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Curriculum & Conversation: Math |
Our next Curriculum and Conversation will be held on October 20th at 7:00p.m. We will focus our discussion on the Math curriculum and ways parents can help students achieve math success. We will also introduce a new PTA-sponsored math enrichment program called "Math Superstars" that will be open to all Oak Grove students. Please join us for an evening of light refreshments and conversation. Contact Gloria Kim with any questions: lovetobake@comcast.net. |
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Safe Routes to School News |
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The rain did not dampen walking enthusiasm as we had 237 walkers despite the down pour, one less than our record. This has been a very successful week with the tee shirt distribution, Safe Kids DeKalb Safety Fest during Monday PE classes and the Health and Wellness Night on Tuesday with yogurt parfaits and featured speakers.
Despite the rain on International Walk to School Day, Commissioner Jeff Rader and State House Representative Kevin Levitas joined our volunteers to punch cards and hand out stickers. We also had three DeKalb County Police Officers present to help safely guide walkers to school.
Thank you all for your support and Walking Wednesdays continue until November 18th. As your cards receive ten punches, have your name listed on them so they can be entered in the grand prize raffle drawing. Completed cards will receive a reflective zipper pull when turned into one of the volunteers for the drawing. Remember, Be Safe and Be Seen. |
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Art Night & Show is Coming Soon! |
The Art Night committee has been hard at work and is joining forces this year with our favorite art teacher, Mrs. Deery. Oak Grove is hosting the ever popular Art Night and Art Show on one fabulous night, Tuesday October 27th.
Come and take in the student's Pop Art inspired show and visit all the exciting Pop Art inspired craft stations.
This year you can trace your favorite pop art on a ceramic tile, create a pop art inspired memory book as well as jewelry and much much more!!!!!
Returning we have the ever popular shrinky dinks and its not October without decorating a pumpkin.
We need your help... please send empty cereal, cracker or any cardboard food product boxes, as well as candy boxes to support the Pop Art projects. The donations are to be dropped off at the entrance of the school.
This is sure to be fun for the whole family!!!! Remember: Art Night/Show Tuesday, October 27th from 6-8 p.m.
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School Goals |
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The Oak Grove staff has reviewed data from last year's standardized
testing and established the following goals for the 2009-2010 school year:
- All grade levels will increase by 5% the number of students scoring in the "exceeds" category on the CRCT in the subject areas of Reading/Language Arts, Math, and Science.
- In Social Studies, all grades
will increase by 10% the number of students scoring in the "exceeds" category on the 2010 CRCT.
These goals are part of the Consolidated School Improvement Plan (CSIP) developed by all DeKalb schools. In addition to establishing these goals, teachers and staff are also developing specific strategies to help students meet this goal. Look for more information soon on how you can assist your child as we all work together to improve student achievement.
(Charts of Oak Grove's performance on last year's testing will be put on
the school's website.)
- Mrs. Burger |
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Oak Grove Foundation |
Please remember to send in your donations to the Oak Grove Foundation.
Funds will be used to support educational enrichment at Oak Grove including teacher training, technological upgrades and extracurricular programs.
Envelopes for your tax-deductible donations are available in the front office.
The Foundation also needs volunteers to work on our Silent Auction Committee. Contact Katie Bell at katiebell3@comcast.net for more information or to get involved. |
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Kirk Martin - Save the Date! |
Please join us on Tuesday, Nov. 3rd (7:00-9:00 P.M. at Oak Grove Elem) for a humorous, practical workshop with nationally recognized expert Kirk Martin. Mr. Martin has trained over 70,000 parents and teachers and is helpful in reducing anxiety and stress in all families.
Kirk Martin will be sharing 10 Secrets to A Stress-Free Home and School. The workshop is FREE thanks to sponsorship by the Oak Grove PTA! You are welcome to bring friends and neighbors. We promise that you'll have several "Ah-hah" moments and leave with a dozen practical tools that will help your family immediately. You won't want to miss this great event! For more information, check out www.CelebrateCalm.com site for readers to view the full text. |
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Vote for Oak Grove & Help Us Win |
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What could Oak Grove Elementary do with $20,000? How about $5,000? Or even just $500? Vote for Oak Grove Elementary and help us win!
The America's Favorite School contest is a simple and fun way for communities to rally around their schools. If you're a parent, then this is your chance to brag about Oak Grove and help your school win money! If you're a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or community member, here's a really easy way to pitch in to support a school. Please join Care2 and GreatSchools to reward Oak Grove for going the extra mile for our children. Tell us why you love Oak Grove and help your school win! Go to www.AmericasFavoriteSchool.com and vote for Oak Grove. |
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Lakeside High School Invites You to Attend... |
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On October 22nd from 6-8 p.m., Lakeside High School will host a health fair in their gym. North Atlanta Urgent Care, Lakeside's newest partner,will be giving flu shots at a discounted rate of $20 -seasonal flu and H1N1, if available. Blood sugar and blood pressure screenings will also be available.
