

Oakhurst Weekly
September 7, 2023

From the Principal
As we head into our Fall Break we are also heading into a time of much celebration! This Friday, September 15th we begin the recognition and celebration of Hispanic/Latine/Latino/Latinx Heritage Month. Sundown on Friday also marks the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and upon returning from Fall Break Jewish families will be celebrating Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. Holidays and months of recognition offer us the opportunity to get to know our classmates, colleagues, neighbors, and friends in new and rewarding ways.
Speaking of connecting, I want to give a special thank you to everyone that helped to put together and pull off an amazing Fall Fest! It was lovely to see all of the families enjoy the nice weather and fun activities.
Enjoy Fall Break everyone!
Jennifer Triplett
Nurse's Corner
Specials Spotlight: P.E.
School Notes & Announcements
Family Library Use Begins 9/25 (PLEASE READ FOR INSTRUCTIONS)
Family Library checkout begins Tuesday, September 26th. We're excited for families to check out books and games from our library! Please visit the media center page on our school site for all of the information you need! Also, this Family Library Use video will walk you through the steps!
OAK Game Center Opens on 9/25!
Check out these kiddos creating a wishlist of games they can't wait to play!
SPECIAL SHOUT OUT!
A HUGE thank you to Samantha Vickery (kindergarten Sullivan's mom!) for being a SuperGamer and organizing our games into categories that make it easy for families to choose games based on specific skills. This was a tremendous help to us, and we are grateful!
AUTHOR VISIT BOOK ORDER (DUE 9/26)
John Patrick Green, author/illustrator of the VERY popular InvestiGators series will be visiting us (all grade levels) on Monday, October 9th in advance of his newest book, All Tide Up.
The book order form is going home in today's communication folder, but it is also linked here and available to download on the media center site.
Book sales are a fundraiser that directly supports the library. Thank you!
ORDERS ARE DUE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH.
Important Information about Gifted Review
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 your child’s school before October 4th. No additional information is needed. The Gifted & Talented Specialist for Oakhurst is Amanda Lockwood. For more detailed information about the review process and to obtain a copy of the Recommendation for Review Form, please contact the Gifted & Talented Specialist for your school at alockwood@csdecatur.net or visit the following website: https://www.csdecatur.net/Page/581.
September Design Principle
The principle we're highlighting this month is The Natural World: A direct and respectful relationship with the natural world refreshes the human spirit and teaches the important ideas of recurring cycles and cause and effect. Students learn to become stewards of the earth and of future generations.
Click the choice board below for videos, readings, and activities your family may use to broaden your conversations and practice around appreciation for the natural world.
PTA
DEI BOOK CART - TOMORROW 9/15!
Come check out or return books from 8:00-8:20 a.m. during morning drop off in front of the school! MORE INFO
Please sign-up here if you would like to help out: Oakhurst Book Cart Volunteers.
IN-PERSON BOOK FAIR ENDS TOMORROW; SHOP ONLINE THRU 9/20!
Oakhurst's fall Book Fair is here! The PTA with Little Shop of Stories is bringing the fall Book Fair to OAK's Media Center Monday, September 11th through Friday, September 15th. Students will browse & make Wish Lists on 9/11 and 9/12. (Sign-up here to help classes browse + make wish lists.)
They’ll bring these home for grownup review. The Book Fair will be open to students and grownups to shop in person 9/11-9/14 8-8:30 a.m. and 2:30-3:30 p.m., 9/13 5:30-7:30 p.m. (during Fall Fest!) and 9/15 8-8:30 a.m.
Books can be purchased with cash, check, PayPal or Square. If paying via PayPal or Square, please send the total amount (book prices and instructions will be included on the back of your student's Wish List that will come home for your review). PAYPAL: paypal.me/OakhurstPTA. SQUARE: https://shorturl.at/mDQX1.
ou can also shop the Book Fair online here now through Wednesday, September 20th. Please include OAKHURST at checkout for online orders.
