Education Edition Volume 12 • Edition 1
Independent School District No. 761
A welcome from the superintendent Dear Parents and Students of ISD 761, I would like to welcome our students, parents and staff to the 2013-14 school year. Each school year brings the anticipation of new opportunities for our students and teachers. For this coming school year, a lot of preparation had been accomplished over the last school year. Work on curriculum, lesson plans and improved teaching strategies were the focus. Those efforts will provide Peter Grant better learning opportunities for our students this coming year. We enter this school year with a renewed vision on teaching and learning. Through the leadership from the Director of Teaching and Learning Amy LaDue, our Principals and teachers, a significant amount of time and effort has been dedicated to improve how we teach and what we teach. The core of what we do is to help our students be successful learners. That can only occur when we have high expectations and believe all our students can succeed. Throughout this school year, you will read about or see in our schools discussions on professional learning communities and our teachers talking about four basic questions: 1. What should students know? 2. How will we know if our students are not learning? 3. How do we respond when students do not learn? 4. How do we respond when students do learn? This is not so much a change in what we have been doing in our classrooms but more of a systematic way of evaluating whether our students are learning. The focus on how our students are learning will guide our teaching strategies through the collection of data and how we analyze that data. There is no question that the success of our students in the classroom determines the success of our teaching
and that of our schools. As we make a physical, emotional and intellectual investment in the teaching and learning, we must be sure we are doing our very best in supporting our teachers and providing the best learning opportunities for our students. We will be entering our second year on the ESTEM initiative at McKinley, Willow Creek and OJHS. We saw great results during the past year as students and staff worked through the first year in ESTEM. Again ESTEM is not a whole new curriculum but a different way of teaching content areas in environment, science, technology, engineering and math. We look forward to the second year for these sites as we continue to improve this new learning environment. At OJHS, 8th grade will be added to the ESTEM program as a follow-up to grade 7. Although it takes time to build data to see any trends in student learning, there was no question our first year was very successful. The responses from teachers, students and parents were very positive and supportive for this new program. Last spring and through the summer, our District participated in a thorough review of our safety plans and the security of our sites. We were fortunate to work with our local Owatonna Police Department, a member of the BCA of Minnesota and the Department of Homeland Security to help review our schools. A report will have been written by mid-August for our review. This report will provide insight into areas we are effective in and in areas we need to make improvements. As the administration and Board review this report, you should anticipate some changes in how we conduct our dayto-day operations. Our intentions will be to keep our schools accessible to parents and the public as much as possible but to also improve our security. I will keep our community up to date as we proceed through this document review. Although I prefer to not write in
length about the levy referendum election coming this November, I cannot omit its importance. At the time of this writing, the Board has not identified a dollar amount to place on the ballot. Nor at this time has any kind of a support committee been put together. I would ask our community members to listen to the facts and the rationale on why we will be asking you to increase your property taxes to support our school district. There will be plenty of opportunities for the District to speak to and listen to our community through the fall. I would encourage you to contact me about any questions that may arise and to address any of the information the District will be preparing concerning the financial impact to our tax payers and to stabilizing our financial operations. School will begin on Sept. 3, 2013. We anticipate a student enrollment of more than 4,800 entering our schools. It will be just as exciting for our kindergartners entering their first formal year of schooling as it will be for the seniors who will be ending their final year of formal schooling. I find amazing similarities between these two groups of students. There will be the beginning of a thirteen year journey and the ending of another thirteen year journey. There will be incredible changes occurring for our kindergartners throughout the year and we will be looking back on the changes that have occurred over the years for our seniors. And, there will be parents not wanting to let go of either student’s hand knowing that their child is changing and growing. Please work with us to help provide the best education we can for your children. We cannot do it alone and we need your help for this to be a successful year. Peter Grant is the Superintendent of Schools and can be reached by calling the School District Offices at (507) 444-8600.
August 22, 2013
✓CHECKLIST BACK-TO-SCHOOL
School
Immunizations:
ARE YOUR CHILD’S SHOTS UP TO DATE?
To go to school in Minnesota, students must show they’ve received immunization against a number of diseases or file a legal exemption with the school. Documentation of immunization or exemption must be submitted to the school before school begins on Sept. 3. Required Immunizations: Kindergarten: 5 doses of DTaP, 4 Polio, 2 MMR, 3 Hepatitis B and 2 Varicella (chickenpox vaccine) Age 7 to sixth grade: At least 3 doses of DTaP and at least 3 Polio Seventh grade: At least 3 doses of DTaP plus 1 Td/Tdap vaccine required at age 11 or older, at least 3 Polio, 2 MMR, 3 Hepatitis B and 2 Varicella (chickenpox vaccine) Eighth grade to 12th grade: At least 3 doses of DTaP plus 1 Td/Tdap vaccine required at age 11 or older, at least 3 Polio and 2 MMR If a child received a Td or Tdap at age 7-10 years they do not need another one at age 11-12 years. However, they must receive another shot of Td or Tdap 10 years after their last one.
