Join us for a 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.

Event Details:

• Thursday, October 18 and Monday, November 5, 2018
• 6:30-9:00 p.m. for both sessions
• Oconomowoc High School East Campus, 915 E. Summit Avenue, Oconomowoc
• Parking in front of the building, enter at main entrance

Session Goals:

October 18th: Overview of Identity Development

• Understanding our biases and assumptions and how they impact us individually
• How we see ourselves and others and its impact at the classroom, school and community levels

November 5th: Overview of Educational Equity

• Delineate areas of needs and interest specific to marginalized identities
• Participants categorize areas of interest and prioritize

About the Facilitators:

Dr. Elise Frattura

Dr. Elise Frattura has been a professor in the Department of Administrative Leadership at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Education since 2001. She's Co-Founder of Integrated Comprehensive Systems for Equity (icsequity.org) and Co-Director of the National Leadership for Social Justice Institute and Academy. From 2003-2013, Dr. Frattura served as an Associate Dean and Department Chairperson for the School of Education.

Dr. Joe Schroeder

Dr. Joe Schroeder combines successful leadership experience in teaching and administration with a passion for leadership development. Before joining the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators (AWSA) as Associate Executive Director in 2012, Dr. Schroeder served five years as Superintendent of the Muskego-Norway School District. Prior to that, Dr. Schroeder was the Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services in the Elmbrook School District, Principal of Brookfield East High School, Associate Principal and Principal of Evansville High School, and English Teacher at both Menasha and Parker High Schools.

Click Here to RSVP for this event!

Homecoming 2018: September 30-October 6, 2018

Homecoming Week Festivities

Sunday, September 30, 2018

• Window Painting @ 10:00 a.m. - Meet in front of Roots Coffee Shop
• OHS Main Campus & East Campus Dedication Celebration & Open House @ 1:00 p.m. - OHS East Campus

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

• OHS Varsity Soccer @ 6:30 p.m. - OHS Soccer Stadium
• OHS Varsity Volleyball @ 7:00 p.m. - OHS Fieldhouse

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

• Powder Puff Football Game @ 7:00 p.m. - OHS Rux Stadium

Thursday, October 4, 2018

• Swim Meet @ 6:00 p.m. - YMCA at Pabst Farms

Friday, October 5, 2018

• Homecoming Parade Lineup @ 4:00 p.m. - Oakwood Avenue, see attached map
• Homecoming Parade Starts @ 5:15 p.m., see attached parade route map
• Homecoming Football Game @ 7:00 p.m. - OHS Rux Stadium

Saturday, October 6, 2018

• Homecoming Dance @ 8:00-11:00 p.m. - OHS Upper Gym

2018 Homecoming Court

• Back Row- Left to Right: Cole Ninmann, Ben Rawson, PJ Nelson, Jacob Hogan, Michael Kluz, & Luke Petersen
• Middle Row- Left to Right: Ethan Cash, Katie Jorgensen, & Emily Osborn
• Front Row- Left to Right: Dani Rabay, Madison Begos, Chela Quinones, Ryan Odeja, Sierra Boettcher, & Abby Westburg
• Not Pictured: Malik Staude

Spirit Week Themes at OHS

Monday, October 1: Tie Dye

Tuesday, October 2: Hawaiian Day

Wednesday, October 3: Vine/Meme Day

Thursday, October 4: Throwback to Third Grade Day

Friday, October 5: School Spirit Day

Homecoming Parade Participation

Homecoming application forms are available through this link. Forms are due to the OHS Athletic Office by Friday, September 26, 2018. Please email completed forms to Beth Loppnow at LoppnowB@oasd.org.

