Quarterly District Newsletter

By Nels Onstad, Superintendent

Welcome Back, Wabasha-Kellogg Families!

There is always something special about the start of a new school year when we welcome our students back into the place where so much learning, growth, and connection take place. This year, we are especially excited to come back to our renovated facility.

Building Renovations:

We have experienced much change in our building due to last year’s unexpected mold remediation and two years of construction work. We will be glad to have our spaces back, our classrooms ready, and to see those last construction trucks pull away! The building improvements created updated, functional spaces designed to support learning for W-K students for years to come. While these improvements are exciting, the most important part of the building will always be the people inside it. I would especially like to acknowledge our custodial and maintenance staff, office staff, technology team, and everyone who spent countless hours involved in the work of this process. Through the last couple years, our students, staff, and families have demonstrated tremendous patience, flexibility, and resilience. I recognize and appreciate that. We also continue to appreciate the community support that made this project possible.

You are invited to visit our newly renovated spaces on two occasions:

September 1 - 5:30-7:00 p.m. - K-12 Open House

September 9 - 6:00 p.m. - Public Tours

New Staff:

We are excited to welcome several new members to the Wabasha-Kellogg staff this fall:

• Dan Lettner joins our elementary team as a Special Education teacher.

• Monica Evers joins our secondary team as a Math teacher.

• Jessica Schmidt returns as our Food Service Director, a position she held in recent years.

A Great Year Ahead:

I look forward to the start of the 2026-2027 school year: the continued partnership with families, the continued support of the community, and the continued learning, connections, and experiences for our students. Welcome back, Falcons! Let's make it a great year.

By Chad Pederson, Secondary Principal

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! I hope everyone had an enjoyable summer filled with time spent with family and friends and plenty of memorable experiences. The beginning of a new school year is always an exciting time, and we are looking forward to welcoming our students back and getting the year off to a great start.

This year brings several exciting opportunities and changes to our school. One of the highlights is the remodeling in our Career and Technical Education classrooms. These updates will provide students with enhanced learning opportunities developing hands-on, real-world skills. The updated spaces will also support the start of our Student-Based Enterprise (SBE) courses, giving students opportunities to apply their learning in authentic settings while developing valuable career and workplace skills.

Important Dates

7th Grade New Student Orientation will be held on Tuesday, September 1, at 6:30 p.m. We look forward to welcoming our new students and families and helping everyone feel comfortable and prepared for the start of the year. The first day of school is Thursday, September 3. Students should report directly to their first-hour classes when the bell rings.

Updated Cell Phone Expectations

Beginning this school year, we are also implementing an updated cell phone policy for students in grades K–8. Students in these grades are not permitted to use or have cell phones in their immediate possession during the school day. This expectation applies during class time, passing times, Power Hour, and during lunch.

We recognize that cell phones are an important part of our students' lives and that technology provides many benefits. At the same time, we want our school to be a place where students can focus on learning, interact with their peers and teachers, build relationships, and be fully present without the constant distraction of personal devices.

We appreciate the support of our families as we work together to create a focused and positive learning environment for all students.

Welcoming New Staff

We are also excited to welcome new staff and new roles within our school community. Leanne Kruger will be serving as our Secondary Counselor, and we are pleased to welcome Monica Evers to our teaching staff as our new Geometry and Personal Finance instructor. We are excited about the experience, energy, and expertise they bring to our students and school community.

School Website

Our school website has been updated for the 2026–2027 school year. We encourage students, parents, and community members to visit the website regularly for the latest news, announcements, calendars, and other important school information.

We have also added an updated Student Safety and Concerns reporting feature under the Families and Students dropdown menu. This resource provides students, families, and community members with an additional way to report safety concerns or other issues that may require the school’s attention. We encourage everyone to explore the updated website and use it as a valuable resource throughout the school year.

As we begin the new school year, our goal remains simple: to provide every student with a safe, supportive, engaging, and challenging learning environment where they can grow and prepare for their future. Thank you to our students, families, and staff for your continued support and partnership. I am excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to a successful 2026–2027 school year!

By Dan Murtha, Elementary Principal

I hope your family had a wonderful summer and found plenty of opportunities to relax, spend time together, and enjoy the season. As we begin a new school year, there is a great deal of excitement around Wabasha-Kellogg Elementary. After a busy summer of construction, we are especially excited to welcome students back into our renovated spaces and see our classrooms and hallways filled with students once again.

