Okoboji Community School District stands with the students, staff, families, and community of Perry as they walk through this terrible tragedy. Educators in Perry and across Iowa work hard every day to make school a safe place for kids to grow and flourish. We will continue to offer our support in any way we can.
Hug your kids tonight and every night.

Two of our very own have been nominated to be University of Okoboji Winter Games Cheerleaders! Congratulations to Katie Luinstra and TJ Simington for being recognized for this awesome community honor! It is well deserved! Voting opens today and closes by 5 PM tomorrow!
https://www.uofowintergames.com/cheerleaders/


Tonight's basketball game is cashless! To buy tickets ahead of time please go to the Bound Website (www.gobound.com/ia/schools/okoboji/tickets). We will have Credit/Debit card readers available to purchase tickets. Due to cell phone service at the school, please have your QR code available before entering the building.
The Okoboji School Board recognizes that it takes a community to Pioneer our youth. Through two programs, Board Salute and Pioneer Student Recognition, we want to hear from you about those exceptional individuals who stand out. For November, please take a moment to honor those that go above and beyond! Below is the link to access the programs.
https://www.okobojischools.org/o/ocs/page/board-recoginition-programs
Thank you for your ongoing support for our school district!
We will have a send-off at ALL THREE buildings on Thursday afternoon to send our State-Bound Esports Team off in style and wish them luck! They will walk through the halls of OES at 2:40, OMS at 2:55, and OHS at 3:10 before heading for Des Moines! They will compete on Friday for a state championship! If any parents or community members want to join the send-off, please come to OHS via the main entrance before 3:10 on Friday!

Congratulations to our swimmers on great performances at the state qualifying meet this weekend! Emily Quanbeck, Ella Kasperbauer, and Brooklyn Ferguson were part of the 5th place 200 medley relay which qualified for STATE. Brooklyn Ferguson got 2nd in the 50 freestyle and qualified INDIVIDUALLY for STATE. Emily Quanbeck and Brooklyn Ferguson were also part of the 3rd place 200 freestyle relay and 5th place 400 freestyle relay which also qualified for STATE. Ella Kasperbauer and Anna Quanbeck swam the 200 individual medley with Ella placing 10th and Anna placing 15th. Emily Quanbeck swam the 100 backstroke placing 11th. Ella Kasperbauer also swam the 100 breaststroke placing 11th.
State will be next Friday and Saturday in Marshalltown, IA. There is only one class in swimming and only the top 32 qualify in each event. This means that each state qualifier is within the top 32 in the state.

Congratulations to Okoboji High School Esports on qualifying for the Fall State Tournament as the second seed! They will get a first-round bye before heading into state competition!

A reminder of our OCSD Board Candidate Forum tonight at 6:30 in the OHS Auditorium! This is your chance to hear from all of our board candidates this year. If you are unable to attend, a recording of the forum will be made and shared on our district social media tomorrow.

We will have a send-off at ALL THREE buildings on Friday afternoon to send our State-Bound Cross Country Teams off in style and wish them luck! They will walk through the halls of OES at 2:40, OMS at 2:55, and OHS at 3:10 before boarding the bus for Ft. Dodge! If any parents or community members want to join the send-off, please come to OHS via the main entrance before 3:10 on Friday!

Congratulations to both the Boys AND Girls Cross Country Teams on qualifying for the State Championship Meet in Ft Dodge! Individual qualifiers include Maryn Frein, Adison Frerichs, and Marli DeGraaf for the girls and Evan Osler, Akron Jostand, and Lane Larson for the boys! Special congratulations to Evan Osler who earned the individual district championship!
Look for big things from these teams and individuals at the State Championship Meet at Lakeside Golf Course in Ft Dodge next Saturday, October 28! 2A girls run at 10:30 and boys at 11:15!

The tailgate for tonight's football game, sponsored by Central Bank and Central Insure, will be moved into the upper commons at OHS!

Congratulations to our September Pioneer Student recipient, Caleb Simington, for his outstanding work with youth. His commitment to helping them grow into confident individuals and his efforts to shape future generations are invaluable. This is a testament to Caleb's character and positive influence.

