Oskaloosa Schools

🎉 Introducing Heather Nelson to the Osky Schools family! 📚 She's our new Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher at Oskaloosa High School for the 2023-24 school year. Heather brings an impressive educational background, including a master’s degree in education from St. Catherine University, a bachelor’s degree in English from Iowa State University, and an associate’s degree in culinary arts from Indiana Hills CC. With 26 years of marriage to husband Brent and three Osky graduates (Spencer, Kirby, and Elliot), she's deeply rooted in our community. Now an empty-nester, Heather is diving into new adventures – from travel and writing to cooking and hiking. Her two cats, Juno and Iris, keep her company, too! “I’m excited to work on expanding students’ palates and opening their minds to new food experiences!” says Heather. “With ten years of food industry experience under my belt, I'm looking forward to sharing my knowledge and passion for food!” Why Oskaloosa Schools? Heather says, “I grew up In Oskaloosa, graduated from here, taught here, raised children here, and owned a business here. I think I have a lot to give back to this community!” Her main goal? “Inspire students to be as excited and passionate about food as I am!” Welcome to the team, Heather! 🌟

🎨 On September 27, our talented students in Mr. Kargol's art classes had a fantastic opportunity to meet and learn from guest artist Hans Schmitter, all the way from Montreal, Quebec, Canada! Hans Schmitter is a world-famous graphic designer and graffiti-writer/muralist. During his visit, he shared images of his incredible work and led an engaging workshop on the art of graffiti lettering! Our students were inspired and left with newfound creativity and knowledge. 🌟 A huge thank you to Hans Schmitter for visiting and inspiring our young artists!

🚜👕 The Osky FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapter has launched TWO online stores for you to shop! 1️⃣ Get your hands on this year's official chapter shirts, brought to you in collaboration with @Swim's Sports Awards & Screen Printing. The link to this store closes on October 15 at midnight—mark your calendars for estimated pick-up on October 25: https://ohsffa2023.itemorder.com/shop/sale/ 2️⃣ Shop our merch store for more goodies, including shirts and hats! Students have been working hard all summer to bring you this store, which is all about promoting FFA, advocating for agriculture, and raising funds for our chapter. 🌱 Access the store here (using the password “oskyffa”), which also closes at midnight on October 15: https://stores.inksoft.com/oskaloosa_ffa/shop/private. Other items available for purchase include FFA lanyards for $3.00, FFA keychains for $1, and FFA tumblers for $25.00. Contact Alice Bowling at bowlinga@oskycsd.org or an FFA member if interested! Thank you for supporting Osky FFA and helping our future farmers thrive! 🌟

Happy National Custodian Day to our custodial team! We appreciate your commitment to ensuring our students have the best possible spaces to learn and grow. Thank you for everything you do!

REMINDER: There is NO SCHOOL today, October 2, for staff professional development. School will resume on Tuesday.

Want to get involved in the community? Discover opportunities for family-friendly fun at the Oskaloosa Virtual Backpack! 🎒 Search for events by going to www.oskyschools.org and selecting OCSD Backpack under the Parents tab. Part of a local organization? Submit event flyers here: https://tinyurl.com/24mztee9

There will be NO SCHOOL on Monday, October 2, for staff professional development. School will resume on Tuesday.

Have you downloaded our mobile app? View calendars, menus, reminders, and news in the palm of your hand. It’s FREE and available on all mobile devices! 👉 Apple: https://tinyurl.com/yck2u66s 👉 Android: https://tinyurl.com/mwa52hn6

📚📅 As Attendance Awareness Month comes to a close, our commitment to making school attendance a year-round priority remains strong! Now, more than ever, school attendance matters. Watch this brief and informative video by Attendance Works to discover how we can tackle this issue together: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT0W2giwk1E. 🔔 Remember: If your student is absent from school and you haven't called in, we'll do our best to notify you in the morning. However, please understand that depending on the number of absent students, you may receive a call later in the morning. #AttendanceMatters

🎃 REMINDER: Join us for a Pumpkin Giveaway hosted by The Austin Norris Edward Jones Office and his team to spread some fall cheer to our little ones at Oskaloosa Early Childhood Center and Oskaloosa Elementary School! 🍂 📅 Date: Tuesday, October 3 🗺️ Location: Edward Jones - Austin Norris (716 A Avenue) 🕒 Time: 3:30 - 6:00 p.m. 💰 Price: FREE Any OECC or OES student who stops by with their parent/guardian will receive a FREE pumpkin purchased locally at Stam Garden Center & Nursery! 🌱🧡 A HUGE shoutout to Austin Norris and his team, Jill Keller and Dena Huelsman, for this wonderful gesture of community support. Let's make this autumn extra special for our kids! 🍁

📣 REMINDER: Today is our usual early-out Wednesday. We will have a 60-minute early release today.

