Education - Pierce County Journal

Meyer Middle School Principal Mark Chapin

MMS Principal Mark Chapin named 2027 WSCA Administrator of the Year

MADISON — Mark Chapin, principal of Meyer Middle School in the River Falls School District, has been selected to receive the 2027 Wisconsin School Counselor Association (WSCA) Administrator Award. … more

10/21/26

The Spring Valley student section was loud and proud during the Homecoming “Battle Cry: cheer.

GALLERY: Spring Valley Homecoming 2026: From Coast to Coast

Spring Valley High School held its Homecoming Pep Fest and Parade on Friday, Oct. 9. The pep fest featured fall sports team introductions, class skits, a rousing band performance, and more. more

10/15/26

The Prescott High School student section definitely had its Cardinal pride on display for the Oct. 2 Homecoming football game.

GALLERY: Prescott Cardinals 2026 Homecoming!

Prescott High School celebrated its 2026 Homecoming on Oct. 2. The coronation took place at the football game halftime. more

10/14/26

Karly Anderson, a scientist and trainer with the UW-River Falls Humane Handling Institute (HHI), activates a captive bolt device used to stun cattle while an ultra high-speed camera captures its movement. Anderson’s research, funded in part by a $300,000 grant from the USDA, will help inform humane stunning practices at meat processing operations.

UWRF scientist researches humane cattle stunning with grants from USDA, Dairy Innovation Hub

RIVER FALLS – Karly Anderson, a scientist and trainer with the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Humane Handling Institute (HHI), is leading a new $300,000 research project funded by the U.S. … more

10/14/26

Gov. Tony Evers announced the appointment of Delani Dow to the University of Wisconsin (UW) Board of Regents to fill the nontraditional student regent position.

Gov. Evers appoints Delani Dow to UW Board of Regents

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers announced the appointment of Delani Dow to the University of Wisconsin (UW) Board of Regents to fill the nontraditional student regent position and the vacancy created by … more

10/14/26

Sandra Bowen (second from right) and Rick Bowen (second from left) stand in front of the newly dedicated Sandra Bowen Biology Greenhouse Oct. 2. The new facility, connected to the UW-River Falls Science and Technology Innovation Center (SciTech), will allow students to conduct research and learn about plants from around the world. Also pictured, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Karl Peterson (left) and Interim Chancellor John Chenoweth (right).

UW-River Falls dedicates new biology greenhouse

RIVER FALLS – The new biology greenhouse connected to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Science and Technology Innovation Center (SciTech) has a new name. UWRF held a dedication ceremony Oct. … more

10/14/26

SDRF proposes increase to tax levy, decrease to mill rate

The River Falls School District unveiled a 5.44% increase to total tax levy at the Sept. 28 annual board budget hearing. The mill rate would decrease, keeping the district below the state average. … more

By Andrew Harrington | 10/7/26

UW-River Falls Assistant Professor of Biology Benjamin Crain holds a sample of a new species of orchid he helped discover on a Pacific island in Palau. Crain's research, conducted for the Smithsonian Institution, was recently published in the journal, Harvard Papers in Botany.

UW-River Falls professor discovers new orchid species in Palau

RIVER FALLS – A University of Wisconsin-River Falls faculty member has discovered a previously unknown species of orchid found only on an island in the western Pacific. Assistant Professor of … more

10/7/26

USDA food safety leader Mindy Brashears to speak at UW-River Falls

RIVER FALLS – U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Food Safety Mindy Brashears will discuss food safety issues during a public presentation at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls … more

10/7/26

UW-River Falls students walk newly-arrived assistance dogs in training into Stratton Hall Monday. Ten dogs will spend the semester on campus living and learning with 22 students as part of the Falcon FETCH program, a collaboration with Can Do Canines.

Assistance dogs arrive at UWRF for semester of student training, campus life

RIVER FALLS – Ten assistance dogs in training arrived at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Monday, beginning a semester where they will live in residence halls, attend classes and experience … more

10/7/26

Ethan Baker is this week's Prescott Community Club Student of the Week.

