The 31st Great 8 Winter Games kicked off Saturday, February 14th at the Kingsford Middle School gym at 8:30. The Masters of Ceremonies were the Kingsford Middle School principal, Jessica Garvaglia and KMS teacher, Caitlyn Dallapiazza. Area students sang the National Anthem including Florence County School students Jessica Rudnick and Jordyn Valencic. The Florence County School District’s flag bearers were Louise Millan and Elianna Hensley. Lighting of the Winter Games torch was done by West Iron student Isabelle Benson . Music selections were done by the KHS drumline. Entertainment was provided by Nu-Salt Laser Light Shows International. The following students from the Florence County School District participated in the Great 8 Games:
5th Grade Girls Basketball:
Paisley McCarthy, Gianna Schmoll, Kayla Penegor, Saylor Tuchalski, Lainey Wolf, Ernestina Solgado, Jenna Rudnick, Scarlett Schomer, Sophia Schomer, Lilly Collins, Makenley Hubbard
Coach: Becky Kelley
5th Grade Boys Basketball:
Carson Gaston, Brody Perry, Kade Neuens, Levi Schmoll, Andrew Gaines, Karson Schomer, Reid McLain, Will Vassar
Coach: Nick Schmoll
6th Grade Boys Dodgeball: 3rd place
Aiden Bonetti, Bryson Hiaring, Rutledge Johnson, Gabriel Williams, Jaxson Lindeman
Coaches: Melissa Faccio and Dustin Williams
7th Grade Boys Dodgeball: 3rd place
Griffin Matzke, Blake Drewa, Jonas Eloranta, Jack Reed, Stephen Mason Jr., Cody Williams, Mason Martin
Coaches: Melissa Faccio and Dustin Williams
6th Grade Girls Volleyball:
Peyton Pragacz, Lila Pragacz, Daisy Schuirmann, Jordyn Valencic, Cabella Brackett, Jasmine Smith, Myla Hubbard, Fiona White, Jessica Rudnick
Coaches: Emily Wolske, Taylor Pauley
7th Grade Girls Volleyball: 4th place
Peyton Smith, Serenity Ligue, Aubrey Pataconi, Josie Neuens, MaciMae Brooks, Clara Murrow, Kailyn Baker, Addison Hodgson, Maizie Wulf
Coach: David Murrow
8th Grade Girls Volleyball: 4th place
Louise Millan, Emma VanDenHeuvel, Elianna Hensley, Chloe Diahoua, Natalie Smith, Lilliann Wright, Olivia Triphan, Ariel Collins
Coaches: Ashlyn VanDenHeuvel, Naomi Millan
Bowling:
Girl-4th grade: Gwen Rocco 3rd place
Boy-4th grade: Weston Lindeman 3rd place
Boy-5th grade: Lewis Wulf 2nd place
Archery:
Girl- 5th grade: Autumn Vincent 3rd place
Girl-6th grade: Gloria Aten 1st place
Girl-6th grade: Isabella Zychowski 2nd place
Cross Country Skiing:
Boy- 5th grade: Finley Austin 1st place
Snowshoeing:
Boy-4th grade: Carver Prudhomme 2nd place
Boy-5th grade: Riley Chiamulera 1st place
Boy-7th grade: Sean Gaston 1st place
Chess:
Boy-4th grade: Romeo Robledo 1st place



We’re proud to celebrate Ashley Peterson (#24, Senior) for earning Northern Lakes Conference 2nd Team All-Conference honors this season!
Ashley’s hard work, determination, and leadership have made a strong impact on the court for the Florence LadyCats. Your Bobcat family is proud of you and all you’ve accomplished! 🐾💚💛
#GoFloCats

The School District of Florence County will be closed Monday, March 16th, 2026. Stay Safe

Join us for a night celebrating student creativity!
📅 April 20
📍 KHS
🖼 4:00–6:00 PM – Art Show Viewing
🍪 5:30–6:00 PM – Light Refreshments & Art Activity
🏆 6:00 PM – Awards Presentation
Come support our talented artists and enjoy an evening of incredible artwork! ⭐🎨

We are proud to recognize Kelsi Chrisman (#14, Sophomore) for an outstanding season with the Florence LadyCats!
Kelsi has been named the Northern Lakes Conference Defensive Player of the Year and earned 1st Team All-Conference honors. Her relentless defense, determination, and leadership on the court played a huge role in the LadyCats’ success this season.
Your Bobcat family is proud of you, Kelsi! Keep up the great work! 🐾💚💛
#GoFloCats

With significant weather being forecasted for our area, the School District of Florence County would like to remind families that we will do our best to communicate any school cancellations or schedule changes as quickly as possible.
However, with storms of the magnitude currently being forecasted, there may be circumstances that create communication challenges such as power outages, internet disruptions, or other service interruptions. While we do not anticipate these issues, they can sometimes occur during severe weather events.
Please know that we will make every effort to communicate through multiple channels, including our district messaging systems, social media, and local media outlets whenever possible.
Most importantly, we encourage families to do what you feel is necessary to keep your family safe. Your safety and well-being are always the priority.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to keep everyone informed.
Thank you,
School District of Florence County

Champions are made in the Summer.
🏐💚 Champions Are Made in the Summer! 💛🏐
Young athletes are invited to build their skills at the Annual Florence Youth Junior Volleyball Camp!
Camp is open to Girls entering 4th-8th Grades next school year
📅 June 8–10
⏰ 8:00–11:00 AM
📍 Florence High School
This fun and exciting camp is a great opportunity for students to learn volleyball fundamentals, improve their skills, and build confidence while working alongside some of our Florence LadyCats state finalist volleyball players.
Whether you're just getting started or looking to take your game to the next level, this camp is a great way to stay active and grow as a player this summer.
🐾💚💛 Go LadyCats! #GoFloCats

Families are invited for a fun and meaningful evening focused on navigating screens and building healthy family habits.
March 25th
5:00–7:00 PM
Elementary School Cafeteria
💡 Special Bonus: If you’ve attended a Family Check Up event before and bring a new family with you, you’ll receive a $50 Amazon gift card!
👉 RSVP by calling Ms. Holly at (715) 528‑3262 or at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12asa8c4y2K5IIZVv37MnTu_yDtaE3BiRA-J_81wVG0o/edit?pli=1#responses
We hope to see you there!

Naomi (#3, Jr.) earned Northern Lakes Conference 2nd Team All-Conference honors this season!
Great work and dedication for the LadyCats. We’re proud of you! 🐾
💚💛 #GoFloCats

Sean demonstrated outstanding leadership and teamwork while helping assemble our new 3D printer. He took initiative in leading the setup, making sure every part was installed correctly and the project stayed on track.
Sean also went above and beyond to support his teammates, showing patience, kindness, and clear communication throughout the process. His positive, can-do attitude made the work smoother for everyone and encouraged others to jump in and help.
👏 Great work, Sean! Your leadership, teamwork, and dedication truly stand out. We are proud to recognize you as our Student of the Week!

The School District of Florence County is closed today, Friday, March 13th, 2026. Stay Safe!

We are proud to recognize Miley VanderHeuvel (#12, Sophomore) for being named Northern Lakes Conference 1st Team All-Conference!
Miley’s hard work, dedication, and competitive spirit have made a tremendous impact for the LadyCats this season. We’re excited to see what the future holds!
Great job, Miley! Your Bobcat family is proud of you.
🐾💚💛 #GoFloCats

The School District of Florence County has been selected as one of only seven rural districts in Wisconsin to participate in this year’s Wisconsin Rural Scholars (WiRS) Summer Program!
Through this opportunity, five Florence students will be nominated to attend this FREE 5-day residential pre-college program designed specifically for rural Wisconsin high school students.
📍 Location: UW–Madison Campus
📅 Dates: June 14–18, 2026
During the program, students will experience college life, explore academic interests, and connect with other rural students from across the state.
Families interested in learning more can visit:
🔗 https://ruralpartners.wisc.edu/wisconsin-rural-scholars-program/
If your student may be interested or you have questions, please contact:
Rebecca Kelley
K-12 School Counselor
School District of Florence County
📞 715-528-3215
MS/HS (#1307) | Elementary (#1605)
This is a fantastic opportunity for our students — Go FloCats! 💚💛

We are proud to celebrate Cece Mills (#4, Junior) for an incredible season!
Cece has been named the Northern Lakes Conference Offensive Player of the Year and earned 1st Team All-Conference honors. Her hard work, determination, and leadership on the court have made a huge impact for the LadyCats this season.
Your Bobcat family is proud of you, Cece! Keep up the great work!
🐾💚💛 #GoFloCats



Three Florence High School students are currently being featured in a special art exhibit at the Wild Rivers Interpretive Center! Congratulations to Naomi Millan, Jaylinn Kappes, and Chloe Zegar, whose artwork is on display as part of the center’s rotating Featured Artist exhibit through April 9.
Featured Artists from HS 030326
Florence is fortunate to have a strong art program led by Mrs. Kelli Ellis, where students from elementary through high school develop their creativity and artistic skills. These talented students each bring their own unique style and perspective to the exhibit, and we are proud to see their work showcased in our community.
Featured Artists from HS 030326
📍 Wild Rivers Interpretive Center
5628 Forestry Drive, Florence
🕘 Winter Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Stop in to view their artwork displayed in front of the beautiful waterfall mural and help celebrate the creativity of our Florence students! 🖌️✨
#GoFloCats #FlorenceWI #StudentArtists #CommunityPride

Are you looking to raise confident, healthy teens? Do you want to build strong relationships with your teens? This virtual class is for you! Come fill your toolbox with strategies to make parenting easier and more joyful!
Begins March 24 • 9 AM or 6 PM
Register here: https://go.wisc.edu/0odi83
Contact Tierany Rugg at UW Extension with any questions
tierany.rugg@wisc.edu

Our 7th Grade Class will be heading to Trees for Tomorrow for their annual environmental education field trip!
📅 May 3–5
📍 Trees for Tomorrow
🚌 7th Grade Outdoor Learning Experience
This hands-on trip gives students the opportunity to explore Wisconsin’s natural resources, participate in outdoor science activities, and build teamwork skills in a unique learning environment.
More details will be shared soon — but for now, mark your calendars!
#BobcatPride #OutdoorLearning #SaveTheDate

