Oshkosh Area School District Expands After-School Programming

Oshkosh Area School District Expands After-School Programming

DPI awards $100,000 Community Learning Center grant

Oshkosh, WI - The Oshkosh Area School District was recently awarded a $100,000 grant from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). The grant will enable the district to develop a Community Learning Center (CLC) at Smith Elementary School for the 2018-19 school year, with the opportunity to renew the funding for the next four years for a total of $500,000. With this addition, the District will be home to eight Community Learning Centers focused on providing after-school programming to elementary and middle school communities. These grant-funded, extended-day learning programs help to keep children safe, inspires them to learn, and allows them to have fun and enriching experiences. 

Within the Oshkosh Area School District, Community Learning Centers provide programs and services that can lead to improved academic student achievement, youth development, and greater family and community connections to school. The program vision is to create lifelong learners and compassionate citizens equipped with the necessary skills to succeed in the 21st century. Working with more than 40 community organizations, the District's Community Learning Centers bring valuable services to low-income neighborhoods in Oshkosh and make a difference in the lives of thousands of students and their families.

"We are excited to bring this important programming to Smith Elementary School," stated Julie Conrad, Oshkosh Area School District Director of Curriculum and Assessment. "The mission of our Community Learning Centers is to empower students socially and academically by providing unique extended-day learning opportunities in partnership with school, families, and the community. Our programming offers so much more than homework help and this funding will allow us to continue to meet the needs of the Smith community."

Community Learning Centers within OASD elementary schools are known as Lighted School House programs and are located at Emmeline Cook, Merrill, Roosevelt, Washington, Webster Stanley, and now Smith elementary schools. Lighted School House gives students a safe and fun environment to learn and grow academically and socially. The programming includes daily enrichment activities that focus on community partners, literacy, STEM, art, music, and physical activity. At the middle school level, the programming is known as Middle Extended Day Learning Time (MELT) and these programs are located at Perry Tipler and Merrill middle schools. MELT programming provides time for students to participate in enrichment activities that enhance classroom instruction in multiple areas. Students are also provided time to complete homework and engage in club activities that are based on student interest and input. Through MELT, students build life skills and are supported by positive role models. 

The Oshkosh Area School District is committed to providing valuable programming for children before, during, and after school and this commitment ensures that the District is meeting the needs of students and entire families. In addition to planning for continued sustainability, the OASD regularly pursues grant opportunities to continue to support and enhance its programming. 

About the OASD: The Oshkosh Area School District is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, serving 10,000 students and operating 14 elementary schools, five middle schools, two high schools, two charter schools and an eAcademy. Building community through education, the mission of the Oshkosh Area School District is to create citizens who are critical, creative thinkers, responsible in their actions, and committed to learning for life by working together with families and communities. For more information, visit www.oshkosh.k12.wi.us.

Eye on Oshkosh - Hearing Loss, Military Museum, taped 5-17-18

On this edition of Eye on Oshkosh, host Cheryl Hentz spends the first segment chatting with Chris Prust about hearing loss, her own hearing loss journey and what people should do, not only to protect their hearing, but to have their hearing checked if they're having troubles hearing.

In the second segment, Hentz talks with Ron Twellman, president of the Military Veterans Museum and Education Center in Oshkosh about the museum, what can be seen there, how people can donate military items to the museum, and what the museum is doing to commemorate the upcoming Memorial Day, as well as some of their events throughout the summer.

Check out the show here or by following this link: https://youtu.be/EN8zUE21SEE

Day by Day Warming Shelter. Lakeshore Golf Course topics of Eye on Oshkosh

In the first segment of this episode of Eye on Oshkosh, host Cheryl Hentz talks with Executive Director of the Day by Day Warming Shelter Lorraine Yarbrough, about their most recent season, where they've come from over the past six-and-one-half years, and where they hope to go in the future.

In the second segment, Hentz talks with Oshkosh City Councilman Steve Herman about the
council's recent decision to move forward with establishing a park in the unused portion of the Lakeshore Golf Course, after the Oshkosh Corporation's Global Headquarters are built on the other part of the land. He is not happy with the process by which this decision was ultimately made and felt there should have been more public input and more disclosure about what city employees were working on "behind-the-scenes."

Fit Oshkosh Announces Another Color-Brave Community Read: The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Oshkosh, WI - (May 2, 2018) -- Fit Oshkosh, Inc., an organization dedicated to improving racial equality and building a welcoming and inclusive community, has announced their sixth community read. Conversations on The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley will begin on Tuesday, May 15, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. 

In his autobiography, originally published in 1964, Malcolm X describes his experiences with discrimination and racially motivated violence, and chronicles his rise to national prominence. He led the Black Revolution, formed the Black Muslim movement, and changed the conversation around civil rights in America before his assassination in 1965.

“Of all the books we’ve read, this is the one I’m personally most excited about”, enthused Tracey Robertson, executive director of Fit Oshkosh. “Malcolm X is a much-misunderstood and important civil rights leader. I look forward to discussing the complexities of his life journey, and the opportunity to explore intersectionalities, such as the penal system and faith, that are integral to his story.”

The May 15 session at the Fit Oshkosh headquarters, 36 Broad Street, will cover the Forward, Introduction, and the first seven chapters of the book. Two additional sessions on June 19 and July 17 will cover the remaining chapters and Epilogue. The series will culminate in a showing of the movie, Malcolm X, on Tuesday, July 24 at 6:30 p.m. at Algoma Boulevard United Methodist Church. All sessions are free and open to the public.

This and several future Fit Oshkosh Community Read events are being sponsored by a grant from the GriffinHarte Foundation. A limited number of books will be available for borrowing. Call 920-267-8687 or email colorbraveconversations@gmail.com to reserve your copy.