Congratulations to the 2018 OHS Homecoming Court!
Back Row- Left to Right: Cole N., Ben R., PJ N., Jacob H., Michael K. and Luke P.
Middle Row- Left to Right: Ethan C., Katie J. and Emily O.
Front Row- Left to Right: Dani R., Madison B., Chela Q., Ryan O., Sierra B. and Abby W.
Not Pictured: Malik S.
Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF) 2019-2020 Grant Proposals Accepted Now
Grant proposals for the next school year are due on or before December 19, 2018. OPEF has planned a Grant Writing and Q&A Workshop for October 19, 2018 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at the OHS Library. This workshop is open to all Oconomowoc Area School District (OASD) staff. Be sure to sign up for the upcoming workshop.
Please use the application document for grant submissions [PDF]. Please contact Keara Harris at opefinfo@gmail.com with questions.
The International Thespian Society at Oconomowoc High School (OHS) is offering a free theater workshop for kids entering grades 2 -7. Spend the day acting, singing, dancing, learning about the technical side of theater, and having fun!
Saturday, July 21st
Oconomowoc Arts Center (641 E. Forest Street, Oconomowoc)
9:30 a.m. - Arrival and check-in
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Workshop
Registration is required for the event, please sign-up online at: https://bit.ly/2KNuLUU.
District News
View the best OASD social media pictures and posts from this week by clicking here!
IXONIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DEDICATION CELEBRATION: Last Sunday was an amazing day of celebration with the Ixonia Elementary School students, staff, and community as we dedicated the newly remodeled Ixonia Elementary School. Thank you to the communities of Ixonia and Oconomowoc for supporting this project. Thank you to Ixonia Principal Stacy Yearling, the Ixonia Elementary staff, PTO, and Ixonia Families for your tireless work to make this transformation possible.
YOU'RE INVITED TO THE DEDICATION CELEBRATION AT OHS EAST & MAIN CAMPUS: We're excited to celebrate the completion of our OHS Main Campus, and OHS East Campus facility projects. Please join us at the dedication celebration, made possible through the community's support for the 2016 referendum.
OHS East & Main Campus Dedication Ceremony & Open House
Sunday, September 30, 2018
HOMECOMING 2018: OHANA OCON-A, WHERE OCON MEANS FAMILY: Join us for the fun of Homecoming week!
For more information on Homecoming and application forms to join the parade, visit www.oasd.org/Homecoming.
OASD FAMILIES ARE INVITED – COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY IDENTITY CONVERSATIONS: Join us on Thursday, October 18, and Monday, November 5, from 6:30-9:00 p.m., for a two-part conversation and opportunity to think collectively about diversity and the goals of the Oconomowoc Area School District. We'll talk about the values we want to carry forward and create a shared vision for the future. Learn more about the conversation, facilitators, and RSVP to attend by clicking this link.
Faculty Friday Spotlight: Charmaine Cota
We're showcasing staff members in the OASD each week and this week's spotlight is Charmaine Cota, Head Custodian at Summit Elementary School. See her spotlight.
Facility Updates
MEADOW VIEW ELEMENTARY: Have you seen the progress on the new Meadow View Elementary school lately? Structural steel in the 4K-5K wing is significantly complete and the roof deck is in-place, with exterior sheeting underway on that section. Framing of interior walls in this section of the school will begin next week. The concrete for the gym floor has been poured and the last sections of precast concrete have been installed. Vapor barrier has been applied to the exterior concrete gym walls and the face brick application will begin next week. In the grade 1-4 wing, the structural steel is in place on the lower level and concrete decking will installed soon. Continued steel installation on that wing will follow.
You can view live time-lapse photos of the construction progress through these three site cameras:
Click here to view camera 1
Click here to view camera 2
Click here to view camera 3
School Board Updates
DID YOU KNOW? YOU CAN WATCH THE VIDEO OF EACH SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ONLINE!
You can watch live stream video of all the regular Oconomowoc Area School District School Board meetings by following this link. These videos remain on the site for viewing after the meetings as well. In addition, all School Board meeting schedules and agendas are available by following this link.
2018-19 School Board Meeting Schedule:
School News
Greenland: Click here for the Greenland Gazette
Ixonia: Click here for the Falcon Flyer
Meadow View: Click here for The Paw Print
Nature Hill: Click here for the Wolf Pack Press
Park Lawn: Click here for the Park Lawn Panther Press
Silver Lake: Click here for All Things Silver Lake
7th & 8th Grade Service Learning Travel Information Meeting on 10/2: Families of all Nature Hill Intermediate and Silver Lake Intermediate 7th and 8th graders are invited to learn more about Service Learning Travel and the 2019 trip to the Dominican Republic. Join us next Tuesday, October 2, at 6:15 p.m. in the Silver Lake Intermediate Cafeteria to hear about the experience, travel dates, costs, and much more!
Summit: Click here for the Summit Husky Herald
Oconomowoc High School: Click here for Updates from OHS
Oconomowoc High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) students held their annual FFA Field Day this week. Fourth grade students from the OASD were invited to the farm to learn about a huge number of subjects, prepared and presented by the OHS FFA students. There were stations on waterfowl, different types of antlers, agriculture technology, safety around grain bins, milking technology, and pollinators. Students also got to meet and learn about ducks, geese, chickens, a dairy calf, goats, pigs, and sheep. The quality of the presentations was impressive and it's clear our FFA students worked hard to create a fun but educational day for our fourth graders.
OHS Athletics
CROSS COUNTRY: Congratulations to the Boys Varsity Team for the second place finish in the 42-team Midwest Invitational last weekend.
FOOTBALL: The team played well in a close and exciting game against Arrowhead on September 21, but ended in a 35-28 loss.
