In this special episode of Tradition Never Graduates, we sit down with our theater director and high school English teacher, Tamala Szyman, to talk about the incredible impact of our Performing Arts Center on students and our entire school community.

From building sets on stage in the “old days” to state-of-the-art lighting, sound, and projection capabilities, Tamila shares how the new theater space has transformed opportunities for students—not just in drama, but in band, choir, and beyond. 🎭

But this conversation goes deeper than lights and costumes.

We explore how theater:
✨ Builds confidence and resilience
✨ Encourages healthy risk-taking
✨ Teaches problem-solving in real time
✨ Fosters teamwork, vulnerability, and trust
✨ Creates an “AND school” culture—where students can pursue academics, athletics, arts, and more

You’ll also hear behind-the-scenes stories from productions like Shrek and Matilda, the power of student-led tech crews, and how community support—including the Bruce Krier Foundation—continues to expand what’s possible for our students.

Whether you’re a parent, alum, student, or community member, this episode highlights why a space designed for the arts does more than host performances—it elevates learning, connection, and tradition.

🎧 Tune in and step behind the curtain with us.

In this episode of our annual meeting recap series, we take a deep dive into the Wisconsin School District Report Card and what it tells us about Oostburg Schools. Joined by district data expert Amy Bares and Middle School principal and assessment coordinator Sherri Stengel, we explain how report cards are calculated, what growth, achievement, and target group scores mean, and how the report card affirms progress toward our "all students" mission. The conversation highlights Oostburg’s fourth-place ranking statewide, exceptional growth among our lowest-achieving students, and how strong academics, student engagement, and robust extra and cocurricular opportunities work together, not separately, to support all learners.

In this episode, we sit down with Director of HR & Finance Kris Deburine to unpack one of the most important, and most misunderstood, parts of our annual Mmeting, school finance.

We start with the heart of our community, reflecting on our Veterans Day program and the incredible student leadership behind it. Then we dig into the budget: how school funding works, how equalization aid is calculated, and why this year’s local levy increased.

If you’ve ever looked at your tax bill and wondered, “Why did this go up?”, this episode breaks it down in plain language.

Kevin and Josh join the show to talk about how Co-Op and Youth Apprenticeship help students gain real-world experience while earning school credit. They explain how each program works, how students are placed with employers, and what businesses can expect when partnering with the district.

From workplace expectations and mentor support to student growth and future program expansion, this episode gives families, students, and community partners a clear look at how hands-on learning prepares students for life after high school.

In this episode, Kevin and Terry discuss how the ACT has changed over the years and what that means for students today. They also highlight our district’s consistent performance on the ACT, showing how steady progress has positioned us as one of the top schools in the state. Plus, they cover key points from the district newsletter and provide a recap of the annual meeting.

Kris and Steve have dedicated years to the students and community in Oostburg. Hear stories about Hingham School, wrestling and family.

Jon and Beth have a longstanding connection to our schools and district as parents, business partners, educators and community members. Thanks for tuning in!

Some people are born to teach and after 34 "homerooms" Sally Prinsen is retiring at the end of this school year. Listen in for a chat with Sally, another great storyteller and dedicated educator in our third episode of the Tradition Never Graduates podcast.

Music "125" by Kylie Hummitzsch