Oak Creek Elementary
Coyote News - November 4, 2022
Principal's Message
Oak Creek Families,
Fall has certainly arrived, and along with it, the rainy weather! Please remember to send your child to school with a good coat with a hood and/or a hat. Also, students are not let into the building before 8:10. If they arrive before that, they will be waiting outside. Feel free to wait until after 8:10 to drop them off if that is a better option for you.
Please make sure to read below for important information, including information about an upcoming music program, two "bee" opportunities, and more! If you have any questions, please see the FAQ section below, or feel free to reach out to myself or Tess Kristoffersson at kristoft@loswego.k12.or.us.
Thank you,
Barb Keeton
In This Message:
Updated in Every Edition:
- Principal's Message
- Dates to Remember
- PTO Corner
NEW In This Edition:
- Purposeful People: Gratitude
- Two "Bee" Opportunities!
- Battle of the Books Update
Repeated Information:
- 3rd Grade Music Performance: Autumn Beauty
- Nurses' Note
- Holiday Outreach
- SMART Reading
- Recognitions and Observations in November
LOSD District News:
- "I Love Lake Oswego" Clothing Closet
- The Music Man
- SafeOregon
- Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App
Dates to Remember!
November 4: OBOB Registration Deadline
November 10: Square1Art Orders Due
November 10: Art Lit Training; 7:00PM, Room 18
November 11: Veterans' Day- No School
November 17: "Autumn Beauty"
November 17: Killer Burger LO Fundraiser; 5:00PM to close
November 21-25: Fall Break - No School
December 8: Vision Screening
December 19-January 2: Winter Break - No School
Our Readers' Lounge
Purposefull People
Dearest Oak Creek Families,
This month, we will be investing our time and attention on the character trait: GRATITUDE in our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons, classrooms, and throughout our school community.
Gratitude has been shown to be one of the best ways to reduce anxiety, increase happiness, & improve relationships.
The practice of gratitude is a tool that both grounds us and also inspires hope, peace, and joy. For when we are grateful, we are stronger to “be the good” to our world.
One way to think about Gratitude is “choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives.” Practicing Gratitude can increase our well-being and our happiness.
Gratitude is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Well.
Throughout the school, we will be developing skills like emotion regulation, positive self-talk, and stress management. We are choosing Gratitude!
The definition students will be learning at school this month is Gratitude:
choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives.
Thank you for teaming with us to empower our students socially and emotionally.
Together,
Roxanne Davidson
Ms. D đź’™ Oak Creek Elementary School Counselor đź’™ davidsor@loswego.k12.or.us
History Bee and Spelling Bee
Two exciting upcoming opportunities!
The Who Was History Bee- Grades 3-5
Students in grades 3-5 will have the opportunity to participate in The Who Was? History Bee! Reading and participating in the Bee is a fun way to learn and test your knowledge about people in history. The Bee will start with a classroom competition the week of November 28th. Winners from each class will move on to the school bee the week of December 12th. The school finalist will write an essay the week of March 20th to compete in the Western Regionals.Scripps National Spelling and Vocabulary Bee- Grades 4-5
Our 4th and 5th graders will have an opportunity to participate in the Scripps National Spelling and Vocabulary Bee. Classroom competitions will be the week of January 3rd. The top scorers from each class will participate in the school bee the week of February 6th. The school winner will then move on to the regional bee in March.
Check your student's Google Classroom for additional information and helpful study links. For questions, please contact our TAG Coordinator, Alix Swanson. (swansona@loswego.k12.or.us)
"Autumn Beauty: A Program of Music and Poetry"
The Third Grade classes will present “Autumn Beauty: A Program of Music and Poetry” on Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 6:30 pm in the Oak Creek gym.
Students are asked to arrive at 6:15 and report to their classrooms. We hope to see you there!
Nurses' Note
Please click here to: Learn when to keep your children home from school.
VISION SCREENING: Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation will soon be conducting their
annual vision screening of K,1,3,and 5th grades.
On the day of your school's vision screening, please consider donating any old glasses you have to the Lions Club. Click for more information
IMMUNIZATIONS: Is your child up to date? Check here and be sure to update school records before you leave for Winter Break.
