March 1
In this March 1st Update:
- Upcoming Events & Dates
- Read Across America Dress Up Days!
- Literacy Corner
- Author Visit Details
- Book Bingo
- Lunch Menu & Choice Menu
- Photo Storage
Upcoming Events & Dates
- March 2-6 Read Across America Week (see theme days below)
- March 3 Author Visit Event 5:00-6:00
- March 11 PTO Meeting 5:30
- March 11 Book Bingo 6:00-7:00
- March 13 Spring Picture Day
- March 18 NO SCHOOL for students
- March 19 Report Cards go home!
Read Across America Week! March 2-6
Monday: It’s time to celebrate, so don’t be late! Dress up as the iconic Cat in the Hat or any Dr. Seuss character that’s great.
Tuesday: It’s pajama day, hip hip hooray. Get comfy, get cozy and read away!
Wednesday: Read to succeed! Dress up as what you want to be.
Thursday: Wear your favorite team’s colors or workout gear. Exercise your brain and give reading a cheer!
Friday: Let your fairytale flair start! Step into magic, play your part! Capes or crowns, come out and play. It’s once upon a Disney Day!
Literacy Corner
At Opequon Elementary we have chosen "vocabulary" as a major focus this semester. We want to partner with you to increase our students' vocabulary and create environments that are rich in vocabulary and support student learning. Each week we will include a fun fact, help at home, and online resource in this section. If students report back to their teacher that they did a "help at home activity" and tell about it, they will get CARES bucks.
Fun Facts:
A 3 year-olds vocabulary is a major predictor of how they will perform on the 3rd grade reading comprehension scores in 3rd grade.
The amount of talking in the home has a strong relationship to a child's later vocabulary, spoken language abilities, and IQ.
Students in Grade 1 and 2 are learning more than 800 new words a year.
Help at Home:
Read aloud a book to your child. (Reading just one book a day exposes children to an extra 290,000 words by age 5, compared to children not read to.)
Have a 15-minute uninterrupted conversation with your child about any topic. (The best vocabulary builders are not just books, but back-and-forth conversations where children take turns speaking.) Conversation starters: Tell me about your best friend at school. Why are they your best friend? What books do you like to read at school. Tell me about the book you are reading now.
Online Resource of the Week: https://storylineonline.net (Featured actors read aloud children's books)
Opequon's 2026 Author Visit set for March 3rd
We are excited to announce that on Tuesday, March 3rd, children’s author, Shawn Thomas will be presenting to Opequon students during the day about how she wrote her very first children’s book “Monday Moves In.” She will also be bringing the inspiration to her book: her chickens!
That evening, you and your child are invited to attend a free event from 5-6 pm. During the event, you and your child will get to meet the author and learn how to create digital illustrations for your own book using Canva- the same software Shawn Thomas used to create her illustrations! Opequon will provide the technology to do so!
This is a free event, however pre-registration is requested. Information with an RSVP was sent home last week. Please return it asap if your family plans to attend.
This year we have partnered with Treering to create our yearbook! You can create 2 custom pages and add your own pictures to make your child's yearbook unique for free! Create custom pages before April 10th.
To purchase and customize your yearbook:
Copy and paste our school's passcode: 1017605316543566
Price: $20, not including sales tax
Book Bingo Coming to Opequon, March 11th @ 6:00
Join us for a fun night of BINGO where students and family members can win books! This is such a fun event for families to attend. RSVP is required so that we can ensure enough books, snacks, and seating, but the event itself is free! We look forward to hosting you, March 11th from 6-7 PM.
*We'd love to you have attend out PTO meeting at 5:30 prior to BINGO night!
Competitive Art & Writing Opportunities!
2025-2026 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program and Art Contest
Students are invited to participate in the 2025-2026 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program and Art Contest! The program is a dynamic art- and science-based curriculum that teaches wetland and waterfowl conservation to students in kindergarten through high school.
Each year, an art contest is conducted as an opportunity for students to share what they have learned about waterfowl and habitat conservation through the curriculum or through their own study and observation. Students from across the United States submit their artwork and conservation messages to their state, territory, or district competition.
Any K-12 student attending public, private, or homeschool may participate! Prizes and ribbons are awarded to winners of each age group, and all students receive a certificate of participation. Best-of-Show winners from each state advance to the national contest. The winning artwork from the national art contest serves as the design for the Junior Duck Stamp, which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service produces annually. One hundred percent of the revenue from the sale of Junior Duck Stamps goes to support recognition and environmental education activities for students who participate in the program.
All entries must be received by COB ET March 15, 2026, to the West Virginia State Coordinator.
Parents! Students have had a great opportunity to try new foods over the past few weeks. As a reminder, the choice offered M-F remains the same from week to week:
Monday's Choice is Soft Pretzel with Cheddar Dip
Tuesday's Choice is Chef Salad with Breadstick
Wednesday's Choice is Cheesy Pull Apart Bread with Marinara
Thursday's Choice is Cheeseburger with Toppings
Friday's Choice is Whole Grain Chicken Nuggets with Dipping Sauce
These remain an option for students throughout the week on each day. We continue to see lots of salad eaters!
In Case You Missed It
Trunk or Treat, please visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCyB2v
Costume Parade, please visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCziWk
Veterans Day, please visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCzVeA
Haircuts for the Holidays, please visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCB1zi
Turkey Trot, please visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCCjcY
2nd 9 Weeks Awards Assemblies, please visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCGTWH
New Year, New You Event, please visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCH2a8
100th Day of School: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCKuNy
Valentine's Day & Sweetheart Dance: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCKD29
Opequon Elementary School
395 East Road
Martinsburg, WV 25404
304-267-3550
Rebekah Eyler, Principal
Kelly Comer, Assistant Principal