GOLF: Congratulations to the Girls Golf Team for their 3rd place finish at the WIAA Regional Tournament in Hartford yesterday. The team advances to the WIAA Sectional Tournament in Oshkosh next week. Leading the Raccoons was Junior Grace S., with an impressive 79, placing second overall.
SOCCER: Congratulations to the Varsity Soccer Team for their win against Waukesha North on Senior Night, September 20, and another win against Muskego on Tuesday.
SWIM: The Swim Team competed in a dual against Arrowhead on September 20 and Waukesha North on September 27.
TENNIS: Congratulations to the Varsity Tennis Team for their third place finish in the Classic 8 Conference this season.
VOLLEYBALL: Congratulations to the Volleyball Team for their win over Waukesha West on September 25, and for their third-place tie at the Lynn LaPorte Sprawl last weekend.
Fall Sports are underway! Click here for OHS Athletic Home and Away Game Schedules for the year.
OHS PROVIDING FREE SENIOR CITIZEN ATHLETIC PASSES: OHS is now offering a free athletics pass for OASD residents over the age of 60. The passes provide free access to all home OHS athletic events, excluding WIAA tournament games. Passes are available at the OHS Athletic Department Office during regular school hours or at the ticket booth during home Varsity Football games.
Upcoming Events
"WAKE-UP CALL" EXHIBIT AT OAC ON OCTOBER 16: "Wake-Up Call," is a life-size exhibit of a teen's bedroom with more than 20 "red flags" that can signal drug or alcohol use. The exhibit is created and hosted by Your Choice and identifies spots where teens may hide drugs, household items that can be used as drug paraphernalia and ways teens try to cover up drug and alcohol use. Join us at the Oconomowoc Arts Center from 6:00-6:30 p.m. for a Resource Fair, and 6:30-8:00 p.m. for a tour of the exhibit lead by Your Choice team members. Learn more and RSVP by clicking here.
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE OPEF ANNUAL BALL:Please join the Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF) on Friday, November 2, 2018, at Golden Mast Inn for 2018 Annual Ball, Hogwarts School of Magic. Dance to live music, dine on delectable food, and bid on items in silent and live auctions during what's sure to be a night to remember! Funds raised at this event directly support grants that creatively enhance curriculum in the Oconomowoc Area School District. With your help, we can increase funding for the many grant applications OPEF receives from teachers each year. Live music by Nature Hill Intermediate Teachers, Tracy Garon and Eric Darnell, and The Love Monkeys! Early bird ticket sales are going on now – purchase your tickets before September 17, and receive special pricing! For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.opef.info/annual-ball or text OPEF18 to 52182.
OAC Events
Estamos trabajando diligentemente para traducir nuestros documentos al español. Por favor comuníquese con la escuela de su hijo para aclaración. Si todavía necesitas aclaración, por favor comuníquese con Martita Mirsberger al (262) 560-8306 ext 8343.
Oconomowoc High School's Rux Stadium will be closed on Tuesday, July 10th for field maintenance. There will be no public access to the stadium or the track for that day.
Over the next few weeks, all OASD schools will participate in safety drills following the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) safety protocol. This training encourages staff and students to respond to an unsafe person based on the situation, rather than rely on centralized instructions in dynamic times of crisis.
The purpose of these safety drills is to provide students and staff the opportunity to practice making a well-informed decision if an unsafe and unexpected situation were to happen at school. Before these drills are held, teachers will hold age-appropriate discussions on:
Parents will receive additional information, including specific dates and times, via email prior to and during these drills. Any school-specific information will also be shared in these emails. Please contact your school front office with any questions about these safety drills.
Thank you for your support of safety education in the Oconomowoc Area School District.
District News
OHS EAST & MAIN CAMPUS DEDICATION CELEBRATION: Last Sunday was an amazing day of celebration with the Oconomowoc High School students, staff, and community as we dedicated the newly remodeled OHS East and Main Campuses. Thank you to the Oconomowoc community for supporting this project. Thank you to OHS Principal Jason Curtis, OHS teachers Michael Krill and Danielle Bukal, and OHS students Alex S. and Nolan R., who shared their #oconpride for the renovated facilities and modern, professional-feeling spaces. We also reflected on the community history of the former Wilkinson Clinic and thanked the Wilkinson family for creating the legacy that we will carry on. The possibilities for these spaces and the student learning within them is limitless, and we're excited to get started!
HOMECOMING 2018: OHANA OCON-A, WHERE OCON MEANS FAMILY: Join us for the parade and football game tonight!
For more information on Homecoming and application forms to join the parade, visit www.oasd.org/Homecoming.
UPCOMING SAFETY DRILLS AT ALL OASD SCHOOLS: Over the next few weeks, all OASD schools will participate in safety drills following the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) safety protocol. The purpose of these safety drills is to provide students and staff the opportunity to practice making a well-informed decision if an unsafe and unexpected situation were to happen at school. Parents will receive additional information, including specific dates and times, via email prior to and during these drills. Any school-specific information will also be shared in these emails. Please contact your school front office with any questions about these safety drills. Thank you for your support of safety education in the Oconomowoc Area School District.
OASD FAMILIES ARE INVITED – COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY IDENTITY CONVERSATIONS: Join us on Thursday, October 18, and Monday, November 5, from 6:30-9:00 p.m., for a two-part conversation and opportunity to think collectively about diversity and the goals of the Oconomowoc Area School District. We'll talk about the values we want to carry forward and create a shared vision for the future. Learn more about the conversation, facilitators, and RSVP to attend by clicking this link.
Faculty Friday Spotlight: Sharon Tomski
We're showcasing staff members in the OASD each week and this week's spotlight is Sharon Tomski, STEM Teacher at Oconomowoc High School. Mrs. Tomski's interview and feature was written by OHS Senior, Andrew B., for The O Spotlight, a new student-lead news site. Click here to read Mrs. Tomski's full interview on The O Spotlight.
