The Husky Huddle

Genelle Morris
  • 0.0 (0)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED DAILY

This is the 'Husky Huddle,' the podcast that brings you closer to the heart of Olean City School education. Whether you're a parent, student, teacher, or a proud member of our community, this podcast is dedicated to providing insightful conversations, expert advice, and a closer look at what makes our district truly exceptional. 

  1. APR 10

    Practice Does Not Start Until You Lock In

    The best high school basketball stories aren’t always about the final score, they’re about what a team becomes when every possession feels like a test. We’re joined by Olean seniors Adrian Bohdanowycz and Joe Mest for a real look at a season shaped by tight games, tough practices, and a playoff run that proved how far belief and execution can carry you. If you love varsity basketball, small-town gyms, and the mental side of competition, this conversation hits home. We dig into the moments that defined their year: early close losses that taught late-game composure, senior leadership that kept the group steady, and the specific practice intensity that separates good teams from great ones. Adrian shares his focus on becoming a threat to pass and score, while Joe explains why “get better every day” becomes a standard you either live up to or you don’t. They also talk about team chemistry, the games where the group truly clicked, and how a smaller roster can become tighter and tougher. The playoff run brings it all into focus, including the reminder that seeding doesn’t win games, execution does. We talk about preparing for a sectional final against a team you already know, playing for a community that shows up in force, and handling a loss with pride when the opponent simply shoots at an unreal level. Adrian and Joe reflect on going from nervous freshmen to confident seniors, the life lessons coaches teach beyond basketball, and the advice they want younger players in the program to carry forward. If this helped you think about leadership, confidence, or team culture, subscribe to Husky Huddle, share the episode with a basketball fan, and leave a review so more people can find these stories.

    12 min

  2. MAR 11

    A Community Fundraiser Basketball Game That Packs The Gym

    The Husky Huddle

    11 min

  3. FEB 6

    Two Seniors Reflect On Growth, Confidence, And A 38–30 Win

    The Husky Huddle

    3 min

  4. 11/12/2025

    Family-Friendly Events: Bingo, Cookies, And Community Connection

    We share details for Family Fall Fun Night at Washington West with activities that welcome every family and student, plus what’s ahead with Cookies with Santa and an affordable Holiday Shop. Volunteers, prizes, and simple traditions build a warm, inclusive school community. • Family Fall Fun Night on Friday 5:30–7 pm at Washington West • Bingo with prizes and announcements throughout • Temporary tattoos and cookie decorating with 200 cookies provided • Building-wide scavenger hunt with prize for completed sheets • Shift from Halloween to inclusive fall theme • Student and university volunteers supporting stations • Cookies with Santa on Friday 5 December • Holiday Shop with all items $2 and gift wrapping • Every student guaranteed at least one gift to take home • Future events teased, with ParentSquare updates We invite all of our families to come and join us this Friday, November 14th, 5:30 to 7 for the Family Fall Fun Night. Of course, check in on Parent Square as more events are shared.

    7 min

  5. 11/12/2025

    Celebrating Academic Excellence At Olean High School

    Recognition shouldn’t be rare—or reserved for a select few. We sit down with social studies teacher and Olean parent Joelle Perry to share how a homegrown honor roll celebration turned quiet effort into visible pride, grew participation to hundreds of students, and set a new standard for academic culture at Olean High School. Joelle traces the spark back to middle school traditions and a candid post-observation chat that asked, “What could we do better?” The answer became a three-times-a-year celebration that blends heartfelt teacher tributes with irresistible incentives: a warm breakfast of home fries, bacon, and local donuts for early honorees, and a third-marking-period push for high honors capped by an extreme ice cream sundae buffet. Along the way, we talk about why students need to hear “we see you,” how naming specific behaviors—late-night study sessions, thoughtful questions, attendance, and steady participation—builds trust, and why the high honor threshold of 92 percent turns momentum into mastery. This conversation is packed with practical details for educators and families: how to scale recognition without losing authenticity, how logistics and timing support learning, and how to frame excellence as a reachable challenge. Joelle’s message to students is clear and empowering: want excellence, plan the work, ask for help early, and bring the same effort to every class to become a whole student whose habits travel beyond the building. We also shout out the leaders who helped fund and champion the program, proving that budgets can reflect values when the goal is to celebrate achievement and raise expectations. If you care about school culture, student motivation, and sustainable ways to honor academic excellence, this is your roadmap and a morale boost rolled into one. Subscribe, share with a colleague or parent, and leave a review telling us your best recognition idea—we might feature it next time.

