Oakhurst Weekly
September 15, 2022
From the Principal
Hello Oakies!
We are heading toward the end of October with exciting events on the horizon. I just can’t wait to see all of our lovely staff and students dressed up for our Spirit Week next week!
As the temperature stays chilly we want jackets to return home with the kiddo they came in with. Please make sure you label your student’s items as best you can because this helps with getting them back in the right hands.
Jennifer Young
Coach's Corner
Hello Oakhurst Families!
All grade levels are well underway in their new units of study in the reading/language arts block. One of the elements that teachers have brought up as a consistent challenge for students is writing endurance. This week, the author, Mac Barnett, shared that writers need to read… a lot… in order to get ideas and become a better writer. But the act of writing - specifically, helps to grow the brains of learners (young and old). If you’ve heard from your child’s teacher that writing (and/or handwriting) is an area for growth potential for your child (or this is a skill that you want to work on at home), here are some strategies to use at home:
Ask your child to write the grocery list and/or weekly home menu plan
Keep a simple daily journal with your child (write one rose and one thorn from your days)
Use works of art or images from calendars to write creative and collaborative stories together
Talk about what they are reading
Write and mail (snail mail, not email) letters to friends (even if they are a nextdoor neighbor)
Use sidewalk chalk or washable bathtub-safe crayons in the tub to keep writing playful and engaging.
If you’d like to read more about writing, handwriting and cognitive development here are a couple of articles to get you started:
Happy Writing!
Cindy Aldridge
From the Counselor
Click the photo above to visit Ms. McGhee's Counselor's Cabinet! You can also find the page linked on our school website on the Counseling Services page.
School Notes/Announcements
Next Week is Spirit Week!
We're looking forward to a fun-filled spirit week, which culminates with a book character parade at Friday's community circle. If you're looking for some free, DIY book character costume ideas, check HERE or HERE. With five kids of my own, we've had many a book character day, and we like to DIY costumes so here are a few examples from things we already had at home.
:) Ms. Guerrieri
The Pigeon
100% DIY from construction paper (we already had a blue shirt).
Bad Case of Stripes
Bonus: Her name is actually Camilla (the main character is Camilla Cream).
Camilla the Cupcake Fairy
See a trend with same-named book characters? :)
🔎 Lost & Found 🔍
Our Lost & Found has grown exponentially in just a few days. If you see something that belongs to your child, please remind them to retrieve it. Please do not ask a staff member to retrieve Lost and Found items. Parents are permitted to come into the building. The Lost & Found is located near the media center at the back door. PLEASE LABEL YOUR CHILD'S BELONGINGS! Anything not claimed by next Thursday will be donated.
Look! Ms. Young is devastated that so many hoodies and coats are lost!
Grading Frequency Update
As teachers are adjusting to the new grading practices, we've agreed to enter one grade per content area every two weeks. Specials teachers will enter one formative grade and one summative grade every grading period. If you have any questions, please contact Principal Young (jeyoung@csdecatur.net).
PTA
DIWALI CELEBRATION THIS SATURDAY!
CSD Diwali is this Sat 10/22, 5-7pm with us and help at the same time!
1) Pre-order food! Don't forget to pre-order from Naan Stop’s special Diwali menu (https://naanstop-oakhurst.square.site/). Available for pick up at the event!
2) Volunteer!
3) RSVP!
Questions: contact oakhurstptadei@gmail.com or priti.bandi@gmail.com.
STOCK THE TEACHER’S LOUNGE
Let our awesome Oakhurst staff know that they're all that and a bag of chips by helping to stock the teacher's lounge! Individually packaged, non-perishable snacks can be dropped off at the front office or ordered from the Amazon Wishlist, and items will ship directly to the school!
NOT GETTING EMAILS FROM YOUR ROOM PARENT?
Just a reminder that at the beginning of the year, parents needed to opt in to get communication directly from room parents. If you would like to receive communication and have *not* gotten any emails from your classroom parents, please let us know! We can help to connect you with your classroom parents. Room parents send information out about class meetups, staff/teacher birthdays and more info from the PTA. Email us at oakhurstelementaryschoolpta@gmail.com if you have not yet gotten communication and would like to!
READ-A-THON DONATIONS - LAST CALL
Thanks to your generosity, we're excited to announce that we've raised over $8,000! Thank you so much for your support! If you still have pledges to send in, this can be done via: 1) your child's online page 2) by dropping a check/cash off to the PTA mailbox at school or 3) directly via PayPal by using the email address OAKHURSTELEMENTARYSCHOOLPTA@GMAIL.COM or going to or by going to PAYPAL.ME/OAKHURSTPTA.