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School Hours All Elementary Schools A.M. Kindergarten P.M. Kindergarten Willow Creek Owatonna Jr. High School Owatonna High School Rose Street ALC
OWATONNA SCHOOL DISTRICT
8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Noon to 2:30 p.m. 8:10 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
District Harassment Policy The Owatonna School District is committed to having a positive learning and working environment for students and employees and prohibits harassment or violence by or against students or employees on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation or disability. The school district encourages students, parents and employees to work together to prevent acts of harassment of any kind as well. Any person who believes he or she has been the victim of harassment or violence or any person with knowledge or belief of conduct which may constitute harassment or violence should report the alleged acts immediately to the building principal or to the school district’s human rights officer(s). Director of Human Resources Director of Special Services 515 W. Bridge St. Owatonna, MN 55060 hr@owatonna.k12.mn.us The school district takes such matters very seriously and will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of reports of harassment. Students or employees who engage in harassment in violation of the school district’s policies will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion/exclusion or termination of employment. A complete copy of school district Policy 413 (Harassment and Violence) may be found on the district website: www.owatonna.k12.mn.us or may be obtained at the District Office.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
EDUCATION EDITION AUGUST 2013 A special project of the Owatonna People’s Press 135 W. Pearl St., Owatonna, MN 55060 www.owatonna.com Publisher Ron Ensley Advertising Director Debbie Ensley Managing Editor Jeffrey Jackson Page Design Tony Borreson
Media Consultants Betty Frost, Rachel Ebbers, Deb Theisen, Diane Gengler Ad Design Kelly Kubista, Jenine Kubista, Paul Ristau, Nikkie Gilmore, Keeley Krebsbach, Naomi Kissling
Education Edition 2013 is distributed to the subscribers and readers of the Owatonna People’s Press at no additional charge. All rights reserved. ©2013
Has your child had his/her vision checked lately? Undetected vision and hearing problems can affect his/her ability to learn.
Make vision and hearing testing part of a well-child or Child and Teen Checkup! Child and Teen Checkups are available to children from birth through age 20 who are covered by Minnesota state health plans such as: • Medical Assistance • Minnesota Care • South Country Health Alliance • Blue Plus
Call if you need help with transportation, interpreters or making an appointment.
Child and Teen Checkups Program STEELE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
507-444-7650
Thursday, August 22, 2013
OWATONNA SCHOOL DISTRICT
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Across the District
Owatonna Public Schools 2013-2014 Calendar m t 1 2 7 8 9 14 15 16 21 22 23 28 29 30
JULY w 3 10 17 24 31
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2013-14 ISD 761 Academic Calendar
August 19-22 .......................... New Teacher Workshop AUGUST s m t w th f s August 26-29. ................................. Teacher Work Days 29 ............................... Home/Child/School Day 1 2 3 August November 28 & 29 August September26-29 2 ............ Labor Day/School District Closed Thanksgiving Break/District Closed Teacher Work Days 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 September 3 ............. First Day of School, Grades December 2, 3, 5 & 61-12 August 29 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 October 1 ........................................... ALC Conferences Kindergarten Conferences Home/Child/School Day December 6 September 2 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 October 7 .......................................... OHS Conferences No School Kind. McK/Lincoln/Wash Labor Day/School District Closed 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 October 14-15 ..................................December OJHS Conferences 9 September 3
SEPTEMBER s m t w th f s 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
OCTOBER t w th f s 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
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October 14-16 ......................... Grades Conferences OHS1-6 Conferences First Day of School, Grades -12 December October October 16 1.............................................. No10 School K-6 ALC Conferences ALC Conferences October 17-18 ............. Ed. MN Conference/No School December 23 — January 1 October 7 November 1 ...................... End of First Quarter at OHS January Winter Break/No School OHS Conferences January 16 Work Day 14-15 Nov. October 4 .................... No School 9-12/Teacher End SecondTrimester Quarter at OHS OJHS Conferences November 26 .............................End ofofFirst January 17 October 14-16 November 27Conferences .......... No School K-8/Teacher Work Day No School 9-12/Teacher Work Day Grades 1-6 Nov. October 28 & 29 Closed January 20 16 ......... Thanksgiving Break/District No School/MLK Day/Staff Development No School December 2,K-6 3, 5 & 6 .......... Kindergarten Conferences February 11 October 17-18 December 6.......... No School Kind. McK/Lincoln/Wash OJHS Conferences Ed. MN Conference/No School December 9....................................... OHS Conferences February 11,13 & 14 November 1 Grades Conferences End of First at OHS December 10Quarter ..................................... ALC-6Conferences February 14 November 4 December 23-January 1 ........ Winter Break/No School No School K-6 No School 9-12/Teacher Work Day January 16 .................... End of Second Quarter at OHS February 17 November 26 OHS Conferences End................... of First Trimester No School 9-12/Teacher Jan. 17 Work Day February 18 November 27 Jan. 20 ........... No School/MLK Day/Staff Development ALC Conferences No School K-8/Teacher Work Day February 11 ...................................... OJHS Conferences February 11, 13 & 14 .............. Grades 1-6 Conferences February 14 ............................................. No School K-6 February 17 ....................................... OHS Conferences February 18 ........................................ ALC Conferences March 6 .................................. End of Second Trimester March 7 ................... No School K-8/Teacher Work Day your FREE SMILE March 20Schedule ..................................... End of Third Quarter today! Work Day March 21EVALUATION ............... No School K-12/Teacher March 24-28 ........................... Spring Break/No School April 8............................................... OJHS Conferences April 18 ........................ No School K-12/District Closed May 2 ..................No School 9-12, Big 9 Music Festival May 5 ................................................ OHS Conferences May 6 ................................................. ALC Conferences May 26 .............. Memorial Day/School District Closed June 6 ................................................. Last Student Day June 8 ......................................................... Graduation June 9 .............................................. Teacher Work Day
March 6 End of Second Trimester March 7 No School K-8/Teacher Work Day March 20 End of Third Quarter March 21 No School K-12/Teacher Work Day March 24-28 Spring Break/No School April 8 OJHS Conferences April 18 No School K-12/District Closed May 2 No School 9-12, Big 9 Music Festival May 5 OHS Conferences May 6 ALC Conferences May 26 Memorial Day/School District Closed June 6 Last Student Day June 8 Graduation June 9 Teacher Work Day
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School District Closed – Designated Holiday
PAGE 4
OWATONNA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Across the District Numbers to Know
Lincoln Elementary School 444-8100 Mary Hawkins, Principal Sara Klecker, Principal’s Secretary
McKinley Elementary School 444-8200 Bob Olson, Principal Lorri Harrison, Principal’s Secretary Washington Elementary School 444-8300 Beth Svenby, Principal Tricia Fisher, Principal’s Secretary Wilson Elementary School 444-8400 Julie Sullivan, Principal Nancy Benson, Principal’s Secretary Willow Creek School 444-8500 Jim Kiefer, Principal Susan Peterson, Principal’s Secretary
Student Transportation Transportation is provided by the Owatonna Bus Company. All students eligible for transportation and those who have arranged for transportation with a private contract will receive a letter in the mail the week before school starts. Any parent with daycare information, even if the daycare has stayed the same from the previous year, needs to contact the bus company immediately. The times for pickup and drop-off of students in the letter is approximate. Please be patient and flexible for the first couple of weeks until everything settles down into a routine. We look forward to transporting the students of Owatonna to and from school this coming school year. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call us at the Owatonna Bus Company. Our phone number is 451-5262.
