Otter Outlook
October 12, 2017
In this issue...
A Message from the Principal
Need to Know!Eating in the Ocee Café
Ocee Elementary Career Day - Gr. 3-5
The Coach's Corner - Carolyn Hutcheson, METI
Ocee's Fall Scholastic "Wild West: Saddle Up and Read" Book Fair
Ryan's Resource
Remembering One of our Own
From Our PTA
Donuts with Dads
Sky Zone Spirit Night - Thursday Oct. 19
Tanner Family Portraits - Still Spots Available
Community News
Chattahoochee HS Pink-Out
Community Meeting Set Oct. 12 for New STEM-focused HS in North Fulton
Community Safety Day
Reminders
Girl's Night
Calling All Dads
Picture Day is Coming - Oct. 17
Ocee's Annual College Week - Oct. 16 - 20
Parent University
Think First and Stay Safe
Dates to Remember
Oct. 12 - Community Mtg. STEM-focused HS in N. Fulton - 6:30 - 8 p.m. Milton Center
Oct. 13 - PTA ScienceX - All day in-house field trip for 4th grade
Oct. 13 - Pumpkin Math - 1st grade 8 a.m.
Oct. 16 - 20 - College Spirit Week
Oct. 16 - 20 - National School Lunch Week
Oct. 16 - SGC Meeting 7 a.m.
Oct. 17 - Fall Picture Day
Oct. 17 - Linda McCain Community Mtg. 6:30 p.m. Johns Creek HS
Oct. 17 - Katie Reeves Community Mtg. 7 p.m. Milton HS
Oct. 17 - Girls Night Out - 5:45 - 8 p.m.
Oct. 19 - Pre-K and K classes participate in Read for the Record Day
Oct. 19 - Report Cards Go Home
Oct. 19 - Donuts for Dads 7:10 - 7:40 a.m., Last Names A-L
Oct. 19 - Sky Zone Spirit Night - 4-8 p.m.
Oct. 20 - Donuts for Dads 7:10 - 7:40 a.m., Last Names M-Z
Oct. 20 - PTA Exec Meeting 8 a.m.
Oct. 23 - 28 - Red Ribbon Week
Oct. 24 - Parent Workshop - Testing 101 7:15 a.m.
Oct. 25 - EIP Parent Coffee - 7:15 a.m.
Oct. 25 - Off-site Evacuation Drill
Oct. 27 - SGC Outreach and Communication Committee Mtg. 7:15 a.m.
A Message from the Principal
As you know, Ocee’s Student Government Council requested and received flexibility to have three additional professional learning days for our staff. Although these are three days where students do not attend school, they benefit in so many ways from this time! We have now completed two of these release days this year, with the third coming in February. These opportunities to come together and grow as a staff raise the level of instruction throughout the building. Here is a recap of the important learning that took place on the two days we have had so far!
Friday, September 1: We had an opportunity to delve into what an academically challenging environment looks like, sounds like, and feels like in classrooms. We want all students to feel that “gentle push” from where they are to the next levels of learning and understanding. We also had a fantastic session on the Response to Intervention process at Ocee. This process impacts all students, because it ensures that every student receives the support he or she needs to be successful. Getting all staff on board with these two key educational components was a valuable use of our day!
Tuesday, October 11: Math instruction has been a focus of professional learning at Ocee for the past year. This week teachers learned about strong practices already in place in each math class in the building, and a tool we will use to collect data and quantify those instructional practices. Teachers had a chance to ponder all of the ways that we can create positive learning environments in our rooms, and set goals for themselves in areas where they would like to continue to grow. We also learned more about the tools that the county has provided to support students who need academic interventions in reading and/or math, and students who need extra support in behavior as well.
We had a fantastic Ocee Walk & Roll event yesterday! Despite the rain, we had hundreds of students and families walk or roll to school. We are completing the tallies now to determine which classrooms will win the "Golden Shoe" award! This was a great event to promote health, wellness, and community. We appreciate everyone's support for our first Walk & Roll this year. We plan on having more of these events in the future, so stay tuned!
Sincerely,
Ryan Moore
Need to Know
Eating in the Ocee Café
To help alleviate crowding in the cafeteria, we ask that if you join your child for lunch, you take your child only and eat at the tables by the stage. This will ensure there is enough room for all students to eat with their class.
We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your support of our students!
