Ocean Avenue School News
October 2019 ~ Volume 39, Issue 39
Principal's Message
Parent-Teacher-Student Conference Time!
Fall conferences offer a wonderful opportunity to view and discuss with your child and teacher your child’s academic and social progress to date. This is a chance to help your child understand that their efforts and perseverance make a difference. Numerous studies show that successful adults in life have a growth mind-set; they understand that success comes with repeated practice, persistence, and value personal grit.
Progress reports will be given to parents at the conferences, but our focus will be on student growth. Here are some tips to help you make the most of the conference:
- Compliment your child on his or her work. As your child shares his/her work with you, notice what was done well, and also praise them for their effort.
- Make a list. Before the conference, jot down any questions or areas of concern to discuss with the teacher. Questions to ask can include “Is my child meeting grade level expectations for learning and behavior? What can I do to support my child at home? Are there materials or resources that you would recommend?”
- Collaborate and offer your perspective. Many times, teachers will ask you about your child’s activities at home and your views of your child’s strengths and areas where help might be needed. Even if the teacher does not ask, speak up and provide your observations and any concerns.
- Plan to follow up, if needed. Writing down the plan of what will be done, when, and how often. Make plans to connect in the coming months, including how this contact will be made.
School is out early on December 5th and 6th for conferences (non-interpreted). Students are released at 11:30 AM. We will be holding our annual Book Fair during this time, and throughout the week of December 2nd. Classroom teachers will have wish lists. If you are willing and able to purchase a book for the classroom, much thanks will come your way, including a book plate sticker showing them the book was donated. Thank you!
Classroom News and Happenings
First Grade News
Second Grade News
Third Grade News
THIRD GRADE CURRICULUM NIGHT!
(Brought to you by YOUR child!)
WHEN: 5-6 PM
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
WHERE: Ocean Avenue Third Grade in your own classrooms
WHO: You and your third grade student
WHAT: Your child is your tour guide. They will show you some big parts of what it means to be a third grader at Ocean Avenue Elementary School.
Fourth Grade News
Fourth Grade welcomed parents to our Annual Curriculum Night on Wednesday, October 2nd. Ms. Gurney, Ms. Lantos, and Ms. Guillaume Chimenti shared information on what to expect for the year, including field trips and our positive behavior plan.
In October, 4th graders will be publishing realistic narratives, analyzing themes in realistic fiction, and exploring properties of multi-digit addition and subtraction. Our International Baccalaureate studies will continue to explore promoting and protecting diversity.
Art Room News
- Kindergarten has been exploring different types of lines for their flower vases, inspired by Vincent van Gogh's sunflowers. They are in the process of painting their vases "magic crayons" (watercolor crayons) to create a crayon resist. The next step will be creating sunflowers using warm colored shapes.
- First grade is busy creating patterns using q-tips to apply paint for the center of their pattern sunflowers. They explored using 5 colors of paint in different ways to show patterns in the center, and on their petals. They will be adding oil pastels to create details for their flowers soon.
- Second grade artists have been showing off their knowledge of horizontal, vertical, diagonal, and curved lines to create spider webs and spiders. Students cut and glued stenciled shapes and added glitter glue to highlight spooky eyes and implied texture.
- Third grade is exploring symmetry! Specifically, they are creating bilateral symmetry pumpkins for fall with unique designs in white pencil and black marker. As an extension activity, students are showing what else in nature shows bilateral and radial symmetry through student chosen mediums.
- Fourth grade just finished up a challenging unit of drawing what they actually see versus drawing what they want to see with sunflowers. Now, they are drawing with both strategies in mind to create symmetrical bugs. They are trying out drawing different insects with a glue resist and chalk pastels, and also vibrant oil pastels.
- Fifth graders are finishing up their graffiti unit by completing their graffiti pieces, showing shadows, details, and color gradation in their names. They will be creating grids soon to draw a fall still life realistically using photographs and sample objects.
