School pictures will be next Friday. One week away!
KRR Literacy Integrated Family Engagement (LIFE) program has one opening left for our Fall program. Sign up deadline is August 30, first session is September 17. Contact Christy Koelzer if you would like more information.
Due to the forms being sent out yesterday, Flag Football Forms will be due in the Grade School office by Friday (Aug 23) morning.
There will be no late fee.
Holton Parks and Rec is offering Flag Football for students 2nd - 6th grade. If you child did not come home with a form. There are plenty more in the OGS office.
PK-6th Grade Parent Information Night is on Tuesday, August 20 from 5:30-6:30 pm. There will be 15 minute rotations so parents can make it to multiple classrooms. We look forward to seeing you!
On Thursday, August 29th an open public meeting is to be held presenting an option for what could be the new Onaga Elementary School. All patrons of the Onaga USD 322 school system, are encouraged to attend the meeting to view the current conditions of the school and provide input for the possible future grade school.
Over the past year and a half, the Onaga Grade School Building Committee has been exploring the idea of replacing the current grade school. The main reason for this is the significant deterioration of the foundation and the resulting structural problems. The current building was constructed with the heating duct work built into the concrete foundation. Over time, cracks in the concrete have allowed air to escape the duct work and dry out the soil causing the foundation to settle and fracture. Mud jacking has been done in the past to correct the problem, but provided only marginal improvement. The current damage is extensive enough to prohibit repair. Visible signs of the failing foundation can be seen as cracks throughout the hallways and classrooms. Additionally, many doors and windows no longer function correctly, and a few walls are dislodging from the building due to the foundation moving. Simply put, the elementary school is coming to the end of its useful life.
In addition to the structural concerns of the building, there are numerous educational issues that need to be addressed. Among these are poor instructional environments, a need for additional classrooms and work space, technology limitations, and student safety.
One of the most common complaints of teachers is how uncomfortable the classrooms are. Drafty windows and doors and poor insulation make it difficult to regulate the temperature in the classrooms. This is a symptom of the failing structure mentioned earlier. Teachers often rely on space heaters in the winter to provide additional heat, and window air conditioning units in warmer months to keep rooms comfortable. Restroom plumbing and ventilation are also nuisances that the staff and students sometimes deal with.
The size and number of classrooms are also a concern. Modern classrooms are often designed with more space to allow for group activities. The increased use of technology and audio-visual platforms has also exacerbated the need for more space in the classroom. In addition to larger individual classrooms, an increase in enrollment has warranted the need for more classrooms. Pre-K, kindergarten, first, second, and fifth grades are all currently divided into two classes. This classroom situation leaves little room for future enrollment increases. In addition to the classrooms, there is a need for designated space for individual student engagement, conferences, meetings, and storage.
The need for technology in the classroom continues to outpace current conditions. Just as technology has become more prevalent in our daily lives, so too has it become in education. The use of the internet for communication and as a teaching tool are everyday activities for teachers and students. As technology in the classroom advances, pressure to upgrade electrical and data infrastructure will continue. The current Wi-Fi internet connections are often overloaded, and a lack of electrical receptacles makes the use of power cords commonplace.
Student safety is another reality of today's education that the current grade school is unable to adequately address. Secure points of entry and safe rooms are design requirements of modern school construction that were not present when the current school was built. A secure educational environment is to be expected for our students and staff. Additionally, keeping up with current building codes is problematic of a school built in the 1950s.
As the Onaga Grade School Building Committee continues to evaluate the possibility of a new elementary school, great consideration is being given to all aspects of the project. Not only are structural issues being analyzed, but educational concerns are being looked at as well. Please plan to attend the open public meeting on Thursday, August 29th.
School Picture Day is 2 weeks from today! August 30th!
Please remember to send enrollment forms for 21st Century Learning Centers after school program or Buffalo Fun Club to school. Those returning forms are eligible for a drawing. We start August 26.
2019-2020 District Calendars: We have a reduced number of large calendars available this year. Therefore, one calendar will be sent home to each family with their oldest child in school. The remaining calendars will be available to pick up at either the bank or the school office. Smaller pocket calendars are also available at the bank. Thank you to Farmers State Bank for sponsoring the calendars and Harder Printing for printing the calendars!
LIFE Program is moving to Tuesdays this year. The Literacy Integrated Family Engagement Program is an eight week program for families with students in grades K-3 and focuses on building bonds between parents and children and increasing literacy in the home. Share a family meal and take home a gift basket each week. See KRR Coordinator, Christy Koelzer Tuesday to sign up, or look for the enrollment form coming home.
After School Program enrollment is open for grades pre-K through 8th grade. Program Coordinators, Thelma Linck and Christy Koelzer will be at Back to School night Tuesday, the 13th 5:15 to 6:00. Find us near the main doors by the high school office. If you don't catch us, you can also look for enrollment packets to be coming home with students.
OJH/OHS Fall Sports Meetings will be held on Tuesday, August 13 beginning at 6:15 to 7:00 p.m. Parents and athletes will begin in the auditorium then meet with there specific sport coach.
Friday, July 26, Camp Buffalo students are going to Banner Creek to hike, play team building games, eat sack lunches, and swim. Please have your student dress in their swimsuits (wear shorts and shoes for hiking). We leave at 8:30 and return at 1:00. Cheerleaders are helping.
Just a friendly reminder enrollment is taking place today at the school from 7-7 inside the main entrance on the west side.
Enrollment is next Tuesday, July 23 from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Karen Utley and Gayla Figge will be set up just inside the main doors by the auditorium. The enrollment portal is open. If you do not have a computer at home (enrollment cannot be done on your phone), please stop by on Tuesday. We will have several computers for you to use. There were a few papers in the packet that will need filled out and returned. You may drop papers and payment by on Tuesday or drop them off in the offices after August 5. We hope you all have had a wonderful summer. If you cannot remember your username and/or password, please email Karen Utley or Gayla Figge and they will gladly get it reset!
Onaga Schools Supply list
Any 9-12 grade girls wanting to play volleyball this upcoming season we will be having a camp July 15-18 from 5:30-7:30 pm. Please let Coach Justine Sperber or Coach Jordan Boswell know if you will be attending as we will be ordering t-shirts. Cost will be $6. We hope to see you there to get ready for the upcoming season! Go Buffaloes!
Great opportunity!!! Please share!!
KRR Field Trip Friday: Parents, please be advised we may be late returning to the school by the time we go to the park for lunch after the movie. It could be 1:15 to 1:30 before we are back to school and get dismissed. We will do our absolute best to be back as soon as possible. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility.
USD 322 has just been awarded a 21st Century Grant which will allow us to offer a summer camp beginning on July 8th for K-6th grade students. The camp will be from 8am-1pm 5 days per week and last for 4 weeks. Busing to and from the program will be provided. The 21st CCLC program aligns with the district's Leader in Me initiative and focuses on math, literacy, physical activity, and character development with nutritious meals and snacks. The project director is Thelma Linck. She can be reached at linckt@usd322.org to enroll your student for the July program or by calling the district office at 785-889-4614.
If your child is taking drivers ed this summer, their last opportunity to pick up class materials before Monday’s start date is today from 10am-2pm. Enter the main entrance on west side of school and pick up materials in principal’s office. Thank you.