Jackson DeGrood

Senior Donte Miller initiates the new OHS by ribbon-cutting.

The community of Owatonna voted to construct a new OHS on Nov. 9, 2019. Now in 2023, Owatonna Public Schools opened the new OHS to the public on Saturday, Sept. 23. As the new OHS opened to the public, formal ceremonies and self-guided tours were held from 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. The purpose of the formal ceremonies and self-guided tours was to provide an opportunity for the community to explore and get to know the new OHS. 

The formal ceremonies opened the new OHS to the public. There were two ceremonies presented around the new OHS: learning-stairs ceremony and front ceremony. At 11:20 a.m., representatives of local companies and ambassadors of Owatonna Public Schools participated in a formal ceremony that took place on the learning-stairs.Soon after at 11:30 a.m., ambassadors gathered around the front doors on the new OHS. During both ceremonies, representatives of local companies and ambassadors initiated the new OHS into the Owatonna Public Schools District. Furthermore, OHS Choir represented the school’s pride in both ceremonies. 

The purpose of the self-guided tours was to provide the community of Owatonna with a reference for the new OHS. As the self-guided tours progressed, specific sections of the new OHS were central to the perception of the public. Attendees entered into the new OHS, the Wenger Performing Arts Center emerged into the scope of perception. The Wenger Performing Arts Center includes a state-of-the-art auditorium and music rooms. The Wenger Performing Arts Center transitions into the commons-area centered around the Mayo Clinic Care Center: classrooms modeled around the development of a medical environment. The community was able to view specific classrooms and areas around the new OHS.

The development of the new OHS in relation to the community of Owatonna was also centered around common-areas. In specific, the Viracon Learning Commons and Cybex Fitness rooms represent the development towards concentrated spaces for educational development. 

The development of educational environments was shown to the attendees. OHS Principal Mr. Kory Kath said, “They’re going to notice the learning environments. For example, areas dedicated to culinary arts, etc. Furthermore, I believe the public is going to perceive areas centered around the education of students. Centered around state of the art education.” Furthermore, OHS choir students also provide a unique perspective to the open house. Senior Cooper Ackman said, “It provided the choir an opportunity to be represented in the public and sing the school hymn. It was an incredible opportunity for us.”

The character of the new OHS is represented through these specified common-areas. The commons area is essential to the public’s perception of the new OHS.

The open house was centered around formal ceremonies and self-guided tours. The formal ceremonies presented representatives of local companies and ambassadors of the Owatonna Public Schools in relation to the public insofar the event was attended by four to five thousand community members. In relation to the self-guided tours, the public was immersed into the perception of the new OHS. In both cases, the initiation of the new OHS into the Owatonna Public Schools District provided a way for the public to enjoy the new OHS, leaving the Owatonna community to be excited for the future.