Hello, Oak Grove Family, Versión en español aquí, النسخة باللغة العربية هنا, Toleo la Kiswahili hapa, Версия на русском здесь
We thank our PTA and all who donated supplies for our Fellow North Carolinians in Western NC. Many of our staff members and families have ties to Western Carolina, and it’s heartbreaking to witness the devastation there. Oak Grove will organize a relief drive over the next few months to support those affected in Western North Carolina. During October, we will collect essential supplies. In November, we will collect clothing and food for holiday meals. And in December, we will hold a toy drive. This week, Ms. Embler, an OGES kindergarten teacher, her husband Brett, and a dedicated team traveled to Ashe County and delivered over $7,500.00 of critical supplies to local churches. Please see below for more information on the supplies needed. This is a powerful opportunity to teach our students the values of kindness, compassion, and generosity in times of crisis.
For Bullying Prevention and Awareness Month this week, we encourage all students to wear blue on Monday, October 7th, to support World Day of Bullying Prevention. On Friday, October 11th, we will wear our pajamas to remind us to “Put Bullying to Sleep.”
We are excited to invite you to our Fall Festival on Friday, October 18! This fun-filled event will feature a variety of food trucks offering delicious options for the whole family. Join us for an evening of games and activities. (see below)
The deadline for this year's Reflections contest is approaching quickly. The theme is "Accepting Imperfections," 🎉 we encourage all students to participate and showcase their creativity across six arts categories: dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts. Students may enter in one or more categories. For rules and entry requirements, please refer to the PTA section of the Newsletter below.
Thank you to our families who have submitted names for our Staff Shout Outs. 🎉We are committed to recognizing the outstanding educators who make a difference in our students' lives. We would love for each staff member to receive a shout-out! You can use this Google form to submit your Otter Staff Shoutouts. 🦦🎉 Thank you for helping us highlight the great work happening on our campus! Be sure to check our website regularly to see staff members being recognized and other important updates. Visit us at https://www.wcpss.net/oakgrovees.
The deadline for volunteer renewal has been extended to October 14th! As always, we LOVE having volunteers in our building. If you want to become a volunteer, please view THIS information about the volunteer approval process for WCPSS schools.
Below is information about our next Staff Shout-out, Bullying Prevention and Awareness Month, the Field Trip Refund Policy, the Cell Phone and Smart Watch Policy, Cogat Testing Dates for 3rd Grade Students, Fall Festival, Ready, Set, Grow, Preparing for Kindergarten Together, 5th Grade Families Only: Information session at Dillard Drive Middle School, Fall Picture Day, and PTA Updates.
As the school year progresses, we are committed to maintaining open lines of communication and working closely with you to provide the best possible education for every child at Oak Grove. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to a fantastic school year filled with learning, growth, and success for all our students!
Staff, School, and Club Wishlists
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 8/11/24er
Staff Shout Out - Ms. Jackie Creighton
Thank you, Ms. Taylor McLaughlin, for shouting out Ms. Creighton, an Otterly Amazing 3rd Grade Teacher
Staff Shout Out - Ms. Pyles
Thank you, Mr. Elam Kozlow, for shouting out Ms. Pyles, our Otterly Amazing Media Specialist!
October is Bullying Prevention and Awareness Month
October is Bullying Prevention and Awareness Month, a time when we focus on fostering a safe and supportive environment for all students. At Oak Grove, we are committed to promoting kindness, respect, and inclusivity in our school community. Throughout the month, students will engage in lessons and activities designed to raise awareness about bullying, its impact, and how to stand up against it in a positive and constructive way. We encourage families to have conversations at home about the importance of treating others with kindness and speaking up when they witness bullying. Together, we can create a culture where every child feels valued and respected. Please join us for our Spirit Month activities!
Field Trip Refund Policy
We want to remind you of the WCPSS field trip refund policy regarding changes or cancellations.
Changes/Cancellations
I understand school trips may be canceled when necessary by the principal, superintendent, or board of education. The school system cannot guarantee reimbursement when such cancellations occur. Parents/guardians will be notified of any significant change in plans prior to the school trip.
Please note that school trips may be canceled when deemed necessary by the principal, superintendent, or the board of education. In such cases, the school system cannot guarantee reimbursement. While we understand the inconvenience this may cause, the policy helps ensure that safety and logistics remain our top priorities. Parents and guardians will be notified of any significant trip plan changes before the scheduled event. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Cell Phone and Smart Watch Policy
Cell phones can only be used on school grounds if they are turned completely off and kept in students' backpacks. Students are prohibited from using cell phones during school hours or on school buses.