Parade Safety Guidelines:

• Due to overhead electric wires, floats may not exceed 16' in height.
• NEW - PROVIDE 2 ADULTS to walk along parade route with float. Direct spectators back to the edge of the road. Candy can be handed out along the sidewalks.
• All City, County & State ordinances must be followed during the event. Any participant who violates city, county or state ordinances or creates a public safety hazard will be referred to the appropriate authorities.
• All parade vehicles/floats must be structurally sound and safely designed. The main platform must have no holes or hollow areas where someone could fall through. All standing persons must have something on which to hold (i.e. a railing, pole, handle, etc.) or they must be seated at all times.
• Two people need to be in the pulling vehicle with one being a full time spotter for the driver.
• No vehicle in the parade shall stop in route to load or unload passengers.
• No one will be permitted to ride on the roof or hood of a moving vehicle.
• Parade moves at a set pace, please follow accordingly to ensure that the parade begins and ends on time and that everyone has a safe and enjoyable time.
• Parade entries must maintain appropriate distances (one car length) from the entry in front of them. Large gaps between entries can pose a safety hazard as can following an entry too closely.
• For the safety of parade attendees, throwing items such as candy, etc., from the float or vehicle will not be permitted. You may walk along the sidewalk and hand out candy. Entries identified as throwing items risk future parade participation.
• Persons riding on floats should have proper footing/seating and should not hang any appendage over the sides of the float.
• Parade participants should not jump from or onto a float or motorized vehicle.
• Ensure that float decorations do not obscure the driver's view of the road and that drivers/operators can hear verbal instructions.
• Entry should easily travel the parade route, turn corners and fit under traffic signals.
• The height of the entry needs to fit under trees and traffic devices encountered on the parade route.

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.

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:

• what will take place during the training
• how to calmly complete the exercise
• what materials students may need to have with them
• the expectations for remaining orderly throughout the drill

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.

Your Choice Prevention Education is hosting the "Wake Up Call" exhibit at the Oconomowoc Arts Center. "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 bedroom 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. This FREE presentation is intended for adults only, 21 years of age and older.

Participants will:

• Learn the signs and symptoms associated with substance use as well as current drug trends
• Receive a guided tour of the bedroom along with a description of items used to conceal substance use
• Learn parenting strategies to help prevent substance use
• Receive a comprehensive resource handbook
• Receive an opportunity to go through the bedroom and ask questions

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

The Oconomowoc Arts Center

641 E. Forest Street, Oconomowoc

6:00-6:30 p.m. - Resource Fair

6:30-8:00 p.m. - "Wake Up Call" tour presented by Your Choice team members

Please register for this FREE event through this link.

For questions about this event, please contact Brenda Barker at (262)-569-4950 or Sandi Lybert at (262)-367-9901.

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.

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Submitted Photo:

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 5^th grade teacher, Shelly Favorite, 5^th grade teacher, Kelly Boldt, Samantha Jappinen, Camille Jostad, Adam Lois, and Nature Hill Intermediate Principal, Chuck Olson

Through the generosity of the Oconomowoc Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, First Bank Financial Center, and ProHealth Care, the Oconomowoc Area School District has received 9 Bleeding Control Kits. The kits were created through a program called "Stop the Bleed" which seeks to strengthen training and availability of medical supplies in an injury or massive bleeding situation. A Bleeding Control Pack will be available at each OASD school and district medical response staff will receive training to use the supplies.

From the First Bank Financial Centre Press Release:

The "Stop the Bleed" campaign was initiated by a federal interagency workgroup convened by the National Security Council Staff and The White House. The purpose of the campaign is to build national resilience by better preparing the public to save lives by raising awareness of basic actions to stop life threatening bleeding following everyday emergencies and man-made and natural disasters.

"At ProHealth Care, we strive to be the health care leader in Waukesha County by providing outstanding care across a full spectrum of services," said Sarah Butz, ProHealth Care Director, Community Benefit. "Those services may expand beyond our facilities, and supporting this initiative in our schools is an excellent example of that outreach."

Mark W. Mohr, President and CEO of First Bank Financial Centre, added, "Oconomowoc has been our home for nearly 160 years. It's an honor to support our schools in a variety of ways, and this initiative is a potentially life-saving program for our kids and teachers."

The campaign includes medical training and provides kits filled with supplies to be used in an emergency. Each kit includes a tourniquet, permanent marker, trauma dressing, gauze, two pairs of gloves, shears/scissors, and an instruction card.

