Northland Pines School District News Coverage

The Northland Pines Pep Band put on a show to benefit a good cause. On Monday night the group performed the 4th annual Blast for Hunger. People could either pay $1 or donate one non-perishable food item to attend the concert. All proceeds benefit the Vilas Food Pantry. The band performed a wide range of music including Seven-Nation-Army by the White Stripes. There were also appearances made by a fish and T-rex to provide families with plenty of entertainment. 

Volleyball is in Jacqueline Smith's blood. "It's been my dream to play volleyball because it's been in my family of course because of my mom who started it," said the Northland Pines sophomore. Her mom and her head coach, Julie Smith, played for the University of Wisconsin. But that's not where the family's link to the sport stopped. Jacqueline's older sisters Maddie and Lexi dominated the Great Northern Conference from 2013-2016. And Jacqueline is picking up where they left off. "She's always been surrounded by her siblings so I think it's great, I'm so proud of her because she's doing fantastic without them here," said Julie Smith. Jacqueline Smith racked up 99 kills across four matches last week. That number puts her season total at 225, but she says she's more concerned with other parts of her game.

With a digital clock's big red numbers counting down to zero over her shoulder, Claire Reese felt some pressure Tuesday morning.

"A lot rests upon our shoulders right now," Reese said.

But as the Northland Pines senior's team struggled to figure out code words and open locks, the pressure was less about solving this puzzle and more about making sure incoming students don't end up puzzled themselves.

"It's really a big thing upon my heart just to be there for these younger kids," Reese said.

Tuesday morning, Reese joined about 20 Pines juniors and seniors for peer mentor training and practice at the high school.  The group was picked to mentor seventh and eighth grade students who will soon transition into the high school building this fall. Reese understands the feeling -- she moved from Alaska to Illinois and eventually to Eagle River when she was 10 years old.

"It made my transition so much smoother just to be able to have someone that I could go to, so that's what we're trying to be for these students, just a smiling face," Reese said.

Those smiling faces will pair up to mentor middle school homerooms every day when the school year begins in September. The mentors will also plan monthly activities to help the middle schooler students adjust to their new building and new classmates.

"They're ready for this challenge and excited about it," Northland Pines High School Social Worker Courtney Weber said. Weber helped choose the upperclassmen for the pilot mentor program. She also worked to plan the program starting back in January... read more.

Last year, Lakeland Union High School told us there should be more solar panel projects like Lakeland's across the country. Now, that school will soon have a neighboring district with a similar solar array.

Northland Pines plans to start installing a major solar project next month. Pines first started exploring a solar plan years ago.

"Once we actually see the panels being installed in September, I do think people will get more excited, intrigued maybe," said Northland Pines District Administrator Dr. Mike Richie. "We'll have people driving by, checking it out."

More than $660,000 in panels will go on the roof of the high school fieldhouse, behind Eagle River Elementary, and near Land O'Lakes Elementary.

They'll be used to produce energy for the schools and provide learning opportunities for the students.

"We're looking at the benefit to our students," Richie said. "Obviously, there will be a benefit for the environment. But our students will have a living laboratory at their fingertips every day."

A third-party investor is paying for the panels. After 12 years, the district can buy the panels outright. If it does that, it projects that it would save $50,000 in energy costs each year. 

Raking and blowing leaves sound like thankless chores. But to Northland Pines senior Mariah Miller, they're a fun activity. "I just love being outside, and plus today's like the best day," said Miller.Miller and many of her Northland Pines classmates spent Wednesday working at dozens of places around Vilas County. "I think Earth Day's been one of my favorite days of my high school career," said junior Rebecca Beyersdorf. The groups of students cleaned up people's yards as well as parks. The service started 14 years ago with willing students and a list from Vilas County Health and Aging. It's now grown through word of mouth. "It just makes us feel really good that we've been cleaning everybody's yards, people that couldn't do it, we did it for them," said Miller. The students weren't just in Eagle River. There were groups in Land O' Lakes and St. Germain as well. "We just had scholarship night, and they gave so much money to us and it's just the gratitude that I can give back to them. It's great," said Miller.

The Northland Pines School District is pleased to announce that the Northland Pines High School has earned a Silver Badge from U.S. News & World Report.

There are 507 high schools in the state of Wisconsin that the U.S. News and World Report collected data on. Of these 507 schools, Northland Pines High School is ranked #60.

Nationally, there are more than 22,000 high schools that the U.S. News and World Report collected data on. Of these 22,000 high schools, Northland Pines High School is ranked #2,302.

“The wonderful accomplishment of a Silver Badge is the result of hard work by our students, parents, community, and staff. The options the Northland Pines High School is able to offer all of its students is key to the success for students at our school,” said Scott Foster, Northland Pines High School principal. “The final key to this type of success is the constant effort to get better each and every day. The Northland Pines High School is grateful for this recognition and will continue to support students and their efforts in reaching these types of success into the future.”

Carter Heller considers one room in his high school a home away from home.  The Northland Pines junior spends most class periods -- and even district in-service days -- using the 3-D printers, vinyl cutters, and other machinery in the fab lab. Tuesday morning, Heller learned how his second "home" is about to grow thanks to a $25,000 grant.  "Everything about it makes you want to be in here," Heller said.  "It allows our capabilities as a school to expand a lot." On a day the governor declared "Fab Lab Day," representatives from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Gov. Scott Walker, and other state leaders traveled the state announcing 21 fab lab grants, which totaled nearly $500,000. Northland Pines opened its fab lab earlier this school year. Pines Tech Ed. teacher Tim Lehman says his school plans to buy a new CNC router to expand the lab's capabilities. "We want this to be kind of a hub for our community too and that's only going to grow," Lehman said... read more.

Teachers, family, and community members all gathered at one Northwoods elementary school to see what students have been working on since January. Eagle River Elementary School hosted its second annual fifth-grade science and engineering fair on Friday. "It's a great exposure to science and technology, and it's one of the only times they get to design their own learning and investigate things they are really interested in," said science and social studies teacher Christine Fuller. Students chose to do projects on everything from magnetism to invisible ink. Another student even created a robot that follows light.  One student chose to study antacid reactions to lemonade because of one of her favorite desserts. "I always wondered why isn't lemon juice in more recipes, like, I love lemon cookies and there aren't, like, many recipes," said fifth-grader Skylar.  Teachers say the fair not only helps students learn more about science, but it also helps students learn how to present their work.  "When they present, they are really nervous at first, but then they realize that this is my project, I've been working on it for three months and they know the most about it, so then they relax and they are able to answer questions from the audience," said Fuller. Fuller says that more people came to this year's fair than in its first year.

Dental Hygienist Melissa Wagner really listened to the information she learned from her dentist when she was young. "It started at a young age I want to help people I want to teach them to have great teeth so they can have their teeth for the rest of their lifetime," said Wagner. Wagner spent her morning teaching students at Land O' Lakes Elementary school what it takes to be a dentist. "The kids [get to] be the dentists and take food out of the bad teeth [we can help] dads and grandmas and aunts and kids," said Kindergartner Taylen Nelson. These dentists in training learned everything they needed to stay on teeth patrol and have healthy teeth. "You can't eat candy and you can't eat squirrel or deer," said 4K student Mackenzie Feltes. Wagner set up demonstration tables to show what unhealthy foods can do to their teeth, and how to correctly floss and brush their pearly whites. "Those are the basics so that's what we want to teach them while they're younger," said Wagner. Schindelholz Dental in Land O' Lakes hosted the lessons.  Wagner and her team hope teaching the kids while they're young will bring awareness to National Children's Dental Health Month. 

