Superintendent's Update

The 1st Quarter is officially in the books. I can't believe forty-two days have already been completed in the school year and that we have already turned the heat on. Cooler temperatures came upon us quickly this past week. Welcome Fall!!!! We continue to be fortunate in having wonderful students and a caring staff at Osage Co. R-I. I hope everyone has experienced a great start to the school year.

Check the website for more events!!!!

October 22-25 Parent Teacher Conferences

October 22-25 Red Ribbon Week

October 26 No School

November 12 Veterans Day

November 22-23 Thanksgiving Break

December 3 No School Staff Development

December 20 End of 2nd Quarter

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to provide the highest quality educational opportunities to prepare our students to develop his/her capabilities to the highest degree for the privileges and responsibilities of a useful life in a democratic society and changing world.

BELIEFS/PHILOSOPHY/VISION

The Osage R-1 School District believes that:

· We must give each student the opportunity to discover and develop his or her creative abilities.

· We must help students learn to think.

· We must maintain discipline, emphasize fundamentals, and motivate students to be life-long learners and guide habits and attitudes.

· We must give students the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the greater thinking, writing, arts, science, history, and languages of the world.

· We must give each student the fundamental knowledge of the economic facts of life. How to cope with them through an understanding of how natural resources and human effort supply the needs of mankind. Provide work skills so that they may support themselves.

Check the website for more details.

October 22-26 JH Conference Basketball Tournament

October 27 Cross Country District Meet

October 29-Nov 2 JHB Bland Basketball Tournament

November 3 Cross Country State Meet

November 16 Varsity Basketball Season Begins

Students, parents, teachers, and all those involved with the school community face so many challenges every year. All of us experience so many wonderful things that can be attributed to being a part of a school. However, the great moments do not come with the absence of more challenging times. The increasing number of ways we can communicate and express thoughts can be very beneficial. It can also be very problematic. The ease at which we can express frustration or dislike presents too many opportunities for us to be divided as opposed to coming together. Anyone of us can pick up our phone, text something mean or hurtful, and hit send for almost anyone to see. We have convinced ourselves to think people won't be hurt or offended if they don't actually hear the words we type out on a phone or computer. Although we are convinced at that moment, we also know that people will be hurt and offended. So why do we still press send?

People also believe consequences do not exist for what we text or post online, and that we might not be responsible for what happens next. That statement is absolutely not true. People can be held responsible for what they text or post. If your message causes disruption or harm, you can be held accountable. People cannot continue to believe they can say whatever they want without some form of repercussion.

I don't think treating people with decency is too difficult for any of us. I think we have the ability to find solutions to problems without added division. I think we can be accepting of many different people with many different perspectives. I hope we find a way to show students that path and to help others.

We many not see these issues everyday, as we have many great people here. Hopefully our students will be setting the right example as they go out into the world.