Owego Apalachin Central School District

ICYMI: The state Education Department released the results of last year’s Regents exams. A total of 114 school districts had proficiency levels of 95% or better. OFA is ranked 27th in the state with a 98% proficiency level. The state had data on history Regents results for a total of 631 districts across New York. https://www.syracuse.com/hslife/2025/04/see-ny-school-districts-ranked-1-to-631-by-us-history-and-government-regents-exams.html View more OFA data here: https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000036527. #OFARiverHawks #sOArTogether

NOTICE TO THE OA SCHOOL COMMUNITY Please be advised that the Owego Apalachin Central School District community pool will be shut down starting May 23rd until further notice as part of a scheduled capital improvement project. This work goes beyond routine maintenance and repairs and represents a significant investment in upgrading and improving the facility. At this time, we anticipate the pool will be ready for use in time for Fall sports in August. We appreciate your understanding and support as we work to enhance the long-term safety, functionality, and quality of the pool. Thank you, Owego Apalachin Central School District

OACSD 2025-2026 Proposed School Budget Update At the April 16th Board of Education meeting, the 2025-2026 Proposed School Budget was approved and will go to a vote on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. At the meeting, the BOE also made a change to the Owego polling location, relocating it from the OAMS lobby to the District Office - Board of Education Room. The Apalachin location will remain the same in the cafeteria at Apalachin Elementary School. Your voting location is based on residency. If you have any questions, please contact the District Clerk at (607) 687-6215 or email vote@oacsd.org. Anyone in need of an absentee ballot should also contact the clerk. Proposed Budget At A Glance Total Revenue Budget = $59,769,964 (3.27%) Total Expense Budget = $59,769,964 (3.27%) Total State Aid = $33,283,306 (5.43%) Property Tax Levy = $18,619,730 (1.99%) Reserves/Fund Balance = $40,000 You can review the Final Budget Presentation here: https://5il.co/3ejmo. A proposed budget information session will be on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Apalachin Elementary School at 6:00 pm. You can watch the AES Budget Info Session livestream here - https://youtube.com/live/lgtcZSDILRE?feature=share. The Official Budget Public hearing will be held on May 5, 2025, at the BOE Room at the District Office at 6:00 pm. You can watch the Public Budget Hearing livestream here - https://youtube.com/live/H407yAoS6sI?feature=share. The School Budget Vote and Board of Education elections will take place on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from Noon to 8:00 pm. As more budget information becomes available and finalized, you will find it on our website here: https://www.oacsd.org/page/school-budget-information A printed and digital budget newsletter will be made available within the coming weeks. Please reach out with any questions by using Let’s Talk! - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk. #OARiverHawks #sOArTogether #OACommunity #OAPride #OATradition

Teacher Spotlight: Sean Carney “The different experiences we are able to give the kids. What we teach in our department is not typical coursework.” Sean Carney has been teaching for six years at Owego, and he shares with us some of the reasons why he enjoys it so much. Learn more about Mr. Carney and what some of his goals as a teacher are in this Teacher Spotlight on Showcase Classroom TV. https://youtu.be/nRRAnVtbQSo

The OES Green Team and North Star Recycling are teaming up for a Fill That Truck Event on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Drop-off will take place at OES from 10 am to Noon. They are collecting: used clothes, towels, hats, bedding, outerwear, cloth bags, belts, and shoes (rubber band them and bag separately if possible). These items are items you wouldn’t take to the mission. They can be any shape, size, or condition (they can even have holes:) they just can’t be moldy or wet!! Please bring items in bags if possible:) Click here for PDF letter: https://5il.co/3essx. #OARiverHawks #sOArTogether

Season Preview: Track and Field “We have 90 kids signed up for outdoor track between the boys and the girls, which is the most that we’ve had in a really long time.” Head Track and Field Coach Scott Senko talks about how the team is looking this season and the unique opportunity of having so many athletes on the team. Learn more about the Track and Field team in this Season Preview on Showcase Sports TV. https://youtu.be/3vAVxHPyeko