Northland Pines' Amanda Sergent will go on to play collegiate hockey this fall. Wednesday afternoon she made the plans official by signing with UW-Superior. The senior forward won all-state awards this year and was a standout for the Eagles. She told Newswatch 12 she's a little nervous about the big move, but she's looking forward to the challenge. "I'm super excited but also very nervous at the same time because I know that it's going to be a higher level of playing and I don't really know what to expect," Sargent said. "I'm used to playing all the, time and I know I'm going to be starting from the bottom when I get there, so I'll have to work my way back up." Sergent is ready for that challenge thanks to the advice she got from her coaches at Northland Pines... read more.

Peter Aerts is a chemistry teacher at Northland Pines High School and is now the varsity head baseball coach. The season is still young but it's going well for Aerts.  "It's been awesome how, whatever I say, they buy in, and it's great to have that leadership and understanding and that the coach and players have to be on the same page, and we're always in conversation together," said Aerts.  Aerts is fitting in with the team this year, but he's also hoping to build the program for the future.  "Baseball's supposed to be fun, and especially for high school sports So we're really looking for that kind of atmosphere with the team, having a lot of fun and more guys will come out and we'll be more competitive," said Aerts. The Northland Pines Eagles hosted the Crandon Cardinals Friday night. Check out the highlights.

The "Kids on the Block" call themselves a group of misfit kids playing with misfit puppets. But the performance they put on aims to inspire. About a dozen middle and high school students from West Iron High School in Iron River, Mich., make up the group. On Tuesday, they brought their act to Wisconsin to perform before third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders at Eagle River Elementary School. "I would describe it to them as a group of misfit kids that came together to put on a puppet show for kids to show that it's okay to be a misfit," said West Iron junior Steven Nelson, the host of Kids on the Block. The short skits include puppets in wheelchairs, blind puppets, and puppets with other disabilities... read more.

With Northland Pines' win over Clintonville on Tuesday night, Lexi Smith's incredible high school basketball career will continue for at least one more game. That means at least one more practice, where you can always find her moving at full speed, and pushing her teammates along the way. "I think it's the most fun part about practice. I love playing defense against her, I love bumping up against her," said Northland Pines junior Cassie Gauthier. Such determination has been a big part of her athletic success, but it's the huge amount of success that's truly impressive. "She's a three sport athlete and she's gotten GNC Player of the Year in every sport she's played," said northland Pines Head Basketball Coach Larry Bergum. Smith is a seven time first-team all-conference player in volleyball, basketball, and soccer. On the hardwood is where she really shines. The Eagles senior eclipsed the 2,000 career point mark fewer than two weeks ago, making her just the 20th girls player in Wisconsin history to reach the milestone... read more.

Dental Hygienist Melissa Wagner really listened to the information she learned from her dentist when she was young.  "It started at a young age I want to help people I want to teach them to have great teeth so they can have their teeth for the rest of their lifetime," said Wagner.  Wagner spent her morning teaching students at Land O' Lakes Elementary school what it takes to be a dentist.  "The kids [get to] be the dentists and take food out of the bad teeth [we can help] dads and grandmas and aunts and kids," said Kindergartner Taylen Nelson. These dentists in training learned everything they needed to stay on teeth patrol and have healthy teeth... read more.

A local high school wants to share a tale as old as time. Northland Pines High School plans to wow crowds with its version of Beauty and the Beast. Malcom McCanles doesn't speak much French. "Michelle mademoiselle, it is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that we welcome you tonight. And that's all you get. That's all you get, " McCanles says, acting out a scene from the play. But his accent is getting put to the test this weekend. "I think my accent is kind of unique, I guess because it's not a total French accent, and I think I really made it my own," he says. McCanles is a key part of the Northland Pines theater crew inviting you to be their guest for the school's performances of Beauty and the Beast. Rehearsal started back in November, which isn't a lot of time to learn all the lines, songs, and dances. But with a lot of hard work and some laughs, the musical's director Kate Janssen makes sure the end product is happily ever after... read more.

Sparks flew in front of Valencia Carthen's eyes, sparking inspiration to take back home. "The first thing you learn as a brand new teacher is steal, steal, steal the best ideas," Carthen said.  The Milwaukee Washington High School principal was getting ready to unpack her school district's first fab lab equipment Friday. Thursday, she and 12 other Milwaukee Public Schools members checked out several Northwoods labs with 3D printers, laser engravers, and routers.  "I had a small idea, which I thought was a big idea, but just going on this tour... The sky's the limit for these kids," Carthen said.  The tour through Northland Pines, Three Lakes, and Florence happened after a conversation between State Representative Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma) and MPS Superintendent Dr. Darienne Driver. The two agreed small and big districts need to work together... read more.

14-year-old Ty Springer from Eagle River loves alpine skiing. "There's not really any other sports that use gravity to your advantage and have to manage your speed on a slope, it's just kind of different," said Springer. He loves the sport so much that he practices almost every single weekend. "I've been training my hardest and trying to get to this point where I can compete at a national level," said Springer. Ty placed sixth in his nine-state regional last weekend. He'll now be on that national level with the under 14 U.S. Rocky Central team. "The competition is really stiff. 1/10th [of a point] can move you back ten places, it's that tight," said Springer. Helping Ty with that competition is his family. They're always at Ski Brule in Iron Mountain, Michigan practicing with him. When they found out Ty qualified for the national team, they knew his hard work paid off. "Very proud and happy. A happy feeling and a major accomplishment to be able to punch his ticket and ski with the U.S. Ski Team out in Steamboat Springs," said Ty'd dad, Brett Springer. They will be in Steamboat Springs, Colorado for the races March 15th through March 20th. Before that, Ty still has some work to do. "I'm working on controlling my speed and being able to ski fast but look like I'm skiing slow," said Springer. Ty has a few more practices left but after that, he's going to leave it all on the hill. "I just want to do the best I can. If I do the best I can, then that's all I can do," said Springer.

Northland Pines High School wants to be proactive about drug and alcohol abuse when it comes to students. It began testing random students this school year. District Administrator Dr. Mike Richie says about 60 students signed up for random drug testing with their parents' permission. Only six of those students were tested last December and all passed. 

It's been a while since Vilas County Patrol Deputy Will Krueger had a school lunch. "I had a chicken patty, I had some fruit, I had a piece of pizza and I had some tater tots and also chocolate milk," said Krueger.  Northland Pines Middle School hosted Krueger and his fellow officers from the the Vilas County Sheriff's Office and Eagle River Police Department for the school's first Law Enforcement Appreciation Lunch. Officers had their choice of food, and then sat with the kids to eat. It gave students a chance to thank the officers. "I think it was a good idea to have the officers here today to appreciate what they do because they do a lot for our community," said seventh grader Isaiah Samuelson. It also gave officers the chance to show students they aren't people to be scared of, but rather people who will help them... read more.

