Oak Creek Families,
We had another successful emergency drill this week! Our students all practiced loading the buses and exiting safely. This is one of the many things we do to help students remain safe, and to know what to do in the event it is needed.
This Thursday is our 3rd grade music program! It will be in our gym, so families will enter through the front doors, and head downstairs.
Please make sure to read below for important information, including information about picture retakes, two "bee" opportunities, and more! If you have any questions, please see the FAQ section below, or feel free to reach out to myself or Tess Kristoffersson at kristoft@loswego.k12.or.us.
Thank you,
Barb Keeton
In This Message:
Updated in Every Edition:
- Principal's Message
- Dates to Remember
- PTO Corner
NEW In This Edition:
- Picture Retake Day
Repeated Information:
- Purposeful People: Gratitude
- Two "Bee" Opportunities!
- Battle of the Books Update
- 3rd Grade Music Performance: Autumn Beauty
- Nurses' Note
- Holiday Outreach
- Recognitions and Observations in November
LOSD District News:
- "I Love Lake Oswego" Clothing Closet
- The Music Man
- SafeOregon
- Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App
Picture Retake Day
Do not miss out on ordering pictures of your student.
Orders may be placed online by searching for your school name at mydorian.com and selecting the green Order button next to your school retake day event.
Online orders are available up to 4 days after retake day.
If you already ordered and want a new picture taken please be sure to return your original picture packet to the photographer on retake day.
Wanting to volunteer as a helper during this event?
Please go to the PTO Corner in this newsletter for more information!
Hey OCE!
Directory Spot is up and running! This directory will allow you to connect with other Oak Creek families by name. You can access the Directory Spot here or download the app to your phone. If you would like to edit your family information, visit this page.
Please join us for dinner out on November 17th at Killer Burger Lake Oswego, 5p-closing! Part of the proceeds will be donated to the OCE PTO.
We are hosting a wreath and centerpiece fundraiser! Purchase locally produced holiday wreaths and centerpieces for yourself or as a gift using the QR code. Order deadline is November 18th, wreath pick up on December 2nd.
We need adult volunteers for picture retake day on November 30th. If you are registered in the Raptor volunteer system and are available, please sign up to volunteer.
We are partnering with Minted for a fundraiser! Order cards and invitations on minted.com and save 20% on your order, while 15% of your order is donated to the Oak Creek PTO. Use code: FUNDRAISEOAKCREEK when ordering.
Questions? OakCreekElementaryPTO@gmail.com
Oak Creek Elementary PTO Executive Committee
Kirstin Martin / President
Amanda Schade / Treasurer VP
Samantha McCaskey / Assistant Treasurer VP
Page Donnelly/ Membership VP
Brooke Mattern / Communications VP
Holli Hansford / Co-Events and Enrichment VP
Barry Hansford / Co-Events and Enrichment VP
Steve Farnham / Co-Fundraising VP
Heather Shoyer / Co-Fundraising VP
Lauren Terpstra / Parental Involvement VP
Rachel Wilde / Secretary VP
Teressa Raine / Sustainability VP
Purposeful People
Dearest Oak Creek Families,
This month, we will be investing our time and attention on the character trait: GRATITUDE in our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons, classrooms, and throughout our school community.
Gratitude has been shown to be one of the best ways to reduce anxiety, increase happiness, & improve relationships.
The practice of gratitude is a tool that both grounds us and also inspires hope, peace, and joy. For when we are grateful, we are stronger to “be the good” to our world.
One way to think about Gratitude is “choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives.” Practicing Gratitude can increase our well-being and our happiness.
Gratitude is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Well.
Throughout the school, we will be developing skills like emotion regulation, positive self-talk, and stress management. We are choosing Gratitude!
The definition students will be learning at school this month is Gratitude:
choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives.
Thank you for teaming with us to empower our students socially and emotionally.
Together,
Roxanne Davidson
Ms. D 💙 Oak Creek Elementary School Counselor 💙 davidsor@loswego.k12.or.us
Two exciting upcoming opportunities!
The Who Was History Bee- Grades 3-5
Students in grades 3-5 will have the opportunity to participate in The Who Was? History Bee! Reading and participating in the Bee is a fun way to learn and test your knowledge about people in history. The Bee will start with a classroom competition the week of November 28th. Winners from each class will move on to the school bee the week of December 12th. The school finalist will write an essay the week of March 20th to compete in the Western Regionals.Scripps National Spelling and Vocabulary Bee- Grades 4-5
Our 4th and 5th graders will have an opportunity to participate in the Scripps National Spelling and Vocabulary Bee. Classroom competitions will be the week of January 3rd. The top scorers from each class will participate in the school bee the week of February 6th. The school winner will then move on to the regional bee in March.
Check your student's Google Classroom for additional information and helpful study links. For questions, please contact our TAG Coordinator, Alix Swanson. (swansona@loswego.k12.or.us)
Oregon Battle Of The Books
OBOB at OCE is back! And here is What to know now! Get to know the Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) Statewide program at their website. Linked here.
Beginning next week, OCE OBOB volunteers will be coming into the 3-5 grade classrooms over the next two weeks. They will be…
describing OBOB at OCE for the 22-23 season
introducing the books
reading a chapter of one of the OBOB books
sending a flyer home with your readers!
OBOB Competition
Students in 3-5 grades read books, form teams, prepare for & compete in a trivia style competition.
Registration Deadline November 4th
QR Code to register for the competition side of OBOB.
OBOB Book Club
Is for anyone in grades 3-5. Students come to the library during their lunch recess on specific days to talk about OBOB books, read new and old OBOB books, and practice for the competition (if they choose).
No sign up necessary. Simply show up during your lunch recess
3rd Grade - Mondays lunch recess beginning October 31st
4th Grade - Wednesdays lunch recess beginning November 2nd
5th Grade - Wednesdays lunch recess beginning November 2nd
We will share more soon! If you have questions for...
the PTO & their involvement with OBOB, email:
Kirstin Martin at oakcreekelementarypto@gmail.com
The OCE School Librarian & OBOB Book Club Coordinator email:
Darcy Benson at bensond@loswego.k12.or.us
The OCE OBOB teacher coordinator email:
Megan Lovelace at lovelacm@loswego.k12.or.us
Warmly,
The OCE OBOB TEAM
Recognitions, Observations in November
We have a lot to celebrate and acknowledge this month. All teachers and staff are encouraged to find ways to recognize these and other awareness opportunities to help create a culture of belonging in our schools.
American Indian Heritage Month is recognized National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month in 1990 when President George H.W. Bush signed it into Public Law.
Epilepsy Awareness Month learn seizure first aid and find out how you can get involved.
America Recycles Day, Novembre 15,also known as National Recycling Day, is a national observance in the United States dedicated to promoting recycling across the nation.
American Education Week happens the week prior to the week of Thanksgiving. Each day of the week has its own theme, to celebrate our public school community. Festivities honor the team of people who work in our nation’s public schools, everyone from the bus driver and classroom teacher to the cafeteria worker and administrative staff, plus countless others. Celebrate public education and honor the individuals working to ensure that every student receives a quality education. It includes: Education Support Professionals Day and National Substitute Educators Day
Veterans Day is a federal holiday honoring military veterans. In 1938, the United States Congress made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday - to be celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Congress amended this act in 1954, replacing "Armistice" with "Veterans," and it has been known as Veterans Day since then.
World Kindness Day, November 13
Transgender Awareness Week, observed November 13-19, is a one-week celebration leading up to the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which memorializes victims of transphobic violence.
Survivor Day - International Survivors of Suicide Loss was designated by the United States Congress as a day when the friends and family of those who have died by suicide can join together for healing and support. This day always falls on the Saturday before American Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving
Native American Heritage Day is designated the Friday for all of us to understand the rich culture, tradition, and history of Native Americans and their status today, and to appreciate the contributions that First Americans have made and will continue to make to our Nation.
If we've missed a recognition opportunity, please email kristoft@loswego.k12.or.us.
"I Love Lake Oswego" Clothing Closet Open to Entire Community!
I Love Lake Oswego Clothing Closet has received an overwhelming amount of support and donation during the pandemic. We want to give back to our community and encourage our community to lean on us not for just hard times, but for up cycling, sustainability, and for our environment. In the past the closet was just for students, and since the pandemic we have opened our doors to anyone within our community.
Visit https://www.ilovelakeoswego.com for more information.
SafeOregon
Parents-guardians who have concerns about a student’s well-being are encouraged to reach out to their principal, and to maintain strong lines of communication and partnership between students, families, staff, and other resources.
SafeOregon is also an effective way to report a tip regarding safety threats or potential acts of violence to our students or schools.
(Students should also be aware that intentionally providing a false report is a serious offense.)
Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App
Stay connected to the district and your school(s) and receive urgent notifications by subscribing to the Lake Oswego Schools App.
About Oak Creek
Reach out to us if you have any questions or need anything!
- Principal; Barb Keeton: keetonb@loswego.k12.or.us
- Administrative Assistant; Terese Kristoffersson: kristoft@loswego.k12.or.us
- Administrative Assistant; Tanya Goodwin: goodwint@loswego.k12.or.us
Address: 55 Kingsgate Rd., Lake Oswego, OR 97035
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakCreekPTA/
Interested in OCE Spirit Wear? Check out this website sponsored by our PTO! OCE Spirit Wear
