News from the Nest
Back to School 2022-23
From the Principal's Desk
We have been blessed with several new additions to our staff thanks to the generosity of our school board. Please see below for our new staff members, as well as congratulations to other staff members that are moving into new roles!
Bookkeeper: Mrs. Kim Arnold
Fifth Grade Teacher: Mrs. Rebecca Antczak
Second Grade Teacher: Miss Michele Warshall
EL Teacher: Mrs. Jennifer Roberts
Speech Teacher: Mrs. Sue Kramer
Custodian: Miss Carol Nusbaum
Congratulations to Mrs. Heather Lee for moving into an Instructional Assistant position!
Congratulations to Mrs.Allen and her husband on their formal family name change! Her family's last name is now Ludlow. We are so happy for Mr. and Mrs. Ludlow! Mrs. Ludlow will still be teaching fourth grade.
Relationships are the heart of the school community. We always welcome volunteers into our building! We encourage you to reach out to your child's teacher to see if there are ways of becoming involved in your child's classroom. I also encourage you to volunteer to assist PTO with events. There are opportunities both during and after the school day. This is a great way to get to know the staff and other parents in our school community.
Your child's teacher, our office staff, cafeteria staff, instructional assistants, custodial staff, and I are all here to provide a learning environment that is full of warmth, laughter, and learning.
We wish everyone a healthy and happy school year!
Warmly,
Mrs. Brandie Muha
Principal
Important Dates
July 28: Online Registration Opens for Returning Students
August 1: On-site Registration for Students New to the District
August 10: Teacher names released in Skyward at 5:00 p.m.
August 15: Popsicle Playdate for kindergarten students and students new to Oak Hill from 4-5 p.m. Enter through Door 9. We will begin in the gym.
August 15: Back to School Night 5-6:30August 18: First student day
August 22-Sept. 9: NWEA Fall Testing Window
August 22: Cardinal Talk with Principal 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m.
August 24: OmegaMan Anti-Bullying Assembly during school day
September 2: Picture day
September 5: Labor Day, No School
September 21: eLearning Day for Students, Teacher Staff Development
First Day of School
Thursday, Aug 18, 2022, 08:00 AM
Oak Hill Elementary School, South Nichols Street, Lowell, IN, USA
Monthly Cardinal Talk with the Principal
The first Coffee Talk will take place on August 22 from 7:30 a.m.-8:00 a.m. Please enter through Door 1. Our meeting space will be dependent on the number of attendees.
Medication at School
A Permission for Administraton of Medications Form may be picked up in the foyer of the school office.
School Hours
Student Day
- Our student start time is 8:00 a.m.
- At 8:00 a.m. the tardy bell will ring. If you are dropping your child off, please arrive in plenty of time for them to get to class.
- If you arrive after 8:00 a.m., please walk your child into the main doors, Door 1, to sign them in.
- For a two-hour delay, the start time is 10:00 a.m.
- Student dismissal for buses is at 2:25 p.m.
- Student dismissal for car pick-up is 2:30 p.m.
- Walkers are dismissed after the buses leave.
School Office Hours
- Monday-Friday, 7:00-3:30 p.m.
- Phone number: 219-696-9285
- Fax: 219-690-2621
Volunteers
In the event you come to the school for a meeting or other need you must present a valid picture ID. Your ID will be scanned and you will obtain a visitor badge.
Anytime a child is picked up at the school, we will ask to see your ID each and every time. Even though we may know you, we need to follow our safety procedures to ensure the safety of our children.
In order to volunteer for the school, you will need to have a background check completed. This includes being a chaperone for study trips or volunteering to help in the classroom. During Back to School Night on August 15 from 5-6:30 p.m. a table will be available for you to fill out the background check form.
Due to limited space in the cafeteria, we are unable to allow parents in to eat lunch with their child(ren).
Drop-Off Procedures
All parents should remain in their cars while in line. Please do not make double lines or cut into the line. People who go around others to move to the front of the line create an unsafe situation. It can also create ill-will among parents who stay in line as requested. Adults on duty will be available until all cars are gone.
The main entry door to the school is NOT to be used for student drop-off unless your child is tardy or your student needs help carrying a large object.
Student Pick-Up Procedures
The gate will open for pick-up at 2:15 p.m. Adult supervisors will open Door 7 at 2:30 p.m. to start the pick-up procedure. Please follow the lane to the building.
- All drivers are asked to remain in their cars.
- Students are loaded 3 cars at a time.