Owatonna Jr. High School 444-8700 Jason Hunt, Principal Wendy Cirksena, Assistant Principal Pam Krenke, Principal’s Secretary Owatonna Alternative Learning Center 444-8000 Jason Markusen, Principal Emily Sherwood, Secretary
Owatonna High School 444-8800 Mark Randall, Principal Cheryl Summer, Principal’s Secretary Jeff Miller, Assistant Principal Nicole Adams, Assistant Principal Ryan Swanson, Activities Director 444-8989 Rene Olson, Activities Secretary 444-8988 Roosevelt Community School 444-7900 Deb McDermott-Johnson, Director 444-7901 Deb Karaus, Adult & Family Enrichment 444-7921 Betsy Wilker, CE Program Specialist 444-7922 Sean Hughes, Youth Programs Coordinator 444-7923 Renee Compton, EC Team Leader 444-7926 Kids First Activity Line 444-7905 Kim Reyant, Adult Learning Center 444-7925 District Office 444-8600 Peter Grant, Superintendent 444-8601 Amy LaDue, Director of Teaching & Learning 444-8603 Linda Skrien, Director of Human Resources 444-8612 Tom Sager, Director of Operations & Finance 444-8615 Shari Mensink, Special Services Coordinator 444-7801 Mike Halverson, IT Coordinator 444-8609 Rachel Valesano, Director of Food Services 444-8607 Dave Ihrke, Director of Buildings and Grounds 444-8606 Nancy Brandel, Health Services Coordinator 444-8804
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RULES OF THE ROAD Safety Procedures: 1. Student will be at bus stop on time. 2. Student will wait for bus off roadway. 3. Student will cross road only in front of bus. 4. Student will never use the emergency door except in case of physical emergency or when directed by the driver. Student Rules: 1. Student will obey the bus driver at all times. 2. Student will sit where directed by the driver. 3. Student is expected to be at the bus stop on time and display proper conduct at the bus stop. 4. Student will deep head and arms inside bus at all times.
5. Student will not use profane or vulgar language. 6. Student will not throw things. 7. Student will not litter bus. 8. Student will not shout out of the bus or in the bus. 9. Student will not mark with any pen, pencil or marking device on the bus interior or exterior. 10. Student will be held financially responsible for any damage done deliberately or through rowdiness. 11. Student will report any damage at once to the driver. 12. Student not following these rules is subject to suspension from the bus.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
OWATONNA SCHOOL DISTRICT
PAGE 5
Across the District Owatonna public schools special services help students overcome challenges The Owatonna Public School’s Special Services has three programs for students that have challenges to learning: Special Education, Title, and English Language Learners. Special Education services are provided to over 600 students birth to the age of 21. Students qualify for special education in one or more of 14 different educational disabilities. Students qualifying for special education receive specialized instruction that will allow them to make progress in the general curriculum. This support is provided by a special education teacher or a related services specialist such as Speech/Language Pathologist or Occupational Therapist. In addition to licensed staff, Paraprofessionals support the learner by providing behavioral and academic support while the student is in the general education classroom. Students need to qualify for Special Education and must go through an evaluation to determine eligibility. Special Education is based upon a partnership model in which decisions about the student’s program are made by the parents, school professionals, and other providers working together. In addition to the services provided in our Kindergarten through grade 12, Special Education Services are provided for students birth through 5 years old (also known as “Early Childhood Special Education” or “ECSE”) and for students 18 to 21 years old (also known
as “Transition Plus”). Early Childhood Special Education services are divided into two age groups: Birth through 2 years old and 3 to 5 years old. The emphasis for Birth to 2 is on assisting parents and care providers with tips and tools to address early developmental needs. Special Education Teachers and Related Services Support staff go to the child’s home and work with parents on how to use daily routines and toys in the home to promote language, motor, and cognitive development of their child. The services for students aged 3 through 5 years old is provided in a variety of settings: home, day care, and school. Whereas the emphasis in the Birth to 2 services was working with parents, for 3 to 5, the teachers work directly with the child to address areas of concern and need. Much time and energy is directed toward getting the child school ready and working on both pre-academic skills as well as social skills that are necessary for success in school. A recent initiative of the Owatonna School District was a partnership with Kids Korner Educare Center focusing on the development of emotional and social skills for 4 year olds. This partnership resulted in improved student behavior and a decrease in the number of referrals to special education. At the other end of the specialized instruction services spectrum is programming for students ages 18 to 21 who continue to have spe-
cial education needs. While many of our students graduate at 18 (or the end of 12th grade) a small percentage of our students continue to have special education needs that require specialized instruction and support. These students are in are served in the community, at OHS (in the Ag Building) or at supported adult work centers. Title services are provided to learners who are struggling within the general education classroom and are in need of additional intensive support, usually for a short period of time. These students do not necessarily qualify for specialized instruction but are in need of more intensive instructional support. Students usually receive their Title services in a small group setting that might be within the classroom or in another room. Students eligibility for Title services is based upon a variety of sources such as performance on standardized tests, teacher observations, and parental consent. Title services are available to students in schools with Free and Reduced populations greater than the District average (currently 37 percent of our students, districtwide, qualify for Free and Reduced lunch). English Language Learners are students whose first language might not be English or whose exposure to English has been limited. Student eligibility is determined by multiple measures, including performance on a standardized assessment of
the English Language, classroom observation, teacher judgment, parental input, and other developmentally appropriate assessments. The emphasis of instruction is on learning “academic English” or the words that assist students in the classroom. Students are eligible for services until they are able to demonstrate proficiency on a nationally normed assessment. All three programs have parent advisory groups. For Special Education, there is a District-wide Special Education Advisory committee comprised of parents, special ed and regular ed teachers,
and interested community members. This committee meets quarterly with the Special Education District Administration to provide input on programming and issues facing the Department. Title I parental involvement is primarily at the local school, though there is a District-wide committee that meets twice per year to provide consultation and feedback to school and district administration. Parents of EL students have regular meetings at the neighborhood school. Topics include how to support homework, how to access
community resources, and how to best support their child’s learning. There is a District-wide committee that meets twice per year to advise District administration on policy and programming concerns. Parents having questions about the supportive services available to their child or to become involved with the Advisory groups should contact their child’s building principal or by contacting the District’s Special Services office at 507-444-8614.
