The Grove
May 26, 2023
Note From Principal Graham
It is hard to believe we have one more week of school. Wow, this year has gone by super fast! We have tons of celebrations next week as we close out the school year. Please see the calendar below for our last few school events.
School online registration for the 2023-2024 school year will begin on July 10th. Look for more information coming to you before this summer date.
Lexington One promotes Casey to principal of Saxe Gotha Elementary
At the May 16 Board of Trustees Meeting, the Lexington County School District One Board of Trustees promoted Joseph W. Casey to principal of Saxe Gotha Elementary, effective July 1, 2023. Casey currently serves as an assistant principal at Oak Grove Elementary.
Prior to returning to the Lexington One family, Casey served as assistant principal for curriculum and instruction from 2016–2021 at Dent Middle School in Richland School District Two. Before joining Dent Middle School, he served at Pelion Middle School from 2010–2016 as lead interventionist for the Response to Intervention program, teacher and coach. He began his career at White Knoll Middle School in 2006 as an English language arts teacher and coach.
Casey graduated from Suffolk County Community College with an Associate of Arts in general studies, The State University of New York College at Cortland with a Bachelor of Arts in adolescent English education, and University of South Carolina with a Master of Education in educational leadership.
He is a member of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators and the Palmetto State Teachers Association. He is certified in secondary and elementary administration, middle level English language arts and English.
No Lunch Visitation Next Week
Due to various events taking place next week, we will not be able to accomodate visitors for lunch for the remaining few days of school. Thank you for your understanding.
End of Year Medication Pick Up
The end of the school year is here and we wanted to give a few reminders.
If your child has medication in the health room it must be picked up by next Thursday, June 1 at 11AM. If you are unable to pick it up by then please contact the health room to make other arrangements. If the medication is not picked up it will be destroyed.
Also, with the summer fast approaching, remember to have your child wear sunscreen when outdoors, drink a lot of water to stay hydrated, and make sure they wear proper shoes when outside to avoid extra injuries.
I hope you enjoy and have a nice summer break!
Nurse Becker
Devices To Remain at School
Devices and chargers will no longer go home with students. All devices will remain in their classroom and secured during the summer. When school resumes on August 9, students will be issued a device to use on school premises.
As the school year comes to a close, any outstanding device charges will need to be taken care of by June 2. Parents would have been notified if any charges are due. Thank you for your attention to taking care of these matters.
July 10
Mark your calendar now! Online Registration will open on Monday, July 10. At that time you will be register your child for the 2023-2024 school year. You will fill out a few forms, pay fees, put lunch money on your child's lunch account and once all is completed in its entirety, see who your child's teacher will be.
After School Program Update
Big Blue Marble will not be providing after school care to students of Oak Grove Elementary next school year. The school district is currently collecting and reviewing contracts of companies interested in providing after school care to our families. Look for more information this summer of our new after school day care provider.
Important Upcoming Events
MAY
Monday, May 29 - No School
Tuesday, May 30 - 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony 6PM
Wednesday, May 31 - 5K Promotion Ceremony 6PM
Wednesday, May 31 - Last day of Big Blue Marble
JUNE
Thursday, June 1 - Medicine Pick up in Health Room by 11AM
Thursday, June 1 - Half Day For Students 11:20AM Dismissal
Thursday, June 1 - Graduation Walk and 5th Grade Final Walk
Friday, June 2 - Last Day / Half Day For Students 11:20AM Dismissal
Friday, June 2 - Report Cards Go Home
JULY
Monday, July 10 - Online Registration Opens
AUGUST
Wednesday, August 9 - First Day of School of 2023-2024
Introducing Your 2023-2024 PTO Board of Directors
We are pleased to introduce the 2023-2024 PTO Board of Directors. Thank you to these Patriot parents for volunteering their time, commitment and love for Oak Grove Elementary, its students, staff and parents. We greatly appreciate your dedication to this important role. We look forward to a great 2023-2024 school year in partnership with you.
President- Kathryn Swift
Vice President-Addy Griffin
Secretary-Mary Catherine Whisnant
Treasurer-Jennifer Hill-Baker
First Day of School 23-24
OGE School Counseling Survey
Please take a moment and complete this OGE School Counseling Survey by clicking on the form below to provide us feedback to help us continue to grow our program.
Thank you,
Holly Warren and Nancy Daughtrey, OGE School Counselors
Thank you to the many OGE families that participated in the OGE Spirit Night at Bellacino's and came by for a wonderful meal with other OGE families. Pictured above is OGE Spanish teacher, Ms. Rodriguez with her children, also OGE students.
Thank you to the many parent and community members that volunteered their time to come and tell students about their careers. The students were so excited to see the many vehicles such as an ambulance, police cars and a power utility truck. and learn the importance of each one. We also want to thank the volunteers that came to speak to our upper grades getting them excited about the many careers out there for them to think about doing one day in the future. It was.a great day for our students!
Lunch Outside
Ms. Howell's 1st grade class received a big surprise recently getting to eat lunch outside on a beautiful day. When students give their all in class, in their homework assignments and show the qualities stated in OGE's motto of Be Kind, Work Hard, Be Brave, students are thrilled with such a generous surprise as this and acknowledging their hard work.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Evie for successfully completing Reading Recovery.
Space Day
Ms. Koehler's 4th-grade class participated in a Space Day today! They got to create their own helmet and play some space games. For math, students got to blast off to each plant around the room to complete a multiplication problem. For writing, they watched a real-life astronaut read a book in space followed by writing about what they would do if they were an astronaut.
