Oskaloosa High School

🍝 Support Oskaloosa Student Council at the Annual Spaghetti Dinner 🍝

Oskaloosa Student Council will host its annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser on Thursday, January 30, beginning at 5:30 pm in the small gym at Oskaloosa High School.

Dinner will be served until after halftime of the boys basketball game. There is no cost to attend, and free-will donations are welcome. All proceeds support Student Council projects, events, and opportunities, including camps and conferences.

🍽 Menu includes:
Spaghetti and meatballs
Garlic bread
Lemonade and water

This week at Oskaloosa High School, learning went far beyond the classroom.

Students explored conservation and the responsible harvest of game birds by putting real-world skills into practice. With guidance from Gus Elliott, Conservation Education Specialist at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, students learned how to properly clean a game bird, harvest usable meat, and preserve the pelt for educational display.

FFA students joined the lesson as well, connecting their products and processing coursework to wildlife conservation. The birds used were donated by the Iowa DNR and designated for education, allowing students to learn ethically and responsibly.

Through this course, students also complete hunter education and safety training, giving them the knowledge and skills to responsibly hunt, harvest, and process their own game in the future.

This kind of hands-on learning helps keep conservation and hunting education alive for future generations by teaching not just the how, but the why behind responsible stewardship of our natural resources.

This week, Oskaloosa High School Storybook Players brought stories to life at the Oskaloosa Public Library, sharing reading, creativity, and leadership with young listeners across our community. Experiences like this help students grow as confident communicators and thoughtful leaders while giving back in meaningful ways.

Next up is our only “at home” performance, and it is one of our favorite traditions of the year. Families are invited to enjoy interactive storytelling, laughter, and student-led performances that bring reading to life.

📖 Join us Saturday, January 17 at 10:00 AM or 11:30 AM at George Daily Auditorium. These free performances are designed for all ages and are a great way to celebrate seven outstanding seniors and the students who are #ALLIN on sharing their talents.

#OskyBuildsLeaders 📖

Oskaloosa's last day of school is Wed, May 28, 2025! There will be a 3-hour early dismissal on May 28. OES - 12:15 PM OMS & OHS - 12:30 PM

The Oskaloosa Girls Track and Field Team, with the help of local private donations, filled 20 birthday bags, which will be donated to The Climb! What is a birthday bag, you ask? 🛍️ The basic contents usually include a cake mix, a can of frosting, a package of candles, paper plates, and a package of party favors. These items will be delivered to The Climb, where they will be shared with kids 18 and younger during their birthday month. The Climb is a volunteer-run resource in Mahaska County that strives to lift our neighbors up through life’s challenges by housing many essential items in their free or free-will donation thrift store.

OHS Schedule Update for Thursday, March 6! ▪️ Grades 9-11 – Regular schedule ▪️ Seniors – 2-hour late start schedule (1st period begins at 10:30am) ▪️ Indian Hills seniors should attend classes as normal. Make sure to plan ahead!

The Oskaloosa Boys Bowling Team finished 3rd at districts, just missing a state team qualification. Despite a strong season and an undefeated record, a few tough baker games kept them from closing the gap on 2nd place. The boys now shift their focus to the conference tournament this Friday. 🎳 Individually, Trey VanWyk dominated, winning his 4th straight district title with a 753 series. He holds the highest state average (243.34)—a new state record—and aims for his 2nd state title. Keagan Pierson secured the final qualifying spot with a 641 series, making a huge impact after moving up from JV. Marshall Seibert finished just five pins shy of state, placing 9th with a 636 series. 💪 Great season, Indians! Best of luck at state, Trey & Keagan!

The Oskaloosa Girls Bowling Team is headed to the Team State Bowling Tournament for the second year in a row after an impressive 2nd place finish at districts! The team averaged 173 across 15 Baker games, securing their spot at state. 🎳 In the individual qualifying tournament, Sidney Thompson qualified for state for the third straight year! She bowled the high game of the day with a 275 and finished with a 602 series, earning 4th place. Sidney is determined to improve on last year’s 5th place finish! Way to go, Osky Indians! 🎉

Good luck to Parker Jordan, Kaiden Parker, Colton Shafer, and Ty Lorentzen at the 2025 IHSAA State Wrestling Tournament! The tournament starts today at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. For a schedule, ticket info, and livestream link, visit https://www.iahsaa.org/wrestling/state-tournament-central/. Go #ALLIN, boys! 🤼💪

OHS students recently wrapped up their Hunter's Education course with a field day and a final assessment at the Russel Wildlife Gun Range, with support from Mahaska County Conservation. Students also had the opportunity to test their skills for target practice and shoot clay pigeons! 🎯 A big thank you to Conservation Officer Chris Clingan, Naturalist Ranger Laura DeCook, and Park Rangers Tommy and Steve for guiding them through this hands-on experience! 👏

