Congratulations to our Elk's Students of the Month! Brendyn Scholler and Riley Carlson were nominated and selected by teachers. Both students will be honored at the Monday, Dec. 16 School Board Meeting.

Mrs. Rudolph wrote:

Brendyn has always been a good student! He has a sweet, friendly personality and gets along well with everyone. He is very conscientious about his work and would help anyone in need. He is a wonderful role model for our younger Broncos!

Mr. Sandberg wrote:

Riley is deserving of the student of the month for many reasons. He is a student who is prepared, organized, dedicated to quality work and always produces work that is of exceptional quality. I have had the pleasure to get to know him over the past two years. He is a true example of a quiet leader who is respectful and kind to others. He will be very successful in his next chapter in life.

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Join in the fun, and show your school spirit by dressing up with us for the final week before break!

Please join us for the sounds of the season presented by our FHS Choir! Families and community members are welcome! Following the concert, teachers will be hosting conferences. We look forward to seeing you!

We are thrilled to honor Laurie Youso as our Staff Member of the Month! Ms. Youso is an invaluable member of our school community, dedicating herself tirelessly to the success and well-being of our students. Her behind-the-scenes efforts ensure that our students are supported and empowered every day. While the scope of her contributions is truly immeasurable, we are so grateful for all she does to make a positive impact in our school

Students in Mr. Mathews class have working on a timeline of all the information that they have learned so far this year in U.S. History. Students were separated into groups and given a certain era to cover important events. They used different colored paper to represent their different topics. Timeline creation aligns with the skills of organizing historical events and understanding chronological sequences, which are foundational in the history discipline. Timelines allow students to analyze cause-and-effect relationships, identify patterns, or describe changes over time.

Students, staff and teachers continue to engage in learning and fun in the spirit of the season. Below are just a few snapshots! Stay tune for more next week!

To register please visit: https://www.alworthscholarship.org/alworth/register/

*Friendly tip, when applying and registering for scholarships I would suggest using a personal email address rather than your school email address.

It can be challenging to know what the future holds. Thinking about the career pathways, combined with interests and lifestyle goals can help!

Try the following LINKS to help you think about your future!

Spanish classes have been busy and enjoying Latino culture traditions for Christmas: piñatas, papel picado, and Christmas flowers. ¡Feliz Navidad!

Attached are some completed portraits that students in our current drawing classes created on the ipads using as software program.

Can you guess who is who?

Thank you to everyone who has been handing out tickets to the students for showing Bronco POWER! We had a successful Hot Cocoa day today at lunch!

CONGRATULATIONS to Miss Vicki Heiss who received a candy bar for having her name drawn from the tickets used today in a pop up staff POWER ticket drawing!

Let's Go Broncos!!!

Shop online or in-person! Every dollar earned helps our school!

Here's how:

Students in Señora Christianson's 6th-grade reading class enjoyed an exciting week filled with creative activities! They crafted gumdrop book reviews, contributed to a kindness chain, and worked together to decorate their classroom door and tree. It was a fantastic display of collaboration and teamwork!

Mr. Sandberg will be taking a group to Hibbing for this event! If interested, please sign up in the Counseling Office by Friday, Dec. 21. Don't wait! This fills up quickly and space is limited!

Falls High School Teachers will now be available for Homework Help. Some of the help is during the day if students have open hours or if finished with work they may request a pass to see one of these teachers. Some of sessions are being offered outside of the school day. Please continue to watch for changes/additions to these sessions. Feel free to reach out to teachers with questions!

• 1st Hour Daily~ Mrs. Staples Room 204 (English)
• 1st Hour Daily~ Mr. Sandberg Room 113 (Social Studies)
• 2nd Hour Daily~ Mrs. Boyle Room 203 (English/Writing 6th Graders)
• 2nd Hour Daily~ Mrs. Mannausau Room 212 (Math)
• 3rd Hour Daily~ Mr. Dowty Room 108 (Math)
• 4th Hour Daily~ Mr. Awe Room 210 (Math)
• 5th Hour Daily~ Mr. Kaviuk Room 104 (Social Studies)

After School Homework Help (any subject) ~ Mr. Hemstad Room 115 M-Th

After School Homework Help (any subject) ~ Ms. Groom (Library) Mondays 3:20-4:20

Before School Extra Credit/Science ~ Ms. Jaksa Room 121 Fridays

Watch for changes and/or additions as the year goes on!

