The Acorn
Oakview's Online News Flash
Principal's Report - Dr. Phillip Reavis
Learn From An Olympian
My wife and I attended a banquet here in Greenville last week to hear Mary Lou Retton speak. You may remember Mrs. Retton as the U.S. Gold Medalist in the 1984 Los Angeles Games. I was a student at UNC Chapel Hill at the time and can remember her competitive spirit and amazing rise to the top of her field. She is now a parent of four girls and her message at last week’s banquet was inspiring and timeless. She has much to offer today’s “helicopter parents,” who strive to see their children succeed at all costs, while avoiding failure and disappointment for their children. Here are just a few things Mary Lou Retton would have us teach our children.
- Take a risk
- Accept new challenges
- Hard work pays off
- Strive toward perfection
- Accept coaching
- Expect to fail at times
- Adjust to being outside your comfort zone
- Be consistent
- Rise above your limits
CogAT & ITBS Testing
Second grade students will participate in CogAT and ITBS testing in early November. The results of these tests are used to begin the process of gifted education eligibility. In Greenville County Schools, this program is called the Challenge program. At Oakview, over 52% of our 3rd-5th graders qualify for gifted education. Statistically speaking, this is a highly unusual result but represents the rigor found in our classrooms and the overall performance of our students. Second grade students are asked to be present at school, unless you are sick, on all days of testing. Good luck and show what you know!
Hootenanny Is Here!
November 6
4:30-9:00
Have you signed up to help at this year’s Hootenanny? If not, please refer to emails from your Room Coordinator or check the Oakview web site. This event attracts approximately 3,000 people and cannot happen without YOUR HELP. It’s the biggest night of the year for Oakview so come ready to have fun and to lend a hand as we all enjoy the 13th annual Hootenanny!
http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/oakview/
Buddy’s Safe House
On November 12, all first grade students will participate in Buddy’s Safe House. In this mobile home on wheels, students will learn about ways to keep their home safe and what to do in the event of an emergency. This program is part of the school’s ongoing efforts to keep our children safe, both at school and at home.
PTA President's Report - Celeste Blinston
Thank you so much for the support you have shown Oakview this month. I was personally blown away by the efforts of the students and their desire to help out at schools in Columbia, South Carolina who suffered great damage during the recent flooding. The Oakview Owls Student Council and PTA partnered to collect school supplies and other needed materials for Satchel Ford Elementary and Timmerman School. In just four days, students, parents and faculty collected enough items to fill a 53-foot trailer. A huge thanks to LeAnne Malone for coordinating with Student Council and to PTA Business Partner, Quality Logistics, for assisting with delivery of the supplies to Columbia.
We also completed our fifth Boosterthon Fun Run earlier in October and are amazed at the continued generosity of Oakview families and friends. We had great cheerleaders throughout each of the fun runs and the day culminated with a "color run" for fourth and fifth graders! Many thanks to PTA's Boosterthon co-chairs, Sarah Purcer and Shanna Walker, for an outstanding job!
Oakview will be busy this week with the Book Fair and Red Ribbon Week and we are gearing up for the Hootenanny Fall Festival! Be sure to read the ACORN for more details! And, as always, please do not hesitate to contact me at cblinston@charter.net if you have any questions!
Restaurant Night - Olympian Grill
Thursday, Oct 29, 2015, 05:00 PM
Olympian Grill, Five Fork Plaza Court, Simpsonville, Greenville, SC, United States
We had a great turnout for our 3rd Annual Watch D.O.G.S. kick off! Over 200 dads and their children came out to enjoy a pizza dinner and to hear more about this exciting program at Oakview. Special thanks to Pizza Inn for providing the pizza and to Allison and Chris Levato for making all the arrangements (including multiple deliveries)! Also, huge thanks to Brian Adams and Andy Yenser for their help during the presentation. We appreciate all the hard work Coby Adams and his staff did to transform the cafeteria and gym to accommodate our large crowd. Thank you to all the faculty and staff who kept an eye on the students for us. And, finally, to all of the PTA and middle school volunteers – thank you for helping get everyone through the food lines so quickly. The night would not have been the success it was without each and every one of you!
Dads, if you are interested in being on the Watch D.O.G.S. email list, and you have not filled out a purple registration form, please contact us. We will be sending out some information to our distribution list in the next week couple of weeks. If you have any questions, please contact Christi Yenser at yensercm@gmail.com or Heidi Dannelly at Heidi.schoepf@alumni.clemson.edu.Red Ribbon Week
Students, show your commitment to living drug-free by participating in the week’s spirit days:
Monday, Oct. 26: Students receive Red Ribbons and bracelets
Tuesday, Oct. 27: "Head to Toe Drug Free” – Crazy Hair (no hair dye)
Wednesday, Oct. 28: "Give Drugs the Boot" – Western Wear
Thursday, Oct. 29: “Sock-it to Drugs” – Crazy Sock Day
Friday, Oct. 30: "Rally in Red" -- wear as much red as possible
-- no face paint or hair dye
Parents, visit www.redribbon.org to learn more about Red Ribbon Week and get tips for talking to your kids about drugs. The life you save may be that of your own child or a dear friend.
