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District Newsletter
News and Updates
December 18, 2024
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Dear Olney ISD Community,
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Wishing You a Joyous and Relaxing Christmas Season
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As we approach the Christmas holidays, we would like to take a moment to express our sincere appreciation to the students, staff, and families of Olney ISD. This year has been filled with growth, hard work, and wonderful moments of learning and achievement, and we are incredibly grateful for the support and dedication from each member of our school community.
The holiday season is a time for rest, reflection, and renewal. Whether you're spending time with family, celebrating traditions, or simply enjoying some well-deserved relaxation, we hope this holiday brings you peace and joy. This is a special time of year, and we encourage everyone to embrace the spirit of togetherness, gratitude, and love that makes the holidays so meaningful.
As we take this break to celebrate the season and recharge for the new year, let’s remember the impact we have on each other, and the strength of our community. We are truly thankful for the hard work of our staff, the enthusiasm of our students, and the unwavering support of our parents and families.
From all of us at Olney ISD, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May your holidays be filled with warmth, laughter, and the company of those you hold dear. We look forward to returning in the new year, ready to continue our journey of excellence together.
Enjoy the holiday season, and we can’t wait to see everyone back in 2025!
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Olney Elementary and Junior High Win Big at UIL
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We are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our Olney Elementary and Olney Junior High students at the District 9AA UIL Academic Meet held on December 6th right here in Olney. It was an incredible day of competition, and our students demonstrated their dedication, talent, and hard work, bringing home impressive team victories in both the elementary and junior high divisions.
A total of 122 Olney ISD students competed alongside six other schools in the district, including Seymour, Windthorst, Petrolia, Archer City, Electra, and Nocona. The competition was fierce, but our students rose to the occasion in remarkable fashion.
Olney Elementary earned an impressive 8th consecutive district win, scoring a total of 768.60 points. This victory highlights the consistent excellence of our younger students and the strong foundation they are building for future academic success. Olney Junior High also secured the district title in their division, with an outstanding score of 656 points.
These victories were made possible by the tireless efforts of our students, coaches, and parents, who dedicated countless hours preparing for the contest.
We are incredibly proud of all the students who participated in the UIL Academic Meet and congratulate them for their hard-earned success. We also extend a special thank you to the coaches and parents whose dedication helped guide and encourage these students every step of the way.
These wins are a testament to the talent, determination, and teamwork that define Olney ISD. We look forward to celebrating even more accomplishments as we continue to support and challenge our students in all their academic endeavors.
Congratulations to our Olney Elementary and Olney Junior High students on this exceptional achievement! Go Cubs!
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OHS Robotics Attend Aledo Meet
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Written by Sabrina Laurent, Robotics Coach
OHS Robotics attended the FTC A-League match #3 at Aledo HS on Saturday Dec 14th. The traveling team consisted of seniors: Ryan Conder and Caleb Johnson, and sophomores: Tucker Cortinez, Colby Johnson, and Jaxx Laurent.
The match consisted of 6 qualification rounds where OHS Robotics scored the following:
round #1-6 points, round #2- 7 points, round #3- 0 points (tech difficulties), round #4- 14 points, round #5 - 6 points, round #6 -12 points.
The team showed improvement from their last match and will be teaming up with an veteran Aledo robotics team for the next month to assist us in programming and structural improvements ideas.
The next meet will be in Grapevine on Jan 25th.
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HS Students Compete in Debate Tourney
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Olney High School (OHS) debaters made a strong showing at the Holliday ISD Debate Tournament held on December 14, 2024. The team secured impressive placements across multiple categories, showcasing their hard work and dedication.
In the Lincoln-Douglas (LD) Debate category, Sawyer Edgington led the charge, earning 1st place for his outstanding performance and critical thinking.
In the Cross-Examination (CX) Debate, OHS had a strong presence with Joselyn Marquez and Aidyn Bitner finishing in 3rd place. Their skillful arguments and teamwork earned them a spot near the top. Maddox Johnson and Will Caffey also represented OHS well, securing 5th place in CX Debate. Additionally, Jackson Spurlock-Fenner and Shaine Grard claimed 6th place, further highlighting the strength of the Olney debate team.
These accomplishments underscore the growing talent and competitive spirit of the OHS debate team, setting a high standard for future tournaments.
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Olney Community Library Holiday Hours and Updates
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Olney Community Library will operate on special hours during the Christmas and New Year holiday season. Please note the following schedule changes:
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Friday, Dec. 20: The library will close at noon.
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Dec. 23, 26-27, and Dec. 31: Open from 9 am to 1 pm.
- The library will be closed on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24), Christmas Day (Dec. 25), and New Year's Day (Jan. 1).
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Jan. 2-3: Open from 9 am to 1 pm.
- The library will resume normal hours on January 6, 2025.
Please also be aware that during the holiday period, the library’s public restrooms will not be available due to renovations.
We look forward to welcoming you in the new year and wish you a wonderful holiday season!
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JH Basketball through Dec. 31
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HS Basketball through Dec. 31
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Dec. 20 - vs. Nocona, 2 pm
Dec. 27-28 - @ Winters Tournament
Dec. 31 - @ Seymour, 10 am
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A Message on Safe Storage of Firearms
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Dear Parent or Guardian:
Texas law now requires school districts to distribute information to parents and guardians about the safe storage of firearms. The attached information will help you learn about options for, as well as how to talk to your child and others about, the safe storage of firearms.
In 2021, 4,613 Texans experienced gun-related deaths. The Texas Department of State Health
Services (SHS) reports that 55% of Texas firearms deaths in 2020 were suicides and that 59% of all suicides in Texas were by firearms. Suicide attempts involving firearms have a 90% fatality rate. Restricting access to guns is critical in reducing acts of violence, whether as self-harm or towards others. Acts of mass violence and interpersonal violence often end in suicide.
It is unlawful to store, transport, or abandon an unsecured firearm in a place where children
are likely to be and can obtain access to the firearm. Under Texas Penal Code 46.13, a person commits the offense of making a firearm accessible to a child if the child gains access to a readily dischargeable firearm, and the person with criminal negligence:
• Failed to secure the firearm; or
• Left the firearm in a place to which the person knew or should have known the child
would gain access
The penalty for allowing a child access to a firearm can range from a Class C misdemeanor (punishable by a $500 fine) to a Class A misdemeanor (punishable by a $4000 fine, a year in jail, or a combination of the two).
Texas exempts the purchase of firearm safety equipment from Texas Sales and Use Tax.
Remember, a gun should be stored unloaded in a safe or locked container, with ammunition
stored elsewhere. You can learn more and find additional resources from the Texas Department of Public Safety at https://safegunstoragetexas.com.
Safe gun storage is critical to preventing suicide, unintentional shootings, and other tragedies.
Sincerely,
Gunter Rodriguez
Director of Safety and Security
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Do you have positive Olney ISD news YOU want to share? Tell me about it - send me an email! webmaster@olneyisd.net
You can reach out via the following links with any questions or concerns:
- (940) 564-3519
- webmaster@olneyisd.net
- www.olneyisd.net
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