You're listening to Perspective on WFHR 1320 AM, 97.5 FM.
I'm Melissa Kay bringing you news in our community.
During this interview, I'm talking with Matt Sakowski, Director of Advancement Alumni Relations with Assumption Catholic Schools on Friday, June 12th.
Thank you for joining me, Matt, to bring the community an update from Assumption.
Well, thank you, Melissa.
Always great being here on this wonderful day.
Yeah, it is gorgeous today.
The sun is shining.
The skies are blue.
There's perfect clouds in the sky.
Not as hot.
Yeah.
Wendy, but we'll take it.
Yeah, it's glorious.
We needed the rain in the last few days, too.
We
absolutely did.
It was a little excessive, but you
know what?
A little bit.
We can't pick and choose.
Well, at least my lawn won't be as brown for the next week or two, and then after that, it'll be brown then.
Yes, there you go.
Well, let's dive into what's happening with Assumption.
The Royals had a wonderful performance at WIAA State Track Meet Division 3.
That just took place here the first weekend of June.
Let's talk about this.
Well, Melissa, we had a very special performance by the track athletes that qualify for state.
The meet was in La Crosse last weekend on June 5th and 6th.
And the thing that was really unique about the kids that were there from our represent our schools at the all meddled.
Oh,
wow.
It was really an incredible performance and it was led by Bella Thomas.
Bella just graduated.
She was a senior.
She had really remarkable career and assumption.
She had was a state champion for years in the 100 and 200 meter dash.
Last weekend, she kept her career.
being the state champion in the 400 meter dash 400 meters once around that track tough race yeah it's a sprint but you gotta be strong so it's almost a combination of of a sprint distant event
which you would know as a runner
yes i i in fact are participated when i was in high school in that event i was nothing like bella bella was a state champion she set the school record in the 400 meter dash
And then she took third in the 100 meter dash in the fourth place in the 200 meter dash.
So Bella.
Well done, Bella.
Absolutely.
What a, again, incredible career at assumption.
And she'll be going to an attending Montana State University next fall.
Excellent.
Well,
good luck to
her on her future endeavors.
Yes, indeed.
And then you also have another senior, Lucy Dolan.
Lucy Dolan from the Dolan family.
That family.
Her parents Jim and Nicole are assumptions cross-country coach and what a athletic family that is Lucy also graduated and she took second in the 1600 meter dash Fourth in the 800 meter dash and she set a school record in 800 meter
Wow,
it just goes to show you how fast some of the competition was
mm-hmm
that finish ahead of her
And she took ninth in the 3200 meter dash.
So
she's more of a long distance runner.
She was a distance runner.
But still as Brenner's speed too.
She's a total package.
So Lucy congratulations.
Her brother Michael Dolan is a freshman.
Now he could be the next phenom like Bella was.
Think about it.
He's a freshman.
You took second place in the 1600 meter run.
And second place in the 3200 meter run.
And that's a school record.
And this kid is a freshman.
Wow.
So what a, uh, what a performance by this young man.
And we'll be hearing a lot from him.
You got three more years to talk about.
Yes.
About Michael.
They have Reed Harches, a sophomore who, uh, took sixth place in the 800 meter run and 11th in the 800 meter run.
So sixth place in the 1600 meter.
My bad.
Sixth place in the 600 meter run.
Yes.
And 11th
in the 800.
And 800.
And then we had a relay team consisting of Colin Thomas, who is a senior, Aiden Dalage.
I hope I pronounced that last.
Sorry, Aiden, if I put you to that.
He's a junior.
Kailin Ott was a senior.
Trey France was a junior.
They took fifth place in the four by 400 meter.
And then and
that's also a school record.
No, they actually, here's the thing with that, Melissa.
They took fifth place.
That's the mile relay.
Okay.
Now they set a school record in the four by 200.
That's the 800 meter relay.
Okay.
And they did that during the preliminary.
I don't think they qualified for the finals.
Oh my.
It shows you how fast.
No kidding, but that's a school record.
But it's still a school record.
So those, those four kids were.
amazing.
And then we have to recognize your alternatives for that team.
We have Trey's brother, Odin France and Garrett Pavlowski.
Nice.
So what a, what a great way to enter athletic school year by these athletes, probably representing the assumption, phenomenal job.
Congratulations, Royal
athletes.
