March Library Newsletter
Happy March! Take a look at all the fun things happening in the Library this month! There is a new candy guessing game, a reading challenge with some awesome prizes, a duck hunt, and more! March Library Newsletter
Brent Vroman Scholarship Due March 30, 2024
This is just a reminder that the application deadline for the Brent Vroman Scholarship (one of our local "unique" scholarships) is due on March 30th (during spring break). To apply, use the link below.
*Brent Vroman Scholarship of Honor
Amount: One (1) $750 and Scholarship of Honor MedalCriteria:
Recipient should be going into a field in community service or public safety, including teaching, nursing, ministry, social work, fire safety, law enforcement, criminal justice, EMT, any medical field, and the military.
Does require an essay of less than 500 words
Apply online at Brian’s Journey Scholarship and select Brent Vroman Scholarship at the drop-down menu
Due March 30, 2024
Time is Running Out!
Have you ordered your yearbook yet? Time is running out! Click this link to order now!
Just a reminder...
Work Permits Are Available ONLINE ONLY
The application is now live. A parent can access the site using these instructions. Payment is made directly to the department through the application, using a credit or debit card or by ACH direct withdrawal. Once the permit application process is complete, the Department mails a paper copy of the permit directly to the employer.
In addition, we have reorganized our employment of minors web pages. The information you need is linked at the bottom of this page, including a guide to hazardous and prohibited work, the hours and times of day restrictions for minors, and links to the appropriate statutes and codes.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at workpermits@dwd.wisconsin.gov.
Upcoming College or Armed Forces Visits
Please sign up in Edficiency or stop by the table at lunch if you are interested in learning more about what they have to offer you after high school.
March:
TODAY!! FVTC - March 19th
THURSDAY!! US Marines - March 21st
Lunch Visits:
TOMORROW!! US Navy - March 20th
April:
Fox Time (please sign up in Edficiency)
April 2nd, UW Stout
April 4th, Ripon College
April 11th, US Navy
April 18th, US Marines
April 23rd, Fox Valley Technical College
Lunch visits:
April 10th - US Army
April 18th, US Navy
Volunteer Opportunity
If you are looking for volunteer experience or interested in a career in the medical field, consider volunteering at Ascension Mercy Hospital in Oshkosh. Volunteer positions include ER Reception or Gift Shop. Volunteers should be at least 15 years old and willing to volunteer 4 hours per week for at least 6 months. Apply now Contact Ms. Williams in the guidance office for more details
Summer Tutoring Opportunity
If you are looking for some volunteer hours and an opportunity to tutor a 4th grade girl in spelling, math, handwriting and reading, please contact Ms. Williams (rwill@omro.k12.wi.us) for more details. The tutoring sessions are scheduled for 2 days a week (from 9 - 10 a.m.) for the months of July and August.
Wisconsin American Legion Law Enforcement Career Academy (WALLECA)
For juniors and seniors who are interested in working in law enforcement or related field. WALLECA is a 5 day camp that offers physical fitness training, class room instruction and hands on experiences. The 2024 academy is scheduled for July 29- August 2, 2024 at the Wisconsin State Patrol Training Academy at Fort McCoy. The academy is totally FREE - cadets stay in the dorms at the academy and all meals and supplies are furnished.
If interested, apply at https://wilegion.org/walleca by March 31st. Please direct questions to Ms. Williams in the guidance office.
April 25th 5:30-6:15 pm.
CESA 6 will be hosting a series of parent webinars on the following dates to learn more about Inspire WI
- April 25th, 5:30 - 6:15 p.m. - Inspire WI: Connecting your student to career experiences this summer Register HERE
EXTRACURRICULAR ATTENDANCE POLICY - PRACTICE & COMPETITION
***Students must be in attendance for the entire school day in order to practice or compete in an event. ***
Special circumstances may merit exception with prior approval from the Principal/Dean of Students, or designee. To see if the absence can be approved:
- Step 1 - Parent/Guardian notification to office (Mrs. Dubinski, Mrs. Stadler or Mrs. Dobberstein) at least 24 hours prior to absence
- Step 2 - If absence is approved, Student picks up signed Excused Slip from office
- Step 3 - Student gives signed Excused Slip to coach/advisor to participate the day of the absence
If an absence is deemed unexcused it will result in ineligibility for participation in extracurricular activities until the next full day of attendance.
