The Tiger's Roar
January 2023
Happy New Year!
I hope you've had a great start to 2023. I know the Georgia Bulldogs fans have.
After a long break, we have enjoyed having your children back on campus and seeing their excitement for the new playground at the elementary. This nearly $600,000 project was made possible through funding from OGCS, CCSD, and our OGCS PTO. I have never seen a better school play space for kids. Make sure to check out the recent recess pictures in the Happenings @ The Grove section below.
Our middle school students returned from break to find all new furnishings in every classroom. When compared to the playground, the level of student excitement for the new furnishings at the middle was a bit more subdued. Regardless, they appreciated it and the overhaul looks fantastic.
It is hard to believe that we are already half way through the school year. It's been a fantastic year so far and we are looking forward to more of the same in the second half of the school year. By this time next month, we will have celebrated our student’s success at their first semester awards ceremonies, brought Bingo back, and opened up the application process for new students to The Grove for the 2023-2024 school year. More information on all of these events is listed below.
Wishing all of you a safe, happy, healthy, and prosperous 2023!
Sincerely,
John H. Clendaniel
CEO
.....that last Spring our 8th graders visited key sites in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?
Happy 94th Birthday, Dr. King!
If you or someone you know has a child who is hoping to attend Orange Grove for the first time in the 2023-2024 school year, the 23-24 CCSD School Choice application window opens on Tuesday, January 24 and will close on Friday, February 24, 2023. Important reminders:
- If your student is currently enrolled at Orange Grove, you do NOT need to reapply. This also applies to 5th graders moving up to Middle School next year. You will receive information later this spring when it is time to re-register for next year.
- If you have a sibling of a currently enrolled Orange Grove student that is not yet enrolled at Orange Grove (grades 1-8 or a rising kindergartener turning 5 on or before September 1, 2023), you will need to apply during the School Choice application window (1/24-2/24/23). When completing the application, please be sure to indicate that you are applying as a sibling. This is a priority that is given to our currently enrolled families.
You can access CCSD’s School Choice page for information on the application process, updates, and important timelines here.
January 12: PTO Nothing Bundt Cake Fundraiser begins (Click here for more information)
January 16: MLK Jr. Day / No School
January 17: End 2nd Quarter / Teacher Work Day / No School
January 20: Last day to purchase 5th Grade yearbook ads / Bingo Night 6p @ Elementary
January 22: Elementary Chorus practice 2p
January 24: CCSD School Choice Application Window opens / PTO Board Meeting 1:50p @ Elementary / Last day to submit PTO Nothing Bundt Cake Fundraiser orders
January 26: Charter Board Meeting 6p @ Elementary
January 27: Q2 Report Cards home
January 28: CCSD School Choice Virtual Choice Fair
January 31: Elementary Awards Ceremony (8a - 4th / 9a - 5th / 10a - 3rd)
February 1: Middle School Awards Ceremony (8:15a - 8th / 9:15a - 7th / 10:15a - 6th)
February 3: Early Release (11:40a - Elementary / 12:15p - Middle)
February 6: Middle Fall/Winter Sports Awards Ceremony 6p @ Coastal Community Church
February 7: PTO General Meeting & 3rd Grade Show (5:45p - doors open / 6p - start)
February 13: OGCS Chorus & Steel Drum Band Performance 6:30p @ College of Charleston Basketball Game
February 16: Charter Board Meeting 6p @ Elementary
February 17: Early Release (11:40a - Elementary / 12:15p - Middle)
February 20: President's Day / No School
February 24: CCSD School Choice Application Window closes / Q3 Progress Reports home / Bingo Night @ Middle 6p (Ticket sale date - TBD)
February 26: Elementary Chorus practice 2p
February 28: PTO Board Meeting 1:50p @ Elementary
View the 2022-2023 OGCS Academic Calendar here.
Last day to order 5th Grade Ads is January 20!
We need YOU
Don't forget to buy your yearbook
Box Tops for Education
Substitute Nurses needed
Support The Grove with AmazonSmile
Congratulations to our Elementary Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Amy Peak!
Chosen by Orange Grove faculty and staff, here are a few things shared about Mrs. Peak during her nomination:
“Walking by Mrs. Peak's classroom at any point in the day, you will find her actively engaged with her students. She is organized and thoughtful about planning ahead and making the most of instructional time. Mrs. Peak's leadership of the third grade team is fair and balanced while respecting all of those involved.
Amy is a ray of sunshine wherever she goes! She finds unique ways to connect with her students and help them master the curriculum. Amy is an outstanding leader and through her own dedication inspires others to be the best version of themselves!
Amy shows great respect for her students, parents, and her fellow teachers. She always looks over data and strives to reach all learners.”
Congratulations, Mrs. Peak!
Congratulations to our Middle Teacher of the Year, Ms. Jodi Lava!
Chosen by Orange Grove faculty and staff, here are a few things shared about Ms. Lava during her nomination:
“Jodi is always full of energy and is here each day for the students. She actively teaches Health making it relevant in the students' lives. She even took a handful of 8th graders to teach other students at the elementary campus making the lesson even more meaningful to both sets of students. Her dedication to the WTMN news show has made the morning program fun to watch. Just watching Jodi walk in each morning gives me the energy to begin my day.
Jodi has earned the respect of the students, their parents, and her colleagues. She works extremely hard and is passionate about what is important to the students. She runs the news show every morning and tutors the majority of the afternoons on top of doing an excellent job in the classroom every day. She has an infectious personality that radiates positivity.
