Otter Outlook
February 22, 2018
In this issue...
A Message from the Principal
Ocee Elementary School Governance Council Elections Open!!! Declare by Tomorrow!
Ocee Elementary Strategic Plan Update
Need to Know!
Digital Learning Day
Music in Our School's Month
Kindergarten Round-Up
Career Day - Grades 3-5
What's Going on in the Learning Commons
Ryan's Resource
Complete the Georgia Parent Survey!
Ocee ES Business Partner and Volunteer Luncheon!
From Our PTA
Kindergarten Round-Up, March 16 - Volunteers Needed
Community News
Computer Science for Girls
AHS Jr. Raider Football
Bowls Chili Cook-off
Jr. Cougar Cheer
Reminders
Six Flags Read to Succeed - Don't forget to turn in your logs before Feb. 24
Student Hardship Transfers - Deadline February 28
Dates to Remember
Feb. 22 - Progress Skills Checklists go home
Feb. 23 - 1st Grade PTA sponsored ScienceX all day in-house field trip
Feb. 23 - 4th Grade Science Fair - parents welcome 9:45 - 10:15 a.m.
Feb. 23 - 2nd Grade Field Trip to Teaching Museum
Feb. 23 - PTA Exec Mtg. 8 a.m.
Feb. 23 - 6 Flags Reading Logs Due
Feb. 26 - Mar. 2 - Diversity Readers Week (1 of 2)
Feb. 27 - Kindergarten Field Trip to Teaching Museum
Feb. 28 - Deadline for Student Hardship Requests
Mar. 1 - Ocee Spirit Day
Mar. 1-31 - Music in Our Schools Month
Mar. 1 - 2nd Grade PTA sponsored ScienceX all day in-house field trip
Mar. 1 - SERT Meeting 2:45
Mar. 1 - PTA Meeting & Family Science Night 6:30 - 8 p.m. (must have pre-registered)
Mar. 2 - Deadline for Georgia Parent Survey (see below)
Mar. 2 - Read Across America Day
Mar. 2 - 3rd Grade In-House Field Trip (by Teaching Museum staff)
Mar. 3 - Science Olympiad at Centennial HS
Mar. 3 - PTA Spirit Day at Harlem Globetrotters
Mar. 5 - 9 Exceptional Children's Week
Mar. 5 - 5th Grade T-shirt Day
Mar. 5 - 8 Diversity Readers Week (2 of 2)
Mar. 6 - SGC Communications Committee Mtg. 7 a.m.
Mar. 7 - Walk and Roll
Mar. 8 - College Spirit Day
Mar. 8 - SGC Meeting 7 a.m.
Mar. 8 - 5th Grade In-House Field Trip (by Teaching Museum staff)
Mar. 9 - DIGITAL LEARNING DAY - STUDENTS ARE NOT AT OCEE
Mar. 12 - Snow Make-Up Day - STUDENTS ARE AT OCEE
A Message from the Principal
Good Afternoon Ocee Families,
The events in Florida last week have left many of us shaken and looking for answers. At Linda McCain's board meeting this week, our community expressed frustration, fear, but also suggestions for how we can improve as a school district. I encouraged attendees that the conversation about safety and security, mental health of our students and community members, and the desire to drive meaningful change related to school policies and procedures have to take place on an ongoing basis and not just when we are faced with tragedy or hardship. I was encouraged because Ocee is leading the way with our staff and student emergency response teams. These efforts, along with our continued diligence, help us stay prepared for all situations. We will include more information in the coming weeks about these groups and their roles at Ocee.
Fulton County Schools will be sending district-wide communication about our protocols related to active shooters this week as well as information on how we can continue the conversation in our schools and communities. I encourage and challenge the Ocee community to step up and engage in these conversations. Safe schools and safe communities are a collective effort and we need your help and participation. To that end, if you have information to share, please use the Fulton County Schools Quick Tip feature to inform us. More information can be found at the following link: http://www.fultonschools.org/en/divisions/sup/comm/Documents/QuickTip.pdf#search=quick%20tip
Additionally, I want all of you to speak with your children about their interactions on social media. I know that all of our Otters do not have access, but we have had several Fulton County students in the last week make life-altering comments on social media in the wake of the Florida tragedy. We need to have conversations with our kids to prevent these kind of mistakes.
We are always here to discuss these difficult topics with you, so please feel free to reach out if you would like to speak in further detail at mooregr@fultonschools.org.
Best Regards,
Ryan Moore
Principal & Ocee Parent
Ocee Elementary School Governance Council Elections Open! Declare by Tomorrow!
This year, two of our elected member positions will be open for nominees! The candidate declaration period closes on February 23rd and elections begin on March 19th. Our two openings are parent positions and have the following requirements:
- Must have a child enrolled at the school for the duration of the term for which they declare candidacy
- May NOT be an employee of the school
We encourage all interested parents to visit the Fulton County Schools Governance website for additional information and/or to declare your candidacy: http://www.fultonschools.org/en/about/charter/Pages/electionresources.aspx
Our School Governance Council is a vital piece of our school governance structure, so I encourage all interested parties to declare their candidacy so we can continue our legacy of excellence at Ocee Elementary School!
Ocee Elementary Strategic Plan
We still want your feedback and encourage you to reach out to us at oceestrategicplan@fultonschools.org. Our school governance council will monitor this account, so if you would like more information or want to get involved, let us know!!!
We appreciate your support and input on this important process that will provide a clear focus on instruction and supporting all of our stakeholders.