Mark Krug is the director of special services
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PAGE 6
OWATONNA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Across the District Public notice about protection, privacy of records Pursuant to applicable law, Independent School District No. 761 gives notice to parents of students currently in attendance in the school district, and eligible students currently in attendance in the school district, of their rights regarding “directory information.” “Directory information” includes the following information relating to a student: the student’s name; address; telephone number; date and place of birth; grade level; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; weight and height of members of athletic teams; degrees, and honors and awards received. “Directory information” also includes the name, address and telephone number of the student’s parent(s). “Directory
Parents Encouraged to Update Contact Information for Infinite Campus Parent Portal Infinite Campus is our school district’s student management system as well as a tool for parents and students to access timely information such as attendance, report cards, class schedules, contact information, class assignments where appropriate, and much more. We encourage parents to use this program as one way to stay connected with their child’s school information. Information in this system is for students in grades K – 12, but the amount of information will change depending on your child’s grade level. The main items for students in grade K – 3 is attendance, immunizations, school calendar, and contact information. In older grades, this information
Thursday, August 22, 2013
may include grades, report cards, assessment information, and assignments. If you registered for Infinite Campus Parent Portal last year, you will not need to do so again this year. It is important for parents to check their contact information in the portal to make sure that all phone numbers and emergency contacts are up to date. The phone numbers listed there are the ones that are used for the District messenger system, which is used to call parents when there are school closings, emergency situations, or other important reminders. Follow the steps in the parent portal to update your information and you will receive a notice that everything has been
received. If you have not registered for an account or are new to our District, you can go to your child’s school office to set up your account. We need parents to bring a form of photo identification for security reasons and ask that you only request this information for yourself rather than for another person. Once you have set up an account, there is an Infinite Campus app that parents can download for iPhones or android phones. Directions for doing this are located on the Parent Portal link on the District website, www.owatonna. k12.mn.us. Locate the Infinite Campus Portal link on the left side of the main page.
information” does not include identifying information on a student’s religion, race, color, social position or nationality. (Student photographs are not directory information, but are published annually in the school year book.) a. The information listed above shall be public information which the school district may disclose from the education records of a student or information regarding a parent. b. Should the parent of a student or the student so desire, any or all of the listed information will not be dis¬closed without the parent’s or eligible student’s prior writ¬ten consent except to school officials as provided under federal law. c. In order to make any or
all of the directory information listed above “private” (i.e. subject to consent prior to disclosure), the parent or eligible student must make a writ¬ten request to the building principal within thirty (30) days after the date of the publication of this notice. This written request must include the following information: (1) Name of student and parent, as appropriate; (2) Home address; (3) School presently attended by student; (4) Parent’s legal relationship to student, if applicable; (5) Specific category or categories of directory information which is not to be made public without the parent’s or eligible student’s prior written consent.
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Thursday, August 22, 2013
OWATONNA SCHOOL DISTRICT
PAGE 7
Across the District Owatonna public schools food and nutrition kicks off another school year Students will be returning to school soon and the Food and Nutrition Services department is ready to serve them healthy and nutritious meals to help them be at their best in the classroom. We plan to continue our focus of serving up lots of fruits and vegetables to our students along with more scratch cooking in our kitchens. All students are required to take at least one serving of a fruit or vegetable as they were last year, along with two other food groups to make their meal complete. Food and Nutrition Services wishes the best to all of our students as the new school year begins. Our sole purpose is to keep our customers happy and healthy and want students’ bodies and minds to have the energy needed to feel and perform their best.
Expansion of breakfast program at Owatonna High We all know that breakfast is a vital part of the day and helps students perform better in school. Food and Nutrition Services is excited to announce an addition to our breakfast program at OHS starting this fall. To encourage more high school students to eat breakfast and make it more convenient for them, we are adding a “GRAB-N-GO” Breakfast cart located in the Upper Commons area from 7:15 to 7:55 a.m. daily. The price of the breakfast is $1.35 and students will be able to use their meal account or pay cash. Students can still head down to the cafeteria from 7:15 to 7:55 a.m. each day
for the same price and a few more options. We are excited to be offering our OHS students an additional healthy option for breakfast each day.
2013-14 School Meal Prices These prices exclude the purchase of ala-carte items.
Lunch Prices
Elementary Students $2.25 Willow Creek Students $2.35 OJHS Students $2.35 OHS Students $2.45 Reduced Price (All Schools) $ .40 Adult Lunch and Student 2nd Lunch $3.35
Breakfast Prices
All Free and Reduced-Pay Students No Charge Elementary Full Pay Students $1.15 OHS Full Pay Students $1.35 ½ pint Milk $.45 (for purchase of a carton with cold lunch from home, or an extra carton with school lunch.) Please visit the Food and Nutrition Services webpage at www.owatonna.k12.mn.us for breakfast and lunch serving times, or call 507-444-8616 for more information. Did you receive your Application for Educational Benefits this month? It came in a pink packet earlier in August. If you did not receive yours, or you have questions on filling it out please call Food and Nutrition Services at 444-8616. Do you have special dietary concerns for your child? Please check out our website at
www.owatonna.k12.mn.us for the necessary forms you will need to have filled out and returned to the Food and Nutrition Services Department. New forms need to be filled out each school year. If you need forms mailed to you or you have questions about special diets, please call Kristen at 444-8629.
