Owego Free Academy

Say hello to parent-teacher chat and classroom announcements in the Owego Apalachin CSD app. Now it’s easier than ever to stay up-to-date with the district, schools, AND with your students’ teachers and classes. Parents and guardians will soon receive instructions via email to create their login to access Rooms within the district app. Look for this email after 6:00 pm this evening, Monday, September 11, 2023. 
 ALL OACSD Students can access Rooms now using Sign-In-With-Google on the OA app. 
 Download for Android - https://bit.ly/3mtkLGf
 or Download for iPhone - https://apple.co/47T26sO #OACommunity #OAPride #OATradition

OA REMINDER: There is a Board of Education Business Meeting tonight, Monday, September 11, 2023, at 6:00 pm in the BOE room at the District Office, 5 Sheldon Guile Boulevard. Board meeting agenda 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. #OACommunity #OAPride #OATradition

ICYMI: Owego Free Academy Football Head Coach Patton Taylor, along with players Brendon Schofield, Simeon Kirk, Bobby Struble, and Evan English, spoke with Matt Lewis on the WEBO Morning Show about the upcoming season. Listen to the interview here: https://5il.co/24cuf. #OAPride

WELCOME BACK! What a great first day of school. A look at some of the first-day photos from around the district. We hope everyone has a wonderful school year. Let the fun begin! #OACommunity #OAPride #OATradition

ICYMI: Superintendent Green joined Matt Lewis on the WEBO radio morning show this morning, Wednesday, September 6, 2023, to discuss several items heading into the new school year. Listen to the interview here: https://5il.co/2441q #OARiverHawks #OACommunity #OAPride #OATradition

OA UPDATE: Owego Apalachin Central School District Announces New Mascot: https://5il.co/24399

Welcome Back! We are excited to start a new school year! Take a minute to read Superintendent Green's Welcome Back Letter here: https://5il.co/23war Have a great long weekend and we look forward to seeing everyone back on campus next week!

OA Food Service Site Manager Sandy Phillips from @Rock_on_Cafe was interviewed by the New York State United Teachers today. They toured the OES cafeteria and discussed how the Food Service Department plans and prepares for a new school year. #OAPride

OFA Class of 1983 - 40th Reunion - Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 at 7 -10 PM Gathering at the Parkview on Front St. Owego. Cash bar with light snacks. $10.00 per person in advance with payment through Venmo @ OFAclass1983 or $20.00 at the door. Event by: Shelly(Harmon) Rusin

Owego Free Academy Named Jostens 2023 National Yearbook Program of Excellence ------------------------------------------------------- OFA program is recognized for a dynamic and engaging yearbook. (Owego) – (August 2023) – Jostens, the leading producer of yearbooks and student-created content, today announced that OFA’s yearbook program has achieved the Jostens 2023 National Yearbook Program of Excellence award at the Silver Level. The National Yearbook Program of Excellence recognizes engaging yearbooks that reflect a broad representation of the student body while helping students develop 21st-century skills such as communication, collaboration, and information and communication technologies (ICT) literacy. The OFA award-winning yearbook program is led by Abby Boyer (‘23), Ashlee Crawford-Bauer (‘26), Sky Dember (‘23), Emily Dodge (‘23), Luke Jacoby (‘23), Maddie Kinney (‘26), Tatum Kowalski (‘26), Neo Seaman (‘26), Leah Teeter (‘26), LillyMay Wheeland (‘26), and Zoe Zachery (‘23) under the direction of Kathy Starks, OFA yearbook adviser. Ms. Starks states, “I couldn’t be more proud of this awesome group of young people. Their dedication, their creativity, and their hard work are displayed in this fine book of memories. I look forward to continuing to work with these amazing students.” Jostens’ National Yearbook Program of Excellence Awards are presented twice a year, in spring and in fall based on the yearbook’s arrival date at the school. The award was presented to the OFA yearbook program for achieving defined criteria in between one and three of the following categories: creating an inclusive yearbook, generating school engagement, and successfully managing the yearbook creation process. “Jostens is proud to recognize those individuals who have created an exceptional yearbook for their school and community,” said Tammy Whitaker, Jostens VP and COO Yearbook Division. “These schools did an exceptional job on multiple levels, despite the challenges presented by this school year. Yearbooks are a critical part of capturing and telling a school’s story, and Jostens is dedicated to supporting yearbook staff members as they do their important work.” Founded in 1897, Jostens has produced school yearbooks for over 60 years. Schools rely on Jostens and their local Jostens representatives to provide a combination of journalism education and technology tools to deliver a learning experience that helps students develop 21st-century skills in journalism, photography, writing and design, leadership, and business while creating a permanent record of the school year. Jostens invests in state-of-the-art technology, best-in-class service, educational curriculum, and award-winning print manufacturing platforms to plan, design, build, and produce yearbooks. About Jostens Jostens is a trusted partner in the academic and achievement channel, providing products, programs, and services that help its customers celebrate moments that matter. The company's products include yearbooks, publications, jewelry, and consumer goods that serve the K-12 educational, college, and professional sports segments. Founded in 1897 and based in Minneapolis, MN, Jostens is a subsidiary of Platinum Equity and can be found online at www.jostens.com. #OACommunity #OAPride #OATradition

