Fox Cities News

On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, school board members, teachers, and staff from across the Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) gathered at the Alberta Kimball Auditorium at Oshkosh West High School for the District’s annual Convocation.

Each year, Convocation serves as an opportunity for all district staff to reconvene after summer break and set goals for the upcoming school year.

Superintendent Bryan Davis delivered opening remarks, officially welcoming all staff back to the district after a week of district-wide professional development. Dr. Davis acknowledged the importance of staff well-being and celebrated how staff recharged over the summer to start the school year refreshed and ready for students.

OASD School Board President Beth Wyman spoke about the importance of staff wellness and bringing their best selves to schools to positively impact students. Wyman encouraged staff to create positive and supportive learning environments for students to foster growth and a better future for the community.

New staff members, along with those who have served for over 10, 20, 30 years, and one member who has served for over 45 years within the District were honored by Dr. Davis during his address.

Following this presentation, Tyrese Haliburton (Oshkosh North Class of 2018), was invited on stage for a question-and-answer session with Dr. Davis.

Haliburton, a two-time NBA All-Star and recent Olympic gold medalist, discussed his experience at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, his self-improvement efforts, and the lasting impact that OASD staff had on his life and career.

“If you can inspire even one kid to do the right thing and create a lasting memory for them, that’s so valuable," said Haliburton. "I could name every teacher I’ve ever had - from kindergarten to twelfth-grade - and I could tell you a lesson I’ve learned from every single one of them,” he continued. “There’s always somebody who comes into a kid’s life and makes an impact on them that they will remember, and that could be you. Thank you all for the work that you do to create great young human beings.”

The event concluded with a performance of the national anthem sung by Oshkosh North senior Anna Adams.

Afterward, Haliburton took photos with staff from his former schools and reunited with educators who taught him when he was a student in OASD.

The following day, Haliburton held a Procamp at Oshkosh North High School to connect with local children passionate about basketball and inspire young people to work hard towards their passions.

Looking ahead, Haliburton shared his commitment to giving back to his hometown community: “Nothing means more to me than to give back here in Oshkosh. It’s something I plan to do for a long time moving forward because I value this community so much,” he said.