Oakhurst Weekly
September 8, 2022
From the Principal
Greetings Oakhurst Family,
I love September because it's the month we make a transition to autumn, a wonderful season of the year! We eagerly look forward to fall activities such as football games, homecomings, fall festivals, picking apples and consuming everything with pumpkin in it!
Why don't you celebrate September by attending Family Fun Fest! It will take place on Thursday, September 15 from 5:30 - 7:30 PM. This will be a great outing for you and your family to participate in. Additional details can be found in the PTA section of this newsletter.
Parents, we truly appreciate your support for our school events. I would like to take the time to thank you for attending Curriculum Night on September 1. It was well attended and we received a host of compliments. It's so important to not only support the "fun" activities at a school, but also the "fundamental" academic things your child needs in order to be a success. To ensure that we work together to meet that goal, we would like for you to sign up for a conference with your child's teacher. Parent conferences will be held next week, so please contact your child's teacher to schedule one.
In closing, I'd like to share a quote by educator, author, speaker, and consultant Doris Settles about the "parent-teacher-student" connection: "It takes us all. That's why it's important that parents, teachers and students work together in concert to address these issues." Oakhurst Family, remember working together is the key to our children's success, so let's continue doing that!
Yours in service,
Sharon Gay
Interim Principal
Coach's Corner
Hello Oakhurst Families,
We’re closing out the first marking period of the school year. In the week ahead, you’ll have an opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher about their progress so far this year. We’d also like the opportunity to share the updates and changes in the grading and reporting practices implemented this year in our district.
Please join us on Friday, September 9 from 2-2:45pm at Oakhurst’s Media Center for a “Coffee Chat” (which will actually include water, sodas and snacks 😀 ) on the topic of Grading and Reporting Practices.
We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!
Cindy Aldridge
School Notes/Announcements
Welcome, new SLT members!
The new parent representatives for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school year are Dr. A. Tranise Morgan and Mrs. Martha Ryan. We are thankful for their desire and willingness to serve in this capacity and look forward to working with them for the next two years.
Oakhurst Principal Survey
Hispanic Heritage Month
We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15) to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success. The observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988. The theme for 2022 is "Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation ." View related records on the National Archives’ Hispanic/Latino Heritage resource page and in the Archives Catalog.
Gifted Review: Important Information
Each fall semester the gifted review team looks at existing student data to discuss students’ needs and determine if further evaluation for gifted identification is needed. If you are interested in having the team discuss your child’s needs, you may complete a Recommendation for Review Form (found at the website below) and turn it in to the Gifted & Talented Specialist at Oakhurst, Amanda Lockwood, before October 5th. You can send it back in your child's folder or email at alockwood@csdecatur.net.
No additional information is needed.
For more detailed information about the review process and to obtain a copy of the Recommendation for Review Form, please contact Ms. Lockwood or visit the following website:
School Picture Day
Oakhurst Spirit Night at DHS Football Game
PTA
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FAMILY FUN FEST!
We need your help during the Family Fun Fest night! Volunteer shifts are just 30 minutes, so you’ll be able to volunteer and still enjoy the event with your family! Thank you for your support!
GARDEN & GROUNDS CLEAN UP VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
We are looking forward to some exciting things this year in the garden and around the Oakhurst campus. Join us for an initial clean up:
Friday, Sept. 30, 3p-5p
Saturday, October 1, 9a-11a
This first work day, we will do some light weeding, pruning, and general clean up. No experience necessary, just a "watering"-can-do attitude. Garden gloves are recommended. If you can spare an hour or two, we hope to see you Friday after school on Sept. 30 or Saturday morning on October 1st. You can sign up here or if you are unsure of your availability, please feel free to just drop in.
BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
We are excited about another amazing book fair event and looking for volunteers to make it fun and successful! Sign up for a 30-minute slot, as many as you like, there is a variety of times and roles open. Family and friends can also sign up to help your student's classroom browse the book fair. Check out the available time slots here.
