Owego Free Academy

Please see the following message from the OA Music Department about tickets for the upcoming Holiday Kaleidoscope Concert on Monday, December 16th at 7:30 pm. The concert will also be streamed on our YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGfGGSGjxjg The Holiday Kaleidoscope Concert is one of the favorite concerts presented by the OFA and OAMS Music Department! We present this concert every two years as many people look forward to hearing the many musical arrangements of this festive season in a very unique format. The audience will be surrounded by music as our student musicians perform from several locations around the theater. This concert should last about 75 minutes - because it is presented non-stop - one selection leads directly to the next. The audience will need to save their applause for the very end of the program! Because the Holiday Kaleidoscope Concert is such a popular concert, and because we’ve experienced standing room only in the past, we distribute tickets to the concerts. All families are limited to 4 tickets maximum. This is done to ensure that everyone can attend a performance but also ensures that we can provide a safe environment for the audience and the performers. The OA Music Boosters will be collecting donations at the door to support the music department’s students and program. The OFA Art Department will be selling hand painted ceramic soup bowls for $10 as a part of the Empty Bowls Project. All proceeds will go to the Tioga County Rural Ministry food pantry. (cash only) Reserve FREE Tickets Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdBkO5FHV74ofEyvGKWbzzO_waUf4tfMfTFjp343LYh987d2Q/viewform Click here to read the PDF version: https://5il.co/3340f

River Hawks Athletics: Fall Sports Highlights The River Hawks fall sports teams had an amazing season. Check out some of their highlights and accomplishments here on Showcase Sports TV. https://youtu.be/6sM4QhJ4Ytw

Teacher Profile: Nick Rodgers “I just want to the be best I can every single year, and there’s always room to improve.” Nick Rodgers, the technology education teacher, tells us his goals and some of the things he enjoys most about being a teacher. Watch his profile here on Showcase Classroom TV. https://youtu.be/_ohOz0UCxdo

Four Questions: Graham Strolin “I want to hopefully do theater in college, but here now I want to keep working on my range and try to put myself out there as much as I can.” Theater has always been a part of Graham Strolin’s life, and it’s something he’d like to continue after high school. Learn more about Graham and his goals in this segment of four questions on Showcase Arts TV. https://youtu.be/mXMi5I-RxQQ

Practice Makes Perfect: Cross Country “So at the end of a normal run or easy run at practice, we like to finish with a little bit of turnover. It’s nice to finish with something fast.” Head Coach John Heath for the cross country team explains how the athletes prepare for race day. Watch this segment of Practice Makes Perfect on Showcase Sports TV. https://youtu.be/HYSE2cxGVhg

OA REMINDER: There is a Board of Education regular meeting, on Monday, December 9, 2024, at 5:00 pm, in the Board of Education room at the District Office, 5 Sheldon Guile Boulevard, Owego, 13827. Please note this is an added meeting from the original schedule with an earlier start time of 5:00 pm. The meeting will also be streamed for viewing only on our YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/live/MIWLOR6ktQg?feature=share. Board meeting agenda 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.

Four Questions: Michaela Terry “My favorite part is working with these people every day and having fun with rehearsals.” Michaela Terry breaks down how she started in theater and what she loves most. Watch Michaela answer four questions on Showcase Arts TV. https://youtu.be/gAJHFkb-6oU

Student Profile: Elijah Harris “Honestly just getting to be with my friends and see development over time with everyone you care about so much and love.” Elijah Harris has been doing theater since middle school and his passion has landed him the lead in this year’s school play. Learn more about Elijah in this Student Profile piece on Showcase Arts TV. https://youtu.be/aVdW2n09PHw

Practice Makes Perfect: Line Drills “These guys are practicing staying low and firing off the ball, and hand placement, and we do it every day.” Offensive Line Coach Perry Silvestri works with the lineman drilling the basics. Get a behind-the-scenes look at some of their practice on Showcase Sports TV. https://youtu.be/PCRMdsC8g28

Career Shadow Event Behind the Scenes Tour We have plenty of opportunities, we’ve planned this for a very long time, pretty much since the first day of school. Lexi Gunther talks about the opportunity juniors and seniors recently had at the Career Shadow Event. 27 area businesses were there to provide pertinent information and more. Watch here on Showcase Classroom TV. https://youtu.be/xTGf0_KeJzo

