Otter Splash for the Weeks November 17 - Dec 1
Hello, Oak Grove Family, Versión en español aquí, النسخة باللغة العربية هنا, Toleo la Kiswahili hapa, Версия на русском здесь
In this season of Thanksgiving, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our Otter families. Thank you for your unwavering support in so many ways—ensuring your child is at school each day, reading together, and engaging with them about their learning. We are also incredibly grateful for the generous contributions made to classrooms, DonorsChoose projects, and various wishlists, as well as for the countless hours volunteered to support our students and staff. From our Otter family to yours, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving filled with joy and togetherness.
With the Holidays approaching, we are now in our annual gift card drive. If you are able, please consider purchasing a gift card for our "Otters Helping Otters" gift card drive. These gift cards will be donated to families in need this holiday season. Please sign up for the type of gift card you would like to purchase HERE. Bring purchased gift cards to the front office by December 2.
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.
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 24-25 OGES Teacher of the Year, our 24-25 OGES Instructional Assistant of the Year, our next Staff Shout-out, Intervention Coordinator Day, OGES Spotlight on Student, Breakfast with Books, Fall Picture Retakes Track 4, the Yearbook Cover Contest for Grades 3-5 students, Holiday Spirit Days in December, Yearbook Adds for 5th Grade Students Only, Otters Helping Others, Saturday Family Academy, Special Education Resource Fairs, School Tours, 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, Ms. Corey Waldron, ECS 1 and 2 Teacher!
Congratulations to Ms. Corey Waldron, our 24-25 OGES Teacher of the Year! Here are a few things her colleagues shared about her and her passion, dedication, and love of students.
-
“Ms. Waldron puts in 110% every day she is at Oak Grove. She is an advocate and champion for students with Special needs.”
-
“Ms. Waldron works hard to meet the needs of all the students in her classroom. She is a team player. She is willing to help general education teachers with behavior interventions when asked. Corey is wonderful and is extremely flexible.”
-
“Ms. Waldron is always professional, upbeat, and caring. She holds high expectations for all of her students. She is very collaborative and vital to our special education team at Oak Grove Elementary.”
-
“Mrs. Waldron is such a gem! She is a fantastic advocate for all students.”
-
“We are so lucky to have Corey in ECS 1 and 2! Her job is NOT easy, but she shows up with a smile and grace every day. She is intentional in her work and celebrates all her student's successes, big and small. The curriculum and content that she does with her class are amazing and often overlooked. I'm so happy she is recognized for her hard work and the positive energy she brings to OGES daily.”
Congratulations to our Instructional Assistant of the Year, Mr. Daquan Bridges!
Congratulations to Mr. Daquan Bridges, our 24-25 OGES Instructional Assistant of the Year! Here are a few things his colleagues shared about him and her passion, dedication, and love of students.
-
“Mr. Bridges goes above and beyond to ensure all students are seen and loved. He supports all students by also supporting teachers.”
-
“He's Amazing and passionate. All staff and students love him!”
-
“He is always cheery and tries to help in whatever way he can!”
-
“Mr. Bridges always has a smile on his face and is funny, compassionate, and willing to help whenever and wherever needed. Our students adore him!”
Staff Shout Out - Ms. Baker
Thank you, Brian and Emily Glenndenning, for shouting out Ms. Baker, our Otterly Amazing Second-Grade Teacher!
Intervention Coordinator Day - Ms. Bocciardi
On Monday, November 18th, we celebrate Ms. Bocciardi, Oak Grove’s outstanding Intervention Teacher. Ms. Bocciardi goes above and beyond to meet our students' academic needs and enhance our staff's professional growth. Whether she’s leading small group reading sessions, participating in Professional Learning Communities, or collaborating with students and teachers in the classroom, her dedication is evident. We are incredibly grateful for her unwavering support of our students, staff, and families. To show your appreciation, consider writing her a thank-you card, drawing a picture, picking flowers, or giving her a big hug as you enter the building! Thank you, Ms. Bocciardi, for everything you do!
Oak Grove Elementary’s Spotlight on Student - Cristian Ramirez Quintanilla
The Spotlight on Students program offers each school a unique opportunity to honor a student in grades 3-12 who has shown outstanding personal and academic achievement at a Wake County Board of Education meeting.
This recognition celebrates students who have demonstrated perseverance and a strong commitment to achieving their social and academic goals, even in the face of challenges. It highlights the exceptional qualities our students display every day, showcasing their ability to shine through adversity and inspire others along the way.
