https://youtu.be/esdkf7uKdcY
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Meet the dream team: Stephanie, Selena, Maria, Rosa, Toni, and their behind-the-scenes mastermind, Jerry.
Every morning starts before most of us have even found the snooze button. Breakfast for three schools? No problem. By the time the first bell rings, they’ve already fed a small army and are gearing up for round two. And by “gearing up,” I mean orchestrating what can only be described as a culinary marathon at full sprint.
Stephanie is legendary for her rolls. There are rumors that students can smell them from three hallways away and begin migrating like birds. Selena keeps things moving with the precision of a traffic controller, somehow knowing exactly when the pizza needs to come out and when the next batch needs to go in. Maria can turn a tray of roasted chick peas into something students actually get excited about, which frankly feels like magic. Rosa handles the chaos with a calm that suggests she may, in fact, have superpowers. And Toni? Toni can plate logger nachos faster than most people can decide what they want for lunch.
And then there are the cheese zombies. No one truly understands how they disappear so quickly, but we suspect it involves teleportation or a secret student alert system.
Through it all, they are feeding elementary, middle, and high school students breakfast, lunch, and even snacks. That is hundreds upon hundreds of meals, smiles, and “thank yous” packed into one very fast-paced day.
And quietly making it all possible is Jerry. You might not see him in the lunch line, but he is the reason everything runs like a well-oiled machine. He knows when to order, how to stretch a budget, and somehow finds the best deals like a grocery store ninja. While the team is out front performing miracles, Jerry is behind the scenes making sure they have everything they need to succeed.
Together, they are not just a kitchen staff. They are a team of everyday heroes who show up, work hard, laugh through the chaos, and make sure every student is fed and cared for.
So today, on School Lunch Hero Day, we say thank you to Stephanie, Selena, Maria, Rosa, Toni, and Jerry. You keep our schools running, our students happy, and our bellies full.
And if anyone happens to know the secret behind those cheese zombies… we’d love to hear it.
Featuring Caroline from Miss Finley’s class 🌤️
https://youtu.be/zVR9EXP_y-g
A Demonstration in Pride
Onalaska 5th graders giving a lesson in respect Demonstrating how to properly fold, raise, and lower the American flag. Thank you to veteran Mr. Gerbracht for teaching our students, and to Mr. Markuson and SSO Fred Wetzel, 5-0 Fred, for their continued leadership 👏 🔊 Volume up for this important lesson
https://youtu.be/UW7QiBeMqlo
Maple Bars for Guests like Moms
Maple Bars for Guests like Moms will be on Friday, May 8th.
You are invited to come and have breakfast with your child on this special morning.
Time: Breakfast anytime between 7:25 a.m. and 8:25 a.m.
School starts at 8:25 a.m.
Place: Onalaska Elementary Dining Hall
Please check in at the OEMS Office at 280 West 5th Street, 98570
Menu: Blueberry Parfait or Cereal, Maple Bar, Fruit, Milk, and Coffee
Price: Adults and Non-Students $3.50
Students are free
No need to RSVP. We look forward to seeing you.
Sincerely,
Mr. Markuson
OEMS Principal
Jerry Carlson
Food Service Director
Featuring Triton & a special guest from Ms. Marshall’s class 🌤️
https://youtu.be/_zOjitnDlG8
Featuring Ariel & Carter from Miss Finley’s class 🌤️
https://youtu.be/nNjjhutZkVI
APRIL 27, 2026 UPDATE
We want to inform our community that BoardDocs, where tonight’s School Board meeting agenda is posted, is currently experiencing technical difficulties. At this time, there is no estimated timeline for when the issue will be resolved.
We will share an update as soon as the system is back online.
Tonight’s School Board meeting will proceed as scheduled unless otherwise noted.
Centralia College Early Learners Program
Congratulations to Onalaska School District's ECEAP Preschool for achieving the highest quality rating - LEVEL 5 Early Achievers.
Early Achievers is Washington State’s quality recognition and improvement system (QRIS) for early learning programs, administered by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Its goal is to ensure children receive high-quality early learning experiences that prepare them for school and life, while supporting early learning professionals through coaching, professional development, and resources.
