Message From Onondaga Road School Principal-November 21, 2025
Dear Onondaga Road families,
There are so many great things happening at Onondaga Road that I’m excited to share with you!
Our fourth graders have been diving into computer science, working collaboratively on a coding project to create their very own “Lights on the Lake” designs. It has been inspiring to see their creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork shine as they learn new STEM skills.
This week also brought several opportunities for our buddy classes to come together for Thanksgiving activities. Watching our older students mentor and support our younger learners continues to be one of the most heartwarming parts of our school community. These cross-grade partnerships build confidence, empathy, and strong relationships across classrooms.
Our first graders had an especially exciting week. They wrapped up their unit on the human body with a hands-on Hospital Day. They also prepared items for their beloved Stone Soup Thanksgiving tradition, a celebration of sharing and community that our students look forward to every year.
We were also treated to a special visit from WGIS students who previewed their upcoming musical, Alice in Wonderland. Our students and staff loved the performance, and it provided a wonderful example of the arts in action and what our younger learners can look forward to as they continue through our district.
Finally, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for your generosity during Paige’s Pajamarama. Thanks to your support, our school alone raised more than $450 to benefit pediatric cancer research. Your kindness makes a meaningful difference, and we are grateful for the way our school community comes together to support important causes.
Thank you for continuing to partner with us. We are proud of our students, our staff, and the strong, caring community that makes our school such a special place.
Respectfully,
Michelle Collier
Hello Onondaga Road Families,
I wanted to share a few notes about upcoming events at school.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
We are looking forward to welcoming you into the building for parent-teacher conferences. These meetings are an important opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, celebrate successes, and set goals together.
Early dismissal days for parent-teacher conferences:
Friday, November 21
Monday, November 24
Tuesday, November 25
Dismissal will begin at 11:10 a.m. on all three days.
If your child’s dismissal arrangements will be different due to the half-days, please send a written note or notify the main office so we can ensure a smooth and safe dismissal.
Picture Retakes
If your child was absent on picture day or would like another photo taken, picture retakes will be available.
Picture retake day is Thursday, December 4.
Canned Food Drive
Our school is currently holding a canned and non-perishable food drive to help support local families through the Salvation Army.
We are collecting non-perishable food items such as canned vegetables, soup, pasta, rice, peanut butter, and cereal.
All donations will go directly to families in need within our community.
Collections will continue through December 5.
Thank you in advance for your generosity—every contribution makes a meaningful difference.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Main Office.
Message From Onondaga Road School Principal-November 7, 2025
Dear Onondaga Road families,
There are so many great things happening at Onondaga Road that I’m excited to share with you!
Today, we held a special Veterans Day event to honor and learn from those who have served our country. We were fortunate to welcome SSGT Tyler Pledger, husband of 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Pledger, who spoke with our 3rd and 4th grade students about his 10 years of service in the United States Army. SSGT Pledger served as both Military Police and in Air Traffic Control Ordinance with the 101st Airborne Division and the 10th Mountain Division. He deployed to Afghanistan twice, participating in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom Sentinel. It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to hear firsthand about the dedication, courage, and sacrifices made by our veterans. We are so grateful for his service and for taking the time to share his experiences with our students.
We also took time this week to celebrate students who have earned Wildcat Wows for making positive choices and showing great character. On the first Friday of each month, I draw a few Wildcat Wows from our collection jar to recognize students who consistently go above and beyond. Today, our winners enjoyed a special lunch with me and we made a fun turkey craft together!
Finally, Officer Charlie has begun training a new group of students for Safety Patrol. We’re so proud of our older students for stepping up as leaders and role models to help keep our school community safe and welcoming.
Thank you for your continued support in making Onondaga Road such a special place to learn!
Respectfully,
Michelle Collier
Message From Onondaga Road School Principal-October 31, 2025
Dear Onondaga Road families,
Thank you so much for your flexibility with our Halloween Parade. We had a wonderful time indoors, and I’m excited to share some pictures from the parade and classroom parties with you all!
Happy Halloween,
Michelle Collier
Message From Onondaga Road School Principal-October 24, 2025
Dear Onondaga Road families,
We’ve had a wonderful couple of weeks here at school, and you can feel the excitement building as Halloween approaches!
Please take a moment to review the important information below (and the note being sent home with all students) regarding our Halloween celebrations. Since this year’s Halloween falls on a half day, we’ve made a few adjustments. The biggest change is that students should come to school wearing their costumes and will keep them on for dismissal. Please remember that masks are not allowed, and all costumes should be school-appropriate.
This week, Officer Brand visited to talk with students about personal safety—a timely and important reminder. We also loved seeing some of our buddy classes come together to read a Halloween story and create a fun seasonal craft.
Respectfully,
Michelle Collier
Message From Onondaga Road School Principal-October 10, 2025
Dear Onondaga Road families,
We had so many wonderful experiences to celebrate this week at Onondaga Road! Our First Responder’s Day was an incredible opportunity for students to learn more about the community agencies that help keep us safe every day. We are so grateful to our local first responders for taking the time to visit and share their important work with our Wildcats.
Students also enjoyed some hands-on science fun with Jack Gramlich’s engaging lessons and were treated to a fantastic performance by Rev Theatre, which brought creativity and storytelling to life. It’s been a week filled with curiosity, learning, and community spirit!
Respectfully,
Michelle Collier
Message From Onondaga Road School Principal-September 26, 2025
Dear Onondaga Road families,
It is wonderful to see how much our students have already grown in just a few short weeks! Across all grade levels, we are focusing on goal-setting and developing a growth mindset through our Second Step Social-Emotional Curriculum. Students are learning that setting goals helps them stay motivated and allows them to recognize their progress. We are also reinforcing the idea that mistakes are valuable opportunities for learning and growth. Our second graders set goals for the playground and spent time practicing new skills outside today.
In the coming days, we will begin our Universal Screening in ELA and Math. These assessments provide us with important information to ensure every student receives the academic support they need to succeed.
We are excited that some of our fourth graders are getting started with Safety Patrol. Thank you to Officer Charlie for working with them and reminding them that they are role-models for our school. These student leaders will be assisting with dismissal each day, helping to ensure that the process runs smoothly and safely for everyone.
With the beautiful weather expected next week, we will also be taking the opportunity to practice our required safety drills. These drills are an important part of keeping our school community safe and prepared. We conducted a Lockdown Drill today and the students did a great job following the procedures.
Thank you for your continued support at home as we partner together in your child’s learning journey!
Respectfully,
Michelle Collier