Oregon Battle Of The Books
OBOB at OCE is back! And here is What to know now! Get to know the Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) Statewide program at their website. Linked here.
Beginning next week, OCE OBOB volunteers will be coming into the 3-5 grade classrooms over the next two weeks. They will be…
describing OBOB at OCE for the 22-23 season
introducing the books
reading a chapter of one of the OBOB books
sending a flyer home with your readers!
OBOB Competition
Students in 3-5 grades read books, form teams, prepare for & compete in a trivia style competition.
Registration Deadline November 4th
QR Code to register for the competition side of OBOB.
OBOB Book Club
Is for anyone in grades 3-5. Students come to the library during their lunch recess on specific days to talk about OBOB books, read new and old OBOB books, and practice for the competition (if they choose).
No sign up necessary. Simply show up during your lunch recess
3rd Grade - Mondays lunch recess beginning October 31st
4th Grade - Wednesdays lunch recess beginning November 2nd
5th Grade - Wednesdays lunch recess beginning November 2nd
We will share more soon! If you have questions for...
the PTO & their involvement with OBOB, email:
Kirstin Martin at oakcreekelementarypto@gmail.com
The OCE School Librarian & OBOB Book Club Coordinator email:
Darcy Benson at bensond@loswego.k12.or.us
The OCE OBOB teacher coordinator email:
Megan Lovelace at lovelacm@loswego.k12.or.us
Warmly,
The OCE OBOB TEAM
OAK CREEK ELEMENTARY: HOLIDAY OUTREACH
Oak Creek Elementary is able to offer resources to households that may need a helping hand over the holidays. Below is a brief description of holiday resources that are being offered. Please complete the form if you would like to be contacted to receive any of these services.
Use this link to complete the form:
https://forms.gle/Uk7iQzotLHrh84QT8
If you have questions please feel free to contact us. Your privacy will be respected.
Roxanne Davidson, School Counselor
davidsor@loswego.k12.or.us 503.534.2323
Kristin Guelsdorf, District Social Worker
guelsdok@loswego.k12.or.us. 971.204.9555
SMART Reading
We are looking forward to welcoming SMART reading back to Oak Creek. SMART volunteers will be reading 1:1 with our Oak Creek kindergarteners.
SMART is a statewide children's literacy non-profit that brings volunteers into the schools to help kids have fun while developing a love of reading. SMART students choose two new books monthly to keep and build their personal library.
We are looking for volunteers (parents, grandparents, neighbors) who can make an academic year commitment reading once a week for an hour with their assigned student.
To learn more about SMART and sign up to volunteer, go to smartreading.org
PTO CORNER
Message from PTO!
Hey OCE!
Directory Spot is up and running! This directory will allow you to connect with other Oak Creek families by name. You can access the Directory Spot here or download the app to your phone. If you would like to edit your family information, visit this page.
Square1 Art booklets were sent home with students. Purchases are due by November 10th. Order your art keepsakes!
We are looking for volunteers for our Art Literacy program! Art Literacy is an all-volunteer run program that works with teachers to bring art lessons to each and every classroom throughout the year. To volunteer, no experience is necessary. Volunteers can expect to spend 1-3 hours per month during the school year as a part of this program. Art Literacy Volunteer Sign-Up
Art Literacy Volunteers, please join us for a training session on November 10th, 7p, Room 18. Classroom sessions will start the week of November 14th. Master Art Literacy Schedule
Art Literacy Questions? sara.temme@gmail.com
Please join us for dinner out on November 17th at Killer Burger Lake Oswego, 5p-closing! Part of the proceeds will be donated to the OCE PTO.
There is still one carnival party board open for bidding!
Ninja Warrior Experience
November 5th @ 9am-10:30am, 11am-12:30pm, or 1pm-2:30pm
Train with 3x American Ninja Warrior competitor, 2x City Finalist, and Oak Creek parent, Michael Larlee, at his ninja garage! You’ll have a chance to play on the customized ninja course obstacles and learn some tips to improve your ninja skills. A final competition will allow you to test your skills while having fun.
