Hello, Oak Grove Family, Versión en español aquí, النسخة باللغة العربية هنا, Toleo la Kiswahili hapa, Версия на русском здесь
Fall is in full swing here in Cary, and at Oak Grove, we are thrilled to be in the second quarter of the school year! Our students are actively engaged in learning and participating in exciting field trips, and we have some important updates for November to share with you. Please note that Tuesday, November 5th, is a Teacher Workday, and there will be NO school for students. Our building will also be closed that day, as we are serving as a polling location. Additionally, there will be no school on Monday, November 11th, in observance of the Veterans Day holiday.
As the holiday season approaches, we want to ensure our students and families have the support they need. If your family could use holiday assistance, please complete the needs assessment form linked below, providing clothing sizes and any wish list items. If you are facing other challenges, such as food shortages, housing difficulties, or a need for mental health resources, please include that information on the form as well. For those interested in helping a family this holiday season, we are gratefully accepting gift card donations from Walmart, Target, and grocery stores. Thank you for your continued support and generosity! Family Needs Assessment
Please remind your student to check the lost and found for any missing items such as coats, jackets, lunchboxes, water bottles, and more. We currently have many unclaimed belongings, and all items not collected by December 20th will be packed up and donated to A Note in the Pocket and other local charities. We appreciate your help in ensuring that these items are returned to their owners before they are given to those in need.
We’ve recently had a few close calls regarding student and staff safety during morning and afternoon carpool. We kindly ask parents, guardians, and family members to refrain from using cell phones while driving through the parking lot and carpool line. When cars are in motion, everyone’s full attention is crucial to ensuring safety for all. We appreciate your commitment to keeping our community safe!
A huge thank you to those who have submitted Staff Shout-Outs! 🎉 We are dedicated to recognizing the outstanding educators who positively impact our students. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to use this Google Form to submit your Otter Staff Shoutouts. Let’s continue to celebrate the great work happening at Oak Grove! You can also check our website regularly for updates and to see our staff members being recognized. 🦦🎉
Below is information about our OGES Teacher of the Year Semi-Finalist, our next Staff Shout-outs, Reflections Contest- School Level Winners, Fall Picture Retakes, the Yearbook Cover Contest for Grades 3-5 students, Yearbook Adds for 5th Grade Students Only, Otters Helping Others, and PTA Updates.
As we continue the second quarter of the school year, 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 11/1/24
Acontecimientos de nutria (Spanish Calendar) -Updated 11/1/24
Updated 11/1/24 حداث قضاعة Arabic Calendar
Matukio ya Otter (Swahili Calendar) - Updated 11/1/24
Выдровые события (Russian Calendar) - Updated 1/1/24
Congratulations to our Teacher of the Year Finalists!
It is that time of year when staff select the school's next Teacher of the Year! Staff cast a vote to determine the finalists before casting another vote. Teachers selected are experts in their field, engage their school community, and focus their efforts on students' success. Our 2024-25 Teacher of the Year will be announced on Monday, November 11th.
Congratulations to our finalists:
Ms. Corey Waldron - ECS 1 - Track 4
Ms. Tiffany Johannes - 1st Grade - Track 4
Ms. Kristin Wade - 5th Grade - Track 3
Staff Shout Out - Ms. TenBrink
Thank you, Mr. & Mrs. Leeland, for shouting out Ms. TenBrink, our Otter Amazing, Visually Impaired Teacher!
Staff Shout Out - Ms. Garcia
Thank you, Elam Kozlow, for shouting out Ms. Garcia, our Otterly amazing Academically and Intellectually Gifted Teacher
National School Psychologist Week
During National School Psychology Week, we are proud to recognize the incredible work of Dr. Jessica Loehman, Oak Grove’s school psychologist. Dr. Loehman plays a vital role in supporting our students’ well-being and success. She ensures students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn by promoting mental health, teaching essential coping and resilience skills, and helping students build positive connections with peers and teachers. Through her collaboration with educators, families, and community resources, Dr. Loehman addresses barriers to learning and creates an environment where all students can thrive. Her dedication to fostering social-emotional learning and improving academic performance makes a meaningful impact on our entire school community. Help us celebrate Dr. Loehman during the week of November 11-15. You can have your child write her a card, draw a picture, send flowers picked from your yard, or give her a hug or a big smile!
