Grades 7-12 on Monday, K-6 on Wednesday
Classes for students at Butterfield-Odin Public School (B-OPS) will begin next week, with grades 7-12 back in session on Monday, August 22, while students in K-6 will have their first school day of the 2016-2017 school year on Wednesday, August 14.
Grades K-6 will have early entrance conferences on Monday, August 22 and Tuesday August 23 prior to heading to their classrooms the following day.
The most notable scheduling change is in the high school, as classes shift to a six-period secondary school schedule, making the change from the previous five-period schedule.
In the elementary, there will be an increased focus on reading. Each day, students will have available an average of 30 minutes just for reading. Each classroom is now equipped with a miniature library, at a cost $1,000 per classroom. This will provide students in each classroom close access to books – with the ability to pull information on topics being learned from a variety of different sources. Studies show that when students have more of an access to books, reading jumps 65%.
As the school completes the search for a half-time interim superintendent, half-time Acting Superintendent Sandi Novak remains at the helm. Novak will serve until September 1, and longer if needed to find a permanent solution.
New faculty faces include Preschool Teacher Megan Lindquist, 7-12 Math Teacher Katlin Dlase and Director of Bands Josh Ponkins. A science teacher and director of choirs remain needed to fill out the staff.
