Olentangy Local Schools has been the fastest growing district in the state for the last ten years, but the district’s state funding hasn’t kept up with the growth. Olentangy last received a substantial increase in state funding in 2005, when the district had 8,000 fewer students and 11 fewer buildings. When Governor Kasich released his initial budget proposal in February, it included a school-funding plan that finally recognized Olentangy’s growth. That plan would have provided a substantial increase in funding and eased the burden on local taxpayers as the district continues to grow. This week a group of lawmakers in the Ohio House has approved a revised version of the budget that essentially wipes out Olentangy’s funding increase. As the legislation moves on to the Ohio Senate, Olentangy’s School Funding Action Committee (SFAC) is asking all residents to take part in a letter-writing campaign to encourage senators to support additional funding for Olentangy and tax relief for its residents. To learn more about the letter-writing campaign, click here. To view Superindentent Wade Lucas’ testimony before the House Finance and Appropriations Committee, click here.
Olentangy’s Top News
Summer Camp Opportunities from Olentangy Booster Groups
All attendance areas are listed. Scroll down for your attendance area school. Please check back often as new camps will be added as additional information is received.
For students in the Olentangy High School Attendance Area. For more information about these camps, please call the OHS athletic office at 740-657-4111. Scroll down for OOHS and OLHS camps.
| Info & Registration Forms | Grade in Fall 2013 | Camp Dates | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boys Basketball | 9 – 12 | June 6 – 8 | 9:15 am – 12:15 pm |
| 2 – 5 | June 17 – 20 | 9:15 am – noon | |
| 6 – 8 | 1:15 pm - 4 pm | ||
| Girls Basketball | 1 – 4 | June 10 – 14 | 8 am – noon |
| 5 – 7 | 1 pm - 5 pm | ||
| Baseball | 3 – 8 | June 10 – 13 (14th rain day) |
9 – noon |
| Boys/Girls Youth Soccer | K – 6 | June 17 – 21 | 4 pm – 6 pm |
| 7 – 12 | 6 pm – 8 pm | ||
| Youth Football | 1-6 | July 29 – 31 | 8:30 – 11 am |
| Middle School Football | 7 – 8 | July 29 – 31 | 6 – 8:30 pm |
| OHS Football Website | 9 – 12 | July 23 – 25 | All Day |
| Boys Cross Country | 9 – 12 | June 6-9 | All Day |
| 2013 Boys Summer Lacrosse Camp | 1 – 2 | June 11 – 14 (15th – rain day) |
9 – 11 am |
| 3 -5 | 12 – 2 pm | ||
| 6 – 8 | 3 -6 pm | ||
| Volleyball | 9-12 | July 15 – 19 | 9 am – 4 pm |
| 7-8 | July 22-24 | 9 am – 1 pm | |
| 4-6 | July 25-26 | 9 am – 1 pm | |
| 1 – 3 | July 19 | 1 pm - 5 pm | |
| Wrestling Camp | K – 6 | June 10 – 13 | 9 am - 11 am |
| 7 – 12 | 4:00 – 6 pm | ||
| Sandlot Camp | K – 8 | July 22 - 26 | 9 am – 4 pm |
| Youth Gymnastics Camp | K – 8 | Jul 8 – 11 July 29 – Aug 1 |
9 am - noon |
| Girls Lacrosse | 2 – 4 - | June 24 – 26 Rain day: June 27 |
9 – 11 am |
| 5 – 6 | noon – 2pm | ||
| 7 – 8 | 4 pm – 6 pm | ||
| Goalies | 6 – 7pm | ||
| Boys and Girls Tennis Camp | 3 – 8 | July 15 – 18 Jul 19 rain date |
9 am – noon |
For students in the Olentangy Liberty High School attendance area. For additional information about these camps, please call the OLHS athletic office at 740-657-4211. Scroll down for OOHS camps.
| Info & Registration Forms | Grade in Fall 2013 | Camp Dates | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volleyball Camp | 4 – 6 | July 29 – 31 | 9 am – noon |
| Volleyball Camp | 7 – 8 | July 15 – 17 | 9 am – noon |
| Volleyball Camp | 9 – 12 | July 22 – 24 | 9 am – 3 pm |
| Boys and Girls Cross Country | 5 – 8 | July 22 – 25 | 6 pm – 8 pm |
| Boys Youth Basketball Camp | 7 – 8 | June 6 – 7 | 9 am – noon |
| 1 – 3 | June 10 – 12 | 9 am – noon | |
| 4 – 6 | June 10 – 12 | 1 pm – 4 pm | |
| Girls Lacrosse | 3 – 8 | June 10 -12 | 9 am – 11 am |
| Field Hockey | 2 – 8 | July 15 – 18 | 8 am – 11 am |
| Softball | 1 – 9 | July 29 – 31 | 9 am – 12:30 pm |
| Girls and Boys Soccer | 1 – 8 | July 8 – 11 | 6 pm – 7:30 pm |
| Youth Football | 1 – 6 | July 22 – 24 | 8:30 – 11:30 am |
| Middle School Football | 7 – 8 | July 22 – 24 | 5 pm – 9 pm |
| Bowling | middle & high school | begins Apr 27 for 18 weeks | 10:00 am |
| Wrestling | 8 – 12 | June 17 – 21 | M –Th 10 am – 4 pm; Fri 9 am – noon |
| Wrestling | 5 – 9 | June 3 – June 5 | 6 pm – 8 pm |
| Boys Volleyball Camp | 9 – 12 | July 22 – 23 | 6 pm – 9 pm |
| Youth Gymnastics Camp | K – 8 | July 8 – 11 July 29 – Aug 1 |
9 am – noon |
| Girls Basketball Camp | 3 – 56 -8 | June 17 – 20 | 8 am – 11:30 1pm – 4:30 |
| Baseball | 4 – 9K – 3 | June 10-13 | 9 am – noon 1pm – 4 pm |
| Tennis Clinics – Girls & Boys contact: christine.kaeding@gmail.com |
9 – 12 | June 10 – 27 July 15 – Aug 1 |
Mon – Thurs only |
For students in the Olentangy Orange High School attendance area. For additional information about these camps, please call the OOHS athletic office at 740-657-5111. Scroll up for OHS and OLHS camps.
