On October 15th, students in grades 3-8 were involved in a mural project. Local artists Tim and Connie Friesen, helped the students design and paint a mural showing the flowers that are in our native flower garden. This will serve as a field guide to help teach students and community members the names of the plants in the garden. The students were amazed that this huge mural could be completed in one day!

Mural

New Laona Mural!

4th grade students painting the background, sky, and grass!

More Seeds

Seeds!!

On September 29th Laona 3rd and 4th grade students went on a seed harvesting expedition with their teachers and Ms. Nicole Shutt, U.S. Forest Service. They collected seeds from several different species of wildflowers. These will be planted next spring in gardens on the school grounds as part of the restoration for the More Kids in the Woods grant. Thanks to the high school helpers that came with us. April Hackey, Anna Savard, Austin Babich, Charlie Bey, Kim Mentz, Samantha Trebtoske, and Tommy Cleereman!

4th graders collecting seeds!

Fourth grade students take a field trip to the great outdoors to collect seeds in the new wildflower garden. Good luck kids!!!

Independent Art Students

Independent art opportunities are just that, a time when students having had all the prerequisites of art foundations and course work can explore a specific direction or aesthetic creative idea. Some students work on portfolios to compete and enter art colleges, apply for scholarships, or some aspect of moving on toward higher education. Some independent students simply wish to explore further a personal journey in the visual arts.

Here, Mickey Chrisman is working on establishing that ideal cylindrical form...aiming next at plates, bowls...working the potter's wheel....



Tawnee Kerner is working on an observational piece for her portfolio, with aspirations to attend MIAD (Milwaukee Instute of Art & Design)...using a light environment box studying a still life, painting with acrylics...

You see a bit of the subject from this angle, and she has just finished putting an underpainting on her support.

Lastly...here is Heather Zimmer...working on enhancing images, putting pictures on the school blog. Heather is also working with building and making DVD iMovie videos and advanced computer graphic arts projects...

Jade and Natasha New Editors of Blog!!!!

We have taken over so if you have any pictures of anything that would be blog appropriate that you would like featured (sports, classroom activities etc.) please deliver them to one of us!

Girls Volleyball...vs Crandon

JV's... Laura...nails one!!!

JV Golfers...end their season

Coach Seiler finds this year most enjoyable with the enthusiasm demonstrated by his JV girl golfers, left to right...Hillary Connors, Sam Trebtoske, Kim Mentz and Nikki Babich. Each girl has progressed in understanding the game, lowering competitive scores, and as the on-going line of humor goes...for proving NOT to be ninnies!

Whether the weather was quite cold, drizzling rain, windy...the girls expressed the desire to practice and play...exhibiting that winner's mantra...."winners never quit, quitters never win!"

Way to go girls...we certainly hope to see you out for golf in future seasons!!!

Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum

7th graders final finish their great projects

Our Awesome Band

The Band Students of Laona were going places in March. Above is a picture of all the kids who were involved in the Solo & Ensemble Festival in Crandon. We were proud of how the students in each solo, duet and quartet represented our school. They earned many 1sts and had an opportunity to be critiqued and encouraged by 6 judges. This year, the musicians in the Laona High School decided to start a Jazz Band, in which many students played different instruments than they do in the Classical Concert Band. We were surprised to see that Laona was the only school in our conference to have a jazz ensemble play at contest. The moral of the story is, if you want to get good at many styles of music, you have to go to school in Laona.

Geoff and his table...Great job Geoff it looks great :)

New Projects...Hannah finished a great project :)

Big Cam finishes his houses...those birds won't be on the streets now :)

Card towers...castles

Mr. Seiler's Art project just before vacation explored properties of paper, possibilities in bending, cutting, weight distribution and overall aesthetics in design. Initially, the challenge was to aim for height and to a degree one group attempting to best another. This sixth grade class enjoyed expanding and creating kingdoms, towers, and one could even imagine a mote filled with water!

Sixth Grade
Austin, Alex and Jordan

Gage and William build their version...

Dylan and Trent...shoot for height and simple eloquence in design

Silly silly Mason...hiding behind his... 8^)

(L to R- Heaven, Leslie, Brittany, Ryan and Amelia)

5th grade wanted in on this project as well...
(L to R- Kaylee, Madelyn, Chloe, Allisen, and Daniel)


Sarah, Kayla and Makenna build a massive community structure

...and, working together and coming to agreement is not always an easy proposition to arrive at, but...fun was had by all nonetheless!
(L to R- Justin, Preston, Austin, Nathan, Michael, Kyle & Reece)

Art Field Trip- Milwaukee !!!

