Connections
Owatonna Public Schools - District Staff Newsletter
Inspiring Excellence. Every Learner, Every Day.
March 2019
#InspiringExcellence Spotlight
The Owatonna High School (OHS) Robotics team, “Rebel Alliance” is headed to Duluth, MN to participate in the Northern Lights Regional tournament this weekend. The OHS Robotics team is part of the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), which is designed to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology.
Every year, teams around the world wait in anticipation for reveal night, which happened this year on January 6 when the season’s challenge was announced. This season the challenge is ‘Destination: Deep Space,’ presented by The Boeing Company. After the challenge is announced, the team has six weeks to brainstorm and build a robot from scratch that will best complete the challenge. The robot is then packaged up securely and cannot be opened until the regional tournaments.
The Robotics team started at OHS in 2012 with 25 students and it has remained high in numbers ever since. This year, the team is made up of 30 students in grades 9-12 and coached by Val Rose and Charlie Clausen. The team meets five nights a week and, depending on what needs to get accomplished in the sub-teams, members may work until the early evening hours.
The Rebel Alliance team greatly appreciates the meals their parents provide for the team on Fridays and Saturdays. The support they receive from their parents is amazing! The support doesn’t stop with the parents. The Owatonna community has also played a major role in the Robotics team. This year's community sponsorships include Bosch, ISD 761 Foundation, Wenger Corporation, Federated Insurance, R&K Electric, American Legion Post #77, Amesbury Truth and Owatonna Senior High. Community mentors also volunteer their time, teaching the team new skills and providing support throughout the season.
The team would like to extend a huge thank you to their coaches, parents, community sponsors and mentors:
Matt Bartsh, Bosch
James Burke, Federated Insurance
Charlie Clausen, LeSueur Incorporated
Jeff Dusek, Bosch
Dann Rypka, Wenger Incorporated
Tony Louris, Retired Civil Engineer
Rebel Alliance will compete in two regional tournaments this year (Duluth and LaCrosse) in hopes of returning to the State-FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Tournament and earning their first trip to the FIRST Championship. Best of luck to OHS Rebel Alliance!
Snow Days: 2018-2019 School Calendar Updated
March 22
This date was already a regular day of school for grades K-5, but was not a school day for grades 6-12 due to the end of the quarter. March 22 will now be a regular day of school for all grades, K-12.
June 6
The last day of school was scheduled to be June 5. At Monday's meeting, the Board added a day in June, making June 6 a regular school day for grades K-12. The last day of school will now be June 6.
Other changes:
June 7: Teacher Work Day
June 10: PLC Staff Development Day
June 11: Teacher Professional Day
Should we have additional snow days this academic school year, more school days could be added to the calendar.
Click here to view the updated 2018-2019 school calendar.
May 14, 2019 Special Election: Student-focused. Community-driven.
On May 14, 2019, Owatonna School District residents will be able to vote on a request to provide funding for a new high school.
The Community Task Force on Facilities, a group of community members, parents, teachers, staff, and students, has been studying our facilities over the past four years to recommend the most effective ways to handle school and student needs within Owatonna Public Schools. The Community Task Force’s recommendation to address K-8 needs led to the successful 2015 referendum, which addressed elementary crowding, maintenance, and safety and security. The Task Force reconvened in 2018 to evaluate needs at the High School and make a recommendation to the School Board. Based on their extensive analysis, the Task Force recommended building a new High School to replace the existing 100-year old building.
How was the decision made?
The Task Force studied various options for addressing identified needs at the High School, including much-needed maintenance, safety and security concerns, site size, activities and athletics space, lack of flexible learning space, and classroom spaces that do not meet current or future educational needs. After a comprehensive study and professional community survey, the Owatonna School Board unanimously voted to adopt the Task Force recommendation to ask the voters of Owatonna whether to fund a new High School through a $116M bond referendum.
What would be included?
- New 342,000 sq. ft. building with capacity for 1,700 students, including classrooms, core and activities space
- Improved safety, security and accessibility
- Adequate student, staff and visitor parking and traffic safety improvements
- Flexible learning spaces for small group, large group and one-on-one work
- Up-to-date technology to support teaching and learning
- No disruption to staff and students during construction
Learn More
High School Tours Open to the Public
The Owatonna Senior High School will host school tours in the weeks leading up to the May 14 school district special election when voters will be asked to consider a building bond referendum for a new high school.
