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Reporting on the school year as it winds down wouldn’t be complete without recognition of volunteers who have given significant time and effort aiding teachers and students. The Onalaska School District chose nine individuals as this year’s recipients of the annual Friends of Education award by each of the school’s staff.
The Onalaska Kindergarten Center staff chose John and Alana Havenstrite as their recipients of the award. According to Saner, “John and Alana have been volunteering to give dental health presentations to our kindergartners for the past several years.”
Alana said they have also donated contest prizes for the school’s punt, pass and kick contest and helped in other ways through the years.
“It’s fun,” Alana said. “Our kids are our motivation. Schools anywhere around here are fabulous. The teachers are great. I always have goose bumps with things that happen around here.”
Northern Hills Elementary staff chose Kim Gargaro as their recipient of the award. Gargaro has four children in the district schools and has been involved at Northern Hills Elementary since their youngest was a first-grader there.
“Kim is the type of parent who will do “whatever it takes, whatever you need, whatever I can do to help,” said Principal Curt Rees. “She’s intelligent, caring, a lot of fun to be around, and works incredibly hard here at school.”
“It’s important for parents to be involved in the schools their children attend,” Gargaro said. “I like watching (the students) grow academically and socially. I like getting to know other children in school, getting to know the teachers. I always have a lot of fun. It never felt like a job.”
Gargaro said she told Rees he could have bought her a cup of coffee as recognition. “I don’t need the recognition,” she said. “I’m honored and appreciative, but embarrassed.”
Cheryl Miller and Martha Thomas were recognized as the Irving Pertzsch Friends of Education. “Both of them are just wonderful, wonderful women,” said Principal Jacquelyn Lyga. “We are thrilled and honored that they touched our lives as they have and we will miss them as their children move on.”
Miller’s last of two daughters is moving on to middle school next year. Lyga said Miller was instrumental in getting fundraising activities moving for various projects. “She was kind to everyone and very, very helpful,” Lyga said. “She never balked at what needed to be done and she dug right in.”
Thomas’ last of three children is also moving on to the middle school next year. Lyga said Thomas was often the school photographer. “She is a wonderful cheerleader for all,” Lyga said. “We also joked a lot that she makes the best cookies. … Martha is a dream. She is a lovely lady with lovely children. So sweet.”
Staff at Eagle Bluff Elementary School chose Robin Klipp as their recipient of the recognition.
“I was surprised,” Klipp said. “The staff there is so wonderful, they make coming and volunteering a true pleasure and the children are just a joy to work with.”
“Robin has volunteered on virtually every committee imaginable through our Parent Teacher Organiz-ation,” said Todd Saner, Eagle Bluff principal .
Jackie Dawson and Jane Mason were chosen by the staff at Onalaska Middle School. “The two almost always work as a team. They have been parent representatives on the Responsive Education for All Children Team the last two year which has been a huge time commitment,” said Principal Roger Fruit. “They are both active in the PTO and you will see both of them at school regularly helping out in a variety of capacities and always with a smile on their face and a kind word to say.”
“I was just baffled,” said Dawson of the award. “I was like, ‘Are you sure?’ There are so many wonderful parents that give even more time than I do. I was very honored because it’s such a wonderful staff and so many parents out there, it’s just an honorable thing. It’s a privilege to help out there.”
Mason was equally surprised. “I was surprised because there are a lot of people doing many great things,” she said. “I was flattered. It’s nice to know that what you are trying to do is appreciated by people at the school.
The staff at Onalaska High School nominated Brenda Kingsbury, manager of the Outback Steakhouse in Onalaska. “Brenda and Outback Steakhouse were major sponsors of the first annual Taste of Onalaska event in support of the Onalaska Foundation for Educational Excellence,” said OHS Principal Peter Woerpel.
He said Outback Steakhouse was also a major sponsor of the Best Band World Tour, helping to raise $16,000 for the OHS Band Student Scholarship for the Marching Hilltoppers trip to the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla.
“In order to do this, Brenda Kingsbury and Outback donated hundreds of steak dinners for the event and have already agreed to do the same for this coming fall for the second annual Best Band World Tour event,” Woerpel said.
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