Onalaska HI Cap students recently took part in an exciting Chemistry class with Mrs. Shepherd at the High School as part of their quarterly enrichment experience. Students explored hands on activities, asked great questions, and got a glimpse into advanced science learning 🔬⚗️
What is HI Cap?
HI Cap, short for Highly Capable, is a program designed to challenge and support students who demonstrate advanced academic abilities. Through enrichment opportunities like this, students engage in deeper learning, critical thinking, and real world experiences beyond the regular classroom 📚🚀
A big thank you to Mrs. Shepherd for welcoming our students and making science come alive! 👩🔬👏
Next, they develop and use models ✏️📐 by drawing circuit designs and predicting how different components will work together. Students then plan and carry out investigations 🔬 by testing their ideas with wires, batteries, and bulbs 🔋💡 to see what works and what does not.
Along the way, students learn that mistakes are part of the process 💭🔄. By constructing explanations and designing solutions 🛠️, they revise their designs, explain their thinking, and improve their circuits. Through hands-on learning, collaboration 🤝, and problem-solving 🧠, Mrs. Richardson’s students are building confidence, curiosity, and a strong foundation in science and engineering 🚀.
Mrs. Koenig’s kindergarten class went fishing without ever leaving the classroom. With their very own classroom pond, the students eagerly cast their lines to see what they might catch.
One student reeled in a twig, while another proudly caught a trap, proving that this pond was full of surprises. Even without any fish, the day was filled with laughter, imagination, and plenty of fun. In Mrs. Koenig’s class, every catch was a great one.
Carly’s Closet has donated a significant amount of clothing and shoes to the Onalaska School District over the years. Most recently, when we reached out in need of shoes for older elementary boys, they responded immediately. They not only provided what they had on hand but also went shopping at outlet stores to purchase additional pairs to ensure the exact size was available for our oldest student. That level of care and commitment means so much to our schools.
Organizations like Carly’s Closet make a tremendous difference for small schools and rural communities that can sometimes be overlooked. Onalaska would like to extend a huge thank you to Carly’s Closet for everything they do for us and for the other 18 elementary schools they support. We hope our community will continue to support and donate to Carly’s Closet so they can keep this important work going.
Learn more about Carly’s Closet, including upcoming events and ways to donate:
Website: https://carlyscloset2023.wixsite.com/carly
Thank you, Carly’s Closet, for all you do. 💙
We want to provide clarity regarding the current NFHS streaming issue affecting our events.
The disruption is the result of a technical issue with the primary computer system that operates the NFHS cameras. This issue is on the NFHS side and is not an Onalaska School District equipment or personnel issue.
Our technology director, in collaboration with the athletics office, has been in direct contact with NFHS and continues to work closely with them as they address the problem. As of now, NFHS is actively troubleshooting the problem and will be sending out new equipment overnight in order to resolve the issue prior to tomorrow’s game.
While this situation is not related to the district’s upcoming transition to Hudl, experiences such as this outage are part of the reason the district has explored alternative streaming options. In addition, the district has been evaluating platforms that provide greater access to technical support, improved tools for our teams and coaches, and stronger overall value for our community.
The district will be transitioning to Hudl in the near future, and more information about the Hudl transition will be shared in the coming weeks.
We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we work with NFHS to resolve this matter and as we continue to make decisions that best support our students, staff, and community.
Thank you for your continued support.
Over winter break, our amazing maintenance crew installed a new climbing geo dome funded by the Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools Grant 🛝
When students returned, they wasted no time. The first recess back looked like a beehive of excitement 🐝 The kids clearly approve!
A huge THANK YOU to our maintenance crew for their hard work 👏 The geo dome arrived in many individual pieces that had to be carefully puzzled together, and their dedication brought it all to life. Smiles, laughter, and lots of climbing say it all 😄
Two of our 3rd graders had an extra-special ride home thanks to a Lewis County Sheriff’s Deputy! This fun experience was generously donated by a community member who won the opportunity at an auction. Smiles all around—what a memorable treat and a wonderful example of community support! 💛🚓
https://youtu.be/wgUe-3ajB94
We are proud to recognize Adan Meza, Laura Hanson, and Bennett Rogers as winners of the Middle School Science Wizard Award for Responsibility. Each of these students has demonstrated outstanding responsibility in the science classroom through their dedication, dependability, and commitment to learning. Congratulations to Adan, Laura, and Bennett on this well-deserved achievement!
Another exciting stop on our journey was Holland! In this classroom, students listened to a story about Holland’s St. Nicolas and Black Pete, learning about how Dutch children celebrate the season and the traditions that are important to them. 📖🎄
The fun continued with a familiar holiday favorite, as students also enjoyed seeing the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who join in the festivities. Their visit brought smiles and laughter while tying together holiday traditions from around the world with stories students know and love.
This stop in Holland was a wonderful blend of cultural learning and holiday fun, making it a memorable part of our Christmas Around the World adventure! 🌍✨
On December 17th, our youngest students filled the middle school gym with music, smiles, and holiday spirit during the K–2nd Grade Christmas Concert. Families, staff, and friends gathered to celebrate the season as kindergarten, first grade, and second grade students proudly took the stage to share what they had been practicing for weeks.
The concert featured a delightful mix of festive songs, cheerful choreography, and heartfelt performances that showcased the hard work and enthusiasm of our students. From bright voices singing classic holiday tunes to adorable movements that brought smiles and laughter from the audience, each grade added its own special touch to the program. The excitement and confidence displayed by the students made it clear how much effort they put into preparing for this memorable event.