What Level 5 Means
Programs are rated on a scale from Level 1 to Level 5:
Level 1: Licensed and meeting basic requirements
Level 2: Actively improving quality through training
Level 3: Good quality care
Level 4: High-quality learning environment
Level 5: Outstanding program quality
Level 5 programs demonstrate excellence across multiple areas, including child outcomes, curriculum, learning environments, staff development, and family engagement.
High-quality care and learning environments that support kindergarten readiness
Well-trained teachers through ongoing professional development
Safe and nurturing classrooms with appropriate materials and emotional support
Featuring Jaxson & Tahj from Ms. Ferry’s class 🌤️
https://youtu.be/JKwCYooK4XQ
Featuring Kayden & Bentley from Ms. Ferry’s class 🌤️
https://youtu.be/_d5fkkmzP7w
Good news! We found the issue with linking videos and have a workaround—thanks for sticking with us!
https://youtu.be/h_nklVwuXZE
Big smiles and even bigger hearts 💙
Superintendent Brenda Padgett proudly accepted a generous donation from the incredible organizers of the Ony Icicle 5K Fun Run 🏃♂️❄️ Their dedication, energy, and commitment to supporting our students truly make a difference!
We are so grateful for community partners who go the extra mile (literally!) to give back 🙌 Thank you for your generosity and for making our district stronger!
Fifth Grade Weather Report | April 20
Featuring Skye & Harley from Miss Finley’s class 🌤️
Mr. Gerbracht’s class brought history to life as students dressed the part and celebrated their Greek unit 🏛️⚔️ From philosophers to warriors, the creativity was amazing! Mrs. Richardson got in on the fun too
We love seeing learning come alive in such a fun way 📚💜 #GreekDay #LearningIsFun
The Day the School Ran on Para Power
In honor of Paraeducator Appreciation Week
One ordinary morning, something very unusual happened…
The school bell rang, the buses arrived, and the day began—but little did anyone know, this was the day everything would depend on a very special team.
Because on this particular day, the paraeducators weren’t just helping… they were running the show.
McKayla and Karly were already in motion before the first bell, somehow in three places at once, greeting students, answering questions, and locating a mysteriously missing backpack that had, of course, been “right here a second ago.”
Amanda (both of them!) and Jennifer W. had already solved two problems, tied three shoes, and redirected at least five students with the kind of calm precision that deserves its own superpower name.
Sylvia and David exchanged a knowing look—the kind that says, “We’ve got this”—as they helped get everyone settled and ready to learn, while Leah and Irene worked their magic turning “I don’t want to” into “Okay, I’ll try.”
Ana and Sheri kept things moving with steady encouragement, while Krystal and Dessirae handled the ever-changing schedule like expert air traffic controllers—no delays, no crashes, just smooth landings.
Chris and Alma stepped in exactly where they were needed (as they always do), while Jennifer R. and Fred brought a reassuring presence that made even the busiest moments feel manageable.
Jodi, Steve, and Ron seemed to have a sixth sense for being in the right place at the right time—whether it was helping a student refocus, tracking down a missing assignment, or offering just the right words at just the right moment.
Meanwhile, Amanda (yes, still both of them!), Holly, and Rachel kept things running behind the scenes, solving problems no one else even noticed had started.
Dorothy and Nicole brought patience and kindness to every interaction, while Denise and Elijah added just the right mix of energy and encouragement to keep students engaged and smiling.
Owen and Sandy made learning feel approachable and steady, while Amber and Brynn helped turn small victories into big celebrations.
And Monica—well, Monica was exactly where she needed to be, just like everyone else, helping the day come together in ways that often go unseen but are always felt.
By the time the final bell rang, the school day had been a success. Lessons were learned, challenges were met, and students went home a little more confident than when they arrived.
As the building grew quiet, someone finally said what everyone had been thinking:
“Can you imagine a day here without our paraeducators?”
The answer came quickly.
“Nope.”
And really, that says it all.
Fifth Grade Weather Report | April 17
Featuring Kayden & Phoenix from Ms. Ferry’s class 🌤️
The Fifth Grade Weather Report for Thursday, April 16th — featuring Savannah from Ms. Ferry’s class! 🌦️
Our fifth grade students truly enjoy creating these weather reports for our community! 😉
We might be seeing future Logger News broadcasters in the making! 🎤
https://youtu.be/o0x0YsMwo58