A new school year is a fresh start. It is an opportunity to set goals, build new routines, reconnect with friends, and continue the momentum students developed last year. We will continue to encourage our students to approach each day with a positive attitude, work hard, support one another, and live the Falcon Way by being safe, respectful, and responsible.

There will certainly be some adjustments as we become familiar with our updated spaces, but we are excited about what this next chapter brings. We look forward to a great year and to seeing our students back in the building!

If you haven't completed your student's registration yet, now is a great time to log in to the JMC Family Portal and finish the process before the school year begins.

We ask families to complete registration each year so we can make sure we have the most current and accurate information for your student. While you're there, you can also pay for items such as padlocks, Chromebook rentals, yearbooks, and fall activities. Thank you for helping us start the school year with updated information!

By Leanne Kruger, Secondary Counselor

I am excited to begin this year in my new role as the School Counselor for grades 8-12. Many of you know me from my previous role as the School Social Worker, and I look forward to continuing to support our students and families in this new capacity.

My role includes:

• Academic planning and graduation requirements

• Schedule changes

• College and career planning

• PSEO, AP, CIS, and OCHS programs

• Scholarships and FAFSA support

• Social-emotional support

• 504 coordination

I look forward to working with students and families throughout the school year.

Student Schedules

Student schedules will be available through the JMC Parent and Student Portal before school begins. Students should review their schedules carefully and contact the counseling office if a correction is needed.

Schedule changes will only be considered for:

• Missing required classes

• Incorrect placement

• Graduation concerns

• Program conflicts

FAFSA & Scholarships

Financial Aid Night at W-K is scheduled for September 23 at 6:30 p.m. Minnesota State College Southeast will present information for students and parents/guardians about the financial aid process. Scholarship opportunities will be shared throughout the year through student email, Schoology, school announcements, and counseling webpage. Families are encouraged to watch for updates and deadlines.

Stay Connected

Please watch your email, school announcements, and the counseling webpage for important updates throughout the year. If you have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. I look forward to a great school year & seeing you all soon!

Leanne Kruger, School Counselor

lkruger@wkfalcons.org

(651) 565-3559 Ext. 6222

We're excited to partner with Cahill Studios for school pictures this year! Picture Day will be held on Wednesday, September 9 and Retake Day is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21.

Student galleries will be available to view and order 2–5 business days after Picture Day. Families will receive an email from no-reply@imagequix.com with a link to their student's online gallery.

Families who order a Picture Package or Build Your Own Package (BYOP) within 7 days of the galleries going live will receive a FREE low-resolution digital download.

Visit the Cahill Studios Picture Day website to explore more than 100 background options, view package information, and find tips to help your student prepare for Picture Day:

https://cahillphotostudio.com/picture-day

We look forward to seeing everyone's smiles on Picture Day!

By Kat Freihammer

Hello!
I am excited to reintroduce myself as the new School Social Worker, where my primary focus will be working with our elementary students. I am especially excited about the opportunity to get to know the elementary students, build relationships, and work alongside their teachers in the classroom. I look forward to being a familiar, supportive presence for students as they learn, grow, and navigate all the adventures that come with the school year.

I am also looking forward to meeting the parents and families of our elementary students. Please stop by during Open House on September 1, 2026, so I can introduce myself to you and your child and begin getting to know our wonderful elementary W-K families. I wish each of you a wonderful school year and I can’t wait to see you around school.

By Anne Wasmund, Falcon View Online Principal

We are delighted to begin another school year at Falcon View Online! Our staff are looking forward to joining our onsite school colleagues for a Back-to-School Kick-Off on August 31 as we prepare for a great year of learning and collaboration.

We also hope you’ll join us for our Meet & Greet on September 1 from 2:00–4:00 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott in Woodbury, MN. Our Falcon View Online staff will be there to welcome families, answer questions, and help everyone get connected. It will also be a wonderful opportunity to meet other Falcon View families while enjoying light snacks and fun art activities.

We are proud to offer several new elective courses for our high school students this year. One particularly exciting addition is our new AI Literacy course. As artificial intelligence continues to shape the workplace, higher education, and everyday life, it is increasingly important for students to understand how AI works, how to use it responsibly and effectively, and how to think critically about the information it produces. These skills will help prepare our students not only for success in high school, but also for the college, career, and workforce opportunities that await them after graduation.

We look forward to greeting our students and families soon and beginning another successful year together!

