Counselor's Corner

May your November be filled with gratitude, laughter, kindness, and special moments with the people who matter most.

As we head into the Thanksgiving season, let's remember that not every family celebrates the same way, and everyone's circumstances are different. We can all make our school community a more welcoming place by showing compassion, including others, and treating everyone with respect.

Thank you for partnering with us to help our ORE Owls grow into caring, confident, and compassionate individuals!

With gratitude,

Ms. Henderson

As we enter the season of gratitude, November is a wonderful time to remind our students of the importance of kindness, thankfulness, and caring for others. Small acts of kindness can make a BIG difference in our school, our homes, and our community!

This Month's Focus: Gratitude & Kindness

Gratitude means noticing and appreciating the good things in our lives. Help your child practice gratitude by talking about the people, experiences, and little things that make each day special.

Try asking your child:

• What made you smile today?

• Who did something kind for you today?

• What is one thing you are thankful for?

• How can you show kindness to someone tomorrow?

Create a thankful turkey together! Draw a turkey and add a feather each day with something your family is thankful for. Encourage everyone to participate. By Thanksgiving, your family will have a beautiful reminder of all the good things in your lives!

Community Assistance Center will distribute Bags of Thanks, which include groceries to create a Thanksgiving meal to families in need. Please click the links below for more information.

Oak Ridge Elementary has partnered with Oak Ridge High School to provide students in the Oak Ridge feeder zone with gifts for Christmas. The War Eagle Elf program collects gifts for approximately 250 students, offering options to request wish lists or shop online, with gift return deadlines.

Please consider participating and donating to students in need this Holiday season.

• Participants can complete a wish list form or shop via Amazon, with gifts shipped or returned by December 15.
• The goal is to budget $150-$200 per student.
• Gifts should not be wrapped; gift bags or wrapping paper can be included.
• Gift labels are provided through email codes.
• The program aims to bless students in the ORHS Feeder Zone for the holiday season.

Please consider donating to our school drive to help support the Oak Ridge community.

Oak Ridge Elementary is collecting nonperishable food donations to support Nourishment for the Needy. Our food drive will be held from October 26th- November 6th.

Suggested Donations- Canned corn, canned green beans, boxed mashed potatoes, broth, evaporated milk, cornbread mix, cake mix, small bags of flour and sugar, canned sweet potatoes, and stuffing.

All donations can be brought to school and given to your child's classroom teacher.

Please feel free to check your email or the school website for more information.

October 26th- November 6th- ORE schoolwide Food Drive

November 2nd- Holiday (No School)

November 3rd- Teacher Professional Learning (No School for Students)

November 11th- 3rd Grade Veteran's Day Program

November 13th- November 20th- My Future, My Path week

November 23rd- November 27th- Thanksgiving Holiday (No School)