by Julie Rossman
A beautiful, sunny autumn day was the perfect backdrop for the dedication of beautiful new Bronco Field at Union Grove High School on Sunday.
A crowd of school staff, students, parents and community members gathered for the official ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony for the new Bronco track and athletic field, which was ready for the beginning of the new school year.
At the conclusion of the Sept. 29 ribbon-cutting ceremony, guests strolled around to get a good look at and feel for the new track and field. Union Grove High School parent Scott Sauder, Raymond, was impressed.
“Union Grove became a Division I school, now we have a Division I facility,” he said.
The afternoon’s outdoor festivities also included youth football and recreation soccer scrimmages, and an NFL punt, pass and kick competition. There was a special appearance by the Klement’s Famous Racing Sausages, along with Union Grove alumni, Bob Madden and Brian Nelson, morning radio hosts on 102.9 FM, Milwaukee.
UG teacher and head football coach, Jordan Hein, said the new facilities mean a lot to the school.
“Every hour of the day, there’s someone on the field,” he said.
With the new artificial surface, Hein said the field is always in perfect condition and available for athletic team practices, phy-ed classes and band and dance team practices.
Hein was excited to get his first win as head football coach, and the first win for the team in several years, on the new Bronco Field back in September.
“I wish I could capture that moment,” Hein said of the win. Students stormed the field after the win, and Hein invited them all to stay for the team’s post-game huddle.
Hein said the win made the team realize that all of their hard work paid off. He said the team is also starting to realize how “big” it is to have such a nice new facility.
Meanwhile, an open house inside the school gave community members a chance to see additional improvements to classroom space.
The new culinary lab hosted culinary demonstrations and sampling by chef Kim Molitor, of Michael’s on the Lake, as well as by students.
Family and Consumer Education teacher, Tiffany VandeBogert, is loving the new lab. “It’s nice to come to school and have the administration and the community be so supportive,” she said.
VandeBogert has been at Union Grove for two years now. After just one year, the program added another teacher and doubled its class offerings. The new lab has been a big part of the program’s success. Students can take culinary courses in high school to earn student certifications and college credits.
“Some students want to learn basic skills, while others want to take it to the next level – it’s great to have both options,” she said.
The department also plans to host more community and school events, and the “first ever” culinary club was started at the school this year.
Folks also visited the school apartment, a new facility in the Special Education department that was first used for the 2012/2013 school year. The apartment helps special education students by teaching transition skills as they graduate from high school.
Jenny Orlando is a special education teacher and is in charge of the transition program. Among other things, the small apartment includes a kitchen, laundry facilities and a bed.
“They learn how to make a sandwich; make a bed; do laundry, etc.,” Orlando said.
Orlando also oversees Bronco Brew, a cafe run by the department, which is open to all students each school morning for an hour. Everything is sold for one dollar, and money raised is put back into the special education program.
Students shop for the supplies, as a learning experience, and they rotate working in the cafe. Funds also support community outings and occasional trips to a restaurant.
“We use the restaurant as a learning experience – some kids don’t know how to order,” Orlando explained.
There are currently four young adults in the transition program. “They are learning independent living; job skills,” Orlando said.
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