Managing Meal Accounts – We’re here to help Occasionally parents wonder about their children’s meal account balances and the process that takes place when account balances are running low. Food and Nutrition Services strives to work collectively with parents to ensure that students are able to participate in the meal program at school every day. Beginning at a $6 account balance, cashiers will give students a verbal reminder that their meal account funds are getting low. They will offer either a hand stamp or a note to help remind the student to tell their parent they need a meal payment soon. These daily reminders from the cashiers will continue as long as the student needs a meal payment. As soon as a K-8 student is at a negative balance, a letter is printed off on a weekly basis for the student to take home with them. Sometimes a phone call is made to the family to make sure they are aware of the negative balance. In addition, parents are highly encouraged to utilize www.mypaymentsplus.com for staying on top of all activity related to their child’s meal ac-
count. You can view what your child is purchasing each day and see how much money is in their account. You can also set up email notifications to alert you when your child’s meal account has reached a certain balance. We recommend parents set their notification alert balance at $10 or greater so they know well in advance when their student will need a meal payment. In addition to mypaymentsplus.com, there are other online resources available in the Food and Nutrition Services section of the Owatonna Public Schools website. You can view menus, pricing, healthy classroom snack options and Special Dietary Needs forms. There is also a section with Educational Nutrition links for all ages. When you get a moment, take a look at our website and all of the information that is available right at your fingertips. If there are any questions that can’t be answered online, please call Food and Nutrition Services at 444-8616. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Owatonna Public Schools 2013-14 Board of Education Meeting Schedule The District 761 Board of Education meets at 6:30 p.m. at the District Office at 515 W. Bridge Street. Meeting dates are: Monday, August 12, 2013 Monday, August 26, 2013 Monday, September 9, 2013 Monday, September 23, 2013 Monday, October 14, 2013 Monday, October 28, 2013 Tuesday, November 12, 2013 Monday, November 25, 2013 Monday, December 9, 2013 Monday, January 13, 2014 Monday, January 27, 2014 Monday, February 10, 2014 Monday, February 24, 2014 Monday, March 10, 2014 Monday, March 24, 2014 Monday, April 14, 2014 Monday, April 28, 2014 Monday, May 12, 2014 Monday, June 9, 2014 Monday, June 23, 2014 Monday, July 14, 2014 Monday, August 11, 2014 Monday, August 25, 2014
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PAGE 8
OWATONNA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Owatonna Community Education
Owatonna Community Education offers options for everyone Adult Learning Center
The Adult Learning Center is for adults to receive personal and confidential attention to their educational needs. Instruction is offered in the subject areas of reading, writing, vocabulary, English, spelling, math, ESL, college and post-secondary prep, on-line learning and preparation for work. The Adult Learning Center is located in the Roosevelt Community School. Adults can choose between traditional class formats, small group, individual tutoring or learning in our state-ofthe-art computer lab. A variety of web-based software is available for community use. New software designed to grow your personal, career and academic skills are added on a regular basis. The fall scheduled in listed below for reference. New class schedules will be mailed to all current and former stu-
dents. New students are welcome to stop into the Adult Learning Center at Roosevelt Community School to pick-up a class schedule, or call Kim at 444-7925 to have a schedule mailed. Call or stop by the Center for class descriptions and details on any of the classes highlighted below. Advance registration for Adult Learning Center services is recommended to ensure a seat in your selected classes. Adult Learning Center services are free of charge. Anyone interested in growing their basic academic skills for career advancement, transitioning to work or a college program will find value in Adult Learning Center services.
replaced with an online version that will be aligned with National Core Standards, making it more difficult and more costly to take. Students currently working on a GED, or those that want to take the current version, will need to successfully pass all five tests prior to December 31, 2013 or risk starting over with the new version. The current series will no longer be available after December 31, 2013, and no scores carry forward beyond December 31, 2013. If you have been waiting to finish, or know someone who has, now is the time to finish and move on to better career opportunities. Testing for the current GED Test will occur GED test monthly at Roosevelt on to change this year the 3rd Thursday beginning in September and The current GED Test ending in December. The will sunset on December last opportunity to test in 31, 2013. The test will be Owatonna will be Decem-
ber 18th. Call 444-7925 for additional testing details and support to help you complete the test series.
Early childhood screening available
Appointments are now
being accepted for families with 3-5 year olds.
See COMM ED on 9C
OWATONNA MONTESSORI CHILDREN’S HOUSE
Spaces Still Available! Enroll now for the 2013-2014 school year • • • • • •
5 Day Sessions 8am-3pm 5 Day Sessions Noon-3pm 3 & 5 Day Sessions 8am-11am Full Day Kindergarten Field Trips 10% Discount for Siblings
1820 Hartle Ave Owatonna 451-2885 Email Connie at connie@omch.org
www.omch.org “An approach to education that embraces individualized instruction for children 2-1/2 to 6 years of age.”
Thursday, August 22, 2013
OWATONNA SCHOOL DISTRICT
PAGE 9
Owatonna Community Education Comm. Ed. From Page 8 The screening is mandated by the State of Minnesota prior to kindergarten entry. The purpose is to confirm for families that their child is developing normally and ready for the school experience. Families with children between the ages of 3-5 will alphabetically receive a post card notice to schedule an appointment. Families may also call 444-7900 to schedule an appointment at any time. Screenings are held Thursday afternoons and evenings, with one Saturday morning a month available for appointments. Screenings take approximately 1 ½ hours to complete. Families new to Owatonna with a kindergarten student who has not previously been screened, can call Community Education right now to get their child’s screening completed. Appointments fill quickly, so call today.
