Fall Athletics Season Kicks Off for MMSD Student-Athletes

MADISON, Wis.—Student-athletes across the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) will take to the fields, courts and courses starting today—Tuesday, Aug. 5—marking the beginning of the 2025 fall high school athletics season. Practices for football, cheer and pom open first, with additional sports launching over the next two weeks. The season ushers in a period of teamwork, community pride and academic growth for hundreds of students.

Key start dates include:

• Aug. 5 – Football, Cheer, Pom
• Aug. 11 – Girls Golf
• Aug. 12 – Girls Swim, Girls Tennis
• Aug. 18 – Boys and Girls Cross Country, Boys and Girls Volleyball, Boys Soccer

“Our student-athletes continue to impress us not just with their athletic talent, but with their dedication, leadership and impact on our school communities,” said Jeremy Schlitz, MMSD’s athletics director. “Fall sports are more than a tradition in Madison; they’re an essential part of how we build relationships, resilience and a sense of belonging for our students.”

Participation in high school athletics has long been linked to positive academic outcomes. Research from the National Federation of State High School Associations and the Journal of School Health shows that students who participate in school sports tend to have higher GPAs, better attendance and stronger graduation rates than their non-athlete peers. Athletics also foster time management, goal setting and social connection, skills that extend well beyond the season.

“Sports provide an unparalleled opportunity for students to grow in confidence, in character and in connection with their school,” Schlitz added. “Whether they’re suiting up for varsity or trying something new at another level, we want every student to feel like they have a place in our programs.”

To participate, students must have a valid sports physical on file. MMSD is offering free physical clinics at its four comprehensive high schools in August. Students should contact their school’s athletic office to schedule an appointment.

Free Physical Clinics:

• Aug. 6 – East
• Aug. 7 & 8 – La Follette
• Aug. 18 – West
• Aug. 19 – Memorial
• Aug. 20 – East
• Aug. 21 & 22 – La Follette

This year, many MMSD athletes will also compete and train in newly upgraded facilities brought online last year following the district’s 2020 capital referendum. Renovations across all four comprehensive high schools included turf fields, tracks, tennis courts, gymnasiums and enhanced training spaces, part of MMSD’s commitment to safe, equitable and high-quality athletic environments.

“Our goal is to ensure every student has access to modern spaces that support physical activity, teamwork and excellence,” Schlitz said. “The community’s investment in these facilities is an investment in our students, and we’re proud to see it paying off.”

Families and fans can find eligibility information, links to team schedules and updates by visiting the Athletics page on the MMSD website. 

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District: The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The District’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the District’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.

QTI’s 2026 HR Trends Survey Now Open

For over 15 years, QTI has surveyed businesses and organizations across Wisconsin to create a unique, localized picture of Wisconsin’s evolving HR landscape. QTI’s 2026 HR Trends Survey covers topics such as talent attraction, total rewards, the future of work, AI, and more.

The QTI Group invites you to participate in the survey and lend your unique perspective and insights into key HR topics, helping your organization and others make informed decisions as you look towards 2026.

It is anticipated that the survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.  All individual participant responses will be kept confidential and participants will receive an aggregate question-by-question summary of survey results.

• Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QTIHRTRENDS2026
• Survey Deadline: August 22, 2025

QTI will share key findings and the top HR challenges for 2026 in an exclusive webinar on October 28, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. You can preregister for the event at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ci5SEf7IRaaYwygglZ9TTA.

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact QTI’s Senior Marketing Director, Jill Dohnal, at jill.dohnal@qtigroup.com or 608.257.1057.

Online Enrollment for 2025–26 MMSD School Year Opens August 6

MADISON, Wis.—Online enrollment for the Madison Metropolitan School District’s (MMSD) 2025–26 school year opens Wednesday, Aug. 6. Families enrolling for the first time or updating information for returning students may complete the process through MMSD’s online enrollment platform.

The enrollment page of the MMSD site provides families with detailed information about required documentation, language support services and school assignment and transportation. Whether registering a kindergartener for the first time or updating information for a returning student, families will find the tools they need to prepare for the start of the academic year.

