Owego Apalachin Middle School

Educator Spotlight: Ryan Dickinson “The kids, it’s the reason I became a teacher, is because I love working with kids. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid.” Social Studies Teacher Ryan Dickinson started coaching and teaching back when he was a teenager, and has had teaching jobs in both Italy and Japan. Learn more about Mr. Dickinson and his journey as a teacher in this Educator Spotlight on Showcase Classroom TV. https://youtu.be/uPvcX11fbS0

📣 URGENT: Help Protect Free School Meals for Our Kids Families in our region — and across New York State — could be impacted by a proposed $12 billion cut to the federal Community Eligibility Program (CEP), which currently provides free breakfast and lunch to over 2 million children in New York. This program ensures all students in qualifying schools receive free meals, reducing stigma and helping families save money. But a new federal proposal would raise the eligibility threshold, causing over 24,000 schools nationwide, including many in our local area, to lose access to this vital program. ✅ What You Can Do: Parents and community members are urged to contact local, state, and federal representatives to speak up against this harmful change. Your voice matters in protecting meals for students who rely on them to stay focused, healthy, and ready to learn. 📍 Local districts at risk of losing free meal access include: Afton, Bainbridge-Guilford, Candor, Chenango Forks, Chenango Valley, Deposit, Greene, Harpursville, Johnson City, Maine-Endwell, Marathon, Newark Valley, Norwich, Oneonta, Owego-Apalachin, Oxford, Sidney, Susquehanna Valley, Tioga, Unadilla Valley, Union-Endicott, Vestal, Walton, Whitney Point, and Windsor. Governor Hochul is advocating to keep these meals free, but federal support is critical. 🍎 Free school meals are more than just food — they’re essential for equity, learning, and family well-being. Please consider reaching out to your representatives today.

Four Questions: Caitlin Mason “Probably seeing everyone else’s skill and how mine has been able to level up year after year.” Sixth-grade student Caitlin Mason has been working on her bucket drumming in percussion. Learn more about Caitlin and what some of her goals as a band student are on Showcase Arts TV. https://youtu.be/kxfiuOxeJkc

OA REMINDER: There will be NO SCHOOL for Spring Recess, Friday, April 18th through Sunday, April 27th. We will see everyone back in school on Monday, April 28th. Some Upcoming Events: 5/1 - Budget Information Session at Apalachin Elementary 5/5 - Official Budget Hearing 5/5 - OFA Spring Band and Jazz Concert 5/7 - OAMS Spring Band and Jazz Concert 5/19 - OFA Choral Concert 5/20 - School Budget Vote and BOE Election Each school will share specific event information with students and families. Please contact your building with any questions. Or reach out using Let’s Talk! - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk Stay up-to-date with OACSD events: The single-page calendar can be found on our website here: https://5il.co/2locy. The year-long printed calendar can be viewed or downloaded as a PDF on our website here: https://5il.co/2wsb8. A printed version of the year-long calendar is available for anyone who would like one. You can ask your child’s teacher or the building to send one home with them, or pick one up from the main office at each school building. Community members can pick up a printed calendar from the district office. Events are subject to change. The most up-to-date event calendar will be on our website and the district app. https://www.oacsd.org/events Please contact us directly using Let’s Talk! - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk to ask questions about school district events.

Behind the Scenes: Participation in Government “Eudora grew up and lived through a different type of America and has a different perspective on things. So if the students can take away a different perspective or have multiple perspectives about life, I feel like we’ve done a good job.” Students got a chance to interview 102-year-old Eudora Shuler, who spoke about what it was like during the 1940s while her husband was away fighting in World War II. Watch firsthand what the students learned here on Showcase Classroom TV. https://youtu.be/mwQJk0VIryQ

OA REMINDER: The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting tonight, Monday, April 16, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., in the Board of Education Room in the OA District Office, 5 Sheldon Guile Boulevard, Owego, NY 13827. The meeting will also be streamed for viewing only on our YouTube channel here:https://youtube.com/live/sYk_8ofV9Ss?feature=share. Board meeting agendas and meetings are posted on Board Docs on our website at www.oacsd.org. We encourage anyone with questions or comments to utilize Let’s Talk! - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk. Your questions and comments will be seen and answered by the appropriate district personnel or board of education members.

Four Questions: Ava Leonard “My favorite part is the players, we have so many different characters, and it just keeps every day interesting.” From t-ball to modified to slow pitch, Ava Leonard has been playing the sport for a long time. Learn more about Ava as she answers four questions on Showcase Sports TV. https://youtu.be/0zXjkG7_Kao

Behind the Scenes: Fun with Percussion “Percussionists don’t usually get like a whole solo like some of the saxophone players, so this is a cool opportunity.” Sixth-grade students to high schoolers are playing the drums on buckets and garbage cans, preparing for the Dessert Concert. Find out from the students about this unique opportunity and everything they’ve been learning along the way in this Behind the Scenes segment on Showcase Arts TV. https://youtu.be/sOkv0eMk_lo