Fall community education brochures to hit the mail Fall Community Education Brochures will be placed in the US Mail Service the week of September 3rd and will be delivered to every household within the Owatonna
school district. On-line registration for adults and youth programs will begin on September 4th at 6 a.m. On-line registration at www.owatonnacommunityed.org is a fast and efficient way to get registered for the classes you want. Many classes begin the week of September 23rd with several others, including trips and workshops scheduled throughout the months of October, November and December. Most offerings have a limited number of slots available, so register early. Registration is ongoing until all class seats are filled. As soon as a brochure copy is ready for viewing, it will be posted to the community education website listed above. Check back often for a preview of special programs and events planned with you and your family in mind. The Early Childhood brochure featuring parent and child together learning opportunities will be direct mailed to families with children 0-5 years of age. Brochures will mail the week of August 13th. Registration begins on August 28th. The on-line registration feature is now available for ECFE Registrations and will go live on August 28th at 8 a.m. Families are also welcome to call 444-7900 begin-
ning 8 a.m. on August 28th, or stop by Roosevelt Community School with your registration requests. Registration for all Community Education programs remains open until class slots are filled. Families are encouraged to select the waiting list option if preferred classes are full. New class offerings will be built for those classes with full waiting lists if space and instructors are available. Families not receiving fall program publications are encouraged to call Community Education at 444-7900 to have a copy sent. Copies are also available at Roosevelt Community School, Owatonna Public Schools District Office, and the Owatonna Public Library for pick-up. Call 444-7900 with questions or assistance in completing registration for all Community Education learning opportunities. We are happy to help in any way we can.
For more information on the KIDS FIRST Athletic Program, contact Sean Hughes, Youth Coordinator, Owatonna Community Education. Phone 444-7923. Coaches are still needed. Please check the school district website for employment opportunities, or contact Sean Hughes at 444-7923. New this year, KIDS FIRST will no longer be
a part of the district activities fee cap. A scholarship program is available to any family requesting assistance with the activity fee. Information will be available at all of this year’s Parent/Athlete meetings about the scholarship opportunities, or check our website for updates in the near future. The following web links will provide families with
valuable updates on Kids First Athletic programs: www.owatonnacommunityed.org click on Kids First/ OJHS Athletics tab or www. owatonna.k12.mn.us click on OJHS link; and www. big9.org Enrollment forms for Fall Sport participation are available on line. Deb McDermott-Johnson is the Director of Community Education in Owatonna.
Kids First
September is Library Card Sign Up Month!
Owatonna Community Education is pleased to announce their continuing support for OJHS KIDS FIRST Athletics. The Fall Sports Parent/ Athlete Meeting is scheduled for August 19th at 7 pm at OJHS. Practice for fall sports begin on August 26th.
Your library card: the most valuable school supply.
onna OPuwbliat c Libra ry
Download the app for your Android or iPhone!
Owatonna Public Library 105 N Elm Ave. 507-444-2460 www.owatonna.info
PAGE 10
OWATONNA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Elementary Elementary School Fast Facts Registration If you recently moved to the community, students in all grades register at the district office. The office is located at 515 West Bridge Street, and appointments can be made by calling 444-8640. Due to high enrollment at some schools in certain grade levels, we will not be able to honor all enrollments in boundary-defined schools. If your family has moved within the community, please notify the school your child attended last year and the new elementary school your child will be attending this school year. If you move to a different attendance area during the school year, please contact your school principal. The main office line for each school is listed below.
Home/Child/School Day This very important event will be held Aug. 29, 2013, at all of the elementary schools for students in grades one through five. This is an opportunity for parents and children to meet their new
teachers and set the stage for a successful year of learning. This day does count as your child’s first day of school and attendance will be taken. If your family did not receive a mailing with information regarding Home/Child/School Day, please call your neighborhood elementary school.
Willow Creek Open House Willow Creek will have its Open House on Thursday, Sept. 5. The Open House begins at 6 p.m. and it ends at 9 p.m. This opportunity is designed for parents to meet the teachers and staff, view the curriculum, tour the school, and get answers to questions that may have surfaced after the first couple days of school. Our first parent newsletter will contain additional information about the Open House. Our PTSO will have some of the executive committee in attendance to encourage parents to join the PTSO and learn of the many projects the PTSO supports during the year. Parents should find lists of school
supplies at Wal-Mart, Office Max and other stores in the area.
Attendance School attendance is important for students in order to insure a consistent quality education. Regular school attendance directly impacts success in academic work, benefits students socially, provides opportunities for important communications between teachers and students and establishes regular habits of dependability important to the future of all students. Please be sure to call your child’s school office to report if your child will be late or absent and include why your child will not be in school. This information is particularly important in tracking childhood illnesses. Our schools are working closely with the District Attorney’s Office and Steele County Human Services to stay on top of student attendance and give assistance if needed to families who are struggling with getting their children to school regularly and on time.
Mary Hawkins joins Lincoln Elementary School Welcome, Mary Hawkins Mary Hawkins will be joining the elementary administration team as the building principal at Lincoln. Mary is returning to the Owatonna School District after spending four years as principal at St. Mary’s School in Owatonna. She was employed as a teacher in the Owatonna Public School from 1990
through 2009. She taught Language Arts and Reading at both OJHS and OHS and also worked throughout the district providing staff development and new teacher support through the mentoring program. Mary has a Master of Science in Reading Education from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls and an Edu-
cational Specialist/ K-12 license from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Mary and her family have lived in the Owatonna area for 23 years. She and her husband Pat have three children. Mitch and Leah who have both graduated from Owatonna High School and Molly who will be a seventh grader.