OFA REMINDER: 9th-Grade Orientation - TONIGHT - Wednesday, August 23rd at 6:30 pm OFA 9th-Grade Orientation is TONIGHT, Wednesday, August 23rd, starting at 6:30 pm in the OFA/OAMS auditorium. Please enter through the main entrance on the middle school side of the building complex. Get more information, including the agenda for the night here: https://5il.co/21wnt We look forward to seeing everyone. Contact OFA with any questions through Let's Talk! - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk

OA Reminder: Back-To-School Transportation Survey - Must Be Completed By ALL Families (Only Once Per Child) The Transportation Department is asking all families to fill out the following survey to indicate whether or not their child will OR will not need Transportation to begin the new school year. The survey needs to be completed once for each child in the household. Please complete it if you haven't. After-School Program Transportation should be completed on ArbiterSports/Family ID Online Registration when signing up for one of the after-school programs. Fill out the Survey here: https://forms.gle/ve7zngj7KL6FGnXK8 Read the original news story about the survey here: https://www.oacsd.org/article/1194778 ICYMI - New for the 2023-2024 School Year: The Owego Apalachin Transportation Department has launched a new Mobile App & Website for tracking student bussing information. This new app, called Traversa Ride360, is not only a bus tracking app, but it will also serve to inform parents of their students' Pick up and Drop off times & locations, Bus number(s), and Driver Name. The app and website are live NOW, and we encourage parents to log in and familiarize themselves with the features. Families will no longer receive transportation information via mailed postcards. ALL bussing information will be available for parents to view via Traversa Ride360. Full instructions on how to create your account and add your students can be found here: https://5il.co/1weuz *Student ID is the same as their 4 or 5-digit Lunch Number. This can be found in your SchoolTool Parent Portal Account (which will open for the new school year on August 28th.) The direct URL used for both the website and mobile app is here: https://nyowegoapalachincsd.myridek12.tylerapp.com/ Please contact the Transportation Office via Let’s Talk! with any questions - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk

OA REMINDER: There is a Board of Education Regular Meeting tonight, Monday, August 21, 2023, at 6:00 pm in the BOE room at the District Office, 5 Sheldon Guile Boulevard. Board meeting agenda 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. #OACommunity #OAPride #OATradition

OA REMINDER: Important Upcoming Dates And Events JV & Varsity Fall Sports Start - Monday, August 21st Read Mr. Hallenbeck’s letter: https://5il.co/205rg Find specific sports schedules on Aktivate (formerly ScheduleGalaxy): https://www.schedulegalaxy.com/schools/158 Owego Free Academy - 9th-Grade Orientation - Wednesday, August 23rd, from 6:30-8:00pm. Get more information here: https://5il.co/21wnt SchoolTool Parent Portal Opens - Monday, August 28th OAMS & OFA will be available for Student/Parent access. Get more information on how to access SchoolTool Parent Portal: https://www.oacsd.org/page/parent-resources Owego Elementary School - Kindergarten Orientation - Tuesday, August 29th from 5-7:00pm Owego Apalachin Middle School - 6th-Grade Orientation - Tuesday, August 29th, from 6-7:00pm. Apalachin Elementary School - Kindergarten Orientation - Wednesday, August 30th from 10-11:00am or 4-5:00pm Owego Elementary School - Pre - K Orientation/Meet & Greet - Tuesday, September 5th, from 1-2:00pm Apalachin Elementary School - Pre - K Orientation/Meet & Greet - Tuesday, September 5th, from 1-2:00pm OACSD - First Day of School - Thursday, September 7th OES & AES begin at 8:00am OAMS & OFA begin at 9:00am Modified Fall Sports Start - Thursday, September 7th Read Mr. Hallenbeck’s letter: https://5il.co/205rg Registration is Open Now on ArbiterSports/FamilyID here: https://www.familyid.com/organizations/owego-apalachin-central-school-district The Late Bus from OAMS to AES leaves at 6:15 pm starting on Thursday, September 7th Apalachin Elementary School - Open House - Tuesday, September 26th, from 6-7:30pm. Owego Elementary School - Open House - Wednesday, September 27th, from 6-7:30pm. Owego Apalachin Middle School - Open House - Thursday, September 28th, from 6-7:30pm. Owego Free Academy - Open House - Thursday, September 28th, from 6-7:30pm. OACSD Homecoming Spirit Week - Monday, October 9th - Friday, October 13th Homecoming - Saturday, October 14th, 2023 Parade Sporting Events OFA Dance Stay up-to-date with all building and district events by downloading the OACSD mobile app from your app store. Contact us with any questions by using Let’s Talk! - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk #OACommunity #OAPride #OATradition