The OHS Storybook Players had an incredible time performing at Blakesburg and Fremont! From leading audience participation in "The Cat Song" and "The Princess and the Pea" to making new friends along the way, the energy was high, and the engagement was amazing! 📚 Senior leaders Rees Campbell and Maddy Vernooy helped bring the performances to life, and Blakesburg 3rd grade teacher Vicki Gardner even called it “one of the best performances I’ve seen in recent years.” 🌟 Shoutout to Maddy for her impressive goalkeeping skills during recess—nothing beats celebrating with high-fives! 🙌

Last week, 16 Storybook Players performed at OES, overcoming last-minute cast changes with teamwork and adaptability! 🎭 Special shout-outs to Neesa Shelton and Molly Prendergast for organizing substitutes, Rees Campbell, Carter Winchel and Wyatt DeCook for balancing Storybook and Student Council, and all the students who stepped up to fill in roles and adjust on the fly! 👏 Big thanks to Kim Gile and Lucas Trainer for their flexibility as students transitioned between activities. Amazing job, everyone! 🎉

In January, six members of the Oskaloosa FFA Officer Team attended the Iowa FFA Legislative Symposium at the Iowa State Capitol. They had the opportunity to hear from guest speakers, including Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Iowa Farm Bureau Vice President Brian Feldpausch, and Jake Swanson from High Yield Strategies. They all emphasized the importance of advocacy in agriculture and leadership—a perfect match for Oskaloosa FFA’s theme: "Sprouting Advocates for Agriculture!" Following the symposium, FFA members met with Senators Ken Rozenboom and Adrian Dickey to discuss the need for cover crops. They shared valuable insights and NRCS resources to highlight the benefits of conservation practices. Great job, Oskaloosa FFA, for using your voices to make a difference! 👏

Some of the OHS Student Council leaders spent the day in Des Moines at the State/District Officer Retreat, planning an amazing year ahead! They are gearing up to make a difference. Stay tuned! 👏

On Saturday, the OHS Speech and Debate team competed at the IHSAA Large Group District Contest, held at South Tama High School. Three of the four groups received a Division I rating to qualify for state! 🎬 Short Film: Megan Vos, Claire McKee, Madi Chamberlin, Caden Johnson, Maddy Vernooy, Rees Campbell, Allie Campbell, Charlie Smith, Xavier Edwards, Brenna Deffenbaugh 📖 Readers Theater: Allie Campbell, Gracie Graham, Claire McKee, Sydney Miller, Skie McKee, Madi Chamberlin, Maddy Vernooy 💬 Group Improv: Brenna Deffenbaugh, Xavier Edwards, Rees Campbell Another Group Improv performed and earned a Division II rating: Skie McKee, Sydney Miller, Charlie Smith, and Gracie Graham. Congratulations to all!

8th & 9th Graders 📣 Join us for the Co-Curricular Activity Fair on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, from 5:00–6:00pm in the OHS Cafeteria! Explore the amazing activities, clubs, and sports available at OHS. Plus, don’t miss your chance to win door prizes and snag some swag! 🎁 We hope to see you there!

In the Conservation Science Hunting class, OHS students gain valuable skills in cleaning and processing game meat. Maddux Ashman, a student in the class, hunted geese with his father and brought them in for a hands-on lesson. After cleaning the geese, students prepared and tasted the meat they harvested. For Donald Gramont, who had never hunted or tried goose meat before, this was a brand-new experience. He found a recipe for the class to try and said it was delicious! This hands-on experience not only teaches essential skills but also fosters a deeper understanding and respect for responsible hunting and conservation.

Hey, Oskaloosa Indian athletes and alumni! Don't let the holiday season derail your progress—take advantage of these weight room open hours to stay on track with your goals. 💪 #ALLIN #OskyBuildsLeaders

Join us for the Annual Madrigal Dessert Theater! Experience an evening of music, entertainment, and delicious desserts with the OHS Madrigal Singers, Chamber Choir, and Concert Choir! 📅 Saturday, December 14 at 6:00 PM 📅 Sunday, December 15 at 2:00 PM 📍 Large Gym at the Middle School 🎟️ $18 (Includes dessert and wassail) 🔗 Purchase Online: www.vancoevents.com/us/eventlist?aid=271 ➡️ Tickets are also available at the door, but online booking is preferred. Don’t miss this festive event filled with music and holiday cheer!

Last month, OHS students in Mr. Kargol's art classes and Mrs. Bihn's interior design and fashion classes visited the newly expanded Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska! Students experienced paintings, sculptures, wearable art, and textiles by major artists from around the globe. For many, it was their first time in an art museum, and each found a favorite piece to reflect on. The trip continued to Hot Shops Studios, a community-based repurposed warehouse that has been converted into artist studios and galleries. Students explored artist studios and had the opportunity to talk with working artists. Thank you, Oskaloosa Schools, for supporting this inspiring, hands-on experience!