    13 min

  6. 10/01/2025

    Inside Olean High’s Library with Brionna Howard: How “Book Tastings” Lit a Spark and Quadrupled Checkouts

    A quiet library turned into a buzzing café of curiosity—and it changed how students read. We sit down with Olean High School librarian Brianna Howard to unpack the “book tasting” that quadrupled circulation in a month, the power of visible mentorship, and the small choices that make reading feel irresistible instead of required. Starting as a social studies teacher and now in her second year as librarian, Brianna blends data, design, and heart to build a space where students explore freely. She walks us through eight high-interest genres, the simple menu system that invites quick sampling, and the classroom partnerships that keep momentum going. We zoom out to the bigger literacy picture: why foundational reading skills and digital literacy matter in an information-saturated world, and how students learn to evaluate sources, navigate online feeds, and make sense of complex media. Brianna shares how a countywide network of school librarians swaps ideas each quarter, how a neighboring district sparked the tasting concept, and why adapting ideas to your own community is the secret to success. Along the way, we talk genre surprises, Stephen King devotees, and the staff reading wall that turns hallway chats into book recommendations students actually follow. Mentors matter. When teachers and families talk about what they’re reading—paperbacks, audiobooks, memoirs like Matthew McConaughey’s Greenlights—students see reading as a living habit. Brianna offers a timely book recommendation, Mel Robbins’s Let Them Theory, and explains how it reshaped her approach to daily interactions: suggest and support, then let readers choose. We close with a look ahead at new collaborations, family engagement ideas, and the ongoing goal: more students finding books they didn’t expect to love. If you care about school libraries, student choice, and practical literacy strategies you can use tomorrow, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a quick review telling us the last book you couldn’t put down.

    14 min

  7. 03/22/2025

    Meet America's Favorite Teacher Nominee, OCSD's Andrea Niece!

    The Husky Huddle

    15 min

  8. 07/22/2024

    Bringing Finding Nemo to Life: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Olean's Junior Musical with Teacher Steve Ahl

    Who doesn’t love the magic of "Finding Nemo"? Our latest episode bursts with excitement as we welcome Steve Ahl, our new French teacher at Olean, and a dedicated member of the Summer STAR Program since 2011. Steve takes us on his journey from being an Olean native to becoming an indispensable part of this beloved program. We dive into the STAR program's unique structure, where kids explore activities ranging from cooking and coding to robotics and poetry, all while being free from the pressures of traditional grading. The highlight? The Junior Musical, where this year’s students are gearing up to perform "Finding Nemo," a story close to many hearts. Feel the buzz of anticipation as we discuss the upcoming "Finding Nemo" performance set to grace Olean’s newly renovated, air-conditioned auditorium. Steve and I share our enthusiasm for the comfortable venue and the sheer joy of seeing our favorite underwater adventure come to life on stage. This episode is a celebration of creativity, fun, and stress-free learning. Join us in our mutual excitement and hear why the STAR program holds a special place in our hearts and how it continues to foster a love for learning in such a unique way. Don't miss out on this engaging conversation that wraps up with our eager anticipation for the big performance on August 2nd!

    12 min
See All (24)

About

This is the 'Husky Huddle,' the podcast that brings you closer to the heart of Olean City School education. Whether you're a parent, student, teacher, or a proud member of our community, this podcast is dedicated to providing insightful conversations, expert advice, and a closer look at what makes our district truly exceptional. 

Information

  • Creator
    Genelle Morris
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Husky Huddle
  • Show Website
    The Husky Huddle