The Otter Overview

Hello Osage Creek Families,

We are so excited to start a new school year!

Our staff is preparing to welcome our Otters and we cannot wait to see everyone soon!

This year we are emphasizing our commitment to be Here for Each Otter: Heart and Mind. We will continue to focus on academic contributions, rigor, and achievement for each otter. Our high quality instructional materials will continue to ground our work in academics. We will also prioritize personal growth, connection, and emotional regulation. We are very excited about this refined focus for each otter!

Our Open House is Thursday, August 7th and the first day of school is Tuesday, August 12th. There are many more details below and on the Bentonville Schools Back to School Hub. We hope this information is helpful! As always, please let us know if you have any questions. We cannot wait to partner with you to support your Otter!

Sincerely,

Jessie Lisenbee, OCE Principal

Matt Allen, OCE Assistant Principal

The Bentonville Schools supply list for 2025-2026 is out!

To access it online, or to access the middle level list, visit:

https://www.bentonvillek12.org/documents/parents/school-supply-lists/339785

If you don't feel like shopping for school supplies, no worries! For $40 we'll take care of everything except a backpack and water bottle. Log into MyPaymentsPlus.com to purchase your school supply package.

The last day to order is 7/25.

All Otters will begin school on Tuesday, August 12th.

The first day of school is an exciting day and nerves will be high! All transportation will take longer than usual for the first few days. Expect delays and please be patient.

Parents are allowed to walk students to class on the first day only, August 12th. Beginning on August 13th, we will implement our standard arrival procedures. Helping get students in their routine quickly is beneficial and we appreciate your help with that.

Here are helpful times to remember for the school year:

7:25 am - We open our doors and welcome our Otters! For safety and security reasons, students may not be dropped off and left unattended prior to 7:25 am.

7:25-7:45 am - Students may eat breakfast in our cafeteria.

7:45 am - Students enter their classrooms and get settled for a successful day.

7:47 am - Our car line closes to ensure students are inside and ready to learn by 7:50.

7:50 am - Our tardy bell rings and instruction begins.

We begin each day with the Pledge of Allegiance, birthday celebration, and daily reminders promptly at 7:50 am. Please help your Otter be successful by ensuring they are on time, ready to learn.

2:25 pm - Final cutoff time for any transportation changes. Remember to call our office before 2:25 to adjust your Otter's afternoon transportation.

2:50 pm - Instruction ends and students are dismissed.

3:10 pm - Carline closes.

Our car line runs very efficiently! To ensure student safety and efficiency, all guests must have a car tag. Parents/guardians can receive two car tags at Open House with a valid ID. If a family needs additional car tags, they must present ID at the front office that matches a verified pickup contact for the student. Any car in car line without a car tag will be required to park and come inside.

During loading and unloading in car line, all adults need to remain in their vehicles. If your student needs more time and assistance, please park in our parking lot and walk your child into the building. Our parking lot can be a very busy place during drop-off. Please always walk with your child as they transition from the car to the building.

Remember that it is against Arkansas law to use your cell phone in a school zone. Thank you for your help in ensuring the safety of our Otters, both students and staff!

Car line procedures and instructions are here. Please review these prior to August 12th to ensure the safety of all otters, both students and staff.

All bus information is found on the district transportation website:

https://www.bentonvillek12.org/page/transportation.

Here is a message from our Director of Transportation, Jason Salmons:

We want to ensure you're ready for a new school year by confirming your transportation needs. Please log into the BusQuest app and verify your student's bus information. To download the BusQuest app, follow the instructions shared on the transportation website.

If your address differs from what is shown in the BusQuest app, please contact your school's registrar.

If you need to change your bus service, make the changes in the app and submit them. For example, if you no longer need bus service, mark your student as not having bus service and submit.

Before the first day of school, please check the BusQuest app often for the latest bus stop times. These times could change as additional students are added to the route.

Reminders:

• If your kindergartener rides the bus, a parent must receive the student at the bus stop. Until the bus driver gets to know you, please have your driver's license ready so the driver can verify your name.
• Parents can complete the Kindergarten Bus Release Form to indicate another adult or older sibling will pick up the kindergartner at the bus stop. Designated adults will also need their driver's license each time they pick up the child.
• High school zero hour students do not qualify for bus transportation since our buses do not drop off at the high schools before 7:00 am and do not depart at 2:00 pm.

Once school starts, please ensure your have the BusCompass app for daily bus operations. This app tracks the bus three stops from your stop and allows you to receive delays or bus number changes. To download the BusCompass app, follow the instructions shared on the transportation website.

Welcome back! We are so excited to be your school counselors this year! If you need assistance with school supplies or clothing, please contact us. We can't wait to see our Otters soon!

Ms. Nulty - cnulty@bentonvillek12.org

Ms. Niebruegge - mniebruegge@bentonvillek12.org

Parents, here are a few tips to make the first day of school easier for kids!

Take your child to visit their new classroom before the first day of school. Open House is August 7th and we can't wait to see you there!

Remind your child that teachers know that students may be nervous about the first day of school; they will make an extra effort to make sure everyone feels as comfortable as possible. If your child seems nervous, ask them what they are worried about and help them problem-solve ways to master the new situation.

Find another child in the neighborhood your child can walk to school with or ride with on the bus. If you feel it is needed, drive your child (or walk with them) to school and pick them up on the first day. Get there early on the first day to cut down on unnecessary stress.

Help your child adjust to an earlier bedtime a week or two before the new school year starts. Set a consistent bedtime for your child and stick with it every night.

Create a bedtime routine that is consistent to help your child settle down and fall asleep. For example. a calming pre-bedtime routine may involve a bath/shower, reading with them, tucking them in, and saying goodnight.

Have your child turn off electronic devices well before bedtime. Try to have the home as quiet and calm as possible when younger child are trying to fall asleep.

All students are welcome to bring their lunch from home or eat in our fantastic cafeteria.

School breakfast is free for all students this school year.

To add money to your child's account, visit bentonville.familyportal.cloud and log into your account. Need help? Feel free to call us at 479-286-9500.

Free and Reduced Meals Application

Apply online for free or reduced priced meals at the Family Portal. Select "APPLY FOR BENEFITS" to complete the online application. If you wish to complete the paper application, you may download the English Application or the Spanish Application. You may also request a printed copy from your school's office. If you need assistance completing your application, contact Annette Bunton at (479) 254-5095.

All visitors and guests at Osage Creek must check in at front office, receive an ID sticker, wear their sticker throughout the entirety of their visit, and check back out through the office as they leave.

Our district ID software has purged all previously-loaded IDs and therefore every person will have to present their ID for scanning before being allowed access to the building. To help expedite this process, we are offering ID pre-scan beginning August 4th during normal building hours. You can also pre-scan your ID during Open House. Simply bring your valid driver's license or passport to the Osage Creek office to complete the scan process. This will help expedite your check in when you arrive during the school year for events.

Osage Creek follows the Bentonville Schools academic calendar. You can find the calendar below as an image or download via link.

7/25 - School Supply package purchasing closes

8/4 - ID pre-scan begins

8/7 - Open House!

8/12 - First Day of School!

Osage Creek PTO is a great way to get involved, meet other parents, and stay connected to the school!

Our PTO is active on facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/OsageCreekPTO/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/osagecreekelementarypto/

and their website:

https://osage-creek-elementary-pto.square.site/

We're happy to help! Please call us if you need anything at all! 479-286-9500.

You can also find our website, social media links, and more at linktr.ee/osagecreek. This is a great link to bookmark and come back to in the future!