| Info & Registration Forms | Grade in Fall 2013 | Camp Dates | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange Soccer Camp | K – 6 | July 8 – 11 | 6 pm – 8 pm |
| Summer Football OOHS | 7 – 8 | July 22 – 25 | 6 pm – 8 pm |
| Youth Football Camp | 1 – 6 | July 22 – 25 | 9 am – 11 am |
| Girls Basketball | 1 – 23 – 45 – 8 | June 24 – 27 | 10 am – noon9 am – noon1 pm – 4 pm |
| Boys Basketball |
K – 2 | June 10 – 13 | 10 am to noon |
| 3 – 4 | June 10 – 13 | 9 am to noon | |
| 5 – 8 | June 10 – 13 | 1 pm – 4 pm | |
| Volleyball Camp | 4 – 6 | June 17 – 20 | 9 am – 11:30 am |
| Volleyball Camp | 7 – 8 | June 17 – 20 | 12:30 pm – 3 pm |
| Girls Lacrosse Camp | 2 – 8 | July 22 – 25 | 9 am – 11 am |
| Baseball | K – 4 | June 10 – 14 | 1 pm – 3 pm |
| 5 – 8 | June 10 – 14 | 9 am – noon | |
| Middle School Field Hockey | 6 – 8 | July 29 – 31 | 9 am – noon |
| Middle School Running Camp | 6 – 8 | June 17 – June 20 | 8 am – 10 am |
| Youth Gymnastics Camp | K – 8 | July 22 – 25 | 9 am – noon |
| Boys Youth Lacrosse | 3 – 9 | June 17 – 19 | 9:30 – 11:30 |
| Tennis Camp | Levels 1, 2, Elite | June 11 – Aug 8 | see flyer |
| Youth Tennis | 1 – 8 | July 29 – Aug 1 | 9 am – noon |
| Youth Wrestling | 1 – 6 | June 17 – 19 | 5:30 – 8:30 pm |
Olentangy Earns Excellent with Distinction Rating
Olentangy Local Schools has again earned the state’s highest ranking of Excellent with Distinction. This is the ninth straight year that Olentangy has been rated Excellent or better by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). In addition, all of the 22 schools with tested students during the 2011-2012 school year received ratings of Excellent or Excellent with Distinction.
“Anyone who has spent time in an Olentangy school knows this district has the winning combination of quality teachers, talented students and supportive families,” said Superintendent Wade Lucas, Ed.D. “This data shows how powerful that combination can be.”
Another highlight of the ODE data is Olentangy’s Performance Index (PI), which continues to climb. The PI is a weighted average that reflects the achievement of every tested student in the district. This year Olentangy’s PI reached an all-time district high of 107.3, placing it among the top six percent of districts in the state.
The ODE data show that Olentangy met all 26 indicators included in the report and met the federal standard of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), which measures the achievement of each subgroup of students. Olentangy also exceeded the growth standard for the 2011-2012 school year, indicating that students learned more than a year’s worth of material during that time.
“We are very proud that our district is providing students more than just the expected level of growth,” said Lucas. “We teach our students to strive for their best and this shows our staff is doing the same.”
Olentangy is the largest district in the state to earn the top rating of Excellent with Distinction, and it does so while spending just $9,465 per student – more than $1,200 less than the state average.
To see the 2011-2012 data for Olentangy Local Schools or any of its individual school building, click here.
OLMS Civil War Museum Makes for Unique History Lesson
Olentangy Liberty Middle School (OLMS) was transformed into a Civil War museum this week as part of a unique eighth-grade history project.
Now in its fifth year, the OLMS Civil War Museum is a hands-on history lesson that requires students to complete a report and visual representation on various Civil War topics. Reports on display at this year’s museum ranged from medical care, naval warfare to key political figures of the time.
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- OLMS student Kenna W. poses with her project on Civil War attire. Kenna made the dress that serves as her display’s centerpiece.
