The Husky Bulletin 9/11/2024

9/11/2024

Dear Oak View Families,

It has been an amazing start to the school year. Seeing so many happy faces daily warms my heart. We couldn’t do our work without the support from this incredible Oak View community. Thank you for the work that you do with your children before they even enter our school doors.

Our goal this year is to install some building wide systems, or what we like to call the “Oak View Playbook”. We tell kids that this is the playbook on how to do school. I use sports and coaching analogies with them, and they are really responding. The result of all the collective efficacy amongst staff and children is a much calmer, safer, and predictable environment for everyone.

One of our big goals this year is to amplify students’ voices. This means we want to create more student learning opportunities to share their thinking with each other. We want students to know that their opinions and voices really matter here at Oak View. One important program we’re bringing back is our Student Council. This group will be reporting directly to me throughout the year to provide insight and leadership throughout the building. I’m also eager to have 1-minute interviews with each student throughout the school year. I want to hear about individual experiences and senses of belonging at school.

Finally, we are in the process of finalizing our plans to do monthly student recognition assemblies for students and staff. Every child in this building will have a special month in which he/she will be recognized by their teachers. Every child will get a chance to work with their families to share everything about themselves by creating a cool visual display that will be hung throughout the school building. Another unique aspect of this program is that kids will receive a special lunch with me, Principal Gibbs, and will work with Mr. Rivera, our Behavior Intervention Teacher, to create grade level murals. By the end of the year, all kids will receive that special lunch and will have time to work on adding to the murals. Our hope is to unveil the murals by our Carnival in May. Classroom teachers will be sending special messages to families notifying them of their child’s special month and specifically, why they’re being recognized. This year, these celebrations will only involve students and staff. We just don’t have the capacity yet to invite families to these assemblies. This might be something we’re able to add in the future.

Thank you again for your love and support of Oak View. It has been an absolute honor to be able to serve in this great community!

With gratitude,

Principal Gibbs

Follow us on Facebook at Oak View Elementary School

Ryan Gibbs

Principal

Oak View Elementary

Phone: 612-964-6888

We are ALL here, ALL the time, for ALL children!

The first week of school has been SO amazing! It has been fun watching the students learn their new routines and meet new friends.

Parent Pick-Up Procedure Change:

If your student(s) will be parent-pick up at the end of the day, at any point throughout the school year, please read carefully. If you need to make a change to your student(s) end of day routine, you MUST call/email the office to let them know BY 3:15.

• Each family will be assigned a number and receive that number on a laminated piece of paper.
• When you pick your student(s) up at the end of the day (3:50), please show your number to the staff member out front.
• Your number will be communicated to staff members inside and your student(s) will come to your car!

FirstView allows you to track your student's bus in real-time in a secure mobile application. Are you new to downloading FirstView? Search “FirstView” on either iOS or Google Play and download the “FirstView” app with the blue tile icon. You can also download the mobile application by scanning the QR Code on the graphic for either iOS or Google Play. Once you have downloaded FirstView you will need you students ID number and FirstView Access Code. You will need one for each student you are adding as they have their own. You can find these in ParentVue.

For any questions, please contact FirstView Customer Support at support@firstviewapp.com.

If you have questions about transportation, please reach out to the transportation department at 763-391-7244

Please review the attached guidelines with your students about bus safety.

Our first spirit day of the school year is all planned! Let's help the Minnesota Vikings get their 2nd win of the season...dress in purple/yellow or your Vikings gear.

Did you know Oak View has a Facebook Group for each grade level! These groups are fantastic for connecting with other parents, asking questions about school activities, arranging playdates, and more. They offer a great opportunity to get to know each other better and stay updated on school events.

The PTO sets up these pages and posts upcoming events, but the conversations and posts are driven by the caregivers. Rest assured, these groups are private and secure; all requests to join are reviewed to ensure a safe environment for everyone.

Class of 2032 (5th Grade)

Class of 2033 (4th Grade)

Class of 2034 (3rd Grade)

Class of 2035 (2nd Grade)

Class of 2036 (1st Grade)

Class of 2037 (Kindergarten)

And also - follow Oak View's PTO Page

Along with Oak View Elementary for posts from the school.

Feedback opportunity on attendance boundary considerations

Over the next several months, elementary and middle school attendance boundaries will be reviewed to determine needed changes. These adjustments will reassign the elementary and/or middle school some households are zoned to attend. Our community’s support of Building a Better Future in 2023 is helping to minimize the extent of the changes.

Community involvement matters: There will be multiple ways for staff, students, parents/caregivers and community members to be involved throughout this process. The first opportunity is to share what considerations should be adhered to during the review via this ThoughtExchange. Please note any responses you provide are anonymous and can be completed within minutes. The provided feedback will help the team create draft attendance boundary scenarios. Staff, students, parents/caregivers and community members will then be able to provide feedback on each of the possibilities presented.

Timeline: This first feedback opportunity is open until Oct. 9. Scenarios will be created mid-October through December using the considerations shared. These scenarios will be presented shortly after winter break. Edits may be made based on that feedback, and again presented with the opportunity to share comments. The overall process is expected to wrap up in the spring. The new attendance boundaries will go into effect fall 2026.

Stay tuned: Detailed information will continue to be shared on the district website, district279.org. Any questions or concerns should be directed to BetterFuture@district279.org or 763-391-8990.

Order your spirit wear as we have started planning some spirit days already. The whole site is 30% off until September 17th! Click the link/picture below.

It is important that all families fill out the Educational Benefits Application every year. Families who qualify may be eligible for a variety of benefits, which may include free or discounted prices for the following:

· Field trips

· Some Community Education programs

· Clubs, activities, and athletics

· Instrument rentals

· Fees, including for AP testing, graduation and more

· Device protection plans on school-provided devices

· Comcast internet for home

· Xcel Energy account assistance for electricity bills

Additionally, the state of Minnesota uses a school district’s percentage of qualifying students from applications completed and approved prior to October 1 each year to calculate each district’s funding level. School district funding impacts every student:

· Class sizes

· The number of support staff the district hire to help students (i.e. counselors & social workers)

· Extra programming opportunities

Please fill out the Educational Benefits Application today to make sure your family can take advantage of these and other benefits!

9/13- MN Vikings Dress-Up Day

9/16- Fun Run Kick-Off

9/17- Picture Day

9/27- Fun Run

Ryan Gibbs, Principal: GibbsR@district279.org

Jody Seppala, Assistant Principal: SeppalaJ@district279.org

Angie Passehl, Secretary: PassehlA@district279.org

Melody Hahn-Merges, Social Worker: hahn-mergesm@district279.org

Terri Simon, Counselor: simont@district279.org