School District of the Menomonie Area

The following is an synopsis of the good work being done at Oaklawn Elementary by Principal Lori Smith and her staff.

Oaklawn Elementary Update

by Lori Smith

      Tuesday was a big day. I was invited to speak to Mr. Giese's fifth graders at Downsville and Mrs. Latz' fourth graders at River Heights. This is the "grand finale" of my rock climbing slide show. It's beginning to feel inauthentic. I don't do technical rock climbing anymore. A long time ago, I did. My old slides are still interesting. At the beginning of the year, I used them to illustrate analogies about leadership and teamwork in my opening day talk to SDMA staff.

We have received a couple of questions about the Wakanda program. Thank you. Here they are:

Q. I thought the 4K was a two-year trial period and then had to be self-supporting. Is an addition or new building part of the formula to be
     self-supporting?

Have you ever seen South Pacific? I think it is the best musical (except for our high school's production of Suessical the Musical). For starters, it was ahead of its time in making a statement against racism and discrimination. Then, it has that great Rodgers and Hammerstein music and it is based on a James Michener story. How can you lose?

Being around kids all day, I feel a lot younger than I am. But my roots betray me. You see, my life has a sound track. I'm not a very good musician, but I love music, listen to it all the time, and bang around on the guitar. Songs run through my mind corresponding to my mood. They are NOT songs from the 80s and 90s.

Several residents have contacted me about the passing of revered Menomonie teacher, Marian Strand.