OASD eNews - December 2020
IN THIS ISSUE
- Referendum 2020 Timeline
- eAcademy Reminder
- High School Athletics Live-stream
- Free Meal Resources
- Alumni Spotlight
CONTACT
Oshkosh Area School District
215 S Eagle Street
Oshkosh, WI 54935
920.424.0395
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A Message from the Superintendent
In this season of giving thanks, I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to the entire OASD community. I am so thankful for how hard our children, families, and staff are working to support learning and one another during this unique school year. A strong collaborative partnership between school personnel and family members continues to be the key to our children’s success in many different areas. Thank you so much for this partnership.
During this season, family is so important to many people. Family includes our classroom family, school family, immediate family, extended family, and community. In the OASD, we are sincerely appreciative to all of our families. I hope that during this special time you are able to enjoy special moments with those you hold dear. I wish you and your loved ones a safe and healthy holiday season and a positive start to 2021!
Sincerely,
Vickie L. Cartwright, Ph.D.,
Superintendent of Schools
Referendum 2020: Our Community. Our Schools. Our Future.
Thank you! Your overwhelming support of the District’s two referendum requests on November 3 is a testament to Oshkosh’s commitment to our children and our future. We are so proud to be a part of a community that believes in the value of providing a progressive, innovative, and well-rounded educational experience for our students in well-maintained facilities.
Our immediate plan is to move forward with preparing for the security and infrastructure projects built into our capital funding request. This summer, work is expected to begin on the safety and security projects as well as some of the key infrastructure improvements.
Additionally, we will also be advancing our plans to build a new middle school on the Merrill site, with an anticipated open date for the 2023-24 school year. We are currently scheduling meetings with our architectural partners and will provide regular updates as this project progresses. Opportunities for community feedback and engagement in this process will also be shared. Furthermore, the new elementary school on the Webster Stanley site is expected to open for the 2024-25 school year.
As far as operations, the referendum will allow the District to maintain our academic programs, technology for learning, and student support systems. This commitment to our children continues to provide valuable opportunities for learning and success.
Again, thank you OASD residents for believing in your District and providing the support needed.
Final Reminder: eAcademy Mid-Year Transition Period Deadline
The OASD remains committed to ensuring that all students continue to have access to the learning environment that is best for them. This is the final reminder regarding enrolling IN or OUT of eAcademy or Oshkosh Online Early Learning for the second semester of 2020-21.
If a family wants to change their enrollment and enroll IN or OUT of eAcademy or Oshkosh Online Early Learning for the 2020-21 second semester an Enrollment or Unenrollment Form must be submitted by 3 p.m. on Friday, December 4. The required Mid-year Enrollment and Unenrollment Forms are below:
Important Reminders:
- The OASD eAcademy program is a fully online school. Full-time students in eAcademy will remain in the online program regardless of what learning model the OASD is in throughout the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.
- Students enrolled in the OASD’s traditional school will transition between in-person and virtual learning models based on the state of COVID-19 during the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.
Please visit the eAcademy website for additional information, including resources to help you Choose eAcademy vs Traditional School and Understand eAcademy at Each Grade Level. Please remember, all enrollment or unenrollment forms must be submitted by this Friday, December 4 at 3 p.m.
High School Athletics Live-stream
Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) high schools will be streaming all home high school athletic events during the 2020-21 winter season. Events will be streamed to each high school's official athletic YouTube channels:
- Oshkosh North Athletics: www.youtube.com/channel/UC6jttTjln0rIrTAX_oLn-rg
- Oshkosh West Athletics: www.youtube.com/channel/UCUy3J46A3_30Qb0y7_UWrYw
When events are live-streamed, viewers will see a “Live now” section when visiting the school's YouTube channel. Events streamed from the main gym will begin streaming automatically 15 minutes before the scheduled tip-off.
Events that are filmed outside of the main gym will be scheduled in advance and a link to those streams will be visible in advance. Those events will be manually started approximately 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the game but the time may fluctuate slightly.
Away events will be streamed as well, as each school district is responsible for setting up their own streaming system. The links to all Fox Valley Association (FVA) school streaming sites can be found on the www.fvasports.net website or directly at www.fvasports.net/page/show/6066627-fva-livestream-links.
If you are unable to watch an event in real-time, events that are live-streamed will automatically be added to the school's athletic YouTube channel after the stream ends and the video processes. NOTE: The FVA conference has decided that videos will stay visible for at least one week after the original event air date.
As previously announced, in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 no spectators will be allowed at OASD home competitions at this time. However, this decision will be re-evaluated prior to January 1, 2021.