AUCTION DONATIONS & BUSINESS SPONSORS NEEDED
The Give a Hoot! Auction Committee is looking for donations and sponsors for the 2023 Give a Hoot! Auction. The Give a HOOT! Auction is the PTA's biggest fundraising event and all the proceeds go back into our school. The auction will be held Spring 2023 and is sure to be a heck of a lotta fun! We need your help in sourcing donated auction items for our live and silent auction as well as sponsorships in order to make our auction the best and most successful one yet.
Oakhurst Families showed up and showed out last year with their generosity. If you have a family vacation home, if you own your own business, restaurant or have a side hustle please consider a donation. Sponsorship is another great way to support this amazing event and with your sponsorship comes recognition and display of your business/logo/name at the event, on event swag such as tee shirts, in the yearbook as well as PTA newsletter and website and on the auction website. If you are interested in donating or becoming a sponsor please email: giveahootdonations@gmail.com.
School Supplies for 22 - 23 School Year
Thank you to everyone who has donated to help cover school supplies! We’re 60% of the way to our reimbursement goal - if you have not yet paid and are able to do so or are able to help cover costs, we appreciate your support!
The Oakhurst PTA purchased school supplies for all students to ensure that every student has a full school supply kit. If you are able to pay for your child’s supplies, please contribute $35 per student to the PTA via the information below.
How to Pay - $35 per Oakhurst student:
-Cash/Check (made out to Oakhurst PTA): leave at the front desk
-PayPal: Pay to oakhurstelementaryschoolpta@gmail.com or go to paypal.me/OakhurstPTA.
PTA DEI Corner
DEI BOOK CART DONATIONS & VOLUNTEERS
Please sign-up here if you would like to help out with the DEI Book cart: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c4eaca723a4fb6-deibook.
We would LOVE any book donations to expand our collection. Our greatest need is for early chapter books, graphic novels, and chapter books that feature diverse protagonists (some examples include: Planet Omar, Stuntboy, Front Desk, Wink, Zoey and Sassafras, Jaden Toussaint, Vanderbeekers). If you have any books that you would like to donate, please bring them to the cart on Friday or email Déjà Er at dhunger1@yahoo.com to arrange for a pick-up.
DEI INITIATIVES INPUT
Oakhurst PTA DEI has begun its work again this year! We will continue to partner with other lower elementary schools, bringing diverse events in order to foster our schools as belonging space for all of our families.
We will launch this year by celebrating Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct 15), Pride (Oct), and Native American Heritage Month (Nov).
Want to get plugged in or have ideas? Contact oakhurstptadei@gmail.com and find out more about us!
Dates to Note
September 9: Coffee Chat - CSD's New Grading and Reporting Practices (2:00pm - 2:45pm)
September 13, 6:30pm: Board of Education Meeting
September 14: School Picture Day
September 15: PTA Family Fall Fun Fest 5:30 - 7:30 (RSVP by 9/5)
September 16: PTA DEI Book Cart 8:00 - 8:20
September 16: Picture Day make ups
September 19 - 23: CSD Fall Break - NO SCHOOL
September 26 - 30: PTA/Little Shop of Stories Book Fair
September 27: PTA Meeting @ 6:30pm in the media center
September 29: Dine Out Thursday @ The Imperial
September 30: Community Circle @ 8:30am
September 30: PTA Grounds: Fall Clean Up 3pm - 5pm
October 1: PTA Grounds: Fall Clean Up 9am - 11am
September 30 - October 1: City of Decatur Book Festival
October 1 - 7: Read-A-Thon
October 7: Coffee Chat - Fostering Mathematical Practices at Home (8:30am - 9:15am)
November 4: Coffee Chat - STEAM Skills at Home (8:30am - 9:15am)
December 16: Coffee Chat - Enrichment Over a School Break (8:30am - 9:15am)
City Schools of Decatur
Free and Reduced Price Meal Benefits
To continue free or reduced-price meal benefits for students, each household must complete a new application every year. Free and Reduced Meal Benefits will end on September 13, 2022, if the household has not reapplied for SY 2022-2023. If there is an interruption in benefits or the household does not reapply, the household is responsible for payment of meals until the Free and Reduced Application is processed. To help assure the continuation of benefits, the household must have an online or paper application turned in to the school cafeteria manager before September 13, 2022, or complete an online application by September 13, 2022, on the City Schools of Decatur’s webpage. Parents should be sure to list all the students in the household on the application. Only one application is necessary per family. Keep in mind that the application may take up to 10-days to process. If your child receives SNAP or TANF, you do not need to complete an application.
