Orono Public Schools

10/29/2026

🏆🏈 Congratulations to the Orono Unified Flag Football team on winning the state championship last week at the first Unified Champion Schools State Flag Football Tournament hosted by Special Olympics Minnesota!

Competing in Division B, where at least 50% of the points must be scored by athletes, the team rose to the occasion despite a few challenges, including having just four athletes on the roster and two players new to flag football. The Spartans won their first two round-robin games, advanced through the semifinals and defeated Osseo High School in the championship game. Throughout the tournament, the team demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship, teamwork and determination.

Congratulations to...
⭐Athletes and partners | Maddie Cardinal, Gideon Fish, Alayjah (Laylay) Gilmer, Grant Hansen, Molly Holasek, Connor Larson, Cora Palm, Ella Palm, Grant Pierson, and Jake Thalhuber
⭐Coaches | Finn Dyvik, Lucas LaBelle, Ben Staloch, and Devin Warner
⭐Unified Staff Advisor | Michelle Swenson

Way to go, Spartans!

10/28/2026

Congratulations to Mike Daniels, our Districtwide Buildings & Grounds Custodian, on receiving the Metro Chapter Award from the Minnesota Educational Facilities Management Professionals Association! 👏

This award recognizes the essential contributions of staff who help keep our schools safe, welcoming, and well-maintained. Mike was nominated by his colleague, Tim Domka, who highlighted Mike’s work ethic, stewardship of school property, creativity, and initiative. He also recognized Mike for promoting sustainability, mentoring others, representing the community positively.

Thank you, Mike, for all you do for Orono Schools!

10/26/2026

We are so proud to recognize our Class of 2027 National Merit Semifinalist and Commended Students. 👏⬇

Ethan Weiss, Liam Barkley, Ezra Cowden, Adam Haislet, Sophie Middleton, Cora Palm, Ella Palm, Carly Rausch, Zack Rothe, and Dylan Rutherford.

Ethan Weiss was named a National Merit Semifinalist and will continue on in the competition. All others are National Merit Commended Students.

More than 1.3 million students entered the 2027 National Merit Scholarship competition, with approximately 16,000 students named Semifinalists and 34,000 recognized as Commended Students nationwide. This achievement represents an exceptional level of academic accomplishment and opens doors to post-high-school opportunities. Students enter the National Merit Scholarship competition by taking the PSAT/NMSQT exam in fall of junior year.

Congratulations on this impressive academic achievement!

10/26/2026

Join us tonight at 7 p.m. at Wayzata Community Church for the OHS Fall Choir Concert 🎶

The community is invited to attend a musical or dramatic performance featuring our talented students this fall & winter season. 🍂🎶🎺🎭

Please visit the Arts & Community Events webpage for all of the performance dates and details.
➡ oronoschools.org/events

10/23/2026

Friday Flashback: Character COUNTS! 🤩👏

Some things never go out of style — including great character! As we wrap up Character COUNTS! Week, let's flash back to 2009. Here are six Orono Intermediate School fourth graders highlighting the six Pillars of Character at an all-school assembly.

Just one year earlier, in 2008, Orono Schools became Minnesota’s first School of Character! Nearly two decades later, Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Respect, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship continue to shape our school community at every grade level across each building.

Does this photo bring back memories? Do you know someone pictured here? Tell us in the comments! ⬇

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10/23/2026

Friday Flashback: The Time Capsule ⏳🏫🎞

Let’s look back at a remarkable moment in Orono Schools' history! During Homecoming week, we celebrated the opening of a time capsule placed in the cornerstone of Orono High School on May 6, 1951. Hidden for 75 years, the handmade copper box offered a fascinating glimpse into our district’s earliest days and the community members whose vision helped establish our schools. We were excited to unveil the contents and share these historical documents with descendants of the original school board, legacy alumni, community leaders, and friends as showcased in this video: https://youtu.be/wFppmRkI1Ds

We invite you to dig into a little history with us!

◾ Visit oronoschools.org/history to view photos and scanned documents from the time capsule.
◾View the October 12 School Board presentation on our early district history | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo7hLDcjzLk&t=666s
◾ Share your photos and memories! Email [email protected]. We plan to share our history all year long through social media.

In 1951, a time capsule was placed in the cornerstone of Orono’s fi...

10/22/2026

Congratulations Boys Soccer. Next up - State Tournament! ⚽

Section Champs! State Bound!

Boys Soccer outlasts Delano in dramatic overtime fashion to claim the Section 6AA Championship and advance to the State Tournament!

Spartans scored the stunning equalizer with just 6 seconds remaining in regulation before picking up the game-winner in overtime!

10/21/2026

Starting October 26, please bring non-perishable food and basic need item donations to any school building for the We Scare Hunger Food Drive! 🎃🥫

Help us Scare Hunger and support local families in need!

From October 26 - November 2, Orono students and families can donate non-perishable food and basic needs items to support WeCAN, IOCP and the Spartan Basic Needs Closets.

Drop boxes will be available at each school building throughout the week.

Requested donations include granola bars, individually packaged snacks, beans, pasta, white rice, fruit cups, soups and other non-perishable items.

Thank you for helping us support our community!

10/20/2026

🧡 Let’s turn our school ORANGE for Unity Day!

Tomorrow, October 21, we invite everyone to wear orange to send a message of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion!

Celebrated during National Bullying Prevention Month, Unity Day reminds us that each of us plays an important role in creating a school community where everyone feels safe, valued, and included. These values are at the heart of our school’s mission and our commitment to building strong character.

We can’t wait to see our campus filled with orange and “Be Kind” shirts on Wednesday!

10/19/2026

Congratulations Mollie & Bluma. Best of luck at state! 🎾

STATE BOUND!

Congratulations to Mollie Hollerman and Bluma Molitor on qualifying for the Girls Tennis State Tournament in doubles competition after earning the Section 5AA Doubles Championship!