Otter Outlook
November 2, 2017
In this issue...
A Message from the Principal
Release of 2017 CCRPI Results!
Need to Know!Around the World at Ocee: The Parade of Nations
21st Century Math
Classroom Celebration
Ryan's Resource
What's Happening in Our Learning Commons?
Saddle Up and Read
From Our PTA
Candy for the Troops
Spirit Wear Available for Purchase
ScienceX for Third Grade
Bingo Night and Basket Raffle
Community News
Great Cupcake Challenge
Reminders
Save the Date: Ocee's Thanksgiving Feast Nov. 15 & 16
Ocee Elementary Career Day - Gr. 3-5 - Postponed to May 4 - Still Need Volunteers!
Parent University
Think First and Stay Safe
Dates to Remember
Nov. 2 - Dedication of Annemarie's Garden 5 - 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 3 - Chorus Performs at Gwinnett Gladiators' Game
Nov. 3 - Last Day to Drop Off Candy for Troops
Nov. 5 - FALL BACK - Don't forget to set your clocks back!
Nov. 6 - 5th Grade T-shirt Day
Nov. 6 - SGC Meeting 7 a.m.
Nov. 8 - 10 - Book Fair Previews
Nov. 8 - Walk and Roll to School
Nov. 9 - Parent Workshop - 21st Century Math Education 12 noon
Nov. 9 - PTA Bezoria Restaurant Spirit Night
Nov. 10 - PTA Reflections Breakfast 7:15 a.m.
Nov. 10 - 3rd Grade ScienceX (all-day in-house field trip)
Nov. 13 - Fall Picture Retake Day
Nov. 13 - 17 Book Fair
Nov. 14 - Admin Coffee for Parents
Nov. 14 - Literature Night
Nov. 15 - Thanksgiving Feast for grades 1, 3, 4
Nov. 16 - Thanksgiving Feast for grades PK, K, 2, 5
Nov. 17 - Around the World, Parade of Nations 7:50 a.m.
Nov. 17 - PTA Executive Committee Mtg. 8:30 a.m.
Nov. 20 - 24 - Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL
Nov. 27 - 28 - 5th Grade Rock Eagle Trip
Nov. 30 - Last Day for Giving Tree Donations
Nov. 30- Staff Luncheon provided by 2nd and 3rd grade parents
Nov. 30 - PTA Program - Old Joe and the Carpenter Storyteller
Nov. 30 - Catch Air Spirit Night 3-7 p.m.
A Message from the Principal
Good Afternoon Ocee Family!
I'm sure many of you have heard about the budget issue taking place in Fulton County Schools. Know that Ocee Elementary is working closely with our Area Superintendent's office to ensure that our normal day-to-day operations are not affected. We just received word yesterday that our 5th grade field trip to Rock Eagle has been approved! This is wonderful news, and I appreciate all of our parents and chaperones who submitted payments so our students can enjoy this Ocee tradition. Unfortunately, we have had to make some tough decisions related to employee travel and other student field trips. All conferences and professional learning opportunities outside of Ocee ES have been postponed until second semester and we have also postponed scheduled trips to the teaching museum until next semester.
I am keeping a close eye on expenditures to ensure that we support the district's main goal of paying our employees. We await word during a court hearing tomorrow about the future of property tax collection, and we hope for a favorable ruling so district operations can resume as planned.
If you have any questions related to this matter, please click the following link: http://www.fultonschools.org/en/fcmitigation/, or email me at mooregr@fultonschools.org.
Best Regards,
Ryan Moore
Principal & Ocee Parent
Release of 2017 CCRPI Results!
Please click here for the full CCRPI report: http://ccrpi.gadoe.org/2017/
Best Regards,
Ryan Moore
Principal & Ocee Parent
Need to Know
Ocee’s annual “Trip Around the World” will be held on Friday, November 17, 2017. A highlight of this event is our Parade of Nations. This event starts at 7:45 a.m. and includes students who were born in another country, or who have one or both parents who were born in another country, representing that country in a parade that goes throughout the entire school building. All other students and staff members watch the parade and cheer participants on as they move through the building. Students and teachers watch the parade on the A and B halls, and parents are welcome to line the N hallway to watch the parade as well.
Student participation in the parade itself is completely optional, but students love walking behind the flag of a country that is such an important part of their home and heritage. Many students choose to dress in traditional clothing from the country they are representing, although this is also optional. If your child or children would like to participate in this year’s Parade of Nations, please complete the sign up sheet that went home today in Thursday papers and return this slip to the school no later than Friday, November 10. This ensures that we are prepared with a sign and flag of your child’s country of heritage. All participating students should meet in the gym between 7:10 and 7:30 a.m. on Friday, November 17. Parents wishing to view the parade should be in place on N hall no later than 7:40 a.m. Contact Mrs. LaPorte at laportes@fultonschools.org with any questions.
21st Century Math Education
Do you wonder what goes on in your child’s math class? What is this number talk you have been hearing about? Or a target problem? What kinds of conversations do teachers expect your child to have about math? Come to a parent workshop led by our CST, Shannan LaPorte, on Thursday, November 9th from 12:00-1:00 p.m., to experience and earn more about daily math instruction at Ocee. Discover why math class has evolved and why this new approach will help lead your child to success in school and in life.
Classroom Celebrations
We are currently taking orders through the end of the school year, May 2018. No orders will be taken after April 13, 2018. Payment is due with the order in the form of cash or check, made payable to Ocee Cafeteria. Please keep in mind that we will only do one treat per classroom per day; make your order today!
No celebration treats on the following days: November 15 and 16
Ryan's Resource
This week's article focuses on how to stop beating yourself up over mistakes. This is something that we try to reinforce with our Ocee students and staff. School should be a place of learning, and some of our best lessons come from the mistakes that we make. We all need to embrace that concept and use mistakes as an opportunity to regroup rather than meltdown.
I hope you enjoy this week's article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-insight/201709/how-stop-beating-yourself-about-your-mistakes
Sincerely,
Ryan Moore
What's Happening in Our Learning Commons?
We have some wonderful events coming up in the Learning Commons! Our book fair starts Monday, November 13th and Literature Night is Tuesday, November 14th. Fostering the love of reading for students and families is at the heart of our event. Literature Night will begin at 6:30 but due to our awesome crowds, we will be opening the book fair at 4:30.
Howdy partners!!! It's time to wrangle up your cowboy hats and your cowboy boots, and join the hootenanny at our annual Scholastic Fall Book Fair. This year's theme is "Wild West" and we are ready to SADDLE UP AND READ!!! But we need your help, too.
Please take a moment to view the sign-up links below and pick a time to help our kids find and purchase amazing new books for their home libraries. There are 4 volunteer sign up links:
Volunteers for Preview on 11/8-11/10: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4eafa62ca02-wild
Volunteers for Shopping Week on 11/13-11/17: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4eafa62ca02-wild1
Volunteers for Literature Night on 11/14: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4eafa62ca02-wild2
Volunteers for Break Down/Clean Up on 11/17 and 11/27: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4eafa62ca02-scholastic7
**NOTE: If you would like to volunteer when your child will be coming to preview or shopping, you may view the class preview and class shopping time Sign Up Genius links provided here for your reference and sign up for the slot/s that overlap your child's preview and/or shopping time. But please know that times may be subject to change if the teacher decides another time may work better for her class. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Class Preview Times: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4eafa62ca02-scholastic5
Class Shopping Week Times: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4eafa62ca02-scholastic6
Thank you for helping to make our Wild West Book Fair a Rootin' Tootin' Good Time!
Thank you,
Marcy Morantz
From Our PTA
CANDY FOR THE TROOPS
Now through November 3rd, we will be collecting your unwanted candy as well as letters/cards/drawings to send to Operation Gratitude. Operation Gratitude sends thousands of thank you care packages a year to our active military members and veterans. Last year we collected over 250 pounds of candy to send in those packages.
Here are some tips to get you started on a thank you letter or card: https://www.operationgratitude.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/LetterWritingFlyer2015a.pdf
Thank you to Dr. Silverman at Advanced Cosmetic and Family Dentistry who has graciously offered to cover the shipping of our donation to Operation Gratitude and made this event possible.
SPIRITWEAR AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE!
The PTA has a limited number of Ocee spiritwear shirts available for purchase. If you missed the opportunity earlier in the year to purchase spiritwear, or would like to add a longsleeve shirt to your collection now that the weather is cooling off, here is your chance. Click the link to be taken to our online store where you may purchase a shirt.
https://www.myschoolanywhere.com/cart-new.a5w?cart=OceeElementarySchool109922
3rd Grade Science-X
Science-X for 3rd Graders is Friday, November 10th.
Topics are STEAM based. Examples are: DNA extraction from strawberries, computer coding, engineering towers, designing bridges, and a math escape room.
Volunteers are very important to the success of this event and we thank you for your time. Please follow the link below to volunteer, there are only a few time slots left!
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b48a4ad2ba0fa7-3rdgrade
Please contact Jorie Clements with any questions. jorie.clements@gmail.com.
BINGO NIGHT AND BASKET RAFFLE
Ocee PTA’s Family Events team is already hard at work on our next big family event, Bingo Night, which is coming up in January. Along with our traditional Basket Raffle, we are excited to bring you a Silent Auction this year. To make this a successful event, we need your help! If you have or know of an organization that would like to donate something for the basket raffle or silent auction, please reach out to Derek Scheidt at derek.scheidt@coldwellbankeratlanta.com or call 404-593-4754. All items donated are tax deductible. Items donated can be vacation rentals, date night excursions, movie tickets, sports tickets, sporting memorabilia, musician memorabilia, concert tickets, gift cards, birthday party entertainment, yard renovations, home renovations, theme park tickets, jewelry, new sports equipment, restaurant gift cards, etc. The sky is the limit. All money raised from the silent auction and raffle goes to help provide academic and student enrichment programs for the children of Ocee Elementary. All donations need to be received by December 31 to prepare them for the baskets and silent auction. Thank you in advance for your help and consideration.
Community News
Reminders
Save the Date! - Ocee's Thanksgiving Feast Nov. 15 & 16
Ocee will be celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with our annual family feast days. Family is invited to join the children for lunch on Nov. 15 for grades 1, 3 and 4 and Nov.16 for grades PK, K, 2nd and 5th. Please note that lunch times will be different for those two days (more details to come). On the day your child is not feasting, they will be eating sack lunches (from home or the Café) in their classrooms and parents will not be able to eat with their child that day.
Ocee Elementary - Career Day
Grades 3-5
Now Friday, May 4
8:00 – 10:00 AM
Please note that the date of Career Day for grades 3-5 has been changed to Friday, May 4th. We are still looking for parent volunteers. If you or someone you know is interested in speaking at Career Day, please click here.
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