all the people that have passed through the halls.   While we can be sentimental about the building,  it is important for us to remember that it has been the people that have made our school a special place.    I think about the hundreds of students that attended school here and for many of those students, they have grown and now have had their own children attend Mazo School.   Think about friendships and the lessons we have learned. I also think about the many staff members that have worked here.   From custodians, support staff,  teachers, and even former principals.   The impact that this place has had on so many individuals over the course of many years is overwhelming to consider.      Many of us have a story to share about their time at Mazo School, about a certain teacher or maybe a lifelong friendship that began here or maybe a story is about a certain classroom or place in the building:  Recently, I have heard stories of classes on back of the stage or in the maintenance office.  It is so interesting to hear about the different experiences people have here.    I often hear fond memories about field day, recess time and of course the sledding hill.  All of the many stories will carry on and maybe they will even get a little more dramatic and even better with time.   My point is that this school has been a special place for so many and it is important for us to fondly share our experiences while at the same time we can also move forward as I have no doubt the new school will be a place for future stories and future friendships to be had.         Black Earth closing ceremonies   Barb Statz, School Board Member   Hi everyone. Welcome and thank you for coming.   As a lifetime resident of Black Earth, this is a little bittersweet for me.   My grandparents and mother preceded my attendance at Black Earth School, making my daughter Lila, a 4th generation attendee.   The first schoolhouse was built out of logs 177 years ago, where Mrs. Dunlap taught all grade levels for $1.75 a week.   In 1857, 9 years after Wisconsin became a state, Black Earth became the first incorporated village in Dane County (other than Madison).  Just 2 years later, the first brick school was erected.  As the village grew, a wing was added in 1874 that doubled its size.  By the turn of the century, it was determined a new school was needed and in 1903, a large 3 story building was built, with several additions over the years following.  In 1978, the school was torn down and replaced by the current school building.   School district reorganization between the rival communities of Mazomanie and Black earth took place following a referendum in 1962.  Consolidation passed, but with the basic assumption that the two elementary schools would remain in their respective communities.   This reorganization and consolidation to a single school district, took several years.  Many compared the contentious community battles, to the engagements between General JD Henry and Chief Black Hawk in the Battle of Wisconsin Heights…. Ok that may be a little extreme…But, in all honestly, people had and still do have, tremendous pride for their hometowns.   Change is difficult.  Our communities have endured a great amount of change over the last 2 centuries.  But how refreshing that the competition in my daughter’s class has nothing to do with the boundary lines of neighboring land parcels and rather ...Vanguard pride is felt from the very beginning.  When I asked Lila about some of her favorite memories at Black Earth School…She replied with “My teachers, Ms. Elliot and Mrs. Acker, our field trip to the zoo and all the ‘fun’ classes during Summer school” I suppose these echoed my own fond memories of attending Black Earth school in the 90s.  Our sock hops, mini-Olympics, and when Mr. Endres served up tater-tot-hot dish while wearing his “kiss the cook” apron.   So, while we’ll all miss the presence of the school building in our community, what’s remembered and engrained in our minds is not the brick, mortar and stud walls of a building…. But rather, our life experiences and relationships with people, specifically within our school communities. What makes me proud is seeing so many of our Black Earth graduates who locally, set up roots, became our local public servants, educators, entrepreneurs and community leaders …all for the love of this community.  And while it’ll take some time adjusting to not seeing a school property at this site, the impact of the school itself, will be visible forever.  And that is, in the continual work we do as community members, former Earthmen and newbies, staying committed and dedicated to ensure our community and school district thrive.   In 1963, the last graduating class of Earthman adopted the motto “In ourselves, the future lies.”  Smart people.  Continual progress in our communities and school district relies heavily on the investments each one of us makes.   May we continue to forge on as Vanguards, like the name intended…..honoring all of our past graduates who forged an incredible path for us to take ….and may we remain steadfast in dedicating our time and resources, investing in the future of our local communities and the youth of tomorrow.   Scott Moore, Black Earth Principal   Good evening. My name is Scott Moore and I am finishing up my 4th year as the Principal at Black Earth Elementary School. A little background on me… I spent the majority of my life and career in the north western portion of Wisconsin and this community very quickly became my family’s new home when we moved here 4 years ago. I know that I am fully settled in now because being from the northern part of the state I was unfamiliar with any town south of Eau Claire but I am finding myself saying “I don’t know where that is” a little bit less when someone mentions another town or school in this area. A special welcome to community members, WHSD staff members (former and current), students, and parents. Tonight we are here to celebrate our past and anticipate our future. Black Earth School has been a constant fixture in the community since 1859. The building has undergone renovations over the years but one thing has remained consistent, the people. Countless students, staff, and community members have walked the halls of this building and been educated within these classrooms over the years. The school day has always incorporated teachers and staff working with students, students growing and learning, lunch being served, fun and games during recess and gym, art being created, singing and playing instruments in music and band. The halls of Black Earth have always been filled with the joyful sounds of learning and the occasional cries and tears when a band-aid or an ice pack has been handed out. (pause for laughter) and the goal has always been the same… we do our best to educate our students. We lean on the strong educational foundation that has been laid over the last 163 years and we intend to carry it with us. Simply put, though in a few short months, this building won’t be our home, the legacy that was curated at Black Earth Elementary will continue to live on in the halls and classrooms of the new Wisconsin Heights Elementary School. As a pioneer of innovation, Walt Disney, once said, “Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things because we’re curious, and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” So in the fall, we will find ourselves walking the halls of a new building and educating our students in new classrooms but will still exude the same passion for teaching students that we have always had in our hearts and within this building. We thank all of you who have had a part of laying this educational foundation and know that we wouldn’t be where we are today without the effort of those who came before us.