Bighorn news: Oasis welcomes teacher Nathalie Antus

Starting her eighth year of teaching, Nathalie Antus will join the Bighorn Team this fall teaching third- and fourth-grade reading. She comes from Pershing County most recently, and before that she taught in Northern California.

Antus has a love for teaching and the students.

“My favorite part of teaching is turning students who initially didn't think they could do something, into not only doing it, but rocking it,” she said. “I also love hugs, which is why I love teaching the littles,” she said.

She enjoys finding new ways to relate subjects to students to help them understand.

“My first year of teaching was first grade, and I had one student who did not want to participate or do anything in class,” she said. “I found out that he loved baseball, and I do too (Go Red Sox!). Long story short, lessons were incorporated with baseball. Teaching the diamond shape was especially exciting. I also played baseball with my students during recess. Years later, his Mom waited on my table at a local restaurant, and gave me a hug thanking me for being his teacher. This is why I love doing what I do. I can't believe that student is in high school now.”

Not originally starting in education, her first job was with the Queen of Domestic Arts.

“My first job was with Martha Stewart. It's both a blessing and a curse, in that, the bar has always been high, and I still fold napkins at potlucks,” she added.

Antus has traveled extensively. She graduated from Singapore American School, one of the best private schools in the world.

“The Singapore American School had some really gifted and compassionate teachers,” Antus said. “Their devotion to education and impact on students was not lost on me. Those lessons made me want to pay it forward and become a teacher as well. I wouldn't change a thing about working in other careers in the past and am so happy that I found my passion in teaching, where I can bring all my past experiences and travel to the table.”

When she is not teaching, the Boston native loves watching movies until the end credits and has been known to sing karaoke with her family in public. She is married to her college sweetheart, and they have one daughter. The family currently has three dogs, three goats, six chickens, three ducks and one turtle.

“I can't wait to meet my new students this school year … It's going to be an awesome 2023-2024,” she added.

Middle school ‘Ag in a Box’ projects

From flood irrigation to equipment to food production, the middle school FFA students presented their “Ag in a Box” projects to younger students before school finished in May.

Students were grouped together and required to select an agricultural related subject. The teams then researched their topic and created cardboard box dioramas. The projects were then presented to fellow K-8 students.

“FFA is one of, if not the, most successful programs at Oasis Academy,” said Oasis CEO, Melissa Mackedon. “Adding it as an elective in middle school has been a step in the right direction. We want to thank Mrs. Page Hiskett for teaching it this year and welcome Mrs. Jenna Whitaker who will take it on next year.”