Facility Updates
MEADOW VIEW ELEMENTARY: The new Meadow View Elementary School is really starting to take shape! Structural steel in the 4K-5K wing is significantly complete and the roof deck is in-place, with exterior sheeting underway. Framing of interior walls in this section of the school is also underway. Concrete for the gym floor has been poured and the vapor barrier has been applied to the exterior concrete walls. Brick application in this section began this week. In the grade 1-4 wing, the structural steel is in place on the lower level and concrete decking has been installed.
You can view live time-lapse photos of the construction progress through these three site cameras:
Click here to view camera 1
Click here to view camera 2
Click here to view camera 3
School Board Updates
DID YOU KNOW? YOU CAN WATCH THE VIDEO OF EACH SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ONLINE!
You can watch live stream video of all the regular Oconomowoc Area School District School Board meetings by following this link. These videos remain on the site for viewing after the meetings as well. In addition, all School Board meeting schedules and agendas are available by following this link.
2018-19 School Board Meeting Schedule:
School News
Greenland: Click here for the Greenland Gazette
Last week, second grade students at Greenland Elementary hosted a "Me Box" museum exhibit and potluck. The purpose of this fun-filled evening was for students and parents from other classrooms to get to know each other. Each family contributed a meal item and the students created a "Me Box" to display. The boxes were decorated on the inside and outside and contained treasures, drawings, pictures, and other items that represented who they are. Everyone enjoyed dinner, games, and classroom presentations of the "Me Boxes."
Ixonia: Click here for the Falcon Flyer
Meadow View: Click here for The Paw Print
Nature Hill: Click here for the Wolf Pack Press
Park Lawn: Click here for the Park Lawn Panther Press
Silver Lake: Click here for All Things Silver Lake
Summit: Click here for the Summit Husky Herald
Oconomowoc High School: Click here for Updates from OHS
OHS East Campus students and staff hosted Wilkinson Manor residents for the Purple and Gold Breakfast! Student activities were connected to class curriculum and included things like vision tests by biomedical students, mindfulness with psychology students and photo opportunities with film students!
OHS Athletics
CROSS COUNTRY: Congratulations to the Girls and Boys Cross Country teams for each winning the Mukwonago Invitational on September 27. This is the fourth year in a row that the Girls team has won this invitational, and the third year in a row that the Boys team has won. for the fourth time in a row.
FOOTBALL: The Varsity team worked hard in their September 28, game against Muskego but ended with a 45-14 loss.
GOLF: Congratulations to Grace S. for her 4th place finish at Sectionals in Oshkosh on October 3, and advancement to the State Tournament. The team played well at Sectionals and finished 3rd but won't be advancing as a team to State.
SOCCER: The Varsity and JV teams had great wins over Waukesha South on October 2.
SWIM: The Swim Team competed against Waukesha North and Kettle Moraine on September 27, and won three events and took second place in four more.
TENNIS: Congratulations to the Tennis team for their hard work at Sectionals on October 3. The team took 2nd place at Sectionals!
VOLLEYBALL: Congratulations to the Volleyball team for their win against Catholic Memorial last night. The team also had a great 3-0 win against Waukesha South on October 2, which was Youth Night. They celebrated Youth Night with a group photo and fun autograph signing for all of the kids at the game.
Fall Sports are underway! Click here for OHS Athletic Home and Away Game Schedules for the year.
OHS PROVIDING FREE SENIOR CITIZEN ATHLETIC PASSES:OHS is now offering a free athletics pass for OASD residents over the age of 60. The passes provide free access to all home OHS athletic events, excluding WIAA tournament games. Passes are available at the OHS Athletic Department Office during regular school hours or at the ticket booth during home Varsity Football games.
Upcoming Events
"WAKE-UP CALL" EXHIBIT AT OAC ON OCTOBER 16: "Wake-Up Call," is a life-size exhibit of a teen's bedroom with more than 20 "red flags" that can signal drug or alcohol use. The exhibit is created and hosted by Your Choice and identifies spots where teens may hide drugs, household items that can be used as drug paraphernalia and ways teens try to cover up drug and alcohol use. Join us at the Oconomowoc Arts Center from 6:00-6:30 p.m. for a Resource Fair, and 6:30-8:00 p.m. for a tour of the exhibit lead by Your Choice team members. Learn more and RSVP by clicking here.
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE OPEF ANNUAL BALL:Please join the Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF) on Friday, November 2, 2018, at Golden Mast Inn for 2018 Annual Ball, Hogwarts School of Magic. Dance to live music, dine on delectable food, and bid on items in silent and live auctions during what's sure to be a night to remember! Funds raised at this event directly support grants that creatively enhance curriculum in the Oconomowoc Area School District. With your help, we can increase funding for the many grant applications OPEF receives from teachers each year. Live music by Nature Hill Intermediate Teachers, Tracy Garon and Eric Darnell, and The Love Monkeys! Early bird ticket sales are going on now – purchase your tickets before September 17, and receive special pricing! For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.opef.info/annual-ball or text OPEF18 to 52182.
OAC Events
Estamos trabajando diligentemente para traducir nuestros documentos al español. Por favor comuníquese con la escuela de su hijo para aclaración. Si todavía necesitas aclaración, por favor comuníquese con Martita Mirsberger al (262) 560-8306 ext 8343.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCONOMOWOC, WI – October 5, 2018. The Wisconsin ACT at grade 11 measures performance in ELA (English, Reading, and Writing), mathematics, and science and is a college admissions exam taken by students nationwide. The test is part of the Wisconsin Student Assessment System. ACT cut scores are rigorous and aligned to national College Readiness Benchmarks and Wisconsin proficiency standards.
By offering the ACT statewide, all grade 11 students, regardless of family circumstances, have the opportunity to participate in a college readiness assessment. Before the ACT was a required statewide assessment, about 70% of OHS graduates took the ACT.
