Spring Fling Brings Cha-Ching

Magnolia Elementary School hosted its first "Spring Fling" fundraising carnival on Friday, April 20 to replenish funds for the Parent Teacher Club, which covers costs of special arts programs for students and various field trips.

Perrone Tapped As Leo Volz Winner

The Leo Volz Scholarship winner was formally announced and approved at the Oakdale Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees at the April 23 regular meeting. The Leo Volz Scholarship is a 100-percent paid tuition award to any accredited four-year university and is awarded to a well-rounded student who must meet a number of selection criteria.

School Board Okays Facilities Fees Increase

For the first time in four years, facilities fees will see an increase in the Oakdale Joint Unified School District. At the April 23 regular meeting of the Board of Trustees, the board unanimously approved a resolution to increase the Level I fees. There was first a public hearing on the matter where the board heard a brief report by Ken Reynolds, who compiled the 2012 Developer Fee Justification Study. On Jan. ...

New Tradition Takes Hold In Cowboy Capital

It was just last year when Oakdale Saddle Club invited all four Oakdale Elementary Schools to participate in the rich history of our western lifestyle and rodeo heritage of the "Cowboy Capital of the World" with the Rodeo Spirit Contest. The Oakdale Saddle Club is a strong supporter of the annual AG Days at Oakdale Elementary Schools where many club members volunteer to educate children about area ranching and the sport of ...

Mission To Early California

A recent hands-on California missions project helped students get a better picture of the structures and functions of the missions in early California history. All fourth graders at Fair Oaks Elementary School in Wendi Petroni's, Heather O'Hearn's, and Lisa Graham's classes recently presented their historic California missions projects, which were represented in different forms and showed the investment of time made by the students.

Cultural Participation Aids Spanish Language Growth

Learning a new language can be a challenge and Oakdale High School Spanish teacher Joe Gilbert believes that it takes more than just book learning to master it.

‘Old School’ Learning Returns

What's old has become new again in the ASPIRE after school program at Magnolia Elementary School. With most home economics classes having fallen victim to long-ago budget cuts, the after school program is offering a new generation of students the opportunity to learn the basics of sewing.

‘Old School’ Skill Reappears

Some local after school program students are taking a time-honored tradition and turning it into a new-found skill. Previously passed down to generations of girls by their mothers, some students in Magnolia Elementary School's ASPIRE program are learning an old craft that's new to them that they can use for fun, family, or a fashion career. For more information, see the April 4 issue of The Leader.

Golden Words - Oakdale Students Hear From 1992 Olympic Medalist

A collection of leadership students from all seven Valley Oak League high schools gathered in the Mustang gymnasium on March 21 to listen to Olympic gold medalist Darnell Hall, who celebrated his 10-year anniversary of the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona by speaking with local students.

School Success Off And Running

The third annual SOS (Support Oakdale Schools) Fun Run/Walk event brought out runners and walkers of all ages to raise money for schools in Oakdale on Saturday, March 24. SOS committee member Stacey Aprile reported that there were 360 race registrants this year for the 1-mile and 5K event that wound its way through the neighborhood streets of Oakdale, starting and finishing at Cloverland Elementary School.

OJUSD Targets Student Underperformance

Addressing the needs of underperforming subgroups of students will be the subject of a town hall meeting on Tuesday, April 3 in the Oakdale Joint Unified School District. The 6 p.m. event to be held at the Magnolia Elementary School auditorium is part of a district-wide effort to help parents help their children improve their academic performance.

Science Fair Wraps Up Successful Year

Hundreds of science projects filled the rooms of the FES Hall March 13-15 as students in kindergarten through eighth grade participated in the 29th Annual Science Fair for the Oakdale Joint Unified School District.

Young Musician Earns Award

Oakdale High School junior Aimee Ramirez received a "Superior" rating for her flute performance along with a certificate and medal from the Central Valley chapter of California Music Educators Association (CMEA) in a recent solo/ensemble competition. Ratings for the competition are: needs improvement, fair, good, excellent, and superior.

Center Offers No Stress Prom Help

To get ready for the prom, the combined expenses of a prom ticket, hair, makeup, jewelry, shoes, and a matching bag really add up. The biggest expense, however, is often the dress.

Trustees Approve New Position

The addition of a new position for a mental health therapist/clinician at Oakdale High School was approved by the Oakdale Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees at the March 12 regular meeting. OJUSD Director of Pupil Services Larry Mendonca reported that OJUSD qualifies for special funding for the position because it operates an Emotionally Disturbed (ED) class at OHS. Funding for the position will be paid to the ...

CSU Student Financial Aid Applications Due

Students wishing to apply for financial aid for California State University campuses for the 2013-2014 academic year should submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The priority deadline for submitting a FAFSA is Saturday, March 2. Students are strongly encouraged to apply by that priority deadline, as financial aid may be limited for submissions after March 2. "The CSU's robust and varied financial aid packages allow our ...

Young Oakdale Scientists Prepare For Olympiad

Students Come To Oakdale For Ideas

The Josten's Renaissance program is about recognizing and awarding students for academic achievement. Whether students are maintaining good grades or improving their grades, the point is to reward them for their efforts and encourage them to continue focusing on academics.

California Dinosaurs Presentation Offered

OHS Team Earns Academic Medals, Awards At County Competition

Oakdale High School finished first overall and also won the Super Quiz at the 33rd Annual Stanislaus County Academic Decathlon on Feb. 1-2 at Gregori High School, Modesto. The "Aca Dec" is considered the biggest academic event for local high schools and is presented by the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE). It is a two-day series of tests, speeches and interviews, featuring this year's theme, "Russia" with a focus on the ...

A Baker's Dozen - Aca Dec Team Takes Trophy

Oakdale School Board Partly Restores Salary Cuts

Oakdale Joint Unified School District employees will see a portion of their salaries restored in actions taken by the district Board of Trustees at the Feb. 4 regular meeting. The school district is able to meet the costs incurred.

Junior High Student Attends Obama Inauguration

It's not a trip he will forget. Ever.

Record Keepers: OHS Wins Academic Decathlon

OJUSD Talks Safety

School safety, communicating a crisis to the public, laws relating to weapons on campus, and suggestions for improvements were all part of a special meeting of the Oakdale Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees on Jan. 28.

Class Acts - School Employees Honored

Students Cast Egyptian Masks

Sixth grade students at Sierra View Elementary School recently made mummy masks of their own faces as a project for their unit of study on ancient Egypt.

OHS Team Pursues Aca Dec Trophy

OHS Ready For Academic Contest

Special Safety Meeting Scheduled

A special board meeting for the Oakdale Joint Unified School District to cover school safety plans is slated for Monday, Jan. 28 at 6:30p.m. at the Oakdale City Council Chambers, 277 N. Second. The meeting is open to the public.