By Donny Killeen

We are excited to kick off a new year of activities at Wabasha-Kellogg! Fall sports begin August 17 with the first practices of the season.

Wabasha-Kellogg offers several opportunities for students to get involved this fall, including cross country, football, and volleyball. Our drama department will also present its annual fall play later this season, and students can participate in our trap team. If you haven't signed up yet, there's still time! Stop by the Secondary Office and talk with Mr. Killeen or Mrs. Wodele to learn more.

New Scheduling Platform: Bound

This year, we are excited to introduce Bound as our new scheduling platform. Bound will be the place to find schedules for all Wabasha-Kellogg sports and activities, including practices, games, and events. Bound is also the scheduling platform used by the Three Rivers Conference.

Visit the Wabasha-Kellogg Bound site.

Cashless Ticketing

We will also begin transitioning to cashless ticketing this fall. Most of the Three Rivers Conference and the entire Hiawatha Valley Conference are moving toward cashless ticketing. Wabasha-Kellogg will gradually roll out cashless ticketing throughout the fall season, with the goal of moving to fully cashless ticketing for all activities by the winter season.

We look forward to seeing everyone at our activities this fall!

We’re excited to share the new Wabasha-Kellogg Public Schools website with our families and community! The updated site features a fresh look, easier navigation, and improved access to the information you need most.

Explore the website to find important resources, school information, calendars and events, and more. We’ll continue adding and updating content throughout the school year.

Visit www.wabasha-kellogg.k12.mn.us to take a look!

By Sarah Niemeyer, Secondary Science Teacher & Trip Chaperone

From July 20 to 28, a group of Wabasha-Kellogg students and chaperones packed their bags for a nine-day trek across Costa Rica. From rainforest zip-lines and whitewater rapids to active volcanoes and Pacific coral reefs, the trip was equal parts outdoor endurance and cultural crash course. The trip was organized and led by Secondary Science Teacher, Bri Schumacher. Other chaperones included: Bridget Hoffman, Johna Nelson, John Thyren, Chris Keller

Coffee, Chocolate, and Rapids in Sarapiquí

The journey kicked off with a hands-on look at two of Costa Rica's biggest exports: coffee and chocolate. At Hacienda Doka Coffee Plantation, the group tracked the production process from raw crop to roasted bean. Shortly after, at Tirimbina Biological Reserve, students helped crush cacao beans to sample fresh chocolate at every stage of production.

From there, the pace picked up fast in the Sarapiquí region:

• In the Canopy: At Hacienda Pozo Azul, the group clipped into nine zip lines through the rainforest canopy, finishing with a high-speed line stretching directly over the Río Sarapiquí.

• On the Water: The group immediately traded their harnesses for life vests, joining Desafío Adventure Company for a whitewater rafting run. Nine rafts took on the river, making it an instant highlight of the trip.

Dodging Rain and Pivoting Plans

Costa Rica’s tropical climate showed off its unpredictable side mid-week. Heavy overnight rains caused sudden flooding in Sarapiquí—so much so that the hotel pool turned from crystal clear at breakfast to a thick, muddy brown by noon.

The group packed up early and pivoted to La Fortuna. Heavy cloud cover blocked a planned hike around Arenal Volcano, so the team swapped itineraries and headed to Baldi Hot Springs instead. The resort's series of naturally warm thermal pools was the perfect fix for tired muscles after squeezing both zip-lining and whitewater rafting into a single action-packed day before.

Once the weather cleared, the group pushed forward with a packed Arenal agenda:

• Arenal Volcano National Park: A fog-filled morning hike through the volcanic rainforest.

• La Fortuna Waterfall: A steep descent down more than 500 stairs to the pool below—followed by the grueling 500-step climb back up.

• Lake Arenal: An afternoon kayaking session that offered clear, unobstructed views of the volcano from the water.

Volcanic Mud Pits and Pacific Coral Reefs

Heading west toward Guanacaste Province, the team stopped in Nuevo Arenal for a quick German bakery run before trekking through Rincón de la Vieja National Park. The two-mile hike crossed through active volcanic terrain featuring steaming fumaroles, bubbling mud pits, and jungle waterfalls—along with a rare sighting of a troop of spider monkeys overhead.

The final leg of the trip took the group to the Pacific Coast:

• Snorkeling with BA Divers: An early morning excursion gave students an hour underwater alongside sea turtles, pufferfish, stingrays, sea stars, and needlefish.

