Classic Picture Books Brought to Life

Thu. Jan. 10th, 2019

Tom Giffey

Generations of kids (and their adults) have enjoyed the colorful creations of author and illustrator Eric Carle. From The Very Hungry Caterpillar ...

New home possible for Children’s Museum

Thu. Jan. 10th, 2019

Tom Giffey

The Children’s Museum of Eau Claire could have a brand-new downtown Eau Claire home by 2020 if plans by a private developer continue to move forward.

Bank helps pay off school lunch balances

Thu. Jan. 10th, 2019

Just before Christmas, Security Financial Bank, which has branches in five western Wisconsin communities, donated $2,000 each to the Eau Claire, Bloomer, Durand, and River Falls school districts to pay off negative balances in students’ school lunch accounts.

Women’s Giving Circle supports family groups with grants

Thu. Jan. 10th, 2019

photos by Andrea Paulseth

Seven groups with initiatives helping women and children in the Chippewa Valley recently received a total of $37,250 in grants from the Eau Claire Community Foundation’s Women’s Giving Circle Fund.

Expansion on pointe

Thu. Jan. 10th, 2019

Lauren Fisher, photos by Andrea Paulseth

Diamond School of Dance broke ground recently on a new dance instruction facility scheduled to open next August.

Hey Baby, What’s Your Name?

Wed. Jan. 9th, 2019

Tom Giffey

Below are lists of the top baby names of the just-completed year at Mayo Clinic Health System hospitals in Eau Claire and Menomonie, HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls.

Chartering a new course

Wed. Jan. 9th, 2019

Katie Larson

Local school districts are struggling with accommodating all students who would like to enroll in alternative opportunities, and some established alternative programs don’t have district support to sustain their work or meet demand.

Third Annual Light Up Eau Claire Brings Fun Downtown

Thu. Dec. 27th, 2018

Lauren Fisher, photos by Andrea Paulseth

Downtown Eau Claire will become a hub of New Year’s Eve excitement Dec. 31 during the Light Up Eau Claire event. Now in its third year, the celebration features live music at multiple downtown venues ...

Raising a Voice for Students in Need

Wed. Oct. 31st, 2018

Haley Wright

Higley – who serves Lakeshore, Longfellow, Meadowview, and Northwoods elementary schools in Eau Claire – was named School Social Worker of the Year for 2018 by the Wisconsin School Social Work Association. She received the award in October at a regional gathering in St. Louis.

Ride the Rocket for Your Health

Wed. Oct. 31st, 2018

Tom Giffey

The Children’s Museum of Eau Claire recently unveiled plans to add several new displays to its second floor that will emphasize healthy lifestyles to kids. The upcoming “Eat! Move! Live!” exhibit is expected to be open by next summer, said Mike McHorney, the museum’s executive director.

Victorian Holidays in the Valley

Wed. Oct. 31st, 2018

Tom Giffey

Even though this photo is from more than 100 years ago – around the time your great-great grandparents were kids – you probably see a lot of things ...

How You Can Teach Just by Talking

Thu. Sep. 6th, 2018

Tom Giffey

The “Word Gap” sounds like something that would trouble a headline writer or a Scrabble player. In reality, it’s the phrase used to describe the shortfall in the number of words that children who come from low-income families are exposed to by the age of 3.

Nothing Like a Free Lunch

Thu. Sep. 6th, 2018

Lauren Fisher

Kids in the Kitchen is a free field trip for Eau Claire Area School District fourth-grade classes in which students learn about healthy eating and living at the Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley.

Kid History: Dressed for Success

Thu. Sep. 6th, 2018

V1 Staff

Fall has been back-to-school season for generations in the Chippewa Valley, but much about the classroom has changed over time. From the look of this 1893 picture from the Chippewa Valley Museum, one of the major things that has changed is fashion.

Teal Pumpkins Make for an Allergy-safe Halloween

Sat. Sep. 1st, 2018

Halloween can really be a scary time for the millions of families across the country managing food allergies. Food allergies are a potentially life-threatening disease and a growing public health issue. A tiny amount of an allergen has the potential to cause a severe, even life-threatening, reaction.

It’s No Trick: Local Trick-or-Treat Times

Sat. Sep. 1st, 2018

If you’re a candy-loving kid, it’s never too early to plot your trick-or-treating route for Halloween night – or Halloween afternoon, as the case may be.

Your Assignment: Fill a Backpack

Tue. Jul. 17th, 2018

V1 Staff

As a new school year approaches, parents, children, and community members are being invited to help children in need prepare for the next school year. The Eau Claire Area School District has launched the Adopt-a-Backpack program ...

Kid History: Beating the Heat with 1916 Style

Tue. Jul. 17th, 2018

Chippewa Valley Museum

When people in the Chippewa Valley need an escape from the summer heat, the water of our lakes and rivers is hard to beat. This was just as true 100 years ago as it is today ...