Who would YOU like to nominate for Fox Friday? Fill out a form TODAY!
Fox Friday forms and the box to put them in are located in the MS/HS Media Center. Please take a moment to nominate students and staff you think deserve to be recognized for being safe, responsible, respectful and positive! You can also nominate staff you feel have made a positive connection, is a great role model or who stands up for students. Please fill out a form so we can celebrate our students and staff this week!!!
Care Solace- Every person deserves access to mental health care.
The School District of Omro continues to be committed to the well-being of our students, staff, and families to create a safe and healthy learning environment.
The care team is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and 365 per year to quickly connect you to carefully verified providers in our community. Students, families, and staff members may access Care Solace services in the following ways:
● Contact your school counselor, to ask for assistance for a referral
● Call (888) 515-0595 at any time. A dedicated Care Companion will help you every step of the way to research options, secure appointments, and follow up to make sure it is a good fit.
● For an anonymous search, answer a few questions to get matched with an extensive list of care providers at https://www.caresolace.com/site/omro
Care Solace is now available at no cost to our students and families. They will connect you with providers accepting all medical insurances including Medicaid, Medicare, and sliding scale options for those without insurance. All information entered through the Care Solace tool is completely confidential and securely stored.
Please note: This service is an optional resource available by choice and is not mandatory to use. Care Solace is not an emergency response service or mental health services provider. In the event of a life-threatening emergency:
Dial 911 or the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or
Dial 988 - for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
If you are interested Care Solace connecting you to counseling-related services for your child, yourself, or another family member, please contact Care Solace directly, or reach out to your school's counselor:
● HB Patch/OES : Tracy Rees, trees@omro.k12.wi.us , 920-685-3100 ext.2683
● Omro Middle School : Carrie Sabel, csabe@omro.k12.wi.us , 920-303-2301 ext.2207
● Omro High School : Rachel Williams, rwill@omro.12.wi.us , 920-303-2319
988 SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE
Anyone in Wisconsin can call or text 988 or use the chat function via www.988lifeline.org to reach out and get the help they need. 988 is ready to provide support for anyone experiencing a suicidal, mental health, and/or substance use crisis. People can also contact 988 if they are concerned about a loved one in crisis.
International Read to Me Day- Why It's Important
Reading can have a major impact on our health, our personality, our ability to relate to others, the level of compassion we feel, our general knowledge, and last but definitely not least, on the way our society looks and works. Needless to say, reading is a huge part of our lives and it should be treated as such.
Here are some facts as to why reading is so important:
- Reading Makes You Smarter- It’s a fact. A study conducted by the University of Edinburgh and King’s College London definitely concluded that there is a direct link between reading ability and IQ. The researchers did 5 separate tests on almost 1900 pairs of twins between the ages of 7 and 16 and they found the twin with a higher reading ability have better verbal and nonverbal cognitive abilities.
Reading Reduces Stress- We’ve all felt that ourselves. Reading a good book after a long and stressful day works wonders on our state of mind. Studies have actually shown that leafing through a book can be up to 600% more efficient in relieving stress than playing a video game and 300% more efficient than going for a walk. Now that’s a fun fact about reading.
Reading is like cardio for your brain- Your brain is like a muscle. Joseph Addison said that “reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body”, and he couldn’t have said it better. Reading brings existing neural pathways to life and keeps your brain elastic and active.
Reading delays the onset of age-related mental issues- It has been shown that reading books and engaging in mentally challenging activities, like playing puzzle games, helps slow down the cognitive decline in old age. That results in lower chances of Alzheimer’s disease or other age-related neurodegenerative diseases for people who read regularly. A study from the University of California shows that people with a high literacy level are 4 to 5 times less likely to suffer mental declines with old age.
Reading lowers blood pressure and heart rate- Reading a book has been found to reduce blood pressure and lower the heart rate. By helping your mind relax, it helps your body relax as well.
Reading can help depression and anxiety- Reading can help alleviate depression. Especially reading fiction, since it can help people temporarily escape their own world and immerse themselves in the adventures of the characters they read about. Not only that, but studies have also shown that reading can have a positive effect on anxiety symptoms as well.