If a student has a smartwatch, that device must be turned on in Airplane mode to disable text messages and phone calls from being received by the watch/device. The watch is considered a cell phone UNLESS airplane mode is activated. Otherwise, all smartwatches must be powered off and placed in backpacks.
Cogat Testing Dates for 3rd Grade Students Only
We would like to inform you that all 3rd-grade students will participate in the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) as part of our district’s assessment process. The CogAT measures students' reasoning and problem-solving skills in verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal abilities. This assessment helps us better understand each student's learning profile and identify areas of strength and potential growth. It is important for students to arrive on time, well-rested, and ready to do their best. Results will be shared with you and will help guide future learning opportunities. Thank you for your support! Students in Grade 3 will take the Cogat on the following dates:
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October 22 - Track 4
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October 23 - Track 4
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October 24 - Track 4
Fall Festival - Friday, October 18th
We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Fall Festival on Friday, October 18! This fun-filled event will feature a variety of food trucks, offering delicious options for the whole family. Join us for an evening of games, activities, and entertainment, including the highly anticipated Great Inflatable Race among our teachers – a competition you won’t want to miss! In addition, each grade level will participate in the exciting Punkin Chunkin contest, where students will showcase their pumpkin-launching creations. Don’t forget to decorate “disguise” your pumpkin and turn it in by Monday, October 14th! We look forward to seeing you there for a fantastic night of fun and community!
Board Advisory Council Committee Member
We seek a dedicated parent to serve as our next Board Advisory Council (BAC) Member for Oak Grove. This individual will have the important role of attending meetings with our district’s Board member, Lynn Edmonds, sharing valuable insights on how we can continue to improve our school and serve as a voice for our school community. The BAC member plays a key part in representing Oak Grove, ensuring that our students' needs and interests are well-represented in district discussions. If you are interested in serving in this role and positively impacting our school, please contact Beverly Benton at bbenton@wxpss.net
Ready, Set, Grow: Preparing for Kindergarten Together
Project Enlightenment, The Office of Early Learning, and WCPSS Family Academy invite you to a free early learning event FOR PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN FAMILIES! Check out the Flyer Here
5th Grade Families Only: Information session at Dillard Drive Middle School
Mrs. Feldman, Principal of DDMMS, our Student Services department, and Magnet Coordinator invite you to an information session on October 23 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at our school to learn about DDMMS and our magnet program.
During this event, you will:
1. Learn about our schedule and our team setup
2. Learn about our school climate/culture
3. Learn about our Global Studies and World Language Program
4. Learn about our Electives
5. Understand Frequently Asked Questions that we get at registration period
6. Meet our middle school counselors
7. Tour the building
8. Be able to ask your questions and seek help in any other areas you may need clarification about DDMMS
Mark Your Calendars: Fall Pictures
Lifetouch will send home more information to families at a later date.
⭐ PTA UPDATES⭐
🎉 The PTA Reflections Contest is open for entries!!
The theme this year is "Accepting Imperfections"🎉
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All participants will be celebrated at Art Night on Dec 5th.
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🎃 2nd Annual OGES Pumpkin Decorating Contest! 🎃
🎃 Fall Festival - Friday, October 18th!🎃
Volunteers are needed to help with this event! Please sign up here to help: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0944ABAD2FA5FFCF8-51252981-oges?useFullSite=true&fbclid=IwY2xjawFXyohleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQcJDKfuNXpXySGmsN61IKsa9ngzo_DsWzG1ug5XWTxrN0Ksr6eEWpfing_aem_39qREZ1V5VrWJVuPtkTUHA#/
🎉 Sponsor Shout-Out! 🎉
Join us in saying "THANK YOU" to Systematic Business Consulting for becoming PLATINIUM sponsors of the Oak Grove PTA!
We greatly appreciate their generous support!!
Do you own a business? Consider becoming an OGES PTA Sponsor!
Your one-time donation is a simple and meaningful way to bring recognition to your business while supporting Oak Grove Staff and Students!!
Get details about the different sponsorship levels offered here:
https://ogespta.wixsite.com/ogespta/general-7
Our 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.
Did you know the OGES PTA has a website? We encourage you to bookmark the site and check it often for up-to-date announcements and information!
https://sites.google.com/view/ogespta
Here are the slides from the PTA Meeting on Friday, October 4, 2024