Elementary Research in more ways than one

Tue. Jul. 17th, 2018

Pamela Powers, photos by Brett Roseman

Oaklawn School fifth-grader Karlen Knospe found it fascinating to walk through UW-Stout’s Research Day in the Memorial Student Center. “It was awesome,” Knospe said. “I talked with them and got to see their ideas.”

Half a Century of Service to Children

Tue. Jul. 17th, 2018

BJ Hollars

For Leann and Mel Breed, life’s always been about looking out for our children. “They’re our future and we have to take care of them, and we have to inspire them,” Leann says.

Menomonie Fifth-Graders Take Part in Stout Research Day

Fri. Jul. 6th, 2018

Pamela Powers

Oaklawn School fifth-grader Karlen Knospe found it fascinating to walk through UW-Stout’s Research Day in the Memorial Student Center. “It was awesome,” Knospe said. “I talked with them and got to see their ideas ..."

Family Resource Center Faces Financial Challenges

Fri. Jun. 29th, 2018

Tom Giffey, photos by Andrea Paulseth

Now, however, it’s the center itself that has a big need: A steep decline in funding this year has posed a serious challenge for the organization ...

Kid History: Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Fri. Jun. 22nd, 2018

V1 Staff

Warmer weather means the return of baseball to the Chippewa Valley’s playgrounds, parks, and stadiums, most notably 82-year-old Carson Park, which is now home to the Eau  Claire Express ...

Golden Apples Honor Outstanding Educators

Fri. Jun. 1st, 2018

V1 Staff

A group of Eau Claire educators who go above and beyond to help their students achieve were honored at the Third Annual Golden Apple Awards in April ...

Wisconsin’s New Child Tax Credit & How You Can Claim It

Fri. May. 25th, 2018

V1 Staff

A recently approved child tax rebate will put a little more money in Wisconsin parents’ pockets over the next few months. Between May 15 and July 2, parents will be able to visit childtaxrebate.wi.gov to file a claim for their children ...

Lovable Pup, Lifesaving Nose

Mon. Mar. 19th, 2018

Cassandra Kyser

Caleb Bicknell’s family welcomed a new member in February, an English Labrador puppy named Buddy. At just 2½ months old, Buddy is starting the long training path to be a service dog for 7-year-old Caleb, who has ...

Charlie Thompson Slides Into Icy Competition

Mon. Mar. 19th, 2018

Rachel Witthoft

Charlie Thompson, a competitive curler and freshman at Memorial High School, has been out on the ice ever since he was 3 years old. His father, Jeff Thompson, introduced him to curling when he was ...

Have No Fear, Spring Break Is Nearly Here!

Mon. Mar. 19th, 2018

V1 Staff

It's hard to believe, but spring break is right around the corner. Public school districts in the Chippewa Valley offer varying dates for spring break, so take a look at the list below and get these dates on ...

Essay Contest Asks Teens What Diversity Means to Them

Mon. Mar. 19th, 2018

V1 Staff

An essay contest about equity, diversity, and inclusion will award cash prizes to Chippewa Valley high school students. The Mahmoud S. Taman Foundation recently announced its 2018 essay contest for students in ...

Giving Homeless Kids a Helping Hand

Fri. Mar. 16th, 2018

Hope Greene, photos by Andrea Paulseth

It’s easy to have the thought that there’s something shameful about being homeless. It’s presented in movies, in TV shows, in news programs, and social talk; that homelessness is a problem for ...

Take a Snow Day: Here's When Locals Are off School

Fri. Jan. 26th, 2018

V1 Staff

It is hard to believe the holidays are over and the much-needed long breaks associated with the first semester are done and over with. But don’t fret! There are a few breaks built into each public school ...

Post Holiday Season Un-Decorate Responsibly!

Fri. Jan. 26th, 2018

V1 Staff

Not a big fan of letting this year’s Christmas tree rot in the backyard? We don’t blame you. Do you cringe every time you hear the burnt-out strand of lights hit the bottom of the garbage can? So do we ...

Collaboration & Creativity via Project-Based Learning

Fri. Jan. 26th, 2018

Laura Lash, photos by Laura Lash

Beth Duellman’s fourth-grade class at Sam Davey Elementary School is deep into its second trimester researching the theme, “How does geography affect industry in a particular region?” Four desks are pushed ...

Sharing stories to help end bullying

Fri. Nov. 3rd, 2017

Marie Anthony

I struggled a lot with my own self confidence and feeling worth anything. Growing up, I endured a lot of bullying. I was called stupid. I was called ugly. I went through so much of it that I wanted to take my own life at the age of 16.

United Way Blazes Trails to Success

Fri. Nov. 3rd, 2017

by Lauren Fisher

To emphasize and encourage early childhood development, the United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley installed 11 Born Learning trails in Eau Claire and Chippewa counties this summer.

So Many Little Lanterns Lighting up Downtown Eau Claire

Fri. Nov. 3rd, 2017

Emily Kinzel

The second annual Light Up Eau Claire Little Lantern Parade will be on Sunday, Dec. 31, at 4:30pm. Attendees toting small, lighted lanterns will parade from the museum down Grand Avenue and across the footbridge before circling back.