Fourth Graders Release Salmon

The Salmon Project for this year's fourth graders at Sierra View Elementary School recently came to an end as they released the Chinook salmon they've been studying and learning about since the fall.

OHS Students Prep For Science Olympiad

After several months of preparation and the harried intensity of pulling together the last minute details, 20 of Oakdale High School's best and brightest science students will compete in the 25th Annual Regional Science Olympiad at Modesto Junior College on March 5.

Board Ratifies Agreement

The tentative successor agreement between the Oakdale Teachers Association and the Oakdale Joint Unified School District was ratified by the district's Board of Trustees at the Feb. 28 regular meeting. The teachers agreed to a 2.5 percent pay cut and five unpaid furlough days for the 2011-2012 year. This will result in a salary savings of $471,581 to the district in the 2011-2012 budget. <span ...

OID Report: Enough Water This Year

The Oakdale Irrigation District is expecting its full allocation of water this year and also expects to have water available that has previously been transferred (sold) to Stockton East Water District (SEWD).

Agreement Reached

The Oakdale Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees ratified a tentative agreement with the Oakdale Teachers Association last night at the Feb. 28 board meeting. The teachers agreed to a pay cut and furlough days for the 2011-2012 school year. Read the March 2 issue of The Leader for more details.

College Awareness Raised At Oakdale Area Schools

College awareness has been a theme throughout February at Oakdale High School, as February is College Awareness Month. Further, in support of College Awareness Month on a countywide level, Feb. 18 was "Wear Your College Logo to Work" day.

High School Biology ‘Rap’ Helps Kids Learn About DNA

Maybe they're not future hip hop superstars but sophomores in Bob Wessling's biology class at Oakdale High School found their inner musicians and made biology rap songs about DNA and RNA.

Distinguished Young Woman Named

Oakdale High School student Chloe Schoemann was named the 2012 Distinguished Young Woman at the Saturday, Feb. 19 scholarship competition, formerly known as Junior Miss, held at Magnolia School auditorium.

Rap Session

A biology teacher at Oakdale High School recently gave an innovative assignment to help his students learn and retain material. Bob Wessling's goal is to reach students who aren't as engaged in typical classroom work and get them involved. For full details, read the Wednesday, Feb. 23 issue of The Oakdale Leader.

A Twist On Macbeth Offered Up At Schools

"Macbeth: The Musical" &ndash; a musical comedy version of Macbeth &ndash; with student-created characters and lines has been performed by students in the school district's Gifted And Talented Education (GATE) program, or "gifted learner" program, through the second and third weeks of February. The GATE students at each elementary school site in the Oakdale Joint Unified School District have presented two to three performances of the musical, each ...

OID Plans Trip To D.C.

The Oakdale Irrigation District Board of Directors unanimously approved a proposal to send two directors and appropriate staff to Washington D.C., possibly in April, to meet with congressional members or staff. The action came at the Feb. 15 regular meeting.

Dawn's Column - How To Be A Valentine

Valentine's Day is just a few days away, so I thought I'd offer a little advice to the many men out there who struggle with ideas for what to do for their wife or girlfriend on this special day.

OHS Dominates Academic Contest

After a "decade of dominance," the Oakdale High School Aca Deca team found a way to top their prior accomplishments: they won again. The team now boasts 11 consecutive championships from the Stanislaus County Academic Decathlon.

Leadership Profile Approved

The leadership profile for the future Superintendent of the Oakdale Joint Unified School District was approved at the Feb. 7 special meeting of the Board of Trustees. Trustees Mike House, Mike Tozzi, and student member Daniel Dunning were absent.

OID Tunnel Tour Educates Teachers

The unique opportunity to go behind locked gates to see the inner workings of the Oakdale Irrigation District with a tour of some of its tunnels was recently presented to a small group of Oakdale teachers. The Oakdale Joint Unified School District held a staff development day on Jan. 27 and the OID tour was one of the offered workshops where the participants could visit and learn about ...

Awards, Honors For OHS Seniors

With graduation only days away, Oakdale High School's Class of 2013 is about to embark on a new part of life &ndash; one that officially launches them out of childhood and toward adulthood.

New Games Lined Up For Challenge

The rivers of chocolate will flow at the annual Chocolate Challenge, where fun and games with chocolate will reign on the stage, Saturday, May 18 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, May 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. At the 21st Annual Oakdale Chocolate Festival, there will be a few changes to the Chocolate Challenge games this year, with some new, timed events where contestants will ...

Native American Life Studied

A "field trip" came to school for Fair Oaks Elementary third graders on May 8 to study the Yokuts people. The Yokuts populated this area at one time and consisted of a number of different tribes.

OID Vote - Westlands Water Sale Cleared

A one-year water transfer contract with the Westlands Water District (WWD) was unanimously approved at the May 7 regular meeting of the Oakdale Irrigation District Board of Directors. There are some conditions on the contract that first protect OID water users before any transfer.

Deadline Looms For Irrigated Lands Coalition

It's the "last call" to join the East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition, also known as the Irrigated Lands Coalition, said Tom Orvis, Governmental Affairs Directors for the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, at the recent Oakdale Irrigation District Board of Directors meeting. He said the deadline is Monday, May 13.

2013 Volz Recipient Announced

Fifth Graders ‘Complete’ Space Mission

A trip to Sacramento turned out to be a simulated trip to outer space recently for fifth graders at Fair Oaks Elementary School.

Campus Concern - Board Addresses Discipline Complaint

Complaints about the handling of discipline of a student at Sierra View Elementary School was addressed by the Oakdale Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees at the regular meeting on April 22.

River Flows On The Rise

The Bureau of Reclamation, which operates New Melones Reservoir, and the Oakdale Irrigation District recently released information about flow increases in the Stanislaus River.

Realistic DUI Tragedy Played Out

A drunk driver, a bloody crash scene, dead and dying vehicle occupants.

Rodeo Parade Entertains Masses

It's time to people-watch in Oakdale, and what better place than to watch them march down the middle of F Street to the beat of their own drums &ndash; or to the clip clop of horses' hooves &ndash; than at the 62nd Annual Oakdale Rodeo Parade? The parade starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 13 and features some of the best dressed cowboys and cowgirls of different ages, ...

The 'Write' Trail - Young Writers Close Book On Experience

Author, Author Event Slated At Lemmons Senior Center

Local Student Heads For State Contest

Oakdale resident and Valley Charter High School (VCHS) student Matthew Gery won a gold medal recently at the SkillsUSA California Region 5 Leadership and Skills Conference and will compete at the state contest in San Diego April 4-7.

Halting Student Tobacco Use Focus Of Class

A class focusing on raising awareness and to motivate teens to stop using tobacco or join a voluntary cessation program was part of a pre-cessation class held recently at Oakdale High School.