Ellsworth Community School District

We're gearing up for our 8th Annual Back-to-School Supply Drive!

Each year, thanks to the generosity of our community, parents, and local businesses, we’re able to provide school supplies to students who need a little extra support. 💜

If your student could benefit from this program for the 2025-2026 school year, please fill out the request form below. Supplies are available for students with a demonstrated financial need.

📝 Request form: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSdoj6tSz24YqJ.../viewform
Deadline to sign up so we can get everything prepared is August 1st.

Thank you to everyone who helps make this possible! 💛

Infinite Campus will be unavailable starting Wednesday, July 30th- Friday, August 1st, 2025. It will also not be available during the weekend - August 2nd and 3rd.

This is a statewide migration, so not all districts across Wisconsin will have Infinite Campus available. The plan is to have everything migrated over and the new links updated so that on Monday, August 4th, late morning/early afternoon, the site will be accessible again.

This will affect all aspects of Infinite Campus- parent sites, fee payments, etc.

🇺🇸✈️ Earlier this month, a group of our middle school students traveled to Washington, D.C. for the annual 8th grade trip and what a fun and memorable adventure it was! From standing on the steps of the Capitol to exploring the Smithsonian museums and memorials, our students experienced history and government up close.

Not only was it a great learning opportunity, but it was also the perfect way to celebrate the end of middle school with classmates before heading into high school this fall. 💜

Here are just a few of the places they visited:
🗽 U.S. Capitol
📚 Library of Congress
🌸 Tidal Basin Walk
🏛️ White House & Lafayette Square
🎖️ Arlington National Cemetery
🪖 Gettysburg National Military Park
🏛️ Smithsonian Museums
… and many more!

So many memories made, and so much Panther Pride! 🐾💜

#PantherPride

We know summer school wrapped up almost a month ago, but we’re still thinking about those fun days with bubbles and popsicles! 🫧🍦

Ms. Ainsworth’s 5K Readiness kiddos had a blast soaking up the sunshine and making sweet memories. We loved seeing their smiles and we’re counting down the days until we get to welcome them (and all our students!) back into the building! 💜 #PantherPride

Throwback Thursday to Summer School!

We’re hooked on these amazing creations from our talented summer school students! Under the guidance of Ms. Coulson, these young knitters stitched up some seriously impressive work.

It’s knot every day you see skills like this summer school was full of fun, creativity, and some very cool yarn art. These kids truly blew us away! 💜

#TBT #PantherPride

☕ Big things are brewing in the FACS room!

FACS teachers Sarah Johnson and Alyssa Matzek, along with retired (and still incredibly helpful!) middle school principal Tim Conway, spent three days at Mill City Roasters learning the ins and outs of coffee bean roasting. They’re gearing up for the arrival of a brand-new bean roaster that will be installed right in the FACS room at EHS!

This hands-on experience even included a tour of Café Imports, where green coffee beans arrive in Minneapolis for distribution to roasters across the region.

The best part? Roasting and selling coffee beans will soon become a student-run enterprise as part of the FACS curriculum. All three are excited to start roasting this fall. Stay tuned for a brand new EHS coffee bean coming your way! ☕💜 #PantherPride

🎓 Calling all new students and incoming 9th graders!
Join us for Orientation Night on Tuesday, August 19 from 5:30–7:15 PM at the EHS Cafetorium.

✔️ Get a feel for the building
✔️ Follow a mock schedule
✔️ Ease those first-day nerves

This takes place during the EHS Open House (4:00–7:30 PM), so feel free to stop by early. We’re excited to welcome you to EHS! 💜🐾 #PantherPride

We're planning upcoming offerings for Ellsworth Community Education, and we'd love your help! Whether you've attended classes in the past or are simply curious about what's available, your feedback helps us create programs that reflect the interests and needs of our community.

We're looking at everything from youth activities and family outings to adult enrichment, creative workshops, and practical skills-and we want to hear what matters most to you.

Take the quick survey here: https://forms.gle/NXsrbMMZKx3961qZ9

It only takes a couple of minutes, and your input will directly shape the classes and opportunities we offer in the year ahead.

Thank you for helping us grow and strengthen lifelong learning in Ellsworth!

We're calling all Panther fans for a special edition of the Summer Fun Series in East End Park! Join us this Thursday, July 17 for Huddle Up in the Park, hosted by Ellsworth High School Athletics - it's your chance to meet some of your favorite student-athletes and enjoy an evening of sporty summer fun.