Library News
If you see these special books in backpacks, make sure to check out the inside cover for discussion questions and inquiry topics. We're so lucky to have these books in our library for our community to discover and enjoy. CLICK HERE to check out the details.
Occupational Therapy News
Tips from Our Occupational Therapists!
Did you know that two year olds should be cutting with scissors? That’s right! The developmental stages for cutting skills start at age 2! At age 2, they should be able to snip with scissors. At age 3, they should be able to cut through a piece of paper. At almost 3.5 years, they should be able to cut on a line.
Scissor skills are an important skill for a great number of reasons! Cutting on a line can promote good eye hand coordination, hand strength, bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body at the same time), and visual perception. It’s a skill that Occupational Therapists (OTs) often measure as a way to determine the fine motor and visual motor skills of a child!
As a parent, it can be scary to hand your child a pair of scissors. However, it is important to supervise them and help them learn how to be appropriate and safe with scissors. Good fine motor and visual motor skills leads to good writing and reading skills! Here are some general tips to help promote good scissor skills:
- Always instruct your child to keep their “thumb up” towards the ceiling (and elbows in).
- Encourage them to hold the paper and turn it with their non dominant hand.
- Start with straight vertical lines. Then try circles!
- Use a thick marker to draw lines so that they have more success with staying on the line. Thin lines can be discouraging.
- If they are having trouble with cutting from the bottom of the paper, tape a piece of paper to the wall, draw 3-4 thick lines and have them cut from the bottom up!
- Sometimes lefty’s need lefty scissors (only if they are having difficulty). Not all scissors that you buy in a store are lefty’s. A lefty pair of scissors always has the left blade on top of the right blade. You most likely will have to order a pair of lefty scissors from a website. (FYI: Fiskar scissors advertise that they are good for both right and left handed students and this is not always the case.)
- If they are not ready to use scissors but you still would like to work on this skill, play games with tongs, Play Doh scissors, tweezers, hole puncher (my personal favorite), etc. You can also cut silly things like straws or silly putty!
Have fun and BE SAFE!!!
Physical Education News
The gym has been a busy place this fall. It has been fun getting to know all of our new students and reconnecting with our returning students.
In Physical Education class, students in Grades K-2 spent September and early October focusing on the central idea that we can move in different ways to improve our health and well being. Students engaged in activities like “Fruit Hoops” and “Rainbow on my Plate”. In these simple games, basic locomotor movements were paired with nutrition concepts to illustrate what humans need to grow and thrive. In addition, games like bean bag tag and Frisbee cars highlighted important spatial concepts.
Students in grades 3-5 were engaged in activities that illustrated the health related components of fitness. They connected activities like, Rock Paper Scissors Run, Quarterback Tag, Indiana Jones, and The 5-2-1-0 Relay to the central idea that “individuals are responsible for making choices to improve their well being”. A word wall in the gym helps them understand vocabulary words that help to connect these ideas.
What is PBIS?
At Ocean Avenue, we are using PBIS, which stands for Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports, to help us establish and maintain a safe learning environment where everyone feels supported to teach and to learn.
- WE ARE RESPONSIBLE
- WE ARE RESPECTFUL
- WE ARE SAFE
We clearly define what this looks and sounds like in the classroom, in the hallway, in the cafeteria, in the bathroom, and on the playground. We recognize and reinforce these expected behaviors. We encourage families to discuss what it would look like to be responsible, respectful and safe in your home! Ask your child to get the conversation started. Look for more updates to come in the coming months.
5-2-1-0 Every Day!
Dear Ocean Avenue Families,
Our school believes that all children deserve the opportunity to be healthy and successful. Healthy eating and physical activity improve concentration, memory, and mood, helping students become better learners. We are pleased to share with you that our school supports the 5-2-1-0 Every Day message, which states the following:
To further support healthy students, staff, and families, we participate in Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 Goes to School. As part of this program, we promote and follow the Let’s Go! five healthy strategies below, which support the 5-2-1-0 behaviors:
- We limit unhealthy choices for snacks and celebrations and provide healthy choices instead.
