Owego Apalachin Central School District

Dear Owego Free Academy Families,

On behalf of the staff at Owego Free Academy, I would like to welcome the students back to school.  Dr. Mukhlis and I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing summer vacation and are excited for the 2026-2027 school year.  We look forward to the start of the new year and hope all of our students experience many successes.

Our first day of school will be on Wednesday, September 9th, 2026, and will begin at 8:45 am (Breakfast will be available for students starting at 8:30am). 9th graders will receive their schedule at 9th Grade Orientation on Wednesday, August 26th, at 6:00 pm: https://aptg.co/SQjkfF.   Access to the SchoolTool parent portal will open on Friday, August 28th. At that time, students and parents can access student schedules.  Please access the SchoolTool Parent Portal so students know where they will start their day on September 9th.  Students will also be handed a paper copy of their schedule on the first day of school. 

Schedule Updates for the Upcoming Year:

To better support student learning and adapt to state guidance, we are making two key adjustments to our daily schedule (the daily bell schedule can be found on our website here: https://aptg.co/-2r9RZ).  Our SOAR period is moving to the middle of the day, offering a dedicated window for students to connect with teachers and receive additional support. Select classes will now meet in back-to-back periods every other day to facilitate extended, hands-on instructional time. This shift directly aligns with the New York State Education Department’s Blue Ribbon initiative for Performance-Based Learning.

Transportation:

All families must complete the OA Transportation Survey for the 2026-2027 school year. You can find the survey and more information here: https://www.oacsd.org/article/3052331.

Families using district bus transportation should download the My Ride K-12 Transportation App, which will display your child’s bus number, route time, and more. My Ride K-12 is available for download in the Apple and Android app stores, or access a web version of My Ride K-12 at myridek12.tylerapp.com.

To learn more about My Ride K-12 and the other technology we use to help us safely and efficiently transport our students, please read the following information. My Ride K-12 User Guide Parent Flyer  - https://5il.co/2he.

Please remember that bus times are normally delayed the first few days of the school year as everyone gets back into a routine. In the afternoon, our bus drivers wait to make sure that students get inside safely before moving on to the next stop.

Supplies:

We are happy to announce that the school district will once again provide all of the necessary student school supplies for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year to all grade levels, K-12. However, if there are particular items

you would like to send with your child, you are more than welcome to do that. Just know that all essential items will be provided.

District Communication:

SchoolTool Parent Portal - The SchoolTool Parent Portal is used by parents/guardians to view their students’ education information, including: Schedule, Attendance, Demographic Information, Report Cards, Progress Reports, Contact Information, etc. Once logged in to the portal, parents should review contact information and update it as necessary.  Detailed Parent Portal Information, including how to log in, can be found here: https://www.oacsd.org/page/parent-resources. *The Parent Portal will open for the new school year on Friday, August 28th. 

Mobile App - Ensure you don’t miss critical information by downloading the Owego Apalachin Central School District Mobile App (available in the iTunes and Google Play Stores). 

Android: https://bit.ly/3mtkLGf or iPhone: https://apple.co/3bwIXRz

Rooms Parent-Teacher Messaging - Parents/guardians can access class streams and teacher messaging with their Rooms account via the web and in the app. Need to set up your account? Get more information here: https://5il.co/24lsq. All set up, ensure you are getting notifications: https://5il.co/24lss.

Onflo (formerly Let’s Talk!) -  Contact us with questions or comments. Download the Onflo app or connect through the website: https://www.oacsd.org/page/onflo-lets-talk. Select your specific topic/need to ensure it reaches the correct district personnel.

Bookmark our website and follow us on social media!

FREE - Breakfast and Lunch

We are excited to announce that OACSD will once again offer free meals through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), for the 2026-27 school year. This means that all OA students enrolled will receive a nutritious breakfast and lunch at no cost to their household each school day. No further action is required from you to participate in these meal programs. All children are eligible to enjoy these benefits. However, we kindly ask parents to complete the income application. Your participation in this process helps our district qualify for additional funding that supports various educational initiatives and resources. Fill out the forms online in minutes here: https://secure.ezmealapp.com/ApplicationScreen.aspx.

Students will still need to pay for snack items, ice cream, or extra food, as only the main meals are covered through the CEP program.  Funds can be added to the EZSchoolPay Account: https://aptg.co/YJczBJ. Cash or check can also be used with the school cafeteria staff to add funds without the online convenience fee.

Additional Food Services information can be found here: https://www.oacsd.org/documents/departments/food-services/16870937.

Menus can be found on our website and app under dining and on the RockOn Cafe Food & Nutrition page here: https://www.rockoncafe.org/owego-apalachin_home.aspx.

Yondr Pouch Program:

We will continue using the Yondr pouch program for the 2026–2027 school year to support a focused, distraction-free learning environment. Each student is responsible for bringing their assigned lockable Yondr pouch to and from school daily and keeping it in good condition. Upon entering the building, students must power off or switch personal devices (including cell phones, AirPods, and smartwatches) to airplane mode, place them into their pouch, and lock it. Locked pouches must remain in backpacks or lockers throughout the school day until students reach designated unlocking stations at dismissal. Student safety remains our top priority, and standard emergency protocols remain fully in place. If you need to reach your child during the school day, please contact our Main Office at (607) 687-7301 ext. 1001, the Welcome Center at ext. 1070, or the Nurse's Office at ext. 2020. 

Fall Athletics Information:

Arbiter Sports | Family ID Registration for All Fall Sports is OPEN: 

https://students.arbitersports.com/organizations/owego-apalachin-central-school-district

Fall Sports 2026 Start Dates:

Varsity/JV Football: 8/17/2026

All other Varsity/JV Sports: 8/24/2026

Modified Football: 8/31/2026

All other Modified sports:  9/9/2026

• The Late Bus from OAMS/OFA to AES leaves at 6:00 pm starting on 9/9/2026

Additional River Hawks Athletics Information can be found on our website here: https://www.oacsd.org/page/riverhawksathletics

Please contact the Athletic Department directly with any questions. 

Phone: (607) 687-7301 ext. 7061

Raptor Visitor Management System: 

To further strengthen campus safety and security across the Owego Apalachin Central School District, we are implementing the Raptor Visitor Management System for the 2026–2027 school year. Raptor enhances building security by allowing us to efficiently screen all guests against safety databases and issue instant visitor badges upon entry. Detailed check-in procedures and guidelines for parents and guardians will be sent home as the school year begins. We appreciate your cooperation and partnership as we continue prioritizing a safe environment for all students, staff, and visitors.

In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to share how excited I am to start the 2026-2027 school year at Owego Free Academy.  The Owego Apalachin Central School District has a reputation of excellence and a rich history.  I feel fortunate to be working at a school that is focused on student success and has high expectations for student performance.  We intend to carry on these important traditions and practices.  Our goal at OFA is to work together, be innovative, and reach for excellence.  Best of luck this school year!

Sincerely,

Phil Schofield

Phil Schofield, Principal

Link to single-page calendar: https://aptg.co/D5Kk8-

OFA Events on website: https://www.oacsd.org/o/ofa/events

Click here for a PDF version of the letter: https://aptg.co/DX3NCn