The goal of this special day is simple but powerful, encouraging students to enjoy free play without screens or adult direction. It gives children the chance to explore their creativity, build problem-solving skills, and practice social interactions in a fun, unstructured environment.
At EES, students met in their Panther Pride groups, where they talked about empathy and what it means to be kind and understanding toward others. After that, it was time to play! Mixed grade-level groups from Kindergarten through 5th grade spent time building, creating, and playing games together.
To make the day even more exciting, we held a game drawing, and 60 EES students went home with a brand-new game of their own!
Research shows that play is a key part of healthy development. Imaginative play helps support social, emotional, and cognitive growth. Play really is powerful! 🎲🧩 Panther Pride!
Tonight’s Panther Pride Staff Shout Out goes to Kristen Elbe, who was nominated by Abbie.
Abbie shared how truly amazing Kristen is and the positive impact she has every single day. Kristen’s dedication, teamwork, and upbeat attitude make a difference for both students and staff. She brings great energy into the building and is always encouraging and supportive of the students she works with.
Abbie also shared how grateful she is to work alongside someone who is so thoughtful, supportive, and caring. That kind of positivity creates a welcoming environment where students feel encouraged to do their best.
Thank you, Kristen, for everything you do. Our students and your coworkers are so lucky to have you! 💜🐾
Don’t miss out on the Ellsworth FFA Strawberry Sale! These delicious, fresh strawberries are a community favorite every year, and the deadline to order is coming up fast.
📅 Order deadline: February 20
🛒 Place your order here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWNG2EmOYMqfObqIybiJCUg9PkwUUpaXLaSyRGLzOAJGz5Hw/viewform
Support our Ellsworth FFA students while stocking up on some sweet, juicy berries. Thank you for backing our Panthers! 🐾🍓
The students did an amazing job on the slopes, and it was a day full of fun, smiles, and new experiences. It was great to see so many kids building confidence and enjoying their time at Welch Village.
A HUGE thank you to the Middle School Parents Club for helping offset the cost of the trip. Because of their support, the cost to each student was only $10, which is a huge savings compared to previous years.
It was a beautiful day, and so many students had a wonderful time hitting the slopes. Panther Pride! 🎿❄️
This is a wonderful opportunity for you to learn about your child’s development in speech/language, gross motor, fine motor and play skills. During the screening your child will participate in a playgroup where social, communication, motor and early learning skills will be observed. In addition, your child’s vision and hearing will be screened. Screening is required before 4K enrollment is approved.
Appointments are required. For an appointment please call Tina Hallock at 715-273-3912 or hallockt@ellsworth.k12.wi.us.
Please contact the school with any questions.
Office 715-273-3912
Email: hallockt@ellsworth.k12.wi.us or zimmermanm@ellsworth.k12.wi.us
FUTURE SCREENING DATES:
April 15, 2026
💜🐾 Panther Pride Staff Shout Out 🐾💜
Today’s Panther Pride Staff Shout Out goes to Sarah Ainsworth, who supports students at all buildings and was nominated by Beth and Robin.
Beth shared how remarkable Sarah’s dedication is to all students, especially our English Language Learners. Her kindness, patience, and understanding shine through in everything she does, and the care she shows students and families is something we can all learn from.
Robin highlighted how Sarah consistently goes above and beyond, even while managing a demanding workload that takes her across all three buildings in the district. She works closely with families, often serving as a key connection between home and school, and is always advocating for what’s best for her students.
Sarah’s commitment, compassion, and tireless support make a meaningful difference every single day.
Thank you, Sarah, for everything you do for our students and families. We are so grateful to have you as part of the Ellsworth team! 💜🐾
Hunter designed and welded a bouquet of metal flowers for his girlfriend. How fun is that? The attention to detail in each flower really shows the time, care, and craftsmanship he put into the project.
Projects like this are made possible thanks to the new welding bays in our newly renovated CTE space. The updated area gives students more room, better equipment, and hands-on opportunities to turn creative ideas into real-world skills.
Great work, Hunter! 🌹🔧 Panther Pride!
This month, experts from W.C. Branham in River Falls stopped by to consult with our CTE teachers and help get our new HAAS CNC equipment up and running. W.C. Branham provides engineering and manufacturing solutions for industrial applications, and their team brought valuable real-world expertise right into our shop.
Hands-on support like this helps ensure our students are learning on the same types of equipment and processes used in today’s manufacturing industry. It’s another great example of local businesses partnering with our schools to create meaningful, career-ready opportunities for Ellsworth students.
Thank you to W.C. Branham for sharing your time and expertise with our students and staff! Panther Pride!
https://www.wcbranham.com/
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we’ve had to switch the lunch menu around for the rest of the week. Here’s the updated lineup:
Wednesday, February 18: Pizza Cruncher Menu
Thursday, February 19: Hot Beef with Mashed Potatoes
Friday, February 20: Taco Salad with Frito Chips
Thanks for your understanding!
We’re excited to share with the Ellsworth community that the ECSD Hall of Fame Committee met in early January and reviewed many thoughtful and deserving nominations.
We’re proud to announce the 2026 ECSD Hall of Fame Inductees:
💜 Judi Helmer
💜 William "Cubby" Huber
💜 Milt Helmer
These individuals will be honored with a dinner and induction ceremony on Saturday, March 21 at 6:00 pm in the Ellsworth High School Cafetorium.
We would love for you to join us as we celebrate their lasting contributions to our schools and community alongside their friends and families.
🎟️ Tickets are available here:
https://gofan.co/event/5809431?schoolId=WI19699
Please feel free to share this with anyone who may be interested in helping us celebrate these special people.
Ellsworth Elementary will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair February 17–20. Students will have opportunities to shop during the school day, and families are invited to stop by during Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, February 19 from 4:30–7:30 PM.
Want a cash-free option? Families can set up an eWallet for their student and even shop online.
Visit the EES Book Fair homepage here:
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/ellsworthelementaryschool5
Every purchase helps support our school library and encourages a love of reading. We hope to see you there! 📖🐾
Today’s Panther Pride Staff Shout Out goes to Nick Foley, who was nominated by Alyssa Matzek.
Alyssa shared a huge shout out to Nick for consistently taking initiative and keeping things running behind the scenes. He does so much work that often goes unnoticed, but his impact is felt throughout the district every single day.
Nick is dependable, skilled, and genuinely great at what he does. His behind-the-scenes efforts help keep everything moving smoothly, and we are truly lucky to have him on our team.
Thank you, Nick, for all you do to support our staff, students, and schools. We appreciate you! 💜🐾
One of the components of the evening will be to provide possible service learning opportunities and possible summer employment opportunities for our students. This may also be a chance to connect with ESCD families.
We would like to extend an invitation to you to be part of this event. If your business or organization would be interested in being represented and talking to families and students, please let us know by filling out the form.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckphqQdgGTVHVE9Xf9e9S7wVFjqgFX87peHuABeLUOfV7oMg/viewform
We will have a table available for set up after 3:30 that afternoon. Ideally, we’d love to have representatives at each table to answer questions and help students/ families who may have an interest in your organization.
Please reach out to the Ellsworth High School office if you have any questions.
💜🐾 Panther Pride Staff Shout Out 🐾💜
Today’s Panther Pride Staff Shout Out goes to Madeline Poulos, our High School Physical Education teacher, who was nominated by Sarah and student Piper.
Sarah shared that Ms. Poulos brings incredible energy, positivity, and heart into everything she does. She has a special ability to connect with high school students, inspiring them to persevere while also reminding them that learning can and should be fun. She is always willing to go the extra mile, making herself available and ensuring students feel supported and encouraged.
Piper shared how much Ms. Poulos means to her and so many other students. She said Ms. Poulos “brings light to many students’ days,” and as an added bonus, she brings Pudge along. Piper shared that Ms. Poulos is the reason she smiles every day and that she makes everyone feel included and truly cared about.
Thank you, Ms. Poulos, for the joy, encouragement, and sense of belonging you bring to our students each day. We are so lucky to have you! 💜🐾
Please take a moment to review the attached document outlining upcoming busing and transportation changes that will begin with the 2026–2027 school year. These changes were approved by the School Board at the February 11, 2026 meeting.
Please note: these transportation updates will take effect regardless of the outcome of the spring 2026 operational referendum.
If you have any questions, please contact Transportation Director Michael Chisholm at (715) 273-3917 or by email at chisholmm@ellsworth.k12.wi.us
This week, our Ellsworth Elementary students celebrated the 100th day of school! Classrooms were filled with fun activities as students counted their way to 100 and celebrated all the learning they’ve done so far this year.
The first-grade team added an extra dose of fun by dressing up as 100-year-olds, and the students loved it! From counting collections to creative projects, it was a great day to celebrate being 100 days smarter.
Way to go, EES! 🐾📚
Your vote matters, and being informed matters too. We hope you’ll take advantage of one of these opportunities to learn more and be part of the conversation. 💜🐾
This week’s Panther Pride Staff Shout Out goes to Lisa Bench, who was nominated by Robin for the incredible impact she has on her team and students.
Robin shared that Lisa is truly the glue that holds the 5th grade team together. She is always thinking ahead, helping map out both the big picture and the small day-to-day details that keep everything running smoothly. Lisa is a natural problem solver and creative thinker who is constantly finding ways to improve the student experience.
She also goes above and beyond to give students meaningful opportunities outside the classroom. From planning field trips to making connections within the communities where our students live, Lisa works hard to help kids try new things, spend time outdoors, and learn through real-world experiences.
On top of everything she does at school, Lisa is also an active community volunteer, giving her time and energy to support many local events. She holds high expectations for her students and supports them as they grow academically, socially, and personally.
Thank you, Lisa, for your leadership, creativity, and dedication to our students and team. We are so lucky to have you! 💜🐾
The donation was presented to the team last week, and we are so grateful for their support of our students and this awesome program. Community support like this makes a big difference, and our Panthers truly appreciate it.
Thank you, Quinn Motors, for supporting Panther Pride! 🐾