- We limit sugary drinks.
- We do not reward children with food.
- We provide opportunities for children to get physical activity every day.
- We limit recreational screen time.
These strategies and the 5-2-1-0 message are promoted at other Let’s Go! schools, child care programs, out-of-school programs, and health care practices in our community and throughout Maine. Together, we can help ensure a healthy environment for kids throughout the day.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us. If you would like more information about Let’s Go!, visit www.letsgo.org. Thank you for your support in helping us create a healthier place for our students to learn!
5-2-1-0 Survey!
Attention all families: Please take this five minute survey from The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. Even if you completed the survey last year, we need your participation again!
Everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a prize drawing and five lucky winners across the state will each receive a $100 Amazon gift card for their personal use AND if you win, our school will receive $1,000.
Other schools are participating, so the more families from our school who complete the survey, the greater our chance of winning $1,000!
Contact information for the prize drawing will be collected at the end of the survey and will not be connected to your survey responses. All survey responses are anonymous.
Click the following link to begin the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019FamilySCHCumberland
Thank you!
Flu Shot Clinic at OAES
We will be having our annual flu shot clinic at OAES on Friday, November 1st. Vaccine information sheets (VIS) and consent forms will come home with your child in the next few days.
If you would like for your child to have a flu shot in school, please fill it out the consent form and return it to the nurse's office as soon as possible. Flu shots will only be given to those students who bring in a signed form BEFORE our clinic day. Flu shots given in our clinic are free for students.
Most doctors’ offices also give flu shots if that setting is preferable to you or your child. And, remember to encourage your children to use a tissue to 'catch' germs from their coughs and sneezes, wash their hands frequently and stay at home if they are sick! Thanks for your support in encouraging healthy habits, and if anyone wants to donate a box of tissues, I am happy to accept!
~ Nurse Laurie
Food Bags
If your student is not receiving a white bag and you would like them to start receiving one, please contact the Main Office and we will make sure you are added to the list. Thank you!
Taste Tests Coming Soon to OAES!
Taste tests will happen 4 times this year and all items will be nut, meat, egg and dairy free and offered to all students (though students can decide whether or not they want to participate).
The first taste test will be on October 23rd and will feature Falafel. We hope this will be a fun and positive experience for all of our students. If your child has dietary restrictions and you need more information, please let me know. Thank you!
~ Nurse Laurie
Substitutes Needed!
News from the PTO
JOIN US AT FIVE GUYS ON OCTOBER 28TH!
Join the PTO at Five Guys on Monday, October 28th! 15% of ALL sales between 4-9 pm at FIVE GUYS in South Portland will go to Ocean Avenue PTO! Come eat burgers, fries, and milkshakes with Ocean Avenue families or order takeout or delivery! Tell your friends, family, and neighbors!
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Are you a planner? Do you like when something is on your calendar months ahead of time? Do you get tired of PTO emails begging for help at the last minute? Can you make soup? You're in luck! You can sign up to help out with the PTOs biggest fundraising events NOW! Many hands make light work...let's all do our part.
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SAVE THE DATE!
The Annual OAES PTO Auction will be held on Saturday, February 8th, 2020. You don't want to miss this event! Live music, potluck, donation bar, silent and live auction, and...it's FREE! It's a great way to support Ocean Avenue and have a fun night out with friends.
Interested in helping out? Contact Victoria at president@oapto.org.
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Join US FOR UPCOMING PTO MEETINGS AND FUNDRAISERS!
- Five Guys - Monday, Oct 28th, 4-9 PM
- PTO Phone Bank - Wednesday, Oct 30th, 6 PM
- PTO meeting - Tuesday, Nov 12th, 6 PM
- OTTO Pizza (Read St) - Tuesday, Nov 19th
- PTO meeting - Tuesday, December 10th, 6 PM
All PTO meetings are in the OAES Library.
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