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.
Pajama Day Showdown: Part 1
The Calm Before the Chaos
Friday, December 19th.
Day 5.
Pajama Day.
I arrived bright and early this Friday morning for an early meeting, fully convinced I would be the first one through the doors besides the maintenance crew. I had that quiet, peaceful, end-of-the-week confidence.
But nope.
Mrs. Leavitt was already here.
Rachel, do you ever go home?
And then there was Mr. Blue. Our Technology Director. I truly thought for sure I would beat him in this morning, but once again, he had already been here long before the rooster even considered crowing. Honestly, what would we do without Mr. Blue keeping our internet alive?
I fired up my laptop, started my coffee, and began my day. And that is when it happened.
Email after email after email.
All about the final Spirit Day of the week. Pajama Day.
Now, Pajama Day is usually the most relaxed and cozy day of Spirit Week. Soft clothes. Slippers. Calm vibes. An easy win for everyone.
Except this was not that kind of Pajama Day.
No sir.
This day was about redemption.
This day was about pride.
This day was about winning.
At exactly 9:00 a.m., an email came in from Mrs. Richardson. Yes, that Mrs. Richardson. The one who had been mysteriously MIA for at least two days of these very real, yet completely nonexistent, competitions.
She was back.
And she was not alone.
The 6th graders, who had been quietly showing Logger Pride all week, boldly declared themselves the winners of today’s competition. At 9 a.m. no less. Early bird catches the worm, right?
The confidence was impressive.
Then came the twist.
In a move no one saw coming, the 8th grade entered the picture. Photos started rolling in. Pajamas. Props. Commitment. Pajama Day had officially escalated.
Word on the street is that the EMS Office Staff received an anonymous phone call of their own, tipping them off to what was happening on the middle school side of things. And just like that, the dynamic shifted.
Elementary Principal Mr. Markuson and Middle School Principal Ms. Ranger had been working together all week as a united front. But whispers began.
Had Ms. Ranger been quietly working toward her own unofficial championship?
Was a trophy being made behind the scenes for a competition that does not exist and never has?
Meanwhile, the EMS Office Staff reacted swiftly. In a dramatic and highly questionable move, the EMS Office was declared CLOSED to certain teachers. Gasp.
I personally told Mr. Markuson that if they wanted a clean sweep, they were going to have to step up their game.
Later that morning, I saw it happen.
Maximum dad-style pajamas. Confidence unlocked.
And with that, the stage was set.
What would happen next?
Who would declare victory?
Would there be peace, or one final scandal?
To be continued…
Christmas Character Day Catastrophe: EMS Office Declares Victory Again, Produces Yet Another Trophy, and the Madness Continues
Day 4 of Christmas Spirit Week, Thursday, December 18th, and just when the community thought things might calm down after the Crazy Sock, Hair, & Sweater Day Scandal of 2025… the Elementary and Middle School office staff said, “Absolutely not.”
Welcome to Christmas Character Day, where holiday magic meets questionable decision-making and where the EMS office, led once again by the unstoppable duo Ms. Ranger and Mr. Markuson, has outdone themselves… again.
The Costumes: Terrific? Wellllll… Yeah.
Before we dive into the scandal, it must be acknowledged that the costumes were, in fact, fantastic. Truly. Impressively coordinated, thoughtfully crafted, and bursting with enthusiasm.
And yes, eyewitness accounts confirm that Mr. Markuson showed up as Olaf, snowman optimism and all, which means he is now officially a walking spoiler alert for the inevitable chaos that follows him everywhere he goes. Ms. Ranger and the EMS crew were right beside him, fully committed to the Christmas Character theme with enough energy and sparkle to power the district’s Christmas lights.
Did they put effort into every day of Spirit Week?
Sure.
Did they bring enthusiasm?
Absolutely.
Did they embody school pride, cheer, and THE LOGGER WAY?
…OK, fine. You have a point.
But Here’s the Problem…
Once again, the EMS office has declared themselves the winners of a competition that:
Did not exist
Was not announced
Had no rules
Had no judging panel
Had no participating opponents
Had no reason to exist in the first place
And somehow they managed to produce ANOTHER homemade trophy. This is becoming a pattern. A concerning one. A glitter-filled, glue-gun-fueled pattern of self-celebration that no one can seem to stop.
At this point, even the district laminator might file a complaint from overuse.
The Community Reaction
All I can do is shake my head.
When will this madness end?
And yet…
And yet…
As the story continues unfolding, something unexpected is happening. A shift. A ripple in the holiday-tinsel-covered universe.
Readers across the community are starting to whisper:
“Well… good for them, honestly.”
“I mean, those costumes were adorable.”
“Maybe they should win.”
“They made the trophy with love!”
“That Olaf suit must’ve been hot. Give the man an award.”
Is this… support?
Are the principals and the EMS office crew becoming the underdog heroes of Spirit Week?
The same group who rigged every competition that didn’t exist?
The same group who out-crafted, out-planned, and out-trophied everyone?
Somehow, incredibly, unbelievably… people are starting to cheer for them.
But Make No Mistake
At their core, these stories remain what they were always meant to be:
Competitions that never existed
Judging that never happened
Champions who crowned themselves
And trophies created in-house with gusto
The EMS Office:
Self-Proclaimed, Back-to-Back, Multi-Day, Multi-Event, Totally Imaginary CHAMPIONS.
And Now… The Cliffhanger
There is one day left in Spirit Week.
Day 5: Pajama Day.
A simple day. A cozy day.
A day that should be calm, quiet, and drama-free.
But we said that about Day 1.
And Day 2.
And Day 3.
And now Day 4.
So the real question becomes:
Will Pajama Day finally bring peace?
Or will Ms. Ranger, Mr. Markuson, and their unstoppable EMS office crew unleash one final trophy-fueled finale to end all finales?
Stay tuned.
The pajamas may be soft…
But the competition is about to get fierce.
Even if it isn’t real.