DID YOU KNOW? According to the Red Ribbon Campaign, children whose parents talk to them about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs, yet only a quarter of teens report having these conversations.
Parents, you have a local ally in the fight to keep your children drug-free. Greenville Family Partnership is located at 200 Mills Ave. in Greenville. For more information, visit www.gfpdrugfree.org or call (864)467-4102.
Monster Book Fair
Please plan to join us at the Fall Book Fair. Opening day is Monday, October 26 and the fair will continue through Friday, October 30. This is a wonderful opportunity to build personal and classroom libraries. All proceeds from the Book Fair benefit our Media Center so please consider supporting this important event!
Book Fair Hours:
Monday, October 26, 7:30 am – 3:00 pm
Tuesday, October 27, 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday, October 28, 7:30 am – 3:00 pm
Thursday, October 29, 7:30 am – 3:00 pm
Friday, October 30, 7:30 am – 11:00 am
Let's Get Ready to Recycle!
Oakview will celebrate America Recycles Week from November 9-13. We encourage all families to use Oakview as a recycling center for the items listed below so our planet uses fewer natural resources. Oakview’s Earth Savers’ Club members will give prizes each day that week to students who bring any of the following items to recycle:
*pairs of wearable shoes (no skates)
*bottle caps
*cell phones
*aluminum cans
*ink and toner cartridges
*six-pack rings
*laptops
*eyeglasses
*glue sticks
*game cartridges
*digital cameras
*GPS systems
*Recycle Your Gently Used Shoes*
For one week only, November 9-13, Oakview will collect pairs of shoes to help those in need around the world. Containers will be available outside the main, kindergarten, and bus entrances to collect them. All shoes, new and used, are accepted as long as they have no rips or tears. All shoes will be given to Shoes4Water who will then send them to Kenya where shoes and water are difficult to find. The funds from the sale of the shoes will then help the program dig wells and buy pumps and filtration equipment for the local people.
HOOTENANNY
Just TWO MORE weeks until it’s time to par-tay! This year’s Hootenanny, in case you haven’t already heard, is Friday, November 6 from 4:30 - 9:00pm at Oakview.
If you haven’t already received it...the Hootenanny packet should be arriving home and into your hot, little hands any second! It explains all of the evening’s festivities, as well as, includes the form to pre-order food, game & ride tickets, and drawing tickets for chances for the "Who Wants to Be A..." for part of the day, and this year’s Birthday Bonus giveaway. Please fill out the YELLOW pre-order form and return it with your payment by Friday, October 30.
Do you have an older child who needs service hours? Why not sign them up to work at the Hootenanny. Head to the PTA website at www.oakviewpta.com and sign...them...up!
We are still in need of some odds and ends to make the night a success. The SignUp Genius link with our needs can also be found on the PTA website. Be sure to take a peek to see if there is anything you would be willing to donate.
Any bakers in the house? Make a cake, cupcakes or cake pops for the cakewalk and you or your student could win our cake decorating contest! Even if you didn’t sign up to bring a cake, we would love to have more turned in and see your beautiful work! There are two divisions: Youth (open to current OES students only) and Adult. There will be winners in each division for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Outstanding Owl Cake, Outstanding Creativity Cake, and “20 Years of Excellence” Cake. Bake a masterpiece and you might be one of the lucky winners to go home with an “APRON OF HONOR”!
There will be another Bake Sale this year. Want to bake some goodies for that? Items should be packaged individually in clear plastic wrap or baggies (one large cookie or cookie bar or two smaller cookies per bag). Each individual baggie needs a label that lists the baker’s name and phone number.
In accordance with health department regulations, all items must be labeled with the baker’s name and phone number. Items without labels must be thrown away. Please do not send items in that need refrigeration.
As always, the Hootenanny CANNOT be as OWL-MAZING as it is without our wonderful families, staff, and community. Thank you in advance for ALL of your help!
Any Questions? Email us at oeshoot@gmail.com.
Dawn Ridge, Kim Alexander & Katie Martin
Hootenanny Co-Chairs
Elf Shelf
Elf Shelf will be open Tuesday, December 15 – Thursday, December 17. On these days, your child will shop with their class at their designated time. On Friday, December 18, the Elf Shelf will be open for your child to purchase additional gifts, if desired, during designated times so watch for announcements.
We hope this holiday season brings peace and joy to you and your families!
The Oakview Elves