3 01
IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS Lincoln School 444-8100 Attendance Line 444-8105 McKinley School 444-8200 Attendanvce Line 444-8205 Washington School 444-8300
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Attendance Line 444-8305 Wilson School 444-8400 Attendance Line 444-8405 Willow Creek School 444-8500 Attendance Line 444-8505
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Thursday, August 22, 2013
OWATONNA SCHOOL DISTRICT
PAGE 11
Junior High School
Ready for a new year Welcome students As many of you know, OJHS has undergone a number of shifts to accommodate a balanced budget for next year. After much planning and preparation, we are just about ready to open our doors for students. We believe that we’ve designed a wonderful program for both seventh and eighth graders and, more importantly, we have made great strides in aligning our school to what is the most important and most beneficial for our students. We appreciate all of the input and the patience as we’ve made some of these transitions and we are more than excited to see the faces of our students come Sept. 3. Over the course of the summer we’ve hired a number of individuals. One of those is our interim assistant principal who will now be serving as our assistant principal. We would like everyone to welcome Wendy Cirksena to OJHS. Wendy comes to us from the high school where she taught Special Education for a number of years.
As we open our doors to more than 700 seventh and eighth grade students this September, we are thrilled to begin this year’s adventures. A lot of great work has been done during the summer. The most important work of this summer was clearly defining our school’s direction and what our staff will be working on in the next number of years. Our direction will focus on four core areas 1) Literacy, 2) Instruction, 3) Leadership, and 4) Formative Assessment. Each of these areas are designed to help us make a shift from focusing on what students are being taught, to focusing on what students are learning. We are also in the process of taking a close look at what we are doing with students who are not understanding concepts, along with students who have quickly gotten the concept and are ready to move on. While we are now clear on our direction, we will continue to work on the details
of each of our points and will communicate these to you as frequently as possible. Throughout this summer, this has been very exciting work. While our budget constraints have caused us to discontinue teaming, we will still continue to support our ESTEM program and students will continue to be on teams for this program. This year is the inaugural year for our eighth grade team, who will be receiving last year’s seventh grade ESTEMers. They are excited about the work and have collaborated well with our seventh grade team to ensure a smooth first year. Physically, our building has changed a bit. We renovated our nurse’s office over the summer, repainted and re-floored our locker rooms, and installed new bleachers in our small gym. Each of these were great needs and we are glad that we were able to allocate some capitol funds to ensure that these projects get done.
See OJHS on 12C
OJHS UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS August 19 — Kids 1st Fall Sports Mtg., 7 p.m. OJHS — IMC August 26 — Kids 1st Fall Sports Practices Begin August 28 — OJHS Student/Parent Orientation, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., seventh grade; 12:15 to 2:15 p.m., eighth grade. August 28 — Student picture day September 2 — Labor Day/No School September 3 — First Day of School September 10 — First Day of RE (Religious Ed Release Time) September 13 — OJHS Teen Night, 7 to 9 p.m.
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PAGE 12
OWATONNA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Junior High School
the main entrance on 15th St. NE and sign in at the security In short, all of us at OJHS desk. are anticipating the new year • Student schedules are with great excitement. complimented with a full array of courses including technology engineering education, art, family and consumer science, Spanish, health, or• seventh and eighth Grade chestra, band, and choir. Students attend OJHS • Student day begins at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. • If picking up students at the end of the day please park along the east side of St. All seventh and eighth Paul Road. The staff parking graders will attend orientalot will be closed from 2:50 – tion sessions on Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. each day. August 28 at the Owatonna • The building opens for Junior High School. We instudents at 8:07 a.m. each day. • Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. vite and encourage parents to attend with their child. As a to 4 p.m. • When making a visit to parent, if you cannot attend, OJHS during the school day, your child can still successvisitors must enter through fully complete the orientation
OJHS From Page 11
Fast Facts about OJHS
Orientation for all students and parents
program, so please ensure that they find a way to attend. Doors will open for all seventh grade parents and students at 8:20 a.m. Students and parents will report to their designated Home Base classroom. The day will start with a welcome and introductions and students and parents will then be given a specific plan for the day’s activities. The seventh grade orientation runs from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Eighth graders and their parents will report to their Home Base rooms at 12:15 p.m. to begin their orientation session which runs from 12:15 to 2:15 p.m. If desired, students may want to take their school photo prior to the orientation meeting. Orientation Day is also Picture Day. All students
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will have their picture taken by Life Touch Studios. To avoid long picture lines, Life Touch photographers will be extending photo hours to include an early morning session. Life Touch photos will be available in the old gym prior to the seventh grade orientation from 7:30 to 8:20 a.m. and again from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (please enter through the Athletic Entrance-north side of building) In addition to pictures, students and parents will have time to go through class schedules and meet their teachers following the Home Base meetings. An information fair will be set up in the cafeteria where students will receive information regarding OJHS student support services and co-curricular activities. Students may purchase
activity stickers that activate the student I.D. card for $40 . There will also be an opportunity for students to make payments on their lunch accounts based on the Food and Nutrition Services information given to them in their Home Base classes. The Owatonna Bus Comp any wi l l s end you bus transportation information. The Bus Company will be at orientation to answer your questions and to hand out the student bus passes. If you have any questions regarding transportation, please call the bus company at 451-5262.
tion to Health Services at orientation or send to the school prior to the beginning of the school year. The clinics do not provide that information. It must be provided by parents to the school. Health Services will have a table set up outside the OJHS media center to answer any questions on orientation day. Your child will be required to have a current athletic physical on file with the school prior to participating in any Kids 1st Athletic Programs. In addition, all students participating in the Kids 1st Sport Program must provide a waiver of insurance coverage. A family may choose to use their current medical family coverage, or they may choose to purchase a Student Accident Insurance Please provide all informaPolicy. These forms are availtion regarding immunizations, as able at the OJHS Office. well as athletic physical informa-
Health Information updates
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Thursday, August 22, 2013
OWATONNA SCHOOL DISTRICT
PAGE 13
High School Welcome Back To Owatonna High School
Welcome to another school year at Owatonna High School. THE TASSEL IS WORTH THE HASSLE. Our students will hear this message throughout their careers at OHS as we continue to place an emphasis on preparing students for life after high school. Specifically, our expectations for students is to focus on the following: 1.) College and Career Readiness, 2.) Student Achievement, 3.) A Safe and Engaging Learning Environment. The aforementioned expectations are extremely important in helping our students succeed and our staff work hard to provide our students with an outstanding educational experience. At Owatonna High School, we continue to appreciate the support we get from our parents and community. This partnership is another key component in providing our students with the education they need and deserve. If you see an OHS student, remind them the TASSEL IS WORTH THE HASSLE.