The tours are open to the public and will be conducted between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Tours will begin every half hour near the auditorium doors.
Upcoming tour dates are:
- Saturday, March 2
- Saturday, March 16
- Saturday, April 13
- Saturday, April 27
- Saturday, May 11
A high school tour handout has been created with key messages for every stop the tour guides will make. A virtual tour will soon be made available on our website and district social media pages highlighting the tour and key messages provided. To view the high school tour handout CLICK HERE.
Public Information Sessions
Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 6:30 PM at Owatonna High School (small group forum)
Monday, April 29, 2019 at 6:30 PM at Owatonna High School (small group forum)
Visit our website: www.owatonna.k12.mn.us
Email: referendum@isd761.org
Call: 507-444-8650
Links:
Supporting 21st Century Learners with Assistive Technology
Through the assessment for, and use of, Assistive Technology (AT) for students who receive
special services, the Special Services department supports the development of 21st Century
Learners. Assistive Technology is any device, software, app, or equipment that helps students
with disabilities access education and reach their service plan goals and objectives. Assistive
Technology can range from low-tech support, such as lined paper or pencil grips, to high-tech,
such as communication devices and predictive software. The decision to trial and implement
assistive technology is made by the IEP Team. The Special Services Team Drive contains an
Assistive Technology folder with additional assistive technology information and flowcharts.
Also, the Owatonna Public Schools Assistive Technology Team is available to help IEP Teams
decide if and what assistive technology might be appropriate for students who receive services.
If you would like more information regarding assistive technology, please contact a member of
the Assistive Technology team: Lori Holm, Wendy Camerer, AJ Franko, Molly Dickerson, Katie
Juaire, and Wendy Cirksena.
Steele County Food Shelf
Fundraiser 2019
Congratulations
Owatonna ISD#761 Staff and Faculty!
Your efforts and generosity raised $4574.00
A special “Thanks!” to Owatonna Middle School that contributed $2000.00!
PELSB Processing License Renewals
Renew Your License Now
PELSB is currently processing license renewals of five-year and one-year standard licenses expiring in 2019. Board staff are encouraging individuals who need to renew their license to begin the renewal process as soon as possible. License holders who have met all renewal requirements can begin renewing their licenses by logging into the Online License Renewal System.
Upon renewal, a standard professional license will be converted to a tiered license. Beginning July 1, 2019, PELSB will start converting all active standard professional licenses expiring after 2019 to tiered licenses.
PELSB staff have provided guidance about license renewals in a License Renewal Requirements Memo. More information about license renewals is also available on the Renew My License page on the PELSB website.
Renewing One-Year Standard Licenses
Individuals who received a one-year standard license will need to renew to a tiered license in 2019. Most license holders will renew to either a Tier 3 or a Tier 2 license.
To qualify for a Tier 3 license, Minnesota statute requires individuals to pass the required MTLE pedagogy and content tests. If you have passed the required exams, you can begin the license renewal process by logging into the Online License Renewal System.
If you have not passed the required MTLE tests, you will need to have a job offer from a Minnesota public school in your licensure field for the 2019-20 school year in order to obtain a Tier 2 license. Individuals can begin submitting applications for a Tier 2 license for the 2019-20 school year on July 1, 2019. Tier 2 license applications will be available on the PELSB website.
Volunteer Appreciation
Please join us!
Thursday, April 25, 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Owatonna Middle School
Learning Stairs (IMC)
500 15th Street NE
Library Media Services Newsletter
Upcoming District Deadlines, Events and Meetings
March 11
School Board Work Session, 5:30 pm
March 16
OHS Tours, 8:00 am - 10:00 am
March 19
Staff Development Committee - Rose Street
School Board Meeting, 5:30 pm (note date change)
March 21
DCAC - Rose Street
April 9
Bond Referendum: Public Information Session, 6:30 PM, OHS
April 25
Volunteer Appreciation, 3:30-5:00 pm - OMS
April 29
Bond Referendum: Public Information Session, 6:30 PM, OHS
District Events Calendar for Staff
Past Internal District Staff E-Newsletters
Did you miss a past internal district staff e-newsletter?
Connections E-Newsletter
FOCUS E-Newsletter
October: Update on Community Task Force on Facilities
November: Career Pathways with High School Principal, Mark Randall