Improving access to post-secondary readiness options is one way to close our achievement gap and address equity issues in Wisconsin. Students can choose to send their scores to up to four colleges or universities at no cost.
ACT statewide 11th grade results are reported as scores for all sections and College Ready / Not College Ready for English, Mathematics, Reading and Science. These results are also reported as scale scores (1-36) and the performance categories Below Basic, Basic, Proficient and Advanced for ELA, Mathematics and Science. These performance categories are Wisconsin-specific and may not be available in other states or nationally.
See https://dpi.wi.gov/assessment/act/data/proficiency for more information about performance categories.
OHS ACT Results at Grade 11
Approximately 414 OHS grade 11 students took the ACT during the spring of 2018.
On a 1-36 scale (except for writing 2-12), OHS students earned an average ACT composite score (20.7) higher than the Wisconsin benchmark (19.8). The OHS performance advantage was greatest in math (+1.0), and a nice performance increase in English (+0.9)
Based on the analysis of our spring 2018 ACT results, we note the following:
4. OHS female students scored significantly higher than male students on the English and reading tests
ACT Comparisons: Waukesha County High Schools
|
| # | Average ACT Score (1-36) | Average | ||||
| High School (Grade 11) | Test Takers | English | Math | Reading | Science | Composite | Writing Score (2-12) |
| Wisconsin | 60,545 | 18.8 | 19.9 | 19.8 | 20.2 | 19.8 | 6.3 |
| Waukesha Co.(50th PR) | --- | 21.4 | 22.2 | 22.2 | 22.3 | 22.1 | 7.0 |
| Arrowhead UHS | 499 | 22.0 | 24.1 | 22.6 | 23.2 | 22.0 | 6.7 |
| Elmbrook - Central | 299 | 24.4 | 24.2 | 24.4 | 24.1 | 24.4 | 7.4 |
| Elmbrook - East | 302 | 22.9 | 23.7 | 23.7 | 23.5 | 23.6 | 7.3 |
| Hamilton | 383 | 21.5 | 23.5 | 22.3 | 22.4 | 22.5 | 7.2 |
| Kettle Moraine – Health | 35 | 24.1 | 22.9 | 24.6 | 23.9 | 23.9 | 7.4 |
| Kettle Moraine – Global | 14 | 18.0 | 19.2 | 19.4 | 20.6 | 19.4 | 6.4 |
| Kettle Moraine | 261 | 21.2 | 22.4 | 21.8 | 22.2 | 22.0 | 7.3 |
| Kettle Moraine – Arts | 35 | 24.2 | 20.5 | 24.5 | 22.3 | 23.0 | 7.0 |
| Menomonee Falls | 337 | 21.9 | 22.3 | 22.0 | 21.8 | 22.1 | 7.8 |
| Mukwonago | 390 | 20.8 | 22.7 | 22.5 | 22.9 | 22.3 | 7.1 |
| Muskego | 381 | 20.7 | 22.0 | 21.6 | 21.9 | 21.6 | 7.0 |
| New Berlin - Eisenhower | 207 | 22.0 | 23.3 | 22.7 | 23.0 | 22.9 | 7.0 |
| New Berlin - Middle/High | 156 | 21.7 | 21.6 | 20.9 | 21.0 | 21.4 | 6.9 |
| Oconomowoc | 414 | 19.8 | 20.9 | 20.8 | 20.9 | 20.7 | 6.4 |
| Pewaukee | 200 | 23.0 | 23.2 | 23.3 | 23.7 | 23.4 | 7.3 |
| Waukesha - eAchieve | 95 | 20.1 | 19.2 | 21.7 | 20.4 | 20.5 | 6.4 |
| Waukesha - North | 287 | 17.8 | 19.7 | 19.3 | 19.8 | 19.3 | 6.5 |
| Waukesha - South | 250 | 17.3 | 18.3 | 19.0 | 18.9 | 18.5 | 5.7 |
| Waukesha - Health | 39 | 17.9 | 19.4 | 19.1 | 19.9 | 19.2 | 6.6 |
| Waukesha - Engineering | 45 | 23.9 | 25.9 | 24.9 | 25.4 | 25.2 | 6.7 |
| Waukesha – West | 280 | 21.2 | 21.7 | 22.6 | 22.3 | 22.1 | 7.0 |
| Waukesha – East Alt | 7 | 11.4 | 15.4 | 14.3 | 15.3 | 14.3 | 3.9 |
| Data Source: ACT Statewide Data File Certified and Posted October 2, 2018. | |||||||
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCONOMOWOC, WI – October 5, 2018. The Federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires all states to test all students in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics in grades 3-8 and once in high school. ESSA also requires students be assessed in Science once each grade span (3-6, 7-9, and 10-12 grades). Student performance on these assessments is reported in proficiency categories and used for accountability determination at the school, district and state levels. Wisconsin State statute also requires students to take grade 9 and 10 assessments as well as the social studies test. These tests together create the Wisconsin Student Assessment System.
The Wisconsin Forward Exam is administered to satisfy federal education law and to gauge how well students are doing in relation to the Wisconsin Academic Standards. These standards outline what students should know and be able to do in order to be college and career ready. The Forward Exam is administered online in the spring of each school year at:
The Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) assessment is Wisconsin's alternate assessment taken by students with significant cognitive disabilities. DLM is an online assessment administered individually to students. It allows students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills as they relate to the Wisconsin Essential Elements.
Superintendent Dr. Roger Rindo noted, "While we are not yet where we want to be, we continue to see steady growth in Math. This year we have are evaluating our current literacy program and we will use the data from this exam along with other data as we examine our work and make decisions about program improvement in literacy as we move forward."
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released exam results on October 2, 2018. OASD continues to exceed statewide proficiency rates in ELA (46.6% vs. 43.1%) and mathematics (59.1% vs. 44.5%). The OASD performance advantage is greatest in math (+3.9%).