Excellent, excellent work.
Well, more work that's going to happen this summer is you have summer school.
So this is your stay smart program.
Let's talk about that a bit.
Stay Smart Program is organized by Cheryl and it's, we started this week.
It's pre-K through eighth grade, Tuesday through Thursday from 8 30 a.m.
to 11 30 a.m.
at the high school.
Okay, so it's
only three days a week and it's a short amount of time in the morning.
Yes, we still have three days a week at the high school.
Everything takes place on the first floor.
So we usually have a pretty good turnout.
I believe we have
like 50 kids.
Oh, wow.
So there's a lot of, again, a lot of our parents and families send our kids so they can to this program, this to stay smart.
That's the title.
Avoid
that.
Avoid that summer slump.
Absolute in the stay sharp underskills.
It's a
You know, yeah, you have summer vacation, but you have to stay on top of things.
And that's what this program offers the kids.
And it's just perfect enough.
It's just in the morning.
And then they have the rest of the day to do what they want to do.
Yeah.
And it's only about a month of length of time that
they
do this for three hours, three days a week.
So we started this past Tuesday, June 9th.
And it goes right up until July 2.
Right before the 4th
of July holiday.
And then they have off.
to the last week of August when they come back to school.
So stay smart.
It's great having the kids at school in the summer.
It really is.
How does transportation work for summer school for assumption?
Great question, Melissa.
I know I was on yesterday.
I was in the hallway on the first floor and I saw a throng of parents.
So they were picking their kids up.
So there's no busing.
You don't offer that.
But very similar to let's say the Y Day Camp.
where the parents dropped their kids off at camp and then picked them up.
Well, they do that for the stay smart, drop them off at assumption, pick them up.
So there's quite a group at about 820, waiting for the young ones.
And so really, we had to consolidate a few of the classrooms.
So we have a larger school or larger class size and some of the kids.
And we're still, I know Cheryl was still looking for a
fifth and eighth grade teacher.
She may have stepped up and done that.
How many teachers do you have for the summer school program?
Come, Melissa, you put me on the spot with these questions.
I love it.
It's my job, Matt.
So I believe we have four.
So there's Cheryl and then there's three other teachers.
And they cover the range of subjects that are taught throughout
the morning.
They're staying sharp with these kids on a variety of subjects.
So reading, math,
English, little social science in there.
So kids look forward to it.
And then our meals offered during your summer program?
They may receive a snack.
Snacks are good.
I like snacks.
Do you like snacks, Matt?
I should know more.
I like snacks, sure.
What's
your favorite
snack, Matt?
Well, I just had some taffy in our finance office this morning.
Nice.
Not a lot of protein and taffy, though.
You need some peanuts.
That keeps me going, y'all.
So yeah, the StateSmart, we've been doing it for a number of years and well-received.
But you don't offer it at
your high school level?
This
is only
K through 8th?
Pre-K through 8th grade.
Very interesting.
I buy the high school, the kids are moved on.
They got summer jobs, right?
They're busy.
Yeah.
Well, let's take a brief pause right here for a moment to hear from our sponsors.
I'm Melissa K talking with Matt Sakowski, Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations with Assumption Catholic Schools, and you're listening to Perspective on 13 20 a.m.
97 5 FM WFHR.
Welcome, you're listening to Perspective on WFHR 1320 AM, 97.5 FM.
I'm Alyssa Kay bringing you news in our community.
I'm speaking with Matt Zakowski, Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations with Assumption Catholic Schools.
And where we left off, we were talking about summer school and some of the fun activities happening.
Let's talk about one of these fun activities, the Material Girls Quilt Club Quilt Show at the school.
This is happening on June 19th and June 20th.
Tell me about this, Matt.
The Material Girls Quilt Show, part of the Granbury Blossom Fest.
And they have been using the high school at Assumption.
I believe this is their third year.
So it's a great home for them.
Well, you
got to have space to display those beautiful quilts.
It really is amazing.
I would highly recommend to the viewing audience to come on out and view the just the talent, these quilts.
are something to behold.
The gym primarily is the space that the quilts are presented.
But the girls use other parts of the school, too, the library, the cafeteria.
And the dates of the show are Friday, June 19th, and Saturday, June 20th, from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m.
Again, an assumption.
Catholic High School.
And the admission fee is $5.