Congratulations to Cristian Ramirez Quintanilla, 3rd grade, for being our Spotlight on Students honoree!
Scholastic Book Fair - Breakfast and Books With Your Favorite Person
Our Scholastic Book Fair is just around the corner! It will run from December 2nd to December 13th, and the PTA will share more details in the coming weeks. This year, we are excited to continue our popular event, Breakfast and Books with Your Favorite Person! Students are welcome to bring a special guest—whether it’s a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, or family friend—to enjoy breakfast together in the cafeteria and visit the Book Fair.
Event Details:
📅 Date: Tuesday, December 10th
🕰 Time: 8:15 AM - 9:15 AM
🍽 Menu: Southern Chicken Biscuit (a student favorite!), breakfast entree, cereal, and diced peaches
We kindly ask families to fill out the RSVP form to ensure Child Nutrition Services prepares enough food. We can’t wait to see you at this special event!
Fall Picture Retakes - Tracks 4
Fall Picture Retakes for Track 4 will occur on Wednesday, December 4th!
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
Holiday Spirit Fridays in December
Get ready to spread some holiday cheer with our Holiday Spirit Fridays throughout December! We invite all students to join the staff in celebrating the festive season as we gear up for Winter Break. Each Friday—December 6th, 13th, and 20th—will feature a fun and festive theme, so come dressed up and ready to show your holiday spirit. Let’s make the countdown to Winter Break a memorable and joyful time for everyone!
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.
Register today for Saturday Family Academy School
We’re partnering with the Southeast Raleigh YMCA to host "The Family Academy School," a program that provides educational resources for families and tutoring for children. The Academy takes place on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Southeast Raleigh YMCA. Register early, as space is limited.
Special Education Resource Fairs to be held Dec. 4 & 12
Students with disabilities of all ages and their families are invited to attend one of these informative sessions. The fairs will provide information about Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) eligibility and allow students and families to engage with representatives from community partners that offer various therapies, adaptive sports, specialized recreation, and other helpful services. The Dec. 4 fair will be held from 4:45 to 6:45 p.m. at Cary Elementary. The Dec. 12 fair will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at Lake Myra Elementary.
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⭐
🎉Volunteer Central- All your sign-up links are in one place!🎉
~Art Night- Help matte, label, and hang artwork in preparation for Art Night or sell concessions at the event
~ Book Fair- Help set up, work shifts, or take down the Book Fair
~ Otter Elves- Help the teachers by wrapping their gifts for their families or sending in wrapping supplies
~ Otters Helping Others- Help collect donations in carpool or drive the donated items to a collection center in Raleigh
~ Otters Helping Otters- Send in gift card donations to help our own otters have a happy holiday
🎻 ART NIGHT 🎨
Come see the work of our talented Otter Artists and Musicians!
5:30-6:45. Listen to student musicians in the lobby, browse the halls to view student art, shop at the book fair, and purchase pizza for dinner.
6:50 Celebrate Reflections participants and winners
7:00 Otter Singers perform
Volunteers are needed to help make this evening a success! Please sign up to help if you are able.
📚 BOOK FAIR 📚
Come shop for books at our annual book fair! Students will have a preview day to get an idea of the selection before their shopping day, and teachers will create wish lists as well. The Book Fair will be open on Tuesday, December 10th, during the Breakfast and Books event and on Thursday, December 6th, during Art Night for early and late family shopping opportunities!
Create an eWallet for easy, cash-free shopping! Scholastic now has a link that families can share through emails or social media to have others donate to their accounts. This would be an excellent option for extended families to contribute. Each child should have their own e-wallet (not family accounts).
Additionally, "Share the Fair" is a donation system for those in need of a free book. Families can now choose to donate through their e-wallet setup. Any extra money we raise will go to the library.
This event requires many volunteers! Please sign up to set up, work shifts, or clean up the fair.
🎁OTTER ELVES 🎁
Our wonderful staff will teach our students until Winter Break. Let's help them prepare for the holidays by doing their gift wrapping! Sign up to send in wrapping supplies or to wrap their gifts.
🦦 OTTERS HELPING OTHERS 🦦
We are continuing to support our neighbors in Western NC. For the month of November, please send cleaning supplies or shelf-stable Thanksgiving meal items. In December, we'll be collecting new and gently used toys. We are also looking for volunteers to drive the donations to Operation AirDrop in Raleigh, so please sign up if you can help with that! Sign up HERE!
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!
