An Owego Fire Department truck leads 14 buses through the Owego-Apalachin School District main campus on Jan. 6. Nearly 500 students returned to the new Owego Elementary School following the holiday break. (Photos by JoAnn R. Walter)
A lead bus adorned with a signature banner that read, “Bringing Our Children Home,” travels along Sheldon Guile Boulevard in Owego on Jan. 6, and was part of a parade through downtown Owego which brought nearly 500 students to the new Owego Elementary School.
Fourteen buses filled with eager Owego Elementary School students arrive at the main campus on Jan. 6. Nearly 500 students returned to the new Owego Elementary School following the holiday break.
Community members, teachers, and staff greeted students on Jan. 6 at the new Owego Elementary School.
Community members, teachers, and staff cheer as buses arrive on Jan. 6 at the new Owego Elementary School.
Tony Quaranta, Owego Apalachin transportation director, greets a bus on Jan. 6 at the new Owego Elementary School.
Students walk the yellow brick path to the entrance of the new OES on Jan. 6, greeted by teachers and staff, keeping with a “Wizard of Oz” theme used as a farewell at Linnaeus West in December.
Students are greeted by teachers, staff, and the community on the first day at the new OES on Jan. 6.
Students are all smiles as they walk the yellow brick path to the entrance of the new OES on Jan. 6.
Students walk the yellow brick path to the entrance of the new OES on Jan. 6, greeted by teachers and staff.
Teachers and staff escort students through the main entrance hallway on the first day at the new OES on Jan. 6.
Architect David Degnon visits Darlene Morris’ fourth grade class at the new OES on Jan. 6.
Students in Stephen Ferraro’s fifth grade class, along with Teacher Aide Julie Lamb, pose in their classroom at the new OES on Jan. 6, sporting their shirts of the day, “There’s no place like home.”
Fourteen buses filled with eager Owego Elementary School (OES) students assembled at the Owego Treadway Inn parking lot the morning of Jan. 6 for an exciting parade through downtown Owego. Led by a bus adorned with a banner that read, “Bringing Our Children Home,” the busloads of children were escorted by police cars and joined by fire department and emergency vehicles as they rode through the streets of Owego as well as around the entire school campus.
Nearly 500 students returned to school following the holiday break, with the added excitement of “going back home” to the new OES, and were greeted by teachers and staff and other community members at the entrance of the new school. A brisk, yet sunny day which started in the single digits didn’t seem to stop the smiles and cheers as students walked a yellow brick path into the new school.
Students in kindergarten through fourth grade temporarily relocated to the former Linnaeus W. West Elementary School in Endicott, N.Y. following the flood of 2011, which was the longest commute of all OES students who had to relocate elsewhere.
OES Teacher Assistant, Ellen Cronk, was busy in the main hallway on the first day making sure students knew which way to go. Cronk lives nearby and can even walk to school if she chooses, a welcome relief after driving to Linnaeus West.
As a resident of the neighborhood near the school, Cronk understands first-hand the devastation that occurred from the flood of 2011, and expressed a sentiment shared by many, “It’s just good being back home at OES.”
OES Teacher Aide, Julie Lamb, greeted students at the front door on the first day. Lamb’s fifth grade class relocated to the middle school and she is pleased that all of the students are together again in one school.
“It’s such a beautiful school,” Lamb said, and added, “We’re excited about the new playground, too.”
Architect David Degnon was a special guest at the school on the first day, and several students who met him gave him an A-plus on the design and look of the new building.
In Darlene Morris’ fourth grade class, Degnon visited students and pointed out examples of special features at the school such as the large group instruction spaces that adjoin hallways, a terrace deck where students can enjoy activities outside like crafting artwork, and also pointed out the significant light that filters into classrooms for a better overall learning experience.
Morris explained that her students were kindergarteners when the flood happened, and commented, “We’re thankful to be home now. The kids are in awe of the new OES.”
In Stephen Ferraro’s fifth grade class, Degnon received several thoughtful responses from students when he asked how they liked the new school.
From “it’s colorful and bold,” to “I like the views and the stairs,” to “it’s really 21st century,” as well as “just awesome,” the students were positive about what they had seen so far.
One of those students, Mia Merrill, who decided to wear a red and blue headpiece on the first day which promoted school colors, shared, “Some parts are bigger and more colorful, and I like the cool spaces.”
Owego Apalachin School District Superintendent, Dr. Bill Russell, rode with students in the lead bus during the parade to the new OES.
“The kids were energized,” Russell said, and noted that the children remarked how much they enjoyed seeing the fire trucks, emergency and police vehicles, as well as the community come out to welcome them home.
Russell explained that the new OES has state-of-the-art features that will fulfill the needs of students and the community for at least the next 60 or 70 years. Russell added that not only is the new OES for students, teachers and staff, but the school is also a community facility, including the auditorium which will be available for use in the future by outside organizations.
An open house is planned for parents, guardians, and families the evening of Jan. 13. A separate open house for the community will be announced. For additional information, view the district website at oacsd.org or find OA Schools on Facebook.
To view more photos from the Jan. 6 return to OES, you can like The Owego Pennysaver on Facebook. To view a video of the return, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6NKIYnSQ4Q&feature=youtu.be.
Community members, teachers and staff, including retired teachers pictured, greeted students on Jan. 6 at the new Owego Elementary School.
Students depart a school bus on the first day at the new OES on Jan. 6.
