2023-24 Communication

November 29, 2023

Owasso Parents & Guardians,

With the potential for winter weather in the coming months, it is a great time to refresh families with information regarding inclement weather closures, which would result in a distance learning day. Please familiarize yourself with this framework and the time-sensitive information included in the Inclement Weather & Distance Learning Plan. 

Presently, students in all grades use Google Classroom on a regular basis. Students in grades 6-12 already carry a device to and from school each day. Should inclement weather be on the horizon, elementary students will be sent home with a device and charging cord to use for distance learning.

Flexibility and grace will be extended to all students and families to resolve any issues that may occur on a distance learning day. 

In the event of a distance learning day, communication will come directly to you in a text message and email. Information about distance learning days will be posted on our official website (owassops.org), social media channels (Facebook & Twitter), and will also be sent to local media outlets to help spread the word.  

Should conditions in our community significantly inhibit the ability of teachers or students to participate in distance learning (i.e. widespread power or internet outages, etc.), the district may be forced to announce a traditional school closure. If such an event were to occur, the day would be made up at the end of the school calendar.

Thank you for your attention to this information and should you have additional questions, please contact your child’s principal.

Owasso Public Schools

Dear Ram Family … “Ramily,”

As we approach the season of gratitude, I am filled with immense appreciation for the invaluable partnership we share in the education and growth of your children. Beyond the classroom, your involvement in our school community creates a sense of belonging and support. From parent-teacher meetings to school events, your presence and enthusiasm enhance the overall educational experience for everyone involved.

This partnership is beneficial to every member of our school community. The benefits provided to our students within our school system is simply remarkable. Not only mastery of core content and critical thinking skills, but also, effective communication skills, organizational skills, goal setting, time management skills, collaboration, conflict resolution skills, technology, and life skills.  These benefits are part of our learner expectations, core beliefs, and core values laid out in our 5-year strategic plan. We are so grateful for our exceptional faculty and staff who provide these benefits with tireless intentionality. Our goal is to love, challenge, and prepare our students for life after high school!

I’d like to take this opportunity to provide an update regarding a few district initiatives.

Continuous Strategic Improvement (CSI): The implementation of our 5-year strategic plan, focusing on four (4) main goal areas, is well underway. Some of the initiatives within this plan include a continued focus on PLCs, ICAP, technology improvement planning, shared leadership opportunities, and retention, recruitment, and professional development of employees. New initiatives we have launched this year include SPARK, hiring School Security Officers, and creating a long-range facilities master plan. Future initiatives include implementing full-day Pre-Kindergarten, enhanced student engagement opportunities, and a transportation improvement plan. For a closer look at the strategic plan and the district’s progress, you can find detailed information on our website, including a scoreboard for each initiative within the plan. 

Long-Range Facilities Planning: One of the objectives within the strategic plan is to “Improve and Maintain District Infrastructure.” With this objective in mind, we have initiated a long-range facilities planning process with the goal of creating a “master” facilities plan for the district.  This plan will set the vision for “what” facilities the district will need or want for the next 5, 10, 15+ years to support district growth and our desire to continue to be a district of academic and extracurricular excellence.

Planning began last May with the executive committee meeting to develop the process and timeline. This process includes three (3) committee levels; executive, steering, and stakeholder. The stakeholder committee is composed of over 100 participants with representation from the District Office, Principals/Assistant Principals, Parents, Booster Clubs, Community Members, Teachers, and Support Staff. The stakeholder committee met in October to brainstorm facility ideas for six (6) areas: Athletics, Fine Arts, Grade Centers, High School/Ram Academy, Pre-K/Elementary Schools, and Transportation/Student Services. The stakeholder committee will meet 2-3 more times this school year to finalize and prioritize facilities. Once finalized by the stakeholder committee, the “Master” plan will be presented to the Board of Education for approval at the end of this school year.

Bond Projects: With the passing of the bond issue in the spring of 2022, it has allowed us to take care of annual needs such as maintenance, instructional resources, and technology, as well as much-needed projects. Completed projects include the High School West campus roof replacement and the Wellness Center second-floor training room renovation. We will soon be breaking ground on the track renovation and are currently in the design phase for the addition of the safe structure at Hodson Elementary.

SPARK: OPS SPARK (Supplemental Program and Activities for Ram Kids), began this school year and is a huge success! We are thrilled that we are meeting the needs of district families and employees by providing a safe and welcoming solution of trustworthy childcare that provides a  “spark” for students to dream, think, create, explore, and play. This program is offered at all nine (9) elementary school sites for students in PK - 5th grades and at the 6th Grade Center for students in 6th-8th grades. We have openings at all sites, with the exception of Hodson Elementary. For more information, please visit the SPARK webpage on the Owasso Public Schools website.

Owasso Parent Legislative Action Committee (OPLAC): Owasso Parent Legislative Action Committee is a nonpartisan organization of passionate volunteers committed to promoting policies that strengthen, support and protect our public school system. The Owasso organization is affiliated with the OKPLAC which serves as an umbrella organization of local PLAC chapters and affiliated Oklahoma grassroots organizations with common values. Owasso Public Schools is proud to partner with our Owasso organization as they advocate for legislation to keep our public schools thriving. We are grateful for their tireless effort and support of public education. If you’d like additional information, please go to the Owasso PLAC facebook page. 