Jodi is a ray of sunshine and jack-of-all-trades! She goes above and beyond to make her classroom fun, spearheads the news show, and is always willing to help out when needed. Not to mention, she is one of the funniest people I know-- she keeps the adults and the kids laughing! :)”.
Congratulations, Ms. Lava!
January Employee of the Month
CD Teacher Assistant
Elementary Campus
Don't miss a beat.
Nov / Dec Middle Students of the Month
Upcoming OG Athletics Schedule
- January 14 - 10:00a @ Charleston M&S
- January 15 - 2:00p @ Oceanside Academy
- January 21 - 10:00a @ Palmetto Scholars
- January 22 - 2:00p @ Oceanside Academy
- January 26 - 8:00p @ Moultrie Middle
- January 13 - 6:30p @ Daniel Island Middle
- January 18 - 5:30p @ Haut Gap Middle
- January 21 - 10:00a @ Lowcountry Leadership
- January 23 - 7:30p @ CE Williams (Kennerty Dr.)
- January 26 - 6:30p @ CE Williams (Sanders Rd.)
- January 13 - 5:30p @ James Island Christian
- January 15 - 6:00p @ James Island Charter High (Front)
- January 17 - 6:30p @ CE Williams (Sanders Rd.)
- January 23 - 6:30p @ Cario Middle
- January 25 - 5:30p @ Haut Gap Middle
- January 14 - 2:00p @ James Island Charter (Front)
- January 15 - 5:00p @ Charleston Collegiate
- January 21 - 1:00p @ James Island Charter (Back)
- January 23 - 6:30p @ CE Williams (Kennerty Dr.)
- January 28 - 10:00a @ Christ Our King
- January 29 - 3:00p @ James Island Charter (Front)
Elementary Boys Basketball (all games @ St. Joseph's Gym)
- January 14 - 3:00p v. Porter Gaud
- January 17 - 6:00p v. Christ Our King
- January 25 - 7:00p v. Blessed Sacrament
- January 30 - 7:00p v. Mount Pleasant Academy
Elementary Girls Basketball (all games @ St. Joseph's Gym)
- January 16 - 6:00p v. Christ Our King
- January 24 - 5:00p v. Charleston Catholic School
- January 28 - 1:00p v. Christ Our King
Our New Furniture is here!
Hurd / St. Andrews Library: December Children's Newsletter
Teen Events @ Hurd/St. Andrews Library
Frequently asked library questions:
- How can I access my student's AR test results? For more information, check out the AR Update for Parents page.
- Where can I pay my student's library fees? You can take care of your library-related fees on RevTrak.
- How can I purchase a Birthday Book for my student? Click here for more information about the Birthday Book Club and to download the order form.
- Who can I contact for library-related questions? Please email Lisa Schaffer or Reese Williams for assistance at both the middle and elementary campuses.
Parents/Guardians,
There are several illnesses currently going around. Please keep your child home if they are not feeling well. If they visit a Doctor and get a Doctor’s excuse, they must not return to school before the date of return listed. If they return to school before the day of return on the Doctor’s excuse, they will be sent home.
If your child has a fever, they must be fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medications (Ibuprofen/Tylenol) before they can return to school. A fever is defined at 100 degrees or higher.
Thank you for helping us keep our students and staff healthy!
Melinda Westall, Elementary campus
Melinda_Westall@orangegrovecharter.com
843-852-7907
Leah Mosqueda, Middle campus
Leah_Mosqueda@orangegrovecharter.com
843-852-7927
CCSD: Free COVID & Flu Test Clinics extended through January
Charleston County School District, through a grant from DHEC, will provide free COVID-19 and FLU A and B testing for all students and staff, who wish to be tested, during the month of January.
To view dates, times and locations, click here. For registration instructions, please see flyer here.
6th Grade Parents / Guardians
South Carolina law requires that all students entering seventh grade receive one dose of Tdap vaccine. The Tdap vaccine protects children from three serious diseases: tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (often called whooping cough). If your child has already had the vaccine (this vaccine is usually administered at their 11 yr old well check), you must provide the school with proof that they have had it on an official DHEC Immunization form provided by their health care provider.
If your child hasn’t received the vaccine, please contact your health care provider to schedule an appointment. Once your child has received the vaccine, please remember that you must provide proof to the school nurse. Students entering the seventh grade who have not received the Tdap vaccine by the beginning of the next school year (Aug. 2023) will not be allowed to attend school until they have received the vaccine and provided proof to the school nurse.
If you have any questions, please contact our nurse at 843-852-7927 or email leah_mosqueda@orangegrovecharter.com.
For information about this vaccine click here.
Thank you,
Leah Mosqueda, RN
Exploring Simple Machines with 7th Grade
Click on the video below and enjoy a day in the life of 7th Grade science.
Frozen Day with First Grade
Elementary Playground - Now Open!
Upcoming PTO Events
Join us for our next General Meeting on Tuesday, February 7 @ 6p at the Elementary campus. Third Grade will also be performing during this meeting.
Orange Grove Charter School
1225 Orange Branch Road, Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763 - 1520
Middle Campus
505-B Arlington Drive, Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 852 - 7929
Email: tigers_roar@orangegrovecharter.com
Website: www.orangegrovecharter.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrangeGroveCharterSchool/