During the early stages of the hour-long monthly meeting of the Isle School Board on Oct. 19, Sara Dangers, representing several parents of IHS students, was given the floor to present a proposal regarding the school’s graduation requirements. Simply put, Dangers said in a written statement … Read more

Homecoming activities throughout the week. Read more

Isle National Honor Society cleaning ditches on a chilly early October afternoon. Read more

Isle homecoming King and Queen Read more

On the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 12, the Messenger received communications from the Isle School District Office, indicating that a staff member has tested positive for COVID-19. Superintendent Dean Kapsner did not identify the positive COVID-19 cases but explained via email what precautions … Read more

Award makes fourth consecutive recognition for Onamia High School Read more

Onamia School Board discusses positive COVID case, shift to hybrid model Read more

Teachers in Isle received a delivery of school supplies from East Central Energy (ECE). Known as Teacher Totes, the items were donated by ECE in partnership with CoBank, a financial institution that supports the work of cooperatives nationwide through their Sharing Success program. Read more

School started for Onamia and Isle students participating in in-person learning last Tuesday, Sept. 8. School officials and teachers had to expedite their plans to reopen schools after they were given the green light to open in-person last month. The COVID-19 case numbers in Mille Lacs Count… Read more

The Isle School Board and school administration have been hammering out details to open up for in-person learning since July, and most recently during two special meetings held to finalize and approve plans. Students returned to class this Tuesday. Read more

Ideal projected savings could total nearly $900,000 Read more

Holding their third weekly meeting this month, the Onamia School Board came together on Monday, Aug. 24 and officially voted to start with an in-school model for both their elementary and secondary programs this fall. This vote came after extensive discussion and questions, as they attempted… Read more

It’s that time of year again: the start of the new school year. Onamia and Isle schools are gearing up for the 2020-21 school year amid COVID-19 uncertainties. As school schedules may be fluctuating every 14 days as COVID cases either rise or fall, teachers are making plans, even if those pl… Read more

Modeling the upcoming school year amid the coronavirus pandemic once again proved a source of extensive conversation for the Onamia School Board at their work session held Monday, Aug. 10. Superintendent JJ Vold presented the numbers that would influence which of five learning models the sch… Read more

The Isle School Board met for a special meeting on Monday, Aug. 3 to further discuss details for the fall school year after Gov. Tim Walz made an announcement that students can go back in-person this fall provided that COVID-19 case counts in the area stay at or below current levels. Read more

43% of surveyed families favor in-school learning, 34% for distance learning Read more

Local school districts share partial plans for fall after Governor’s announcement Read more

Isle School held their prom on June 25, with social distancing along with an enchanted evening in mind. The event later sailed off on a riverboat in Stillwater. Read more

The Isle School Board met for their regular meeting on Monday, July 20. Read more

Learn an ancient Japanese technique called Orizomegami to create beautiful designs on a variety of papers during a special Legacy program Monday, Aug. 3 at 7 p.m. Read more

Teachers share thoughts on educating through COVID Read more

East Central Regional Library is excited to welcome Minnesota author Sue Leaf who will talk about her newest book, “Minnesota’s Geologist: The Life of Newton Horace Winchell,” on the Zoom online platform Monday, July 27 from 6:30-8 p.m. Read more

Lots of smiles Read more

What will school look like when students return this fall – or even if they return? This was the question the Onamia School Board set out to grapple with at their work session, held Monday, July 6. Superintendent JJ Vold and elementary principal Lisa DeMars spoke on three potential models fo… Read more

Projected increase of $313,956 by the end of next year Read more

The American Legion Riders Post 395 decided last year to start giving scholarships to two graduating high school seniors. This year’s scholarship winners were Onamia High School seniors Bryce Brandt and Zach Anderson, both receiving funds each of $500.  Presenting the check to Brandt is Bria… Read more

The Isle School Board met for their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 15 in the school auditorium to discuss a number of topics. This was the first time in months the board held an in person meeting since the COVID-19 crisis began and meetings were held online. Read more

The Onamia School Board met for their regular meeting on Monday, May 18, virtually convening via the Google Meeting application. At this meeting, the administration discussed their grading policy for the fourth quarter of the 2020 spring semester. Due to the school closure and distance learn… Read more

For generations, Onamia High seniors gathered in the school’s gym in late May for the traditional graduation ceremony which usually included processing into the hall to Edward Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance” played by the school band, listening to welcoming and inspiring speeches delivered b… Read more

Jaeden King was one of 41 2020 Onamia High graduating seniors who took part in a fire-department-led parade down main street Onamia following an outdoor graduation ceremony on Friday evening, May 29. Jaeden was also one of three OHS seniors chosen to speak at the graduation event. A pictoria… Read more

On Friday, May 8, Gov. Walz decided all in-person ceremonies would not allow enough social distancing and banned large-scale high school graduation ceremonies, such as those held in large outdoor stadiums or football fields, altogether. Read more

The graduation ceremony for Isle High School’s senior class has been rescheduled for July 17 after consultation with the seniors, according to a post made to the school’s official Facebook page on May 4. The post also notes that plans will be adapted for whatever health and safety guidelines… Read more

Convening for their usual monthly meeting on Monday, April 20, via the Zoom teleconferencing software to abide by social distancing guidelines, the Isle School Board addressed both the school calendar for next year as well as a revised budget for the current fiscal year, the latter showing a… Read more