Pictured in Photo from left to right: Greg Maroo, Oconomowoc Area School District; Jennifer Wucherer, Oconomowoc Area School District; Sarah Butz, ProHealth Care; Dave Sutton, Oconomowoc Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation; Christy Deal, Oconomowoc Area School District; Jeff McCarthy, First Bank Financial Centre; Kay Nissen, ProHealth Care and Paula Jacobs, ProHealth Care Foundation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCONOMOWOC, WI – November 6, 2018. Three alumni from Oconomowoc High School (OHS) scored among the top business students nationwide during their senior year on rigorous exams to test their business knowledge during the 2017-18 school year. The exams are part of the school's High School of Business™ (HSB) program, a national accelerated business administration program of MBA Research and Curriculum Center. Approximately 8,000 students from across the nation participated in the program during the 2017-18 school year.

Receiving top scores at OHS are:

• Nathaniel Trego, Principles of Business
• Nathan DuPont, Principles of Business
• Brett Miller, Principles of Business

OHS School to Career Coordinator Kyla Stefan stated, "I love the new HSB classes offered at OHS and the hands-on approach they provide students in the classroom. These classes help students learn a variety of concepts while also applying them to local businesses or project-based experiences. I am proud of all of the students for the dedication and flexibility they demonstrated as we worked through our first year of implementing the first two courses of this program (HSB Principles of Business and HSB Business Economics)." She went on to say, "Nate, Nathan, and Brett have all set the bar high and deserve recognition for scoring in the top 20 across the nation, a true testament to their hard work and focus."

Students participating in High School of Business™ complete real, hands-on business projects through a series of six courses. The program also includes observational internships, opportunities to earn college credit, and local oversight via a steering team of college faculty, business professionals, and school personnel.

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High School of Business™ is a program of MBA Research, a non-profit organization specializing in educational research and the development of business and marketing curriculum for high schools and colleges across the U.S. The accelerated program is designed for college-bound students with interest in business administration careers, such as marketing, finance, entrepreneurship, or management. For more information about the national organization, visit www.MBAResearch.org/HSB.

Photos:

Nathaniel T.

Nathan D.

Brett M.

Four OASD Elementary Schools Receive Significantly Exceeded Expectations Rating

OCONOMOWOC, WI – November 13, 2018. The Oconomowoc Area School District (OASD) schools made continued gains on the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction School Report Cards which were released to the public today. Greenland Elementary, Ixonia Elementary, Park Lawn Elementary, and Summit Elementary all earned five-star ratings of Significantly Exceeds Expectations. This is Greenland Elementary School's third year in a row ranked as Significantly Exceeds Expectations, while Ixonia and Summit Elementary have maintained this ranking for the second straight year. The district also celebrates Park Lawn as they join the schools mentioned above for the first time, moving up to a Significantly Exceeds Expectations rating over last school year's ranking of Exceeds Expectations. Meadow View Elementary, along with Silver Lake Intermediate each earned four-star Exceeds Expectations ratings. Nature Hill Intermediate and Oconomowoc High School received a Meets Expectations rating. The District received an overall four-star Exceeds Expectations rating, with a slight increase in its total score from last year. This is the third consecutive school year that the OASD has earned an Exceeding Expectations four-star rating!

"These results reflect the incredible efforts of our teachers and building leaders. Their commitment to all students, and a focus on both increased levels of student achievement, as well as student growth, are having an impact," stated Superintendent Dr. Roger Rindo. "For the third straight year the District has seen continued growth on the state report card, and this year five of our schools achieved their highest score since the inception of the report card. At the same time, we know we still have work to do, and we know that this is just one measure that defines us. I am so proud of our students and staff."

The public can view report cards at https://apps2.dpi.wi.gov/reportcards/. Report Cards At-A-Glance is available at https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/accoun...

