OKAW VALLEY AND EXCELLENCE

2012 Spring Newsletter

Okaw Valley High School

Greetings and welcome to the “Principal’s Page.”

Dear Reader,

     We have had an excellent 2011-2012 school year. This week our graduating class of 2012 finishes their coursework here and gets set to continue learning in another venue. Many have chosen to attend 2 year institutions in order to save some money, then opt for a 4 year university to complete their degree. Some of our graduates are headed out of state to pursue their education elsewhere, and still some are going to attend technical academies. Our goal all along was for them to be prepared for whatever path they choose beyond Okaw Valley High School. It will be a sad day for us when these seniors move on and particularly for me, as they were the first students I had in class upon arriving at the district almost 9 years ago. I wish them nothing but the best. I also want to encourage them to continue to have a teachable spirit.

      I also would like to inform you that we have hired 2 new staff members to carry the mantle of our soon to be retirees Mrs. Doan and Mr. Reynolds. Mr. Jesse Winget is our new biology teacher and he come to us from Jacksonville. He is certified to teach the life sciences and also has a masters degree in sociology from Western Illinois University. Our new driver education/PE/and health teacher is Mr. Brent Swansen. He is a longtime personal trainer and has his masters degree in sports management and marketing from the University of Illinois. We welcome them both to the district and more specifically to Okaw Valley High School. They will both be great additions to a very strong certified faculty.

     Lastly, I want to encourage the parents of Okaw Valley High School to provide learning opportunities for their kids over the summer months. In my house, the Xbox will somehow disappear and we will take long walks as a family as we refresh and prepare for the 2012-2013 school year. Thank you for your continued support as we strive to prepare our students to be ready to succeed in a college/technical academy or pursue a career of their choice. 

     I would also like to extend an invitation to you our parents and community stakeholders to come see the excellent educational experiences that are being offered here at Okaw Valley HS or feel free to visit the high school office to have any of your questions or comments addressed.

Thank you so much for your consideration.

Respectfully,

Eric Bruder

 For questions or comments, please email me at : brudere@okawvalley.org