Prescott Community Club Student of the Week: Ethan Baker

The Prescott Community Club Student of the Week for Oct. 7 is Prescott High School junior Ethan Baker, who was nominated by teacher Shana Clauson. “I am proud to nominate Ethan for Student of … more

10/7/26

EHS junior Homecoming Court prince and princess Carter Lampman and Lily Hanson threw candy from the back of a truck during Fridays Spirit Parade.

Panther Pride displayed in Spirit Parade

Ellsworth Community School District rescheduled the Homecoming Parade to Oct. 2 dubbing it a "Spirit Parade" prior to the Panthers taking on the Baldwin-Woodville Blackhawks. The halftime … more

10/7/26

The 2026 Plum City Homecoming Court after the coronation. (Front, from left): Mikala Breunig, Chloie Coleman, Queen Ariana Sanchez-Vazquez, Kirsten Hassing; (back, from left): Tim Peterson, Kaden McMurray, King Kramer Anderson, Joey Gonzalez.

GALLERY: Hoco traditions in Plum City

Plum City's annual Homecoming bonfire and coronation took place on Wednesday, Sept. 23 at Legion Park. This year's Homecoming Court included Mikala Breunig, Chloie Coleman, Queen Ariana … more

10/7/26

Pierce County District Attorney Halle Hatch visited eighth-grade social studies students in Spring Valley.

Pierce Co. DA visits Spring Valley eighth graders

SPRING VALLEY – Pierce County District Attorney Hallie Hatch visited Mrs. Jessica Shafer’s eighth grade social studies classes on Thursday, Sept.24, to speak with students about the Constitution, … more

10/7/26

The 2026 Elmwood Homecoming Court on Friday, Sept. 25 (front, from left): King Oliver Mendlik and Queen Brittany Bechel; (back, from left): freshmen Kennedy Gibson and Briar Marson, sophomores Hannah Bleskacek and Aries Creech and juniors William Webb and Marlee Hotchkiss.

GALLERY: Elmwood Homecoming 2026!

Elmwood students took to the streets (with some howling involved) to rally the community for Homecoming 2026 festivities on Friday, Sept. 25. more

10/1/26

Neil May is the Prescott Community Club Student of the Week for Sept. 30, 2026.

Prescott Community Club Student of the Week: Neil May

The Student of the Week for Sept. 30 is PHS junior Neil May, nominated by English teacher Tania Novak. “Neil has started the school year off strong in English and has demonstrated a positive … more

10/1/26

Students walk on the UW-River Falls campus on the first day of classes, Sept. 2. UWRF has again been named to lists of best colleges by U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review.

UW-River Falls honored by U.S. News and World Report, Princeton Review

RIVER FALLS – The University of Wisconsin-River Falls has once again been recognized by multiple publications as one of the top public regional universities in the Midwest, a sign of the … more

10/1/26

Community invited to Coffee with Supt. Bell

RIVER FALLS – Supt. David Bell is inviting community members to join him for a free cup of coffee and conversation this fall. Coffee with the Superintendent will include a brief update from … more

10/1/26

UW-River Falls stage and screen arts major Ryan Bartley poses for a photo in UWRF’s Blanche Davis Theatre. Bartley spent part of his summer working as a full-time apprentice at Vassar College’s Powerhouse Theater in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Falcon Futures: UW-River Falls stage and screen arts major gains professional experience through prestigious summer theater apprenticeship

RIVER FALLS – Ryan Bartley of New Berlin, a University of Wisconsin-River Falls stage and screen arts major, needed to find an internship experience for the summer before his senior year. The … more

10/1/26

UW-River Falls students and faculty enjoy their creations after taking a cooking class in Rome in January. The group spent their winter break touring Italy as part of UWRF’s Agriculture and Food Experience. The program will take students to Greece this winter.

UW-River Falls students get a taste of Italy during study abroad opportunity

RIVER FALLS – Over winter break in January, 19 students joined the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Agriculture and Food Experience on a tasting tour of Italy, visiting Milan, Reggio Emilia, … more

10/1/26