Owatonna Public Schools
District Newsletter
February 2020
#MissionMoment Spotlight
Mission Moment Spotlight: Shelley Thom, SpecEd Paraprofessional
Watch the short video below to hear how Shelley Thom inspires excellence, every day.
"I love the relationships that I make with the students. The relationships don't end when they are done with high school... they continue well after they graduate." - Shelley Thom
New High School Updates
Thank you to everyone who expressed interest in being involved in the core planning group for the new high school. We had over 100 applicants for the Core Planning Team and those selected include high school staff, students and community members.
Meeting #1
December 4, 2019
Lots of excitement filled the room to kickoff the Core Planning Group. Members acknowledged the diverse makeup of the group and how it created multiple perspectives about the possibilities for the new Owatonna High School.
Discussion and activities included:
- Brainstormed on what's important to all stakeholders
- Started to study educational design examples and precedents
Meeting #2
December 18, 2019
The Core Planning Group spent the entire day traveling to various high schools and toured the facilities.
Meeting #3
January 15, 2020
Discussion and activities included:
- What components the group liked and disliked from the December high school tours.
- Started to think about how the square footage will be used, within the set square footage (the group understands they need to allocate the space wisely).
- Big decisions need to be made in the next few months with the current and future school in mind.
- Exciting innovation in the last decade around education and what is the direction of the future?
Meeting #4
January 29, 2020
Discussion and activities included:
- Reviewed project commitments and design criteria
- Conversations about concepts, not a design yet.
- Discussed relationships and organization of spaces.
Montessori Enrollment due TODAY!
What is Montessori Education?
The Montessori approach to education embraces individualized instruction for children, mixed-age groupings of students, a structured curriculum, and a prepared environment, using specialized Montessori teaching materials. Montessori classrooms provide an environment that supports independent, self-directed learning, and self-assessment.
Dr. Maria Montessori, who developed this educational program, believed strongly that parents play a critical role in their child’s education.
Montessori students display:
Self-directed work habits
High level of responsibility to work independently
Enjoy hands-on learning
There are two Montessori classrooms:
E1 - Grades 1-2
E2 - Grades 3-5
If you are interested in the Montessori program at the Owatonna Public Schools, please complete the Enrollment form by February 7 and return it to your neighborhood school. Montessori is housed at Washington Elementary, 423 14th Street NE, Owatonna, MN. The administration will review student registrants for grade level balance and instructional needs. However, the primary basis for selection will be first come/first serve.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Beth Svenby at Washington Elementary School 507-444-8300
Kindergarten Registration Now Online
For the 2020-2021 school year, all registrations to Owatonna Public Schools, including kindergarten registration, will be completed online. The registration form is translated into English, Spanish and Somali.
CLICK HERE to register your child for kindergarten by February 15, 2020.
*Please Note: Using a cell phone to complete the online registration form is not recommended. If you do not have internet or a computer, you can visit Roosevelt Community School (122 East McKinley Street) or the Owatonna Public Library.
Save The Date: Kindergarten Open House
Incoming 2020-21 kindergarten students and parents are encouraged to attend Kindergarten Open House night on Thursday, March 5 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. located at every elementary school.
The night is filled with important information for parents and students and an opportunity to get familiar with your neighborhood elementary school and ask questions.
We can’t wait to meet you and our 2020-21 kindergarteners ... we hope to see you on March 5.
New State Vaccine Requirement for Students Entering 12th Grade
Minnesota law requires that all children get vaccinated against certain diseases or have a legal exemption on file to enroll in school. Students entering 12th grade for the 2020-2021 school year need to have documentation or a legal exemption for the booster dose of meningococcal vaccine (Most children received the initial dose of this vaccine when they entered 7th grade).
Teenagers and young adults are at higher risk for meningococcal disease. This dose is important to make sure they are fully protected through their highest-risk years.
Please schedule an appointment with your child’s health care provider to get this vaccine, or get a legal exemption before school starts in the fall. Ask your health care provider if you are eligible to receive free or low-cost vaccinations if you are concerned about costs.
For a current copy of your teen’s vaccination record, call the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC) at 651-201-3980.
E-Flyers for community events, programs and much more!
Lincoln Elementary
McKinley Elementary
Washington Elementary
Wilson Elementary
Owatonna Middle School
Owatonna Senior High School
Owatonna Alternative Learning Center
Contact Us
Email: sbaumbach@isd761.org
Website: www.owatonna.k12.mn.us
Location: 515 West Bridge Street, Owatonna, MN, USA
Phone: 507-444-8600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/owatonnapublicschools/
Twitter: @ISD761_Owatonna