Olentangy's Top News

Last night, the district announced the decision to discontinue the Heritage Elementary all-day every day kindergarten program for 2012-2013 and beyond. Over the past several months, an administrative task force examined the practicality of continuing this program, looking at the history, costs, and benefits of an all-day, every day kindergarten program. The task force has submitted a memorandum addressing their findings to the board. The memorandum can be found at this link.

Next year Heritage Elementary will become a K-5 elementary, causing the need to redistrict our elementary students. Redistricting is never an easy process. This is an important community decision and we are asking for your participation. Applications for committee members will be accepted between now and December 21, 2011. The committee will meet in January, and have a recommendation by mid-February.

Download the Redistricting Committee Application.

AHA honors Olentangy buildings and students at Dec 14 Board Meeting

The American Heart Association (AHA) recognized the efforts of the district at the December 14 Board of Education meeting by presenting several awards. The AHA honored MacKenzie R. from Scioto Ridge Elementary School; who was recognized as the top student in the Jump Rope for Heart campaign, Wyandot Run Elementary School; number two school in the state in the Hoops for Heart campaign and Scioto Ridge Elementary School; number two school in the state in the Jump Rope for Heart campaign.  Cheshire Elementary School was recognized as the rookie school of the year for their efforts in the Jump Rope for Heart competition. In addition, Glen Oak Elementary student Simran A. was invited to share her “Youth Survivor Story”.  Simran will be pictured on national literature for next year’s Jump Rope for Heart campaign collection envelopes. Overall, Olentangy Local Schools raised $98, 434.86 for the American Heart Association in their 2010-11 fund raising year.

It was a party atmosphere when Olentangy’s Food Service Department met after hours recently to wrap gifts and goodies for six families in need.  The families, with 20 children in all, were identified by the district’s social worker as those who could use some special holiday help.  Food Service employees from across all buildings contributed about $1600 and Kohls stores offered a 25% discount for all of their purchases. Gordon Food Service also helped out by offering a 9 pound ham to each family, a gift certificate and other snacks for the children’s goodie bags.

"Gluskabe and the Four Wishes"

Alum Creek Elementary School Teacher Meghan McDonnell Anderson wrote and produced a musical for her fifth-grade students about Native American Indians.  The lesson turned into an across-the-curriculum affair for the students as social studies, art and physical education also created related projects. Part of the guidance curriculum was also involved as the moral of the play was to help others.

Olentangy Liberty High School (OLHS) Senior Sachin R. will be honored by the Delaware General Health District’s Keep Delaware County Beautiful litter prevention and recycling awards. Sachin will receive the Garrison-Brown Award for his community computer recycling campaign. Sachin was featured on the cover of the Feb. 23, 2011 Olentangy Valley News for this, and has already been named a distinguished finalist for a Prudential Spirit of Community Award and a President’s Volunteer Service Award. For more information about Sachin’s campaign, log on to his web site: crcfbt.org.

The College Board has named Olentangy Local Schools as one of the 23 Ohio school districts to place in their Second Annual AP Honor Roll. The districts qualified by increasing student access to college-level Advanced Placement® courses while maintaining or increasing the percentage of those students scoring 3 or higher on rigorous AP course exams. Olentangy was one of the eleven districts to  make the list for the second year. Read the press release from the Ohio Department of Education here.

OLMS sixth grade student shows off her newly acquired r.a.d.Kids skills

Olentangy Liberty Middle School in cooperation with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office recently offered an important safety education course to 6th grade titled r.a.d.KIDS.  (Resisting Aggression Defensively).  R.a.d.KIDS is the largest personal safety education organization in the world. This after school course, presented by Olentangy School Resource Officer Deputy Ron Vogel, teaches children how to protect themselves from violence and harm. The program addresses topics such as home, school and vehicle safety; realistic defense against abduction; good-bad-uncomfortable touch; self realization; and personal empowerment.

The Helping Hands table overflows!

Olentangy Liberty Middle School  has jumped into the holiday spirit in a big way this season with several giving opportunities.  This heavy laden table of donated food demonstrates the generosity of the students and staff at OLMS!  The food drive is known around OLMS as Helping Hands.  Proceeds will go to Olentangy families in need. In the same spirit of holiday caring and sharing, OLMS students and staff are also working with the Marine Corps to donate to the Toys for Tots campaign, and have established a drop-off site for Soles for Souls, an organizaton that gives shoes to the needy.

Olentangy Liberty High School recently received a National School of Distinction status from the Schools Fight Hunger program. Fewer than 2,000 schools nationwide earned this level of distinction in the 2010-2011 school year. The National School of Distinction status is awarded to schools that demonstrate notable enthusiasm, creativity or dedication in getting involved with the hunger cause. OLHS held a food drive in 2010-11 that collected 2,168 pounds of food. The Schools Fight Hunger program is a 2-year-old initiative focused on helping schools fight hunger most effectively, celebrating the good work of schools and students and inspiring the next generation of leaders on the value of service.

Five Olentangy schools were honored November 14 with an awards presentation at the Greater Columbus Convention Center by Battelle for Kids’ Subject-Level Award for High Progress. ( SOAR program). This award is designed to acknowledge Ohio schools participating in SOAR for their high academic progress in multiple grade levels in a core subject over the most recent school year. (2010-11) Olentangy Orange High School was recognized for significant progress in English 9, Olentangy Orange Middle School was recongnized for Algebra I, Olentangy Shanahan Middle School for science, Olentangy Liberty High School for biology and Olentangy High School for pre-calculus. The districts recognized are among the top five percent of districts (out of 90 eligible SOAR districts) making exceptional growth with students.