💜✨ Once Upon a Time in Logger Country ✨💛

Once upon a time, in a little kingdom nestled among the trees and hills of Onalaska, a brand-new school year was about to begin.

Backpacks were packed, pencils were sharpened, teachers were preparing their classrooms, and parents everywhere were wondering how summer had disappeared so quickly.

But one special Logger mom, Ann Quinn, Jeffrey's mom, had a plan.

A plan involving balloons.

A LOT of balloons. 🎈🎈🎈
On Sunday evening, while the rest of Logger Country prepared for the first week of school, Ms. Quinn arrived with balloons, decorations, photo booths, and enough creativity to make even the most experienced fairy godmother jealous.

With the secret assistance of a few tiny Logger Elves, or so the legend goes, she transformed ordinary spaces into magical first-week-of-school photo opportunities for our students and families.

By morning, everything was ready. Students arrived, families stopped for pictures, and cameras began clicking all over Logger Country. 📸✨

There was only one problem.

The sun. ☀️
Apparently, nobody told the weather that balloons are not particularly fond of temperatures over 90 degrees.

By the end of each hot day, some of the balloons looked like the first week of school had been especially difficult for them.

So each evening, Ms. Quinn returned.

And according to our completely reliable fairy-tale sources, so did the Logger Elves.

She refreshed the balloons, changed out decorations, added new décor, and made sure everything was ready for another day of pictures.

Then she did it again.

And again.

Every evening.

Because apparently magical balloon displays require considerably more maintenance than fairy tales lead us to believe.

But the magic did not stop at the school grounds.

The neighborhood surrounding our schools joined in too, displaying messages wishing Onalaska students a fun, educational, and wonderful 2026-2027 school year. 💜💛 It felt as though the whole kingdom was cheering on our Loggers.

Then another bit of magic happened.

I asked our families to share the pictures they had taken of their children enjoying Ms. Quinn's displays.

The response was overwhelming.

Pictures came pouring in. Smiling students, proud families, new backpacks, first-day outfits, and children who somehow grew several inches over the summer.

Those photographs tell a story much bigger than balloons and decorations.

They capture new beginnings, families celebrating their children, a community encouraging its students, and exactly what makes Logger Country so special.

https://youtu.be/1-egQ9JU4sQ?si=scPXlnAVHklhf3Cm

💜💛 A Very Special Thank You

On behalf of the Onalaska School District, we want to give an enormous and heartfelt THANK YOU to Ann Quinn.

Ann, you gave your time, creativity, supplies, and evenings to make the first week of school extra special. You created places where families could stop, take a picture, celebrate a milestone, and make a memory.

Our Onalaska School Board also extends a very special thank you to Ann for the incredible time, care, and effort she put into welcoming our students.

And to our Onalaska community and families, a HUGE thank you!

When I asked you to send me pictures of your kids, you answered that call in a way I never expected. The response was overwhelming, and I am incredibly grateful you shared these special moments with me.

I enjoy what I do because of moments like these.

I sincerely hope I did the spirit of your children, your families, Ms. Quinn's incredible work, and our Logger community justice.

Because perhaps the real magic was never in the balloons at all.

Perhaps it was in the people who gave their time, the neighbors who cheered on our students, the families who stopped to make a memory, and one very determined Logger mom who refused to let 90-degree weather defeat a balloon arch. 🎈☀️

And so, with backpacks on shoulders, cameras full of memories, and the Logger Elves finally getting a well-earned rest, our students began the 2026-2027 school year surrounded by a community cheering them on.

And they learned happily ever after...

Or at least until the first homework assignment. 📚😉

💜 Once a Logger, Always a Logger. 💛

Introducing OnyUpdates text alert! Whether you are a parent or community member, we'd love to keep you updated on meetings, events, concerts and community nights. Click on the link below or use the QR code to sign up! Tip: to use the QR code, download the flyer and hold your thumb down on the QR code for the link to appear.

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💜💛🐶 Dog Days of Summer Week 3 is Here! 🐶💛💜

Summer learning is still going strong, and it's not too late to participate! 🌞✏️📚

📅 Tuesday, July 21 & Wednesday, July 22
🕘 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
📍 District Office

Already Participating?

Bring in your completed Week 3 packet and:
🎁 Pick a prize
🍬 Receive a tasty treat
📦 Pick up your Week 4 packet!

New to Dog Days of Summer?

You can still join the fun!

Stop by the District Office on Tuesday or Wednesday between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM to pick up a packet and get started. There's still time to participate and enjoy all the fun!

🎉 The best part? Every day you turn in a completed packet, no matter which week it is, you'll receive:
🎁 A prize
🍬 A treat
That means there's still time to get a prize & treat on Tuesday and Wednesday, plus be in the drawing!

⭐ Students who complete at least 3 packets will also qualify for our grand prize drawing!

Each packet is filled with fun learning activities, including reading, writing, math, and more, to help keep students learning all summer long.

We can't wait to see everyone this week! Stop by Tuesday or Wednesday and join the fun! 💜💛🐶☀️