The Okoboji School Board recognizes that it takes a community to Pioneer our youth. Through two programs, Board Salute and Pioneer Student Recognition, we want to hear from you about those exceptional individuals who stand out. For November, please take a moment to honor those that go above and beyond! Below is the link to access the programs.
https://www.okobojischools.org/o/ocs/page/board-recoginition-programs
Thank you for your ongoing support for our school district!
We will have a send-off at ALL THREE buildings on Thursday afternoon to send our State-Bound Esports Team off in style and wish them luck! They will walk through the halls of OES at 2:40, OMS at 2:55, and OHS at 3:10 before heading for Des Moines! They will compete on Friday for a state championship! If any parents or community members want to join the send-off, please come to OHS via the main entrance before 3:10 on Friday!
We encourage all eligible voters in the Okoboji Community School District to cast their vote in today's election! Polls are open from 7 AM - 8 PM.
Congratulations to our swimmers on great performances at the state qualifying meet this weekend! Emily Quanbeck, Ella Kasperbauer, and Brooklyn Ferguson were part of the 5th place 200 medley relay which qualified for STATE. Brooklyn Ferguson got 2nd in the 50 freestyle and qualified INDIVIDUALLY for STATE. Emily Quanbeck and Brooklyn Ferguson were also part of the 3rd place 200 freestyle relay and 5th place 400 freestyle relay which also qualified for STATE. Ella Kasperbauer and Anna Quanbeck swam the 200 individual medley with Ella placing 10th and Anna placing 15th. Emily Quanbeck swam the 100 backstroke placing 11th. Ella Kasperbauer also swam the 100 breaststroke placing 11th.
State will be next Friday and Saturday in Marshalltown, IA. There is only one class in swimming and only the top 32 qualify in each event. This means that each state qualifier is within the top 32 in the state.
Congratulations to Okoboji High School Esports on qualifying for the Fall State Tournament as the second seed! They will get a first-round bye before heading into state competition!
Boys XC is state runner up and girls are 12th! Welcome back at OHS South Gym @ 4:30!
A reminder of our OCSD Board Candidate Forum tonight at 6:30 in the OHS Auditorium! This is your chance to hear from all of our board candidates this year. If you are unable to attend, a recording of the forum will be made and shared on our district social media tomorrow.
We will have a send-off at ALL THREE buildings on Friday afternoon to send our State-Bound Cross Country Teams off in style and wish them luck! They will walk through the halls of OES at 2:40, OMS at 2:55, and OHS at 3:10 before boarding the bus for Ft. Dodge! If any parents or community members want to join the send-off, please come to OHS via the main entrance before 3:10 on Friday!
Congratulations to both the Boys AND Girls Cross Country Teams on qualifying for the State Championship Meet in Ft Dodge! Individual qualifiers include Maryn Frein, Adison Frerichs, and Marli DeGraaf for the girls and Evan Osler, Akron Jostand, and Lane Larson for the boys! Special congratulations to Evan Osler who earned the individual district championship!
Look for big things from these teams and individuals at the State Championship Meet at Lakeside Golf Course in Ft Dodge next Saturday, October 28! 2A girls run at 10:30 and boys at 11:15!
Congratulations to OHS Senior Samuel Hoggard who has been named a Semifinalist in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program! Sam is one of 16,000 Semifinalists nationwide and only 155 in Iowa in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.
NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 320 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.
Sam is the son of Greg and Madelin Hoggard and plans to study political science and music after high school. Congratulations, Sam, and best of luck with the next step!
Congratulations to OHS Senior Keegan Rasmussen who has been named a Commended Student in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program! A Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Program has been presented to him. This honor puts Keegan among 34,000 Commended Students nationwide who are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise.
"Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success," commented a spokesperson for NMSC. "These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success."
Keegan is the son of Todd and Jennifer Rasmussen and plans to attend Iowa State University to major in Business. Congratulations, Keegan, and keep up the great work!
The tailgate for tonight's football game, sponsored by Central Bank and Central Insure, will be moved into the upper commons at OHS!
Congratulations to our September Pioneer Student recipient, Caleb Simington, for his outstanding work with youth. His commitment to helping them grow into confident individuals and his efforts to shape future generations are invaluable. This is a testament to Caleb's character and positive influence.
Congratulations to our September Board Salute recipients for going Above and Beyond. Brock Holman, Erin Clary, and Brenda Martin for their remarkable efforts that have not gone unnoticed for their pursuit of excellence, willingness to lend a helping hand, passion for students, and volunteering. They consistently exceed expectations and set a shining example for others to follow. Your efforts are recognized, valued, and deeply appreciated.
Please make plans to attend a public forum with candidates running for a seat on the Okoboji Community School Board. The forum will be held on Tuesday, October 26th beginning at 6:30 PM in the Okoboji High School Auditorium. Candidates will field questions read by moderator Brad Simington and have the chance to share their views, goals, and opinions.
A recording of the event will be shared on the Okoboji Community Schools Facebook Page for those who are unable to attend.
We are excited for our 2023 Homecoming Parade this afternoon at 2:15! Here is the map of the route! We hope to see you there! Bundle up and join in the fun!
Okoboji Schools has been recognized by the Iowa State Auditor’s Office for efficient use of public funds. Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand has announced the 2023 Public Innovations and Efficiencies, or PIE, Award recipients. Okoboji Community School District was recognized as the state-wide runner-up among Class 3A schools. The awards are given to schools and public entities that are implementing the largest amount of money-saving practices laid out in a 10-page checklist from the state auditor’s office. Created in 2019, the PIE program encourages public entities across the state to explore different ways to save public funds and allows the State Auditor’s Office to highlight local entities doing the right things across the state.
Congratulations to 2023 Homecoming King Nico Barba and Queen Lily Miller and the entire Okoboji Homecoming Court! Thank you to Grand Marshall Helen Alexander for sharing wonderful words with our audience at coronation last night. All are great representatives of our school and community!
We hope you can join us at 7:00 this evening in the South Gym for Coronation! We will celebrate our entire Homecoming Court and crown our 2023 Homecoming King and Queen! We will also hear from our Grand Marshall, Helen Alexander! Following Coronation, all are invited to stay to watch the championship match of Beefcake Volleyball and Powder Puff Football.
It will be a great night to be a Pioneer! Come out and join us!
Today is a special day as we honor and appreciate the individuals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure our schools are clean, safe, and conducive to learning. Happy Custodian Appreciation Day!
Our custodians play an integral role in our school community. They are the first to arrive and the last to leave, dedicating their days and often nights to the upkeep and maintenance of our schools. Their hard work often goes unseen, but it is felt by all of us who enjoy the clean classrooms, shiny hallways, and well-maintained facilities. Their commitment to their work has gone above and beyond to ensure every nook and corner of our schools is sanitized and safe for all of us.
Thank you, custodians, for all that you do! Your hard work, dedication, and commitment do not go unnoticed. You truly make a difference.