Additional take-aways based on the district's analysis of 2018 Forward Exam performance:
% Proficient or Advanced on the WI Forward Exam and WI Dynamic Learning Maps (2018): Waukesha Co.
| Waukesha Co. District | ELA | Math |
| Elmbrook | 61.4% | 68.9% |
| Hamilton | 65.3% | 72.8% |
| Kettle Moraine | 57.2% | 65.3% |
| Menomonee Falls | 47.5% | 58.9% |
| Mukwonago | 57.3% | 66.9% |
| Muskego-Norway | 64.3% | 72.8% |
| New Berlin | 60.5% | 69.5% |
| Oconomowoc Area | 46.6% | 59.1% |
| Pewaukee | 62.0% | 60.8% |
| Waukesha | 40.7% | 44.2% |
Statewide school and district results can be found on the Wisconsin DPI's data portal, called WISEdash. Click on the Academic Performance tab on http://wisedash.dpi.wi.gov.
###
Tina Heinecke-Kurtz, Social Studies and Science Teacher at Silver Lake Intermediate School, has been selected as a 2018 Museum Teacher Fellow by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Kurtz was one of 24 educators nation-wide, chosen for the program. Educators must show evidence of extensive knowledge of Holocaust history, successful teaching experience, and participation in community and professional organizations. Selection preference is given to applicants who have attended the Arthur and Rochelle Belfer National Conference for Educators, which Kurtz attended last year.
As a Museum Teacher Fellow, Kurtz was invited to a five-day institute in Washington, DC, designed to immerse Fellows in advanced historical issues and teaching training. Established in 1996, the Museum Teacher Fellowship Program has developed a national corps of skilled educators to help lead the Museum's efforts to ensure quality Holocaust education in secondary schools. Kurtz is one of 394 Museum Teacher Fellows who has completed the program since its inception.
"The Museum Teacher Fellows play a vital role in bringing the lessons of the Holocaust to communities around the country," says Gretchen Skidmore, director of the Museum's education initiatives in the Levine Institute for Holocaust Education. "Teaching students critical thinking skills as well as providing resources that encourage in-depth examination of how and why the Holocaust happened are key components of the Museum's ongoing engagement with educators across the country."
As a Fellow, Kurtz will work to create and implement an outreach project in the community, then share her work with other Fellows at a conference next July.
Tina Heinecke-Kurtz, Silver Lake Intermediate School Teacher
District News
TEACHER CONFERENCES SCHOOL SCHEDULE CHANGES NEXT WEEK: There is an early release day scheduled for all elementary and intermediate students next Thursday, October 18. Intermediate schools will release at 11:55 a.m. and elementary schools will release at 12:40 p.m. Only elementary students will have lunch service on Thursday and there will be no 4K that day. There is no school for all OASD students on Friday, October 19.
UPCOMING SAFETY DRILLS AT ALL OASD SCHOOLS: Over the next few weeks, all OASD schools will participate in safety drills following the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) safety protocol. The purpose of these safety drills is to provide students and staff the opportunity to practice making a well-informed decision if an unsafe and unexpected situation were to happen at school. Parents will receive additional information, including specific dates and times, via email prior to and during these drills. Any school-specific information will also be shared in these emails. Please contact your school front office with any questions about these safety drills. Thank you for your support of safety education in the Oconomowoc Area School District.
"WAKE-UP CALL" EXHIBIT AT OAC ON OCTOBER 16: "Wake-Up Call," is a life-size exhibit of a teen's bedroom with more than 20 "red flags" that can signal drug or alcohol use. The exhibit is created and hosted by Your Choice and identifies spots where teens may hide drugs, household items that can be used as drug paraphernalia and ways teens try to cover up drug and alcohol use. Join us at the Oconomowoc Arts Center from 6:00-6:30 p.m. for a Resource Fair, and 6:30-8:00 p.m. for a tour of the exhibit lead by Your Choice team members. Learn more and RSVP by clicking here.
OASD FAMILIES ARE INVITED – COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY IDENTITY CONVERSATIONS: Join us on Thursday, October 18, and Monday, November 5, from 6:30-9:00 p.m., for a two-part conversation and opportunity to think collectively about diversity and the goals of the Oconomowoc Area School District. We'll talk about the values we want to carry forward and create a shared vision for the future. Learn more about the conversation, facilitators, and RSVP to attend by clicking this link.
WISCONSIN SCHOOL BOARD WEEK:In celebration of Wisconsin School Board Week, we would like to thank our Oconomowoc Area School District School Board for their dedication to the students and families of Oconomowoc.
Faculty Friday Spotlight: Julie Sweet
We're showcasing staff members in the OASD each week and this week's spotlight is Julie Sweet, First Grade Teacher at Park Lawn Elementary. Click here to read Mrs. Sweet's spotlight.
Facility Updates
MEADOW VIEW ELEMENTARY: The new Meadow View Elementary School is really starting to take shape! Structural steel in the 4K-5K wing is significantly complete and the roof deck is in-place, with exterior sheeting underway. Framing of interior walls in this section of the school is also underway. Concrete for the gym floor has been poured and the vapor barrier has been applied to the exterior concrete walls. Brick application in this section began this week. In the grade 1-4 wing, the structural steel is in place on the lower level and concrete decking has been installed.
You can view live time-lapse photos of the construction progress through these three site cameras:
Click here to view camera 1
Click here to view camera 2
Click here to view camera 3
School Board Updates
DID YOU KNOW? YOU CAN WATCH THE VIDEO OF EACH SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ONLINE!
You can watch live stream video of all the regular Oconomowoc Area School District School Board meetings by following this link. These videos remain on the site for viewing after the meetings as well. In addition, all School Board meeting schedules and agendas are available by following this link.
