Olentangy's Top News

Students from the Oasis Academy and Heritage Elementary (HES) are getting to know each other since a partnership began to encourage the older students to act as mentors and reading helpers at HES.  A special visitor from OASIS visited HES today to help celebrate the 100th day of school.  One hundred days is an event many of the district’s elementary buildings use as a math learning tool.  Zero the Hero (a.k.a. Oasis student Logan) and HES guidance counselor Dr. Doug Cook toured the kindergarten classrooms listening to what students learned about numbers and counting.

Ten student athletes from Olentangy’s three high schools signed on the dotted line on National Signing Day, Wednesday, February 1.  Olentangy Liberty High School is proud of Brian J., who will play football for Davidson College.  At Olentangy Orange High School, students William M. (Tiffin University, football), and Brandon S. (Ohio Dominican University, football) signed their letters of intent.  A large crowd was present at Olentangy High School that morning to watch seven student athletes commit to their respective schools.  Joshua P. will play football for Ohio State University, Kenton P. will play football at Northwestern University, Bryan Y. will play football for California University of Pennsylvania and football players Derrick R. and Will B. are headed to Ohio Dominican.

Learn about the college and career readiness programs available to Olentangy students during a community forum on Monday, February 6 from 7 until 9 p.m. at Olentangy Liberty High School, 3584 Home Road in Powell.

Superintendent Wade Lucas, Ed.D. and representatives from the Ohio Department of Education, Delaware Area Career Center, Ohio Wesleyan University, Otterbein University and Columbus State Community College will discuss the district’s educational partnerships and ways families may be able to save on college tuition costs.

Many students at Oak Creek Elementary School belong to the OCES Take Care Club.  This is the third year for the  group, which gives third through fifth grade students an opportunity to volunteer in the community. Olentangy Education Foundation granted the Take Care Club a $500.00 grant for materials and books! In January and February, the group’s monthly volunteer outings coincide with OCES’ 3rd Grade Economics Sale. Third grade students  make hand-made products and sell them during lunches with proceeds going to Huckleberry House or Children’s Hospital.

Two OHS students graduated in December to take advantage of new and exciting opportunities!  Josh P. has already enrolled at OSU where he will be playing football in the fall.  Chris F. was part of the JrROTC program at OHS.  Before beginning his senior year at OHS he graduated from the Army’s basic combat training.  In the near future Chris will begin his college studies while training to be a wheeled mechanic for the Army.  Good luck to both of these students!

All community members are invited to attend an Elementary Redistricting Community Dialogue on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Council for Older Adults, 800 Cheshire Road, Delaware, 43015. During the community dialogue, redistricting committee members will present several elementary attendance boundary options for the community to provide feedback.

The 2012 Elementary Redistricting Committee consists of 55 community members, and has met several times this month. The committee has reviewed a number of attendance boundary options and developed several of their own. The group has a website it uses to continually update the progress of the committee. If interested, you may log on to their website at: www.dejongrichter.com/projects/olsd.

The committee will reconvene after the community dialogue and ultimately make a recommendation to the superintendent for consideration in early February.

Kindergarten registration for the 2012-13 school year will begin after the current elementary redistricting process is complete. The redistricting process began in December so that Heritage Elementary School can transition from an all-kindergarten building to a traditional elementary, housing grades kindergarten through five.

The 2012 Elementary Redistricting Committee is made up of 55 community members and has been meeting throughout January to review and develop attendance boundary options. Residents can track the group’s progress online at www.dejongrichter.com/projects/olsd.  Residents are also invited to provide feedback during a community dialogue session on Tuesday, January 24 at 7 p.m. at the Council for Older Adults, 800 Cheshire Road, Delaware, 43015.

New attendance boundaries will be finalized in February. Shortly after that the district will announce dates and other information regarding kindergarten registration for the 2012-13 school year. Please continue to watch the district listserves and website, www.olentangy.k12.oh.us, for more information. Registration for grades one through 12 will begin this spring.

Join the Olentangy Parent Programs Team (PPT) and NBC4 for a very special forum tackling one of the biggest issues facing parents today: keeping our kids healthy and drug-free.

Dependency prevention expert Douglas Wentz will share how parents can avoid some of the most common enabling behaviors and attitudes that may promote drug use among children. NBC4 anchor Mindy Drayer, former OSU quarterback Craig Krenzel and representatives from the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addition Services will share tips on preventing prescription drug abuse, including the best ways to store and dispose of prescription drugs.

Representatives from several community resource groups will be on hand to help you address your family’s specific needs. PPT will also offer a raffle for items autographed by Craig Krenzel and provide prevention activities for children in the free child care area.

Date: Wednesday, February 8
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 P.M.
Location: Olentangy Orange High School, 2840 E. Orange Road in Lewis Center

FREE BABYSITTING WILL BE AVAILABLE!

Two meetings of the 2012 Elementary Redistricting Committee were held this week consisting of 55 community members, and some administrators . The group reviewed several options presented by Scott Leopold from Dejong-Richter and also shared some ideas of their own. Scott is currently reviewing their suggestions and will post all options from the group. If you are interested in taking a look at the progress of the committee, their website is updated frequently.

The web site address is: http://www.dejongrichter.com/projects/olsd.

At the next meeting, the group will narrow the selections down to several options to present to the larger community in a forum on January 24.  All are invited to attend the community forum Tuesday, January 24 at 7 p.m. at the Council For Older Adults, 800 Cheshire Road, Delaware.

WCES students fire questions at Congressman Tiberi

Congressman Pat Tiberi visited Walnut Creek Elementary School recently.  He spoke with 4th and 5th grade about the branches of government.  He also had the students participate in a mock version of how a bill becomes a law.  The students had many excellent and insightful questions for the Congressman!