Each week, we're featuring a staff member to help you get to know the amazing people who make De Soto High School such a special place. This week is Heather Stenslien, first grade teacher at Prairie View and PV PTO President.
🏴☠️This is the start of her 21st year teaching.
🏴☠️Heather was born and raised in the beautiful town of Genoa.
🏴☠️She has been married to her husband, Steve, for 18 years and lives in De Soto. Her daughter is in 8th grade at middle school, and her son is in 5th grade at PV.
🏴☠️She loves watching her children participate in sports and other hobbies. She enjoys being active in our community by volunteering for our PTO, singing and teaching CCD at St Charles Church and being involved in our local 4H club.
🏴☠️One fun fact about her is that she is a 2 time Wild West Days Pig Wrestling Champion.
🏴☠️When asked what excites her most about De Soto, Heather says building relationships with the families is the most important and exciting thing about working in our district. Having been here for more than 20 years, I’ve been lucky to teach many siblings and have gotten to know families on a more personal level. Prairie View has become a second family for me.
🏴☠️This is the start of her 21st year teaching.
🏴☠️Heather was born and raised in the beautiful town of Genoa.
🏴☠️She has been married to her husband, Steve, for 18 years and lives in De Soto. Her daughter is in 8th grade at middle school, and her son is in 5th grade at PV.
🏴☠️She loves watching her children participate in sports and other hobbies. She enjoys being active in our community by volunteering for our PTO, singing and teaching CCD at St Charles Church and being involved in our local 4H club.
🏴☠️One fun fact about her is that she is a 2 time Wild West Days Pig Wrestling Champion.
🏴☠️When asked what excites her most about De Soto, Heather says building relationships with the families is the most important and exciting thing about working in our district. Having been here for more than 20 years, I’ve been lucky to teach many siblings and have gotten to know families on a more personal level. Prairie View has become a second family for me.
This year at Stoddard, 2nd grade is learning about community in Social Studies. Today they got to walk to Creamery Creek and spend time getting to know the residents as well as reading books together. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to experience community firsthand.
🛠️ A Huge Thank You to the La Crosse Area Builders Association! 🙌
We want to give a big shout-out to the La Crosse Area Builders Association for their continued support through the Tools for Schools program! 👏
Thanks to this amazing initiative, we received a new set of high-quality tools — helping us keep our equipment up to date and aligned with what professionals use in the industry every day. 🔧⚙️
We’ve been fortunate to benefit from this program for many years, and it continues to make a lasting impact on our students’ hands-on learning experience.
🎥 Check out this video from the banquet: https://www.news8000.com/news/tools-for-schools-grant-giveaway/video_66266d8f-86a2-5c78-8642-68fe8a8ce85a.html
📸 And here’s a look at our new tools!
Thank you again, La Crosse Area Builders Association, for investing in the next generation of builders and trades professionals! 💪
We want to give a big shout-out to the La Crosse Area Builders Association for their continued support through the Tools for Schools program! 👏
Thanks to this amazing initiative, we received a new set of high-quality tools — helping us keep our equipment up to date and aligned with what professionals use in the industry every day. 🔧⚙️
We’ve been fortunate to benefit from this program for many years, and it continues to make a lasting impact on our students’ hands-on learning experience.
🎥 Check out this video from the banquet: https://www.news8000.com/news/tools-for-schools-grant-giveaway/video_66266d8f-86a2-5c78-8642-68fe8a8ce85a.html
📸 And here’s a look at our new tools!
Thank you again, La Crosse Area Builders Association, for investing in the next generation of builders and trades professionals! 💪
Game day! Come cheer on the Lady Pirates!
Join us for our upcoming blood drive!
Students will have the opportunity to order their De Soto Letter Jacket on Wednesday, November 5th from 11:05–11:45 AM.
A representative from Meca Sportswear will be on-site to help with sizing and answer any questions. Jackets feature a maroon wool body, maroon leather sleeves, and gold leather shoulder inserts — a true Pirate classic! 💛
💰 Letter Jacket Package Price: $235
A $175 deposit is required at the time of order.
Athletes of the week!
Prairie View students showcased their creativity by decorating pumpkins in art class last week. Parents coming in for conferences got to vote on the best pumpkin design, and all the students and staff had a chance to vote on Friday. Today the winners were announced for Best Pumpkin Design. The winners are as follows: Delaney in Kindergarten, River in 1st grade, Ronnie in 2nd grade, and Cora in 3rd grade, Conrad in 4th grade, and Ellie in 5th grade. The winners received goodie bags.
Prairie View Star Students!
Game Day
📣 MS/HS Families – Mark Your Calendars! 🗓️
👨🏫 Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 23rd from 3:45 PM to 7:45 PM.
We’re offering in-person, virtual, or phone conferences – whatever works best for you!
🔗 Click here to schedule your conference:
https://www.desoto.k12.wi.us/o/mshs/page/schedule-a-conference1
✅ Be sure to select the correct date and choose an available time slot.
Thank you for staying connected and involved in your student’s education!
👨🏫 Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 23rd from 3:45 PM to 7:45 PM.
We’re offering in-person, virtual, or phone conferences – whatever works best for you!
🔗 Click here to schedule your conference:
https://www.desoto.k12.wi.us/o/mshs/page/schedule-a-conference1
✅ Be sure to select the correct date and choose an available time slot.
Thank you for staying connected and involved in your student’s education!
Each week, we're featuring a staff member to help you get to know the amazing people who make De Soto High School such a special place. This week is Tom Dwyer, MS/HS School Counselor.
