Ready to Go! We will see you next week!

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Hey Raccoons!

I hope you are getting excited to make our return to school next week! I am SO excited to welcome everyone to the new year! 

We do have to acknowledge that the start of this school year is different than any other year. There are lots of ideas, opinions, and viewpoints regarding the virus, masks, and how we should reopen. The topic has sparked passionate debates and invoked a wide range of emotions within our community and on social media pages, and I completely understand why. The success of each Raccoon is dependent on the school experience. Access to rigorous academic programs, mental health services, and social outings helps form each student’s personal development. Trust that our team stands ready to continue to provide those experiences no matter what instructional model we find ourselves working in. 

Over the last three years, we have rallied as a community to set a vision to ensure each graduate is Career, College, and Life Ready. With the support of our families and community, we have made strides that none of us could have imagined.  The energy in our halls is electric, and we have created experiences that help each Raccoon to reflect and discern their calling in life.  We are increasing the number of students in apprenticeship programs, we have improved results on the ACT exam, and achieved one of our highest ratings on the state report card ever! None of this would have been possible without our hardworking students, amazing team, and the unwavering support of our families. Our team of teachers and paraprofessionals is so talented, beyond dedicated, and more than ready for the year ahead. Regardless of the challenges or changes, this school  year brings, we are determined to keep the momentum going and not skip a beat!

As we head into the new year, let’s work together to ensure that our vision and purpose define Oconomowoc High School. Whether you choose to go entirely online, support a hybrid model, or believe we should return in a full face-to-face setting, we have to stay united as a community and focus on our purpose.

Outlined below are several reminders about the start of school and our operations under the hybrid instructional model. Please reach out to me at CurtisJ@oasd.org if you have any questions!

Thank you for all of your support! Go Raccoons!

Jason

 

Thursday, August 27:  Reminder! Open House/Picture Make-Up Day (9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.)

It’s not too late to sign up for Open House and Picture Make-Up Day. It’s an excellent opportunity to come back to campus and walk your schedule before September 1. Sign-up is available by clicking here.

 If you are an incoming freshman, and you can’t make Open House, please email me. We can find a time to meet on August 28 or 31 to walk your schedule!

 

Monday, August 31:  Ocon Pride Live! Virtual Pep Rally (7:00 p.m.-7:45 p.m.)

Remember to tune into our Back to School Ocon Pride Live! Pep Rally at 7pm on Monday, August 31. You can access the event live or watch the recording through this link.

 

Schedule Week 1 (September 1-4)

You can click here for the schedule and attendance expectations for the first week of class. All students report to school on their assigned days beginning September 1. Traditionally, the first day of school has only been for freshmen. However, given all the changes this year, we want every Raccoon to have the chance to learn the new structure and changes. Freshmen Orientation will now occur in the afternoons of their 2 face-to-face days. Room assignments for this period will be posted around campus. Our teachers and senior leaders will help you find your room. You will report to these locations after lunch. 

Sophomores and upperclassmen are invited to report to East Campus after lunch for some interest enrichment activities and to debrief on their first few days of school. Please email StefanK@oasd.org if you have any questions!

Purple/Gold Academic Calendar

Here is the Purple/Gold calendar that was shared with you earlier this month. Remember, the periods after the slash indicate the classes that are meeting in the afternoon. All students report to school the first week of school. For the first week, only freshmen are required to stay for the afternoon. During that time we will host our annual Freshmen orientation.

We are prepared to switch instructional models seamlessly throughout the year. For planning purposes, we have built a calendar for the entire first term. Putting this plan together does not mean that we will remain in this model the whole  time; instead, we wanted to present a calendar for the entire grading period.

I know this is a lot of change at one time. Please remember that our team will be in the hallways and available for support in the first days of school. We also presented this video to families on all our reopening models. The review of the hybrid model starts at minute 17.

Resources and Social Media

With the start of the year approaching, I wanted to re-share the following resources with you for your reference or bookmark in your browser:

• Updates from OHS Blog   
• Athletic Calendar and Information  
• Student Handbook 

Also, please take a minute to follow us on social media:

• Twitter:
• Mr. Curtis: @OconCurtis
• High School: @OconHS
• District: @OconSchools
• Facebook (you will need to log in)

The Raccoon Revival! Important Updates on Reopening School

Friday, August 14, 2020

Hey Raccoons!

We are getting closer to the start of the year! Below is a ton of information to help ease your transition back to school. This information includes:

• A review of our Purple/Gold model schedule
• The official calendar dictating Purple/Gold days
• Details about Raccoon Revival Week and Freshmen Orientation
• Updates on your schedule, Open House, and Homecoming

Purple/Gold Hybrid Instructional Model

Below are some important details and a quick summary regarding our Purple/Gold Hybrid Model:

• Attendance is taken daily. Even virtual students have required attendance periods and will log-in for classes with their teachers. 
• Purple Students (A-K): Report to OHS on Purple Days. Gold Students (L-Z): Report to OHS on Gold Days. Students can work from East Campus or virtually for their required Seminar lessons starting at 1:00 p.m. Students not attending will receive an unexcused absence.
• On days when students are not at OHS, they will have 35-45 minutes of classwork for each block. This work must be completed by 12:15 p.m. Students will then log in and attend class with their teachers beginning at 1:00 p.m., followed by the opportunity to participate in virtual office hours.
• Grey Days are used to balance face-to-face instructional days. On Grey Days, students will log-in for classes with their teachers at assigned times. Again, students not attending will receive an unexcused absence.
• Click here to read the full description sent home on August 5. The high school plan is specifically outlined starting on page 11.