OASD Exceeds Expectations in Newly Released State Report Cards (PDF)

• District Report Card (PDF): Exceeds Expectations, 4-Stars
• Greenland Elementary (PDF): Significantly Exceeds Expectations, 5-Stars
• Ixonia Elementary (PDF): Significantly Exceeds Expectations, 5-Stars
• Meadow View Elementary (PDF): Exceeds Expectations, 4-Stars
• Park Lawn Elementary (PDF): Significantly Exceeds Expectations, 5-Stars
• Summit Elementary (PDF): Significantly Exceeds Expectations, 5-Stars
• Nature Hill Intermediate (PDF): Meets Expectations, 3-Stars
• Silver Lake Intermediate (PDF): Exceeds Expectations, 4-Stars
• Oconomowoc High School (PDF): Meets Expectations, 3-Stars

OCONOMOWOC, WI- November 14, 2018. WSPRA presented the Spectrum Awards at its recent annual conference, Nov. 7-9, in Madison, Wis. The OASD earned an Award of Excellence for its 2015-16 Annual Report, Learners and Leaders Community Newsletter, and the Oconomowoc High School Programming Brochures.

Spectrum Awards recognize high-quality public relations efforts produced by or on behalf of Wisconsin school districts. This year, this statewide competition honored 42 school districts with awards.

"Spectrum Award winners exemplify the very best communications work in school districts across the state," said WSPRA President Christina Brey. "The winners demonstrate the value of engaging stakeholders in order to build community support for Wisconsin's public schools."

WSPRA's Spectrum Awards are judged by members of other school public relations associations throughout the United States, including from Illinois, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, and South Carolina. All entries were judged on a 30-point scale in six areas: goals and objectives, research and planning, execution and evaluation, results, language, and design.

The Wisconsin School Public Relations Association (WSPRA) is a professional association representing schools, school districts, educational associations, consulting agencies and organizations. The theme for the 2018 conference was "Building on the Best. Creating the best possible school communications for student success!"

WSPRA is a state affiliate of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). The mission of WSPRA is to expand the capacity of its members to provide effective communication management for the purpose of strengthening educational opportunities for all students.

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Photo:

Left to Right: Kelly Ellifson (OASD Communications and Marketing), Nathan Chow (Foundry Creative Director), Jenni Holland (OASD Communications and Marketing Manager)

This year's theme for our Oconomowoc Area School District (OASD) School Board presentations is Every Student Has a Story. The teachers and staff at Park Lawn Elementary School work hard every day to understand each student's story, but also know how important it is to understand each family's story too.

At the November 13, 2018, OASD School Board meeting, Park Lawn Elementary Principal Jennifer Jones was joined by the LePage family and Park Lawn staff members, Laura Schleicher, Taryn Trost, Samantha Speich, and Becky Scheltz. The group came together to share their story of academic variability within a family and how that mirrors the academic variability that our teachers strive to address each day. Mrs. Jones introduced the LePage family and shared the strengths of each student – Sam, who is in sixth grade and is gifted in math; Sophia, who is in first grade and talented in art and creative expression; and Gabe, who is gifted in reading and is a child with autism.

Kindergarten teacher, Taryn Trost, and Learning Strategist, Samantha Speich, shared some of the tools they use to ensure the curriculum is meeting the needs of all the students in their classroom. They specifically shared some of the tools and approaches they created to ensure Gabe's academic needs are met.

The team emphasized the crucial role of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in their efforts to proactively plan and tackle barriers for learners, instead of waiting for a learning barrier to occur. Principal Jones said, "Thank goodness we have the kind of common planning time that our teachers have, that we have professional development opportunities where our teachers can collaborate and learn and grow together, so that they can learn about the students and plan the necessary action steps that they need, so they can meet that variability academically."

4K Teacher, Laura Schleicher, talked about teaching Sophia and Gabe and the changes she needed to make in her approach. She also worked closely with Samantha Speich to design the right curriculum for both students, adding, "We also planned a lot. Things that worked, things that we needed to fix, we talked on a daily basis and constantly were collaborating."

Mrs. Jones concluded the presentation by saying, "It's nearly impossible to predict the combination of strengths and weaknesses any student will possess. The flexibility of presentation, materials, and the physical environment allow for a wider range of access for all students."

Left to right: Park Lawn Learning Strategist, Samantha Speich, 4K Teacher, Laura Schleicher, Paraprofessional Becky Scheltz, 5K Teacher, Taryn Trost, Gabe L., Principal, Jennifer Jones, Sara L., Sam L., and Sophia L.