Did you know? Addressing chronic absence is a key component of improving graduation rates, increasing academic achievement, and giving young people the best chance at success in their adult life. 📚✨ Oskaloosa Schools is proud to recognize #AttendanceAwarenessMonth. Let’s make a difference in our community! 🌟 To learn more about attendance and access resources, please visit https://www.attendanceworks.org/. 🔔 As a reminder, we want to make sure you're informed about your child's attendance. If your student is absent from school and you haven't called in, we'll do our best to notify you in the morning. However, please understand that depending on the number of absent students, you may receive a call later in the morning.

We have an immediate opening for a High School Color Guard Coach! Check out this job posting and others at http://www.oskyjobs.com.

Registration is now OPEN for OBC’s Winter Skills Academy! 🏀❄️ From November through January, boys and girls in grades 1-2 can hone their basketball skills in a friendly, supportive atmosphere. All students need to bring is a ball! 🗓️ When: Tuesdays & Fridays, 5:00-6:00pm 🏫 Where: Oskaloosa Elementary Gym 🧒 Who: Boys and girls in 1st/2nd grade 💲 Cost: $80/participant Register by October 30: https://www.oskybasketballclub.com/registration Questions? Email us at mcgeee@oskycsd.org.

🔍 Looking for something fun to do with the family? Check out the Oskaloosa Virtual Backpack! 🎒🖥️ Explore community-wide events by going to www.oskyschools.org and selecting OCSD Backpack under the Parents tab. Local organizations can submit their event flyers to https://tinyurl.com/24mztee9.

Osky has a NEW app! 📱🎉 Get the latest news, events, menus, and reminders right at your fingertips. Available for iPhone AND Android users! 👉 Apple: https://tinyurl.com/yck2u66s 👉 Android: https://tinyurl.com/mwa52hn6

🍂🎃 Mark your calendars for a fantastic Fall STEAM Fest hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach on Sunday, October 1, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. 🍁 Get ready for a day of fun, learning, and excitement for the entire family! From fun STEAM activities to crafts, pumpkin games, food, and much more, there’s something for everyone! The first 200 young attendees will receive a FREE pumpkin! 🎃 Check out the flyer for more details — don't miss out on this amazing event!

📚🎒 Wondering how to support your children's school engagement? 🤔 In honor of Attendance Awareness Month, we've got you covered with tips for student success! Help your child stay engaged by: 1️⃣ Checking in on their class experience and safety. 2️⃣ Addressing any behavioral or discipline issues with the school's help. 3️⃣ Keeping tabs on their academic progress and staying in touch with teachers. 4️⃣ Foster positive social connections. 5️⃣ Encourage participation in meaningful after-school activities. 6️⃣ Be mindful of signs of anxiety and offer support. 🔔 Important Announcement: We want to make sure you're informed about your child's attendance. If your student is absent from school and you haven't called in, we'll do our best to notify you in the morning. However, please understand that depending on the number of absent students, you may receive a call later in the morning. Let's empower our students for a successful journey! 🌟 To learn more about attendance and access resources, please visit https://www.attendanceworks.org/ #AttendanceMatters

Today is Picture Day for Oskaloosa Middle School students! 😄📸 Elementary families, your students will have their Picture Day on Tuesday, September 26.

🎃 Join us for a Pumpkin Giveaway hosted by Edward Jones Advisor Austin Norris to spread some fall cheer to our little ones at Oskaloosa Early Childhood Center and Oskaloosa Elementary School! 🍂 📅 Date: Tuesday, October 3 🗺️ Location: Edward Jones - Austin Norris (716 A Avenue) 🕒 Time: 3:30 - 6:00 p.m. 💰 Price: FREE Any OECC or OES student who stops by with their parent/guardian will receive a FREE pumpkin from Stam Garden Center & Nursery! 🌱🧡 A HUGE shoutout to Austin Norris for this wonderful gesture of community support. Let's make this autumn extra special for our kids! 🍁