OWATONNA ALC

Dear Students and Parents/Guardians,

It is with great enthusiasm that I welcome you to another exciting year at the Owatonna Area Learning Center. As I enter my third year leading these incredible programs, I’m proud of the strong foundation we've built—and even more energized about the opportunities ahead.

At both the ALC we remain committed to providing a personalized, supportive, and empowering educational experience for every student. Whether you're returning or joining us for the first time, know that you are part of a community that values your growth, your voice, and your success.

Our mission continues to guide us: to inspire excellence in every learner, every day. This handbook is your go-to resource for navigating the school year—it outlines our expectations, highlights student supports, and showcases the many pathways available to help you thrive.

To our students: Your journey matters. We believe in your potential and are here to walk beside you as you learn, take risks, and reach your goals.

To our families: Your partnership is essential. We value your trust, your insight, and your collaboration as we work together to support every student.

Let’s continue to build on what we’ve started—creating a school year filled with progress, purpose, and possibilities.

Here’s to a successful 2026–27 school year!

Warm regards,

Martina Wagner, Ed. D

Principal, ALC & Owatonna Online

mwagner@isd761.org

As we begin the new school year, we want to make families aware of an important change to our daily schedule. The ALC lunch period will now run from 11:20–11:50 a.m.
Our goal is to make lunchtime a chance for students to take a break, recharge, connect with peers, and be ready to finish the school day strong. Students have several options during the lunch period:

• Bring a lunch from home
  
• Take advantage of the free school lunch available to students
  
• Leave campus for lunch; however, with a 30-minute lunch period, getting off campus, purchasing food, eating, and returning on time may be challenging.
  

We strongly encourage students who choose to leave campus to plan accordingly. Students are expected to be back in the building and ready for class when lunch ends at 11:50 a.m.
As a reminder, our attendance procedures apply throughout the entire school day. Students who return late from lunch will be marked tardy. Repeated or excessive tardiness may result in the student being dismissed for the remainder of the school day in accordance with our attendance procedures.
We know that lunchtime is an important part of the day, and we want students to enjoy that time while also building the habits of responsibility, time management, and accountability that are important both in school and beyond. Choosing to stay on campus—either by bringing a lunch or enjoying the free school lunch—is the easiest way to ensure students have plenty of time to eat, relax, and make it to class on time.
Thank you to our students and families for helping us keep the school day running smoothly. We appreciate your partnership as we work together to make the ALC a positive, welcoming, and productive place for all students!
Lunch: 11:20–11:50 a.m. | Be back and ready to learn at 11:50!

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. It is a time to come together, break the stigma around mental health, and ensure our children feel seen, heard, and supported.

As families, you are the first line of defense. Below is a quick guide on how to spot the signs, talk openly, and find immediate help.

🔍 Warning Signs to Watch For

Look for sudden changes in your child's behavior, including:

• Verbal hints: Talking about feeling hopeless, trapped, or being a burden.

• Social withdrawal: Pulling away from friends, family, and favorite activities.

• Mood shifts: Increased anxiety, anger, or sudden calmness after depression.

• Behavior changes: Giving away prized possessions or reckless actions.

• Sleep disruption: Sleeping significantly more or less than usual.

💬 How to Start the Conversation

Do not be afraid to talk about mental health. Asking direct questions does not plant the idea; it opens the door to help.

• Ask directly: "Are you having thoughts of suicide?"

• Listen closely: Avoid judging, lecturing, or minimizing their feelings.

• Validate emotions: Say, "I hear you, and I am here for you."

• Stay calm: Keep your voice steady to create a safe space.

• Remove means: Secure medications and firearms safely in your home.

📞 National Crisis Lines (USA)

• The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for free, confidential, 24/7 support.

• The Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor 24/7.

