The Oxford Update
Oxford Elementary School
Let’s Go! Recognizes Oxford Elementary PreK for Helping to Create a Healthy Environment
Let’s Go! has awarded our Oxford Elementary School PreK program with the GOLD award for our commitment to improving children’s health. By following the program’s evidence-based strategies, we’re making it easier for children to eat well and be active. Oxford Elementary PreK is among 917 Let’s Go! sites across Maine and the Mt. Washington Valley, New Hampshire recognized in 2020.
The Let’s Go! recognition program identifies and celebrates schools, out-of-school programs, and early care and education programs for their role in improving the health of all children with a focus on sustainable change. Our program achieved the Gold Award, the highest level of recognition, which reflects our work to implementing the program’s five evidence-based priority strategies, communicating them to families and caregivers, and has included them in our program policy.
Let’s Go! also recognizes school cafeterias and health care practices for the role they play in helping kids develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime. A listing of all recognized sites can be found at sites.letsgo.org.
School Attendance During A Global Pandemic
Our goal this year is to ensure that every student attends school if they are healthy and well. Because our young students have not had regular school access since last March, it is extremely important that they attend school daily as long as they don’t have a fever, cough, or illness symptoms. Academically and socially we have some catching up to do! We will all need to work as a school community to make sure that this year we do the best we can instructionally for our students. Our kids deserve every opportunity to succeed.
Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and in life.
We realize some absences will be unavoidable due to health problems and other circumstances. This is especially true during the Covid pandemic. But we also know that when students miss school for unexcused absences—( stayed up too late, dog is sick, family errands)– it can cause them to fall behind academically. Your child is less likely to succeed if he or she is chronically absent—which means missing 18 or more days over the course of an entire school year. Research shows:
Children chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.
By 6th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school.
By 9th grade, good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th-grade test scores.
Clearly going to school regularly matters! Please ensure that your child attends school every day and arrives on time. Here are a few practical tips to help support regular attendance:
Make sure your children keep a regular bedtime and establish a morning routine.
Remove all access from technology at bedtime.
Ensure your children go to school every day unless they are truly sick.
Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session.
Talk to teachers and counselors for advice if your children feel anxious about going to school or the global pandemic.
Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your child to school.
Let us know how we can best support you and your children during this unusual time. We want your child to make progress this year and it begins with showing up. If you have any questions or need more information please contact your child’s teacher.
Nurse's Notes: Have You Gotten Your Flu Shot?
Remember, getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your children, and other loved ones from the flu!
Third Graders Get Dictionaries from Rotary Club
All third-grade students were given dictionaries from the Oxford Hills Rotary Club this week! Their dictionaries will help them spell words for their writing, find definitions for words, and so much more. Ask a third grader if they can tell you the longest word in the dictionary. Hint… it’s about 1,900 letters long! Thank you, Rotary Club!"
OES Wellness Committee
Did you know that OES has a Wellness Committee? Well, we do and we would love for you to be a part of it!!
Here's a sample of what we do:
-Create Student and Staff Wellness Challenges
-Provide resources to staff about ways to encourage students and families to stay healthy
-Submit data to 5210 to help our school achieve different levels of recognition
-Provide information to staff and families about available wellness opportunities in our school and community
As a member of the team, you would meet with us monthly, alongside our two Let's Go Program Coordinators, Sarah Carter, and Carl Costanzi, to work towards all of these goals and more!
If you are interested in joining our team, please contact the school to let us know that you would like to join the team.
Writing Celebration
Thank you to Ms. Guerrette for making sure that her students had the opportunity to share their hard work on their writing, even if it was in a non-traditional way. Typically we have the opportunity to invite families in to hear their students' writing during these celebrations. This year is a bit different, but we still want students to be able to share their work and enjoy their accomplishments. Great work 5th grade!
Important Dates to Remember
Wednesday, October 21st - Early Release Day, Dismissal 1 Hour Early
Thursday, October 22nd - Student Day, Parent-Teacher Conference moved to Wednesday, October 28th pending School Board ApprovalUPCOMING:
Monday, October 26th - Picture Day, Grade 2 and Pod A students grades 4-6 and anyone absent on Friday, October 16th
Wednesday, October 28th - Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences, No school for students
Oxford Elementary School
Denise Bourgoine, Assistant Principal
Arica Monahan, School Nurse
Jill Knight, Secretary
Christine Merrill, Secretary
Email: principal.oxford@msad17.org
Website: www.msad17.org
Location: 79 Pleasant Street, Oxford, ME, USA
Phone: (207) 539-4456
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Oxford-Elementary-School-Maine-1556253884658478