2018-19 School Board Meeting Schedule:
School News
Greenland: Click here for the Greenland Gazette
Ixonia: Click here for the Falcon Flyer
Meadow View: Click here for The Paw Print
Nature Hill: Click here for the Wolf Pack Press
Park Lawn: Click here for the Park Lawn Panther Press
Silver Lake: Click here for All Things Silver Lake
Summit: Click here for the Summit Husky Herald
Oconomowoc High School: Click here for Updates from OHS
OHS Athletics
CROSS COUNTRY: Good luck to the Cross Country runners competing in the Classic 8 Conference meet this weekend!
FOOTBALL: The Varsity team worked hard in the Homecoming game against Catholic Memorial on October 5, but ended in a loss.
GOLF: Congratulations to Grace S. for competing in the WIAA Girls Gold State Tournament this week. Grace is the first OHS golfer to compete in the State Tournament since 2006 and she finished in 20th place out of 78 competitors.
SOCCER: Congratulations to the JV and Varsity teams for both winning their Tuesday games against Waukesha West.
SWIM: The Swim Team competed against Muskego last week and celebrated Senior Night. Swim Team Coach Jenny Piorkowski said, "This past week was so special! Seeing the excitement in our seniors as they swam in their last meet at the YMCA was unforgettable. We had 16 new best times at this meet! The senior night speeches perfectly represented the appreciation we have of our dear seniors. It was an amazing night of strong swims and meaningful memories. In addition to the incredible job we did as individuals, I was so proud of the way both teams showed such great sportsmanship and cheered one another on."
TENNIS: Congratulations to our two OHS doubles teams who competed in the WIAA State Tournament this week. Aubrey B. and Madi S. won their first round but didn't advance after the second round. Tori K. and Carolyn T. also won their first round but didn't advance after the second round.
VOLLEYBALL: The Varsity Team played hard against Mukwonago in their final Classic 8 Conference match of the season, but ended with a loss.
Click here for OHS Athletic Home and Away Game Schedules for the year
OHS PROVIDING FREE SENIOR CITIZEN ATHLETIC PASSES:OHS is now offering a free athletics pass for OASD residents over the age of 60. The passes provide free access to all home OHS athletic events, excluding WIAA tournament games. Passes are available at the OHS Athletic Department Office during regular school hours or at the ticket booth during home Varsity Football games.
Upcoming Events
OHS CHINESE HONOR SOCEITY HOSTING CHINA DAY ON 10/27: You're invited to China Day at the Oconomowoc Public Library. This FREE event is hosted by the OHS Chinese Honor Society on Saturday, October 27, from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Learn basic Chinese language, learn Chinese games & paper cutting, sample Chinese tea and food, see a Kung Fu demonstration and much more.
OHS GERMAN HONOR SOCIETY HOSTING OKTOBER KINDERFEST ON 10/27: The OHS German Honor Society is hosting their annual FREE Oktober Kinderfest on Saturday, October 27, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Downtown Village Green. Kids can play games, learn about the German language and culture, and much more!
OAC Events
Estamos trabajando diligentemente para traducir nuestros documentos al español. Por favor comuníquese con la escuela de su hijo para aclaración. Si todavía necesitas aclaración, por favor comuníquese con Martita Mirsberger al (262) 560-8306 ext 8343.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCONOMOWOC, WI – October 16, 2018. The Oconomowoc Area School District (OASD) announced today that John Cramer has accepted the District's offer to become the new Director of the Oconomowoc Arts Center (OAC). Cramer will replace longtime Director, Michael Duncan, upon his retirement in November.
This is an exciting time for the Performing Arts in Oconomowoc. The OASD is proud to have Cramer join the OAC staff and volunteers who work endless hours to showcase student talent and attract professional programming throughout the year.
Superintendent Dr. Roger Rindo stated, "We are so happy to welcome John to the Oconomowoc Area School District and the OAC. His extensive experience in arts administration, his local and regional connections, and rich development experience make him exceptionally well-suited to take the OAC to the next level. Michael Duncan's retirement leaves large shoes to fill, but John Cramer is up to the task."
"I am excited about John Cramer becoming the next director of the OAC. I have worked with and for John on numerous projects over the past 20 years. John served as my associate artistic and education director at Sunset Playhouse in Elm Grove. John brings a panoply of professional arts experience including directing, producing, presenting and every aspect of arts administration to the table. He will be an invaluable addition to the OAC future", added Current OAC Director Michael Duncan.
Cramer brings artistic excellence, education, community engagement and is a successful theater-maker. He joins the OAC with more than 20 years of theater management and theater education experience. Providing leadership and supervision as the Managing Artistic Director for all operations most recently at the Waukesha Civic Theatre in Waukesha, WI, he managed production, administration, budget, marketing, fund development, and education. He also worked previously at The Sunset Playhouse in Elm Grove, WI, as the Associate Artistic Director and Director of The Sunset School for the Arts coordinating auditions, creating staging, implementing a theatre school curriculum and all other details associated with running theater programs.
John Cramer added, "I am incredibly grateful for and excited about the opportunity to bring my experience in theater arts to the OAC. I look forward to continuing the strong programming that is already in place, and providing the vision and leadership to move forward with confidence and enthusiasm."
Cramer holds a bachelor's degree in Drama from the University of Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI, and a Study of Theatre Arts from Mankato State University, Mankato, MN.
Cramer's contract pends approval at the OASD School Board meeting on October 16.
###
Submitted Photo:
Members of the Oconomowoc High School Class of 1948 celebrated their 70th class reunion on Saturday September 29, at Shorehaven in Oconomowoc. Members came from around the area to attend the event.
Every Student at Nature Hill Intermediate School Has a Story – Here's How We Learn Them
Start To Learn Their Story Early
The staff at Nature Hill Intermediate School understand that moving from elementary to intermediate school can be frightening and challenging for students and parents. To help make the transition less intimidating, the Nature Hill team uses several programs to begin meeting students and families early, before the new school year begins.