🏫 School & Community Resources

• Our School Counseling Office: Reach out to your school counselor to schedule an appointment

• Local Mobile Crisis Team: Contact the Southeast MN Crisis Response Team: 888.850.9419

• Trusted Adults: Reach out to a trusted adult in your life such as a parent/guardian, family member, teacher, administrator, or coach, if you need help navigating a crisis.

Here is the link to upload your senior photos for the OHS yearbook! Photos MUST be uploaded to this link to ensure that your senior gets in the yearbook!

Deadline for submission is December 1, 2026.

Use the QR code to take you right there!

https://photos.jostens.com/HGYWEG

Any questions email adviser Dan Leer @ dleer@isd761.org

The ALC will dismiss students at 12:50 p.m. on Friday, October 2.

All buses will run two hours early to accommodate the early dismissal.

Please complete and return all required school forms, including field trip permission forms. Without a permission form on file, your child will not be able to attend field trips.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to get these forms completed!

ALC Student Handbook Form

ALC Permission & Acknowledgement Form

Health Services Form

We sincerely appreciate your ongoing commitment to your child’s education. We look forward to connecting with you during Parent-Teacher Conferences to share updates and celebrate progress. Your involvement is vital to your child’s success, and we are grateful to partner with you as an essential part of their learning journey.

The Mckinney-Vento act supports families and youth that lack a fixed, regular, and appropriate nighttime residence. Additional support is available from the Owatonna Public Schools for these families.

Qualifying families include those that are:

• Experiencing a loss of housing

• Couch hopping or temporarily staying with other people due to your financial circumstances

• Staying in motels, campgrounds, or vehicles due to a loss of housing

• Experiencing homelessness or living in a shelter

• Migrant and staying here temporarily

• As well as unaccompanied youth that are living without a parent or guardian

If any of these situations are true for your family, you may qualify as a Family in Transition (FIT) under the Mckinney-Vento act and Owatonna Public Schools is here to support you.

If your family qualifies for Mckinney-Vento support, you may be eligible for benefits such as, the right for your child to continue to attend their school of origin when you move boundaries, busing to and from your current residence, free breakfast and lunch, free preschool for age eligible children. Your School Social Worker will also be able to provide additional information for community-based supports that may benefit your family.

Owatonna Public Schools is committed to providing high quality education to all students, regardless of housing status. Please be assured that information on housing status is confidential. If you feel that you may qualify as a Family in Transition, you can receive support by contacting your child’s school social worker or the Family in Transition Liaisan.

Liz Morsching- ALC School Social Worker 507.444.8013

Trina Kasper- Family in Transition Liaisan 507.444.8081

United Way of Steele County is excited to announce the development and opening of a new Teen Center in Owatonna—a welcoming space where young people can connect, build relationships, develop skills, and thrive. This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting youth through mental health resources, substance use prevention, and workforce development opportunities.

Check out their website for helpful links and resources!