Senior Nick Schulz Named Coca-Cola Scholar Semifinalist

OCONOMOWOC, WI – November 19, 2018. Oconomowoc High School (OHS) senior Nick Schulz has been named a Semifinalist for the 2019 class of the Coca‑Cola Scholars Program, moving to the next round of the selection process to become a Coca-Cola Scholar and receive a $20,000 college scholarship. A joint effort of Coca-Cola bottlers across the United States and The Coca‑Cola Company, the Coca-Cola Scholars Program is one of the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship programs of its kind. With the addition of the 2019 class, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation will have provided more than 6,150 Coke Scholars nationwide with over $69 million in scholarships over the course of 31 years.

• Nick Schulz, a student at OHS, has been named a Semifinalist for the 2019 class of the Coca-Cola Scholars Program.
• 1,896 high school seniors were selected as Semifinalists from a pool of 95,715 applications from across the country based on their academic excellence, leadership and service demonstrated in school and community activities. See the full list.
• The Semifinalists are in the running for 150 college scholarships worth $20,000.

Semifinalists are now asked to complete Phase 2 applications, which include essays, recommendations, and transcripts. An independent selection committee will review the applications and select 250 Regional Finalists by the end of January to participate in online or in‑person interviews. 150 Coca‑Cola Scholars will be named in March and come to Atlanta in April for a celebratory banquet and Leadership Development Institute facilitated by program alumni.

OHS Principal Jason Curtis stated, "Nick embodies the spirit of Oconomowoc High School. He is extremely kind to his peers, works hard in the classroom and is involved. He holds himself to high standards and is a role model for our entire community. Nick is deserving of this recognition and I could not be more proud to have him as a member of our school community."

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The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation celebrates and empowers visionary leaders who are refreshing the world. With its 30^th class of Coca-Cola Scholars, the Foundation has provided more than $66 million in scholarships to over 6,000 program alumni who together have become a powerful force for positive change. Learn more at www.coca-colascholars.org.

Photo:

Nick Schulz

Join us as we celebrated the dedication ceremony of the Gale Douglas Field House on December 6, 2018, at 6:45 p.m. before the start of the first OHS Raccoon Varsity Dual meet of the season.

The OASD Board of Education approved the naming of the OHS Field House after Hall of Fame Wrestling Coach Gale Douglas. Coach Douglas was the head OHS Wrestling Coach from 1967-1991. His major accomplishments include:

• Dual meet Record of 292-49-2
• 43 Team Invitational Championships
• 11 Conference Championships
• 84 State Qualifiers, including 6 Champions
• Inducted into the Wrestling hall of Fame in 1995

An OHS Raccoon Wrestling Alumni dinner will be held on December 7, 2018, at Lakeside Supper Club and Lounge at 6:00 p.m. to honor Coach Douglas. Cost of the dinner is $30.00. Food choices are fish, chicken or beef. Please RSVP by December 1 to Eric Jensen.

Tax deductible donations are also being accepted for the Oconomowoc Area School Disrict- Douglas Field House Project. Donations can be made online or checks (made out to OASD) should be sent to:

Oconomowoc Area School District
Attn: Mitzi Cass, Business Office Manager
915 E. Summit Avenue
Oconomowoc, WI 53066

Questions should be directed to V.J. Scully at 414-588-0373.

OCONOMOWOC, WI – November 30, 2018. In 2006, Oconomowoc High School (OHS) DECA students were looking for a way to give back to others during the holidays. After talking with students and parents, they decided to donate school supplies to a nearby school and call the program "Adopt a School". Twelve years later, the "Adopt a School" program is still going strong and about to bring necessities, gifts, and holiday cheer to Pershing Elementary in West Milwaukee.

DECA adopts a different school each year but looks for a school that has 95% or more of its students on the free and reduced lunch program. This year, 241 students will receive gifts, as well as, two families that will benefit from the Adopt a School event. Staff and students at OHS select a student name and purchase some of the necessities and gifts from that student's wish list. This year each students will receive a book, toy, socks, underwear, hats, gloves, snow pants, snow boots, and a winter coat.