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Sincerely,
Amy Busch Oak Grove Elementary PTA
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| Fall Spirit Wear Sale |
| It's Spirit Wear time again! Fall Spirit Wear order forms are due NOW! |
This is your last chance to order the ever popular Oak Grove long and short-sleeve tie-dye t-shirts. We're also introducing 2 exciting new products. Just in time for the cool weather, the Oak Grove zip hoodie jacket will be available in 3 colors. See below for a mock-up of the new hoodie. The new Oak Grove cinch bag is the perfect tote for sleepovers, sports or the pool.
Show your school spirit and support our PTA at the same time! Order forms are available on the PTA website and the Spirit Wear Committee will be checking for any last minute orders next week so get your order in by Tuesday, October 12th! |
| Reflections Deadline Extended |
| The deadline for turning in your Reflections Art Contest entries has been extended to Friday, October, 16th! |
Turn in your entry at the Media Center before the school bell - and don't forget your entry form.
If you need an entry form, download it by clicking HERE. |
| "Superintendent's Distinguished Achievement Award" |
| Congratulations! Recently, Oak Grove received notification that we are one of the recipients of the "Superintendent's Distinguished Achievement Award." |
Oak Grove was recognized by State Superintendent of Schools, Kathy Cox, for being one of the ten schools in the state with the highest percentage of students in the "exceeds" score level in the areas of Grade 3 Reading and Grade 4 Social Studies on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test.
Congratulations to students and teachers for this outstanding performance! |
| The School Lunch Corner |
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NEW: A Fruit and Veggie A La Carte Bar is now available to all students on Tuesdays and Thursdays for just $0.75. String Cheese is also available for $0.40. Be sure to tell your kids about this exciting new option!
-Bottled water is a daily drink option for $0.50.
-Did you know that a vegetarian food option is available daily in the cafeteria? It is currently not included as part of the printed school menu, but we are working on it.
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The "Make Your Own" Yogurt Parfait was enjoyed by all and a great success at the Safe Routes to School Awards Ceremony. The choices included: vanilla yogurt, plain yogurt, soy yogurt, granola, banana chips, raisins, almonds, fresh blueberries and strawberries. Many thanks to Whole Foods for donating this tasty food to our event. The great news is that we had enough left over to set up a breakfast parfait station for the teacher's lounge. We hope the staff enjoyed it as well! |
| Fall Fest FAST PASS - Class Prize! |
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Oak Grove Elementary's Fall Festival is 4 Weeks away!! The Friday afternoon of Fun and Games is organized and hosted by the Fifth Grade Class! |
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The 5th Graders are busy collecting supplies and prizes for great Festival games like the Basketball Throw, Floating Pumpkins, and the Oreo Cookie Stacking Contest. With over 35 booths scheduled, festival-goers should experience very little wait-time. Some of the more popular events include the Moon Bounce and "Squirt the Teacher.
Each ride costs a specified number of tickets which are twenty-five cents each or can be purchased at a discounted "early bird" rate of $10.00 for 44 tickets (Note: this discount good through Friday, October 30th). The tickets will go on sale next week. Watch for the flier in your child's communicator.
As an incentive to early ticket sales, this year we're giving away a FAST PASS to each member of the homeroom class purchasing the greatest number of advanced tickets! The one-use-only pass allows its holder to advance to the front of the line (think Disney). So get your ticket orders in early!!
Remember Ticket Sales begin Friday October 16th via Communicator Folder!
Oak Grove Fall Festival: Friday,
November 6th, 2:30-4:30 p.m. |
| Original Works Deadline |
| The Original Works art program orders are due Monday, October 19th. |
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The Original Works program is an art based fundraiser that transfers your child's own artwork into professionally made custom
products that you can wear and share. The completed products will be delivered in time for the holidays and make great gifts! You may purchase the preview magnet that was sent home or return it without any further obligation. |
| Next ELPC Meeting |
| The next Emory LaVista Parent Council meeting will be Wednesday, October 21st. The meeting begins with refreshments at 8:45 a.m. |
Topic: Dekalb County School System: How to Effect Change
For more information or to receive meeting notices visit www.emory-lavista.org.
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| Suggestions Needed |
| The Oak Grove Building Leadership Team (BLT) will be meeting with a group of parent respresentatives on October 22 to develop ways that parents can be more involved in day-to-day classroom activities and other concerns. |
If you have suggestions that you would like to be considered, please
contact one of the parent reps: Helen Brownell, Page Anderson, Heather Howard, or Joan Kaplan (click an underlined name to e-mail the representative). |
| Grandfriends Program Kicks Off |
| We welcome our Grandfriend participants this year with a Coffee in their honor on October 19th at 8:00 a.m. in the Media Center. |
We have a wonderful turnout of Grandfriends this year and we are so grateful for their service to Oak Grove. If you see a Grandfriend around the school, be sure to thank them for sharing their time with our children.
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| This Week's Sponsor:
Nature Cleaning Services |
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