Many kids asked for video games, iPads, or other toys for Christmas this year. But for one Land O' Lakes Elementary student, the holiday wasn't about what he could get, but what he could give back to his fellow classmates.  Chris Hunt, a 9-year-old from Land O' Lakes, always has his nose in a book. But being able to read every night just wasn't enough. Chris wanted to share his passion with everyone.  "Every single night I was wondering, 'How much fun would it be to have every kid in my school have a book that they want so they can read it?'" said Chris, a fourth-grader.   Chris decided that instead of receiving Christmas gifts this year, all he wanted was for people to give him books that he could turn around and give away... read more.

Every year, a Christmas tree from Wisconsin helps brighten the Capitol rotunda in Madison. The governor officially lit this year's tree, which came from Eagle River, Friday. While the tree's decorations provided the light, the Northland Pines High School choir provided the sound. "It's in the Capitol and it's, I mean, people from the state come to see it," said Northlands Pines sophomore Malcolm McCanles. From "Silent Night" to "Carol of the Bells," the choir has been rehearsing for weeks for this moment... read more.

Earlier this year the state gave out grants to 25 schools for Fabrication Laboratories. One school in the Northwoods plans to have its new Fab Lab up and running by January.  The Northland Pines School District has been busy getting the Fab Lab ready. The school has paid attention to every last detail, redoing everything from the flooring to the paint color on the doors. The school isn't sure if it will design any classes specific to the Fab Lab yet, but it plans to have students of all grades use it... read more.

For high school athletes all around the country, National Signing Day makes reaching their collegiate goals official. On Wednesday, Lexi Smith from Northland Pines signed her papers to officially become a Northern Michigan Wildcat next year.  Even though Smith played multiple sports at Northland Pines, she has decided to play basketball at the D2 school. Smith is very excited to play at the next level and has even met some of her future teammates already.  "I wanted to stay close to home and that's definitely close to home, it's only two and a half hours away which was nice. They offered me a scholarship for basketball and that's the sport I wanted to play for college. I really liked it there and the area is really nice too."  She's even been able to visit the school and meet some of the players... read more.

After a year of revisions, Northland Pines High School will start a new policy in December: drug testing some of its students. The school board approved the new policy earlier this week. For District Administrator Mike Richie, this is a way to stay proactive, helping both parents and students avoid drug addiction.  "If there is a problem, how we can prevent that problem? How can we get students to realize that this problem can only get worse as they get older and continue into the workforce?" said Richie. "I think we're going above and beyond, and I think that we need to help and assist parents. This is a problem that exists all over; it's not just a northern Wisconsin problem." To Richie, keeping kids off drugs is a collaborative effort. Students will only be put into the pool to be randomly tested if they and their parents both opt into the policy and sign the permission form. Forms for parents and students to opt into the policy will be sent out within the next couple of weeks... read more.

A Northwoods teacher will head to the White House next week to be honored. John Hayes of Northland Pines High School will receive the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.  "It kind of legitimizes the hard work that all teachers put into education," said Hayes.  President Obama named 213 math and science teachers as recipients, representing all 50 states.  Hayes will be one of two teachers representing Wisconsin.  "Teaching is a really hard gig," Hayes said. "I've done a lot of jobs in my career, and teaching by far is the hardest.  If my wife didn't support me, if she wasn't behind me the whole way, I don't think I'd be getting any awards for one thing."  The award recognizes Hayes's innovation, creativity, and drive to get students enthusiastic about science, technology, engineering, and math... read more.

Northland Pines' E2 Montessori classroom is getting hands-on in the kitchen, making monthly meals for residents of the Frederick Place homeless shelter in Rhinelander. The students have cooked a meal every month for Frederick Place the last three months and it is a total team effort. The students and teachers decide the menu and the parents donate the ingredients. The students and their families make the food at the school and Patricia Rickman, E2 Montessori teacher, delivers it to the shelter for the residents there to enjoy.  "I feel incredibly blessed to have families who give so generously to make this service project successful," Rickman said... read more.

Thomas Brunstad can't say much, but his smile speaks volumes.  And if you ever want to see that smile, all you have to do is mention his favorite character. "Mickey Mouse is part of our house, all the time," said Thomas' mother Jill Brunstad. The eight-year-old has cerebral palsy and epilepsy which prevents him from speaking. "When he's watching Mickey Mouse at the end they say by 'bye' so that was his first word was actually saying 'bye'," said Jill. "For a non-verbal kid to kind of connect to a character, Mickey Mouse has been his love since he was teeny tiny." Now, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Thomas gets to meet Mickey in person.

A Northwoods school wants to make sure its students continue to learn in a safe space. Northland Pines Middle School kicked off its Bullying Prevention Week on Monday. Students are taking charge of teaching each other the importance of bullying prevention.  Throughout the week students will be going into classrooms to talk to their younger classmates about how they can work together.  "It makes me feel very proud seeing kids that I stand up for and not being a bystander and just [letting] it happen," said 13 year old Amberleigh Pederson. This week will also focus on bystander prevention... read more.

Northland Pines District Administrator Dr. Mike Richie likes people to know what's happening in the school district. That's why he holds coffee socials throughout year.  Richie held a Veteran's Coffee Social at Eagle River Roasters Thursday morning.  The district has a long history of helping veterans, and veterans have a long history of helping the district.  "We say our schools. It's their schools. It's the community's schools," Richie said. "So we want them involved, and we want them to know what's happening."... read more.

Volleyball Honors: Four-year varsity performer for coach and mother Julie Smith (played volleyball at Wisconsin)...Second Team All-Great Northern as a sophomore...Unanimous First Team All Conference, MVP, and All-State Honorable Mention junior year... read more.

Nicolet College has named Sammi Zalewski and Anna Gane as Student Ambassadors for the 2016-17 academic year.  "Being named a Nicolet Student Ambassador is one of the highest honors the college gives a student,” said Nicolet Director of Student Success Christin Van Kauwenberg “Both of the students selected are very deserving and I’m sure will do a great job representing Nicolet.”  Students are first nominated for the honor and then selected for the position after going through an interview process.  Zalewski will serve as the District Student Ambassador... read more.

Northland Pines runner Annalise Callaghan makes running look easy. She beat the school cross country record last weekend and isn't stopping.  Last weekend, Callaghan, a sophomore, smashed the school cross country record by 27 seconds.  "When she ran that time, she was very happy, she was very excited, but at the same time she knows she can do even better," said head coach Don Czarapata... read more.

Fifteen years ago, September 11 became a day we'll never forget. Most of us can remember where we were, how we felt, and the changes that were made in the years that followed.  But this years' high school freshmen class doesn't have those memories--they were all born around or after 9/11.  "Every day could make history, and every day could alter the path of our country," said Northland Pines U.S. history and psychology teacher Jennifer Leis... read more.

