Miss Sonya and her friend Max visited Owego Elementary School today. Max is a Critical Incident therapy dog in the Owego Police Department's Community Policing program that assists children and adults through traumatic incidents. Sonya Bement is a paramedic in Owego and wrote a children's book about Max's journey as a rescue dog, his trauma, and how he has learned to help others by simply loving people. #OACommunity #OAPride #OATradition
Senior Midfielder Jace Riegel tells us how he first got involved with lacrosse, his favorite memory, and more. He answers 4 Questions on Showcase Sports TV:
https://showcasesportstv.com/4-questions-jace-riegel/ @OFAAthletics1 l @OFA_Sports_BC #OACommunity #OAPride
Amy Hallenbeck is a third-grade teacher at Owego Elementary. In her time teaching, she has seen so much change, from the technology used in the classroom to the growth of her students throughout the school year:
https://showcaseclassroom.com/teacher-profile-amy-hallenbeck/
Mrs. Barnes tells us how she and Stephen Ferraro began the Green Team at Owego Elementary School, the team's goals, and what the group hopes to accomplish in the future. Learn more on Showcase Arts TV:
https://showcaseartstv.com/history-of-the-green-team/ #OACommunity #OAPride
The Varsity boys lacrosse team is rebuilding after losing several seniors. This new group is enthusiastic, working hard to build the program, and looking to continue strong play. Watch the Season Preview:
https://showcasesportstv.com/ofa-boys-lax-season-preview/ #OAPride
Softball pitcher Chelsea Rollison takes us back to when she first started playing softball and what the future holds for her on the diamond. The senior answers 4 Questions on Showcase Sports TV:
https://showcasesportstv.com/4-questions-chelsea-rollison/ #OAPride
"We get to help the environment and be with our friends at the same time, so that's fun." Green Team member Parker Guiles on her favorite aspect of being on the team. She answers 4 Questions on Showcase Arts TV:
https://showcaseartstv.com/4-questions-parker-guiles/ #OAPride
OA REMINDER: The Owego Elementary School 'Green Team' is holding a textile recycling event on Saturday, April 22nd, from 10 am to 12 pm in the OES bus loop. Help fill the bus and keep the materials out of the landfills. Get more info here: https://5il.co/1qwy5 #OACommunity
"I love the atmosphere. I love being around everybody...up and down, running, competing. It's a lot of fun." Maddie McEvoy on what she loves about lacrosse. Learn more on Showcase Sports TV: https://youtu.be/ahyQTgDW9C4 @OwegoWLax l @OFAAthletics1 #OAPride
Fourth Grader Mina Slack joined the Green Team because she wanted to help the earth and help teach others about recycling. Mina tells us why she thinks recycling is important in this segment of 4 Questions on Showcase Arts TV:
https://showcaseartstv.com/4-questions-mina-slack/
OACSD Update: On Tuesday, April 18, 2023, the New York State Board of Regents voted unanimously to ban the use of Indigenous mascots, nicknames, and imagery by the state's school districts. This was the official vote on the directive that the New York State Department of Education sent to all districts on November 17, 2022, followed up with more information on December 1, 2022.
During this time, the district has collected significant stakeholder feedback and questions while forming committees to navigate the process and regulations. A joint stakeholder committee met last night to discuss the latest updates and plan how the district will comply with the regulations.
A specific timeline of events will still need to be completed, but here is where we are currently:
The NYS Board of Regents decision made on April 18th will be a permanent rule as of May 3rd.
Districts must commit to replacing their Native American name, logo, and/or imagery by the end of the 2022-23 academic year.
Districts have until the end of the 2024-2025 academic year to remove and replace names, logos, and/or imagery.
As we move forward, two committees will be working simultaneously to achieve the following:
A student group from Owego Free Academy will guide the process to comply with the regulation. The student committee will continue seeking feedback from all stakeholders and present proposals to the Board of Education and the school community soon.
Our community stakeholder committee will focus on how to respectfully remember and honor our district’s history within the regulations and continue to teach the historical significance of our area to current and future OA students.
The latest information and future updates can be found on our website here: https://www.oacsd.org/page/mascot.
Please reach out using Let’s Talk! with any questions here: https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk.
Meet third-grade teacher Amy Hallenbeck. She tells us what she hopes her students take from her as they continue their education and more. Sher answers 4 Questions on Showcase Classroom:
https://showcaseclassroom.com/4-questions-amy-hallenbeck/ #OAisYOU #OAPride
Although this is her first year on the Owego Softball team, Morgan Francisco has had a lifelong passion for the sport. Morgan tells us what she loves about softball, her favorite memory, and more:
https://showcasesportstv.com/4-questions-morgan-francisco/ #OAPride
The Green Team is an afterschool club that promotes reducing waste and other environmentally friendly habits. One of their big initiatives is getting each class to start recycling. Learn more about the team on Showcase Arts TV:
https://showcaseartstv.com/oes-recycling-green-team/
OACSD Board of Education Meeting Reminder: Tonight, Monday, April 17th, at 6:30 pm in the Apalachin Elementary School Library.
The AES students and staff will be highlighted in various ways before and during the meeting.
The board will review and adopt the final 2023-2024 proposed budget.
Get more BOE information here: https://www.oacsd.org/page/board-of-education
Questions? Please reach out using Let's Talk! - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk
The next BOE meeting and building spotlight will take place on Monday, May 8th. This meeting will be held at Owego Free Academy in the Collaboration Space. The Official Budget Public Hearing will take place at 6:00 pm, with the meeting to follow at 6:30 pm and will highlight the students and staff of OFA.
Upcoming Dates:
Budget Vote and Board of Education Election - Tuesday, May 16th, from Noon to 8:00 pm. Two voting locations based on residency are Apalachin Elementary School and Owego Apalachin Middle School.
The May 22nd meeting will be held at Owego Elementary School in the Auditorium at 6:30 pm and will highlight the students and staff at OES.
"I want to finish my senior year with my friends...learn from my new coaches...and maybe coach one day." Jordan Greeno tells us about how she started playing softball, what she loves, and more on Showcase Sports TV:
https://showcasesportstv.com/4-questions-jordan-greeno/ #OAPride
Becky Merges and the Ukulele Club of Owego Elementary practice the song Three Little Birds. Watch the Behind The Scenes video on Showcase Arts TV:
https://showcaseartstv.com/behind-the-scenes-three-little-birds/ @OaBoosters l @OABands #OAPride
It's a beautiful day, and the varsity softball team is on the diamond. Watch them practice and warm up with this drill, Around The Bases. Watch the Behind The Scenes video on Showcase Sports TV:
https://showcasesportstv.com/behind-the-scenes-around-the-bases/ #OAPride
Kori Hopkins is a member of Owego Elementary's Ukulele Club. She tells us what inspired her to join the club and more as she answers 4 Questions on Showcase Arts TV: https://showcaseartstv.com/4-questions-kori-hopkins/ @OaBoosters l @OABands l @OAElemMusic #OAPride
The varsity softball team is beginning its season with energy and determination and with a new head coach at the helm. Watch the Season Preview video on Showcase Sports TV:
https://showcasesportstv.com/ofa-softball-season-preview/ @OFAAthletics1 l @OFA_Sports_BC #OAPride