March 15

• Upcoming Events & Dates
• Parent Pick Up Procedure Reminder
• Author Visit Photos
• Attendance Reminders
• Literacy Corner
• Yearbook Orders
• Book Bingo Reminder
• Shoe Drive
• Lunch Menu & Choice Menu
• Photo Storage

• March 18 NO SCHOOL for students
• March 19 Book Bingo 6-7 PM
• March 19 Report Cards go home!
• March 25 Safety Assemblies for students
• March 31 Kindergarten Field Trip
• April 4-12 Spring Break

We need your cooperation in reinstating a safe environment for our car rider students. Parents of PreK students are the ONLY vehicles permitted into the parking lot at 3:00. Recently, we have had vehicles create a hazardous environment by moving around the PreK line, which cannot occur. All parent vehicles will drop off their student(s) by accessing Duke Street (by the water tower). As a reminder, the front entrance is reserved for busses only from 8:00-8:45 & 3:00-3:45.

K-2 Morning Drop-off is from 8:20-8:40*

K-2 Afternoon Pick-Up is from 3:20-3:40*

• Arrive no earlier than 8:15 & 3:15 for K-2 students. (*Pre K times are 9-9:10 & 3-3:10)

• Drive slowly in the parking lot and comply with all posted signs and directives of school staff.

• Have your car tag in your mirror or dash prior to entering the school lot.

• Remain in your vehicle until a staff member can assist your child to/from the vehicle.

• Ensure your child is ready to exit the vehicle when a staff member is ready.

Adults who arrive without a school-issued tag will be asked to show a photo ID.

At Opequon Elementary we have chosen "vocabulary" as a major focus this semester. We want to partner with you to increase our students' vocabulary and create environments that are rich in vocabulary and support student learning. Each week we will include a fun fact, help at home, and online resource in this section. If students report back to their teacher that they did a "help at home activity" and tell about it, they will get CARES bucks.

Fun Fact:

Help at Home:

Read the same book aloud to your child. Repetition helps children build fluency and confidence. When reading, stop to define new, interesting, or unfamiliar words in simple terms. This will help your child comprehend the meaning of the text. Relate books to your child's own experiences to make vocabulary stick.

Online Resource of the Week: https://storylineonline.net (Featured actors read aloud children's books)

We were delighted to host children’s author, Shawn Thomas last week where she presented her very first children’s book “Monday Moves In" to each grade level. Students also got to meet the inspiration for her book: her chickens! Ms. Thomas brought a her silky chickens and students were able to learn several characteristics about what make silkies unique! That evening we hosted a Family Engagement Opportunity where families were able to draft a story together and then use Canva to create illustrations. Photos of the events can be found here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCN7i9

O'Roke Photography has generously gifted two bikes for students to have a chance to win! This is the second year that we've been able to partner with O'Roke to encourage student attendance as well as promote student physical fitness and well-being. Students with incredible attendance will be entered into a drawing at the end of the year and could win one of the two bikes.

As a reminder, in the event your child is sick, please submit either a doctor's note or parent note within 24 hours of the absence to the classroom teacher OR by using the following link: https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/o/bcs/page/absencenote

This year we have partnered with Treering to create our yearbook! You can create 2 custom pages and add your own pictures to make your child's yearbook unique for free! Create custom pages before April 10th.

To purchase and customize your yearbook:

1. Go to https://account.treering.com/validate

2. Copy and paste our school's passcode: 1017605316543566

Price: $20, not including sales tax

Join us for a fun night of BINGO where students and family members can win books! This is such a fun event for families to attend. RSVP is required so that we can ensure enough books, snacks, and seating, but the event itself is free! We look forward to hosting you, March 19th from 6-7 PM.

*We'd love to you have attend our PTO meeting at 5:30 prior to BINGO night!

Parents! Students have had a great opportunity to try new foods over the past few weeks. As a reminder, the choice offered M-F remains the same from week to week:

Monday's Choice is Soft Pretzel with Cheddar Dip

Tuesday's Choice is Chef Salad with Breadstick

Wednesday's Choice is Cheesy Pull Apart Bread with Marinara

Thursday's Choice is Cheeseburger with Toppings

Friday's Choice is Whole Grain Chicken Nuggets with Dipping Sauce

These remain an option for students throughout the week on each day. We continue to see lots of salad eaters!

Trunk or Treat, please visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCyB2v

Costume Parade, please visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCziWk

Veterans Day, please visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCzVeA

Haircuts for the Holidays, please visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCB1zi

Turkey Trot, please visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCCjcY

2nd 9 Weeks Awards Assemblies, please visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCGTWH

New Year, New You Event, please visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCH2a8

100th Day of School: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCKuNy

Valentine's Day & Sweetheart Dance: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCKD29

Read Across America Week: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCMjw6

Author Visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCN7i9

395 East Road

Martinsburg, WV 25404

304-267-3550

Rebekah Eyler, Principal

Kelly Comer, Assistant Principal