IMPORTANT UPDATE- Calendar of Days: You can click here to see the official calendar of Purple/Gold Days for term 1. However, please note that we may switch back to traditional face-to-face or go entirely online, depending on local conditions.

 

Schedules Released: Wednesday, August 19 (12:00 p.m.)

Schedules will be available for you to review at noon on August 19.  Please contact your counselor if you have any questions.

 

Open House & Picture Make-Up Day: Thursday, August 27 (9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.)

Students and families will have the opportunity to visit campus on Thursday, August 27 to drop off materials at their locker, walk their schedules, familiarize themselves with the building, and meet with their counselors. You can also get your school photo and ID if you missed Material Pick-Up Day in early August. Finally, students who are new to the district can pick up their Chromebooks in the Library on this day.

To prevent large groups, we are asking families to sign up for 30-minute sessions. You can click here to sign up. When you arrive for Open House, please enter through the Field House. Just a reminder: Masks must be worn while on campus.

Raccoon Revival Week! (September 1-4)

It’s been five months since we have been in school, so let’s have some fun as we return to OHS! We have several events planned to kick off the start of the upcoming year. These events include a virtual pep rally, freshmen orientation, and various activities on our first day of school to help everyone get comfortable with the Purple/Gold schedule. Check out the details below:

Monday, August 31: Ocon Pride Live! Raccoon Revival Pep Rally (7:00-7:45 p.m.)

You can tune in online to watch the Back to School Pep Rally led by our seniors! You will get a chance to meet our new teachers, learn more about our safety practices, and have some fun as we get ready for our first day! We will send the link out to students and families the week of August 24.

Tuesday, September 1: PURPLE First Day of School 

All Raccoons in grades 9-12 in our Purple cohort will report to OHS by 7:20 a.m. for our first day of school. During the day, you will have the opportunity to practice using our new online learning tools, review our community commitments, and meet your teachers. 

Please note: Gold students will not have online assignments or check-ins on this day.

Wednesday, September 2: GOLD First Day of School 

All Raccoons in grades 9-12 in our Gold cohort will report to OHS by 7:20 a.m. for our first day of school. During the day, you will have the opportunity to practice using our new online learning tools, review our community commitments, and meet your teachers. 

Please note: Purple students will not have online assignments or check-ins on this day.

Freshmen Orientation

Freshmen orientation will occur in the afternoons of their assigned face-to-face days during Raccoon Revival Week.

• Purple freshmen will have orientation from 1:00-2:40 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1, and Thursday, September 3. 
• Gold freshmen will have orientation from 1:00-2:40 p.m. on Wednesday, September 2, and Friday, September 4.

Because our teachers will be supporting Freshmen Orientation, there will not be required afternoon classes from September 1-4 for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Our afternoon online check-ins will officially begin on Tuesday, September 8. Although, online work will be assigned on September 3 and 4.

Homecoming 2020 Update

Like many other traditions, Homecoming will have to look a bit different this year.  We will have a few exciting community-building events the week of September 21-25. Watch for details soon!

However, the dance, powderpuff game, parade, and many other traditions will be postponed until large crowds are allowed to gather again. Our goal is to have a Homecoming celebration later this Spring or early Summer and revive all our traditions to celebrate our community's strength when the pandemic passes.

I am excited for the start of the school year and look forward to seeing students back in our classrooms and in our buildings, even if it looks slightly different this school year.  I will continue to share any new back to school information as it becomes available. As always, do not hesitate to contact me with questions at CurtisJ@oasd.org. 

 

Go Raccoons!

Jason

 

The Raccoons are Ready to Reunite! Welcome to the 2020-2021 School Year!

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

The Raccoons are ready to reunite!

It has been just under five months since our community has been together and while I do not want to wish away the warm weather, long summer days, and time with friends and family, I am so excited to begin the new school year with each of you! The last five months have taught us all so many lessons, especially the fact that we cannot take for granted the opportunities that exist in the 704 days that make up the high school journey. So, while we might not be able to predict the challenges we may face this year, let’s seize this opportunity to recognize that each class period, practice, rehearsal, game, concert, competition and, most importantly, relationship, contributes to making OHS a special place!

We have an incredible team of teachers, support staff, administrators, and coaches who are ready to guide our students as they set new goals and follow through on their commitments this year. Our upperclassmen are ready to welcome 445 new Raccoons to the family who will join us from many different schools from across the area, and our dozens of community partners stand ready to support each Raccoon’s career exploration. Together, we are united in our goal to ensure this is truly the best school year of your life!