🏴☠️ He is the MS/HS School Counselor.
🏴☠️ He's been teaching here since January of 2022.
🏴☠️ He is originally from La Crosse, but grew up in the Chicagoland area.
🏴☠️He and his two kittens, Link and Zelda, that he adopted about 3 weeks ago.
🏴☠️ His hobbies include a love for sports. He participates in multiple tennis and sand volleyball leagues in La Crosse every summer. He loves to golf and frisbee golf as well. In the winter, he plays in a basketball league , and he ski's as much as he can. He is also a diehard sports fan, but the Packers will always be my #1 team! Outside of sports, he loves to read, play video games, watch movies, and see live music.
🏴☠️ A fun fact about him, he spent a summer studying abroad in Spain during my undergrad years to finish his Spanish minor at Northern Illinois University (go Huskies!). He was lucky to be there when the Spanish national soccer team won the Euro Cup, and he ran with the bulls in Pamplona!
🏴☠️When asked what excites her most about De Soto, Tom says I love working in a small community. I love that I can know every student's name and they all know me, too. I also think we have dedicated staff members who are engaged in their work and truly care about our students.
🏴☠️ He is the MS/HS School Counselor.
🏴☠️ He's been teaching here since January of 2022.
🏴☠️ He is originally from La Crosse, but grew up in the Chicagoland area.
🏴☠️He and his two kittens, Link and Zelda, that he adopted about 3 weeks ago.
🏴☠️ His hobbies include a love for sports. He participates in multiple tennis and sand volleyball leagues in La Crosse every summer. He loves to golf and frisbee golf as well. In the winter, he plays in a basketball league , and he ski's as much as he can. He is also a diehard sports fan, but the Packers will always be my #1 team! Outside of sports, he loves to read, play video games, watch movies, and see live music.
🏴☠️ A fun fact about him, he spent a summer studying abroad in Spain during my undergrad years to finish his Spanish minor at Northern Illinois University (go Huskies!). He was lucky to be there when the Spanish national soccer team won the Euro Cup, and he ran with the bulls in Pamplona!
🏴☠️When asked what excites her most about De Soto, Tom says I love working in a small community. I love that I can know every student's name and they all know me, too. I also think we have dedicated staff members who are engaged in their work and truly care about our students.
Game Day
Athletes of the Week
Game Day
Prairie View Star Students
Game Day
📚 De Soto Public Library – Hours & Services 📚
📍 111 Houghton Street
De Soto, WI 54624
📞 (608) 648-3593
🕒 Library Hours
Tuesdays & Wednesdays: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturdays: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
🚗 Curbside Pickup: Available by request! Just give us a call.
🔎 Search our catalog online:
https://17751.rmwebopac.com
(Need your card info? Contact us!)
🌐 Visit us online:
Website: https://desotolibrary.wrlsweb.org
Facebook: DeSotoWIPublicLibrary
Come visit us — in person or online — and discover all your library has to offer!
📍 111 Houghton Street
De Soto, WI 54624
📞 (608) 648-3593
🕒 Library Hours
Tuesdays & Wednesdays: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturdays: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
🚗 Curbside Pickup: Available by request! Just give us a call.
🔎 Search our catalog online:
https://17751.rmwebopac.com
(Need your card info? Contact us!)
🌐 Visit us online:
Website: https://desotolibrary.wrlsweb.org
Facebook: DeSotoWIPublicLibrary
Come visit us — in person or online — and discover all your library has to offer!
Our 8th grade students participated in Civil War Education Day at Norskedalen today.
Students had the opportunity to engage in a variety of hands-on learning sessions, exploring topics such as Fashions of the 1860s, Field Printing Press, Forming a Company, Artillery, Flags of the Civil War, and 1860s Photography. They also learned from reenactors portraying Union and Confederate soldiers and heard the story of Cordelia Harvey.
This experience provided a meaningful and interactive way for students to deepen their understanding of American history and the Civil War era.
Each week, we're featuring a staff member to help you get to know the amazing people who make De Soto High School such a special place. This week is Ev Wick, fifth grade teacher at Prairie View.
🏴☠️ He is the 5th grade teacher at PV, Driver's Ed instructor, Bus Driver, and Football Coach.
🏴☠️ This is his 24th year teaching.
🏴☠️ He is originally from Clear Lake, WI.
🏴☠️He and his wife live outside of Red Mound. Their son is an 8th grader at DMS and their daughter is a 4th grader at PV.
🏴☠️ His hobbies include Ice fishing, concerts, sporting events, and playing guitar.
🏴☠️ A fun fact about him, he had perfect attendance from 7th through 12th grade.
🏴☠️When asked what excites her most about De Soto, Ev says he likes being part of a small district. The PV PTO provides a ton of extra opportunities for the kids.
🏴☠️ He is the 5th grade teacher at PV, Driver's Ed instructor, Bus Driver, and Football Coach.
🏴☠️ This is his 24th year teaching.
🏴☠️ He is originally from Clear Lake, WI.
🏴☠️He and his wife live outside of Red Mound. Their son is an 8th grader at DMS and their daughter is a 4th grader at PV.
🏴☠️ His hobbies include Ice fishing, concerts, sporting events, and playing guitar.
🏴☠️ A fun fact about him, he had perfect attendance from 7th through 12th grade.
🏴☠️When asked what excites her most about De Soto, Ev says he likes being part of a small district. The PV PTO provides a ton of extra opportunities for the kids.
