Willow River Playground Gets a Makeover

Volunteers from Faith Community Church's Faithworks gather for a group photo on the Willow River Elementary School playground.

The playground at Willow River Elementary school got a makeover this week. Volunteers from Faithworks at Faith Community Church repainted the Unites States map, trimmed shrubs, pulled weeds and added some new shrubs and flowers.

Pictured above: Front row, left to right, Tim Sackett, Caleb Prince (a Willow River Elementary student), Nancy Youngman, and Leslie Redner. Back row, left to right, Phil Mach, John Brink, Tim Prince (Willow River parent and Pastor for Missional Community at FCC), Darcy Prince (Willow River parent) and Daniel Redner.

A group of children and adults painting the United States map on the playground pavement.

Grandmother and granddaughter work together trimming shrubs.

Pictured above: Volunteer Nancy Youngman and her granddaughter, Brianna Youngman, trim shrubs near the school building.

Two volunteers are planting shrubs near the Willow River Elementary School sign.

Pictured above – Volunteers plant new shrubs and perennials in front of the Willow River Elementary School sign at the corners of Fourth and Oak Streets.

Faithworks contributes a week of service to support short-term projects across the St. Croix valley. It is a cross-generational experience that brings together more than a 100 volunteers daily to assist with painting, yard work, and more.

Future Problem Solving International Conference

Hudson students taking a rest on a bench in the Hudson t-shirts.

Throughout the school year, over thirty (30) Hudson students in grades 5-10 competed in the Scenario Writing Competition for Future Problem Solving. Of those students, twelve (12) qualified to attend the state Future Problem Solving competition this past April. The Wisconsin State winners were invited to advance to the international conference. Hudson’s four state winners included, Ben Weaver – 1st place WI Scenario Writer, Junior Division; George Cook – 2nd place WI Scenario Writer, Junior Division; Ainsley Kennedy – 1st place WI Scenario Writer, Senior Division; and Julia Ginsbach – 2nd place WI Scenario Writer, Senior Division.

Hudson students taking a rest on a bench in the Hudson t-shirts.

Pictured above: Benjamin Weaver (Hudson Middle School); George Cook (Hudson Prairie Elementary School); Ainsley Kennedy (Hudson High School); Julia Ginsbach (Hudson High School)

At the Future Problem Solving International Conference, the students were matched up with writers from around the United States and the world for the team scenario writing competition. During the competition, teams wrote a new, collaborative story in two hours based on a future scene and topic. This year’s topic was “De-Extinction.” There were 85 competitors who qualified for the International Scenario Writing competition. Hudson came home with two awards. Benjamin Weaver’s team scenario earned 2nd place in the Junior Division and Julia Ginsbach’s team scenario earned 1st place in the Senior Division.

A group of four students stand with their trophies

Picture above: Benjamin Weaver with his teammates from Kentucky, Michigan and France.

A group of four students stand with their trophies

Pictured above: Julia Ginsbach with her teammates from California, Washington and Kentucky.

The Future Problem Solving International Conference provides participants with the opportunity to experience a high-level of competition and gain valuable feedback from a wider audience on their writing. Additionally, participants learn about and interact with students from diverse cultures, gaining a global perspective on topics and issues that affect our whole world and collective future. It is a motivating and enriching experience for all who attend!

Celebration of flags on the stage.

Flags and flag bearers at the Opening Ceremony of at the Future Problem Solvers International Conference at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Willow River Elementary Receives Title One Recognition Award

Willow River Elementary School Principal Kimberly Osterhues (left) and Willow River Elementary Reading Specialist Laurel Anfinson stand in front of the Wisconsin state capitol building with the school's Title One Recognition Award.

A statewide congratulations was issued on Tuesday, April 16, to Willow River Elementary. Willow River Elementary was awarded a Wisconsin Title I School of Recognition Award for demonstrating high-progress. 

The Wisconsin DPI website offers the following overview for the Title I School of Recognition Award:

Since 2003, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has recognized Title I schools that have demonstrated success in educating students. To be eligible, schools must receive federal Title I funding to provide services to large numbers or high percentages of economically disadvantaged children and meet other achievement criteria (see criteria below).
These awards recognize the work of students and their parents along with teachers, school administrators, and school staff members to break the link between poverty and low academic achievement. Their efforts help us ensure that every student graduates college and career ready.

