Welcome to school! Samantha Scalise of Grand Portage “dissects a frog” using the new whiteboard technology at Oshki Ogimaag Charter School at a community open house on Monday, August 31. More on the new school on page B2.
Before a ribbon cutting and tobacco offering ceremony at Oshki Ogimaag (School of New Leaders) Charter School in Grand Portage on Monday, August 31, students and parents excitedly explored classrooms and introduced themselves to teachers and staff.
Many children, parents, and grandparents have already been in the school building, which was formerly the Grand Portage Elementary campus of ISD 166. The charter for Oshki Ogimaag was approved by the Minnesota Department of Education in August 2008 and the last classes for ISD 166 were held last spring. Since then, the community has been preparing for this day. Oshki Ogimaag staff greeted everyone and cheerfully showed off their sparkling clean and ready-for-learning classrooms. Families checked out new computers and the high-tech chalkboard alternative white boards. Students happily perused their personalized binders of school information.
Rick Novitsky, known as “Grampa Ranger Rick” by many school students, was on hand, sharing information on the new construction underway at Grand Portage State Park. The park has hosted school field trips in the past and Novitsky said the new park visitor center will offer even more. He said the park will serve as the Oshki Ogimaag “eastern campus.”
Staff photos/Rhonda Silence A delightful celebration was held on Monday, August 31 to dedicate Oshki Ogimaag (School of New Leaders) Charter School in Grand Portage. Upper left: The community got to meet the Oshki Ogimaag staff. (L-R) Bonita Poitra, Mary Bjorngjeld, Sherri Moe, Cecelia Vondall, Jeff Stork, Bridget LeGarde, Patty Foley, Keith Bergeron. (Not pictured Jacki Kozlowski, business manager; Jeanne Vogel, cook; Larry Deschampe, maintenance/bus driver; Heather Mantsch, IT). Above: Allan Aubid, Oshki Ogimaag school board vice-chair called all the students forward to cut the colorful ribbon, officially opening the new school!
In addition to working with Grand Portage State Park, Oshki Ogimaag plans to interact with community elders and with the staff of Grand Portage Land Trust.
At 6:00 p.m., everyone gathered for a brief dedication of the school. Oshki Ogimaag founding School Board Member Bob Swanson welcomed the community and introduced the Stonebridge Singers—the drum group made up of students at Oshki Ogimaag—John Pierre, Brent Sorenson, Marcus Logan, David Logan, Kyler Deschampe, Trevor Deschampe, Patrick Pierre Jr. and their mentors Bob Vogel, Wally Deschampe, and Patrick Pierre.
After the drum song, Al Aubid, the vice-chair of the Oshki Ogimaag School Board, said it has taken a lot of time and hard work to create the school. “We are so proud of our new school,” he said. “It is a real honor for our community and we hope to see more community support.”
Aubid invited all of the school children to come forward to cut the colorful ribbon, to officially open the Charter School. A flurry of kids accepted scissors from Oshki Ogimaag Director Sherri Moe and lined up to cut the ribbon. They snipped and clipped and with a cheer, colorful swatches of fabric were tossed in the air or clutched as souvenirs.
Moe thanked the excited students for helping cut the ribbon and said, “I am so very lucky to come to school every day and see all of you! I have a wonderful job, but I couldn’t do it all by myself! I am very happy to have a terrific team.”
She called all of the teachers and paraprofessionals forward and introduced them, asking them to share a reason why they were happy to be at Oshki Ogimaag. Reasons ranged from Jeff Stork explaining that he was pleased to be there because of the warm and generous welcome from the community, to Cecilia Vondall who said she was looking forward to working with the future. Bridget LeGarde summed up most of the thoughts of most of the staff when she said, “I am happy to be here because you kids are awesome!”
Upper middle: Madeline and Jasmine Rankin check out the new computers in the Oshki Ogimaag computer room. Above: Some of Grand Portage’s new leaders—the Stonebridge Singers— offered a drum song. (L-R) Chase Gangler, Brent Sorenson, David Logan, John Pierre (partially hidden), Patrick Pierre, Kyler Deschampe.
Moe then called up the Oshki Ogimaag school board members in attendance. She commending the board—Chair Steven Standing Cloud, Vice-chair Allan Aubid, Treasurer Rosie Novitsky, Secretary Bridget LeGarde, Haley Brickner, Robert Swanson, and John Morrin for their two years of work. The board gave a special thank you to Grand Portage Education Director Anna Deschampe. “All this wouldn’t have been possible,” said Moe. “Without our leader, Anna.”
Billy Blackwell offered a blessing of the school with a pipe ceremony, explaining that he was calling on the four directions, on Mother Earth, and the Big Lake. He pointed to the old log school across the street, noting that it was built in 1937 and had served Grand Portage children all that time. “I am asking for strength in the community to continue the tradition of our school,” he said.
He lit his tobacco pipe and faced the four directions, speaking the blessing. Some words are now familiar to even non-Ojibwe speakers—Oshki Ogimaag. After the blessing, some of the school’s new leaders—the Stonebridge Singers— offered another drum song.
In Grand Portage tradition, all in attendance were then invited to a feast. Moe said, “I think there are some students who want to come to school just to enjoy our cook, Jeanne’s wonderful lunches!”
School starts at Oshki Ogimaag on Tuesday, September 8.
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