C1 | Thursday, August 19, 2021
School Year 2021-2022
Greetings from Owatonna Public Schools! We are excited to be together again soon for the 20212022 school year. Last school year provided challenges around every corner, and there is much optimism and excitement for a return to a more traditional school experience for all our learners and families. The official start to the 20212022 school year is Monday, August 30, 2021. • K-5 students and families will have before school interviews on August 26, 30 and 31. The first day of school will be on Wednesday, September 1. • 6th grade students will have orientation on Monday, August 30. 6th-8th grade students’ first day of school will be Tuesday, August 31. • 9th-12th grade students will begin school on Monday, August 30. Families interested in an online learning option for the 2021-2022
school year should visit our website owatonnaonline.isd761.org for Owatonna Online enrollment details. A big thank you to Owatonna Public Schools work crews and custodial staff for their work to improve and prepare our learning environments and keep them safe. Also thank you to the student nutrition team for their work to feed students and families over the summer. The work behind the scenes is immense and much appreciated. This summer, we hosted the largest number of summer school students in our history. Opportunities for all learners at every grade level provided both a bridge and expansion of learning to help us transition into the school year. Thank you to our committed instructional, support staff and administration for their work in creating and implementing these unique experiences.
Over the past 5-6 months, our staff and school board has been working diligently to reframe the strategic roadmap and operational plan for our district moving forward. We spent time collecting feedback from parents, students and staff to identify the “desired daily experience” from all perspectives in an effort to improve our practices and continue to move our district and community forward. I want to thank our community for their continued partnership and support for our school district.
Health and Safety Protocols The Safe Learning Plan that was in place last school year has expired. COVID-19 cleaning protocols will remain in place across Owatonna Public Schools, but several of the requirements that were in place due to COVID-19 are no longer in effect. For example: • Face coverings for all students and staff will be recommend-
Owatonna Public Schools Welcomes New Principal at Washington Elementary
ed (not required) in school. • Face coverings are required on school buses for every student and adult. • Isolation time for students or staff who contract COVID-19 is 10 days with no testing requirement to return to school. Recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and a full list of health and safety guidance will be shared with students and families as the school year gets closer or as conditions change. As we emerge from the pandemic, I am excited to see our students and re-engage learning in Mrs. Libby Zeman has been hired as the new principal at Washingour ongoing mission to Inspire Exton Elementary. Mrs. Zeman has been an employee of Owatonna Pubcellence for Every Learner, Every lic Schools for 16 years, working as a teacher, a Teaching and Learning Day! Coach at McKinley, and then as Interim Principal at Lincoln Elementary. She has a passion for supporting all learners by providing for their Jeff Elstad, Superintendent academic and social-emotional needs. She builds strong relationships Owatonna Public Schools and has a child-centered approach. She believes building strong partnerships between families and the school are vital to the success of our students. Welcome to Washington, Mrs. Zeman!