Cost per participant is $25. All ability levels are welcome, ages 5 and up. Buy your spot on this link.
Thank you for buying and selling pies! We raised $1,496 with this fundraiser.
Questions? OakCreekElementaryPTO@gmail.com
Oak Creek Elementary PTO Executive Committee
Kirstin Martin / President
Amanda Schade / Treasurer VP
Samantha McCaskey / Assistant Treasurer VP
Page Donnelly/ Membership VP
Brooke Mattern / Communications VP
Holli Hansford / Co-Events and Enrichment VP
Barry Hansford / Co-Events and Enrichment VP
Steve Farnham / Co-Fundraising VP
Heather Shoyer / Co-Fundraising VP
Lauren Terpstra / Parental Involvement VP
Rachel Wilde / Secretary VP
Teressa Raine / Sustainability VP
Recognitions, Observations in November
We have a lot to celebrate and acknowledge this month. All teachers and staff are encouraged to find ways to recognize these and other awareness opportunities to help create a culture of belonging in our schools.
American Indian Heritage Month is recognized National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month in 1990 when President George H.W. Bush signed it into Public Law.
Epilepsy Awareness Month learn seizure first aid and find out how you can get involved.
America Recycles Day, Novembre 15,also known as National Recycling Day, is a national observance in the United States dedicated to promoting recycling across the nation.
American Education Week happens the week prior to the week of Thanksgiving. Each day of the week has its own theme, to celebrate our public school community. Festivities honor the team of people who work in our nation’s public schools, everyone from the bus driver and classroom teacher to the cafeteria worker and administrative staff, plus countless others. Celebrate public education and honor the individuals working to ensure that every student receives a quality education. It includes: Education Support Professionals Day and National Substitute Educators Day
Veterans Day is a federal holiday honoring military veterans. In 1938, the United States Congress made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday - to be celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Congress amended this act in 1954, replacing "Armistice" with "Veterans," and it has been known as Veterans Day since then.
World Kindness Day, November 13
Transgender Awareness Week, observed November 13-19, is a one-week celebration leading up to the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which memorializes victims of transphobic violence.
Survivor Day - International Survivors of Suicide Loss was designated by the United States Congress as a day when the friends and family of those who have died by suicide can join together for healing and support. This day always falls on the Saturday before American Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving
Native American Heritage Day is designated the Friday for all of us to understand the rich culture, tradition, and history of Native Americans and their status today, and to appreciate the contributions that First Americans have made and will continue to make to our Nation.
If we've missed a recognition opportunity, please email kristoft@loswego.k12.or.us.
LOSD District News
Lakeridge HIgh School - The Music Man
Tickets can be purchased in advance at http://www.pacer-drama.org/.
"I Love Lake Oswego" Clothing Closet Open to Entire Community!
I Love Lake Oswego Clothing Closet has received an overwhelming amount of support and donation during the pandemic. We want to give back to our community and encourage our community to lean on us not for just hard times, but for up cycling, sustainability, and for our environment. In the past the closet was just for students, and since the pandemic we have opened our doors to anyone within our community.
Visit https://www.ilovelakeoswego.com for more information.
SafeOregon
Parents-guardians who have concerns about a student’s well-being are encouraged to reach out to their principal, and to maintain strong lines of communication and partnership between students, families, staff, and other resources.
SafeOregon is also an effective way to report a tip regarding safety threats or potential acts of violence to our students or schools.
(Students should also be aware that intentionally providing a false report is a serious offense.)
Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App
Stay connected to the district and your school(s) and receive urgent notifications by subscribing to the Lake Oswego Schools App.
About Oak Creek
Reach out to us if you have any questions or need anything!
- Principal; Barb Keeton: keetonb@loswego.k12.or.us
- Administrative Assistant; Terese Kristoffersson: kristoft@loswego.k12.or.us
- Administrative Assistant; Tanya Goodwin: goodwint@loswego.k12.or.us
Address: 55 Kingsgate Rd., Lake Oswego, OR 97035
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakCreekPTA/
Interested in OCE Spirit Wear? Check out this website sponsored by our PTO! OCE Spirit Wear