"What started as a simple drive has now evolved into a well-oiled machine of coordinated gift wrapping and buses of OHS students, singing as they spread joy. I only hope that today's OHS students learn as much as I did and take time to think about how they can continue to spread joy throughout their careers and lives," said Mackenzie Magnus, an OHS graduate who was a founding leader of "Adopt a School".

This year's "Adopt a School" is led by two OHS DECA members, Emma Zabinski and Jaysal Patel. They are responsible for working with the adopted school to understand what items are needed. Both students then lead the DECA club in organizing the donation drive, gift-wrapping, transportation, and delivery of the gifts.

"Adopt a School is my favorite event of the year. This is my 2nd year in charge, and I am so excited to be a part of this amazing event again! Knowing that you are changing someone's life by bringing them a Christmas present warms my heart, and I love knowing that our community is so generous. The students and teachers of each school we have adopted have all brought me to tears because of how thankful they were. The teachers cried watching their students open gifts with a gigantic smile on their faces, which may not have happened without our help. It is just an outstanding event to be a part of, and has been my favorite high school experience," said Emma Audley.

Jaysal Patel added, "Adopt a School has been a very special day to me the past couple of years, and I am so excited to be in charge this year!"

A special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus is always part of the day. Bob and Gina Magnus have been acting as Santa and Mrs. Claus for all 12 years of the program. "Sharing the joy of the holidays with the students cannot be described with words, it needs to be experienced, and it is so incredible. The joy you see when a youngster opens a present and gets new socks or underwear puts a new perspective on life for all. The interactions between the kids and the high school students are special," said Bob Magnus of his experience as Santa. "I too have enjoyed watching the program grow and become more sophisticated and efficient every year while managing to stay true to the original intention of the program, providing school supplies, clothing, and gifts for children and families in need. The highlights for me every year are watching our Oconomowoc students eat lunch and play with the kids, and watching our students when they realize how good it feels to give to others and how easy it can be! One small gesture can mean the world to someone else," added Mrs. Claus, Gina Magnus.

Gifts will be wrapped by OHS DECA students in early December and delivered to Pershing Elementary School on Wednesday, December 19, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. You can watch a video of 2017 Adopt a School gift delivery here: https://youtu.be/J-qcF5YVAdI .

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Photos:

OHS Students lining up to select a child's wish list for Adopt a School 2018

OHS DECA Adopt a School 2017 Gift Delivery

The Waukesha County Sheriff's Department has requested the use of Oconomowoc High School (OHS) for their K-9 Unit training on December 4, 2018. The training will focus on K-9 Unit tracking, and they will only be using the North Wing of OHS and areas outside. Please note there may be a police car presence at the high school and connected to the training.

Waukesha County Sheriff's Department
K-9 Unit Training
December 4, 2018

Oconomowoc High School
North Wing & Outside Areas
7 p.m.- 11 p.m.

The correct use of capitalization is an integral part of grammar instruction and students at Nature Hill Intermediate are using a new, supplemental program called Fundamentals of Grammar and Conventions, to improve their use of capitalization.  “As much as we love technology, our students are texting and using messaging and unfortunately, that technology reinforces some bad habits,” said Nature Hill Intermediate 6^th grade English Language Arts (ELA) teacher, Melissa Krahn.  “The lack of capitalization for the letter I, or using the letter “u” instead of “you,” are just a few examples,” she added.

To help students improve their grammar skills, Nature Hill teachers have spent this school year introducing Fundamental of Grammar and Conventions.  “One of the things we have found as English Language Arts professionals is that we have a wonderful curriculum we love.  However, we have not had quite the systematic teaching of grammar in that curriculum…and that showed in our student’s application and writing skills,” said Krahn.  Fundamentals of Grammar provides that systematic approach to complement the existing language arts curriculum and the program spans Kindergarten through 8^th grade, so students will receive consistent reinforcement of these skills as they move through the grades.

