Oakhurst Weekly
September 15, 2022
From the Principal
Hello OAK,
What a joyful return from our break it has been! Seeing everyone’s smiling face has been a happiness that I can’t quite put into words. Thank you for brightening my day week in and week out.
As the end of the calendar year approaches I find myself more reflective than ever. At the center of that reflection is our lovely school. I’d love to invite you all to help us in our reflection as we review our Oakhurst mission and vision. Your input is incredibly valuable. Please review this form and provide your feedback.
In closing I am looking forward to Movie Night where we will be screening “Shaun the Sheep”! If you haven’t purchased your ticket there’s still time but we’re closing sales tomorrow! Pizza, popcorn, games, and a movie sounds like a great night to me! Check the PTA section below for more information.
Jennifer Young
From the AP
Winter MAP Testing
The Winter MAP administration begins next week. Please note the testing dates and times for each grade level below.
Arlethea Williams, awilliams@csdecatur.net
Coach's Corner
Thank you for all of the donations that have come in for our bug house creations! We are still in need of the following items:
Empty paper towel rolls
Short bamboo sticks/canes
Dried flowers
Moss
Milk cartons
We could also use old plant pots that you are no longer using or would like to donate to this project.
We’re looking forward to building several beneficial bug houses to help improve the ecosystem of our school grounds.
Thank you for your support!
Cindy Aldridge
School Notes/Announcements
Thank you, Courtney & Avery Bishop!
During our most recent community circle, 1st grade Avery's mom, Courtney, shared with us about her Osage heritage and read us a beautiful story about the prairies. We're very thankful to have you both in our community, and we loved learning more about your culture. Thank you!
Keeping Our Students Safe: Arrival and Dismissal Reminders
Whether your child is a car rider or a walker, your family can help us make sure our arrivals and dismissals are safe AND smooth!
Please take a few moments to become familiar (or remind yourself) of our car rider and walker guidelines and procedures by reading Oakhurst's Guide to Car Line.
Walkers who leave via Feld Ave. can help us by reviewing this information.
We really appreciate your help - thank you!
Lost & Found
Our Lost & Found is overflowing! 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.
December Design Principle
The Expeditionary Learning Design Principle we are highlighting this month is Success and Failure. Click the Choice Board below for videos, readings, and activities your family may use to broaden your conversations and practice around success and failure.
PTA
MOVIE NIGHT: TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER!
Drop your Oakhurst students off at school for movie night with friends, while you get a chance to wrap gifts, do some shopping or have a fun night out! Our winter parents’ night out fundraiser is on Friday, December 9th from 5-8pm. All children must be current Oakhurst students - the cost is $40 per child or $55 per family with more than one child attending. In addition to watching a movie and activities, kids will enjoy pizza and popcorn!
Pre-pay to register and reserve your spot now! Space is limited. All attendees must be currently enrolled Oakhurst students. All proceeds to support the PTA. Interested in attending but unable to pay? Scholarships available - please let us know. MORE INFO AND REGISTER NOW - REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS DEC. 2nd
MINTED HOLIDAY CARDS - PASSIVE FUNDRAISING SUPPORT!
Help the Oakhurst PTA while doing your holiday shopping and entertaining! Our partners will give a percentage of sales back to our school through charitable giving. Thank you for your support this season and all year long! Click here for more info: https://oakhurstelementarypta.org/passive-fundraising/
Minted: Holiday Cards & Gifts
Order holiday cards & gifts from Minted using our promo code "FUNDRAISEOAKHURST” - You’ll get 20% OFF your order and 15% of every purchase made using our code will be donated back to our school at the end of the year!
PTA DEI CORNER
As we wrap up Native American Heritage Month, we are highlighting how our school families can get involved locally. Check out this flyer from the Beacon Hill Black Alliance on their Art for the People Campaign and the exciting initiative to commission an Indigenous artist for public art in Decatur! Go to: https://beaconhillblackalliance.org/artforthepeople/ for additional information.
DEI Book Cart This Friday!
Please join us from 8:00-8:20 a.m. at the front of the school to check out our curated collection of inclusive books featuring diverse characters and encouraging acceptance and empathy. Reading these books at home with your children can promote meaningful connections and create safe spaces for important conversations. This will be the last opportunity to check out books until after the break.
Hot Chocolate and Story Time in Celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Please join us on December 3 from 10am-12pm at Brave and Kind Books. We will have hot chocolate, fun crafts, and story time. Books can be pre-ordered now here!
We also need volunteers to help make this event a success. Please sign up here to volunteer!
Dates to Note
December 2: DEI Friday Book Cart: 8:00 - 8:20
December 2: Last day to register for movie night fundraiser
December 3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities Hot Chocolate Story Time @ Brave & Kind - 10am - 12pm.