Families with students already enrolled in MMSD should verify or update their information by completing the online enrollment application (without having to create a new account). New-to-MMSD families will be guided through creating an account and uploading key paperwork and should also review the enrollment checklist to ensure they have the necessary verification documents ready before submitting an online application or meeting with school staff. Enrollment staff are available to assist by phone (608-663-4957), in person or through language-specific support as needed.

“Online enrollment helps us better prepare for each student’s arrival, academically, socially and logistically,” said Dr. Carlettra Stanford, MMSD assistant superintendent of schools and learning. “It also allows us to more seamlessly coordinate essential systems such as transportation, staffing and academic programming, clearing the way for a smooth transition to the school year for our families.” 

The 2025–26 school year begins Tuesday, Sept. 2 for four-year-old (4K) and five-year old kindergarten, grade 6, grade 9 and early childhood students; all other students start Wednesday. Sept. 3.

For more information, FAQs, and step-by-step enrollment instructions, families should visit www.madison.k12.wi.us/registration-enrollment.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District: The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The District’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the District’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.

Nominations open for In Business Madison’s Health Care Heroes awards program

In Business Madison is accepting nominations for Health Care Heroes, an awards program that will be held in conjunction with this year’s IB Health Care Summit in October.

Health Care Heroes will recognize a variety of health professionals who have provided exemplary services to patients in Wisconsin’s Capital Region. Award nominations are open through Sept. 4.

The summit, returning for its second year, will be held at the Best Western Premier Park Hotel at 22 S. Carroll St. in Madison Oct. 2 from 9 a.m.-noon. Additional event information will be released soon.

Students Get Active and Artistic Through MMSD’s Summer Arts Programming

MADISON, Wis.—This summer, the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) partnered with eight Madison-based arts organizations to incorporate expanded arts programming into its regular summer semester curriculum. Nearly 30 guest artists and 12 MMSD teachers led instruction in visual arts, dance, theater, and other disciplines across elementary and middle school sites throughout the district.

These arts classes were integrated into students’ daily schedules and offered in multiple 45-minute blocks, ensuring all learners had the opportunity to explore and engage with each artistic discipline offered at their site.

The program, an evolution of the former Summer Arts Academy, exposed students to a wide range of creative disciplines. Participating artists included Francis Medrano, founder and lead teacher of Black Power Dance, whose high-energy sessions blended Afro-Peruvian dance with personal fitness, and Sarah Rhoads, who guided students through a comprehensive theater program focused on both performance and behind-the-scenes technical skills.

The diverse arts experiences offered through the summer semester aimed to keep students physically and creatively active during the summer months, while also building bridges to Madison’s broader artistic community and fostering empathy through exposure to perspectives beyond their own.

The effort is part of MMSD’s broader commitment to equitable access to arts education for all students. By partnering with local organizations and hiring professional artists who reflect the diversity of the community, MMSD aimed to help students see themselves in the arts and introduce them to creative paths they may not have encountered during the traditional school year. Whether experimenting with fiber arts, designing stage lighting or learning new styles of movement, students were encouraged to explore their identities and expand their imaginations.

“These experiences build confidence and curiosity,” said Dan Davidson, MMSD’s director of arts education. “They help students develop new skills, but also new ways of seeing the world and themselves in it.”

“There are so many organizations out there that really contribute to our community and the artistic cultures that we have throughout the city,” Davidson added. “And this really brings that artistic experience alive within our traditional summer school setting each and every day.”

The participating teachers and guest artists emphasized the connective power of art through their classes. “It’s about telling stories and empathy and being able to relate to experiences,” said Rhoads. “I think theater can be best described as a window or a door. You’re either looking into someone’s experience or really living something that’s similar to your own. I think now more than ever, we really need to come together in bridging these experiences—especially at a young age.”

For more regarding arts-related events happening across MMSD, please visit the Arts Events and Information page of the district’s website.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District: The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.