Owego Elementary

📣 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.

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

OA REMINDER: The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting tonight, Monday, April 16, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., in the Board of Education Room in the OA District Office, 5 Sheldon Guile Boulevard, Owego, NY 13827. The meeting will also be streamed for viewing only on our YouTube channel here:https://youtube.com/live/sYk_8ofV9Ss?feature=share. Board meeting agendas and meetings are posted on Board Docs on our website at www.oacsd.org. We encourage anyone with questions or comments to utilize Let’s Talk! - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk. Your questions and comments will be seen and answered by the appropriate district personnel or board of education members.

OA Update: What’s Happening In Our Community - Check out these great programs, events, and more. AES Parent Group Craft Fair: 4/12 - https://5il.co/3b0wn Apalachin Lions - Easter Egg Hunt: 4/12 - https://5il.co/3b1mc SUNY Broome Children’s Fair: 4/13 - https://5il.co/3an14 TCBGC - 3 on 3 HS Basketball Tournament: 4/18 - https://5il.co/3c0pc Cornell Cooperative Extension - Open Farm Day: 4/26 - https://5il.co/3dbw6 OA Youth Running Club: 4/28 - https://5il.co/3asd7 OA Cheer Camp: 5/3 - https://5il.co/3d21r BRCASD Mindfulness And Yoga: 5/10- https://5il.co/3an1w Tioga County - I Voted Sticker Contest: https://5il.co/3dbw2 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 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

The Owego Apalachin Central School District has openings in food service. Join Our Team - Apply Today: https://www.applitrack.com/oacsd/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Support+Staff. #OARiverHawks #sOArTogether #OAisYOU #OACommunity #OAPride #OATradition

Owego Apalachin School District Communication Survey At the Owego Apalachin Central School District, we believe that strong, effective communication is essential to building trust, fostering collaboration, and supporting student success. We are committed to using best practices to ensure our families, staff, students, and community members are informed, engaged, and heard. To help us improve and grow, we are seeking input from our stakeholders on how we currently communicate and how we can do better. Your feedback will help guide our communication strategies and ensure we continue to meet the needs of our school community. Thank you for taking a few moments to share your thoughts with us! Participate through April 22nd here: https://tejoin.com/scroll/616763080

The Owego Apalachin Central School District has several transportation openings. Join Our Team - Apply Today: https://www.applitrack.com/oacsd/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Transportation #OARiverHawks #sOArTogether #OAisYOU #OACommunity #OAPride #OATradition

The Owego Apalachin Central School District is seeking candidates for a Summer Employment Opportunity as a College Intern. Candidates must be high school graduates and enrolled in college. We are seeking candidates in several areas, including but not limited to Summer Enrichment Educational Camps, Music Education, and Information Technology. For a full job description, and to apply by April 11th, visit: https://www.applitrack.com/oacsd/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Student+Workers. #OARiverHawks #sOArTogether

OA Update: What’s Happening In Our Community - Check out these great programs, events, and more. Apalachin Library - Pokemon Club: 4/5 - https://5il.co/3c0pb AES Parent Group Craft Fair: 4/12 - https://5il.co/3b0wn Apalachin Lions - Easter Egg Hunt: 4/12 - https://5il.co/3b1mc SUNY Broome Children’s Fair: 4/13 - https://5il.co/3an14 TCBGC - 3 on 3 HS Basketball Tournament: 4/18 - https://5il.co/3c0pc OA Youth Running Club: 4/28 - https://5il.co/3asd7 BRCASD Mindfulness And Yoga: 5/10- https://5il.co/3an1w 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 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

OA REMINDER: The Board of Education will hold an Audit Committee and Business Meeting tonight, Monday, March 31, 2025, at 5:15 pm and 6:00 p.m., in the Board of Education Room in the OA District Office, 5 Sheldon Guile Boulevard, Owego, NY 13827. The meeting will also be streamed for viewing only on our YouTube channel here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LxU-Aww4nU. Board meeting agendas and meetings are posted on Board Docs on our website at www.oacsd.org. We encourage anyone with questions or comments to utilize Let’s Talk! - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk. Your questions and comments will be seen and answered by the appropriate district personnel or board of education members.

