OPS News district e-newsletter
What Is Elementary School Like in 2026?
High Expectations, Deep Belonging, and Joyful Learning
By Owatonna Public Schools elementary principals - Justin Kiel, Justin Lang, Cassie Mitchell and Libby Zeman
If you stepped into any of our four elementary schools today, you would immediately notice that elementary education in 2026 is defined by a powerful mix of high expectations, rigorous real-world learning, and deep-rooted relationships. From kindergarten to fifth grade, classrooms are vibrant hubs where every single student is challenged, valued, and empowered to grow.
Congratulations, Cross Country Runners!
Congratulations to the Owatonna Girls Cross Country Team on their Section 1AAA runner-up finish and qualification for the state meet as a team! Team members are Liliannah Gollaher, Kaylin Herman, Leah Leckner, Clara Meier, Sophia Qualley, Gracie Randall, Clara Sennott, Jaycie Smith, and Amelie Tolle.
Boys Cross Country team members who qualified individually for state are Grayson Slotsve, Kaiden Struss, and Noah Eickhoff.
And congratulations to Gracie Randall, who finished in 5th place at the Class AAA Girls Cross Country Meet! The girls team had a great day, finishing in 9th place.
Coffee & Conversation with the Superintendent
Come on Friday, November 20, at 8:30am to enjoy Coffee and Conversation with Superintendent Tammy Champa in the District Office, 333 East School Street.
Bring your questions, hear updates about what is happening in the district, and engage in conversation with others.
American Education Week
Next week is American Education Week, a time to celebrate and thank the many people who help make learning possible and who are Inspiring Excellence. Every Learner. Every Day.
From teachers and support staff to nutrition, custodial, transportation and administrative teams, every member of our OPS team plays an important role in helping students learn, grow and thrive.
We invite our families and community members to take a moment to share a note of thanks, a kind message or a simple “thank you” with an OPS staff member who has made a difference for your student or family. Your encouragement means so much.
Special Ed Advisory Council
School Board Meetings
Watch the School Board business meetings on YouTube. Find agendas and other information on the district website.
Upcoming School Board meetings:
- Monday, November 23 at 5:30pm - School Board Business Meeting - Charles S. Crandall Center, 540 West Hills Circle
- Monday, December 14 at 5:30pm - School Board Business Meeting - Charles S. Crandall Center, 540 West Hills Circle
- Monday, December 14 at 6pm - Truth in Taxation Hearing - Charles S. Crandall Center, 540 West Hills Circle
Photo Gallery
OHS students have been hard at work on their fall play "Radium Girls," a drama based on the true story of female laborers who were poisoned and killed by their factory’s radium-based paint. The play concludes its run this weekend.
Photo credit to Carlin Maas, OHS Yearbook
Lincoln kindergartners gathered supplies for birthday boxes and assembled them with their third grade buddies. Dom Korbel from Community Pathways accepted the 27 birthday boxes to share with families to help them celebrate with their children.
Congratulations to these talented musicians who participated in the Gustavus High School Honor Band Festival at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter.
Front row: Regan Drever, clarinet; Brooklyn Christianson, trombone; Emma Hess, tuba; Annabelle Kubista, flute. Back row: August Penn, percussion; Will Vincelli, trumpet; Evan Guenther, clarinet; Eli Vincelli, horn.
OHS Nursing Assistant students visited McKinley's 4th-grade classrooms to teach them about heart health as part of the 4th graders' Wit and Wisdom literacy curriculum. The CNA students talked about ways to keep a heart healthy and strong, as well as what can damage a heart.
Students in OMS Music Explorations classes learned about Alzheimer’s, how it impacts the brain and how important music is to people who develop this disease. Students created their own playlist they are hoping to listen to when they are much older to remind them of who they were when they were in sixth grade. Then they designed a vinyl album cover for their own keepsake vinyl record!
Upcoming Dates
Friday, November 13 - PreK-5th grade - no school, conferences
Friday, November 20 at 8:30am - Coffee & Conversation with the Superintendent, District Office, 333 East School Street
Wednesday-Friday, November 25-27 - No school
Contact Information
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@Owatonna761
More Information
Nondiscrimination Policy
Owatonna Public Schools is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for all students and staff and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, in its programs and activities, as required by Title IX and MN Human Rights Act (MHRA). This includes prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, gender-based violence, and unequal access to extracurricular activities.
Any concerns related to Title IX should be reported to Chris Picha, Director of Human Resources & Title IX Coordinator, at 507-444-8602 or cpicha@isd761.org.
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