The 5th graders at Pelican Elementary School recently made a positive impact on the community. Prior to Thanksgiving, teacher Jenna Toms applied for an Action Team project through Thrivent Financial and they jump started it by giving a $250 gift card to be used towards the project. Through other donations from 5th graders and their families, they were able to collect 5 large boxes of personal care items, games, activities, and books for those families needing to stay at the Marshfield Ronald McDonald House. They did this as a way to bring joy, love, and encouragement through their difficult times.

During recess, several students chose to stay in and help organize and decorate the boxes that will be delivered this weekend. The 5th graders had a blast getting everything put together. Mrs. Toms said it was really heart-warming to watch them get the boxes ready and be so excited about helping others!

The Hodag Dome recently put all 128,000+ square feet to good use! After school, the RHS Nordic team, the JWMS Nordic team, the RHS dance team, RHS tennis players, and the RHS gymnastics team all were able to work on their skills at the same time and still be home in time for dinner and homework. Additionally, RHS soccer had some ‘open gym’ time and the Shodags show choir sang in the dome as well. Every participant was masked and able to maintain social distancing because of all the space available.

From December 16th thru January 5th, RHS FBLA/DECA will be sponsoring the annual Jeans for Teens drive. One in every eight people in Wisconsin struggle with poverty. To help people in our county, students host this event during the holiday season to make sure citizens stay warm during the cold winter months. The jeans collected are distributed to the Rhinelander Frederick Place.

Throughout the course of this project there are donation locations in the schools and at local businesses. Each year the awareness grows. This year the club has seen multiple pairs of jeans donated before the start date! They accept jeans of all different sizes and conditions. If the jeans are too ripped to wear they will turn them into rags and be used as cleaning supplies/other uses. Jeans are a great item to donate because they can be worn multiple times between washes, can be dressed up or dressed down, and provide a sense of normality to the person wearing them.

Donation locations for this year include: Bath and Body Creations, A’ la mode, Maurices, YMCA, Pelican Elementary, Central Elementary, Crescent Elementary, and the Rhinelander Middle and High School offices.

Third graders at Crescent Elementary School recently celebrated their learning with a Friday Frog Festival. They ate bakery-made frog cookies, read Frog Pourquois, watched some educational frog videos, and had some frogger hopper fun!

Students at RHS recently made Christmas cards for the residents of Grace Lodge. The residents found the cards to be especially uplifting during the time of the pandemic. Thank you to these wonderful students for their kindness.

Every week, in room 103 of James Williams Middle School, someone is cooking! Most of the time it's sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. John Santy teaches Family and Consumer Science at the middle school, and he knows how important it is that Rhinelander students know how to cook meals for themselves. The best way to learn how to cook is to cook often and that is what students are doing. Bon appetit!

The Northwoods United Way recently accepted a $1,838 contribution from the School District of Rhinelander employees. Pictured (L to R) are Nancy Sattler (Executive Director Northwoods United Way) and Mike Cheslock (Community Education Coordinator-SDR).

“The SDR employees have a history of supporting the Northwoods United Way and the agencies we partner with,” stated Sattler. “This check will help us achieve our 2020 Fundraising Goal. It is great to see that the employees have continued to give, especially during this pandemic.”

The School District of Rhinelander staff held their annual campaign for the Northwoods United Way from October 5th - November 13th. “The pandemic did not get in the way of our fundraising campaign this year,” says Cheslock. “A special thank you goes out to all staff who contributed to this year’s campaign. The District is proud to support United Way’s efforts to offer programming that helps families and children in the Northwoods.”

The Northwoods United Way works to advance the common good by focusing on the building blocks for a quality life: health, income, and education. It serves community members in Vilas, Oneida, and Forest Counties. Currently, the Northwoods United Way provides funding to 26 agencies throughout the three counties.

The Northwoods United Way is in the middle of their 2020 pledge campaign and they are asking all businesses and private donors to help them achieve their goal. The money raised by the Northwoods United Way will be used to fund agencies in 2021 within the counties they serve.