Supporting the Struggle
We know the 2020-21 school year has already presented many challenges, especially for students and families. We recognize and appreciate the efforts of our students, their families, and school staff to make the various learning models as successful as possible.
In an effort to continue to support our families, the District recently launched a weekly support series. Tips and resources are posted online at www.oshkosh.k12.wi.us/families/support-series and on Facebook every Tuesday at 2 p.m. Families are encouraged to follow along on the District's Facebook page or check the website for the latest updates.
Feeding America Weekly Food Boxes
The Oshkosh Area School District and Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin have partnered to provide weekly family meal boxes through December 28, 2020. Food boxes are available for ANYONE in need, no ID or proof of residence required. Food box distribution will occur on Mondays at Oshkosh West High School - in front of Door #20 (375 N Eagle Street) from 10 a.m. - Noon.
In addition to the family food boxes, participants are able to receive five days worth of school meals for any child 18 and under. This additional school meal distribution option is meant to ensure all families in need have access to food for their children and the entire family.
Oshkosh Corporation Helps Students Ride for Free
The Oshkosh Area School District is extremely grateful to the Oshkosh Corporation for their generous donation of $30,000 to be used for GO TRANSIT funding so that Oshkosh K-12 students can ride city buses to school at no charge. This service is made possible through a partnership between the OASD, City of Oshkosh, and private funders. We appreciate the company's generosity and willingness to partner for the benefit of Oshkosh's students.
Visit www.oshkosh.k12.wi.us/district/business-services/transportation to learn more about the busing program.
Oshkosh North Alumnus Heads to NBA
The Oshkosh Area School District extends its heartfelt congratulations to alumnus Tyrese Haliburton, who has been drafted to the Sacramento Kings. We are proud to see that the dedication Tyrese exhibited while at Oshkosh North High School has stayed with him and has led him to this thrilling moment. This incredible accomplishment is a testament to his hard work and we are grateful for the family members, coaches, teachers, teammates, and fans that have been a part of his journey.
Tyrese Haliburton sports a blue-flowered suit as he prepares to be drafted in the 2020 NBA Draft (COURTESY/TyHaliburton on Twitter)
His former coach at Oshkosh North High School, Brad Weber had this to say about Tyrese: “Tyrese's legacy on the North program is a legacy of leadership. While he was with us he always made his teammates (and coaches) better. His infectious spirit brought positive energy on a daily basis and made every environment he was in joyous. Even though he graduated, he is still with us and building on his legacy. He has stayed in contact with our captains each year. He makes sure to stop in and visit with our teams when he is home. His connection and influence on our program have not disappeared - even if his physical presence is not here.
I am so proud of Tyrese and his family. I love that his character and personality are what experts and analysts talk about first, before his athletic and basketball ability. He has gone about it the right way and is a great role model for all of us.”
In Our Schools: Good News Spotlight
Community Learning Centers: Food Truck Night
On October 29, the OASD’s Community Learning Center (CLC) programs hosted a free Food Truck Night for families in the Lighted School House and Middle Extended Learning Time. Almost 400 people from 93 families attended, which is 40% of our CLC families! The CLC Food Truck Night aimed to help students and entire families by providing them with a delicious free meal and a unique, socially distanced way to stay connected to the CLC program. A big thank you to Rodney's Cafe, DD's BBQ, and Mr. and Mrs. Eggroll for helping make the night possible!
Food and Toy Drive
The Communities I at Oshkosh North program is once again partnering with the Oshkosh Fire Department and the Salvation Army for their annual Food and Toy drive. This year there will be a contactless drop-off location at Station 15 across from the Oshkosh Convention Center. They will accept donations from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on December 3rd, 7th, and 9th.
Fiddle Tune Writing Workshops at Merrill and Webster Stanley middle schools
Seventh and eighth-grade orchestra students at Merrill and Webster Stanley middle schools had the opportunity to participate in a Virtual Fiddle Tune Writing Workshop with guest composer Andy Reiner over four virtual class periods.
Orchestra students learned about common rhythms and time signatures in traditional fiddle tunes and composed their own unique two measures of music. Reiner then performed each student's musical idea. Students went on to collaborate with Reiner on their own 16 measure original piece of music by piecing together the two measures of music that each student in the class wrote. Students also worked with Reiner to create chords to accompany the tune. Andy Reiner created some videos of him playing the original tunes so that the students can hear the final product.
Student Art Showcase
Oshkosh West art students have been busy exploring their talents. A virtual art show was developed to spotlight their efforts: Oshkosh West Student Art Showcase