NEED TO KNOW
Digital Learning Day
Fulton County has declared Friday, March 9 as a “pilot” Digital Learning Day to make-up one of the days missed this year due to inclement weather. Digital Learning Days are days where students will complete assignments sent by their teachers AT HOME. We will send information about all assignments for March 9th in next week's Thursday papers and the Otter Outlook.
Our admin team, coaches, and teachers have been busy preparing assignments for each grade level that address the standards, utilize district technological resources, and that are fun and engaging. We designed activities for students in grades K-2 that should take no more than 90 minutes and students in grades 3-5 that should take no more than 3 hours. All assignments are due 3 days after our return to school unless additional time is provided by the teacher. If you have any questions about the assignments, please do not hesitate to email your child’s teacher.
♫ Music In Our Schools Month
The General Music Department at Ocee will be celebrating Music in Our Schools Month in March. Our Star Searchers have discovered many musically talented Ocee parents and friends in the Alpharetta and Johns Creek area, from opera singers to electric guitarists!!!
During the week of Monday, March 19, through Friday, March 23, we will be hosting an opportunity for adult musical demonstrations for our students. They will be held informally in the music classroom during your child’s music time.
We would like to invite all parents and other relatives, as well as friends and private instructors, to perform on any musical instrument, including voice. Music selection may be of any variety. We are welcoming experienced performers, as well as beginners. This will be a wonderful learning experience for our children and the classes that have the highest amount of guest participants will win a student focused, classroom talent party hosted by their music teacher. This is always such a wonderful learning experience for our children, and they always enjoy these performances immensely, so if you can “hum a few bars” or “toot a horn,” we would love to have you participate. Sign up forms were sent home a few weeks ago, and we do have more forms if you need one.
Thank you!!!! The Ocee General Music Department
What’s going on in the Learning Commons?
Comparing and contrasting using Pixie, reading non-fiction and ebooks, coding, and much more! Come on in!
Ryan's Resource
Our new strategic plan and budget will provide our teachers and staff with more autonomy and space to innovate, grow, and perform. This week's article discusses how leaders can cultivate innovators within their organization, and I enjoyed the checklist format. As educators, parents, and community members we should all strive to push our colleagues, family members, and students to think about and improve our world. The current nature of our society demands new thinkers and new ways of thinking, and I hope that the article gives you an idea of your own or how you can spark an idea in someone else.
Please click here for this week's article: https://www.inc.com/martin-zwilling/6-keys-to-attracting-nurturing-breakthrough-innovators-on-your-own-team.html?cid=landermore
Sincerely,
Ryan Moore
Please Complete the Georgia Parent Survey
I want to remind all parents and families that the Georgia Parent Survey is open until Friday, March 2, 2018. This data helps drive our school climate rating, but we also analyze the results to make adjustments to school processes. We value your feedback and encourage you to take the survey today! I would love to say that Ocee Elementary School has 100% participation from the parent community, so click here to give us your feedback: http://gshs.gadoe.org/parents
Ocee Elementary Business Partner and Volunteer Luncheon
Our annual luncheon to celebrate our volunteer and business partners is quickly approaching! We will celebrate and eat together before we have some rich discussions about how we can continue to work as a team to support the Ocee ES strategic plan!
The flyer below has important information about how you can RSVP. This will also be coming home in Thursday Papers next week! Please join us as we celebrate you on March 20th!!!
From Our PTA
Kindergarten Round-up is March 16, 2018
Volunteers are needed to welcome our incoming Ocee families at the Kindergarten Round-up! Help is needed with check-in and in assisting as they tour the school. Time slots are 8-8:30am or 8:35-10am. Please sign-up here:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F4CAFAF29ABF94-kindergarten
Thank you
VP Academic Enrichment
Ocee PTA
Community News
Reminders
SIX FLAGS READ TO SUCCEED – DON’T FORGET TO TURN IN YOUR READING LOG BEFORE FEBRUARY 24
Every student (K through 5th grade) who completed six hours of recreational reading by February 24th is eligible for a free admission ticket at participating Six Flag theme parks. Tickets will be distributed to students in May for admission on select dates during the 2018 summer break. Additional reading logs may be picked up from the front office.
Student Hardship Transfers - Deadline February 28
Beginning January 1, 2018, parents of Fulton County students can apply for a 2018-2019 hardship transfer to another Fulton County school or request renewal of an existing hardship transfer. Allowable reasons are FCBOE employee, medical, curriculum difference and child care (elementary and middle school only). for more information, contact: FCS Student Assignment Office at 470254-5550 or go to the FC website. Information regarding Open Enrollment transfers will be released on May 1.
SNOW DAY MAKE-UP DIFFERS FROM FULTON COUNTY
Because Ocee had an Ocee-only release day during the time period that FC has announced as a weather make-up day, Ocee's make-up days differ from what FC has announced.
MAR. 9 - NO CLASS (this will be a Digital Learning Day from home - details to come).
MAR. 12 - YES CLASS (was a work day, now is a FC-wide make up day).
Outstanding Character Educational Excellence
Ryan Moore, Principal @oceeprincipal
Shannan LaPorte, AP @laporte_shannan
Jennifer Sweigart, CST
Anna Aronowitz, Counselor
Kaitlin Thompson, RTI/SST Coach
Tracey Murray, IST
Email: fowlerjj@fultonschools.org
Website: www.oceeotters.com
Location: 4375 Kimball Bridge Road, Alpharetta, GA, United States
Phone: 470-254-2960
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OceeElementary
Twitter: @oceeotters