Please talk to a trusted adult if you or a friend are struggling with conflict, bullying. We have attached some resources below as a guide. When we bring a community together, conflicts inevitably arise. If the conflict persists into bullying or harassment it is imperative that students and adults work together to make it stop. At FHS we take this seriously and will thoughtfully and carefully investigate each incidence, help resolve conflict, and address bullying. Everyone deserves to feel safe at school!

Conflict and bullying are issues that need adult intervention and support. Please see the following resources!

Hi, my name is Wyatt Tessier. I teach special education at Falls High School, and

this is my first year as a teacher! I am a 2013 Indus graduate but spent a majority of

high school here at FHS. In 2023, I graduated from college and earned my BA in

Special Education K-12 from Western Governors University. While this is my first-year

teaching, I have been in a variety of roles and positions serving the school, ALC and

community and this will be my ninth year working in FHS. I was a paraprofessional at

both FHS and FES for several years before I decided to enroll back in school and

pursue my teaching license.

While waiting for a teaching position to become available, I decided to join

Northland Counseling Center in International Falls as a Children’s Mental Health Case

Manager. I was able to connect and work with children and families within and outside

of the school where I taught children coping skills, proper behaviors and assisted

facilitating families with community resources and offering guidance. I was with

Northland Counseling for a year and a half until I was offered a position at FHS this

school year as a special education teacher. I have been privileged to work with many

families and children within my hometown and community! My favorite part of my job is

building rapport and relationships with my students and families!

When I am not teaching, I enjoy fishing on Rainy Lake, hunting, being active

outside, watching/playing sports, gaming and enjoying time with family and friends!

I grew up in the small town of Moose Lake, where I learned the value of hard work and community. After graduating high school, I attended the University of Minnesota Duluth, where I initially set my sights on becoming a news broadcaster. However, no matter how much I tried to envision that path, my heart kept pulling me back to education—a decision I have never regretted.

I earned my degree in Early Childhood and Parenting from UMD, and later pursued further education at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where I earned a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences and a Master’s in Education. Today, I am proud to serve as the Family and Consumer Sciences teacher, Director of Foods and Nutrition, and advisor for the Falls High Honor Society.

I am married to Ben and it all started on a blind date—proof that sometimes the best things in life happen when you least expect them. We’ve been happily married for 18 years and share a very full, very busy life together. Ben works for Voyageurs National Park - and his job is the reason we ended up moving to International Falls. Our five amazing children are Olivia (19, currently attending UMD), Carter (16, a junior), Carson (14, 8th grade), and our twins Cooper and Cuyler (12, 7th grade). Between school events, activities, and everything in between, life is nonstop—and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of being not just their mom, but also their coach, advisor, and teacher.

Outside of the classroom, I love baking, walking outdoors, reading, and listening to podcasts. Our home is made even cozier by our two cats, Jet and Winnie. I also have an unrelenting passion for learning—education doesn’t stop at the classroom door, and I’m always looking for opportunities to grow and discover more.

What I love most about Falls High School is the people. Each day, I’m surrounded by phenomenal students and staff who inspire and challenge me to be my best. I feel incredibly blessed to walk through these doors each day, doing work I love in a community I care so deeply about.

Hi! I am Elsa Swanson and I teach choir at Falls High School. I grew up in Chaska, MN and graduated from Chanhassen High School. I attended Northern State University for my Bachelors of Music in Vocal and Instrumental Education. In 2021, I graduated from the University of Memphis with a Master of Music in vocal performance, focusing on opera. After receiving my Master's Degree, my love of northern Minnesota led me to International Falls!

In addition to teaching at FHS, I am also the 2nd-5th grade music teacher at Falls Elementary School. I am also the One Act Play advisor for FHS and coach rec and JO volleyball.

The best part of my job is working with my students. I get to see students ranging from 2nd-12th grade every day and there is never a dull moment in my day!

In my free time, I enjoy traveling, reading, cooking, weightlifting, crocheting, and spending time with my partner, Cooper, and our two cats, Scarlett and Diesel.

A fun fact about me is that I am one of eight music teachers in my family! My brother, parents, aunt, uncle, and paternal grandparents are all current or former music teachers.

Please watch for more LINKS to be added in the future!