Okoboji Elementary School

Okoboji Basketball for tonight, Dec. 9 is postponed.

Happy National Substitute Teacher Appreciation Day! Today we celebrate the incredible substitute teachers who step in with flexibility, kindness, and a willingness to support our students and staff at a moment’s notice. Your adaptability and dedication keep our school running smoothly, and we are truly grateful for all you do. Thank you for being an essential part of our Okoboji Schools family!

Our Okoboji educators Mrs. Clouse & Mrs. Rients took the national stage at NCTE this weekend in Denver! They presented Scrolling for Stories: How Instagram Ignites Independent Reading, sharing how KB Lit Adventure boosts student engagement and builds a culture of reading. We’re proud to have such innovative teachers representing Pioneers!

Today, we pause to honor and thank all who have served in our nation’s armed forces. Your courage, sacrifice, and commitment to protecting our freedoms inspire us all. From all of us at Okoboji Community Schools, we are deeply grateful for the veterans in our community and across the country. Thank you for your service. ❤️🤍💙

In an attempt to help members of our community who are struggling to keep food on the table, OCSD is holding a food drive! See the information and please spread the word! Donations can be dropped off at the main foyer at Entrance A of Okoboji High School. Donations will be taken to Upper Des Moines Opportunity each Tuesday. Let's work together to help support our community! Please share!

Pioneer Fans! We can't wait to see you at Pioneer Stadium this Friday evening as your 7-1 District Runner-Up Pioneer Football Team takes on the Knights of Unity Christian in the first round of playoffs! Please know the ticketing process for state playoffs is different and NOT through Bound, as our regular season games are. Please see this information for getting your tickets purchased ahead of time! Go Pioneers!

We are excited about the amazing season our Pioneer Football Team is having and LOVE the HUGE crowds we are seeing at home games to cheer them on! We have another big home game this Friday night against the Falcons of OABCIG and we need ALL of Pioneer Nation here to support our team! As we prepare for this and future home games, the Administrative Team wants to remind all students, parents, and fans of the expectations for behavior, seating, and areas of the campus that are off limits during games. These expectations help ensure all fans are safe and able to enjoy the game. Go Pioneers!

Happy IT Professionals Day! A huge thank you to our team of Phill McCauley, Amie Hughes, and Michael Hart for their dedication and expertise in keeping our district connected and running smoothly. Your hard work behind the scenes makes a difference every day!

A reminder that school picture days are coming up this month! Picture days will take place the week of September 15th and retakes will happen one month later. Watch for information coming from Split/Rock Photography and remember no money or forms are needed on picture day!

The 2025-2026 Okoboji Community School District Calendar is now available on the OCSD Webpage and App! You can link directly to the calendar here: file:///C:/Users/BrianDowning/Downloads/2025-2026_OCSD_Calendar.pdf A few dates of note: *First Day of School: August 25-26 *Thanksgiving Break: November 26-28 *Winter Break: December 22-January 2 *Spring Break: March 16-20 *Class of 2026 Graduation: May 17 *Last Day of School: May 21

Join us for a powerful presentation on sex trafficking in Iowa, revealing how this devastating crime is happening RIGHT HERE IN OUR HOMETOWN. This eye-opening event will not only raise awareness but also equip attendees with practical steps to protect our community. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how you can take action and make a difference. Okoboji CSD has been working closely with Stacy Besch from Team Iowa to bring awareness in the Lakes Area to an issue that affects communities everywhere- including our own . We strongly encourage everyone to attend this important presentation, as knowledge is the first step in protecting our children and our community. Parents of younger children, in particular, are urged to come, as traffickers often target kids at a much younger age than many realize, using technology and other deceptive methods. Together, we can stay informed, take action, and create a safer environment for all. See the attached flyer and information below for additional details: There are two opportunities for you to engage in this learning, both on Monday, May 5. The first is from 2:00-4:00 PM at the OHS Auditorium. The second is that evening from 6:30-8:30 PM at the Majestic Pavilion in Arnold's Park. Note for parents: Minors are encouraged and welcome to attend, but please be aware that the presentation includes direct and graphic content as there is no other way to address this information. We encourage parents to use their discretion in determining whether the material is appropriate for their child.

There may be new snow on the ground Spring Conferences are just two weeks away! Parents of students at Okoboji Elementary, Middle, and High Schools should be receiving an email with a link to sign up for conference times. As a reminder, OES will have conferences on Tuesday, February 25th and Thursday, February 27th while OMS and OHS have conferences on Thursday, February 27th only.

Mark your calendars! Our PK and New Kindergarten Parent Night is scheduled for March 11 at 6 pm in the OES lunchroom! Check out the image for more information! We can't wait to meet our future Pioneers!!

The Okoboji School Board is excited to announce the hiring of Will Dible as the next superintendent of the Okoboji Community School District, following the retirement of Mr. Abrahamson on June 30, 2025, after eight years of dedicated leadership. A 2004 graduate of Okoboji High School, Will’s return to lead our district is a special full-circle moment for all of us. Mr. Dible's hiring will be made official at the board meeting on January 8, 2025. Will is a dedicated and accomplished leader with a student-centered approach to education that aligns perfectly with our district’s vision. We are confident that his leadership will continue to move Okoboji forward in a positive direction. Please join us in welcoming Mr. Dible to his new role. He will officially begin his duties as superintendent on July 1, 2025.

Thank you to Ralph Covet for stopping by OES this morning! All grade levels were able to enjoy one of his concert sessions immediately following our monthly assembly! We had a blast singing and dancing to his awesome songs!