Black River Falls High School

Our cross country runners are building awesome momentum!

At Westby’s Ken Trott Invitational, the boys took 6th out of 15 teams—just 4 points off 5th! Lukas Cornelius finished 13th overall, while freshman Caleb Ellingson earned 25th as the top freshman finisher. Freshmen Aaron Thurow (35th), Caleb Biddle (66th), and senior Jay Pleinis (68th) rounded out scoring. For the girls, sophomores Audrey Kitowski (58th) and Farrah Laufenberg (67th) led the team, followed by senior Grace Tande (88th).

The Tigers kept pushing at the 9-team Cashton Invitational this past weekend and came away with many great performances! Sophomore Lukas Cornelius placed 12th in a field of 100. Caleb Ellingson and Aaron Thurow placed 24th and 25th, respectively. Farrah Laufenberg led the girls team in 38th place. And check out that middle school race--Emma Kitowski ran her first race came in first while Ashley Biddle was in 9th and Avery Biddle was in 14th. The MS boys team saw Eastyn Brown take 17th and Bryce Kitowski in 18th.

Next up: The Jesse Brone Invite at Cochrane-Fountain City High School on Thursday, September 3. Let's keep running strong, Tigers!

Results:
Westby: https://accuracetiming.com/results/2026/ktcc_26.pdf
Cashton: https://accuracetiming.com/results/2026/cashcc_26.pdf

#tiGRRpride

about 1 month ago, Julie Tiedens

Photo of two girls in orange Falls CC singlets with arms around each other's shoulders. Text on image says "Tigers XC"

Tomorrow is the big day! We can hear the hallways buzzing already.

As you try on those first-day outfits, here is a quick attendance checklist to ensure a smooth, stress-free start to the year:

✅ Bookmark the school number: Save your child's school attendance line in your cell phone so it's handy if you ever need to report a morning absence. Find all your contact info here: https://www.brf.org/page/attendance

✅ Establish the launchpad: Set up a designated spot near the door for backpacks, shoes, and coats to eliminate morning chaos.

✅ Prepare your backup plan: Talk with a neighbor, family member, or fellow school parent about carpooling or helping out if your morning routine ever hits an unexpected snag.

We have missed your children so much over the summer. Let's start the year strong, consistent, and together. See you next week! #tiGRRpride #attendancematters

about 1 month ago, Julie Tiedens

Text on image: Stacking Up Success. Decorative image of a stack of colorful books.

Welcome Dusty Burgau to Black River Falls High School as our new Apex alt ed teacher! Inspired by his time as a coach and substitute teacher, Dusty is bringing his coaching background straight into the classroom. He believes in helping students build resiliency, trust, and a strong sense of purpose. Dusty looks forward to guiding our Apex students toward great success this year. Welcome aboard, Dusty!

#tiGRRpride

about 1 month ago, Julie Tiedens

Dusty Burgau High School APEX Teacher. Portrait of a man.

Let's give a big welcome to Liam Hutchison, our new high school English teacher! Liam is excited to bring literature to life in the classroom with engaging and thought-provoking discussions. He believes every student enters his room with innate talent and brilliance, and he is eager to help them work hard to achieve their highest potential. We are glad to have you on the team, Liam!

#tiGRRpride

about 2 months ago, Julie Tiedens

Liam Hutchison, high school English teacher. Portrait of a man in a blue shirt.

Help us give a big Tiger welcome to Sarah Herman, who is stepping into a new role as a High School Special Education Teacher! After spending four years supporting high schoolers as a paraprofessional, Sarah is excited to lead her own classroom. She believes strong relationships and open communication are key to student success. Most of all, she wants every student who steps into her room to know they are important, heard, and seen. We are so glad to have her energy back in our high school halls this year!

#tiGRRpride

about 2 months ago, Julie Tiedens

Text on image: Sarah Herman, Special Education Teacher. Photo is a portrait of a woman.

The Marching Tigers' apparel store is up! Show your Marching Tigers spirit with a variety of clothing options. There are design options for both marching band and BRFHS Music. Items need to be ordered by Wednesday, August 26, and we hope to have items in time for our parade weekend at the end of September!

https://cvsports.chipply.com/brfband26

about 2 months ago, Julie Tiedens

What a kickoff to football season! The Black River Falls Tigers took the field today for a scrimmage alongside Neillsville/Granton and Marathon. Beyond the plays and touchdowns, the cheer squad stepped up in a big way—serving over 150 meals to fuel the players and raising some fantastic funds for the season ahead! We love seeing our students support each other on and off the field!