A Northwoods teacher will head to the White House next week to be honored. John Hayes of Northland Pines High School will receive the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. "It kind of legitimizes the hard work that all teachers put into education," said Hayes.  President Obama named 213 math and science teachers as recipients, representing all 50 states.  Hayes will be one of two teachers representing Wisconsin... read more.

It's no secret that athletic teams in the Northwoods travel great distances to find opponents.  One of those teams is Northland Pines, which plays its football games in the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference.  And for some players, bus rides to the Upper Peninsula took some getting used to.  "I didn't really like it at first because when we were in the eighth grade, we'd play Rhinelander and Crandon or somebody close by, so it wouldn't be much of a drive," said Northland Pines junior Nick Cato.  This year, the Eagles will spend at least 14 hours on a bus traveling to and from their road games, but some members of the team spin that into a positive... read more.

As you pull into Parsons of Eagle River, one vehicle really stands out. A bright, yellow school bus sits in front of the dealership awaiting donations. The Fill the Bus campaign aims to collect a lot of school supplies for local children. You won't find a single kid on the school bus, but Jenny Gretzinger knows that with a little help the bus will end up full of the tools kids need to succeed. "Start small and dream big," said Gretzinger, owner of Parsons at Eagle River. She came up with the Fill the Bus idea, and she's asking anyone to donate school supplies over the next month... read more.

Northland Pines High School will test students for drugs--including marijuana, cocaine, and alcohol--this upcoming school year. But the parents and guardians of students have a choice. They can sign their child up to be tested, or they can opt out. Superintendent Dr. Mike Richie hopes the policy will stop students from using drugs and other harmful substances. "Whether it's urban Wisconsin, rural Wisconsin, whether it's anywhere in the U.S., you know, there is a drug problem and it's a community problem," said Richie... read more.

 Runners will take it to the streets this weekend in Eagle River as the 3rd annual 5K Moonlight Run starts Saturday night at 10 p.m. Before the run, runners and their families can enjoy carnival games and activities starting at 4 p.m. in downtown Eagle River. Lots of things to do for the kids and to get the runners excited for the late-night race. "A great community event. We added the children's carnival, and I think that brings a lot of people out," said race co-coordinator Josh Rhode. "The downtown area business association is also running some sales--the Moonlight Madness sales--along with Art-o-Rama. So there's a lot of things going on in downtown Eagle River." All of the proceeds will go toward the fitness and wellness center inside Northland Pines High School. Rhode says the nighttime setting adds an unusual element to the run... read more.

The Northland Pines fishing team is about as basic as it gets: just two kids, bait, and their gear. "I didn't expect to go anywhere," said Northland Pines junior Mike John.  But in its first year the team is headed to nationals after taking second at the BASS Wisconsin High School Fishing Tournament. It was the first tournament the two have competed in together. John is going to be a junior. Harmon Marien became a freshman right before the state tournament started... read more.

Northland Pines fell to Aquinas Saturday 5-1 in the sectional championship Saturday.  The team had a chance to go to state with a victory.  It was a tough way to go out for senior Jenna Paez. But the team only has four seniors.  "We've worked hard all season and as long as the girls keep working in the off season and doing what they love and making those passes and plays and listening to coaches I think they're going to have a heck of a season next year," said Paez... read more.

Northland Pines defeated Regis/McDonell 3-0 in the Division 4 sectional semifinal Thursday night in Eagle River.  Northland Pines' three goals came in the second half.   "We weren't talking enough in the first half," said senior co-captain Jenna Paez. "We weren't controlling as much, not going to the ball, but after our talk we really started going to the ball, making those runs."  Northland Pines will now play Aquinas in Stevens Point Saturday. Aquinas finished the season ranked second... read more.

Northland Pines decided to move the boys hockey team in a different direction after finishing third in the Great Northern Conference. The school wants to get back to playing like it did in the 1980s, when the program won three state championships. Now it'll have a member of those championship teams managing the program. David Cox is the vice president of Cornerstone Custom Buildings in town. But he's been living in Eagle River since he was two. Cox has both played and been a head coach for the Pines hockey team in the past... read more.

We expect every student to learn how to read. But at Eagle River Elementary school teachers take it a step further by helping students understand what they read. "Literacy is huge. It's a big part of our world, our society. It connects to all other subjects," said Eagle River Elementary Principal Karie Jo Bornberg. The school has had so much success teaching students to read that it's received special recognition from the Department of Public Instruction. "To see them get it and enjoy getting to the point is what really makes teaching excellent," said fourth-grade teacher Nicole Musial. It's that passion that got the school state recognition for its achievement in closing the literacy gap between general students and ones with special needs... read more.

As a kid, you probably didn't look forward to eating spinach. Maybe, you still don't.  But some students are learning how to take locally grown produce and turn it into tasty snacks like smoothies.  Northland Pines "Farm to School" program teaches students about where their food comes from.  Each month features a different kind of produce like spinach. Hands-on experiences, like the blender bike, get students excited about trying new things.... read more.

At a young age kids learn why it's important to recycle paper and plastics. But, for students at Eagle River Elementary School, they are recycling a familiar product and it's all for a good cause.  "The kids love this, because it gives them a chance to sort through Crayons," said Eagle River Third Grade Teacher Tami Davis. "The Crayon Initiative is a really great organization and essentially it's simplistic in its design. It takes old and used Crayons and turns them into something brand new. And it's brand new Crayons. These Crayons are then shipped to children's hospitals around the United States."

Today's manufacturing industry relies on an increasing knowledge of science, technology, and mathematics. And thanks to a grant awarded to the Northland Pines School District, teachers will be able to provide their students with the latest technology the manufacturing industry has to offer.  Northland Pines High School will use the money to fund new fabrication laboratory facilities, which will help teach students valuable skills. The district announced Monday that it was awarded nearly $25,000 to create a Fab Lab... read more.

With her hands folded and head bowed, Northland Pines Senior Class President Sam Hytry stood humbled and empowered Wednesday afternoon. "I'm praying for Antigo and everyone else that's involved," Hytry said.  Hytry shared those prayers during the school day through a smartphone.  "We sent out an email yesterday and we also used social media like Twitter and Facebook to kind of get the word out too," Hytry said. The word was actually two, combined in a hashtag: "#AntigoStrong."... read more.

Earth Day may still be a couple days away, but students at Northland Pines High School got an early start with some community service. Nine buses took the kids to different locations in the Eagle River area Wednesday. This is the 13th year that Northland Pines High School has been taking part in the community service project. "We're doing what we call our Earth Day Community Service Project," said SOAR Administrator Ann Perry. "It started as an idea from a group of teachers from a different school district where they send students out into the field just to give back to the community and take care of the environment." Many of the spring sport teams went out together as a group for the project. Organizers hope that it will help spark more interest for the students to give back to the community... read more.

Wildlife workers worry about the spread of Purple Loosestrife in our area. And while it may be difficult to completely remove, there are ways you can manage how far it spreads. A group of middle school students in Eagle River took their learning outside today to help fight the spread of the invasive plant. "What we're trying to do is dig up these plants; we're going to put some beetles on them that have been shown to eat nothing but purple loosestrife, and then eventually release those beetles out into places where they can do some work," said Vilas County Invasive Species Coordinator Cathy Higley. Purple Loosestrife can over power native plants especially in wetland areas. So knowing where the plant tends to grow can help you identify areas that may have the plant present... read more.

The Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association Spudmobile rolled up to Eagle River Elementary School Tuesday. "The goal of the Spudmobile is introduce to the students where they're food comes from—it doesn't just show up at PicknSave, Kwik Trip," said Spudmobile coordinator Jim Zdriok.  The Spudmobile came to Eagle River as part of the school's Farm to School Program. Each month the program brings in locally and regionally produced foods to cafeterias and classrooms... read more.

Shanna Stein took a bit of a gamble Wednesday afternoon.  The co-owner of The Green Rich Tea store brewed traditional Japanese green tea for grade school students, a flavor that can provide an odd experience for young taste buds.  "I don't have kids myself, so I was kind of like, 'I don't know how they're going to respond to me,'" Stein said.  But Stein's gamble seemed to pay off.  Her 30-minute traditional tea ceremony helped Northland Pines Montessori students get a firsthand—or first-taste—experience of Asian culture.  "If they're not exposed to it, they don't want to try it, and I think it's important that they try," Stein said... read more.

The Northland Pines' girls' basketball team will work their way through the playoffs starting next week, and they have something other teams don't: Junior Lexi Smith.  She hit 1,000 career points this season on the way to leading the Eagles through a tough Great Northern Conference.  It would be easy to just say Pines junior Lexi Smith leads the Great Northern Conference in points per game, or in both rebounds and assists per game.  It would be easy, but it wouldn't be the whole story.  All that just helps push the Eagles towards greatness... read more.

Students in Northland Pines High School's National Honor Society want every child to open a present Christmas morning. That's why they are hosting a toy drive Saturday morning. All month, students have been collecting toys. On Saturday, parents can come to the high school and get toys, book, and games for their children. There are no income restrictions... read more.

What you learn about your health as child can impact you later in life.  Students at Northland Pines High School taught seventh-graders all about different aspects of leading a healthy lifestyle. Students picked topics ranging from body parts, like the tongue and brain, to lifestyle choices, like using tobacco and how much sugar is in your diet. Some of the students came up with activities to help teach their topics... read more.

Farm to School is a “win-win” for both community and students, said community outreach member Debbie Jircik.  The program, funded through the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) AmeriCorps Partnership Grant, has three tiers: procurement, nutrition education and teaching gardens.  Thanks to Northland Pines Farm to School, every school in that district has its own garden, and AmeriCorps nutrition educator Jasmyn Schmidt brings hand-on lessons to the classroom... read more.

We don't always get to see how much work honeybees actually do. But a group of eighth graders at Northland Pines got that rare experience on Thursday while harvesting honey as part of Northland Pines Middle School's Bee Program. Students check up on the beehives outside the school throughout the school year. Thursday, they actually got to harvest honey for the first time. Teachers hope the program helps students understand the importance of honeybees... read more.

It's not every day a wish comes true, but for one Eagle River boy, it did.  On Wednesday, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin granted 16-year-old Noah Jensen his wish. Jensen will get to go to Utah to meet his birth family for the first time. Jensen is adopted and has never met his birth family. The Make-A-Wish foundation planned a trip for Jensen to meet his family... read more.

Students at Northland Pines High School can take more Advanced Placement classes this year. The high school added two new classes last year and two more this year. Now, more students are taking AP classes and AP exams than ever before. "We had about 270 student sections, and that means it could be the same student taking multiple sections of Advanced Placement," says Principal Jim Brewer "[In] the 2013-14 school year, we had about 170 [students taking AP classes], so we grew by about 100 student sections in one year... read more.

Taxpayers in the Northland Pines School District will likely see some savings after the district refinanced its more than $16 million debt. This is the second time the district has been able to refinance. The move will save the district's taxpayers about $100,000 each year... read more.

Hundreds of people will ditch their pajamas and lace up their sneakers this weekend, when the second annual Moonlight Run starts up in Eagle River on Saturday, July 11. There will be a 1K at 9 p.m. for kids under 10 years old. The 5K run and walk will start at 10 p.m. The route starts at the railroad depot in downtown Eagle River. Downtown businesses will stay open late for a Moonlight Madness Sidewalk Sale. The kid's carnival will begin at 6 p.m... read more.

The younger generations of Americans will lead our country one day soon, so educators and veterans in Eagle River want students to understand the meaning of patriotism, freedom and sacrifice. Polling data shows younger Americans don't turn out to vote at nearly the rate older people do. But some veterans hope encouragement earlier in life will help kids to strengthen their connections to their state and their country. With that goal in mind, teachers at Eagle River Elementary School founded the All American Kids Club... read more.

SOAR was able to do a live broadcast with WJFW Channel 12.  This is part 1.

SOAR was able to do a live broadcast with WJFW Channel 12.  This is part 2.

One Northwoods middle school student hopes his trail design will help serve a local community. A Land O' Lakes group teamed up with Matthew Molter to plan the trail. The trail would be on town owned property. The Land O' Lakes Planning and Beautification Committee wanted to build an in-town walking, activity and learning trail. Matthew Molter now leads the project. He plans on winding the trail around the Town Park, tennis courts, pavilion and other landmarks. The Land O' Lakes Beautification Committee also wanted various activities on the trail. "When I met with them, I really just heard about it, and I made a rough draft of this, and we were mostly just brainstorming ideas... read more.

Only in the Northwoods can high school students ice fish as part of a gym class. "It's fun to be out with my classmates, and the guides give really good tips," said Emily Saltenberger, a Northland Pines student. Ice fishing is one of many activities Northland Pines High School students get to do in a physical education class. This is the tenth year the Eagle River Guides Association hosted classes for the students and gave them... read more.

One Northwoods school district can test a new program that's been in demand for years. It's all thanks to a rural schools grant. "One of the biggest things parents have talked about is, 'Do you have after school programs for the kids?'" said Eagle River Elementary and Northland Pines Middle School Principal Tony Duffek. For all the years Duffek has worked for the Northland Pines School District, his answer was, "Nothing on a consistent weekly basis." A $27,000 rural schools grant changed that... read more. 

Many young kids love to build with Legos. Some school teachers even use the blocks to help kids develop their hand-eye coordination or their understanding of spatial relationships. But a teacher at Eagle River Elementary uses Legos for a different purpose entirely. Library Director Jone Davis uses the blocks to help her students build their creative writing skills. Davis reads them a prompt, and then they have to depict the story with Legos. On Monday, the prompt described a volcano erupting in a garden... read more.

Sunday was the second year the Northwoods Blizzard Blast was held in Conover. The money raised goes to support Conover's volunteer fire department. Some of the events included ice bowling, ice golfing, youth archery, recliner races, dogsled dash, fireworks and an artisan bazaar. Newswatch 12 spoke with some of the volunteers. Two longtime friends had fun volunteering at the blast. Alex Gangler and Hunter Indermuehle volunteered at the ice bowling activity. "I was here last year, my dad's on the volunteer fire department, so I like to help out, volunteer for anything like this," said Indermuehle.  Alex and Hunter have been friends for nearly 10 years. Ice bowling was their favorite activity... read more.

