Education - Pierce County Journal

8-player football may be on horizon for EPC

The Plum City School Board spent much of its Monday night meeting looking ahead — at the future of its football program, rising health insurance costs and long-term fiscal planning — while also … more

By John McLoone | 2/18/26

Professor Harold Hill (played by Kadyn Helgeson) convinced the people of River City to start a boys band in Ellsworth Middle School’s musical, “The Music Man Jr.” The show ran Feb. 5-8.

River City comes alive in EMS musical ‘The Music Man Jr.’

1912 River City, Iowa came to life last weekend as Ellsworth Middle School drama students put on "The Music Man Jr." Cast and crew (separate box) Harold Hill – Kadyn Helgeson Harold … more

2/11/26

EHS celebrates Q2 Honor Roll recipients

Ellsworth High School congratulates the following students named to the 2025-26 Quarter 2 Honor Roll. Well done! Seniors: Jay Ainsworth, Gabriel Albarado, Madison Allie, Hayden Almsted, Landon … more

2/11/26

Campus news: Celebrating Pierce County college students Feb. 11

UW-Oshkosh OSHKOSH – MacKenna Anderson, River Falls, has been named to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Dean's List for the fall 2025. The term GPA requirement for Dean's List is … more

2/11/26

Freshman Avayah Patnode is the Prescott Community Club Student of the Week for Feb. 11.

Prescott Community Club Student of the Week: Avayah Patnode

The Prescott Community Club Student of the Week for Feb. 11 is Prescott High School freshman Avayah Patnode, nominated by social studies teacher Jeff Ryan. “Avayah has done tremendous work … more

2/11/26

St. Joseph Parish School January "Students of the Month" for F-O-R-T-I-T-U-D-E: Micah Schmitz (first grade), Jacqueline Gergen (third grade), and Bryanna Wilson (sixth grade).

GALLERY: St. Joseph School had a jumpin’ January

St. Joseph Parish School in Prescott had a busy January, complete with Catholic Schools Week, The Totally 90's Knight Gala, Glow Party Family Fun Night and fun classroom activities in preparation for … more

2/11/26

A student inspects artwork at a previous juried student art exhibition at UW-River Falls. The 2026 exhibition runs Feb. 23-March 27 in Kleinpell Fine Arts Gallery 101, 420 E. Cascade Ave. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

UWRF hosts annual Juried Student Art Exhibition

RIVER FALLS – The University of Wisconsin-River Falls will host a free art exhibition, featuring juror Mackenzie Serwa, an experienced artist in glass, clay and other tactile expressive art forms, … more

2/11/26

Lee Boles, a research manager at WinField United, uses a drone to spray a field of sunflowers which will later be assessed by students for plant health, both in person and through drone imagery. Boles is one of many UWRF alumni who help introduce current students and faculty to emerging technologies in the field.

AI in agriculture: UWRF partners with industry, alumni to train students in emerging technologies

RIVER FALLS – If you picture working with artificial intelligence involving sitting in front of a computer at a desk in an office, Brandt Berghuis, … more

2/4/26

Members of UW-River Falls Dance Theatre perform in 2025. The company will present their annual spring concert at 7 p.m. Feb. 12-14 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 15 in the Blanche Davis Theatre in the Kleinpell Fine Arts building, 420 E. Cascade Ave., River Falls.

UWRF Dance Theatre to present annual spring concert Feb. 12-15

RIVER FALLS – The University of Wisconsin-River Falls Dance Theatre will present their annual spring concert at 7 p.m. Feb. 12-14 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 15 in … more

2/4/26

UW-River Falls to present guest speaker for Black History Month

RIVER FALLS – In observance of Black History Month, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Student Inclusion and Belonging Center will present guest speaker Larry Mboga … more

2/4/26

Jenna Lawrence attended the high school academy welding program at Chippewa Valley Technical College in River Falls when she was a senior. Today, she is attending Odessa College in Texas, where she plans to graduate from the welding and business programs.

Welding sparks lasting education

By the time Jenna Lawrence first struck an arc in the Welding Academy at Chippewa Valley Technical College, she already knew two things about herself: she loved working with her hands, and she … more

By Alyssa Van Duyse Chippewa Valley Technical College | 2/4/26

Tech entrepreneur Jeff Cernohous to speak at UW-River Falls Feb. 18

RIVER FALLS – The University Business Collaboration Center (UBCC) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls is introducing a new monthly panel, the Innovators Speaker Series. The first guest … more

2/4/26

Prescott Community Club Student of the Week for Feb. 4 is Dylan Oie.

Prescott Community Club Student of the Week: Dylan Oie

The Prescott Community Club Student of the Week for Feb. 4 is Prescott High School freshman Dylan Oie, nominated by science teacher Cameron Meyers. “Dylan is a phenomenal student in class. He … more

2/4/26

At the Jan. 28 Prescott School Board meeting, Sarah Parkos and Cindy Femling from Afton Apple presented a check for $15,000 to Prescott School District to help fund numerous initiatives including Building Thinking Classrooms, technology, One School, One Book program, a speaker for the elementary school to talk to children about being brave and a contribution to the Angel Fund that helps students in need. Pictured are (from left) Malone Elementary Principal Sara Dusek, MacKenzie Parkos, Cindy Femling and Sarah Parkos.

Afton Apple donates $15K to PSD

PRESCOTT – The Jan. 28 Prescott School Board meeting began with some good news when Sarah Parkos and Cindy Femling of Afton Apple presented the district with a $15,000 donation. Parkos, whose … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 2/4/26

Congrats to the PHS Trimester 1 Honor Roll students

Prescott High School is pleased to announce the Prescott High School Trimester 1 Honor Roll for the 2025-26 school year. A Honor Roll Seniors: Isaac Akey, Addyson Allsop, Zoe Anthony, … more

2/4/26

Sun Country airline pilot Tim Schmit taught students about his career path and the education needed to become a pilot.

Career Day at EES gives kids ideas for their future

Ellsworth Elementary fourth and fifth graders participated in the third annual Career Day Jan. 15 with 12 amazing speakers throughout the day. “Our fourth graders had seven speakers which they … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 2/4/26

Plum City HS presents Quarter 2 honor roll

Plum City High School is pleased to recognize the students named to the Quarter 2 Honor Roll for the 2025-26 school year. Congratulations! A Honor Roll Seniors: Katie Bauer, Nick DeLong, … more

2/4/26

Elmwood MS/HS released Quarter 2 Honor Roll

Elmwood Middle/High School is pleased to announce the Quarter 2 Honor Roll recipients for the 2025-26 school year. Congratulations! Principal’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA) Seniors: Taylor Asher, … more

2/4/26

Ellsworth Elementary School is located at 445 S. Piety St., Ellsworth

UPDATE: Ellsworth police chief details 911 calls received resulting in school lockdowns

Ellsworth schools were placed on lockdown Friday morning following numerous 911 calls to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office indicating a potential school shooter at Ellsworth Elementary School. … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 1/30/26

Students listen as UW-River Falls Physics Professor Lowell McCann teaches one of the first classes held in UWRF’s new Science and Technology Innovation Center (SciTech) on Monday, Jan. 26. The community will be invited to tour the facility during a grand opening celebration March 31 from 4-6 p.m.

Science and Technology Innovation Center opens, ushering in a new era of STEM education at UW-River Falls

RIVER FALLS – Monday, Jan. 26 marked a day years in the making when the University of Wisconsin-River Falls new Science and Technology Innovation Center (SciTech) opened for its first day of … more

1/28/26