Otter Splash for the Weeks of August 26-September 3

Otter Splash for the Weeks Aug 23 - September 4

Hello, Oak Grove Family, Versión en español aquí, النسخة باللغة العربية هنا, Toleo la Kiswahili hapa, Версия на русском здесь

Wow! What an exciting few weeks we've had at Oak Grove! Our Track 1 and 2 Otters did an amazing job with their Big Splash Fundraiser, raising over $14,000! 🌊 They had a blast chalking the walk, enjoying special treats, having extra recess, and seeing Ms. Benton and Ms. Tysor in inflatable costumes. Everyone loved the Splash and Dash run, especially watching the parents help soak their child(ren). Now, they're eagerly awaiting Ms. Benton’s much-anticipated Kiss a Pig event! 🐷

Our Tracks 3 and 4 students are in the midst of their Big Splash Fundraiser, having a great time tie-dyeing t-shirts and spreading enthusiasm during carpool. They've already earned their first incentive of chalking the walk with a special treat! The fun continues on Friday, August 30th, with the highly anticipated Splash and Dash event. We invite all families to come out and cheer on their Otters and help soak them with water! Here are the grade-level Splash and Dash times:

Kindergarten and First Grade: 9:45-10:15
Second and Third Grade: 10:30-11:00
Fourth and Fifth Grade: 1:20-1:50

Thank you to everyone who has donated to classroom and club wishlists, as well as our Donors Choose projects—both of which have been fully funded! We still have a few club needs, and you can find more information below. Our students are thoroughly enjoying their first-semester clubs, and we would love to have more volunteers, even if you can only help for one or a few days.

We always welcome volunteers at Oak Grove. If you're interested, please review the WCPSS volunteer approval process information HERE. If you were approved as a volunteer during the 2023-2024 school year, you can renew your approval for the 2024-2025 school year between July and October.

We'd like to extend a special thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell, OGES PTA parents, and members of the Building and Grounds Committee for walking the property and dividing it into Zones. This will help us easily create a schedule to maintain our beautiful campus. We've also communicated these Zones to the WCPSS contracted landscaping service, and we'll be working together to ensure these areas are managed simultaneously.

Please see below for some quick updates and reminders:

Some bus route times may be affected due to traditional school students returning on Tuesday. Updated routes can be found HERE. Please ensure you're at the bus stop at least 10 minutes before your child’s scheduled arrival time in the morning and afternoon.
Monday, September 2nd is a holiday, so there will be no school for all students.

We would love for our parents and families to join us in celebrating our incredible staff at Oak Grove! We’re committed to recognizing the outstanding educators who make a difference in our students' lives, and we’d love for each staff member to receive a shout-out. You can use this Google form to submit your Otter Staff Shoutouts.

Please see below for more information on another Staff Shout Out, the Yearbook Cover Contest for grades 3-5, a QR code to purchase additional carpool tags, updates on club needs, AIG Information Sessions, fall picture dates, attendance matters, school meal prices, and PTA updates.

As the school year progresses, please know we’re committed to maintaining open lines of communication and working closely with you to ensure every child at Oak Grove receives the best possible education. Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We’re looking forward to a fantastic school year filled with learning, growth, and success for all our students!

24-25 Year Round Calendar

Staff Shout-Outs

Staff, School, and Club Wishlists

Staff’s Favorite Things

Warm Regards,

Ms. Benton

Otter Happenings (English Calendar) - Updated 8/11/24

Acontecimientos de nutria (Spanish Calendar) -Updated 8/11/24

Updated 8/11/24 حداث قضاعة Arabic Calendar

Matukio ya Otter (Swahili Calendar) - Updated 8/11/24

Выдровые события (Russian Calendar) - Updated 8/11/24

Staff Shout Out - Nurse Rudisill

Thank you, Ms. Margot Tabb, for shouting out Nurse Rudisill, our Otterly exceptional School Nurse!

Yearbook Cover Contest - Students in Grades 3-5 - Mr. Carter

Attention All Oak Grove Elementary Artists from Grades 3, 4 & 5!

It is time for our annual YEARBOOK COVER DESIGN CONTEST! This is a unique opportunity to showcase your creativity in designing the cover for the 2024 - 2025 yearbook and leave your lasting mark on this year’s memories. The theme this year is ALL TOGETHER, WORK TOGETHER. By involving students in this process, we are not just creating a memento, but nurturing future designers, artists, and creative thinkers. We look forward to seeing the captivating creativeness our young artists express this year. Your child may come to the office and get a contest page or you may download them using the links below.