Many high school students choose to participate in winter sports. But some students at Northland Pines High School chose a more artistic way to get through the colder months: this year's musical, Cinderella. The cast of Cinderella feels their involvement in the production has been a great experience, even though it can be nerve wracking. "When it gets to be about the first 15 minutes before, right before I'm about to go on stage, that's when it really gets that shock of 'Oh, I'm about to go out in front of all these hundreds of people," said Luke Simons, who plays the prince. After months of work, it's rewarding to see everything finally coming together... read more.

Maddie Smith will head to Madison to play volleyball in the fall. She will be the first volleyball player from Northland Pines to play for the Wisconsin Badgers. Maddie first played volleyball during an intramural game in seventh grade. But she didn't enjoy the experience. "No, I did not like it," Smith said with a laugh. But in high school Maddie realized that her mother played Division I volleyball for the Wisconsin Badgers. "I realized that my mom played for a big volleyball team and I was like, 'This is pretty cool," Maddie said. "I actually started to engage in it, and I finally caught on and was like, 'This is fun.' So I just kept with it and joined club and just got better and"... read more.

In school, kids learn not only how to read and write but also how to be good neighbors. A Northwoods school joined a national effort this week to show kindness to each other and the community. Eagle River Elementary School will mark its first ever Kindness Week this week. It's part of a nationwide school celebration called The Great Kindness Challenge. Students of all grades are trying to perform as many random acts of kindness as they can. The school plans to hold a series of events throughout the week. On Tuesday the students listened to a speaker talk about what it means to be a "good person." Students will also make a point to thank the bus drivers and custodians every day this week. There is also a door decorating contest. On Friday the students will wear pajamas to school to dream of kindness. 

It seems alternative educational programs in one Northwoods school district are becoming popular. Enrollment is now open for the SOAR Charter Middle School, SOAR Charter High School, and Montessori Learning Center in the Northland Pines School District. However, the charter middle school and some grade levels of the Montessori school have a waiting list. The SOAR Middle School enrollment is capped at 63 students. "A lot of our students, they'll do a project based on what their interest is and the idea is to keep them really excited about learning and keep them excited about going to school where they can actually work on projects that really piques their interest," said Northland Pines District Administrator Dr. Mike Richie.
 

Eagle River's ice castle usually draws many visitors every year. Due to weather, it wasn't built this year. But weather didn't stop the kindergarten ice castle from being built. For months, kindergarteners at Eagle River Elementary School have been collecting milk jugs for their fifth annual ice castle build. The Eagle River Fire Department was back to help them. "Firemans help you get their hot glue guns out," said kindergarten student Griffin Beyer. It's not real ice, but they build it to look like the ice castle that normally stands in town each winter. 

Students in one Northwoods district will now have more than one choice for high school. The Northland Pines School District will open the SOAR Charter High School next fall. The school will focus more on project-based learning than traditional schools.  "Instead of classes where bells ring every 45 minutes or on block days, longer, students will have chunks of time to work. They'll use projects to prove their knowledge and expertise in content. It won't be a grade on an assignment. The projects will be used to reach those goals," said Land O' Lakes Elementary and SOAR Middle School Principal Scott Foster. Students will still be able to take classes. Educators find some students prefer to take math or hands-on tech ed classes instead of doing a project. The school district already offers a charter school for 5th through 8th graders in Land O' Lakes. 

Northwoods students may have returned to school from Thanksgiving break on Monday, but they didn't leave their giving spirit at home. Some Eagle River Elementary fifth graders spent the morning making care packages for local seniors. Students filled bags with cookies, blank holiday cards, and stamped envelopes.
 

Laptops, tablets, and cell phones can be popular gifts during the holiday season, but tech stores can be crowded and you may feel the pressure to buy. Technology experts in the Northland Pines School District will offer demonstrations and answer questions about some of the newest products on the market.  They'll host Tech on the Tables Tuesday night.
 

The entire Northland Pines School District gathered to honor veterans. The assembly included a surprise for veterans. The Northland Pines School District Staff dedicated two tickets for the honor flight. The football team and the fire department each donated a ticket as well. "We feel it is important to honor our area veterans and get out to Washington DC to see the monuments that have been dedicated to them," said Eagle River Area Firefighter Michael Anderson. Four veterans were surprised with tickets including John Stepka. 

Each child learns differently. The Northland Pines School District wants to offer more educational options to students and their families. The district will open a Montessori Learning Center for 4K through second graders next fall. It will be located at the St. Germain Elementary School. Montessori programs create individual learning plans for students.

The 8th grade students have been busy throughout the school year working on many components of the Hive Alive! Sweet Science honeybee project. Students built two complete beehives in their Technology Education classes with the help of a local beekeeper. Student-generated designs were then painted onto the hives by students in their Art classes.  

Teachers may struggle to keep their students' attention. But one Northwoods German teacher found a way to make her students excited to learn about German language and culture. Students taking German class at Northland Pines got the opportunity to experience a traditional Oktoberfest. While some may associate Oktoberfest with beer, that wasn't the focus of the original celebration in the 1800s or at Northland Pines. 

Students across the region crunched into apples at the same time Friday. It was in celebration of Food Day. Food Day raises awareness of where food comes from and eating healthy. Check out Eagle River Elementary School kids enjoying their apples and they'll tell you why it's important to eat healthy.
 

We often think of our teachers teaching, but educators sometimes return to the classroom as students. They need to keep learning, too. Some Northwoods educators will return to the classroom as students Saturday, October 18th. Northland Pines High School will host an EdCamp. The event offers professional development workshops to educators. It works differently than other teacher conferences. In fact, teachers call this an "unconference."

One Northwoods school district wants to show its taxpayers where some of their tax dollars are going. The Northland Pines School District will open some high school technology labs to the public every Tuesday afternoon. "We have great support from the community. They support our referendums. They support everything that we do so we have an excellent facility. And we want people to be able to come in and use that facility outside of just the students using it during the school day," said NPHS Technology and Engineering Education instructor Tim Lehman.

Last spring the Northland Pines High School in Eagle River, WI, purchased a new piece of technology that is creating some exciting and unique opportunities for students and even local community members.  After a year or so of discussing the idea and searching for the right opportunity, the Technology Education department purchased a MakerBot Replicator 2X 3D printer...

Area School Districts Meet/Exceed Expectations  At Northland Pines, the school district scored 75.8, within the exceeds expectations ranges of 73 to 82.9...

June 20, 2014.  This was an enormously important day for those who have fought cancer and lost, those who have fought cancer and have survived, and those who are currently fighting cancer and need the help of all of us to survive.  It was the date of the Northwoods Relay for Life.  One of the initiatives the Northland Pines School District feels very strongly about is helping all those in our school community understand the importance of connecting within our community by participating in events and functions that support our citizens in all ways...

