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A Note from Mrs. Shirley
Dear OHE Family,
I don’t know about you, but I am so glad to see signs of spring around our community. The daffodils are blooming, the pear trees are filled with white blooms, and the gloom of winter seems to be subsiding!!
March is a very important month for schools across our state. Our 3rd and 4th grade students will take the first official mandated state assessment called ATLAS in writing this week. Fourth grade students will test on Wednesday and third grade students will test on Thursday. This is an important first step in our ability to determine if our students are learning what they need to be ready for 4th and 5th grade. Please make sure your child gets good sleep, has breakfast, and is at school on time on these days. This is the first part of the state mandated testing. The 2nd part will occur the weeks of April 30-May 9.
March is also an important month for our ELL program. Students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade will take the ELPA21 assessment the week of March 11-14 and 4th grade will take it on March 26. These assessments are also a part of our evaluation from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and help us see the progress students are making to learn the English language. Please make sure students come to school rested and encouraged on these days.
We are already looking at the 2024-2025 school year!! We will be hosting a district Easter activity on March 14 for incoming kindergartners. If your child will be 5 by August 1st, they will need to register for kindergarten. More information will be coming out soon on exactly when and how to register.
Finally, Spring Break is March 18-22. This is such an important break that allows our students and staff an opportunity to rest and re-energize for a busy 4th quarter. We hope you enjoy this time with your children and plan some fun ways to spend time together outside!!
Days go slow, years go fast….enjoy every minute!!
Mrs. Shirley
A Note from Mrs. Ditto
Hello OHE Families!
Mrs. James, our OHE Counselor, hosted a family night recently to help parents and students learn some coping skills for dealing with their emotions. These skills are critical for student success, and they are helpful for parents as well. Honestly, I use some of these strategies myself when I am feeling overwhelmed or stressed out. I am attaching the coping skills strategies below in English and Spanish. I hope you will utilize some of these strategies with your students (and yourselves).
Shine Bright,
Mrs. Lynette Ditto
Parent and Community Suggestions
We strive to make Oakland Heights the best school it can be. If you have suggestions to help in this effort, please submit those suggestions at the link below.
Attendance Matters
My 3rd quarter challenge for students and parents is to reduce the amount of morning tardies. We begin morning announcements at 7:55 (8:55 on Mondays). Classes begin immediately after the announcements, which is usually 8:00. If students come in late, they miss important information and feel rushed throughout their day. Being at school on time sets our students up for success!
Testing season is here! It is important that students be at school on time during testing. Once a testing session has started, students will not be allowed to go to class until the testing session is over.
Important Reminders
If your student receives a food backpack, please return the empty backpack to school on Mondays.
Morning drop off time is 7:30 am. There is no adult supervision before 7:30 am.
The lost and found is overflowing! Please have students check to see if any of the items belong to them. Parents may come in and check the lost and found as well. Stop at the front office.
Please put your student’s first and last name inside their jackets/hoodies/coats so that they may be returned to them if misplaced.
Capturing Kids' Hearts
The Capturing Kids’ Hearts March word of the month is COURAGE. Click below to read the CKH March Family Newsletter.
Upcoming Events
March 4-8--Dr. Seuss Week
March 5th--2nd grade musical @ 6:30 p.m.
March 6th--4th grade ATLAS writing assessment
March 7th--PTO meeting @ 4:30 p.m.
March 7th--3rd grade ATLAS writing assessment
March 11th--1st grade ELPA21 Assessment
March 11th--3rd and 4th grade ATLAS parent Night 5:30-6:30 p.m.
March 12th--Spring Pictures
March 12th--3rd grade ELPA21 Assessment
March 13th--2nd grade ELPA21 Assessment
March 14th--Kindergarten ELPA21 Assessment
March 15th--Go Dog Go! @ The Center (K-4)
March 18th-22nd--Spring Break (No School)
March 26th--4th grade ELPA21 Assessment
March 29th--Report Cards
Shine Assembly Information
Each month there is a Shine Assembly at OHE. During this assembly, we are recognizing and celebrating students for demonstrating the characteristics on the Profile of an OHE Student. These characteristics are the same as the characteristics on the Profile of a RSD Graduate, but they have adapted for elementary students. Teachers spend time talking about the characteristics and the importance of developing these qualities both for now and for the future. Teachers nominate students who demonstrate one of the qualities in an exemplary way. Students receive stars to put on a carabiner on their backpacks. We try to have a special guest present the stars each month.