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- A diorama depicts a Civil War battle scene.
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- A report on Civil War weaponry featuring a Gatling gun mock-up.
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- A display focusing on Civil War photographer Mathew Brady.
Ohio State’s Della Valle Visits WRES
Ohio State University basketball player Amedeo Della Valle visited Wyandot Run Elementary School (WRES) to celebrate the students’ achievements in the Hoops for Heart campaign, which raises funds for the American Heart Association while teaching children heart-healthy activities. The school raised $12,500 for the cause. Della Valle spent the afternoon signing autographs and playing basketball with WRES teacher Kathryn Bruney’s fifth-grade class. Her students raised a total of about $2,000.
Not to be outdone by WRES, several other schools in the district are participating in the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart campaign. Students at Scioto Ridge Elementary School (SRES) raised more than $16,000 for the cause. The five students who raised the most were rewarded for their efforts with the chance to turn SRES physical education teacher Kristyn Richardson into an ice cream sundae.
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- Ohio State’s Amedeo Della Valle speaks to WRES students from Kathryn Bruney’s fifth grade class.
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- Della Valle goes head-to-head with WRES students.
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- WRES students pose with Della Valle.
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- Students at SRES pour syrup on physical education teacher Kristyn Richardson.
Students Learn Bully-Proofing Techniques
Fifth-graders at Oak Creek Elementary School (OCES) gained a better understanding of the problems caused by bullying and discrimination and how to prevent them during a recent student assembly on the subject.
Laura Simpson, a teacher and diversity liaison coordinator at OCES, led the students in a presentation highlighting the truths and dispelling the myths of bullying. Prior to the gathering, Simpson worked with the fifth-graders to conduct a survey on how bullying directly impacts their lives. The subject is an important one for these students: as fifth-graders, they will be moving on to middle school next year, where they will be in a new environment among older students.
Simpson stressed that victims of bullying are not at fault and that anyone can be bullied. She also noted that bullying is serious and can have consequences ranging from sadness to physical injuries, or worse. The students also heard how chronic bullies often bully in their adult years, which hinders their ability to develop and maintain positive relationships. In addition, the students also discussed discrimination against students from different races and cultures and why it is another form of bullying.
Building off the core message, the students also learned what to do if they or someone they know is being bullied. The “bully-proofing techniques” include:
- Not showing fear in your body language
- Not giving the bully the attention they crave
- Not given things to the bully as a way to prevent them from bullying you
The bully-proofing techniques handout can be found at:
http://www.olentangy.k12.oh.us/ppt/files/2012/04/Bully-Proofing-Youth-Techniques.pdf
Olentangy Local Schools strictly prohibit all forms of bullying and is committed to having an environment free from harassment and discrimination. The district provides students with access to a bully hotline, “Stay Safe, Speak Up!” which allows students to report incidents of bullying anonymously. The district has placed links to the reporting system on each of its building websites.
See the video below to view the presentation.
OSMS celebrates opening of school greenhouse
After years of planning, fundraising and volunteer work, the Olentangy Shanahan Middle School (OSMS) Greenhouse project blossomed into reality May 8th with an official open house at the school.
Located in the school’s courtyard, the greenhouse was built entirely by volunteers, including parents and teachers, and paid for through grants, donations and fundraising events. It will now be used for hands-on science activities and community-based projects supporting the district’s wellness policy. Similar greenhouse projects are now underway at Olentangy Hyatts Middle School and Tyler Run Elementary School.
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- The newly opened OSMS greenhouse.
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- Students use pH testers on a raised garden bed.
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- Students scoop up soil to plant seeds.
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- Student teacher Brennan O’Neil and OSMS teacher and wellness coordinator Cynthia Walters pose with a group of student volunteers.
OOHS Student Creates Artistic Awards
OOHS student Spencer M. with the ceramic mugs he created to serve as awards for the OCC Art Show.
More than 200 student artists honored during the Ohio Capital Conference (OCC) Art Show last week walked away with a unique award that also is a piece of art in its own right. The stylish awards — colorful ceramic art mugs— came courtesy of Olentangy Orange High School’s (OOHS) Spencer M.
The OOHS senior spent a good part of the year making the 200-plus ceramic mugs needed for the OCC Wes Blizzard Art Invitational held May 2. The show takes place every spring at the State Teacher Retirement System Building in Columbus and features awards made by a student artist.
Spencer was nominated to create this year’s awards by his art teacher, Susan Strohl, who said she picked Spencer because he had the talent and experience to tackle the project.
“I chose him because he has taken seven ceramics classes, he was old enough to appreciate the task and he had the dedication to see it through. He had to come up with an idea that was easy enough to reproduce 200 times, as well as a glaze scheme,” Strohl said. The only requirement was that the awards had to have “OCC 2013″ on them somewhere.
Olentangy Local School District students honored during the art show were:
- Olentangy High School: Brigid F., Amy H., Halie G., and Hannah A.
- Olentangy Liberty High School: Carter H., Caroline T., Hinako M., and Ellen Z.
- Olentangy Orange High School: Jonah M., Bailey B., Lillian C. and Sherman D.