Olentangy's Top News

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!

The Olentangy Education Foundation again invites all residents to the  4th annual Spirit of Olentangy Casino Night.  This evening to celebrate the Olentangy Community includes:
* heavy appetizers;
* live and silent auctions;
* entertainment by County Line Junction; and,
* game tables by T.E.A.M. DJ

Proceeds from this evening will support OEF’s mission to provide annual scholarships for students, as well as innovative teacher grants for programs that are not funded by the school system.

The OEF Spirit of Olentangy Casino Night will take place on Saturday, January 21 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Bridgewater Banquet and Conference Center, 10561 Sawmill Parkway in Powell.  For further details including registration and sponsorship opportunities, visit the OEF website http://olentangyeducationfoundation.org/

ISES Principal Heuser and two students appear on Daytime Columbus with Gail Hogan

Indian Springs Elementary School Principal Chris Heuser and two students were invited to visit Gail Hogan on her NBC4 program Daytime Columbus.  The spot aired Thursday, January 5th at 11:00 a.m.  Ms. Hogan interviewed the three about their school’s efforts to help the Ronald McDonald house by recycling pop top tabs.  Indian Springs volunteers constructed pop top “houses” to collect the recyclables, and each classroom had their own collection house.  The recycling will go on all year at Indian Springs, and at several other elementary buildings in the district.  Mr. Heuser and the students explained that pop tops are collected because they are easier and more hygienic to store than the entire aluminum can.  The RMHC  Upper Midwest Chapter raises around  $30,000 a year through their pop tab program.