Welcome to the OVES Principal's Corner

You may be asking yourself just what is the Principal's Corner.  It isn't a newsletter in the pure sense but a location that you may go to read what is on my mind.  From month to month it will be my goal to bring information concerning educational issues, current events, school events and happenings or other topics that might have an impact on you or your children.  I invite emails concerning the topics and your thoughts on that topic. 

Who is Douglas McCausland?  I have been in the Bethany/Okaw Valley school district since 1990.  I was hired as the district band director and quickly fell in love with the district and towns in the area.  I am very proud of the band program that I help build and love talking with former students and parents of the memories from that time.  After 14 years as the band director I became the district technology coordinator.  I, with the help of the district, am self taught in terms of technology.  I worked very hard to give the students and staff of Bethany/Okaw Valley the best technology that we could afford.  After working closely with administrators in that position I became aware that I posess skills and traits that would be benefical in a leadership role.  I have earned two masters degrees, a masters in Educational Technology from SIU and a Masters in Education from EIU.

 I come from a small district about an hour north of here.  It also was a small district and I feel that has steered not only my personnal life but my career as well.  The values of honesty, hard work, caring for your neighbor and that children are the most important thing to a community were embedded in me by the small districts that I attended.  I am a straight-forward person who will generally tell you how it is instead of telling you what you want to hear.  I also believe that by talking through problems that arise we can come to a mutual understanding and a sense of respect for each other and their stances.

You will get to know me better as we go along, but there are two things to remember about me, I care for your children deeply and I don't believe in yelling as a way of communication.

Until Next Month,

Doug McCausland

December 2011

Happy Holidays! 

Hope, joy and a sense of wonder are in the days ahead of us.  But we will also be getting into the cold and flu season as well.  Today there is a wind chill and it is cold outside.  Please remember to dress your child in warm clothes for playing outside.  Coats, gloves and hats are not the option but should be required from now until it begins to warm this spring.  Also remember if your child has a fever that they should stay home 24 hours after the fever has broke.  Although we want your child at school everyday we also know that if they come back too soon that others could become sick and miss school.  Students will be going outside whenever the temperature is above 15 degrees wind chill.  If you want your child to stay inside, please send a note.

Snow will also be falling soon, have you signed up for your automatic notification?  If not go to the District tab on this website and click on the WSOY link.  Once there go to the WSOY text alerts and follow the instructions.  It's quick and easy.  Whenever we close school you will receive an text or email alert sent to your computer and/or phone that will give you the details.  If you do signup for this service please contact the office at OVES so we will know that you are receiving alerts.

Thank you for visiting my page,

Douglas McCausland

November 2011

Hello from the Principal's Office,

There has been a large number of abduction attempts in Central Illinois over the last few weeks.  Champaign and Danville have been on the lookout for predators and just a little over a week ago an abduction attempt took place in Mattoon.  It seems to be moving closer the Bethany/Findlay area.  I urge parents and community members not to fall to the thinking " that's happening in the big towns that won't happen around here" syndrome.  Always be on the lookout for strange vehicles and people in our towns, especially those who are hanging around schools, parks or where students walking home.

We decided as a school that this needed to be addressed and so we contracted Jeff DeVore to present his STRANGER DANGER program to both OVES and OVMS.  After viewing the presentation I was glad that we had taken this path.  Mr. DeVore discussed the various issues such as tricks strangers use to lure children, environments that may promote child abduction and tips for students and parents on how best to limit abduction possibilities.  OVES may look into additional sources to continue to teach our children on how to recognize and react to abduction attempts.

This weekend we lose an hour due to Daylight Saving Time.  Remember to set your clocks back 1 hr. on November 6th.  This also creates more opportunities for abduction attempts because limited daylight hours and students walking or playing after school.  Please adjust your child's play routine so they know to be home before dark.

Until next month,

Mr. McCausland

September 8, 2011

Wow, we are in the 2nd week of September, where does the time go?  The start of the new year has been fast and furious and with the new year comes change.  Today we are trying a new Testing Day.  The Test Day is an effort to complete our Fall Benchmarking more efficiently.  While classroom teachers are working with individual students the remaining students will be on a rotation schedule meeting with our MALT staff members.  Students will be working on various projects to display in their classrooms and hallways during Grandparents Day/Open House next week on the 13th. 

Another change?  The weather, wow what a difference in temperature.  At the time of this posting it is 54 degrees.  This time last week it was in the 70's.  Dressing your children in weather such as this is difficult because it is cool in the mornings but very comfortable in the afternoons.  Make sure that your child has a light jacket or sweater in the mornings as it is chilly before school.

I want to invite all parents of OVES to join us at the year's first PTO meeting.  It will be held on September 12th at 4:00pm. in our cafeteria.  This is an opportunity to support our school and have a voice in activities sponsored by the PTO.

Lastly I want to invite parents and community members to volunteer in out school.  We can always use adults to listen to students read, help with assignments or help when we have events such as the above mentioned Testing Day.  If you are interested please contact Stacie for details.

Have a good September!

September 30, 2011

We are nearing the end of the first quarter which is October 14th and once again I ask myself where did the time go.  Parent/Teacher conferences are Oct. 6th and 7th and I hope that all parents come to participate in the education of your child. 

I believe that we can't do our best in educating your child without your help.  You may have heard me refer to the Africian proverb "It takes a village to raise a child".  This proverb guides my thought of the school/parent relationship when educating your child.  The school offers children a safe enviroment where a child may grow academically, socially and emotionaly. But we are only half of the equation.  Research shows that when parents are involved in their child's education children achievement is higher than those without parental involvment.  I invite all parents to become partners with our school to help your child reach their full potential.

If you haven't provided the office your email address please send it to ovesoffice@okawvalley.org so we can better communicate with you.  Also I know many have signed up for school closing information with WSOY.  Our goal is to have everyone signed up so you can receive notifacation of school closing.  When we know you are signed up we will take your name off our calling list.

Well that's it for another month.  As always if you questions or comments don't hesitate to contact me by emailing me at dmccausland@okawvalley.org  I look forward to hearing from you..

Until next month,

Douglas McCausland

Please submit feedback to techdept@okawvalley.org