It was our pleasure to host Christopher from the Racker Center to help educate our students on the employment and career possibilities that they have. Thank you for being here! #OACareerCenter #OARiverHawks #oacsd #SOAR #hawkpride #SchoolCommunityOne

With over 150 student employment positions we take pride in helping our students complete the application process to become student workers. Pictured here are music department student workers being guided by our expert career center student workers on how to complete the process. #OACareerCenter #OARiverHawks #oacsd #SOAR #hawkpride #SchoolCommunityOne

OA Update: What’s Happening In Our Community - Check out these great programs, events, and more. The Dance Station - Free Classes: 4/23-5/1 - https://5il.co/3e5gf OA Cheer Camp: 5/3 - https://5il.co/3d21r BRCASD Mindfulness And Yoga: 5/10- https://5il.co/3an1w Tioga County Soil & Water - Stream Cleanup: 5/18 - https://5il.co/3eo4v Tioga County - I Voted Sticker Contest: https://5il.co/3dbw2 Apalachin Library - Book Workshop For Kids: 5/31 - https://5il.co/3eo1p Owego Apalachin Football Club 2025 Registration: 6/14 - https://5il.co/3acsa Waterman Explore Camp 2025: 7/14 - https://5il.co/3aoer Waterman Owego Rec Camp 2025: 7/30 - https://5il.co/3aoeq Kids Bowl Free - Summer 2025 - https://5il.co/3eo52 Binghamton Umpires - Baseball and Softball Umpire Recruitment - https://5il.co/36pw4 Animal Care Sanctuary - Shelter Buddies Reading Program - https://5il.co/2zu34 Join Scouts - Troop 38, Troop 638, Cub Scout Pack 37, and 43 - https://5il.co/2v9y2 Owego Nazarene After School Program - https://5il.co/2u96a Family Enrichment Network Head Start Registration - https://5il.co/2kghn Find more Community Fliers here: https://www.oacsd.org/documents/community-fliers/237411. If you are involved in an organization that would like to share a flier with the OA school community, please submit it through Let’s Talk! for approval. Select ‘Digital Flier Distribution Submission’ under Communications here - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk. #OARiverHawks #sOArTogether #OACommunity #OAPride #OATradition

Practice Makes Perfect: All-out Catch Drill “So this drill is just working on them getting a little bit more comfortable with getting down on the ground and going all out for the ball.” Head Softball Coach Emily Crawford runs through what the girls have been practicing regarding dives and catches. Learn more about what the girls have been up to on Showcase Sports TV. https://youtu.be/hlGs_GBQSXI

In the Classroom: Robotics Lesson “These are little tiny robots that you train. They already have firmware on them installed that basically reads through lines of color.” Seventh-grade students got the chance to learn about firmware and software in robotics from Lockheed Martin engineers. See how they trained their robots before the big race here on Showcase Classroom TV. https://youtu.be/8TIIwXdn66c

Educator Spotlight: Chris Adams “I’m always inspired to see the kids focused and working hard at learning things. Just spending time with kids.” Private drum teacher Chris Adams has been helping the percussion students prepare for their garbage can and bucket drumming performances. Learn more about Chris Adams and how she started drumming when she was just a child, and some of her favorite memories she has made as a teacher along the way, here on Showcase Arts TV. https://youtu.be/2cZxJwnm8tk

Athlete Tip: Throwing a Screwball “I throw the backwards 'c' like this and it’s going to come off my pointer finger.” Carsten Crawford breaks down how to throw a screwball. Learn from her in this week’s athlete tip video on Showcase Sports TV. https://youtu.be/ta47b8T1DOk

Musician Tip: Billy Huddleston “Switching between the base can and the metal can, so one of the things that we’ve been doing when there is a break in the song is we’re clicking our sticks together.” Billy Huddleston shares some of the work the percussion group has been putting into their garbage can drumming. Learn more from him in this week’s musician tip on Showcase Arts TV. https://youtu.be/HzTQrBnp5wk

