Owatonna Public Schools

By Director of Community Education Deb McDermott-Johnson

Here’s a special invitation for Owatonna to look at what’s new in Adult Education! Learning pursuits as an adult can be transformative. A focus on “you” often means growing your personal confidence, skilling up for improved career opportunities, and finding that “one thing” that speaks to your purpose and passion that can strengthen your family and fuel community vitality.

Enjoying any of the programs planned for this spring and summer is another opportunity to enjoy new connections and get reacquainted with folks you haven’t seen in a while. Whether your desire to learn is for personal growth or economic mobility, learning with Community Education provides learners with experiences that connect.

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Owatonna Public Schools is beginning the planning process for future school year calendars (beginning with 2027-2028), and family feedback plays an important role in that work.

Families are invited to share preferences related to key calendar elements, including the start and end of the school year, staff development days, winter break, and spring break.

⏩ Complete the survey.

Student school board representatives serve as non-voting members who are advisors to, and meet and work with, the school board and administration in the formation and evaluation of policy and regulations and in the general business in the operation of our school system.

Every spring, the two-year position is open to sophomores. Representatives of the school board and administration will review the applications, conduct interviews, and select the student representative by May. Find details on the website.

Apply by March 15.

Pictured above are student school board representatives from throughout Minnesota, including Owatonna's Ayoub Farah and Lowell Schultz in the last row on the right.

Families planning for kindergarten in the 2026–2027 school year at Owatonna Public Schools are reminded to complete enrollment by Friday, Feb. 13.

Owatonna Public Schools offers full-day kindergarten at each neighborhood elementary school—Lincoln, McKinley, Washington, and Wilson—where students benefit from strong academics and caring, dedicated staff focused on helping every child grow and thrive.

Enrollment is completed online at isd761.org/enrollment. For help with enrollment, families can contact the Enrollment Office at 507-444-8650 or enrollment@isd761.org.

February is American Heart Month, and the Owatonna Public Schools Wellness Committee encourages families to take time to focus on heart health and the small, everyday choices that make a big difference.

Visit healthyfamilyproject.com, to find simple recipes, nutrition tips, and creative ways to incorporate fruits and vegetables into meals and snacks at home and in lunchboxes.

Snow Week at Owatonna High School is February 9-13 with the theme "Blizzard on the Beach."

Congratulations to the Snow Week King Boldin Krause and Queen Amal Mohamad!

The community is invited to join Superintendent Champa for “coffee and conversation” at the Owatonna Public Schools District Office (333 East School Street) on Friday, February 20, at 8:30am. Hear an update on what’s happening in the school district, and bring any questions you have.

Watch the School Board business meeting and previous meetings on YouTube. Find agendas and other information on the district website.

Upcoming School Board meetings:

• Monday, February 23 at 5:30pm - School Board Business Meeting - Charles S Crandall Center, 540 W Hills Circle
• Monday, March 9 at 5:30pm - School Board Work Session - District Office, 333 East School Street

Fourth graders at McKinley Elementary started their investigations on the mealworm life cycle. They are feeding them, documenting changes they’ve noticed, and testing different habitats (such as cold, dark, warm, light). Hands-on investigations like this help students build curiosity, ask questions, and think like scientists!

Owatonna High School’s National Honor Society once again stepped up to serve others by partnering with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive. From setting up before school to welcoming donors, offering snacks, and helping everyone feel comfortable, NHS students played a key role in making this community event a success. With more than 45 blood drives hosted over the years, giving back has become a tradition at OHS. Keep an eye out for another NHS blood drive coming this spring!

One of the most loved activities each year in PE is rollerblading! Wilson Elementary students enjoyed showing off their skills while cruising around the gym. The growth and improvement they made in just a few continuous days of skating is amazing to see!

Made In Owatonna Day is an opportunity for OHS and ALC students to learn more about local career opportunities. Last week's theme was Health Science Technology, with visits to Mayo Clinic and Allina along with a variety of local professionals meeting with students at Riverland.

• Tuesday, February 10 from 3-7pm - Elementary Conferences
• Thursday, February 12 from 3-7pm - Elementary Conferences
• Friday, February 13 - Grades K-5 No School - Conferences (7:40am-12noon)
• Monday, February 16 - No School - Staff Development
• Thursday, February 19 from 3:30-7pm - Owatonna High School Conferences and Area Learning Center (ALC) Conferences
• Friday, February 20 from 8:30-9:30am - Coffee & Conversation with the Superintendent - District Office, 333 East School Street
• February 26-March 1 - OHS Musical "Les Misérables"
• Thursday, March 5 from 3-6:30pm - Owatonna Middle School Conferences
• March 5-7 - OHS Musical "Les Misérables"

Our Schools

Owatonna Bus Company

Nutrition Services

Health Services

Enrollment Office

Community Education

Technology

Celebrate our students, our staff and our schools by following us on social media. If you like what you see, be sure to share it with others. Together, we are #OwatonnaProud!

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram:

@Owatonna761

Breakfast and Lunch Menus

Parent Email Community and School Flyers (PeachJar)

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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