December 8: Kindergarten Celebration of Learning (details to come from teacher)
December 9: PTA Parent's Night Out Movie Night *Sign up by 12/2
December 15: 1st Grade Celebration of Learning (details to come from teacher)
December 15: 2nd Grade Celebration of Learning (details to come from teacher)
December 16: Coffee Chat - Enrichment Over a School Break (8:30am - 9:15am)
December 16: Community Circle @ 2:15
City Schools of Decatur
DHS Cheer Parent’s Night Out Fundraiser
The DHS Cheerleaders are hosting a Parent's Night Out to raise funds to support the DHS cheer program.
If your child is in grades Pre-K - 5 and you would like a few hours to have dinner, shop, and/or meet with friends, let us help! Sign up today for the parent’s night out!
Night Out date: December 16, 2022, 5:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: DHS Media Center, Commerce Drive entrance/Bus Loop
Drop-off begins at 4:50 pm
Pick-Up is from 7:45 - 8:00 pm
Cost: $40
Payment Information (we apologize for the inconvenience, but we are unable to accept credit cards):
Option 1: Please bring cash, check, or money order to the Wilson Center (125 Electric Avenue) Thursday, December 1st - Monday, December 12th, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm.
Option 2: Drive up option. Please bring cash, check, or money order to DHS (driveway under the spaceship on McDonough St.) on December 8 from 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm.
Click here to sign up. Please contact Ashaki Stinson (astinson@csdecatur.net) or Saadia Foy (sfoy@csdecatur.net) if you have any questions.
Nutrition Department
Help CSD School Nutrition
CSD Nutrition is asking parents to check their online meal accounts in infinite campus (Parent Portal). We have several families that have negative balances that need to be cleared.
For the last two years, the USDA offered school districts waivers to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students. Unfortunately, those waivers have now expired which means City Schools of Decatur no longer offer all students a free meal.
The traditional free & reduced lunch program does still exist for those who qualify. If you think your family qualifies for federal free or reduced lunch please reapply for the federal free & reduced lunch program today. Please visit, https://campus.csdecatur.org/campus/portal/parents/decatur.jsp to complete the online application. Paper applications may be picked up at the schools. You only need to re-apply one time each school year. Only one application per family needs to be completed.
Supply Chain Update
* Menus are subject to substitutions based on availability. We are facing unprecedented issues with the supply chain that will cause us to alter our posted menus with little to no notice. Currently, we may be replacing our deli turkey with chicken ham when deli turkey meat is listed on the menu. Please bare with us as we manage these changes.
CSD Partners
F.Ave PTO Summer Camp Exposition
F.Ave PTO is excited to announce our first ever Summer Camp Exposition!
Join us Saturday, December 10th from 10a-2p in the Multipurpose room at F.Ave to learn about the summer camps offered from several vendors in the Decatur area. Featured camps include options for kids from Pre-K through 12th Grade!
This event is free for the public. There will be a raffle for some fun camp prizes and a digital Summer Camp Planning Guide will also be available for families
Register TODAY for Run With the Dogs (RWTD) 2023!
Register TODAY for Run With the Dogs (RWTD) 2023!
Join us on Saturday, January 28, 2023, for Run With the Dogs, a Decatur tradition now in its 19th year.
We’re back at Beacon Hill Middle School for the 5K and Pup Trot, and we are pleased to announce that this year’s race is an official qualifying event for the Peachtree Road Race!
We are also pleased to announce that our Face of the Race winner is Tuck the Pug! Thank you to everyone who submitted your dogs for the contest, and thanks for voting. Register TODAY to make sure you get a long-sleeved T-shirt with this adorable little guy.
Run With the Dogs is an annual fundraiser of the Decatur Bulldog Boosters and supports the athletic programs at Decatur High School and Beacon Hill Middle School. For more information and to register for the race, click here.
Decatur Education Foundation
Are you great at math, science or languages? Your skills could help a Decatur student in just one hour per week as a Virtual Pal Tutor! We pair 2nd-8th grade students with upper high school or adult tutors to help with homework, organization and motivation. It’s an easy way to give back to your community in a meaningful way (and for high school students to earn volunteer hours).
Click here to apply: https://forms.gle/VJuyncb7qce6R7Jq5
Can’t volunteer but want to help out? You can donate to our Lighten the Load program which keeps the snack pantry stocked at Beacon Hill Middle School. For those families in our community experiencing food insecurity, we also have a weekend backpack program. Both have unique Amazon wish lists that are updated monthly.
You can donate directly to them using these links:
Beacon Hill Middle Snack Program: https://a.co/d0HJHTr
Weekend Backpack Program: https://a.co/6Etc74W
Oakhurst Family Help Box: Who Do I Contact?
22-23 Oakhurst Weekly Newsletters
22-23 Monthly Specials Newsletters
Counselor's Cabinet (Ms. McGhee's Counseling Services website)