The kindergarten classes enjoyed a special outing on February 2 as they attended the annual Ony Groundhog Ceremony. With excitement in the air, students gathered to see Ony make his big Groundhog Day prediction.
This year, Ony Groundhog predicted an early spring—even though another very famous groundhog elsewhere claimed winter would stick around a bit longer! Ony confidently stood by his forecast, much to the delight of the cheering students.
The event was a fun way for students to learn about traditions, seasons, and how even groundhogs can have different opinions. It was a memorable day full of smiles, laughter, and hopeful thoughts of warmer weather ahead. 🌷☀️
📸 Elementary & Middle School photos by Mrs. Card and Mrs. Richardson
More Teamwork Tuesday fun from Wellness Week! Students and staff across our schools showed school spirit by wearing matching outfits with friends. 👯♂️✨
📸 Elementary & Middle School photos by Mrs. Card and Mrs. Richardson
Mrs Rushton’s first grade class just wrapped up an awesome History of the Earth unit. Students dove into hands-on science learning all about Earth’s layers, bubbling volcanoes and geysers 🌋💦 They took a rock walk to see Earth’s treasures up close and even made their own fossils 🪨🦴
Throughout the unit students learned how Earth was shaped over billions of years and had a blast discovering geology through fun activities and experiments 🧠✨
Great job first graders for exploring our planet’s incredible story! 👏🌍🎉
https://youtube.com/shorts/RrKn-RNXIqY?feature=share
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. 💙
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
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! 🎄✨
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.
