Olentangy's Top News

Dozens of alumni returned to Olentangy High School (OHS) on December 17 to visit with teachers and share their experiences with current students.  Along with feeling their school spirit again, graduates were treated to an old food-service favorite – a lunch of macaroni and cheese.

Students at Olentangy High School (OHS) celebrated the spirit of giving on December 17 by taking part in a blood drive and announcing the totals of a Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) fundraiser during a staff versus seniors basketball game.

Fifth-grade students at Cheshire Elementary School (CES) designed and created gingerbread houses for a good cause this month.  The houses were put on display in the school lobby, and parents and staff members were invited to bid on them in a silent auction.  The event raised approximately $1,600 for a local family in need.

Members of the Olentangy Liberty High School (OLHS) choirs took their holiday cheer on the road recently, including one stop at the district’s administrative offices.  Thanks to the students and director Doug O’Neal for making everyone’s day a little brighter!

Tyler Run Elementary School (TRES) hosted its fifth-annual Multicultural Celebration on Friday, December 17. Students learned about the customs and traditions of other cultures in order to achieve a greater awareness and understanding of others. The Multicultural Celebration reinforces several benchmarks in the elementary social studies curriculum, including understanding the practices and products of diverse cultures. Special thanks to the TRES PTO and parent volunteers for making this event possible.

The spirit of giving is alive and well in Olentangy this holiday season. Across the district’s 21 buildings there have been dozens of efforts to ensure that local families in need can stay warm and put food on the table during the winter months.

A prime example of these efforts is the Caring Fund – a districtwide effort to raise money for Olentangy families experiencing rough times. This year students and staff members raised nearly $29,000! The money will be used to buy gift cards for 346 families, which means a better holiday season for 874 children.

The Caring Fund is just one example of Olentangy’s dedication to community service. Other projects throughout the school year benefit groups like the American Heart Association, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, People in Need of Delaware County, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Columbus Honor Flight and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Some of these are large-scale projects like when 11 elementary schools teamed up to raise approximately $67,000 for the American Heart Association last school year. Other projects are smaller in scale, such as the Olentangy Orange Middle eighth-grade students who recently raised $107 for the Delaware County Historical Society. No matter what size, all of projects help teach important lessons about life, community and service.

Over the last two years, Olentangy Local Schools has experienced several challenges with our current phone notification system vendor. The district thought these issues had been resolved. However after multiple recent problems, Olentangy Local Schools has decided to look at other options.

During this transition, the district will not be using the automated phone system for any delay or closure notifications. We feel that we can no longer depend on an unreliable system. The district will continue to use listserve, website and Twitter (@OlentangySD) messages as well as the local media should the need arise to cancel or alter the school schedule in any way. These communication channels have proven to be very reliable and provide the information your family will need in a reasonable amount of time. The hope is that this transition period will only last a few weeks and that a new service provider may be available next month.

In the meantime, please accept the district’s most sincere apology for any confusion or frustration your family may have experienced. Changes to your daily routine are challenging enough without the added problem of a poor communication system. Please know that this service does not represent the standard for excellence that Olentangy Local Schools expects of its vendors. The district is taking corrective action at this time and I hope to have additional information for you in the near future.

Some friendly faces at Oak Creek Elementary School (OCES) are encouraging students to remember the importance of a healthy breakfast. OCES Food Service Manager Robin Karow created posters to remind students to eat breakfast. OCES is one of nine Olentangy schools that offers students breakfast before class at a cost of $1.25 per day. For more information on Olentangy Food Services, please click here. For fun, Karow also created a poster advertising OCES custodial services.

Third-grade students at Wyandot Run Elementary School (WRES) were selling everything from pillows to pencils this week during lunch periods.  The sale was the culmination of an economics unit.  Students had to come up with a product, create it, market it and then sell it to their classmates.  Prices ranged from $0.50 to $4.00, and all proceeds will be donated to Delaware County People In Need.

Students at Alum Creek Elementary School (ACES) traveled the globe without leaving their school today.  The annual Epcot Day began with an opening ceremony before students took turns “visiting” countries like Ireland, Russia, Poland, China and Argentina.  In each “country” students received a stamp on their Epcot Day passport, learned about the country’s culture and created a craft item. This activity reinforces several benchmarks in the elementary social studies curriculum, including understanding the practices and products of diverse cultures.