OA Update: What’s Happening In Our Community - Check out these great programs, events, and more. AES Parent Group Craft Fair: 4/12 - https://5il.co/3b0wn Apalachin Lions - Easter Egg Hunt: 4/12 - https://5il.co/3b1mc SUNY Broome Children’s Fair: 4/13 - https://5il.co/3an14 TCBGC - 3 on 3 HS Basketball Tournament: 4/18 - https://5il.co/3c0pc Cornell Cooperative Extension - Open Farm Day: 4/26 - https://5il.co/3dbw6 OA Youth Running Club: 4/28 - https://5il.co/3asd7 OA Cheer Camp: 5/3 - https://5il.co/3d21r BRCASD Mindfulness And Yoga: 5/10- https://5il.co/3an1w Tioga County - I Voted Sticker Contest: https://5il.co/3dbw2 Owego Apalachin Football Club 2025 Registration: 6/14 - https://5il.co/3acsa Waterman Explore Camp 2025: 7/14 - https://5il.co/3aoer Waterman Owego Rec Camp 2025: 7/30 - https://5il.co/3aoeq Binghamton Umpires - Baseball and Softball Umpire Recruitment - https://5il.co/36pw4 Animal Care Sanctuary - Shelter Buddies Reading Program - https://5il.co/2zu34 Join Scouts - Troop 38, Troop 638, Cub Scout Pack 37 and 43 - https://5il.co/2v9y2 Owego Nazarene After School Program - https://5il.co/2u96a Family Enrichment Network Head Start Registration - https://5il.co/2kghn Find more Community Fliers here: https://www.oacsd.org/documents/community-fliers/237411. If you are involved in an organization that would like to share a flier with the OA school community, please submit it through Let’s Talk! for approval. Select ‘Digital Flier Distribution Submission’ under Communications here - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk. #OARiverHawks #sOArTogether #OACommunity #OAPride #OATradition

Practice Makes Perfect: Softball Diving Drill So we’re going to incorporate the diving that they just did, to they have to get up and on their feet so that they can make another play.” Varsity Softball Coach Emily Crawford is running the athletes through some drills. Get a behind-the-scenes look into their practice here on Showcase Sports TV. https://youtu.be/pDFGswmK444

In the Classroom: Bucket Drumming “Take a small section of music, maybe two or four bars, teach it, play it, repeat it enough to have it up here and here.” Special guest, private teacher and educator Chris Adams breaks down how to play the drums on buckets. Learn more from her in this In the Classroom segment on Showcase Arts TV. https://youtu.be/ddO1Zr5kZW8

The Owego Apalachin Central School District has openings in food service. Join Our Team - Apply Today: https://www.applitrack.com/oacsd/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Support+Staff. #OARiverHawks #sOArTogether #OAisYOU #OACommunity #OAPride #OATradition

Coach Spotlight: Roger Katchuk “I like to see improvement. I like working with beginners to develop progression.” Diving and springboard coach Roger Katchuk dove in college and then coached at the college level. Learn more about how Roger Katchuk found himself coaching in Owego in this Coach Spotlight on Showcase Sports TV. https://youtu.be/76aNnbe40rY

Teacher Profile: Rick Creeley “Watching the kids light up when they get a concept. Doing something that they’re uncomfortable at first, but then become comfortable with it.” Rick Creeley has been in the trades for 35 years. Learn how he became a teacher, and is passing along his lessons to his students in this Teacher Profile on Showcase Classroom TV. https://youtu.be/P0gpLIxbPpg

Owego Apalachin School District Communication Survey At the Owego Apalachin Central School District, we believe that strong, effective communication is essential to building trust, fostering collaboration, and supporting student success. We are committed to using best practices to ensure our families, staff, students, and community members are informed, engaged, and heard. To help us improve and grow, we are seeking input from our stakeholders on how we currently communicate and how we can do better. Your feedback will help guide our communication strategies and ensure we continue to meet the needs of our school community. Thank you for taking a few moments to share your thoughts with us! Participate through April 22nd here: https://tejoin.com/scroll/616763080

Garbage Can Percussion: Percussion Demonstration “I would call this an alternative percussion piece, playing on buckets and garbage cans; everything but the kitchen sink.” Get a first-hand look at the high school percussion group getting ready for their Dessert Concert on Monday. Listen to one of their pieces played on garbage cans here on Showcase Arts TV. https://youtu.be/yageoJB0Q0A

Four Questions: Evan O'Hara “I started when I was about five years old. My uncle is a professional bowler that owns a bowling alley in Binghamton.” Learn more about how Evan O’Hara got his start and what some of his bowling goals are as he answers four questions on Showcase Sports TV. https://youtu.be/ySQcnNzQXv4

Due to statewide issues with Computer-Based Testing (CBT), Owego Apalachin Middle School students will not be testing today, 4/9, or tomorrow, 4/10. This is the second day that the state has had issues with testing. The ELA testing will be rescheduled to Wednesday, 4/16, and Thursday, 4/17. Students returned to their regular school-day schedule. Please contact the middle school directly with any questions. You can use Let’s Talk! Here - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk.

Student Profile: Lilliana Cates “I just want to keep being able to do it, take as many art classes in school and in college, and just continue to further my expression.” Lilliana Cates shows off her skateboard design as a part of the Do Rad Things art program. Learn more about Lilliana and her artistic process in this Student Profile on Showcase Arts TV. https://youtu.be/EcZYPvb3Oj4

Season Preview: Softball Preview “I like being a part of a team and helping others learn, and just leading, and making friends and playing the game with everybody.” Students on the softball team are excited to have their season underway. Learn more about how they think things are shaping up this year in this Season Preview on Showcase Sports TV. https://youtu.be/PESWqqxnN2g