More specifically, Willow River Elementary was recognized as a High-Progress School. This means Willow River Elementary:

  • falls within the top 10 percent of schools experiencing student growth in reading and mathematics for elementary and middle school students or the top 10 percent of schools with the greatest improvement in high school graduation rates
  • has achievement gaps that are less than three (3) percentage points between student groups or show evidence of reducing gaps greater than three (3) percentage points
Willow River Elementary School Principal Kimberly Osterhues (left) and Willow River Elementary Reading Specialist Laurel Anfinson stand in front of the Wisconsin state capitol building with the school's Title One Recognition Award.

Willow River Elementary Principal Kimberly Osterhues and Reading Specialist Laurel Anfinson display the Title One Recognition Award in front of the Wisconsin state capitol building.

“Awesome Award” presented at Willow River Elementary

Luke Lauters receives the Awesome Award. Standing, from left to right, Mike Lauters (Luke's dad), Luke Lauters, Iris Fuglie, and Leah Lauters (Luke's mom).
At the June 7th All-School meeting, Iris Fuglie, an 8th grade student from the Hudson Middle School, presented the “Awesome Award” in memory of her sister, Lillian Fuglie. In August 2017, Lillian passed away with her father; she would have been a fifth-grade Willow River student that year. An endowment fund was created through Camp St. Croix  to support a fourth-grade Willow River student attending a camp of their choice during the summer between their fourth- and fifth-grade year. The Awesome Award is presented to a Willow River Elementary fourth-grade student who exhibits the characteristics of someone who is all around AWESOME. The first recipient of this award is Luke Lauters. Luke’s parents, Mike and Leah, were also on hand for the award ceremony.
Luke Lauters receives the Awesome Award. Standing, from left to right, Mike Lauters (Luke's dad), Luke Lauters, Iris Fuglie, and Leah Lauters (Luke's mom).

Awesome Award presentation on June 7, 2019. Standing, from left to right, Mike Lauters (Luke’s dad), Luke Lauters, Iris Fuglie, and Leah Lauters (Luke’s mom).

Hudson Prairie 3rd Grade Create Book Floats

Students in Ms. Dierks’ 3rd grade class at Hudson Prairie Elementary School celebrated the great books they read during the year by creating a Book Float.  The students decorated the floats and created a scene to display one event from the book.  In addition, they wrote an opinion paragraph on why it was a good book and a commentary to read during the Book Float parade.
Pictured are:
Back:  Dylan Olk, Will Cook, Tyler Axel, Jacey Renstrom, Greta Gies, Ava Swavely, Kylee Jaynes, Kat Schultz, Leah Coleman, Noah Signalness, Felicity Reidenbach
Front:  Gabe Larson, Casey Beatty, Beckett Ertel, Victoria Tank, Maddox Geurkink, Kelsey Roder, Reese Schmidt, Kaidyn Willits, Ella Steuernagel, Brenna Oberle

Hudson Takes 4 Teams to DI Global Finals

DI students carrying their Wisconsin flag and DI poster.

Congratulations to the Hudson Middle School 8th grade DI team who recently competed at the Global Finals Kansas City. The team was one of four teams from Hudson, the other teams were from the High School teams. The Middle School team was chosen to walk in the international parade of affiliates representing Wisconsin. The team worked very hard all year and in the end they placed 12th out of 81 teams and 5th in their Instant Challenge. Team manager Katie Thoreson stated, “I’ve been their team manager all through Middle School and I couldn’t be prouder.”

The Team –  Paint, It’s Not a Phase, included: Owen Olson, Jackson O’Brien, Meghan Hillman, Beni Kemp, and Evey Thoreson.

A group of Destination Imagination students stand in their costumes.

Hudson Tennis Sends Four Players to WIAA State Tournament

Boys high school tennis players shaking hands after a match at the State Tournament.

 

Four members of the Hudson Raiders Boys Tennis team went to the WIAA State Tournament in Madison this past weekend. Congratulations on an outstanding season!

Photo: Tyler Grosz, on the right, congratulating Mason Sniatynski of Badger after his match win in the third round of 16 players.

 

Four boy's high school tennis players at Nielsen Tennis Arena.

Photo from left to right: Singles player Jacob Grosz, the Doubles team of Jack Geurkink & Luke Johnson, and Hudson’s #1 Singles player Tyler Grosz.