You enter in the front part of the school through the lobby.
One really cool thing that they have is a quote of Valor presentation that will take place on Saturday at 11am.
Very patriotic.
They do a wonderful job with that.
And I want to also let everybody know and Pam
Just mentioned this to me as I was waiting to come to be with you Melissa and that if you have a sewing machine that's not working you can bring that
you know, to the the quilt show and they'll fix that they'll have someone I believe sit from was all come down.
Okay,
which might be a good reason for anyone to come there if you're having a
you know, it's hard to find a sewing machine technician in this day and age that services sewing machines.
It's not as
common of a practice anymore.
grandfather clock, fix clocks or
resole your shoes.
Yeah, so it's a very specialized
talent.
So if you ever problems with your your hobby machine, so bring them into the quilt show.
But that is we're really thrilled that they use our our high school.
It's a great community event.
In fact, they set up on Wednesday, they start moving their quilts on Wednesday evening.
Thursday is dedicated towards a total setup and then
The show is Friday and
Saturday.
And what does the admission fee go toward?
I think it goes towards the quilt show in some capacity.
I'm going to I'm going to theorize because I don't know this for sure.
But I know that the quilts of Valor are all made by volunteers.
And I wonder if some of that admission fee would cost would go towards purchasing the materials for those quilts
of
Valor.
That's a great question, Melissa.
I'll have to ask Sue.
as soon as the organizer, Sue Wolfe, and $5 is pittance for what you can enjoy and see.
And we're hoping that it won't be as warm next week because they're in the gym.
We don't have any AC in the gym.
Oh,
dear.
And I think hopefully
you got some fans.
There's fans in there.
But I think the first year I was here, it rained a lot on the Friday, but we can't control the weather.
True.
But we can control our attitude.
So we're gonna have a great time.
And I want to say the the quilt show and the stay smart really work well together because the summer school has to work around just a few things on Thursday.
Mm-hmm
when they're at school, but
yeah,
you know, we're so thrilled to have the show at a high school They treat our school with respect to people get to come to the high school.
Mm-hmm.
So really we're honored that
That they're there.
So again, Friday, June 19th, Saturday, June 20th, the Materia Girls Quilchall, Assumption Catholic School, High School, part of the Cranberry Blossom Fest.
Come on out.
And the show is from nine to four, both of those days.
Yes.
So you do have some other fun summer events happening for Assumption.
Let's talk about the ACS Night with the Rafters.
Yes.
Melissa, come in.
That's also Friday, June 19th.
It is.
So it's Friday, June 19th at Woodard, at beautiful Woodard Park.
635 p.m.
start time great north woods league baseball come on out the assumption family I'm talking to but
everybody else is welcome to of
course yes but you're having a tailgate party at the high school assumption people if they're listening yeah the Raptors take on lacrosse loggers we do have a tailgate party because our school high school is located just on the hill from yeah you're
within walking distance of
winter
park
tailgate party, reply on having hot dogs from beverages and ships for our families.
So
that's from 430 to 530.
Correct.
And then we'll all head up to Whitterfield together.
Nice.
And you have free tickets for anyone who attends the tailgate party?
We have free tickets for our teachers.
Oh, for faculty and
support staff.
Okay, nice.
being subsidized by our athletic department and the rural parents.
Okay.
Really nice, very nice that they're doing that.
The cost for our families is $11 per seat.
Okay.
And they can do that.
We're in section G. Let's go on the Raptors website, enter the assumption promo code, and you get your ticket, or you can purchase it the day off too.
Nice.
So we're trying to really our
Numbers for the tailgate party kind of anemic at the moment.
Hmm.
I have a teacher with two of her family and a family So assumption that families if you're listening come on out can they call ahead of time to let you know that
they're planning to come
the thing that's The thing that is helpful is I'll know how many hot dogs or even pizza or the get
right right You got to have enough hot
dogs.
I just can you know order like a hundred hot dogs if there's this
you know,
right,
right, right.
So you got to let me know.
Matthew dot Zikowski at a c s wr.org.
Reservoir spot.
Friday, June 19.
It'll be a fun night.
We're hoping for good weather for that last year.
We got rained on.
Oh, dear.
Well, maybe it'll be different this year.
I think it'll be different this year.
And then, Melissa, if I could jump to the next item.
the 38th annual Rural Golf Scramble, a major fundraising event for our 38th
annual Wow.