Congratulations to our September Board Salute recipients for going Above and Beyond. Brock Holman, Erin Clary, and Brenda Martin for their remarkable efforts that have not gone unnoticed for their pursuit of excellence, willingness to lend a helping hand, passion for students, and volunteering. They consistently exceed expectations and set a shining example for others to follow. Your efforts are recognized, valued, and deeply appreciated.

Turning Point USA will be providing free admission for the first 70 veterans, active military, and first responders with valid ID into the last Okoboji home football game of the season on Friday, October 13th.
Turning Point USA is a national, non-profit, non-partisan organization that strives to engage students to learn about the Constitution and government through non-partisan debate, dialogue, and discussion.
Please come to the North East Gate, nearest the gym, to receive your free admission!

Please make plans to attend a public forum with candidates running for a seat on the Okoboji Community School Board. The forum will be held on Tuesday, October 26th beginning at 6:30 PM in the Okoboji High School Auditorium. Candidates will field questions read by moderator Brad Simington and have the chance to share their views, goals, and opinions.
A recording of the event will be shared on the Okoboji Community Schools Facebook Page for those who are unable to attend.

Turning Point USA will be providing free admission for the first 70 veterans, active military, and first responders with valid ID into the last Okoboji home football game of the season on Friday, October 13th.
Turning Point USA is a national, non-profit, non-partisan organization that strives to engage students to learn about the Constitution and government through non-partisan debate, dialogue, and discussion.
Please come to the North East Gate, nearest the gym, to receive your free admission!

We are excited for our 2023 Homecoming Parade this afternoon at 2:15! Here is the map of the route! We hope to see you there! Bundle up and join in the fun!


We hope you can join us at 7:00 this evening in the South Gym for Coronation! We will celebrate our entire Homecoming Court and crown our 2023 Homecoming King and Queen! We will also hear from our Grand Marshall, Helen Alexander! Following Coronation, all are invited to stay to watch the championship match of Beefcake Volleyball and Powder Puff Football.
It will be a great night to be a Pioneer! Come out and join us!

Today is a special day as we honor and appreciate the individuals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure our schools are clean, safe, and conducive to learning. Happy Custodian Appreciation Day!
Our custodians play an integral role in our school community. They are the first to arrive and the last to leave, dedicating their days and often nights to the upkeep and maintenance of our schools. Their hard work often goes unseen, but it is felt by all of us who enjoy the clean classrooms, shiny hallways, and well-maintained facilities. Their commitment to their work has gone above and beyond to ensure every nook and corner of our schools is sanitized and safe for all of us.
Thank you, custodians, for all that you do! Your hard work, dedication, and commitment do not go unnoticed. You truly make a difference.
This year’s Homecoming Grand Marshall has been an outstanding individual in the community and school district. Helen Alexander is a driving force in her family and throughout the community advocating for the arts, higher education, and hard work.
Helen has been the definition of a model community member and has spent countless hours dedicating her time to her children, Okoboji students, educators and coaches with a significant impact. You may often see her with her big camera capturing the smiling faces of Okoboji students and teachers at sporting events, music performances, and teacher conference lunches. Her excitement at seeing everyone never wavers!
Helen started her career owning an import export business at the age of 26, traveling the world, and speaking 5 languages. She took the experiences from being an international businesswoman, world traveler, and a first-generation immigrant to be the best parent and community member she could be. Helen and her late husband Doug have lived in Okoboji for the last 23 years. They raised their three sons, David, OHS Class of 2019, John, OHS Class of 2020, and William, OHS Class of 2021, in Okoboji. All three have used their memories and lessons from Okoboji Schools to become successful young men and have made their parents very proud!
Helen is a proud figure of Okoboji Community Schools and continues to support, love, advocate, and volunteer for the students and teachers. Her genuine care for the community is always visible with her bright big smile and constant photos! That is why the honor of our 2023 Grand Marshall has been awarded to Helen Alexander!