If you would like more information about the Northwoods United Way, or the agencies they support, please contact Nancy Sattler at [email protected]. Donations can also be sent to PO Box 177, Rhinelander, WI 54501.

Every year starting in November and running until Christmas, the School District of Rhinelander hosts a staff competition between schools to see who can ring the bell the most for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign. 

The winner of this friendly competition gets presented with a Golden Kettle that they will be displayed at their school throughout the year. To date, the Pelican and Central team has recorded the most ringing, and is in the lead for the contest. The winner of the contest will be announced after the holiday break, and the Golden Kettle will be presented to the winning team. 

Thank you to all staff who donated their time and energy to this fundraising challenge! 

The Association of Wisconsin School Administrators has named Kari Strebig as its 2021 Wisconsin Associate Principal of the Year. She was presented with the award during a surprise ceremony at her school on December 2.

Strebig, who has served as assistant principal of Rhinelander High School for the past two years, has a leadership style based on the values of belonging, courage and making a difference. She focuses on equity, leading systemic change and ensuring all learners—especially those who have been historically marginalized—feel connected with their peers, teachers and school.

Strebig believes that equity applies to both adolescent and adult learners. At Rhinelander High School, she started a Link Crew program to empower junior and senior student leaders to help see and hear their peers by modeling what equity looks like. This includes an initial training that starts with a conversation around intersectional identity and belonging in communities.

“We are thrilled to recognize Kari Strebig, an assistant principal who has had a tremendous impact on her school community through her equity-focused leadership,” said Jim Lynch, executive director of AWSA. “During her time in Rhinelander, she has worked to build a caring and compassionate culture, with students reporting that they feel safe and welcome in the school. This award is certainly well-deserved for this outstanding administrative leader.”

RHS Principal Shane Dornfeld added, "Kari is a champion for providing equitable educational experiences for all students at RHS. She cares deeply about both student and staff needs. Kari understands and realizes that we can always improve on the quality of education, and to address student access and barrier issues when needed. Kari is extremely passionate about her work and her family. I am honored to work alongside her here at RHS and I sincerely congratulate her on this well deserving award and personal honor!"

The Wisconsin Associate Principal of the Year program recognizes an assistant principal whose leadership has resulted in improved student learning, instructional collaboration and a safe and positive school environment. Nominations come from fellow administrators, school board members, teachers, students or parents. The selection criteria include a commitment to personal excellence, collaborative leadership, personalization, curriculum, instruction and assessment and serving as an established and respected member of the community.

The Associate Principal of the Year Selection Committee includes representatives from the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, the Department of Public Instruction, the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators and the Wisconsin Association of School Boards. Considerable support comes from the Meemic Insurance Company.

Strebig will be formally recognized at the Associate Principals Conference in January 2021. She will also receive $1,000 for use on a project of her choice at her high school. Additionally, Strebig will represent the state of Wisconsin at the National Principals Conference, where the 50 Associate Principals of the Year from across the country will be honored.

The holidays are a wonderful time of year! To create a festive environment at school, starting in early December, students and staff at Central Elementary School were encouraged to wear Christmas attire on Fridays throughout the month until Winter Break. 

Deputy Sheriff and School Liaison Officer Michael Baran recently stopped for a morning visit at the 4K Stevens Street Site. He sang a few Christmas songs that the students were practicing and then read a funny book, Officer Buckle and Gloria, by Peggy Rathmann. The 4Kers are currently learning about the Rhinelander Community and the special helpers that do so much for all of us. Students and staff can't wait for his next visit!

The Rhinelander High School Student Services e-news can be found online.

The Cedric A. Vig Outdoor Classroom (CAVOC) is not only the School District's outdoor learning center for its teachers and students, but it is also available to the community for various activities!

Stop by CAVOC and enjoy hiking, jogging, and skiing on the recently updated trail system. Or, reserve the facility for an outdoor or indoor wedding, baby-shower, birthday, or other activity! Help your group build trust and confidence by taking part in the Challenge by Choice Ropes Course!