Athlete Profile: Maia Smith “The people, the environment, just how we all get along and bond with each other.” Shortstop Maia Smith started with t-ball and has been playing varsity softball since her freshman year. Learn more about Maia in this Athlete Profile on Showcase Sports TV. https://youtu.be/aCU1Jl3ytpo

Educator Spotlight: Ryan Dickinson “The kids, it’s the reason I became a teacher, is because I love working with kids. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid.” Social Studies Teacher Ryan Dickinson started coaching and teaching back when he was a teenager, and has had teaching jobs in both Italy and Japan. Learn more about Mr. Dickinson and his journey as a teacher in this Educator Spotlight on Showcase Classroom TV. https://youtu.be/uPvcX11fbS0

📣 URGENT: Help Protect Free School Meals for Our Kids Families in our region — and across New York State — could be impacted by a proposed $12 billion cut to the federal Community Eligibility Program (CEP), which currently provides free breakfast and lunch to over 2 million children in New York. This program ensures all students in qualifying schools receive free meals, reducing stigma and helping families save money. But a new federal proposal would raise the eligibility threshold, causing over 24,000 schools nationwide, including many in our local area, to lose access to this vital program. ✅ What You Can Do: Parents and community members are urged to contact local, state, and federal representatives to speak up against this harmful change. Your voice matters in protecting meals for students who rely on them to stay focused, healthy, and ready to learn. 📍 Local districts at risk of losing free meal access include: Afton, Bainbridge-Guilford, Candor, Chenango Forks, Chenango Valley, Deposit, Greene, Harpursville, Johnson City, Maine-Endwell, Marathon, Newark Valley, Norwich, Oneonta, Owego-Apalachin, Oxford, Sidney, Susquehanna Valley, Tioga, Unadilla Valley, Union-Endicott, Vestal, Walton, Whitney Point, and Windsor. Governor Hochul is advocating to keep these meals free, but federal support is critical. 🍎 Free school meals are more than just food — they’re essential for equity, learning, and family well-being. Please consider reaching out to your representatives today.

Four Questions: Caitlin Mason “Probably seeing everyone else’s skill and how mine has been able to level up year after year.” Sixth-grade student Caitlin Mason has been working on her bucket drumming in percussion. Learn more about Caitlin and what some of her goals as a band student are on Showcase Arts TV. https://youtu.be/kxfiuOxeJkc

OA REMINDER: There will be NO SCHOOL for Spring Recess, Friday, April 18th through Sunday, April 27th. We will see everyone back in school on Monday, April 28th. Some Upcoming Events: 5/1 - Budget Information Session at Apalachin Elementary 5/5 - Official Budget Hearing 5/5 - OFA Spring Band and Jazz Concert 5/7 - OAMS Spring Band and Jazz Concert 5/19 - OFA Choral Concert 5/20 - School Budget Vote and BOE Election Each school will share specific event information with students and families. Please contact your building with any questions. Or reach out using Let’s Talk! - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk Stay up-to-date with OACSD events: The single-page calendar can be found on our website here: https://5il.co/2locy. The year-long printed calendar can be viewed or downloaded as a PDF on our website here: https://5il.co/2wsb8. A printed version of the year-long calendar is available for anyone who would like one. You can ask your child’s teacher or the building to send one home with them, or pick one up from the main office at each school building. Community members can pick up a printed calendar from the district office. Events are subject to change. The most up-to-date event calendar will be on our website and the district app. https://www.oacsd.org/events Please contact us directly using Let’s Talk! - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk to ask questions about school district events.

Behind the Scenes: Participation in Government “Eudora grew up and lived through a different type of America and has a different perspective on things. So if the students can take away a different perspective or have multiple perspectives about life, I feel like we’ve done a good job.” Students got a chance to interview 102-year-old Eudora Shuler, who spoke about what it was like during the 1940s while her husband was away fighting in World War II. Watch firsthand what the students learned here on Showcase Classroom TV. https://youtu.be/mwQJk0VIryQ