The Owl Newsletter
OTTO PETERSEN ELEMENTARY
OPE Families,
This next month, our Character Trait will be Gratitude. Our curriculum teaches that gratitude is choosing how to appreciate the people and things in our lives. A recent study, found that participants reported significant improvement in their mental health 4 weeks and 12 weeks after a gratitude letter writing activity. Further, the study found that these acts of gratitude have lasting, measurable effects on the brain. Please read the linked article for more information.
I can think of no other way to dramatically change the path of one's life than to engage in acts of gratitude. Teaching our students from a young age to express and live in gratitude can actually change the way their brain develops and how they move through life. How cool is that? I think that this is a perfect realization for this season of celebration, family, and coziness. Take some time to be grateful with your students.
~Principal Ticer
November, 20th-24th - Thanksgiving Holiday Break - NO SCHOOL
Fall Book Fair at OPE - 11/27-12/1
Fun at Lunchtime!
The OPE Lunch Buddy program consists of a few sixth graders who train to be "Lunch Buddies." They meet up with a select group of fourth graders once a week to eat lunch and hang out.
Attention OPE Families,
Fall Book Fair starts after Thanksgiving break, 11/27-12/1! We'd love your help to make this a success! Thank you so much to our amazing librarians, Mrs. Knudo and Jennifer Mobley for working to put this on for our students! Please visit Book Fair to sign up to help!
We have a few available slots to volunteer for Art Literacy! This is an awesome program that Danielle Smith has worked hard to start up this year! There are two sessions for each class. First, there is a slideshow going over the artist and their work and then there is a session for creating art! Please visit Art Literacy to sign up to help!
Our next meeting is Tuesday, December 4th, 4:00 pm at the school! We have a few volunteer opportunities coming up that we could use help with! Please join us for more information!
Contact Chelsea ottopetersenpresident@gmail.com
OPE Famlies,
Thank you again for your support in lowering our total building tardy rate over the past two weeks. We know that mornings can be tricky! We hope your students feel a sense of routine and connection by being here each morning for our announcements and Character Strong lessons.
If you have difficulty getting your students out the door in the morning, please feel free to reach out. Classroom teachers, our counselor, Ms. McKedy, and our Dean of Students, Ms. Kinsman, are happy to work with you and your learner to build strategies to make mornings go more smoothly. You can click the flyer below to read about the suggested guidelines.
Attendance Reminders & After School Change of Plans
Also, if you have to change your students' after-school plans, please try to do this one hour before students are released so that we have enough time to communicate with teachers and staff.
- Sue MacLachlan: smaclachlan@scappoose.k12.or.us
- Mary McNabb: mmcnabb@scappoose.k12.or.us
- Your child's teacher
We appreciate your support in making sure we know where your students are during the school day. Thank you!
Thank You ~ I am Blessed!
OPE BOOK FAIR IN THE LIBRARY 11/27-12/1: The book fair will be set up Monday morning and classrooms can preview in the afternoon if they want/have time. Shopping will happen during library classes Tuesday and Wednesday, after school on Wednesday until 5pm and at Lunch Recesses Thursday and Friday. Thank you for your support of the book fair!
RETURNING BOOKS - CLASSROOM COMPETITION: Congratulations to Mrs. Richard’s class for having the fewest number of students with books overdue at the end of the grading period–only 1 student! They will earn a prize for their classroom.
By Grade Level: 4th Grade has 16 students with lost/damaged or overdue books, 5th Grade has 35 students with lost/damaged or overdue books and 6th grade has 24 students with lost/damaged or overdue books.
HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!: As we move into the Thanksgiving Break I just wanted to thank you for all your support of our library and me as your Librarian. I am truly blessed!
Happy Thanksgiving!! ~ Mrs. Nudo
Hello, my reading friends!
Oregon Battle of the Books permission forms were due on Wednesday, November 1st. If your students are still interested and want to participate, please have them turn in their permission form before the 1st of December.
I will be contacting coaches with helpful tips for your team and also scheduling a Zoom “Introduction to OBOB” for coaches and families to attend in December.
If your child has turned in their form without a coach, I will also contact you to figure out a team for your students. If you can coach, please make sure that you fill out the district’s background check form by clicking here.
If you have any questions about OBOB, if your student submitted their paperwork, or about the books, please feel free to contact me!
Your friend in reading,
Allyson Richard
4th Grade Teacher
Otto Petersen Elementary
Scappoose, OR
971-200-8003
arichard@scappoose.k12.or.us
YMCA
After School Enrichment Program
OPE is excited to welcome the YMCA to campus this year. Through a partnership with the City of Scappoose, the YMCA is establishing an after-school program at OPE designed to serve K-6 students from all of the schools. This is a first-come-first-serve program so if you are interested apply right away!Personal Electronic Device Policy
(Cell phones, Smart watches, Earbuds)
As an upper elementary school, O.P.E. will align with the Middle School policy concerning electronic devices. A personal electronic device is defined by the district as any “device capable of electronically communicating, sending, receiving, storing, recording, reproducing and/or displaying information and data.” The new policy will ask that students have their devices “off and away” while on campus. A private warning will be given if a student uses the device while at school. A second infraction will lead to the device being turned into the office for pick-up at the end of the day. Parents will be asked to pick up the device after a third infraction. The school is asking for parent support with this policy as we focus on building a positive learning environment.Here is the testing schedule for the rest of May.