Period 1- 8:20-9:03

Period 2- 9:05-9:48

Period 3- 9:50-10:33

Period 4- 10:35-11:18

Lunch- 11:20-11:50

Period 5- 11:52-12:35

Period 6- 12:37-1:20

Period 7- 1:22-2:05

Period 8- 2:07-2:50

Doors open at 7:55am

Aug. 24th: ALC Open House/ Picture Day

Aug. 31st: First day of School

Sept. 4th: No School

Sept. 7th: No School/ Labor Day

Sept. 26th: ALC Picture Retake

Oct. 1st: : ALC Conferences

Oct 2nd: Homecoming/ 2 hour Early Dismissal

Oct 15th & 16th: No School/ MEA

Oct 30th: End of 1st Quarter

Nov. 2nd: No School/ Teacher Workday

Nov. 25th: No School

Nov. 26th & 27th: No School/ Thanksgiving Break

Dec. 24th-Jan 1st: No School/ Winter Break

Jan. 14th: End of 2nd Quarter

Jan 15th: No School/ Teacher Workday

Jan. 18th: No School/ MLK Day/ Staff Development

Feb. 12th: No School/ Staff Development

Feb. 15th: No School/ President's day/ District Closed

Feb. 18th: ALC Conferences

Mar. 25th: End of 3rd Quarter

Mar. 26th: No School/ Teacher Workday

Mar. 29th-Apr. 2nd: No School/ Spring Break

May 31st: No School/ Memorial Day

June 2nd: ALC Graduation

June 4th: LAST day of School/ 2 hour Early Dismissal

June 4th: OHS Commencement Ceremony

Administrative Team

• Principal: Dr. Martina Wagner | 444-8001 | mwagner@isd761.org
• Dean of Students: Anthony Cloud | 444-8027 | acloud2@isd761.org
• Principal’s Secretary: Melissa Walter | 444-8010 | mwalter@isd761.org

Student Support Services

• School Counselor: Jessica Procopio | 444-8014 | jprocopio@isd761.org
• Social Worker: Liz Morsching | 444-8013 | emorsching@isd761.org
• Career Navigator: Brian Coleman | 444-8000 | bcoleman@isd761.org
• Head Cook: Melissa Weber | 444-8016 | mweber@isd761.org
• Health Services: Cydney Bucher | 444-8617 | cbucher@isd761.org
• Behavioral Health Specialists: Peyton Rollenhagen (444-8061), Kari Jacott (507-444-8061)
• Success Coach: Maria Dominguez Mendez | 507-444-8056 | mdominguezmendez@isd761.org

• Educational Assistant: Marc Wiese | 507-444-8035 | mwiese1@isd761.org
• Educational Assistant: Caleb Geary| 507-444-8056 | cgeary@isd761.org
• Technology: Ian Simon | 444-8600 | isimon1@isd761.org

Faculty Contacts

• Language Arts: Madeline North | 444-8025 | mnorth@isd761.org
• Mathematics: Benjamin Flack | 444-8025 | bflack@isd761.org
• Physical Education: Luke Holt | 444-8169 | lholt@isd761.org
• Science: Allie Halverson | 444-8020 | ahalverson1@isd761.org
• Social Studies: Zed Moriarty | 444-8022 | zmoriarty@isd761.org
• Special Education: Dena Lobb | 444-8026 | dlobb@isd761.org
• Art: Jess Klein | 444-8023 | jklein1@isd761.org
• ELL Teacher: Jennifer Hubert | 444-8330 | jhubert@isd761.org

Remember to bring your Chromebook to school each day fully charged and ready to go! Having your Chromebook with you and ready to use helps you stay on track, participate in class, and make the most of your learning time.

Need Technology Support? Contact us at the Technology Hotline (507) 444-8630 or by email at technology@isd761.org

Minnesota Statute 201.1611, Subd. 1(b): All school districts must make available paper or electronic voter registration applications each May and September to all students registered as students of the school district who are eligible to register or preregister to vote. A school district has no obligation to provide voter registration applications to students who participate in a postsecondary education option program or who otherwise maintain residence in the district but do not attend a school operated by the district. A school district fulfills its obligation to a student under this section if it provides a voter registration application to the student one time.

What will satisfy the requirement to distribute the voter registration application?

Voter registration applications are available in paper and electronic form. (Tell students that they will need a state-issued ID number (license, permit, etc.) or the last four digits of their Social Security number, along with their full address and email.) You can comply with the law by sending a single-subject email to students with the link to the electronic application form.

Note: the email should go to 16, 17, and 18-year-olds. 16 and 17-year-olds may pre-register to vote.

Forms and Resources for Students:

Online voter (pre)registration application: https://mnvotes.sos.mn.gov/VoterRegistration/index

Paper voter (pre)registration application: https://www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/register-to-vote/register-on-paper/

More resources for students about elections and voting:

https://www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/get-involved/high-school-student-resources-for-elections/

Dr. Martina Wagner, Principal

Location: 338 East Main Street, Owatonna MN 55060

Phone: 507-444-8000

Facebook: facebook.com/Owatonna761