- Please do not make double lines or cut into the line.
- Each family will receive a Car Line Visor sign at Back to School Night. Please ensure that whoever is picking up your child has the sign hanging from their passenger side visor DAILY.
- If another adult is picking up your child, please make sure the office has them flagged as an approved adult to pick up in Skyward. You may add them under emergency contacts during registration. If you need assistance, please call the office.
Drop Off/Pick Up Gate Information
We want to ensure our families have information regarding our gates to ensure safety:
- The gate is activated through a pressure plate. It doesn't work by a sensor.
- The gate is timed to go down after 3 seconds of being raised. There is no sensor that stops the gate from going down.
- To ensure all cars are in queue so we have no tardies, the gate shuts down at 7:58 a.m. Students are counted tardy at 8:00 a.m. We need to ensure there is time for cars in the queue to get to the door by 8:00 a.m.
- To ensure safety, if there is a car in front of you, please wait for the gate to come down and reset prior to driving through.
Bookstore and School Supplies
Bookstore
The bookstore will be open every Wednesday from 7:45 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. You may send cash or a check made out to Oak Hill Elementary School for the purchase of bookstore items. You may place your money or check in an envelope with your child's name, teacher name, and "bookstore" written on the envelope.
On Back to School Night, August 15, there will be an opportunity to purchase items from the bookstore. We will have the bookstore open in the cafeteria during Back to School Night from 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. You will need to bring cash or a check to pay for bookstore items that night.
For an updated list of needed supplies as well as the cost of bookstore items, please click here.
Dropping Off Items at School
Calling Your Child Off
- Call the main office at 696-9285 by 8:30 a.m. to let us know if your child will be absent for the day.
- When your child returns to school, if you have a doctor's note please send with your child.
- Please read more about absences in our Student Handbook located on the district website.
Appointments During the School Day
- Send a note to your child's teacher informing him/her of the departure time.
- An adult with a valid picture ID must come into the office to sign the child out and back in.
- Please allow for sufficient time for your student to come to the office.
School Pictures
Strack and Van Til Apples for the Students Program
To keep up with these changes and expenses, our school is participating in our local Strack & Van Til Apples for the Students program. The Strack & Van Til Apples for the Students program enables our school to earn Apple Computers and iPads, sporting goods, audiovisual equipment, science supplies, and hundreds of other items to choose from, and they’re all FREE!
To earn these FREE awards we simply have to collect as many Strack & Van Til register receipts as possible from September 1, 2022, through March 1, 2023. Ask your friends and relatives to shop at Strack & Van Til and save every receipt. Send the receipts to school with your student as often as possible. Here at school we will count the value of the register tapes collected and redeem them for great items that benefit your child. Thank you in advance for your participation!
Cafeteria Menus and Meals Costs
MEAL COSTS
The federal government has ended free breakfast and lunch for all children. Our prices this year are what they were pre-pandemic:
Breakfast $1.40
Reduced-Priced Breakfast $. 30
Lunch $2.00
Reduced-Priced Lunch $ .40
You will go to My MealTime to add money to your child's lunch account. You will need to set up a new account on this website if you have not done so before. You will need your child's STN number to create an account. Please call the school office to receive that number prior to create an account.
My MealTime is also where you can apply for FREE or REDUCED breakfasts and lunches. Approval for free or reduced meals also correlates to reduced textbook rental charges to your household. You may also stop into the school office for a paper application at any time.
TO VIEW MENUS
Go to Tricreek.Nutrislice.com to view menus.
You can also download Nutrislice app to:
Access all school menus
Review allergy Information
Café news & event notification
Nutrition education
Food for Birthday Treats and Parties
In order to ensure we are keeping our students with food allergies safe, you must send in food for birthdays and parties that are purchased from the store and prepackaged. Ingredient lists must be visible on the packaging. If ingredients are not listed on the package, the food items will not be shared and will be sent home with your child.
Birthday treats can be ordered from the cafeteria by filling out this form. You may also call the office to order the treats.
Before and After School Care
We utilize the Adventure Club as a third-party business for before and after school care. Before school hours begin at 6:30 a.m. until school starts. After-school hours go from dismissal until 6:00 p.m.
You may visit www.TheAdventureClub.com for pricing and more information.Communication
Class Dojo
We use Class Dojo to communicate classroom and school events. You are also able to message us directly through Class Dojo.To access our Dojo, click here.