PTA DEI Corner
DEI BOOK CART ON FRIDAY
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee will again be offering an opportunity this year for parents to check out children's books celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion and encouraging acceptance and empathy. Reading these books at home with your children can promote meaningful connections and create safe spaces for important conversations. Please join us this Friday, October 7th from 8:00-8:20 a.m. during morning drop off for an opportunity to check out books for free. We will be right in front of the school. The Fall Book Cart dates are as follows: October 21, November 4, November 18, December 2
SPECIAL NOTE FROM DEI
October 8 was Atlanta PRIDE and Oakhurst Porchfest. Winnona Park and Oakhurst families hosted PRIDE craft tables. We received this touching email from one of our PRIDE table hosts, reminding us the power of being seen:
A 7th grade girl visiting family in Oakhurst from NC was so excited about the table. I had never met her before but she shared with me that she was gay and she couldn't believe that the elementary school put this together. She said her school would never do something like this and it made her feel so welcome and happy. She said she couldn't wait to come back next year and help with the table and sell rainbow hair bows and bring her girlfriend. She said she had not come out to her dad yet (only her mom) but was planning to next week on her birthday. So even if the rest of the kids just ate the candy and put rainbow paint on, it made a real difference to this girl. The fact that she told me so much about herself (a stranger), more than she told her own father, made me think she must not have many people she can talk to.
Dates to Note
October 21: DEI Friday Book Cart: 8:00 - 8:20
October 22: Diwali celebration (RSVP by 10/8)
October 24 - 28: Oakhurst Spirit Week
November 4: DEI Friday Book Cart: 8:00 - 8:20
November 4: Coffee Chat - STEAM Skills at Home (8:30am - 9:15am)
November 11: Community Circle @ 8:30
November 18: DEI Friday Book Cart: 8:00 - 8:20
December 2: DEI Friday Book Cart: 8:00 - 8:20
December 16: Coffee Chat - Enrichment Over a School Break (8:30am - 9:15am)
December 16: Community Circle @ 2:00
City Schools of Decatur
Superintendent Search - Virtual Input Meeting
Thank you to all of the community stakeholders who participated in the community engagement session that was held on September 28 for the superintendent search. GSBA will conduct a virtual community input meeting via Zoom on October 24 from 6-7:30. The information for the meeting is below:
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErcuutrT8uH93BsKyIlb33Ifd0lpA_qi5b
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Nutrition Department
Nutrition Department will start sending negative meal balance communication to Parents and Staff on Friday, October 21, 2022. These efforts to send the low-balance communications will continue weekly through the automated infinite campus messenger. Some accounts may have had outstanding balances prior to being approved for free or reduced meal benefits. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Nekee Mathis at nmathis@csdecatur.net. or (470) 237- 0368 ext 7607.
Note: A free and reduced lunch application can be completed anytime during the school year. Currently, the district policy allows students to receive meals, not extra items, for example, i.e. bag of chips. However, a child's negative meal balance will continue to incur debt as they receive meals.
Special Education Meeting - Family Support Program
Ms. Nicole Brickhouse, Family Support Manager for InCommunity, will share information about Family Support Funding and an overview about InCommunity Organization. The City Schools of Decatur's Special Education Department is excited to welcome this wonderful well-established organization to our district.
Who is eligible to access funding?
Individuals ages four and up with a diagnosed developmental disability living in Georgia at home with their families, and are not currently receiving a NOW/COMP Waiver, are eligible for Family Support Services. *Funding is disability based, not financial needs based.
Target Audience: Parents of students with an IEP Pre-K through 12th Grades
Date: October 20, 2022
Time: 6-7 pm
Virtual Meeting RSVP here or email Cheryl Grant at cgrant@csdecatur.net
CSD Partners
City of Decatur
A Season of Giving
A Season of Giving/Christmas Decatur is back to its traditional method of neighbors purchasing gifts directly for local children and seniors!
To apply for assistance, please complete an online application at https://aseasonofgiving.org/application/ by October 28th.
If you have any trouble with the form, questions, or concerns, please email us at aseasonofgiving@decaturga.com or leave a message on our voicemail (404.378.8068).
If you do not need assistance, we would love your help!
Donors will purchase gifts from an individual wish list specific to a child (through 8th grade) or senior citizen. If you would like to be a donor, please complete our online form.
If you would like us to do the shopping for you, please donate directly at https://legacydecatur.org/give/ and select A Season of Giving!
Decatur Education Foundation
We are having a big party to celebrate our 20th Anniversary, and everyone’s invited to enjoy an adult evening of dinner, drinks, and dancing! Mark your calendar for Soiree in the City on Saturday, November 12th from 6-10 pm, and purchase your tickets today at www.decatureducationfoundation.org/soiree. It’s the perfect excuse to get dressed up and go out on the town for a great cause! We’ll enjoy a seated harvest dinner by Little Farmhouse Cafe, live music from Maxwell Street, and a full array of cocktails and mocktails. See you there!
Meaningful volunteer opportunities are available! DEF is seeking volunteers to be tutors and mentors. Tutors are needed to help students from 2nd – 8th grades for one hour per week. We are also gearing up to re-launch our AIM Scholars mentoring program in January for which we need 20-30 adult volunteers. If you would like to learn more about these programs and sign up, please visit www.decatureducationfoundation.org/mentoring.
Oakhurst Family Help Box: Who Do I Contact?
22-23 Oakhurst Weekly Newsletters