Otter Splash for the Weeks Jan 5 - 19
Hello, Oak Grove Family, Versión en español aquí, النسخة باللغة العربية هنا, Toleo la Kiswahili hapa, Версия на русском здесь, Versiunea in Romana
Welcome back to a new year! We hope you had a restful and relaxing winter break, enjoying time with family and friends. As we begin the third quarter, we are excited to welcome back our Track 1, 2, and 3 students and wish our Track 4 students a wonderful and refreshing track-out. Let’s work together to finish the 2024-2025 school year strong, continuing to build on our progress and successes so far. We look forward to an amazing start to the new year!
Below are some friendly reminders for families as we enter the 3rd quarter.
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Transportation Changes: If your child’s transportation needs to change after the start of the school day (8:45 AM), please contact the office at 919-387-4490. To ensure we can notify students and teachers in a timely manner, transportation changes must be made before 3:00 PM.
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Track Change Requests: The 25-26 Track Change Request Form will be sent to families at the beginning of February.
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Morning/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 Next Staff Shout, Contact Verification Sheets, Attendance Matters, Kindergarten Dental Screenings, Unclaimed School Meal Balances, Yearbook Adds for 5th Grade Students Only, and PTA Updates.
As we continue the second half 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 1/5/25
Acontecimientos de nutria (Spanish Calendar) -Updated 1/5/25
Updated 1/5/25 حداث قضاعة Arabic Calendar
Matukio ya Otter (Swahili Calendar) - Updated 1/5/25
Выдровые события (Russian Calendar) - Updated 1/5/25
Calendarul Romanesc (Romanian Calendar - Updated 1/5/25
Staff Shout Out - Ms. Hayes
Thank you, John and Lori Kemeny, for shouting out Ms. Hayes, our Otterly Amazing Fifth-Grade Teacher!
Contact Verification Sheets - From Ms. Dahlhoff, Data Manager
On Tuesday, January 7th, a Contact Verification sheet will be sent home with your student. Action on your part is needed in preparation for Infinite Campus, which will replace Powerschool next year.
The new system will only connect you and your student through your home address. Please verify the information is correct, paying close attention to the address of the Parents (mother or father), guardians, foster parents, and stepparents who live at the same address as the student. Please add the address if no one is printed on the sheet or correct it if it is incorrect.
We ask that you complete and return this to school ASAP, as there is a lot of work to do to prepare for a smooth transition so that you continue to have access to your child's information. Please contact our Data Manager, Ms. Dahlhoff, with any questions
adahlhoff@wcpss.net or 919 387-4490
Attendance Matters - From Mr. Moore, our school’s Social Worker
As we begin the second half of the school year, we are working diligently at Oak Grove Elementary School to support student attendance. Starting the new year strong is essential for our students’ success, and we are thrilled to see them engaging in our Attendance Otters program. Each week, a class from grades K-5 is awarded the Positive Otter Award, celebrating the class with the best attendance. This friendly competition has been a great motivator for our students! Thank you for partnering with us to ensure your student(s) are at school, ready to learn, and making the most of their educational opportunities. To support strong attendance, consider these tips:
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Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
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Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
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Share ideas with other parents for getting to school on time.
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If you are concerned your child may have a contagious illness, call your school or health care provider for advice. Ask for resources to continue learning at home if needed.
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Ask family members or neighbors for assistance if you need help.
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Try to schedule non-urgent medical appointments and extended trips when school is not in session.
We appreciate your ongoing support in fostering a positive and consistent learning environment for all our students!
From the School Health Dental Hygienist - Kindergarten Dental Screenings
Annually, our School Health Dental Hygienist looks for healthy smiles by providing dental screenings. Please refer to the WCPSS student/parent handbook. Good dental health is important to a student’s overall well-being and affects a child’s success and performance in the classroom.
School Dental Hygienists use a flashlight to provide a quick visual screening of the student’s teeth. This is not like a dental exam by a dentist. During the dental screening, the School Dental Hygienist follows all CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines.
A letter with the screening results will be sent home in the student’s school folder ONLY if your child has questionable or obvious dental needs. If needed, children with obvious dental needs may receive an additional follow-up screening by the School Health Dental Hygienist later in the school year.
Kindergarten students at Oak Grove will be screened on the following days:
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Tuesday, January 7th - Track 3
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Tuesday, January 28th - Tracks 1, 2, and 4
Parents/guardians may contact their child’s principal to opt out of dental screenings.
If you have any questions, please contact the school’s dental hygienist, Diana Dakdouk, RDH, at 919-621-2480 or ddakdouk@wcpss.net
Unclaimed School Meal Balances
Students who graduated or exited the district during the 2024-25 school year and left funds in their meal account may request a refund. The Refund Form must be submitted by Sept. 1, 2025, or the funds will be donated to Child Nutrition Services to be used to support the district's school meal program for students. If you need assistance, contact Child Nutrition Services at 919-856-2918.
Yearbook Adds - 5th Grade Parents/Guardians Only - Deadline January 31st
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.
⭐ PTA UPDATES⭐
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!