• River Boat Tour: Later that afternoon, the group boarded a boat with Jacamar Tours in Palo Verde National Park, spotting crocodiles, iguanas, and howler monkeys along the banks of the Tempisque River.

Homeward Bound

After nine days of dodging flash floods, tackling rapid-fire adventure sports, and exploring ecosystems from the rainforest to the ocean floor, the group made the journey back to Minnesota on July 28. They returned home with full camera rolls, sore legs, and a real taste of Pura Vida.

A new school year is a great time to get involved! Joining the W-K Parent Teacher Organization is a meaningful way to show your child that you value their education and the community they're part of. Whether you volunteer at one event, attend a meeting, or simply share ideas, every contribution makes a difference. We have many volunteers who contribute in different ways, and each role matters.

The PTO sponsors a variety of events throughout the school year that bring our school together while raising funds to support meaningful projects for our students. This year's Fore the Falcons Golf Tournament was our most successful yet, raising more than $17,800 toward new playground equipment for our older elementary students. Thanks to the generosity of our families, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners, the PTO has now raised more than $90,000 for this exciting playground project, with installation expected later this year. This incredible achievement is a testament to what our PTO can accomplish when we work together.

PTO meetings scheduled for this year are typically held at 6:00 p.m. in the Elementary IMC:

• Monday, August 17, 2026 (Location TBD)

• Monday, September 14, 2026

• Monday, November 9, 2026

• Monday, January 25, 2027

• Monday, April 12, 2027

We'd love to have you join us! If you're interested in getting involved or learning more, please email pto@wkfalcons.org.

Falcon Nest is now enrolling for school year care for preschool through 5th grade. Before and after school care is available to help support families throughout the school year.

Visit the Falcon Nest webpage for program information, schedules, fees, policies, and registration details.

We invite parents and families of American Indian students to consider joining our American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC)! AIPAC is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other families, share ideas, and help strengthen the educational experience for our American Indian students. American Indian secondary students, teachers, and district employees are also welcome to join. The time commitment is small, but the impact can be significant. Your voice matters, and your involvement helps ensure that our students feel supported, connected, and proud of their heritage and community. Plus, it is a great way to meet and have fun with other families!

We are also excited to welcome our new American Indian Education Coordinator, Johna Nelson. Johna is available to answer questions, share more information about the AIPAC, and help families get connected. If you are interested in joining our district AIPAC or simply want to learn more, please reach out to Johna at jnelson@wkfalcons.org. We would love to have you be part of this important community!

Wabasha-Kellogg Public Schools partners with Lunchtime Solutions to provide nutritious, high-quality meals for students each day. All meals include an entrée choice, hot vegetable, an unlimited fruit & veggie bar, and a milk choice.

Visit the Food Services page on the district website for more information and to view menus. Check out the Healthy Bites Newsletter below.

Welcome to an exciting new school year! My name is Daria Dalager, and I am thrilled to be your child’s STEM teacher again this year. From Kindergarten through 6th grade, our STEM lab is a hands-on space where students learn to think like scientists, engineers, and programmers.

Our motto this year is: "We try, we fail, we learn, we improve!"

What Your Child Will Discover This Year

We have designed specific, high-tech challenges tailored to each grade level to build problem-solving skills:

• Kindergarten & 1st Grade: Students will explore screen-free coding using Ozobots, learning how color sequences change robot behaviors.

• 2nd Grade: Young engineers will investigate physics by testing the limits of buoyancy and gravity through water-based design challenges.

• 3rd Grade: Students will dive into history and communication by building their own working Morse code boards.

• 4th, 5th, & 6th Grade: Upper elementary students will master physical computing using Makey Makey circuit boards to turn everyday objects into computer keys using simple programming.

The STEM Mindset

In our lab, making mistakes is just part of the blueprint. We will focus heavily on teamwork, creative thinking, and perseverance. Every student will get to build, test, and redesign their own creations.

Lab Wishlist (Optional Donations)

We use many everyday materials for our engineering builds. If you can donate any of the following items, please send them to the STEM lab:

• Clean cardboard tubes

• Aluminum foil

• Baggies (sandwich, quart, gallon)

• AA or AAA batteries

Let's Stay Connected!

Open communication makes for a great school year. Feel free to reach out to me anytime with questions or ideas.

• Email: DDalager@wkfalcons.org

• Phone: 651-565-3559 ext. 6314

Thank you for partnership. Let's make it a year of wonderful discoveries!