Office Crew Claims Victory in Monday’s District-Wide Color War
In a stunning display of spirit, style, and possibly a small amount of friendly scheming, the Elementary/Middle School office staff — led boldly by Principals Mr. Larry Markuson and Ms. Ryan Ranger — have officially declared THEMSELVES the winners of Monday’s December 15th District-Wide Color War.
Yes, you read that correctly. They declared it. They didn’t wait for official judging, a panel of experts, or even a student vote. Why? Because winners don’t wait — they make their own trophy.
And make one they did.
Armed with creativity, confidence, and what can only be described as championship-level enthusiasm, the EMS office team posed proudly with their handmade trophy — a masterpiece that perfectly captured the spirit of “We absolutely won and no one can tell us otherwise.”
While the 6th graders came out strong in bright red and the rest of EMS shimmered in silver, it was clear from the moment the office staff assembled that they weren’t just participating… they were performing.
The 6th graders, led by Mrs. Deb Richardson, gave it their all and submitted some fantastic photos proving their spirit was alive and well (and possibly louder than ever). Their energy was top-tier, and their red wave definitely made its mark.
But the EMS office crew?
Let’s just say — silver never shined so bright. They didn’t just dress for victory… they embodied it.
They coordinated.
They committed.
They conquered.
(And again, they built their own trophy — which automatically earns bonus points in any unofficial-but-now-official competition.)
In the end, whether you were Team Red or Team Silver, Monday’s Color War brought out the best of our district’s spirit, creativity, and enthusiasm. But when the dust settled, the selfies snapped, and the trophy glue dried, one thing was clear:
✨ The EMS Office Team knocked it out of the park and into the winner’s circle. ✨
Congratulations to all participants — and especially to our highly self-appointed champions.
Long may their trophy reign on the front desk.
Thanks, Backroads Coffee, for letting our students deck the cups (not just the halls)!
~Ms. Peters
We’re pleased to share that Onalaska School District has used funds from the ESD 113 Employee Safety Incentive Grant to purchase a new snow plow attachment for our campuses.
This new equipment will help keep our parking lots and bus yard clear and safe throughout the winter months, supporting smooth transportation and safe access for our students, staff, and families.
A big shout-out to our hard-working maintenance crew for everything they do to keep our district running safely—rain, shine, or snow!
The first grade classrooms came together for a celebration that was as sweet as pumpkin pie! All three first grade classes gathered in one room to share a very special Friendsgiving meal — a full spread of delicious foods and desserts lovingly prepared by families and staff.
Laughter and smiles filled the room as students sat side by side, sharing turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and a variety of treats that could rival any Thanksgiving table. Tiny voices chimed with excitement, and the joy of togetherness could be felt in every corner.
This Friendsgiving was more than just a meal — it was a beautiful reminder of what the holiday season is all about: friendship, kindness, and gratitude. Watching the students share food, pass plates, and giggle with their classmates was truly heartwarming.
As the children enjoyed every bite, their teachers couldn’t help but smile, knowing that these moments of community and connection are what make school days so special.
From full plates to full hearts, our first graders made this Friendsgiving one to remember!
Thank you Mrs. Rushton, Mrs. Price, and Mr. Perkinson for making this special meal happen.
https://youtu.be/5t2ayujeKIM
Pictured (from left to right)
Back row: Coach Rachel Cooley, Chloe Lines, Claire Kinsman, Loretta Cooley, Brinley Nakano, Rylee Aiken, Coach Alicia Nakano
Front row: Jordy McNurlin, Allie Brager, Jo Kinsman, Abby Kinsman, Reign Cartwright
Submitted by Kristine Brager
Today was an exciting day at Onalaska Elementary as we celebrated first-grader Harper, the winner of this year’s Dog Days of Summer contest! Harper completed all four weeks of her summer school homework—and turned everything in on time—earning her a spot in the final drawing and ultimately taking home the top prize.