Ocee Elementary - Career Day
Grades 3-5
Friday, November 3rd, 2017
8:00 – 10:00 AM
The counseling office at Ocee is in the process of planning Career Day for grades 3-5. We are looking for parents who would be interested in coming out to the school and talking with some of our classes about their careers. If you or someone you know is interested in speaking at Career Day, please click here. Career Day is scheduled for Friday, November 3rd, 2017 from 8:00-10:00 a.m. for grades 3-5. Thank you for your help with this exciting
event!
Coach's Corner - Carolyn Hutcheson, METI
We have been busy in our Learning Commons! Our students are truly creators and innovators! First graders have taken part in our Digital Doorways program, where they used Pixie to review weather, second grade participated in Tinker Tuesday activities, fifth graders studied cells and worked in Discovery Education to build digital boards!
This week's article discusses how three simple questions can lead to incredible outcomes for leaders and employees. Sometimes, leaders become too focused on telling people what they need to do, rather than asking people what they need. I encourage all of you to think about the questions you ask of your children, family members, and colleagues. Although simple, the questions in this article could reshape the nature of your conversations!
I hope you enjoy this week's article: https://www.inc.com/kat-boogaard/want-to-be-a-better-leader-ask-your-employees-these-3-questions.html
Best Regards,
Ryan Moore
Remembering One of Our Own
We will be dedicating the garden on November 2nd from 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Please join us as we celebrate Ms. Hodge's memory with friends, family, and colleagues.
From Our PTA
DONUTS WITH DAD
Calling all dads...mark your calendar for Ocee PTA's annual Donuts with Dad breakfast!
WHAT
A special breakfast of donuts, coffee, OJ and milk for Ocee students and their dads
WHEN:
Last names A-L please attend on Thursday, October 19th at 7:10-7:40 AM
Last names M-Z please attend on Friday, October 20th at 7:10-7:40 AM
If you have a conflict on your scheduled day, you are welcome to attend the other session!
WHERE
Ocee cafeteria
No RSVP is needed. We look forward to seeing you there!
If you are a mom who is able to help make this event successful by volunteering these mornings, please contact Lisa Patchin.
OCEE FAMILY PORTRAIT EVENT - Still Spots Left!
Tanner Portrait StudioTanner Portrait Studio teams up with
Ocee Elementary for an outdoor family
portrait event at Mill Creek Pond!
A $25.00 non-refundable donation to
Ocee PTA includes sitting fee and
an 11"X14" family portrait print courtesy
of Tanner Family Portraits ($120.00 value).
Friday, October 27 | 4:00pm-6:30pm
Saturday, October 28 | 9:30am-1:30pm
Limited Seatings Available!
Don't Wait! Hurry! Sign up is first come, first served!
Sign up at www.tinyurl.com/tannerocee2017
Direct questions to Manny Rodriguez at oceepta@gmail.com.
Community News
Chattahoochee High School celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month by hosting the annual Pink Out game on Friday, October 20th. Pink Out events will be begin at 7:00 pm and Varsity Football will be playing Pope High School at 7:30 pm.
Put your Pink on and join the celebration! If you are a survivor or would like to honor someone who has succumbed to the illness, please contact Desiree Stoute at bradybunch1010@gmail.com to be included in the nights activities. Survivors will receive a commemorative t shirt. If you know any survivors in our community, please pass along this special invitation.
If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Johnson at nancy_johnson@hoochfootball.net.
Go Pink & Go Hooch!
Community meeting set Oct. 12 for new STEM-focused high school in North Fulton
Fulton County Schools invites parents and community members to a special October 12 meeting to view conceptual building and site plans for the new STEM-focused (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) high school campus set for North Fulton.
Anticipated to open in Fall 2020, the school will have college and career-focused curriculum pathways in a newly constructed, 244,000-square-foot school on the former Milton High School campus near downtown Alpharetta. The October 12 community meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Milton Center, located at 86 School Drive in Alpharetta.
Reminders
Who: All 3rd Grade Girls and their Mom, Grandmother, Older Sister, Aunt (any special woman in your daughter’s life is welcome!)
What: Join Mrs. Aronowitz (Mrs. A) to watch the movie “Chrissa Stands Strong”, enjoy a pizza dinner, and have a discussion about relational bullying amongst girls. Participate in a raffle to win prizes!