Reflections Contest School-Level Winners
Thank you to all the students who entered Oak Grove PTA’s Reflection Contest! Our judges have reviewed the entries, and we are so excited to announce the winners that have advanced to the county level of judging.
Film Production:
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Intermediate Division- Lydia Bernard
Literature:
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Intermediate Division- Omar Adnan
Music Composition:
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Primary Division- Penny Brown
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Intermediate Division- Connor Raeman, Jack Howell
Photography:
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Intermediate Division- Keira Maley
Visual Arts:
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Primary Division- Quinn Johnston, Miguel Kahi
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Intermediate Division- Claire Deese, Mabel Byrnside
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Accessible Artist Division- Nathan Kahvinson
A special thank you to our judges for their time and consideration of all entries.
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Kim Ferretti, dance studio owner and instructor
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Chris Foster, Cary High School Band Director
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Julia Soplop, author and photographer
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Stephen Watson, Apex High School Art Teacher
Each submission showed so much talent and creativity, and we can’t wait to showcase them all at our Arts Night on December 5th from 5:30 to 7:30. All participants will be recognized at this event! We hope to see you there!
Fall Picture Retakes - Tracks 1 & 3
Fall Picture Retakes for Tracks 1 & 3 will occur on Wednesday, November 13th.
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 our young artists' captivating creativeness this year. Your child may come to the office and get a contest page, or you may download them using the links below. The deadline for submissions is December 18th.
2024-2025 Yearbook Cover Contest English
2024-2025 Yearbook Cover Contest Spanish
Yearbook Adds - 5th Grade Parents/Guardians Only
They've made it! Celebrate your 5th grader with an Otter Wish in this year's yearbook. 🦦 Wishes offer parents and guardians a way to give a "shout out" 🎉 or say "congrats" 🎊 to their 5th grader, marking the end of their elementary school journey.
Please use THIS LINK to fill out your child’s information and to submit text/photos. Here is the PTA website, where you must pay $15 to purchase the ad.
Otters Helping Otters
Thank you to everyone who has generously donated supplies for our fellow North Carolinians in Western NC. We are deeply grateful for your kindness and support. As Western NC continues its rebuilding efforts, many supplies are still urgently needed. We will collect clothing and food items throughout November to help families prepare a Thanksgiving meal. Additionally, there remains a significant need for cleaning supplies, gloves, mops, brooms, and more. Please see below for a full list of needed items. This is a wonderful opportunity to instill in our students the values of kindness, compassion, and generosity during challenging times.
School Tours at Oak Grove
Do you know families who will attend Oak Grove for the 2025-2026 school year or families who might be interested in transferring to Oak Grove? We are excited to open our doors to prospective parents and students to experience the great things happening at our school! Our school tours are designed to give families a glimpse into our vibrant, diverse community, where students thrive through engaging lessons, caring teachers, student clubs, and an active PTA. Tours will begin at 4:30 PM on selected dates and last about 45 minutes. HERE is the link for families who want to attend our School Tours. They can also sign up via our school’s website. We look forward to welcoming new families and sharing what makes Oak Grove a special place to learn and grow!
Fifth Grade Parents Only - Information on Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy
We are thrilled to invite you and your daughter to discover the incredible opportunities at Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy (WYWLA). As parents of rising 6th graders, we know you are filled with thoughts and considerations for the next step in your child’s educational journey! Our leadership academy provides a unique experience in rigorous academics and leadership development in a single-gender environment. We are currently the only single-gender, all girl public school in North Carolina! Please see the flyer HERE for additional information about Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy and a schedule of tour dates.
⭐ PTA UPDATES⭐
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!