When you open the link, you are prompted to log in to your existing parent account or sign up for a parent account. You are then asked to select the name of your child's teacher from a list of verified teachers at our school. Once you select the child's teacher, you are able to enter your child's name and submit the request. The teacher will need to approve the connection request before you will be connected to the student. The teacher can also decline the request.
Other Communication
We also send emails, so be sure to check your email regularly. If you are not receiving emails from the school, please check your spam folders.
We use Facebook to also post events and other happenings in our school community! Check out Oak Hill Elementary School on Facebook.
PTO
Your 2022-23 PTO Board
President: Kathy Hannon
Vice-president: Melinda Geyer
Secretary: Erinie Kharchaf
Treasurer: Bri Hamm
Volunteer Coordinator: Elizabeth Hansen
Communication/Public Relations: Samantha Zitek
Box Tops has a new way for us to earn money – Download their app today!
https://www.boxtops4education.com/
If you still have the old box tops you can still turn those in as well, but the new feature is all electronic and right from your phone!!
If you ever have questions related to PTO events or volunteering, please email us at oakhillpto@tricreek.k12.in.us
Parent FAQ
Thank you!
Meet the Oak Hill staff! We are here to serve!
Principal
Brandie Muha
Dean
Teresa Patrevito
Secretary
Dee Munjas
Bookkeeper
Kim Arnold
Student Support Advisor
Alyson Bird
Nurse
Meredith Bickell
Teachers
Karen Deal
Kindergarten, Room 9
Melissa Konradi
Kindergarten, Room 6
Elizabeth Sexton
Kindergarten, Room 4
Kellie Tully
Kindergarten, Room 8
Rebecca Blackman
Grade 1, Room 19
Melissa Campbell
Grade 1, Room 15
Hannah Connell
Grade 1, Room 17
Dana Wierzba
Grade 1, Room 13
Amanda Haskins
Grade 2, Room 18
Amie Patterson
Grade 2, Room 16
Michele Warshall
Grade 2, Room 22
Sue Wirtz
Grade 2, Room 14
Lindsey Blink
Grade 3, Room 26
Christina McDermott
Grade 3, Room 24
Erinie Kharchaf
Grade 3, Room 23
Allison Zwiers
Grade 3, Room 25
Kassie Ludlow
Grade 4, Room 31
Brandie Burns
Grade 4, Room 30
Amanda Montez
Grade 4, Room 29
Rachid Kharchaf
Grade 4, Room 32
Rebecca Antczak
Grade 5, Room 35
Nicole Nigh
Grade 5, Room 34
Robyn Plonczynski
Grade 5, Room 36
Specials
Kim Quasney-Bober
PE, Gym
Jill Hall
Music, Room 27
Lauren Schutz
Art, Room 21
Tammy Hedrick
Media/Library, Room 10
Emily Schaefer
STEM, Room 28
Specialized Programming
Jen Roberts, English Learner Teacher
Michelle Wietbrock, English Learner Assistant
Room 5
Julie Alessia
NISEC Teacher, Room 2
Marie Ingebretsen
NISEC Teacher, Room 1
Alana Kinnis
NISEC Teacher, Room 3
Diana Duvall
NISEC Para
Duana Green
NISEC Para
Stephanie Kalizae
NISEC Para
Carol Swart
NISEC Para
Misty Knestrict
Educational Diagnostician
Sue Kramer
Speech, Room 5
Samantha Gill
Title I Teacher, Room 12
MIchelle Diaz
Title I Para, Room 12
Instructional Assistants
Rebekka Anderson
Amy Borsilli
Kerri Britton
Kim DenHartog
Tami Godbolt
Dana Hollingsworth
Heather Lee
Robin Lomalie
Jackie Suggs
John Cipkar
Alisha Blood
Wendy Anderson
Nichole Giesler
Paige Krizan
Adventure Club, Cafeteria
Vickie Woodworth, Room 28
Site Coordinator
Stacey Brachler
Assistant Site Coordinator
Cafeteria
Gloria Thomas
Diane Hudak
Sherri Kuiper
Carrie Gerlach
Custodial Staff
Louie Meltzer
Nesh Djordjevic
Ruby Pinto
Carol Nusbaum
Technology
Joe Starcevich
Bob Cardis
About Us
Email: bmuha@tricreek.k12.in.us
Website: https://oh.tricreek.k12.in.us/
Location: 425 S. Nicholas St., Lowell, IN 46356
Phone: (219) 696-9285
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohecardinals