Otter Outlook
August 31, 2017
In this issue...
Get the Word Out About Otter Outlook!
Need to Know!
The Coach’s Corner from Shannan LaPorte, CST and Math Coach
Ryan’s Resource
OSP - Online Payments
Car Seats are Required by Georgia Law
From Our PTA
Movie Under the Stars
Yearbooks
One Check Fundraising
Community News
KidChess
Jr. Lady Raider Basketball Tryouts
Jr. Raider Basketball Tryouts
Ivy Bridge Academy
Reminders
Hearing and Vision Screening
Think First and Stay Safe
Dates to Remember
Sept. 1 - Ocee Release Day—No School for Students
Sept. 4 - Labor Day—No School
Sept. 5 - Ocee Spirit Day
Sept. 5 - 5th Gr. T-shirt Orders Due
Sept. 5 - AR Period 1 Begins
Sept. 6 - School Governance Council Mtg. - 7 a.m.
Sept. 6 - Hearing & Vision Screening Grades 1, 3 and 5 - (Make sure 3rd and 5th grade children have glasses if they wear them.)
Sept. 7 - Admin & Parent Coffee 7:00-8:00AM
Sept. 8 - Parent Seminar - Technology and Learning - noon
Sept. 11 - Fall Picture Day
Sept. 15 - PTA Movie Under the Stars
Get the Word Out About Otter Outlook!
Need to Know
The Coaches’ Corner from Shannan LaPorte, CST and Math Coach
Parents, we value the work you do to support your child’s math education at Ocee. We are running five articles in Otter Outlook to help inform you about some practices with math instruction at school and how you can support at home. This is the third of the five articles. Thank you for working with us to help grow young mathematicians at Ocee!
At Ocee, we treat mistakes as an opportunity to learn. In this way, students do not feel that mistakes are a bad thing, as long as they and others can learn from them. We ask that you do not correct errors in your child’s homework or have your child correct errors that he/she does not notice on his/her own. When homework is reviewed in class, your child can correct it him/herself, which turns it in to a learning experience. Students are not penalized for homework errors. As math Thursday papers come home, please work with us in treating mistakes as an opportunity for your child to learn and grow. Have your child analyze the errors in the mistakes. Ask, “Where did you go wrong here? Why do you think that happened? How would you solve it now?”
Ryan’s Resource
This week's article discusses what industry experts call, "The 5-Hour Rule." As we continue our focus on student learning, I challenge everyone to think about how they are engaging in personal development that is deliberate. Our staff has been engaging in the personal and professional growth conversation this month, and I believe this resource has some practical steps that we can all implement to support our learning.
I hope everyone enjoys the long weekend!
Ryan Moore
Click here to view the article: https://www.inc.com/empact/bill-gates-warren-buffett-and-oprah-all-use-the-5-hour-rule.html
On-line Payments
Ocee is experimenting with offering the option to pay online for school activities such as field trips and field day t-shirts. The system, called OSP, is used by many other FC schools including Webb Bridge MS and Alpharetta HS. OSP is accessible through the Ocee website. To make a purchase you must have your child's student ID, the same ID you may be using to make lunch payments. If you do not know your child's ID, you may ask at the front desk. OSP charges a transaction fee of 35 cents, plus 4% of the cost.
Currently the system can be used to pay for the 5th grade trip to Rock Eagle. You will be notified as other activities are added. If you have questions, please call Jo Fowler at 470-254-2960 or email at fowlerjj@fultonschools.org.
Car Seats are Required by Georgia Law!
Children under age 8 must be properly secured in an approved car seat or booster seat while riding in passenger automobiles, vans, and pickup trucks.
The car seat and/or booster seat must:
Be in the rear seat (some exceptions apply)
Be appropriate for the child’s weight & height
Meet all federal standards
Be installed and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions
Exemptions:
Children under age 8 whose height is over 4’9” or 57”
Parent or Guardian has a written statement from a physician that the child has a physical or medical condition that prevents placing or restraining them as required by law
Exceptions:
A child under age 8 and weighing at least 40 pounds is not exempt from the law. They may use a lap belt only instead of a car seat or booster seat when:
The vehicle is not equipped with lap & shoulder belts;
or
Excluding the driver’s seat, all seating positions with lap & shoulder belts are being used to restrain other children. In this case, the placement of car seats /boosters seats should be evaluated to determine if they can be repositioned to provide the best protection for all children being transported.
Fine:
1st conviction – not more than $50
2nd & subsequent convictions – not more than $100
Points assessed against violator’s driver’s license:
1st conviction – 1 point, 2nd & subsequent convictions – 2 points
For more information about the Georgia law visit (www.gahighwaysafety.)
From OUr PTA
Movie Under the Stars
Ocee PTA is excited to host our annual “Movie Under the Stars” on Friday, September 15th! The movie this year will be Captain Underpants! Registration forms with details have been sent home in today’s Thursday Papers, and a printable copy can also be found here. Come hungry, because our concession stand will be selling Chick fil A, pizza by the slice, drinks, candy, & popcorn, and the Kona Ice truck will be there, too! If you have not joined or contributed to the PTA, now is the perfect time, because PTA members and/or donors who pre-purchase Movie Night admission will receive complimentary Fast Pass wristbands to bypass the check-in line at Movie Night! The wristbands will be sent to those individuals via Thursday Papers on 9/14. If you are not a member or donor, no problem, we’ll check you in at the gate! See you there, it’s going to be a great night!
YEARBOOKS
Remember to order your YEARBOOK now in order to get this year's LOWEST PRICE of $28! The price will increase soon, so don't wait! Visit jostensyearbooks.com to order your yearbook today!
If you are available to help take some photos throughout the year to be included in the yearbook, please contact Shannon Sandler sandlergriffin@gmail.com. We have a whole list of events that we would like to include photos of, so check with Shannon to see if you can help take some photos during a time when you already might be in the building!
ONE CHECK FUNDRAISING
Ocee PTA’s one time fundraising campaign supports a variety of initiatives. The following are just a few of the significant investments that PTA has made:
Accelerated Reader, Science X, agendas, cultural arts performances, parent seminars, school-wide iPads, musical instruments, Science Olympiad sponsorship, classroom support, Reflections Art Program, school-wide software – Lucy Calkins Writing Program and many more!
All financial donations make a big difference to Ocee’s students and staff so no amount is too small. Donate now online or download a form and send it in with your child. We appreciate your support!
Community News
Kid Chess After School Club
Register now at kidchess.com or call 770-575-5802.
Attention all 4th through 8th grade girls:
Jr. Lady Raider Basketball Tryouts
Sunday, Sept 10th and Sunday, Sept 17th
2:00-4:00pm
Alpharetta High School
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER ONLINE AT: www.ahsjrladyraiders.org
Practices will begin in early October.
Jr. Raider Basketball Tryouts
Come tryout for our Jr Raider competitive basketball teams. Tryouts will be held on Sept. 10, 17 and 24. Visit our websites to learn more and register online prior to the first tryout. Players must live in the Alpharetta High School attendance zone.
Boys (5th - 8th grade teams): www.jrraiderbasketball.com
Girls (teams open to 4th - 8th graders): www.ahsjrladyraiders.org
Debate has many benefits for students including; increased confidence speaking in front of others, improved writing skills, greater vocabulary, better information-processing, and more open-minded critical thinking.
Reminders
Hearing and Vision Screening—September 6
Calling our awesome Ocee volunteers for hearing/vision screening. As you know, Ocee screens students for hearing and vision issues every year. Screening is easy and, actually, a fun way to spend time helping the school. This year, we are screening as follows: 1st - hearing only, 3rd - hearing and vision, and 5th–vision only. Sign up to help using this link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c4eafad2dab9-hearingvision. Please let us know how long you can stay (start and end time) in the comments. Here is a quick description from our cluster nurse Susie Orr: "Volunteers are trained the morning of the screening date. Volunteers are only the first line of the screening process. If a student “fails” the initial screening that a volunteer does, then the student gets referred to me, as the RN, to re-screen them. It is only after they have failed a second time with the RN do we send a referral letter to parents. It’s easy and simple.” If you have any additional questions please email Jennifer Rosenthall at rosenthall@fultonschools.org. Thank you so much for your help! Fran Rissland and Gina Dennis.
Think First, Stay Safe
Dear Parents and/or Guardians,
We all share a common and critical goal for our children to be safe and protected from all things harmful. In support of this goal, elementary school teachers and counselors will soon present annual lessons to students designed to increase their personal safety and protection. The Think First & Stay Safe™ program is a research-based program that teaches specific personal safety education by way of interactive classroom lessons, classroom posters, role-plays and corresponding activities. 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.
Due to the importance of this topic, I want you to know when and how you may preview Think First & Stay Safe™ materials and when classroom teachers/counselors will be presenting this information to your child's class. 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. The plan for Fulton includes: the key concepts taught at all grade levels; each grade reviews what was learned in the previous grade(s) and then learns additional lures or tricks. Specifics are provided below.
Key Concepts:
- You can use your built-in computer and make safe choices.
- People are like the weather. Most are safe, but they can change.
- Lures are tricks used to get children away from safe adults and safe place.
- Laws help protect children and there are adults who can help you.
- Your instincts help keep you safe.
- A stranger is someone you don’t know.
- Someone may even use threats to trick you.
- No one can take away your dignity.
K Review key concepts, Pet Lure, Name Lure
1st Review key concepts, Assistance Lure, Fun & Games Lure, Affection Lure
2nd Review key concepts, Bribery Lure, Friendship Lure
3rd Review key concepts, Emergency Lure, Authority Lure, Hero Lure
4th Review key concepts, Job Lure, Ego/Fame Lure, Online Lure
5th Review key concepts, Review All Lures, Video – Luring: What would you do?
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. As always, our administration and counselor(s) are available to discuss any questions you may have about the Think First & Stay Safe™ curriculum. 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