Peak, the generous sponsor behind the Dog Days of Summer program and our brand-new book vending machine, joined us for a special unveiling of the machine this morning. Representatives from Peak, along with their beloved mascot, Dollar Dog, helped reveal the new vending machine and congratulate Harper on her hard work.
As the contest winner, Harper was awarded the very first token to use in the vending machine. With her classmates, Peak reps, school administrators, two of our school board members, Superintendent Padgett, and her proud parents cheering her on, Harper used her token to select the very first book from the machine!
Peak also took time to interview Superintendent Padgett and hosted a fun photo shoot with Mrs. Padgett, Harper, and our board members to capture the excitement of the moment. In addition to her special token, Harper received a prize from the school for her dedication and efforts during summer learning.
We are so proud of Harper and grateful to Peak for their continued support of our students and literacy programs. What an amazing way to kick off a year full of reading and learning! 📚✨
🎉 Huge Congratulations to Our Award Recipient! 🎉
We are incredibly proud to share that David Stingley has been selected as the Northwestern Division recipient of the prestigious 2025–2026 Dr. William P. Foster Project Community Development Award!
This highly competitive national honor recognizes music educators who go above and beyond—using their band programs to uplift, inspire, and strengthen their communities. The award committee shared that:
“This selection is a powerful testament to the inspirational leadership Mr. Stingley provides every day at Onalaska Middle/High School. Please accept our deepest congratulations on the quality of music education being accomplished in your district.”
They went on to highlight that:
“Mr. Stingley serves as a model for other teachers in underserved communities. He will be interviewed about his story and the story of your school district, which will be shared with band directors across the United States.”
Because of Dave’s remarkable achievement, Onalaska School District will receive instruments, accessories, clinicians, and subscriptions, generously provided by Conn-Selmer Instruments and Yamaha Music Corporation. This is an exciting opportunity that will directly benefit our students and strengthen our music program for years to come.
Mr. Stingley will travel to Chicago in mid-December to be formally recognized for this outstanding accomplishment.
Please join us in congratulating Mr. Stingley on this well-deserved honor! 🎶👏
His dedication, passion, and leadership continue to make a powerful difference for our students and our entire community.
🎉 Onalaska’s Annual Food Drive Results Are In! 🎉
Last week we wrapped up our annual districtwide food drive, and we’re thrilled to share the results! Together, our Ony students and staff collected an incredible 2,225 food items to support our community! 🥫💜💛
🏆 Elementary took the win with a whopping 1,649 items collected — amazing job! Their reward? A well-deserved pizza party, served by our Middle School friends, who brought in the fewest items this year (better luck next time, MS! 😉🍕).
All donated food went to the Onalaska Backpack Program and the Salkum Food Bank, both of which directly support Onalaska families in need. 💕
👏 A huge shoutout to Mrs. Stingley’s Leadership class for organizing, collecting, counting, and delivering all the donations. You truly embodied the Ony spirit of giving back!
We’re excited to share that families can now easily access the Onalaska Sports Foundation website to find information and forms for athletic fee scholarships for students in grades 7–12.
Visit the link below to learn more and apply today!
https://www.onysd.wednet.edu/o/osd/page/onalaska-sports-foundation-scholarship-application-page
Let’s make sure every student who wants to play, can play! 💜💛
We had a special guest visit our second grade class today! A big thank you to Trooper Miloff for taking the time to read a story to our second graders!
Submitted by Mrs. Smith
We wish everyone a safe and fun evening! 👻
Don’t forget — we hope to see you at the PTO’s Trunk or Treat tonight at 4:00 PM! 🚗🍬🕷️
Submitted by Dr. Melissa Dunworth, our talented textiles teacher, the middle school quilting students have been busy creating some truly beautiful pieces! Each project shows just how much time, care, and creativity our students have poured into their work.
To make Halloween even more exciting, the class celebrated by getting their in-class longarm machine up and running for the first time this year! Dr. Dunworth shared that she’s thrilled with the progress her quilting students have made — and we can see why. Their hard work and growing skills are shining through in every stitch! 💜💛