NEW FACES
OHS welcomes new staff members Sarah Hafermann – Language Arts Sarah Parks – Language Arts Tami Langlois – Guidance Counselor Lori Peglow – Special Services Chad Ohl – Business Education Joel Tornell – Social Studies
Important Things To Know Changes In Parking And Entering OHS
Visitor Parking Visitor parking is available in the south lot – adjacent to the tennis court complex. Please use the Main Entrance on Grove Ave. to enter the building – all other doors will be locked during the school day. Student Parking: Beginning in September, there will no longer be any public parking along Grove Ave extending from the entrance of the South Lot (Tennis courts) to the intersection/corner of Grove Avenue and School Street. In the past, students who arrived to school early enough, often found parking spots in this area. That will no longer be the case. This zone will be marked/signed as No Parking – Student Drop Off/Pick Up Only — 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. — School Days Only. NOTE: The doors at OHS open at 7:30 a.m. each morning so please plan accordingly. If you are in the building prior to 7:30 a.m., you must have permission and be working with a teacher in a classroom.
Student Drop Off and Pick Up: We wish to emphasize that when picking up or dropping off students before school, that you use either the Grove Ave and/or Harriet Street zones. If you will be dropping off or picking up a student during the school day, it is important that you use the Grove Ave location – east side of the avenue, northbound direction only. This location is due primarily to the Main Entrance as being the single door that will be open during the school day. We continue to request that you not use the South Lot and South Door for this purpose. Visitors and Building Security Procedures: Also beginning in September, all doors entering OHS will be locked beginning at 8 a.m. through 3 p.m. Visitors, parents, and students who need to enter the building after 8 a.m. will need to enter at the Main Entrance (west facing doors next to the pillars). Once inside the main doors, we ask that all parents and other visitors register at the Visitor Registration and Information Desk that will be located in front of the auditorium doors
Beginning Of The School Year At A Glance Aug. 26 – Ninth Grade Parent Orientation (7 p.m.) Aug. 27 – Ninth Grade Student Orientation (8 a.m. to noon) Aug. 27 – New Student Orientation (8 a.m.) Sept. 3 – First Day of School Sept. 21 – ACT Testing at OHS Oct. 3 – Homecoming Coronation (7 p.m.) Oct. 4 – Homecoming Parade and Football Game Oct. 7 – OHS Conferences (3:30 to 7 p.m.) Oct. 17-18 — MEA (EdMN Conference) Congratulations to Brandon Krogman, Ian Langeberg, Anna Rahrick, Eric Schlicker, Matthew Van Ommeren, and Bria Wunderlich for receiving recognition in the 2014 National Merit Program.
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PAGE 14
OWATONNA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Owatonna Alternative Learning Center offers options for success Welcome to the Owatonna Alternative Learning Center (ALC). The ALC is a program option for students in grades 9-12 who have not experienced success in a more traditional high school setting. If you feel your student needs a smaller environment, more individualized help, or access to online curriculum to recover credits this might be a program that will meet your child’s needs. Our students graduate with an Owatonna High School diploma and are required to pass all graduation tests like other Owatonna High School students. Students who attend the ALC also have the opportunity to continue to participate in high school activities and sports. Partial OHS and ALC schedules are available if this is what is needed to meet student needs. The ALC and OHS work together to provide our Owatonna students with the best education possible. We have onsite support for students in the area of chemical health. One of our school social workers is also available as a resource to parents and students in areas such as teen pregnancy, social skill development, anger management, and mental health concerns. The Owatonna Alternative Learning Center continues to build on Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to guide behavior and decision making for both students and staff. These foun-
dational Habits are critical to the life-long success we are looking to help provide, build and empower our students with. The 7 Habits and Leadership are not only important here at school, but out in the
curriculum, Odysseyware, is also available to our students and has multiple learning levels, ranging from foundational to honors. Our goal is always to meet the individual learning needs of our students and take them from where they are to where they want to go. One of the ways we look to accomplish this end in mind is to provide another foundational piece to our students, which is a focus on Inquiry. We have expanded our Advisement to include curriculum in areas such as career development and employment, healthy living choices, stress management, parenting, and ongoing reinforcement of the 7 Habits. Please call us to get enrolled so that we can start the year together. The Owatonna Alternative Learning Center might be the option you are looking for your child and we welcome the opportunity to visit with you and your child. To start the enrollment process call 444-8000 and ALC staff will work with you to review your child’s school history, and determine eligibility. I feel a clear strength at the ALC is our staff being able to make strong connections, build relationships, along with an earned trust and respect with all of our students. We strongly feel here at the ALC that community, with family, and friends as well. We continue to offer core classes and a variety ALL students have value, can learn, and will succeed. Jason Markusen is the principal at the Owatonna of specialized classes including, but not limited to Physical Education, Health, and Robotics. Our online Alternative Learning Center.
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OWATONNA SCHOOL DISTRICT
PAGE 15
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OWATONNA SCHOOL DISTRICT
OUR PROGRAMS OF STUDY:
PAGE 16
Thursday, August 22, 2013
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OWATONNA CAMPUS 965 Alexander Drive SW Owatonna MN 55060 507-455-5880