EHS athletes will be on hand to toss balls, play a little one-on-one, sign autographs, and hang out with the next generation of Panthers. Kids can even run through the giant inflatable Panther football helmet - just like the football team does on game day! It's a great opportunity for kids to connect with local role models and burn off some energy with games and activities throughout the park.

Rancho Loco Food Truck will be serving up delicious eats, and the Ellsworth Farmers Market will be open with fresh produce, baked goods, and handmade items from local vendors.

Wear your Panther purple and round up the whole crew - it's going to be a fun-filled night of community, connection, and Panther pride!

Check out the full summer schedule here:
https://bit.ly/4k5B5Hd

The Ellsworth Community School District recently completed a required migration in Infinite Campus from our previous payment processor to a new payment processing system.

With the migration, all payment accounts that were previously listed in Infinite Campus are no longer listed. If you are using Infinite Campus to pay lunch, athletic fees, class fees, etc. you will need to re add your payment account information into your parent portal account. This includes any recurring payments that you have set up (authorization to debit a set amount of money to apply to your food service account on a weekly/bi weekly/monthly basis).

To set your account information back up, you will need to login to your Infinite Campus parent portal and from your home screen, on the right hand side, you will see a My Account icon. See the attached image if you are having issues finding this icon. If you click on that My Accounts icon, you will be able to add your payment method as well as reset your recurring payment information if you so desire.

Please feel free to reach out to Deb Ristow in the District Office by email at ristowd@ellsworth.k12.wi.us if you have any questions.

🎒 We're gearing up for our 8th Annual Back-to-School Supply Drive!

Each year, thanks to the generosity of our community, parents, and local businesses, we’re able to provide school supplies to students who need a little extra support. 💜

If your student could benefit from this program for the 2025-2026 school year, please fill out the request form below. Supplies are available for students with a demonstrated financial need.

📝 Request form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoj6tSz24YqJky1uyQ_oraEYgJm3yv9siIdfjmSZI0fYgbtQ/viewform

Thank you to everyone who helps make this possible! 💛

📣 We're currently looking for a new member to join the ECSD School Board!

If you're interested in making a positive impact on the lives of students and supporting the future of our schools, we encourage you to apply. 💜

To ensure consideration, the letter of interest must be received in the Office of the District Administrator prior to 12:00 pm (Noon) on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 and the listing of candidate questions must be received in the Office of the District Administrator prior to 12:00 pm (Noon) on July 30, 2025. Interviews for the open position will be conducted on August 5, 2025.

More details and contact info can be found at www.ellsworth.k12.wi.us or by calling the District Office at (715) 273-3900.

🏗️ High School Construction Update – Summer 2025 🦺 There's been a lot of progress happening behind the scenes! From structural steel and roofing on the new additions, to underground utilities, interior renovations, and HVAC installation—crews have been hard at work across the campus. Work continues on the fitness center, greenhouse, CTE spaces, and multiple interior areas. Thanks to our construction team for keeping things moving, even in the summer heat! ☀️ 📸 Swipe through for a look at the latest updates!

📣 Welcome to ECSD! We’re excited to introduce the new Principal at Ellsworth Elementary School, Jeremy Nygaard! He brings great experience and a passion for education, and we’re looking forward to the positive energy he’ll bring to our school community. Read on to learn more about him and his family! 👇 Jeremy Nygaard has been named the new principal of Ellsworth Elementary School. He brings with him over 18 years of experience in elementary education, most recently serving in the Baldwin-Woodville School District. During the past year, he held multiple leadership roles, including assistant principal, transportation director, and 4K director. Prior to that, he spent 17 years in the district as a third- and fourth-grade teacher, instructional coach, and data analyst. His entire career has been dedicated to working with elementary-aged students—a population he is deeply passionate about serving. Mr. Nygaard and his wife, LeAnne, have four children. Their oldest, Marin, is a sophomore at Winona State University studying medical imaging. Cade and Kyler attend Baldwin-Woodville High School and Bram is in elementary school. In addition to raising their own children, the Nygaard family serves as a foster family for St. Croix County and is currently preparing for the reunification of their second placement, who has been with them for over a year. As an educator, Mr. Nygaard is committed to personalized learning and believes in leveraging innovative strategies to engage students in meaningful ways. He is enthusiastic about collaborating with the staff, students, and families of the Ellsworth community to build upon the school’s existing strengths. His decision to join Ellsworth Elementary stems from a desire to bring stable, student-centered instructional leadership to the school community. He is known for being a thoughtful listener and a collaborative leader who works closely with all stakeholders to set and achieve shared goals. Mr. Nygaard looks forward to officially joining the team in July and is eager to begin this next chapter in partnership with the Ellsworth community.