On Thursday, March 18th we left for a two day arts field trip to the Milwaukee area, spending all of Thursday afternoon at the Milwaukee Art Museum...


Picture left to right...Erinn Staplton, senior from Crandon HS, juniors Heather Zimmer, Mickey Chrisman and Tawnee Kerner. Mrs Olivia Zimmer also came with, to help chaperone and representing much support from the PALS association!!! Thank you parents group. and Mrs. Zimmer!!!


Thursday evening, we attended the AMC mall's IMAX theater to watch the Tim Burton film, "Alice in Wonderland"...here you see Mr. Seiler with his son Jason...who came up from Chicago to join us. Jason character designed three of the movie's characters- Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum, and Bandersnatch.

Dig those crazy 3D glasses!!!

Of course, following the movie the girls had to get into a little arcade game action...!


Friday morning, we had an appointment to visit the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, (known as MIAD)...getting a tour of the whole building and all arts departments, student work spaces...very interesting and much fun!

The final treat was on our leg trip home, diverting to go by way of Algoma, and stopping at the Flying Pig green gallery, co-owned and operated by Susan Connor and Robyn Mulhaney.

Great time was had...long drive, but over all too soon...

Students in grades 4th-6th enjoyed a trip to Ski Brule on March 2. Most of the 4th graders had never skiied before and were surprised how fast they learned. Some of their parents also learned to ski. A special thanks goes to the Ski Brule staff, all the adult chaperones, and Lisa Carter for taking great pictures. We all had a blast!

March 1st...Donkey Basketball in Laona gym

There will be a donkey basketball game in the main gym on Monday, March 1st starting at 7pm...tickets are available in the high school office.

Visiting Artist- Jim Koch...

We were most blessed today to have local Californian artist Jim Koch visit art students here at our school today. Long time resident of Laguna Beach, California and Newald, graduate of Laona High School 1969...sharing and talking about his unique art of welded sculptures. The students were most appreciative and intrigued...Thank you so much Mr. Koch!!

Honors Band- Last Weekend...Wausau

Last weekend, four Laona students...Alanna Benaszeski, Azalia Shears, Catherine Krawze and Shania Simonis were selected to perform with some of the best high school musicians in the state. Staying overnight in Wausau, then sharing the stage next day to play a joint concert with the UW-Stevens Point Band, conducted by John Climer (director of bands at UW-Milwaukee). Congratulations ladies for your commitment to excellence, performance, and making us here in the Laona area proud!!!

Staff have fun on the ice..

Mr. Kelley about Mr. Decorah's tip up "yep...no bobber
...must be one on!"


No...there are teeth marks...sure, look right here, see..teeth marks!

Every so often, staff here at Laona like to get together do
a bit of ice fishing and some fun...and though there weren't
many flags (having fish on them at least), a good time was
had. One flag had a smaller northern which was released...
of course, Mr. Decorah would prove to have some luck and
at least didn't go home skunked!!! Nice night...pretty light...
oh, and Mr. Seiler hadn't been fishing for awhile, couldn't
find his license, so just came along to hang out and enjoy
the banter.

If only there were three more tip ups out on the ice,
maybe...just maybe...(way to go Mr. S !!!)

Manufacturing class: Made this beautiful Timber saw horse, with absolutely no hardware!
they used mortise and tenons with wooden pegs.

Advanced Art...Self-Portraits (that aren't supposed to look like me???)

Mickey working on altering the look of an old tweed suitcase

Heather and Tawnee hard at work...deep in thought

Kenzie painting...thinking of next steps...

Jade and McKenzie plastering Jenna and Johanna...

How fun when students advance in their art skills development, those juniors and seniors challenged to look at the world, look at themselves and explore, search for meaning and expression. This self-portrait project begins with the premise not to aim to show what oneself looks like, but who one is on the inside...that we, the viewer might know something more, perhaps personal...perhaps insightful. Students bring found objects in, perhaps from clutter in a shed at home, garage or basement. They use plaster to capture their face, perhaps old furniture they can paint up, add to...all much fun, all a good deal of energy. As an instructor, it is fun to watch the gears in the student's thinking process whirring about and we always end up with the most intriguing results.

This year we host the Northern Conference Art Show...and it is always fun to see what this particular class adds to the buzz and excitement of this broader district inclusive show...

2nd Semester...9th Grade Right Brain/ Left Brain exercises

Students got a heavy dose of how the right brain operates separately from the left brain for creative artistic activities, and how focus and different ways of seeing help free the right brain up to do what it can do best...

Here...you see students using a view finder they made to study the negative space, (that space around, in-between and thru) as a way to represent drawing a chair...