When:*Tuesday, October 17th from 5:45 – 8:00pm (*Pizza well be served in the cafeteria from 5:45 – 6:00 and the movie will begin promptly at 6:00 in the Learning Commons)
RSVP: Click here: Girls Night Out RSVP
or email aronowitza@fultonschools.org
Calling All Dads!
As a father of a 1st grade boy at Ocee Elementary School, I can tell you that the support we provide for academics and social emotional learning is top notch. However, we have some male students who would benefit from having an adult male role model in their lives to help provide guidance, support, and structure as they become young men. I am asking for your help in this mission! We need 10-20 adult males from the Ocee community who can dedicate their time and wisdom for some of our Ocee Otters through our Ocee Boy’s Club!
Our volunteers will participate in exciting events with their assigned mentees including; athletic events, building projects, leadership activities, and guest speaker engagements. We will do most of the legwork by providing structure and material, so your time and energy is all we need!
Our Boy’s Club will meet one Friday a month from 7:40 a.m. to 8:10 a.m. Our meetings are scheduled for the following dates:
· October 27, 2017
· December 15, 2017
· January 12, 2018
· February 3, 2018
· March 23, 2018
· May 4, 2018
In the words of Josh Shipp, “Every kid is one caring adult away from being a success story.” This recent article from The Atlantic discusses how great of an impact fathers and father figures can have on our students.
I hope you will join us on this journey to support our Ocee boys.
If you are interested in participating, please click here and fill out the survey by October 18, 2017.
Picture Day is Coming!
Tuesday, October 17, will be Fall picture day. Unlike Spring picture day, you purchase the pictures in advance. You may either order them online at mylifetouch.com using the picture day I.D. of AG207044Q0 or send in the envelope with payment to your child’s classroom teacher. If you do not like the picture when it comes back, you may have the pictures redone on our picture re-take day. This picture day is rescheduled from our original date so if you have already sent in the envelope or ordered online, that will still be good for this date.
Ocee’s Annual College Week – October 16th – 20th
College football has officially kicked off, which means it’s time for Ocee’s annual College Week. College Week will take place October 16th – 20th. The purpose of College Week is to provide information about post-secondary education to our students and to help them make the connection between their current studies and options available to them in the future. Fulton County’s goal is to prepare all students to graduate ready to pursue and succeed on their chosen career path.
During College Week, teachers will participate in a bulletin board/poster contest displaying information and facts on the colleges/universities they attended. In addition, a bulletin board will be displayed outside the gym showcasing the many colleges/universities our staff attended - the student love to see where everyone went to school and which teams they cheer for!
We will also be sharing college facts on Otter Talk (video announcements) each morning. Teachers will be sporting their finest college apparel all week and we will conclude the festivities with tailgating munchies for staff on Friday afternoon!
College Week is a great time to engage your child in dialogue about college. The idea is not to stress students out about the specifics of the application process, but to help build excitement about the possibilities. Our goal for this fun-filled week is to create a college-going culture that will foster a path of lifelong learning for our students.
Think First, Stay Safe
Think First & Stay Safe™ enables students to take an active and necessary role in protecting themselves from harassment, abduction, bullying, exploitation, and various forms of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional). The Health Advisory Committee reviewed and approved this program and selected components will be implemented through the elementary health curriculum by teachers and school counselors.
Please contact our counselor, Anna Aronowitz at 470-254-2960 to schedule a preview or if you have any questions. The materials will be available for preview from November 1, 2017 to November 17, 2017. In late November and early December, Think First & Stay Safe™ prevention lessons will be implemented for all K-5 students. You can also learn more about the detailed lesson plans and research behind this program at www.childluresprevention.com. Please be aware that more information is provided on the website than is actually used in Fulton County Schools.
If you prefer that your child not participate in the Think First & Stay Safe™ program, please fill out our Think First, Stay Safe curriculum opt out form. Unless opt out documentation is received by Friday, November 17, 2017, your child will participate in the Think First & Stay Safe™ program. Please click here to access the Think First, Stay Safe opt out survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LQ2CQZJ
Outstanding Character Educational Excellence
Ryan Moore, Principal @oceeprincipal
Jennifer Rosenthall, AP
Shannan LaPorte, CST
Anna Aronowitz, Counselor
Email: fowlerjj@fultonschools.org
Website: www.oceeotters.com
Location: 4375 Kimball Bridge Road, Alpharetta, GA, United States
Phone: 470-254-2960
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OceeElementary
Twitter: @oceeotters