CLICK BELOW FOR MORE INFO OR CLICK HERE!
Please email oakhurstelementaryschoolpta@gmail.com with any questions.
CROSSING GUARD CARDS
As many of you have heard, CSD crossing guard Jeffery Smith was hit by a car while on the job, and he received non-life-threatening injuries. He is recovering at home. If you’d like to bring some joy to his recovery time, we’d love to support him and let him know our Oakhurst community is thinking of him! If you or your child would like to make/bring a card for Jeffery, please leave at the front desk by 9/27. Thank you!
LAST CALL, Y’ALL - SWEATSHIRT PRE-ORDER DEADLINE IS MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, 9/14!!
Please note that the price will increase during the next round of ordering. Any orders placed after midnight 9/14 will *not* be included in the initial pre-order.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR - WALK & ROLL ON WED., OCT. 4th!
We encourage families to walk or roll (bike/scooter) to start your morning off great and reduce car traffic/pollution to celebrate Walk & Roll Day! If you live too far to walk, please consider using the commercial lot on the corner of College and Mead (The Imperial), or Oakhurst Park parking lot as offsite parking or a meetup point! Enter via the front of the school for music, coffee and community!
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!!
Thank you so much to the Oakhurst community for joining us last night at the Fall Fest! And, a big thank you to Chris & Alex Home Team, Chick-fil-A Downtown Decatur and King of Pops for your support, and a big thank you to the event’s chair Kirsten DiPiro!
CLASS FUND CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED - DEADLINE IS 9/25!
Thank you to everyone who has contributed! If you still would like to contribute, please click here or see communication from your room parents!
MISSED OUT ON BUYING SOMETHING LAST NIGHT?
ORDER SPIRITWEAR DELIVERED TO YOUR CHILD’S BACKPACK!
Support Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM)
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM), Senor Valerio will have several books available in his virtual library, please consider adding these book titles your reading list during HHM.
Just as was announced last week, if you have any other books that you would like to donate, please bring them to the cart on THIS Friday (09/15) or email Déjà Er at dhunger1@yahoo.com to arrange for a pick-up.
CALL FOR PRIDE TABLE HOSTS/VOLUNTEERS AT PORCHFEST 2023
More information is forthcoming but Oakhurst PTA is inviting anyone who would like to host a pride table during Porchfest to contact May Lee Gong (mayleegong@yahoo.com).
City Schools of Decatur & Community Partners
Decatur Soccer Camp Opportunity
If you have a young soccer player and are looking for a fun activity over the upcoming Fall Break, consider signing up for the "Fun Soccer Camp" hosted by the Decatur Recreation Center. See the photo linked here for more details.
Super Saturdays
Is your child interested in STEAM? Sign them up for Super Saturday today! CSD teachers & staff will guide K-5 students through STEAM inspired lessons at no charge to families. The time is from 9a - 12p at Beacon Hill Middle School.
To register for Super Saturdays for Grades K-5, please use the following link: https://forms.gle/zjMdPEStxanx47wh8.
The Wylde Center Decatur Farm to School Mini Grants Now Available
Do you have plans for a new garden or class project? Fantastic ideas on how to incorporate farm to school principles into a teaching unit? Or maybe you need funds for a "green" field trip?
The Wylde Center Decatur Farm to School Committee invites you to apply for a grant for 2023-24. Teachers, administrators, PTA members, and parent volunteers can apply on behalf of their CSD school. Please get your applications in before September 22, 2023. (Link here and on the Wylde Center website > Education > Farm to School)
https://forms.gle/A4vkNfhVzyAu28wE9
Contacts: Caitlin Hochuli at caithochuli@gmail.com or Vera Giordano at vera.giordano@yahoo.com
Oakhurst Family Help Box
Did you know that we have a super awesome one-sheeter on the appropriate person to contact for various issues you may have or questions you need answered? We do! Here it is! You can also find it in the Quick Links section of our website.