Oakhurst Weekly
September 15, 2022
From the Principal
Hello Oak,
I hope that as we transition into our break you all are feeling the spirit of love and thankfulness. “For me, every hour is grace. And I feel gratitude in my heart each time I can meet someone and look at his or her smile.” Elie Weisel
I am grateful for you all! Enjoy the Thanksgiving Break.
School Notes/Announcements
Family Literacy Bingo
In celebration of Family Literacy Month (and to give your family some activities to do over break!), we're playing Bingo! This Family Literacy Month packet is coming home in your student's folder today and in it you will find a Bingo card with 16 activities to enrich literacy. Your student may bring the Bingo card back with completed Bingos the week after Thanksgiving break in exchange for bookmarks. The packet can also be found on our school website under the media center tab.
Walk & Roll
Our first Walk & Roll of the 22-23 school year was a success! Thank you to everyone who walked, rolled, and danced with us on Wednesday morning! And thank you to our PTA for always working super hard to make The Best Little School in the World the very best it can be. We are thankful!
November Design Principle
The Expeditionary Learning Design Principle we are highlighting this month is Solitude and Reflection. Click the Choice Board below for videos, readings, and activities your family may use to broaden your conversations and practice around solitude and reflection.
PTA
MOVIE NIGHT: PARENT’S NIGHT OUT FUNDRAISER ON FRI., DEC. 9th!
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
November is Native American Heritage Month! The DEI committee has put together great resources to learn more, including a book list. Please see the attached Week 3 flyer with links!
DEI Book Cart Cancelled Tomorrow
Due to the weather, the DEI Book Cart will not be out at arrival tomorrow. Please stay tuned for more information about the 12/2 date.
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
November 18: Community Circle @ 8:30 FOR STUDENTS ONLY
November 21 - 25: No School - CSD Thanksgiving Break
December 2: DEI Friday Book Cart: 8:00 - 8:20
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 @ 2:00
City Schools of Decatur
Nutrition Department
The Nutrition Department is in the process of reaching out to parents about student negative meal balances. These efforts to send the low-balance communications will continue weekly through the automated infinite campus messenger or a personal phone call. 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. Click on the links below if you need help adding a reminder to your school email account, adding a low balance alert on your nutrition meal account, and/or adding funds to your school nutrition account.
Extended Day Tutoring Session 1 Ends
Thursday, November 17, is the last day of Extended Day Tutoring for Session 1. Session 2 will begin in February 2023. Eligible students will receive an invitation letter.
CSD Partners
Decatur Prevention Initiative
The Decatur Parents Network is collaborating with DHS staff and the Student Center to offer an evening for parents and caregivers on November 17 @ 6:30 at the Student Center. For more information and to register, go to https://bit.ly/DecaturParentsNetworkNov17.
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!
The nomination period for the Face of the Race has closed, and the race committee will narrow down the adorable candidates to four finalists. Make sure to check our website (rwtd5K.com) beginning on November 11 to cast your vote for this year's winner. One vote per email address will be accepted during the voting window, which ends at 11:59 pm on November 16. The 2023 Face of the Race winner will be announced on the race website and social media on November 18.
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. All race participants will receive the coveted long-sleeved T-shirt designed by local artist Adam Pinsley.
Click here to register. For more information, visit rwtd5K.com.
Decatur Education Foundation
Giving Tuesday is coming up on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, and is a global day of generosity – a day to support the causes that are meaningful to you and your community. With a donation to DEF, you are helping us support Decatur’s kids. It’s our mission to help EVERY student in Decatur learn and thrive. Every kid learns differently; every kid has different needs. We help students through our programs that address racial and economic inequity, opportunity gaps, food insecurity, and behavioral health needs.
Please consider making a donation of any amount (every dollar counts) at www.decatureducationfoundation.org/donate. Together we make a difference for our kids.
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)