2024-2025 Yearbook Cover Contest English

2024-2025 Yearbook Cover Contest Spanish

Carpool Tags and Updates

Oak Grove is providing a QR code for families who wish to purchase additional carpool tags. Once you've made your purchase, please take a screenshot on your phone or computer to verify your payment. You can bring the screenshot when you pick up the tag or email it to Ms. Lad at rlad@wcpss.net or Ms. Dahlhoff at adahlhoff@wcpss.net.

Thank you for consistently displaying your carpool tags during dismissal. These tags are required every day to ensure the security of our students. As mentioned in a previous Talking Points, if you do not have your carpool tag, you'll be asked to come into the front office and sign out your child(ren). We appreciate your cooperation in keeping all our Otters safe.

Club Needs

We are still seeking volunteers and supplies for our School-Wide Clubs. If you're interested in volunteering, please reach out to Ms. Sammons at gsammons@wcpss.net Your support in providing these supplies is greatly appreciated and will contribute significantly to our students' success. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Club Wishlist
Club Name	Wish List
OGES	Wish List
Garden Club	Wish List
Board Games	Wish List
Craft Club	Wish List

AIG Information Grades 4 and 5 - from Ms. Garcia

Attention families of identified and Talent Development AIG students in grades 4 and 5! I will be hosting two "What does AIG look like at Oak Grove Elementary?" meetings. See the days and times below. My goals are to introduce myself, review our AIG program at Oak Grove and to answer any questions you may have.

You may attend either meeting, please only attend one. There will also be a virtual meeting option for those families that are not able to attend an in-person meeting. Please send any questions to cgarcia8@wcpss.net. I'm looking forward to getting to know you all!

August 28, 2024- virtual meeting (Details will be sent through email as we get closer to the date.)

September 4, 2024- 5:30-6:00 in the Media Center (*in-person)

Mark Your Calendars: Fall Pictures

Lifetouch will send home more information to families at a later date.

Attendance Matters -From Mr. Moore, our School Social Worker

Regular school attendance is crucial for students in grades Pre-K-5 as it lays the foundation for their academic and social development. Consistent attendance ensures that children are exposed to a structured learning environment where they can develop essential literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking skills. It also allows them to build meaningful relationships with peers and teachers, fostering social skills and emotional resilience. Missing school can lead to gaps in knowledge, making it harder for students to catch up and potentially leading to long-term academic struggles. Therefore, promoting regular attendance is key to helping young students achieve their full potential and establish positive habits for lifelong learning.Please see the following Attendance Matters flyers from our School Social Worker. Here is the document in English and Spanish Here are additional resources on supporting attendance at school!

2024-25 School Meals Price Increase, Free/Reduced Lunch Application

Our School Board approved a 25-cent price increase for school meals for the 2024-25 school year. At elementary schools, full-paid breakfasts will increase to $1.75, and full-paid lunches will increase to $3.50. The price increase is necessary to cover rising costs of food, supplies, wages, and benefits for staff.

You can apply for free or reduced meal prices for the 2024-25 school year. Prior year meal benefits carry over for the first 30 days of the next school year. See https://www.wcpss.net/free-reduced-meals for more information about free or reduced meal prices.

Apply for Free or Reduced Price Meals Online
Solicitud en línea para las comidas escolares Gratis/Precio Reducido: Español
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions - preguntas frecuentes (Español)
Sample application/Ejemplo de solicitud (Please fill out an original / Favor de completar una solicitud original)
Meal charges policy | Cuentas de Alimentos

⭐ PTA UPDATES⭐

🌊 THE BIG SPLASH FUNDRAISER! 🌊

The BIG SPLASH DIRECT-GIVE Fundraiser is underway for Tracks 3 and 4!

Based on Oak Grove Elementary family and staff feedback, this year’s PTA-sponsored annual fundraiser is a direct-give model. This means 100% of your donation goes to our school, students, and staff. Our goal is to raise $45,000 for Oak Grove Elementary School. No donation is too small. We are thankful for our amazing Oak Grove Elementary families who make our school a special place!

Learn more and donate here today!

Our NEW School Spirit Store is OPEN!!

We have TONS of NEW designs, shirts, mugs, water bottles, tumblers, notebooks and MORE!! You can order at any time and your merchandise will be shipped to your home.

Check it all out here!