OES students are SOARing with positive choices! Today we filled our positive note bulletin board for the second time this year-way to go OES!

In the Classroom: Building Thinking Classrooms “It’s pushing them to think about what they’re doing, not just repeat and mirror what I’m doing at the front of the room. It also pushes them to explain what they are doing.” Fourth Grade Teacher Teagan Mackey explains the methodology of Building Thinking Classrooms, and getting students to discover solutions without being provided specific step by step instructions. Watch here as students try to help “Farmer John” figure out how many chickens and pigs he can have on his farm on Showcase Classroom TV. https://youtu.be/ijHBeQhwk98

Ascension: A Skateboard Art Exhibition is coming to a close. The Tioga Arts Council and Experience Tioga will have special late-night hours on the closing days of the show. Check out the video - Do Rad Things w/ Sullivan O'Donnell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QvFxh6JMlw

OA REMINDER: The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting tonight, Monday, March 24, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., in the Board of Education Room in the OA District Office, 5 Sheldon Guile Boulevard, Owego, NY 13827. The meeting will also be streamed for viewing only on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/live/61b4mTku8Rc. Board meeting agendas and meetings are posted on Board Docs on our website at www.oacsd.org. We encourage anyone with questions or comments to utilize Let’s Talk! - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk. Your questions and comments will be seen and answered by the appropriate district personnel or board of education members.

Teacher Profile: Teagan Mackey “I love being around the kids, I love that every day is something different. Even if your plans are the same they never end up the same, and there are a lot of ways to be creative with lessons.” Fourth Grade Teacher Teagan Mackey has been shaping the minds of students at Owego Elementary for the past two years now. Learn more about her and her goals in this Teacher Profile on Showcase Classroom TV. https://youtu.be/C4L_pwKnKUo

OFA student-athletes and coaches were part of the nearly 500 people who packed the Binghamton forum for Section IV’s Student-Athlete Leadership and Sportsmanship Conference. https://www.wbng.com/2025/03/19/section-iv-student-athletes-host-leadership-sportsmanship-conference/

OA REMINDER: The Board of Education will hold a Budget Workshop: Initial Review of Budget on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 6:00 pm, in the Board of Education Room in the OA District Office, 5 Sheldon Guile Boulevard, Owego, NY 13827. (* The budget workshop is a working meeting for the BOE and Administration that the public can attend in person. There will be no public comments during the meeting.) The meeting will also be streamed for viewing only on our YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/live/grNlGfMz7Vg?feature=share. Board meeting agendas and meetings are posted on Board Docs on our website at www.oacsd.org. We encourage anyone with questions or comments to utilize Let’s Talk! - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk. Your questions and comments will be seen and answered by the appropriate district personnel or board of education members. #OARiverHawks #OACommunity #OAPride

OA Update: What’s Happening In Our Community - Check out these great programs, events, and more. Apalachin Library - Dog Man Meets Nola: 3/22 - https://5il.co/3acra SUNY Broome Children’s Fair: 4/13 - https://5il.co/3an14 OA Youth Running Club: 4/28 - https://5il.co/3asd7 BRCASD Mindfulness And Yoga: 5/10- https://5il.co/3an1w 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 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

In the Classroom with Mark Rivard: Scaling and Templates “A lot of times, what happens is students are going to grab their Sharpie and they’re just going to start drawing, and they don’t realize how much bigger the skateboard is from the template itself. There's a bit of a math problem to this.” Artist and owner of his own skateboard company Mark Rivard, is in the classroom with students helping them prepare for drawing art pieces on skateboard decks. Learn more on Showcase Arts TV. https://youtu.be/0VUSVIy45AA