A special thank you goes to Ms. Houser, the students’ music teacher, whose dedication, creativity, and guidance helped bring the concert to life. We are also grateful to our teachers and staff for their support, as well as to our families for their continued encouragement. The K–2 Christmas Concert was a wonderful reminder of the joy, creativity, and strong sense of community that make this season so special. It was truly a heartwarming way to celebrate the holidays together.
The passport stamps made students feel like true world travelers and helped them track their journey as they learned about Christmas traditions from around the globe. This interactive element made Christmas Around the World even more memorable and meaningful for our kindergarten through second-grade students, turning learning into a festive adventure they won’t soon forget! 🎄✨
The holiday fun continued as kindergarten, first grade, and second grade students rotated through Mrs. Olsen’s classroom during Christmas Around the World. In her rotation, students explored holiday traditions from another part of the world through engaging activities and festive learning.
Students enjoyed hands-on projects, meaningful discussions, and seasonal fun that helped bring global Christmas traditions to life. Laughter, creativity, and curiosity filled the room as students learned how celebrations can be both different and the same around the world.
Mrs. Olsen’s classroom was a joyful stop on our holiday journey, giving students a chance to learn, create, and celebrate together. It was a wonderful addition to a memorable Christmas Around the World experience for our youngest learners! 🎄🌍✨
There was extra excitement in the halls when an announcement over the loudspeaker revealed the winner of the Sawbuck Store drawing! 🎉 Sawyer Miloff from Mrs. Smith’s second-grade class was thrilled to learn that his name had been drawn as the lucky winner of an autographed baseball signed by former MLB player Lyle Overbay.
The special prize was earned through Sawyer’s hard work and positive choices, which allowed him to enter the Sawbuck Store drawing. When the announcement was made, smiles and cheers followed as classmates celebrated his big win.
Congratulations to Sawyer on this awesome prize—and thank you to everyone who participates in the Sawbuck Store for helping make our school such a positive place to learn and grow! ⚾✨
During our school’s Christmas Around the World classroom rotations, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade students packed their imaginary passports and “flew” all the way to Poland! ✈️🇵🇱 In my rotation, students learned how children in Poland celebrate Christmas and discovered some fun traditions along the way.
Students created beautiful star ornaments, inspired by Polish Christmas customs, and enjoyed a tasty treat by sampling gingerbread men and chocolate shortbread star cookies. 🍪⭐ The room was filled with excitement as students learned about another culture through hands-on activities and yummy snacks.
It was a joyful experience that helped students see how Christmas is celebrated around the world while making special memories with friends. What a wonderful way to learn and celebrate the season! 🎄✨
Meet Logger Bob 👋
Have a question about our schools or website?
Logger Bob is here to help.
Logger Bob is our new AI-powered assistant designed to answer common questions and help you find information on our school website. He can:
Provide quick answers to frequently asked questions
Help explain information already posted on our site
Point you to the right pages if you want more detail
You might ask:
“When is the next school board meeting?”
“What does the levy fund?”
“How do I enroll a student?”
Look for the “Ask Logger Bob” chat bubble anytime you need help. He’s available 24/7 and always happy to assist.
*Logger Bob is an AI-powered tool that provides answers based on information available on our school website. For the most current or personalized information, please contact the district directly.
Pajama Day Showdown: Part 2
The Final Trophy and the Legend Lives On
As Pajama Day rolled on, the chaos spread across the district.
Superintendent Brenda Padgett arrived dressed as an inflatable Gingerbread Man, instantly raising the stakes. It was festive, cheerful, and only slightly hazardous in doorways.
Maintenance Director Jared Stevens, the 80-year-old man who keeps this school running like a machine, remained unshaken. Spirit Week or not, the building stayed standing. A true Logger legend.
Jerry Carlson, our Food Service Director, smiled through it all like the hero he is, likely feeding half the building while imaginary competitions raged.
HR Director Alicia Clevenger stood ready. Over prepared as always. Lawsuits. Medical issues. Mental breakdowns. Pajama-related grievances. She was prepared for anything this nonsense could bring.
Meanwhile, the High School Office Staff, Sara and Samantha, wisely stayed out of it. Peace was their choice.
High School Principal and Transportation Director Mr. Pilloud was so busy handling two jobs at once that he has absolutely no idea any of this happened. And honestly, that is probably for the best.
And then there was me.
Tori.
District Office Secretary.
Sweet. Innocent. Quietly posting these stories to the website.
Or am I?
As the day wound down, emails continued to trickle in. Photos. Claims. Confidence. Pajamas everywhere.
It was early release for Winter Break. The building buzzed with excitement. Logger Pride filled the halls. The Logger Way was alive and well.
I sat there at the end of the day, waiting on baited breath. What would the outcome of Pajama Day be?
And then it happened.
Mr. Markuson.
Ms. Ranger.
And the EMS Office Staff.
They did what they have done all week.
They declared themselves the champions.
Once again.
With a giant Grand Champion trophy. Homemade, of course.
Competition where there never was one.
Judging that never happened.
Self-proclaimed champions standing proudly in their pajamas.
And somehow, it felt right.
Because at the end of the day, this week was about joy. About laughter. About community. About Logger Pride. About doing things The Logger Way.
It truly is a Great Day to Be a Logger.
And somewhere in the background, I swear I saw Logger Bob nodding in approval.
Happy Winter Break, Onalaska.