#tiGRRpride

about 2 months ago, Julie Tiedens

We are wrapping up our AP celebration by honoring students who reached the highest scholar level awarded by the College Board. A massive congratulations to our AP Scholars with Distinction: Chris Antonelli, Anton Cassidy, Maleki Lee, Aiden Pillard, Lily Sullivan, and Reece Youngthunder!

These academic leaders earned scores of 3 or higher on five or more of those exams. Thank you for showing what is possible through commitment and hard work. You inspire us all! #tiGRRpride

2 months ago, Julie Tiedens

Beetlejuice Jr. was a success, and we couldn't be prouder of our cast, directors, volunteers, and everyone who helped make this production possible! Thank you to our wonderful audience for supporting our talented students and celebrating all of their hard work!

At Black River Falls, we're passionate about providing students with opportunities to grow, create, and shine on stage. This two-week summer school theater camp gave students the chance to build confidence and create lasting memories all while bringing Beetlejuice Jr. to life!

Take a look at our cast photo below! We're so proud of everything these students accomplished and can't wait to see them on stage again in future productions.

📸 Nate Wildenberg

2 months ago, Julie Tiedens

A group photo of the cast and crew of the middle school theater production of "Beetlejuice Jr." gathered on stage in the Lunda Theater. Students pose in full costume and show t-shirts in front of black-and-white striped set pieces. Sitting front and center is a student dressed as Beetlejuice in a signature black-and-white striped suit, flanked by cast members in theatrical costumes including a red gown, suits, and vintage dresses, while crew members in purple shirts stand along the sides.

The academic honors keep rolling in! Fourteen Black River Falls students earned official AP Scholar Awards from the College Board for their exceptional performance.

First up, join us in celebrating our AP Scholars! This honor recognizes students who earn a score of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams.

A huge round of applause goes to Sophie Backus, Hayden Brown, Anna Janowski, Morgan Kundinger, Henry Meek, and Will Rahmlow. Your community is so proud of your hard work and focus, Tigers! #tiGRRpride

2 months ago, Julie Tiedens

Presenting our AP Scholars. Photos of seven students at bottom of image.

Behind our record-breaking AP season are individual stories of focus and determination. Out of the 81 students who pushed their boundaries this year, 56 earned college credit on at least one exam.

Special recognition goes to the seven Tigers who took multiple AP exams and earned credit on every single one. Five students went two-for-two, and two students went three-for-three!

Whether taking one exam or balancing three, these students showed what happens when preparation meets opportunity. We love seeing our Tigers succeed at the highest levels. #tiGRRpride

2 months ago, Julie Tiedens

Text on image: 7 Tigers EARN CREDIT ON 2 or MORE AP Exams!

BRFHS Tigers shattered records on their 2026 Advanced Placement (AP) exams! This year, 81 students challenged themselves by taking 101 total exams.

Not only did we see our highest participation numbers ever, but our students also earned college credit at historic rates. An impressive 70.4% of our testing students earned credit on at least one exam by scoring a 3, 4, or 5. Even more exciting? This marks our first year hitting double-digit "5" scores, with 10 exams reaching the highest score possible.

Taking on college-level work in high school requires incredible dedication. Congratulations to our students and the teachers who supported them! #tiGRRpride

2 months ago, Julie Tiedens

Text on image says "Let's give a shout out to our AP Scholars." Pencil on right for decoration.

We are five weeks out from the first day of school! This week, we want to give a special shout-out to our youngest learners in Pre-K and Kindergarten.

Starting school is a big milestone, and building the habit of regular attendance right now sets the foundation for your child's entire educational journey. Did you know that missing just two days a month in kindergarten can make it harder to learn to read later on?

Here are a few gentle things you can do this month to prepare:

⏰ Gradually adjust bedtimes: Start moving bedtimes up by 10 minutes each week so the first morning isn't a shock to the system.
⏰ Talk it up: Keep conversations about school positive and exciting to ease any transition anxiety.
⏰ Map out appointments: Try to schedule routine check-ups during summer days or after school hours whenever possible.

Want to learn more? Here’s a great resource! https://www.attendanceworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/K_1st_Handout_012925.pdf

We can’t wait to see those big smiles on day one! #tiGRRpride #attendancematters

3 months ago, Julie Tiedens

Text: "Every Day Counts" with alarm clock at the bottom.