In the spring, fourth graders from Ixonia, Greenland, and Meadow View Elementary Schools visit Nature Hill to see the school and learn what it means to become part of the Nature Hill "Wolf Pack." The visit is a good way to introduce students to the school while they're with their classmates and fourth grade teachers in a field trip environment. This visit allows the Nature Hill fifth grade teachers to observe student personalities and interaction when the students are in a more comfortable and relaxed situation.
After the visit, Nature Hill Administrative and Student Services staff meet with all of the elementary school staff teams. They learn more about the incoming fifth grade students and plan for any additional support that might be needed for specific students.
The final spring event is a fifth grade transition night with students and families. Parents meet the Nature Hill teachers and learn more about the school and changes they can expect for the new school year. While families are meeting teachers, students meet with outgoing fifth graders to talk about Nature Hill and being part of the "Wolf Pack."
Where Everyone Belongs (WEB)
It's important for teachers to get to know their students, but it's equally important for students to feel comfortable enough to share their personalities at a new school. Where Everyone Belongs (WEB) is a program developed to help incoming fifth graders feel familiar and comfortable at Nature Hill, so they're already part of the Wolf Pack on the first day of school. The program also gives students resources and tools that they can use if they need help or have apprehensions about their first year at Nature Hill.
Nature Hill eighth graders, Camille Jostad, Adam Lois, and Samantha Jappinen, are all WEB leaders who helped lead the fifth grade WEB experience in August. Samantha described the program at the Oconomowoc Area School District School Board meeting on October 16. She said, "WEB makes a fifth grader's transition from elementary school to middle school a little easier. We also play games and do activities with the kids to make their transition a little easier. It makes the kids know they're part of a community at school. We hope that 5th graders feel connected to the 8th graders through WEB."
Eighth grader Adam Lois explained the day-long WEB program in August. "This is the day where we meet the fifth graders. We all come into an assembly and we make a giant tunnel and have all the fifth graders run through it. It's just a cool way to introduce all the fifth graders to the school. After that we break up into small groups where we play different games with them and get to know the fifth graders."
The WEB program then extends throughout the school year, with the eighth graders periodically meeting with their fifth grade WEB team, to see how they're doing and offer guidance or help with anything they can.
Camille Jostad concluded the School Board meeting presentation by explaining what the WEB program meant to her when she was an incoming eighth grader. "In WEB I met new people who are now my best friends. It helped me so much just getting to know them and be social with them. I walked around the school and I got to see all my classes and see where the lunch room is. I also got to use my lock which was really helpful. Now being a WEB leader, I want to make the fifth graders feel comfortable and welcome coming into our school."
Learning a Student's Story Within the Classroom
Nature Hill Intermediate teachers, Kelly Boldt and Shelly Favorite, explained some of the approaches they use to build community within their classrooms, beginning the very first day of school. "This year we were excited with the one-to-one technology. We decided to take some activities we've done in the past with learner profiles, using paper and pen, and instead put it into a technology format."
Shelly Favorite explained further saying, "in addition to wanting to build our community, we wanted the kids to get to know each other on a personal level, on a learning level, and everything about them that's going to help them be successful in the classroom." To accomplish this community building, they created a Google Classroom with a variety of activities for the students to complete in small groups. They included videos, questionnaires, interactive games, and writing sections. When the groups completed all of the sections, they created a "teach us about you" project, where they made a video, a slide show, or a collage that they shared with the class. It worked very well for their students, and brought everyone together.
Nature Hill Principal, Chuck Olson, concluded by saying, "our goal is to learn our students story, to understand their learning profile. When we know our students stories, we can build classes that meet every students unique learning needs."
Left to right: Nature Hill 5th grade teacher, Shelly Favorite, 5th grade teacher, Kelly Boldt, Samantha Jappinen, Camille Jostad, Adam Lois, and Nature Hill Intermediate Principal, Chuck Olson
District News
UPCOMING SAFETY DRILLS AT ALL OASD SCHOOLS: Over the next few weeks, all OASD schools will participate in safety drills following the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) safety protocol. The purpose of these safety drills is to provide students and staff the opportunity to practice making a well-informed decision if an unsafe and unexpected situation were to happen at school. Parents will receive additional information, including specific dates and times, via email prior to and during these drills. Any school-specific information will also be shared in these emails. Please contact your school front office with any questions about these safety drills. Thank you for your support of safety education in the Oconomowoc Area School District.
OASD FAMILIES ARE INVITED – COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY IDENTITY CONVERSATIONS: Thank you to all of the community members and OASD staff members who participated in the first Collective Community Identity Conversation. Please join us for the second half of the event on Monday, November 5, from 6:30-9:00 p.m., to continue the conversation on diversity and the goals of the Oconomowoc Area School District. We'll talk about the values we want to carry forward and create a shared vision for the future. Learn more about the conversation, facilitators, and RSVP to attend by clicking this link.
FOOTLOOSE – PRESENTED BY THE OCONOMOWOC HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS: Under the direction of Tiersa Ferraro, "Footloose" touches on growing up in the 80's, focusing on timeless themes of love and loss, parent-teen relationships, and facing troubled pasts and fears. With high-energy dance scenes choreographed by Yvette Beilfuss, a memorable musical score directed by Beth Kauffeld, and a pit orchestra featuring 15 talented OHS musicians conducted by Dan Henkel, this amazing musical will leave the audience dancing in the aisles and the streets. Footloose is appropriate (and fun) for people of all ages.
Show Times:
Tickets:
Faculty Friday Spotlight: Julie Eppert
We're showcasing staff members in the OASD each week and this week's spotlight is Julie Eppert, Health Assistant at Summit Elementary School. Click here to read Mrs. Eppert's spotlight.
