🎡 Are your kids exhibiting at the Vernon County Fair?
Our staff will be spending part of next Friday's in-service visiting the fair and checking out our students' hard work!
We'd love to know what your student is exhibiting and where we can find it so our teachers can stop by and see as many student projects as possible.
Please take a minute to fill out this short form by Monday evening:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdwHFs7-63mYUgFgt5634JQPcxHqWP459EaIA5tIJD-CyxIww/viewform?usp=header
Thank you and Good Luck Exhibitors!
Our staff will be spending part of next Friday's in-service visiting the fair and checking out our students' hard work!
We'd love to know what your student is exhibiting and where we can find it so our teachers can stop by and see as many student projects as possible.
Please take a minute to fill out this short form by Monday evening:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdwHFs7-63mYUgFgt5634JQPcxHqWP459EaIA5tIJD-CyxIww/viewform?usp=header
Thank you and Good Luck Exhibitors!
This week, our middle and high school students had the opportunity to learn from guest presenter Luke Cumbee during his presentation, “Staying Human in the Age of AI.”
A 12-year classroom teacher, TEDx speaker on AI in education, and now a leader in AI training for schools across the country, Luke challenged students to think critically about the role of AI in their learning and everyday lives.
Students explored topics including:
-Evaluating information and recognizing what’s real
- Protecting privacy in an AI-powered world
- Using AI responsibly
- Keeping their own thinking at the center of learning
One highlight was “Real or AI,” a game that put students’ critical-thinking skills to the test!
Thank you, Luke, for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation about how we can embrace new technology while making sure we stay human in the process.
A 12-year classroom teacher, TEDx speaker on AI in education, and now a leader in AI training for schools across the country, Luke challenged students to think critically about the role of AI in their learning and everyday lives.
Students explored topics including:
-Evaluating information and recognizing what’s real
- Protecting privacy in an AI-powered world
- Using AI responsibly
- Keeping their own thinking at the center of learning
One highlight was “Real or AI,” a game that put students’ critical-thinking skills to the test!
Thank you, Luke, for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation about how we can embrace new technology while making sure we stay human in the process.
Athlete of the Week!
#Pirate Pride
#Pirate Pride
National School Nurse Day
National Lunch Heros Day
🍎 Staff Spotlight of the Week 🍎
Each week, we're featuring a staff member to help you get to know the amazing people who make De Soto School District such a special place.
This week, in honor of National Principal Day, we’re proud to recognize our outstanding principals:
🏫 Middle & High School – Tim Fergot
🏫 Prairie View – Scott Kelly
🏫 Stoddard – Derek Fuglsang
Each week, we're featuring a staff member to help you get to know the amazing people who make De Soto School District such a special place.
This week, in honor of National Principal Day, we’re proud to recognize our outstanding principals:
🏫 Middle & High School – Tim Fergot
🏫 Prairie View – Scott Kelly
🏫 Stoddard – Derek Fuglsang
Southwest Technical College has invited De Soto students entering grades 7-10 to "Tech Trek 2026" on July 27-29th. This summer camp is designed to help students explore technical careers. Students can choose 6 'sessions' from the following list:
• AI Creator Studio: Build Your Own Robot Movie
• Building Trades - Carpentry
• Crime Scene Escape
• Cutting Edge CNC
• Dental Dynamics
• Early Childhood Education
• Exploration in Surgical Technology
• Gearhead’s Tech Time
• Glam Lab: A Cosmetology Adventure
• NitroX*
• Physical Therapy: Getting You Back in Motion!
• Save a Life with CPR
• Smart Machines: Intro to Automations & PLCs
• The Ag Experience
• The Mighty White Blood Cell
• The World of Nursing
• Welding is Fun!
Flyer attached.
• AI Creator Studio: Build Your Own Robot Movie
• Building Trades - Carpentry
• Crime Scene Escape
• Cutting Edge CNC
• Dental Dynamics
• Early Childhood Education
• Exploration in Surgical Technology
• Gearhead’s Tech Time
• Glam Lab: A Cosmetology Adventure
• NitroX*
• Physical Therapy: Getting You Back in Motion!
• Save a Life with CPR
• Smart Machines: Intro to Automations & PLCs
• The Ag Experience
• The Mighty White Blood Cell
• The World of Nursing
• Welding is Fun!
Flyer attached.
District Calendar for 2026-2027 School Year
Athlete's of the Week
#gopirates
#gopirates
Middle school students in our computer skills class are designing posters for a sporting event as part of a digital design project. Here are some of the posters created for today’s events! 🎉
Game Day
Game Day
Athletes of the week
Game Day
Athletes of the Week
🛠️ 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! 💪
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.
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.