CAVOC reservations can be made by calling 715-365-9714 (we are not currently taking public reservations due to Covid).

Visit CAVOC's website or view the CAVOC brochure for more information! School Forest Education Liaison Mike Cheslock can be reached at 715-365-9745.

CAVOC's Mission: At CAVOC, we will provide hands-on, outdoor learning experiences that help students acquire the awareness, knowledge, skills and commitment to become responsible stewards of their natural environment.

The School District of Rhinelander offers classes and programs for the community! Topics include Arts & Crafts, Fitness, Food & Cooking, Home & Hobbies, Outdoor Recreation and Safety, and MUCH MORE!

The community is our classroom!

Discover something new with lifelong learning by visiting the Community Education webpage.

Forms and flyers from community organizations are posted on the School District of Rhinelander website.

In an effort to support families experiencing transitions and/or difficulties, the School District of Rhinelander has put together a list of area resources, including a link to our Free/Reduced Lunch application. If a family experiences a change in their financial situation, the application can be completed at any time during the year. The list of resources can be found on the District's website.

Typically, the Hodag Fab Lab, located in Rhinelander High School, is open to the community on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5:00 - 7:00 pm.

Come check out the Fab Lab for FREE! If you like it and want to continue, memberships are for one year. The fee is only $75/family, $50/single, and free for SDR students.

Learn more by visiting the Hodag Fab Lab Facebook Page or by calling Mike Wojtusik at Rhinelander High School at 715-365-9500.

Dream it, design it, and build it at the Hodag Fab Lab!

Get involved! Help link our schools to the business community. Learn more about

We are truly part of a community that takes care of their own.

This resource is available for use by all members of our school community. The School District of Rhinelander is committed to all of our students, families, and community members and this resource can help reduce an item of worry for families and will allow for time to focus on other things. Hodags helping Hodags! That is what we do and who we are!

Tracy Hoffhein can be reached at 715-365-9737.

Mary Rudis can be reached at 715-365-9771.

For more information about SDR's Community Closet, visit the School Distrct's website.

Child Find Screenings in the School District of Rhinelander are for children ages 3 years, 0 months to 5 years, 11 months.

We conduct screenings for children ages 3-5 who are not enrolled in a District elementary school, and also for 4K and kindergarten students who are enrolled in a District elementary school.

To schedule a screening, parents should contact:

Michaela Johnson, School Psychologist, at 715-365-9120 ext. 3212 or [email protected] if the child is not currently attending an SDR elementary school or if the child attends Crescent Elementary School or Northwoods Community Elementary School (NCES).

Kari Volk, School Psychologist, at 715-365-9160 ext. 4150 or [email protected] if the child attends Central Elementary School or Pelican Elementary School.

For more information, view this letter from the School Psychologists.

Information about RHS and JWMS athletics and activities, including schedules, calendars, and forms, can be found on the School District's website.

Attend an event and cheer on your Hodags!

Hodag Connections offers individual learning opportunities within the School District of Rhinelander. It gives students in 4K through grade 12 the opportunity for flexible schedules along with curriculum choices.

* Hodag Tracks

* Learning Lab

* GEDO#2

* Adult Learners

For more information contact:

Tracy Hoffhein

Hodag Connections Coordinator

715-365-9500 ext. 8008

This freshly designed fitness center, located in Rhinelander High School, is offered FREE to the community. Paperwork and sign-in is required. ACFC houses free weights, weight machines, treadmills, bikes, and other equipment.

For more information about the Aspirus Community Fitness Center, including hours of operation, please visit the School District of Rhinelander website.

Or, call Rhinelander High School at 715-365-9745.

The Heck Family Community Pool, located in Rhinelander High School, is generally open free to community members on Sundays during the school-year from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.

Open swim consists of lap swim, water basketball, family time, and more. A certified lifeguard is on duty during this time. The locker rooms are open for use. Swimming is free. Sign-in is required when you arrive.

For more information, please visit the School District of Rhinelander website, or call 715-365-9745.

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