OFA REMINDER: 9th-Grade Orientation - Wednesday, August 23 at 6:30 pm 9th-Grade Families, This is just a reminder that OFA 9th-Grade Orientation is coming up on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, starting at 6:30 pm in the OFA cafeteria. Get more information, including the agenda for the night here: https://5il.co/21wnt We look forward to seeing everyone. Please contact OFA with any questions through Let's Talk! - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk

The Owego Apalachin Central School District Food Service Program is pleased to announce that all district schools will participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) grant program during the 2023-2024 school year. Beginning the first day of school (September 7, 2023), EVERY STUDENT ENROLLED IN THE DISTRICT will receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day regardless of the family’s household income. Students can purchase additional items. Families can add funds to their “EZSchoolPay” account by cash or check in any dollar amount with the Food Service Staff (please make checks payable to Owego Apalachin Central School District) or by using the EZSchoolPay Web site or App. *The website/app does charge a service fee for credit card payments. As part of the program, families are asked to complete a CEP Household Income Eligibility Form, which can be found online. This is not mandatory, however, completion of this form (https://5il.co/205zg) will help the District maximize the amount of state and federal aid that it receives, thereby maximizing resources available to students. It also could qualify some students for additional services, such as discounted or free college courses and college applications at the high school level. Menus can be found on our website and OA app under dining and on the RockOn Cafe Food & Nutrition page here: https://www.rockoncafe.org/owego-apalachin_home.aspx CEP program Information: https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/community-eligibility-provision For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact the Food Service Department at (607) 687-7301 ext. 1041 or by using Let’s Talk! - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk.

Building Trades Summer Enrichment student workers have been busy at the Liberty Street house. This week they began the task of reframing the front entrance and mudroom. #OACommunity #OAPride

OA Reminder: There is a Board of Education meeting on Monday, August 7th, at 6:00 pm in the BOE room at the District Office, 5 Sheldon Guile Boulevard, Owego. This will now be a 'Regular Meeting,' and Board President Gene Cvik will be attending the August 7th meeting via video conferencing from 687 Wild Cherry Court, Corolla, SC. Videoconferencing will be used for the meeting at both 5 Sheldon Guile Blvd and 687 Wild Cherry Court, Corolla, SC. Public attendance may be at either location. Meeting information can be found on our website: https://www.oacsd.org/page/board-of-education Please contact us through Let's Talk! with any questions or comments - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk #OACommunity #OAPride #OATradition

Congratulations to OFA Varsity Softball Coach Elise Fortier on her selection to the Fordham Athletic Hall of Fame! Read more about her Hall of Fame selection and career at Fordham here: https://fordhamsports.com/news/2023/8/3/softballs-elise-fortier-to-be-inducted-into-athletic-hall-of-fame.aspx #OAPride #OAisYOU

OA Update: TCC, one of Verizon Wireless's largest retailers, is hosting its 11th annual School Rocks Backpack Giveaway. This event is Sunday, July 30th at 1 pm (while supplies last) at their store at 941 State Route 17C Ste 3, Owego. Each backpack they give away comes with school supplies and any extras donated by local partners to help kids start their school year prepared and enthusiastic. #OACommunity #OAPride #OATradition