And the man really behind that stirs the the drink for the straw that serves a drink is Bob Buracosa and his son Joe.
Joe's our athletic director.
But Bob and Joe do a great job of, of putting on a fun, engaging event for
A lot of alumni are part of this event, but it's really for the public.
They come on out, support our athletic department, all the great things we do for these kids in our athletic program.
And this is at Ridges Golf Course on Friday, July 17th.
Correct.
So this is a few details.
We have an AM session and a PM session.
Individuals can join.
$105 for the AM session, foursome is $420, and then the afternoon session for an individual, it's $115, and for a foursome, it's $460.
Call Bob and Joel.
Because you got to reserve your
spot for this.
You got to reserve your spot.
There's
a limited number available.
Correct.
Joel's number is 715-422-0915, a few other things.
Dinner, a consistent of beef, medallion.
I hope I pronounced that right.
You
did.
You did.
And chicken Oscar dinner.
And if you don't golf, it's $40 to purchase a banquet ticket.
There's open bar banquet at the Regis from five to nine.
Now, that open bar, we have beer and wine and soda only.
That's fair.
There's no mixed drinks, so
it's perfect.
But you could purchase those.
Sure, you can.
Live music on the patio from eight to midnight.
The last thing I wanted to communicate, we are limiting the afternoon session to 36 groups.
So that right there tells you really the great response.
Yeah.
And everything, the dinner takes place at the ridges.
I think a couple years ago, we used to go off at the ridges and had the dinner at the high school.
Okay.
But it's so much more convenient
to just do it
all there.
They have the
facility.
Right.
Bob and Joan really pleased how that has worked out.
So
Yes, contact Joe again, 715-422-0915.
And get in this golf tournament.
Joe and Bob do a wonderful job support or athletic program.
Nice.
And then Melissa, we have our assumption cat to school night at the Wisconsin Rapids Aqua Center.
That's for for our families that are attending any of our schools.
Sunday, April, Sunday.
Okay, that date has to be wrong.
We're well
past April, Matt.
That's
okay
August 9th from 6 to 8 p.m.
That's free for ACS families.
You got a registration begins July 1st.
So you have a response as people love it.
Good.
Oh, the aquatic center is great.
It is great.
So
I've heard they've made some some changes this year
and it's wonderful.
I look forward to that and our night is special because
It's on a Sunday and it's after the park is closed.
Oh, nice.
So it's just for just for assumption.
This is our third year doing this.
And yeah, we look forward to it.
And then what I want to do at this time, Melissa, is when you think of school and summer, the kids are gone.
Teachers are gone as well.
But we still have some staff.
that are taking care of our
school.
There's still work happening at the school.
Big time.
So I just wanted to give a show at all to Larry and Liz from our middle and high school.
And they're doing incredible amounts of work.
Liz is polishing the floors of each classroom.
There's painting that needs to be done.
Just getting the school ready.
A lot of maintenance happens during the summer.
Correct, and we have Edward at St.
Vincent de Paul, Fine Young Man, and Troy at Our Lady Queen of Heaven at Shelley School.
That there's enough to keep these people busy.
Oh, yes.
Thank you
for custodians and all the work that you do behind the scenes that people don't see, but appreciate every day.
Amen to that.
Unsung heroes get into our schools ready
well in our last 30 seconds here There's one big change coming up next year for the sixth graders.
What is it
Matt?
I'm finally able to unleash this incredible news Six grade will be our sixth graders will be at St.
Vincent to Paul for many years.
We always had six
through 12th grade at the high school.
So at the high school next year it says 7th through 12th.
The 5th graders that were at St.
Vincent DePaul's will stay in next year.
So you get one more year at the school you're
familiar with.
Right at St.
Vincent DePaul's.
So many reasons for that.
Maybe in July I can touch on that.
Sure.
But we're excited about it.
We're utilizing our space better, and I think it's just a good thing for the sixth grade.
Excellent.
Well, I appreciate you coming in today, Matt.
I'm Melissa Kayes, speaking with Matt Sakowski, Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations with Assumption Catholic School.
Thank you for taking the time today.
Thanks, Melissa, so long,
everybody.
And thank you to listeners joining us for news in our community on Perspective 1320 AM, 97.5 FM WFHR.