Congratulations
The following students read the highest number of steps in their RED reading log in the upper grades this year. Congratulations to Carlee in Ms. Lawrence's class, Graham in Ms. Spulick's class, and Michael in Mr. Ryals' class for being such great readers!
Poetry Display
Ms. Bartolotti's 1st grade students recently put on a poetry display. Thank you for all of the support of the families that joined this class and these wonderful poets.
Jaiden was caught being brave and working hard
Evie was caught being brave and being kind
Goals Met - Bell Ringing Celebration
Students are always encouraged to set goals for themselves and strive to reach those goals. Goals can be a wide range of things from learning your numbers, to reading a chapter of your favorite book, to getting a good grade on a test. A goal is that which a student sets for themselves and does all that they can to meet that goal. In those times when a goal is met, they get to ring the bell in celebration! Congratulations to this weeks bell ringers! Keep up the great work!
Lunch Balance Payments - June 2
Does your child have a lunch balance due on their account? All balances will need to be taken care of by June 2 at 11am.
It is easy to do by going to https://family.titank12.com/. The cost for lunch is $3.30. The website is user friendly and you can even see your student’s current balance and purchase history. This includes special sales like ice cream bars.
Should you wish to send in a check to the school cafeteria, checks can be made payable to Oak Grove Elementary School to be deposited into their lunch account.
WKMS Summer Basketball Camp
June 26-28.
If interested, click on the link below to sign up.
4K/5K Application Process for 23'-24'
Applications will be accepted online only and using the following links:
4K https://www.lexington1.net/preschool,
5K https://www.lexington1.net/5K
All required documents must be uploaded at the time of submission for the application to be processed. For 5K, The age of the child will need to be 5 by September 1, 2023 and reside in the Oak Grove Elementary attendance zone.
4K (Age of 4 by September 1, 2023)
For students to participate in the district's 4k program, they must:
- Resident in Lexington One attendance area
- Meet an at-risk criteria (Annual family income of 185% or less of the federal poverty guidelines, or Medicaid eligible, or Children also qualify in cases of developmental delay)
Any questions, please contact Shelley Lauth at (803) 821-0104 or slauth@lexington1.net.
Parent Climate Survey
Dear Lexington One Families,
Each year the S.C. Department of Education asks students, teachers and parents/guardians to complete school climate surveys. Responses to the surveys provide useful information that help school and district leaders.
If you haven’t completed the survey, here are the directions:
Log into Parent Portal at: lexington1.powerschool.com/public
You must log in on an internet browser. The survey does not work on the PowerSchool App.If you need assistance with accessing the Parent Portal or need an alternative option for completing the survey, please contact your school.
Click on “Parent Climate Survey” link that is under your child’s name and student ID number.
Click on the drop-down box at the top left to change languages if necessary.
Thank you for taking time to provide us with feedback by completing the survey.
Sincerely,
Libby Roof
Chief Communications Officer
Free Student DHEC Drive-Through Testing Sites
Dear Lexington District One Families:
We partnered with the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to offer voluntary and free flu and COVID-19 testing to Lexington District One students.
Three drive-through testing sites in our school district will operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the following locations:
Rosenwald Community Learning Center
420 Hendrix Street
Lexington, SC 29072
Former Gilbert Elementary School (Old Gilbert High School)
314 Main Street
Gilbert, SC 29054
Former Pelion Middle School
758 Magnolia Street
Pelion, SC 29123
We chose these sites to best serve all communities throughout our district, while not causing a disruption to learning. The clinics give our families the voluntary opportunity to test for free if their student is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or flu. The combination test allows for a single nasal swab to be used to test for COVID-19, Flu A, and Flu B.
To visit a clinic and get tested, parents/guardians must use the link below to create an account and sign up.
Reporting COVID
Dear Lexington District One Families:
Lexington District One students and staff continue to learn, work and live with COVID-19 with minimal disruptions. Our schools are operating normally, and DHEC no longer requires close contacts to quarantine.
Please remember that students who are sick with COVID-19 or test positive must continue to isolate, meaning they must stay at home from school.
We recently updated the way to report your student’s COVID-19 positive test results for the 2022–23 school year.
All student reports of a positive COVID-19 test result will be completed through the COVID-19 report form found in PowerSchool Parent Portal. The previous Google form link is no longer accepting responses.
After logging on to Parent Portal, select ‘Forms’ in the navigation bar, then fill out and submit the “COVID-19 Reporting Form.” We will then email you further information on when your student may return to school and school-sponsored events.
Did You Know That.....
- Doors Open: 7:00 AM
- Student Instruction Begins 7:40 AM
- If Arrival is After 7:40 AM, an Adult Will Need to Sign in Their Student With the Front Office and Get a Tardy Pass.
- Early Sign Outs By 2:00 PM
- Dismissal: 2:20 PM
Office Hours
7:00 am - 4:00 pm
Monday - Friday
Office Phone: (803) 821-0100
Fax: (803) 821-0103
About Us:
Website: https://www.lexington1.net/OGES
Location: 479 Oak Drive, Lexington, 29073
Phone: (803) 821-0100
Facebook: facebook.com/ogelementary
Twitter: @ogelementary
Lexington County School District One’s Nondiscrimination Statement
References to trademarks and brand ownership have been removed for ease of reading but, in all cases, should be taken as read and respected.
NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
Lexington County School District One is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all students, parents/legal guardians, staff, visitors, personnel and community members who participate or seek to participate in its programs or activities. Therefore, the district does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or any related medical conditions), color, disability, age, genetic information, national origin or any other applicable status protected by local, state or federal law.
Click here for more information.