Kids from China got to see a different part of the world thanks to the Northland Pines School District and Trees for Tomorrow in Eagle River. Students and hosts overcame barriers to give each other a learning experience they'll never forget. You don't see this in many places in China, but 20 Chinese students did get the chance to experience the Northwoods, thanks to the Northland Adventure Quest. "There's been a lot of time with the students really admiring that and taking advantage of that," says Camp Advisor Kate Neville. "Swimming in Lake Superior and experiencing water quality testing in the Deerskin River."
 

The Northland Pines School District just got $300,000 in grants from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. One is to help start a Montessori Learning Center. It will open in the Fall of 2015 for 4K through fourth graders. The district will spend this year planning and hiring staff.  The Montessori Learning Center will most likely be in St. Germain.

Camp doesn't involve bonfires, hiking and the outdoors for one group of Northwoods middle schoolers. Instead, their camp gets them ready for high school engineering classes and beyond. "It's a lot more complicated than most people think," said eighth grader Hunter Indermuehle. He is one of eighteen 6th, 7th, and 8th graders spending this week back in the classroom for Engineering Camp at Northland Pines. "It's just really fun to do it. You get to engineer stuff. You have to make a bunch of different kinds of stuff. You've got to design it. You've got to look at your parts and then you've got to assemble it," Indermuehle explained.

A non-traditional spring sport seems to be gaining a lot of momentum and it's the perfect fit for many Northwoods students. Saturday schools competed in the first annual North Central Wisconsin conference shoot-off. Northland Pines and the Langlade County youth team began competitively trap shooting last year and now, 5 more area schools have joined.

Living full time in a community where most people come only to vacation has its advantages, but with all the beautiful nature and fun activities around Eagle River, keeping kids focused on school may not always be easy.  That's why the Northland Pines School District finds ways to incorporate all this region has to offer into the classroom experience.

View the :30 second commercial that shows just a few features of the Northland Pines School District.

Sunday was a joyous day for students graduating at Northland Pines High School in Eagle River. Each of them seemed happy to finally get their diploma. But there was one person in the crowd who waited 69 years to get his high school diploma. "It is my honor to present Ralph May a Northland Pines High School diploma," said Northland Pines District Administrator Dr. Mike Richie.

Teachers look for ways to make learning engaging. One Northland Pines High School science teacher created a hands-on way for students to use science and math, without even really noticing it. 

More than 100 students left Northland Pines Middle School with a backpack full of fishing supplies Tuesday, June 10, 2014.

Kids can easily get bored in the summer. Reading a book is one way kids can stay on track with school and not be bored.

Engineering instructors at Northland Pines High School hope new technology will give students an advantage when they go to college or start a career. 

Todd Wilfer's eighth grade science class thought they should start raising honey bees, so they turned to the community and got things going. The honey bee project started out as a way teaching kids science in the community. When you gather the honey, you have to wear protective suits, not only to protect yourself, but to protect the bees.

Finishing a 5k race can bring you a rewarding feeling, regardless of age. Dozens of third, fourth and fifth graders from Northland Pines are up for the challenge. Newswatch 12 found how they're preparing for the big race. Preparing for a 5k race might sound exhausting. But for these kids in Eagle River, it's a way to achieve goals. 110 students at Eagle River Elementary School run in Mission Possible Running Club. They've been training twice a week for seven weeks. 

Parents want to know their kids are safe while at school. That's why schools take steps to keep their buildings secure.  Northland Pines High School is securing the building with a new system.  Every visitor has to have their state ID or drivers license scanned. The program then looks up the person. That way the school can find out more about the visitor.

Northland Pines High School can now say it's one of best schools in the state. U.S. News and World Report ranked the school 33 out of 485 high schools in Wisconsin. Class size and the number of Advanced Placement classes offered are two of the factors used to figure out the rankings.School leaders feel honored to be recognized.

Adults might deal with tough issues like suicide and depression, but sometimes kids have to deal with them too. Eighth graders in Eagle River gathered to talk about tough issues today. The Social Problems Awareness Fair was held at the Northland Pines Middle School.

We all love our favorite sports teams. But what would happen if you had to dress up in your rival's gear? That's exactly what happened to Bears fan, Jerry Healy.  He's the janitor at St. Germain Elementary School. Healy challenged the students to raise over $700 for charity. If they did he'd wear the green and gold.

The Northland Pines School District took over the YMCA in Eagle River in March.  Since then, some new people have bought memberships to the gym.  Membership fees don't cover all the costs of running the Pines Community Wellness Center so organizers are hoping a popular nighttime run will help. The Northland Pines School District will host the Moonlight Run Saturday, July 12th.

Nikki Deditz and Amanda Farrow will always remember their junior prom…and the friends that made it special. Project UNIFY students at Northland Pines High School wanted to make sure Nikki and Amanda got the same prom experience as any student.

Companies need more workers to go into the construction field. One Northwoods high school prepares students for the field by building their own house. 10 students at Northland Pines are working on the project.

Some families don't need to go far to try new activities.  Northland Pines High School gives families the chance to use the school's equipment to try many different activities. "We started family fun day a few years ago just because we have this great facility for people to enjoy in the community," said Tammy Schroeder, a Physical Education teacher. Parents and their kids can try activities like wall climbing, ping pong and using the batting cage.

Tourism means big business in the Northwoods.  That's one of the reasons why Wisconsin K-12 schools can't legally start until September first or after.  Many school age kids work summer jobs that serve tourists into the late summer, but that later start day could hurt some schools. Northland Pines wants to start earlier.  It says the Eagle River area doesn't see as many tourists in late August.

An a cappella group tours the country helping schools raise money for choir programs. They'll perform in Eagle River tonight. But before the concert, reVoiced sung to a a group of students at Northland Pines High School. 

Some local elementary schoolers proved you don't need to be in Sochi to feel the Olympic spirit. Elementary schoolers in Eagle River could fool you into thinking you were in Sochi. Students ditched their school books for flags and athletic gear to participate in the 2014 Eagle River Elementary Olympics Thursday.

Soccer players may need to wait for the snow on their fields to melt. But they know cabin fever is starting to set in, and it's the perfect time to capitalize on it. The 7th annual Cabin Fever Indoor Soccer Tournament kicked off today at Northland Pines High School. The event raises money for the school's boy's and girl's soccer teams. 

Middle school dances can be an uncomfortable part of growing up. But a little bit of dance practice is just what some Northland Pines Middle School students needed to break out of their shell. Eighth graders at Northland Pines Middle School can show off some new moves at the next school dance. Students spent the past two weeks in gym class learning to dance with different partners.

70 degrees and sunny might seem far from here.  But students at Northland Pines get to enjoy that every day at their garden. The garden is located inside Northland Pine's Greenhouse. They're gardening for a class. The class lets students learn more about growing their own food.

Firefighters know the importance of getting to know children. It makes children more comfortable with them in an emergency. But instead of showing kids their oxygen tanks and masks, firefighters bonded with local kids over milk jugs. And all Northland Pines Elementary kindergarteners know about the milk jug castle.

Students ditched their desks for a dentist's chair Thursday. 86 2nd and 6th graders at Northland Pines got free dental exams and sealant put on their teeth. The Northwoods Dental project travels to local schools to provide free dental care.

One school in Vilas County created special food donations to help their community.  3rd, 4th, and 5th graders from St. Germain Elementary School participated in a program called "Warm the Heart". The children participating measured out and packaged soup portions. The program uses a blend of both community service as well as math to teach the kids about helping the community.

We hear the saying, "It's better to give than receive," a lot this season.  It may sound cliché, but students at Northland Pines Middle School know it's true. 6th, 7th, and 8th graders raised $2,100 for a local shelter in just five days.

A Northwoods middle school started a fundraising competition Monday that will help raise money for the Frederick Place in Rhinelander. Grades six through eight at Northland Pines Middle School in Eagle River will compete to raise the most money.  Students donate a dollar to buy a brick. The goal is to get the most bricks on the tape framed house on the wall in the school's cafeteria.

Students at Northland Pines High School will make their debut in the Sound of Music this weekend. Cast members think being part of a musical teaches them more than how to memorize lines. For them, being part of the musical group is just as important as playing a sport. 
 

More bees will be coming to the Northwoods this Spring, in Eagle River to be exact. Northland Pines Eighth graders have been working hard to create beehives to house honey bees.  The project was initially started as a way of involving kids with science and the community. Technology students used computer software to plan and create the structure of the hives. Art students created exterior designs by painting the outsides of the honey bee homes.

Students in Eagle River can explore the stars- without even leaving their school. The Star Lab was at Eagle River Elementary. The Star Lab is a portable planetarium. A projector inside of the lab shows constellations. 

Last week, the season ended for the Northland Pines boys basketball team. The team only won one game all season long.  But for one Eagle River family, great memories were made - despite the record.  That's because one of the sons is able to enjoy life from the sidelines - despite obstacles. 

The two top girls hockey teams in the Great Northern Conference met in Eagle River tonight. State-ranked Northland Pines was unbeaten in the conference going in. They could wrap up the conference title tonight. Standing in their way, the Northern Edge. They had an outside shot of tying for tops in the conference. But Northland Pines exploded for three goals in the third period. Kali Ebert scored twice in the period, including a short-handed goal for the game-winner.  Northland Pines wrapped up the conference with the 4-1 victory.

When we think of middle school, we think of sitting at a desk, and taking lots of quizzes and tests. But students at the SOAR Charter School don't identify with any of that. "I love it. It's a great opportunity for lots of people who like to be very independent with their work," says 6th grader Lily Tyler.  She started at the brand new SOAR Charter School in Land O'Lakes this year.

We told you last week about a Lakeland Union High School teacher getting National Board Certification. It turns out that's true for even more educators in the Northwoods. Four teachers from Northland Pines also got the award this year. National Board Certification is the highest honor a teacher can get. The Principal of Northland Pines has the award. He thinks it benefits the students. 
 

Teachers look for ways to make learning fun for their students.  One Northland Pines teacher decided to combine a Food Network TV show with her lesson plan. 

Every fall, the Vilas Food Pantry sees more families come in for help. Every fall, the Northland Pines School District helps the pantry and those families. Pines teachers delivered 275 grocery bags to the food pantry today. Each of the bags had all of the trimmings for Thanksgiving dinner inside. The food pantry will give each family a voucher to buy turkey or other meat.

Most of us know businesses demand hard work to begin. Northland Pines fifth graders found out just how much work it takes to start their own business. Students worked in groups to create a business that sold a product they could make themselves. Today students' businesses were open in the school's library.

The All American Kids Club was started in the fall of 2012 to instill a sense of pride and patriotism in Kindergarten through 5th grade students, while thanking veterans for their service. The All American Kids Club would like to thank all of those that support our club and efforts, and thank you to all veterans for your service and sacrifice!  If you would like more information about the AAKC, please contact Sarah Simac or Nanci Foster at Eagle River Elementary School.  In February 2014 the All American Kids Club teamed up with the Eagle River Fire Department to buy 2 Honor Flight Tickets to suprise 2 local Veterans.

Northwoods schools struggle to find teachers for some classes like Mandarin Chinese.  In the past, that meant students couldn't take those classes.  But thanks to technology, students can take classes even if their schools don't offer them. "I figured that Mandarin was pretty popular so it would have a lot of use," says Northland Pines High School Sophomore Daniel Livingston.  He didn't want attending a smaller Northwoods school to stop him from learning what he wanted. Livingston started taking Mandarin classes in September.

Some people know what they want to do for a career at an early age.  A group of Northwoods students knew they wanted to go into the medical field at an early age.  Members of the Northland Pines Health Occupation Students of America work to improve their knowledge of the medical field. 

We hear about budget cuts that force schools to get rid of art programs. A local arts organization wants to highlight the importance of arts education. Land O' Lakes Area Artisans (LOLA) is a non-profit arts organization offering art classes and cultural programming to adults and kids. This month, LOLA's gallery features an exhibit called, "What Will Kids Imagine Next?" It features art work from local elementary and homeschool students.

In celebration of the 100th Day of School, students and staff at the Land O' Lakes Elementary school held their annual 100th Day Food Drive in hopes of collecting 100 boxes/cans/packages of food for the local food pantry.  The whole Land O' Lakes Elementary School helped donate food.  The Kindergarten class then counts the food to see how much they have collected.  Then they haul all the food over to the food pantry on sleds; the kids take turns pulling the sleds. In 2013-14, they were able to collect 159 food items! 18 Kindergartners made the trip pulling 9 sleds. While they were in the Headwaters Food Pantry, the ladies there made sure they each got a cup of hot chocolate and a cookie! They also all got to sign their names on a chalkboard displayed at the Food Pantry.  On the way back to school the kids took turns pulling each other in the sleds.

Boys and girls hockey teams are hitting the ice for the first practices of the season.  For the Northland Pines boys, it's a season of high expectations.  Pines will have a different look from last year. The biggest change - Austin Ramesh is graduated and with the Badger football team.  A year ago, the Eagles made to the section semifinals.  Now it's a whole new year - filled with even loftier goals.

Wisconsin officials want to grow the economy through manufacturing. Those employers look for properly trained workers. A welding competition helped Northland Pines students get ready to fill those manufacturing jobs. 

Northland Pines High School has one act play called "Ths Phne 2.0". Yeah, I know it's not spelled exactly right...that's part of the point.

Northland Pines students will use a new kind of a book this fall.  The district is buying Chromebooks for all of its high school students. The district tested Chromebooks in some classrooms last year. But now, every high school student will have one, and they'll be able to take them home every day. Students and parents will get a handbook to help them learn how to use the laptops. Teachers are also going through extensive training.

We try to keep our kids safe everyday. When they're at school, we have to trust the district to keep them safe. Northland Pines needs to make some upgrades to make sure its students and staff are safe. The District has been working with the sheriff and police departments to make schools safer. They want safety to start even before you walk in the doors at Pines.
 

The honors just keep coming for administrators in the Northland Pines School District. District Administrator Mike Richie was named the nation's Superintendent of the Year last year. Now, a Pines principal is claiming her own honor. "The lights were out. I still had no clue," Northland Pines Middle School Principal Jackie Coghlan said. Coghlan had no clue that she would be surprised by her students and staff Friday morning.