Onalaska Middle School

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.

The Great Crazy Socks, Hair, & Sweater Day Scandal of 2025: EMS Strikes Again Under the Fearless Leadership of Ms. Ranger and Mr. Markuson

Wednesday, December 17th, will forever be remembered as the day the Onalaska School District woke up, chose chaos, and then doubled down.

The day began with a 2-hour late start thanks to a windstorm the night before. Power was out in many parts of the county. Roads were covered in debris. The entire district was operating at about half speed, fueled by caffeine and determination.

But did that stop the Elementary and Middle School office staff?
It did not.

While most of us were still finding our keys, the EMS office, led by their fearless leaders Ms. Ranger and Mr. Markuson, was already hard at work preparing for the next chapter in their legacy of questionable victories.

The Scandal Unfolds

Despite the chaos of the morning, the EMS crew managed to dominate, or possibly rig, the completely nonexistent competition for Crazy Socks, Hair, & Sweater Day.

Not only did they win a contest no one entered, for a contest no one judged, in a competition no one knew existed, they also brought home the trophy. The trophy they made. Again.

This marks the 3rd homemade trophy awarded to the EMS office for a contest that does not exist. At this point, their trophy shelf is beginning to tell its own outrageous story.

A Suspicious Phone Call

The situation became even more questionable after an anonymous tip was phoned in yesterday afternoon. The caller claimed that the EMS office was actively recruiting students for their team. Not subtle recruiting. Not casual recruiting. Real recruitment efforts, possibly involving charm, bribery, or the silent intimidation abilities that only office staff possess.

Coincidentally, or not, no student photos were submitted for official comparison. Not one. The timing of the tip is interesting. The lack of student submissions is even more interesting. The EMS victory is the most interesting of all.

We are not officially accusing anyone, but the anonymous caller seemed quite convinced that something unusual was happening behind the scenes.

Meanwhile, the Students Showed Up in Full Force

Even without entering this alleged competition, students embraced the spirit of Crazy Socks, Hair, & Sweater Day with enthusiasm and creativity. Highlights included:

• Hair styled to hold a full plate of hot chocolate and a donut

• Cupcake hair complete with sprinkles

• Hair so tall it might qualify as a minor engineering project

• Socks bold enough to be museum-worthy

• Sweaters that made an unforgettable impression

Had the contest been real, these students would have been unbeatable.

And the Staff?

Some of the staff showed up looking like the week had personally challenged them to a duel. But after everything that happened since Monday, who wouldn’t look a little crazy?

The Results (As Declared by EMS)

In a stunning turn of events that shocked absolutely no one, the EMS crew proudly declared themselves the winners once again. Under the leadership of Ms. Ranger and Mr. Markuson, they accepted their handcrafted trophy with confidence and zero hesitation.

This brings their total to three trophies for contests that remain entirely imaginary. Impressive, in its own way.

The Legacy Continues… For Now

There are still two more spirit days left, and at this point absolutely anything is possible. This staff has already proven that they cannot be trusted around crafts, competitions, or glitter without creating another scandal. And speaking of scandal, eyewitness reports have already confirmed that Mr. Markuson has been spotted preparing his Olaf costume for Christmas Character Day on Thursday, December 18th. If that is the starting point, what on earth will the ending look like?

Will there be more trophies mysteriously appearing on the EMS shelf?
Will the EMS office continue their undefeated streak in contests that do not exist?
Will the students finally revolt and demand oversight, accountability, or at least a real judging panel?

Only time will tell, and with this crew, the story is far from over.

🎉 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!