OA Update: What’s Happening In Our Community - Check out these great programs, events, and more. Owego Ski Club - Half Day Program (4th-12th Grade) - https://5il.co/30lah Owego Ski Club - Full Day Program (6th-12th Grade) - https://5il.co/30lag Animal Care Sanctuary - Shelter Buddies Reading Program - https://5il.co/2zu34 Apalachin Lions Club - Call Santa: 12/2-12/4 - https://5il.co/31mtp Apalachin Library - Pokemon Club: 12/7/24 - https://5il.co/31b92 OA Music Boosters - Holiday Craft Fair: 12/14/24 - https://5il.co/30hng YMCA Of Broome County - Youth Programs: 1/6/24 - https://5il.co/31mqa Cornell Cooperative Extension - Parenting Classes: 1/8/25 - https://5il.co/2xfjr 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

Theater Tip: Daily Warm-Ups “It doesn’t have to be anything fancy you can just do it to get warmed up. You can do this, especially in the shower because steam is great for your voice.” Elijah Harris speaks on the importance of doing daily warm-ups for your voice. Watch what he does to get himself ready on Showcase Arts TV. https://youtu.be/83RxqpDjEpM

Four Questions: Collin Monell “Definitely the chemistry that we have, it’s something that you hardly ever come by. It’s hard to describe, we’re like family.” Collin Monell speaks on what he enjoys so much about being a part of the football team. Watch Collin answer four questions here on Showcase Sports TV. https://youtu.be/clQ5oAf3htk

OA Update: What’s Happening In Our Community - Check out these great programs, events, and more. Owego Ski Club - Half Day Program (4th-12th Grade) - https://5il.co/30lah Owego Ski Club - Full Day Program (6th-12th Grade) - https://5il.co/30lag Animal Care Sanctuary - Shelter Buddies Reading Program - https://5il.co/2zu34 Apalachin Lions Club - Call Santa: 12/2-12/4 - https://5il.co/31mtp Apalachin Library - Pokemon Club: 12/7/24 - https://5il.co/31b92 OA Music Boosters - Holiday Craft Fair: 12/14/24 - https://5il.co/30hng YMCA Of Broome County - Youth Programs: 1/6/24 - https://5il.co/31mqa Cornell Cooperative Extension - Parenting Classes: 1/8/25 - https://5il.co/2xfjr 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: Les Miserables “This is when we take the songs and the lyrics and put it together with what they are doing on the stage.” Students are prepping for February’s performance of Les Miserables by going over stage direction, songs, and lyrics and walking through putting it all together. Watch this behind-the-scenes look at Showcase Arts TV. https://youtu.be/1vfOW6jtxYY

Four Questions: Adam Arhbal “Honestly it’s the brotherhood, we’ve been together since we were ten years old.” Adam Arhbal has been playing with the same group of guys since modified and has made many friends along the way. Watch Adam answer four questions here on Showcase Sports TV. https://youtu.be/fjzlHk8crmg

Career Center: Career Shadow Event “I mean it’s awesome, I think it’s a great opportunity for kids to get out there talk to businesses, and get that next step into the real world.” Juniors and seniors at OFA got the chance to attend a Career Shadow Event where they could learn about area businesses. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the event on Showcase Classroom TV. https://youtu.be/yGbHa4sUjI8

In the Classroom: Racing Simulator “The school has their car and they race it on the race simulator over here. They’re about halfway through, they’re in first place right now and we hope that they can keep it up.” Nick Rodgers breaks down the setup they have for the race simulator and all the hard work the students have been putting into the Winners Circle Project. Watch here on Showcase Classroom TV. https://youtu.be/VxWN6HMx7ZI

OA REMINDER: There will be NO SCHOOL from Wednesday, November 27th through Friday, November 29th for Thanksgiving Break. Some Upcoming Events: 6th & 7th Grade Choral Concert - Thursday, December 5th OES & AES Half Day Parent-Teacher Conferences - Friday, December 6th AES 5th Grade Concert - Tuesday, December 10th OES 5th Grade Concert - Wednesday, December 11th OES & AES Half Day Parent-Teacher Conferences - Friday, December 13th Music Booster Craft Fair At OES - Saturday, December 14th 7th-12th Grade Band & Chorus Kaleidoscope Concert - Monday, December 16th OES & AES Half Day Parent-Teacher Conferences - Friday, December 20th 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 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 district app. https://www.oacsd.org/events Please contact us directly using Let’s Talk! to ask questions about school district events.

OFA Varsity Football Season “I think we have a special bond that not a lot of programs can come close to.” Athletes on the River Hawks football team reflect on their great season and the friends they’ve made throughout the years. Get an inside look here on Showcase Sports TV. https://youtu.be/BdO7KP0BG2E