Okoboji High School

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!

Okoboji Schools has been recognized by the Iowa State Auditor’s Office for efficient use of public funds. Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand has announced the 2023 Public Innovations and Efficiencies, or PIE, Award recipients. Okoboji Community School District was recognized as the state-wide runner-up among Class 3A schools. The awards are given to schools and public entities that are implementing the largest amount of money-saving practices laid out in a 10-page checklist from the state auditor’s office. Created in 2019, the PIE program encourages public entities across the state to explore different ways to save public funds and allows the State Auditor’s Office to highlight local entities doing the right things across the state.

Congratulations to 2023 Homecoming King Nico Barba and Queen Lily Miller and the entire Okoboji Homecoming Court! Thank you to Grand Marshall Helen Alexander for sharing wonderful words with our audience at coronation last night. All are great representatives of our school and community!

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!

We had lots of BBQ Dads and Soccer Moms today for the second day of homecoming!

Congratulations to the following September nominees for Okoboji High School Student of the Month! These students have been nominated by OHS staff members for their performance, hard work, improvement, or just general awesomeness in class! They are: Brennan Baschke Kiley Hicks Scott Dorman-Heath Breanna Furman Rylee Feld Noah Sargent Bella Sandbulte Elliot Tuttle William Anderson Cody Beck Jayda Liechti Dillon Wittrock August Miller Aidan Gehrke Addison Johnson Jesse Hoffman Norah Juhl Harper Trosin Finn Jack Congratulations to all and keep up the great work!

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.

Reminder OHS will take school pictures tomorrow, Monday, September 25th. Bring your smile and check your email for more info!

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!

We are celebrating National Teach Ag Day today by celebrating the best Ag Teacher there is! Rich Martin has been helping Okoboji students discover the wonderful world of agriculture at OHS for many years! Thank you, Mr Martin, for all you do!

Hello Pioneer Family, We want to inform you that, under Federal guidelines, schools are to notify families that breakfast and free/reduced lunches are available to all eligible families. Ensuring every child has access to nutritious meals is our commitment. To learn more and apply for the fee/reduced lunch program, please get in touch with Danni Bockman at dbockman@okobojischools.org or call 712-338-4757. Thank you for your partnership in promoting the well-being of our students.

In the Okoboji School District, we genuinely care about the overall well-being of our students AND their families. That's why we are thrilled to offer our FREE Student and Family Assistance Program! This amazing service is confidential and provided by masters-level counselors, ensuring top-notch support for all our students and their families. Whether you're facing academic challenges, personal issues, or just need someone to talk to, our Student and Family Assistance Program is here for you! Available both in and outside of school, this service is paid for by the district to assist families in prioritizing mental health. Simply dial the number on our flyer, and you will be connected with a counseling professional for up to 6 FREE sessions to lend a helping hand, providing the support you need to thrive. Remember, your well-being matters to us and Pioneering Pathways includes mental health support. There's no need to face challenges alone. Reach out today to our Student and Family Assistance Program and experience the caring, confidential support that is just a call away! Please see the flyer for the contact information and for more information.

This week the Algona community was rocked by the death of Police Officer Kevin Cram. Officer Cram was shot and killed in the line of duty. Officer Cram was a 10-year law enforcement veteran and also a husband and a father to young children. In an effort to support Officer Cram's family in this difficult time, the Okoboji Pioneer Booster Club will be collecting free-will donations in buckets at the concession stand at tonight's Okoboji/Estherville football game. All donations raised will be given to Officer Cram's family. If you are attending tonight's game, please consider donating to help Officer Cram's wife and children.

Each month the Okoboji High School Guidance Team will be sharing short to-do lists for our graduating seniors to help them take all the steps necessary to be ready to launch in May! Here is the first one if the year. If you need any help with these items or have questions, see Kizze!