Communication: We want your feedback regarding communication at both the district and site level to ensure that we are meeting your needs and communicating as efficiently and effectively as possible. In December, your child’s principal will be sending out a brief survey. Thank you in advance for completing the survey, as your feedback is important to us! 

Conclusion

As we gather with loved ones to celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to extend my deepest gratitude for the partnership we share. It is through this collaboration that we create an environment where students thrive. Wishing you a joyful and restful Thanksgiving surrounded by the warmth of family, friends, and the appreciation of a grateful school community.

Sincerely,

Margaret Coates

Superintendent

Owasso Parents & Guardians,

At Monday night’s Board of Education meeting, the Board was presented with and approved updated school meal prices for the 2023-24 school year. Those meal prices reflect a 15-cent increase from the previous school year. 

Rising costs in food production, transportation, and other related expenses made an increase necessary, however, it was a priority of the district to keep this adjustment as minimal as possible. It was only after careful consideration and thorough analysis that it was determined an increase was necessary to continue to provide an array of nutritious, high-quality meal options to fuel students during the school day.

It is important to note that, for those who qualify, the cost of reduced-price meals remains the same as last year ($0.30 for breakfast, $0.40 for lunch). We encourage all families, regardless of income, to complete and submit a confidential Free & Reduced Meal Application prior to the start of the school year to ensure that there are no gaps in meal benefits for students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

Filling out the Free & Reduced Meal Application is quick and easy. We have several ways an application can be accessed and completed.

• For an online application go to www.myschoolapps.com. 

• Applications can be printed from our website at owassops.org on the Child Nutrition Page.  

• An application can be picked up at the Child Nutrition Office or Enrollment Center at 202 E Broadway.

• An application can be sent to you by emailing us at [email protected]

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work together to maintain a high-quality school meal program for the benefit of all students. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Child Nutrition office at 918-272-8034 or [email protected].

Thank you for your continued support of Owasso Public Schools!

Owasso Public Schools

Owasso Parents & Guardians,

Those wishing to enroll their students in Virtual School can do so beginning today, July 17th, by utilizing the sign-up form on the Owasso Public Schools website. Enrollment for the Virtual School will close at the end of the day on August 1st. 

The Virtual School will serve students in grades 6th-12th and bring online learning home by providing students the ability to receive their education through a virtual format, while also receiving assistance from certified, highly-qualified teachers. This full-time option allows students to complete 100% of their coursework online. Teachers are available to assist students outside the regular school day. Students enrolling in this option must commit for the entire semester.

If you are interested in the Virtual School for your secondary students, please visit the Virtual School webpage to review the expectations for families and FAQs before using the sign-up form.

If you prefer for your child to learn in-person for the 2023-24 school year, you do not need to complete any additional steps at this time. If you have not done so already, please complete the Infosnap process required for all returning students that was emailed to parents in May.

Should you have any questions regarding the Virtual School, please contact the Teaching & Learning office at 918-272-8182.

Owasso Public Schools

Owasso Parents & Guardians,

As we approach the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, we want to remind you about the benefits of school meals and the availability of free or reduced meals for students who qualify. 

Owasso Public Schools is continuing its partnership with Sodexo to provide food service at each school site. Sodexo delivers healthy and delicious school meals based on the USDA’s nutrition guidelines so that students are engaged and ready to learn in school. All meals include a variety of fresh fruit and vegetable choices and a variety of chilled non-fat or low-fat milk.

We encourage all families, regardless of income, to complete and submit a confidential Free & Reduced Application prior to the start of the school year to ensure that there are no gaps in meal benefits for students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals. 

Filling out the Free & Reduced Application is quick and easy. We have several ways an application can be accessed and completed.

• For an online application go to www.myschoolapps.com. 

• Applications can be printed from our website at owassops.org on the Child Nutrition Page.  

• An application can be picked up at the Child Nutrition Office or Enrollment Center at 202 E Broadway.

• An application can be sent to you by emailing us at [email protected]

At Owasso Public Schools we do everything possible to ensure that students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals:

• Feel no social stigma for applying to the program.

• Are treated & greeted the same at the cash register as any other student.

• Are not singled out in any way to ensure their complete anonymity.

• Can be confident that all information is kept completely confidential.

It is more than a meal application, other benefits from filling out an application may include:

• Discounts on academic test fees, such as the SAT and PSAT

• Discounts on college applications

• Discounts on home internet services

• Discounts on fees for youth programs

• Funding for district education programs

Our goal is to have all students take part in our school meal program. In our elementary schools, we offer four entree choices each day with our Clubhouse program. It includes hot entrees, traditional meals, salads, sandwiches and wraps. In our middle schools, we offer a wide variety of choices through our foodiE program, and our signature Taste4 program gives high school students endless variety through a number of exciting food stations.

Be sure to follow the Free & Reduced Application instructions carefully and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Child Nutrition office at 918-272-8034. We look forward to serving your students!

Sincerely,

Jon Beckloff
Director of Child Nutrition

**This institution is an equal opportunity provider.