Just two days into rehearsals for Beetlejuice, Jr., our middle and high school students are already bringing high energy to the stage. Between line readings and choreography, these talented Tigers spent the week problem-solving, building sets, and sharing plenty of laughs together. Providing creative opportunities like theater during the summer gives our older students a space to try new things, sharpen their skills, and collaborate across grade levels.

Mark your calendars! You can catch their performance on July 31st. Stay tuned for showtime details! #tiGRRpride

3 months ago, Julie Tiedens

Four girls holding another girl above their heads.

A group of students on a stage listening to a teacher.

Three students interacting on the stage.

The band and choir students and chaperones had a fun time on their week-long trip to New York City! The week was packed with tours, performances, and fun. The band performed on the USS Intrepid, and the choir sang at the St. John the Divine Cathedral. The group was also able to watch The Lion King and Wicked on Broadway and see many iconic NYC locations. From Times Square to Ellis Island to the Top of the Rock Observatory, many memories were made on the 2026 Band/Choir NYC Trip! #tiGRRpride

3 months ago, Julie Tiedens

Students holding instruments and sitting on chairs in front of a ship look at camera

Large group of people standing in a group look up at camera

Large group of people stand in front of a fountain

Large group of people stand on steps in front of building.

Large group of people wearing green t-shirts pose in front of a sign for Wicked.

Group of students sit in folding chairs, filling room.

Group of adults stand in front of a statue and tree.

School is just six weeks away, and we are already getting excited to welcome your children back into our classrooms!

At the School District of Black River Falls, we view our families as our greatest partners. As you start thinking about the upcoming school year, we want to talk about one of the biggest ingredients in your child’s success: regular attendance.

When students are here every day, they don't just stay caught up on schoolwork. They build deep friendships, grow their confidence, and feel a sense of belonging. We know life gets busy, and challenges happen. That’s why we’re here to support you every step of the way. Let’s work together to make this year amazing!

Our doors are always open. If you have questions or need support preparing for the year, please reach out to your child's school office! #tiGRRpride #attendancematters

3 months ago, Julie Tiedens

Text on image: be present. Decorative image: bell with handle

Balancing late-night practices, away games, and rigorous schoolwork takes immense discipline, but our student-athletes put in the work every day. Our 2025-2026 Varsity Volleyball team earned the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association (WVCA) All-Academic Team Award!

To qualify, a varsity TEAM must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.400 or higher for the entire school year. BRFHS volleyball surpassed that standard by achieving an impressive 3.58 team GPA. It isn't easy to excel in a competitive sport while keeping academics a top priority, but these players show what true dedication looks like.

#tiGRRpride

3 months ago, Julie Tiedens

Nine girl standing in two rows, holding certificates.

It's hard to believe it's already mid-July! July 15 means we're officially counting down the days until September 1, and we truly cannot wait to welcome our Tigers back into the hallways. We've missed that energy!

If you want to beat the August rush and cross a major task off your summer to-do list, our 2026–2027 school supply lists are officially live and ready for you. Whether your student is gearing up for kindergarten or heading into high school, you can find exactly what they need right here: https://www.brf.org/page/supply-lists

Enjoy the rest of your summer, Tiger families. Keep making memories, and we'll see you soon! #tiGRRpride

3 months ago, Julie Tiedens

Text: Supply Lists Available. Decorative image: backpack stuffed with notebooks and pencils.

Gear up to support our Tiger volleyball players as they prepare for the 2026 fall season! The team apparel store is open, giving you the perfect opportunity to show your community pride in the stands. Don't wait! The ordering window closes on Friday, July 18. Place your order here: https://cvsports.chipply.com/BRFVolleyball2026?action=viewall
#tiGRRpride

3 months ago, Julie Tiedens

image that says "Order link" with a volleyball on the image.

The Paw Print Live staff kicked off the 2026-27 season with a movie night under the stars! Executive Producer Peyton Taylor organized a perfect sunset gathering on the football field to welcome new team members. The crew caught up on the latest news, munched on popcorn and homemade cookies, and watched The Hunger Games.

With over 40 staffers stepping into the studio for morning announcements this month, this relaxing evening was the perfect way to connect faces and names. We love seeing our students build community and support one another right from the start. #tiGRRpride

4 months ago, Julie Tiedens

Students sit on the football field, watching a movie.