Outlined below are several important announcements and reminders as we work toward the reopening of school in September. While we are committed to continuing many traditions, we will have to adapt and change many events and practices to ensure school stays open and we prevent an outbreak of Coronavirus at OHS. Please check out the information below, and as always, feel free to contact me at CurtisJ@oasd.org. 

I can’t wait to see everyone soon! Go Raccoons!
Jason

School Scheduled to Reopen in a Hybrid Face-to-Face Instructional Model

Last night, the School Board voted to start our 2020-2021 school year in a hybrid model, in which students report to campus on alternating days. This model prioritizes social distancing by reducing class sizes to 15. Students will be assigned to a Purple (Last name starting: A-K) or Gold (Last name starting: L-Z) cohort based on last name and report to school for face-to-face instruction on specific days and engage in online learning the other days. 

You can click here to view a summary of our Hybrid model. A complete calendar will be shared later this month.

Last week, we held face-to-face and virtual meetings discussing all three of our reopening instructional models. A recorded video outlining our mitigation strategies, hybrid model, and online programming options is available below:

Grounded, Committed, and Accountable

We are entering this year with many unknowns and uncertainties. However, regardless of our instructional model, role, grade level, or connection to OHS, we have to stand united in our vision to ensure every Raccoon is career, college, and life ready! Whether you are just starting your high school journey or graduation is only 9 months away, it is important that we immerse ourselves in our core values of being grounded, committed, and accountable.

First and foremost, Raccoons are grounded in our personal values and purpose. To do this we will:

• Continue our Raccoon Prep program in which freshmen work with upperclassmen and staff advisors to discover their interests, beliefs, and passions. In addition, we will launch our sophomore program, in which we will work in teams to self-reflect on our identity and values and how we represent ourselves and interact with others who have different backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, and identities other than our own.

Once a Raccoon sets a plan, they commit to it! This year, we will continue supporting students in the development of their academic and career plans by:

• Finding unique ways to conduct job shadows and career exploration experiences when many organizations and partners are forced to limit the number of visitors and events they host for students. 
• Setting up a more streamlined and more thoroughly developed web-based learning management system and learning expectations just in case someone becomes ill or needs to work remotely for a period of time. While we recognize online learning is not ideal for most of us, we are better prepared for an individual or large-scale switch to online learning than we were in March. 

In order to achieve our goals, we need to remain accountable to ourselves and each other! This year, we will:

• Recommit to our Community Commitments to ensure we limit distractions and stay engaged in class. I will share these commitments with everyone on the first day of school.
• Develop new procedures and routines to slow the spread of Coronavirus, or any illness, and maximize student attendance and face-to-face learning. If we stay safe, we can stay open! We are still working out the details, and I will share the list of our mitigation measures in late August. We will have new procedures around:
• Lunch period routines
• Sanitation practices
• Hallway expectations
• The limiting of large-scale gatherings and assemblies
• You can click here to review all our mitigation strategies we plan to have in place to start the year.

Welcome to Our New Staff

We have a couple of new teammates joining our staff this year! Please click here to learn more about the newest members of our community.

Material Pick-Up & Picture Day

Thursday, August 6 (9:00am-7:00pm)

On August 6, students should sign up for a time to come to the Field House to receive their 2020-2021 student ID, drop off any medications, retrieve any supplies they ordered through the Webstore, and pick up their parking permits. We are allowing 85 students to sign up for each half-hour window. Click here to sign up.

Traditionally, students could pick up yearbooks and walk around school. However, this year, yearbooks will be available in December. We delayed the publication so we could include the August graduation ceremony in the book. 

Schedules Posted on Wednesday, August 19

Your final schedule will be visible on Family Access by 12pm on Wednesday, August 19. If you have any questions, you should contact your counselor.

The release of schedules is about two weeks later than normal. In June, we had to restart the scheduling process in order to build student schedules that aligned and balanced class sizes to support a possible implementation of the hybrid Purple/Gold model outlined above. In addition, there are some scheduling and staffing impacts that come from students opting to enroll in the Oconomowoc Virtual Learning Community. Those numbers will not be finalized until August 11. Therefore, we will not be able to finalize schedules until next week.

Impact of COVID-19 on Extracurricular and Athletic Events

Student activities and school traditions may be modified because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some initial specific details are outlined below:

Extracurricular Activities

You can click here to view the meeting structure and expectations of each extracurricular activity. Please contact Jose Frias at FriasJ@oasd.org if you have any questions.

Athletics

The Soccer, Football, and Volleyball seasons will now start on Monday, September 7. While the Cross County, Girls Tennis, Girls Golf, and Swim will start on August 17. Coaches will be in touch with specific details. Contact Kevin Flegner at FlegnerK@oasd.org if you have any questions.

Open House, Freshmen Orientation, and Homecoming!

Typically we include information about Open House and other beginning of the year traditions like Freshmen Orientation and Homecoming. However, we are still working on final details given the need to change some of our routines and structures. Watch for another update in mid-August!