At the Oconomowoc Area School District Board of Education Meeting on May 15, teachers and students from Nature Hill shared some of the tools they’re using to connect their grammar work to other classroom lessons.  One of the capitalization tools is called, “Capitalize with M.I.N.T.S.,” a mnemonic that helps students remember the five times they should use capitalization – months, the letter I, names, titles, and at the start of sentences.

Nature Hill Intermediate 5^th grade teacher, Amy Jappinen, recently used the “M.I.N.T.S.” tool to connect a grammar lesson to the Revolutionary War research papers her students were writing.  After their papers were complete, students used the tool to examine their work and identify each place one of the “M.I.N.T.S.” rules was used. 

“Grammar instruction is so important because it will not go away as you get older.  It will only be used in more difficult writing,” said Nature Hill 8^th grader, Gabby Schreiber.  “Learning many aspects of grammar in elementary and middle school has helped me with all kinds of assignments and writing,” she added.

“Our goal at Nature Hill is continued growth, and we’re looking forward to focusing on what students need for continued progress next year,” said Nature Hill Associate Principal Ali Hedrick.

Nature Hill 7^th grade ELA teacher, Sarah Coenen added, “We’re learning that the implementation of a new curriculum is a process.  Growth isn’t going to happen overnight, the key to success is the consistent exposure to grammar, year after year.”

Nature Hill Intermediate School teachers and students presented The Fundamentals of Grammar and Conventions, to the OASD School Board at their Tuesday, May 15, 2018 meeting.

Back, left to right:  Nature Hill 7^th Grade ELA Teacher, Sarah Coenen, Nature Hill Associate Principal, Ali Hedrick, 6^th Grade ELA Teacher, Melissa Krahn, Nature Hill Principal, Chuck Olson

Middle, left to right: Nature Hill Literacy Coach, Rachel Quill

Front, left to right: Nature Hill 8^th Grade Students, Gabby Schreiber, Anna Baucom, and Taylor Hedrick

We are pleased to announce that Oconomowoc High School will be offering Girls Hockey as a WIAA sport starting with the 2018-19 school year. Girls Hockey is a winter sport and we will be participating in the Arrowhead High School Co-op, which also includes Sussex Hamilton High School and Kettle Moraine High School. All practices and home matches will be played at the Mullett Center which is located on the Arrowhead High School campus.

OHS Girls playing hockey will have their OHS Athletic Fee of $150.00 waived but will be required to purchase their own equipment and pay the Arrowhead hockey fee. Student Athletes will also be required to provide their own transportation to the Mullet Center for practices and games. A bus will be provided for all away matches and that bus will always leave from the Mullett Center.

We were just notified that the current Head Coach, Andy Smith, recently resigned to pursue another job opportunity out of state. Once more information is available we will share it with our student athletes and parents.

If your daughter plans to participate in tryouts, please contact Beth Loppnow in the OHS Athletic Office, loppnowb@oasd.org or call (262) 560-3111, by August 1, 2018.

We are thankful for the opportunity to join the Co-op and excited offer a new sport to our students.

Go Raccoons!

#oconpride

The Oconomowoc High School seeks donations to help restore four beautiful, handcrafted vintage string instruments: two violins, a cello and a viola. These fine musical instruments were built by local musician Frank Chatfield and donated to the school in the 1930's. The donated instruments were used by students for several decades until they fell into disrepair and were put into storage. The decision was made in 2015 to preserve the instruments and restore them to playing condition.

Chatfield, a long-time city planner for Oconomowoc, took up the hobby of building and repairing stringed instruments, most notably violins, violas and cellos. He harvested wood for his instruments from trees in the Lac La Belle Area, and some of that wood, which still exists, will be used to repair the instruments.

The school needs your help to repair these historic instruments! Scott Sleider, a world-renown luthier in the Milwaukee area, has agreed to do the meticulous restoration work at an estimated cost of $28,000. As of December 11, 2018, $12,830 has been raised. OHS hopes to raise an additional $15,000 to reach the goal of complete restoration.

A tax donation of any amount can be added to your cart to help fund the restoration process.

Click the link below to donate to donate.

(Photo Credit: Todd Ponath, Lake Country Publications.)