Facility Updates
MEADOW VIEW ELEMENTARY: Work at the new Meadow View Elementary continues to progress as the weather gets colder. Structural steel in the 4K-5K wing is nearly complete with 70% of the exterior and interior framing also complete. The roof deck is complete and placement of the roof will begin next week. The vapor barrier is also being applied. Exterior brick application on the Gym began a few weeks ago and continues. In the grade 1-4 wing, the structural steel is in place on the lower level and concrete decking has been installed.
You can view live time-lapse photos of the construction progress through these three site cameras:
Click here to view camera 1
Click here to view camera 2
Click here to view camera 3
School Board Updates
NATURE HILL INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL BOARD SHOWCASE: Nature Hill Intermediate students and staff presented "Every Student at Nature Hill Intermediate School Has a Story – Here's How We Learn Them," at the OASD School Board meeting on October 16. Students and staff shared all of the ways they introduce incoming fifth graders to Nature Hill and make them feel like part of the "Wolf Pack." Read the full story about their presentation on the OASD web site.
DID YOU KNOW? YOU CAN WATCH THE VIDEO OF EACH SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ONLINE!
You can watch live stream video of all the regular Oconomowoc Area School District School Board meetings by following this link. These videos remain on the site for viewing after the meetings as well. In addition, all School Board meeting schedules and agendas are available by following this link.
2018-19 School Board Meeting Schedule:
School News
Greenland: Click here for the Greenland Gazette
Ixonia: Click here for the Falcon Flyer
Meadow View: Click here for The Paw Print
Nature Hill: Click here for the Wolf Pack Press
Park Lawn: Click here for the Park Lawn Panther Press
Silver Lake: Click here for All Things Silver Lake
Summit: Click here for the Summit Husky Herald
Oconomowoc High School: Click here for Updates from OHS
OHS Athletics
CROSS COUNTRY: Congratulations to our Boys Cross Country Team who won the Classic 8 Conference Title last weekend! Next up is the WIAA State Sectionals tomorrow. Congratulations to our Girls Cross Country Team for their fourth place finish at the Classic 8 Conference meet last weekend. The team will race again tomorrow in the State Sectionals.
FOOTBALL: The Varsity Team ended their season on October 12, at Kettle Moraine High School. The team had amazing student support throughout the season and the last game was no different. Thank you to our OHS athletes and students for continually showing your #oconpride.
GOLF: Congratulations to Grace S. for competing in the WIAA Girls Gold State Tournament this week. Grace is the first OHS golfer to compete in the State Tournament since 2006 and she finished in 20th place out of 78 competitors.
SOCCER: Congratulations to the Boys Varsity Soccer Team for their 4-0 win over Beloit on October 16. The team moves on to play Verona on October 20, at 7:00 p.m. at Reddan Soccer Park.
SWIM: The Swim Team competed in their last dual meet of the season on October 14.
TENNIS: Congratulations to our two OHS doubles teams who competed in the WIAA State Tournament this week. Aubrey B. and Madi S. won their first round but didn't advance after the second round. Tori K. and Carolyn T. also won their first round but didn't advance after the second round.
VOLLEYBALL: Congratulations to the Varsity Team on their win against Sheboygan South in the first round of Regionals on Thursday. The team faces Sheboygan North at the OHS Field House at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday for the Regional Championship.
Click here for OHS Athletic Home and Away Game Schedules for the year
OHS PROVIDING FREE SENIOR CITIZEN ATHLETIC PASSES: OHS is now offering a free athletics pass for OASD residents over the age of 60. The passes provide free access to all home OHS athletic events, excluding WIAA tournament games. Passes are available at the OHS Athletic Department Office during regular school hours or at the ticket booth during home Varsity Football games.
Upcoming Events
OHS CHINESE HONOR SOCEITY HOSTING CHINA DAY ON 10/27: You're invited to China Day at the Oconomowoc Public Library. This FREE event is hosted by the OHS Chinese Honor Society on Saturday, October 27, from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Learn basic Chinese language, learn Chinese games & paper cutting, sample Chinese tea and food, see a Kung Fu demonstration and much more.
OHS GERMAN HONOR SOCIETY HOSTING OKTOBER KINDERFEST ON 10/27: The OHS German Honor Society is hosting their annual FREE Oktober Kinderfest on Saturday, October 27, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Downtown Village Green. Kids can play games, learn about the German language and culture, and much more!
OAC Events
Estamos trabajando diligentemente para traducir nuestros documentos al español. Por favor comuníquese con la escuela de su hijo para aclaración. Si todavía necesitas aclaración, por favor comuníquese con Martita Mirsberger al (262) 560-8306 ext 8343.
The Oconomowoc High School (OHS) will provide a fan bus for the girls volleyball sectionals game on Thursday, October 25, at 7:00 p.m. at Beaver Dam. The bus will pick up students in front of the OHS Field House and depart at 5:30 p.m. Buses expect to drop students off at OHS at the end of the night at approximately 9:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Student Cost:
Students should stop by the OHS Athletic Office before 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 24, to purchase a bus ticket. Please contact Beth Loppnow with questions.
Visit the Oconomowoc Chamber Winter Farmers' Market held at Oconomowoc High School (OHS)!
The Winter Farmers' Market will be held on Sunday's beginning November 4 until March 31 from 9:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Guests can enjoy kids activities, music & special demos.
Check out the Oconomowoc Chamber website for weekly calendar details.
2018-19 Farmers-Artisans-Vendors:
All are welcome and invited!
Time O'Brien Homes/Oconomowoc Area School District
Construction 101
November 10, 2018
11:00 a.m.
Location:
The Kendall- Lake Country Village
35409 Mineral Springs Blvd.
Summit, WI
For Directions:
Visit, timobrienhomes.com/35409-mineral-springs-blvd
Questions:
262-542-5750