If you have any questions, please contact Tiffany Lawrence, City Schools of Decatur Nutrition Program, at tlawrence@csdecatur.net or (470) 237-0368 ext 7607.
CSD Strategic Plan Input Session and Survey
Thank you to everyone that attended the input session on Tuesday! If you were unable to attend, you still have time to participate in the survey, which will remain open until September 13. Click here to participate in the survey.
Superintendent Search Community Conversation
The City Schools of Decatur Board of Education values input and feedback. The community is invited to engage in a facilitated conversation to share feedback for consideration as the Board prepares to develop the leadership profile for the Superintendent position. The Board is excited to offer two in-person opportunities for the community to engage and share their thoughts. You may attend either September 14, 2022, or September 28, 2022. A survey will be available for those unable to participate in one of the in-person events.
Although it is not required to attend, we are asking for anyone wishing to attend one of the in-person sessions to please register via this form.
Registering ahead of time will help us better plan the events and breakout sessions.
Event details:
Session One: Wednesday, September 14, from 6-7:30 pm in the Decatur High School cafeteria.
Session Two: Wednesday, September 28, from 6-7:30 pm in the Decatur High School cafeteria.
DHS Cheerleading Minicamp Fundraiser
The DHS Cheerleaders are hosting a minicamp to help promote Bulldog Spirit while raising funds to support the DHS cheer program.
If your child is between the ages of 4-12 and wants to experience cheering in the Homecoming parade and before the Homecoming Football game, sign up today for the minicamp!
Camp dates: September 12 - 14 Minicamp 4:30 - 6:00 pm
September 29 Practice and Mini Camp Swag Pick-Up 4:30 - 6:00 pm
Parade and Game date: September 30
Cost: $50
Click here to sign up. If you have any questions, please contact Ashaki Stinson (astinson@csdecatur.net) or Saadia Foy (sfoy@csdecatur.net).
K-5 Super Saturdays
CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR OFFICE OF TEACHING & LEARNING
City of Decatur Book Festival
The 2022 Decatur Book Festival will be held Friday, September 30 - Saturday, October 1. This annual event will feature selected authors that have new fall publications. There will be fifteen sessions presented in three categories - Adult Fiction, Adult Non-Fiction, and Children & Youth. Please click on the link below for more details:
Virtual Parent Education
The American Reading Company (ARC) is providing parents the opportunity to participate in a webinar that is quite relevant for these times: Comprehensive Literacy for Turbulent Times - The Power Behind a Knowledge Building Curricula. The session will take place on September 15, 2022 at 4:00 PM. You may register by clicking on the link below:
CSD Partners
Decatur Education Foundation
B.Y.O.P (Bring your own picnic) THIS SATURDAY to Legacy Park from 4-8pm for some incredible live music from JohnBoy & SurroundSound and The Sundogs. Opening artists are talented DHS students songwriters and musicians Payton Kashdan and Nate Helfrich. There will be kids’ activities led by Decatur Prevention Initiative and student groups selling drinks and treats. Bring the family and come celebrate DEF’s 20th anniversary of supporting Decatur’s kids with the community! It’s going to be a great afternoon. This event could not happen without our presenting sponsor, Bark Technologies and partner Amplify. Thank you, Bark and Amplify!
MADISON AVE DERBY - REGISTRATION OPEN
MADISON AVE DERBY - REGISTRATION OPEN
Don't miss your chance to be a part of one of Decatur's most iconic neighborhood events! Driver registration is now open for the 11th Annual Madison Avenue Derby, the non-motorized racing event where amateur racers of all ages design and build human-powered soapbox cars to compete against the clock in a downhill race!
Join the excitement as a racer or spectator on October 15, 2022, for a day of family-friendly fun - proceeds from the event this year go to support the Friends of Refugees! REGISTER TO RACE NOW