📣 Calling all hobbyists, experts, and community-minded folks! We’re getting ready to put together our Fall Community Ed booklet and we’d love to include YOU! Do you have a skill, hobby, or area of expertise you'd be willing to share with others? Whether it’s crafting, cooking, tech tips, fitness, or something else our community wants to learn from you! 🗓 Fall classes will run from approx. September 2 through December 20 📬 If you're interested in teaching a class or have an idea for an informational offering, please reach out to Kevin at haglundk@ellsworth.k12.wi.us. 📅 Deadline to submit is July 20 Let’s keep learning and growing together! 💜

Marcy Burch selected to serve as new Ellsworth High School Principal. Marcy Burch brings over 25 years of experience in education, with a strong background in instructional leadership, student-centered programming, and school improvement. Burch most recently served as the 6–12 Principal at Glenwood City Middle and High School, where she led significant advancements in academics, student engagement, and facility upgrades. Under her leadership, the school’s ACT composite score rose to one of the top rankings in CESA 11. She also expanded dual credit and career and technical education (CTE) opportunities for students, and modernized instructional spaces through a large scale building renovation. Prior to her work in Glenwood City, Burch served in a variety of leadership roles in Minnesota, including assistant principal, student achievement specialist, and special education teacher. She is known for her collaborative leadership style, her commitment to inclusive practices, and her dedication to building strong relationships with students, families, and staff. Burch holds a Master’s Degree in Education and a K–12 Administrative Licensure from the University of St. Mary’s, and completed her undergraduate work in Vocational Rehabilitation and Special Education at the University of Wisconsin–Stout. Marcy and her family reside in Hudson, Wisconsin. She is excited to join the Ellsworth community and looks forward to building partnerships that support student success and school-wide excellence. Welcome to Ellsworth Community School District Marcy!

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out via email at christensonk@ellsworth.k12.wi.us or my cell phone (text is probably best over the weekend) at 715-768-9070. Be sure to have closed-toe shoes on Thursday and Friday for driving practice and the test. Bring a positive and cooperative attitude - in the past, at times, students seem to forget how to behave at school. While it is the summer and I also want to have a good time while we learn, general respect for each other and the classroom is expected. ****Bring lunch with you. ****

We’d like to take a moment to thank the family of longtime Ellsworth Middle School math teacher and coach, Mr. Keith Vinge, for their generous donation to the middle school. 💜 Because of their gift, we were able to purchase two benches in Mr. Vinge’s memory, a new records board for the gym, a ball rack, bucket, and new balls. You’ll also notice inspirational quotes now lining the gym walls just the kind of motivation Mr. Vinge would’ve loved. The next time you’re at the middle school, please take a moment to check out his jersey on display in the trophy case. It’s a lasting reminder of the positive impact he made on so many students and athletes over the years. 🏀📚

🌟 Congratulations to Mrs. Marcia Jahnke! 🌟 The Ellsworth Community School District Foundation named Marcia Jahnke as the 2025 Teacher of the Year! 🎉 Mrs. Jahnke, a science teacher at Ellsworth High School, is truly a standout educator. In her classroom, she goes above and beyond to help every student succeed, making complex scientific concepts feel approachable, engaging, and even fun. 🔬✨ She’s known for her ability to adapt her teaching to meet the needs of all learners, creating a space where everyone can thrive. Her intelligence and dedication are clear in the way she breaks down challenging material and supports students through every step of their learning. But Mrs. Jahnke’s impact goes far beyond academics. She builds strong connections with her students by sharing stories, life experiences, and a contagious love for learning. Her energy, creativity, and genuine care for her students make her lessons memorable and meaningful. Please join us in celebrating this well-deserved honor. Congratulations, Mrs. Jahnke! 💜👏

Our 4YK students had a blast tackling the Ninja Course as a reward for reaching the fundraising goal for the Glow Run! From climbing to crawling, they were all smiles as they worked their way through the obstacles. Huge thanks to everyone who supported this fundraiser and helped make this fun experience possible! 💜🎉